Phillies Notes: A final blow ends Romero's tough season

J.C. Romero leaned back in the chair in front of his clubhouse stall and offered a what-are-you-going-to-do shrug.

He was a perfect illustration of the fickle nature of baseball. On top of the heap one season. On the bottom the next.

"With this amazing year that I've had so far, this is icing on the cake, I guess," he said, trying to add a little levity to the news that his season is over, barring a miracle, because of persistent tendinitis in his left forearm.

Last fall, Romero was as reliable as a Swiss watch, especially in the postseason. He came out of the bullpen and pitched 71/3 scoreless innings, including 42/3 during the World Series, when he picked up two wins.

This season, there will be no postseason for the lefthanded reliever. He has not sufficiently recovered from the inning he pitched Monday against Houston, the only inning he has thrown since July 19. Romero said he probably would need to rest his arm for a month or so for the inflammation to subside.

"It's going to be tough watching from the outside, not being able to contribute," he said. "But I'll be here supporting the team."

A year after the best and most unforgettable season of his career, when he held lefthanded hitters to a .102 batting average and earned a World Series ring, Romero had his most frustrating and most forgettable.

It began with a 50-game suspension after he tested positive for a banned substance. By the third week of July, he was on the disabled list with the tendinitis. After a couple of setbacks during rehabilitation, he returned Monday. But the soreness and tightness came back. He will get a second opinion from orthopedist David W. Altchek in New York within the next few days, but that's to make certain there's no more damage than the slight tear in a tendon that contributed to his problems.

"We just want to play it safe and look at it again and make sure everything is fine," he said. "You know, I have the same symptoms I had 10 years ago when I first signed. I had tendinitis in my elbow, and I rested for like a month, month and a half, and that's when I signed and turned pro, and thank God I haven't had a problem until now."

Summing up his lost season, the 33-year-old Romero was philosophical.

"I always said when I turned 33 it was going to be a special year," he said. "But, damn, that's life, man. You take the good, and you've got to take the bad."

With the loss of Romero and Jamie Moyer out of the bullpen, and with Scott Eyre pitching with a "loose body" near his elbow, the Phillies are short of lefthanded relievers.

Manager Charlie Manuel said ideally he would have three lefthanders in the bullpen. J.A. Happ could go to the bullpen for the playoffs, and Sergio Escalona could make the postseason roster.

Talking about Eyre, Manuel said, "I understand the extent of his injury, and I think we have a good idea how we're going to use him."

As for the 25-year-old Escalona, the manager said: "I think it depends on what we feel our needs are and how much we think he can handle. I like him myself. For being young, he's done a pretty good job for us."

Hamels starting. A day after he was noncommittal on whether Cole Hamels would start today against the Marlins, Manuel said yesterday that he would. He hinted that the lefthander could be limited, which would leave Hamels as an option to start Game 1 of the National League division series Wednesday.

"Yeah, he'll probably get to pitch some tomorrow," Manuel said.

Park out for division series. Back from Thursday's aborted rehabilitation assignment in Clearwater, Fla., reliever Chan Ho Park is not expected to be available for the division series. Park left the mound before completing an inning in a simulated game in the Instructional League after aggravating a strained right hamstring.

"I don't know how long it's going to take, but this wasn't as bad as when I first injured it [on Sept. 16]," Park said. "I'm waiting to hear about the MRI."