Phillies Notes: Schneider won't go on DL

PITTSBURGH - Brian Schneider had his right thumb wrapped in a splint before Friday's game, but it was actually a bit of good news for the walking wounded.

It appears he won't be the eighth current Phillie on the disabled list.

The Phillies catcher, who is normally the backup but has been pressed into service as the starter with Carlos Ruiz shelved, has a sprained thumb but should only miss a few days. Schneider said he was available to play if needed in an emergency situation.

That's why the Phillies didn't make a roster move to bring a third catcher in as insurance.

Without Schneider, Dane Sardinha is the starting catcher. Sardinha, 31, played in 31 major-league games before this season. He began the year as the fourth-string catcher.

"The right way is to plug a guy in and let him start hitting," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "That can happen in this game. I've seen it happen. It's what we have to do. We have to get some offense from guys who aren't used to playing or guys that we called up."

Entering Friday, Sardinha hasn't done too badly considering his place in the organizational depth chart. He was 4 for 18 in seven games with two home runs and six RBIs. The home runs were the first of his career.

Schneider injured his thumb in the second inning of Thursday's game when he awkwardly caught a Cole Hamels pitch, jamming his thumb into the ground. He also took a foul tip off the same area.

Schneider asked to come out of the game in the fourth inning because he couldn't grip a bat. On Friday, the thumb was still sore, but he took some swings and said he could do it in a game should something happen to Sardinha.

Schneider's injury is not serious enough to call for catching insurance, such as Paul Hoover at triple-A Lehigh Valley. Hoover started at catcher for the Iron Pigs on Friday night.

Manuel said he would try to avoid using Schneider this weekend.

"It's kind of a day-to-day thing," Manuel said.

Manuel and his staff have until Sunday morning to make their selections for the National League All-Star team. Manuel, who is managing for the second straight year, has eight picks. He will also choose the five players who appear on the online "final vote" ballot.

"I'll definitely have it in before the deadline," Manuel said. "At the same time, we might go all the way up until the deadline."

Manuel said he will keep his players in mind, but even he admitted fewer Phillies will make it this year. Five went in 2009.

Manuel gave Shane Victorino the night off Friday, saying he wants his centerfielder to work on his lefthanded hitting.

That moved shortstop Jimmy Rollins back into his customary leadoff spot, after batting third for the last three games since Chase Utley's injury. Manuel would not say if Rollins could stay in the leadoff spot.

Raul Ibanez moved up to No. 2 in the order for the first time all season. Manuel did that, he said, because he wants his second hitter to play situational baseball and be able to pull the ball or draw walks.

Righthander Ryan Madson (broken right toe) pitched two scoreless innings in his third rehab game for double-A Reading. Madson allowed two hits and struck out one.