Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Ryan Howard says it's too early to panic

Ryan Howard would like to point out that the All-Star Game hasn't been played yet, which is another way of saying that anybody who is concerned that the Phillies have fallen 5 1/2 games out of first place needs to take a deep breath.

"I think everybody's kind of getting hyped up and panicking or whatnot," the Phillies' first baseman said after yesterday's 4-1 loss to the Twins at Citizens Bank Park. "Right now, with everybody in this clubhouse, no one is panicking.

"I don't think this stretch is going to last the entire second half. We're going to get hot and then all this will be pretty much forgotten. We control our own destiny because we do get to play the Braves and we do get to play the Mets.

"Help is always wanted from other teams, but we know when we do play these guys we do get to control our own destiny. It's 5 1/2, but it's June. Nobody remembers what your record was in June. Everybody remembers where you are at the end of September."

This is the farthest behind the Phillies have been this late in the season since 2007 when they were down by 8 1/2 games on June 2 and 7 as late as Sept. 12. That year a strong finish combined with a Mets collapse allowed them to win the first of three straight division championships.

"This team is very, very confident," he said. "We're confident in our ability, we're confident in each other. It's only a matter of time before this team gets things turned around."

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, sidelined by a strained right calf for the second time this year, returned to Philadelphia yesterday after getting 14 at-bats in five games with the Class A Clearwater Threshers.

He'll be evaluated with the hope that he'll be able to play when the Phillies open a series against the Cleveland Indians tomorrow night.

Manager Charlie Manuel and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. remained closeted long after yesterday's game ended and it's a pretty safe bet that Rollins was one of the topics of discussion.

When he returns, a roster move will have to be made. And it doesn't seem to be a given that Wilson Valdez will be the one to go. His homer accounted for the Phillies' only run yesterday. He's started the last five games over veteran Juan Castro, and 17 of the last 22.

Since Valdez is out of options, he would have to clear irrevocable waivers before the Phillies could send him back to Triple A Lehigh Valley, but he has a choice of accepting the assignment or opting for free agency.

Rollins has appeared in just 11 games this season. He hurt himself moments before the home opener on April 12, returned on May 17 and made just five starts before re-aggravating the injury. So the Phillies have taken a cautious approach in bringing him back this time.

"This thing has gone on as long as it has and we're obviously going to see what the doctor says and what Jimmy says, and if he's ready he's going to be activated," assistant GM Scott Proefrock said.

In other injury news, catcher Carlos Ruiz remained unavailable after being hit in the head by Jason Kubel's bat on Friday night.

"He's continuing to be evaluated," Proefrock said. "They did some impact testing and we're waiting for the results of that. He had a concussion, so it's just a matter of how long it takes for the symptoms to go away. At this point, I still don't think it's a DL situation."

Said Manuel: "Chooch should be ready to go by at least the middle of [this] week."

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Saturday's loss to the Twins was the first time the Phillies were beaten at home when leading by at least five runs in the ninth inning or later since April 20, 1961. Future Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron started the rally at Connie Mack Stadium that tied the score at 6-6 and the Braves won it in the 11th.

The paid attendance of 45,202 yesterday was the Phillies' 74th consecutive sellout . . . The Phillies are off today before opening an interleague series against the Indians. Probable pitching matchups: RHP Mitch Talbot (7-5, 4.21) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (7-6, 4.76) tomorrow night; RHP Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.76) vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick (4-2, 4.48) Wednesday night; and RHP Fausto Carmona (6-5, 3.31) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (2-5, 6.96) Thursday afternoon . . . Roy Halladay will be moved ahead of Cole Hamels in the rotation to start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. Hamels will pitch Saturday.