You Talking to Me? Eagles can wait; it's Phillies time

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Ford, Bob; Salisbury, James T.

Subject: Paging Doctor Feelgood 

Training camp is upon us. Rookies and selected vets report to Lehigh today. Brian Westbrook, still on the mend, won't be among the Eagles reporting for duty.

Back in South Philly, the defending champs will have to make do without two of their regular bullpen arms for a while - J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin.

Right now, in late July, what's the bigger concern: the Eagles heading into training camp without Westbrook or the Phillies heading into the last third of the season with a partly injured, sometimes inconsistent bullpen?

From: Ford, Bob

To: Gonzalez, John; Salisbury, James T.

Subject: Paging Doctor Feelgood 

For as long as we can, before the green monster swallows us whole, let's pay greatest attention to the Phillies. Their drive to try for a second championship has been a fascinating story. The Eagles will be around for a while, and the story of Westbrook's knee will linger all season.

From: Salisbury, James T.

To: Ford, Bob; Gonzalez, John

Subject: Paging Doctor Feelgood 

One team is driving toward the playoffs. The other is driving to Bethlehem. The more timely concern is getting this pitching staff Octoberized with Halladay. As for the pen, I just have a feeling Pedro will eventually help there especially if they can somehow manage to keep Happ.

From: Ford, Bob

To: Gonzalez, John; Salisbury, James T.

Subject: Paging Doctor Feelgood 

I also think Brett Myers will play a bullpen role sooner than later and will be effective. If they can add a reasonable starter - Halladay would be nice, but I'm not expecting it - and Lidge fixes his inconsistencies, this team is going to make noise again.

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Ford, Bob; Salisbury, James T.

Subject: Paging Doctor Feelgood 

The Westbrook thing is a concern, but the bigger questions are in the Phils pen. Right now, we're talking about adding Myers off an injury and Pedro off a long stretch of inactivity. Then you have Lidge, who hasn't exactly been the same guy he was a year ago, and two banged-up pitchers in Romero and Durbin. I hope it all works out, but it seems like a lot to ask for all that to break the right way. I'm not saying that will prevent them from playing for another World Series, I just think it will make life a little harder.

All that said, I'd be happy to talk Phils until November. Plenty of time to obsess over the Birds once the weather turns cold.