Phillies Notebook: Phillies option struggling Happ to Triple A Lehigh Valley

There was progress, but not enough. That was the word from the Phillies yesterday when they decided to activate lefthander J.A. Happ from the disabled list and option him to Triple A Lehigh Valley.

Happ, who went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 starts last season to finish second in NL Rookie of the Year balloting, spent the last 30 days working his way through a rehab progression for his strained left forearm, a process he believed had readied him to re-join the Phillies' rotation. But after watching him on Sunday night, when he allowed six hits, four walks and four runs in 5 1/3 innings of his sixth rehab start, the club decided that he still has not regained his form.

"He just wasn't pitching as well as he has in the past," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But I think he will."

With Happ's 30-day window for rehab appearances set to expire today, the Phillies were forced to make a decision. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said they need to see more consistency from the 27-year-old before they feel comfortable making a change in their rotation. Happ retired the first nine batters he faced Sunday night, showing good command and velocity that sat between 89 and 91 mph. But his accuracy and velocity dipped in a 30-pitch fourth inning.

"He held it for three innings the other day and looked pretty good," Dubee said. "After that, he didn't hold it."

Happ, who tried to pitch through a forearm strain in the minors in 2007, has endured an up-and-down rehab process ever since heading to the disabled list in mid-April. The team was concerned about his velocity in his first five rehab starts, but said they saw improvement Sunday.

"He finally got to the velocities that we're used to seeing, so I think he's there healthwise," Amaro said. "I think it's more of a matter of him being consistent in the strike zone and more consistent with his stuff overall."