Phillies Extra

At least there was one reason for the Phillies to laugh after a missed opportunity to clinch their fourth straight division title at home.

Costumes hung in seven players' lockers, meaning it was time for the annual rookie hazing. Pitchers Vance Worley and Antonio Bastardo sat at their lockers, staring at the scandalous police outfits they had to put on.

"Delaying the inevitable, gentlemen," Ryan Howard said as he walked by.

Domonic Brown, John Mayberry Jr., Brian Bocock, Mike Zagurski, and David Herndon also donned costumes. The rookies were forced to wear them for the entire train trip to Washington.

Brad Lidge and Mike Sweeney were the veterans doing the most enforcing.

"We've all done it," Sweeney said. "Something brutal."

Zagurski, dressed as a sailor, made a quick exit. Bocock, a fireman, nearly left without a crucial part of his outfit.

"Can't forget the hat," he said as he put on a plastic fireman's helmet.

Perhaps the most admirable was Herndon, an avid hunter, who wore camouflage short shorts and a cutoff shirt. But what was underneath had his teammates giggling.

"Thongs are not comfortable at all," Herndon said.