Phillies Notes | Howard to appear on Letterman show

Ryan Howard

's star continues to rise.

He will appear on The Late Show With David Letterman Tuesday in New York. The Phillies will be in town for a three-game series against the Mets at Shea Stadium, but Tuesday is a day off. Howard was a natural choice for the show because he was named the National League's MVP last season.

"It's definitely cool," Howard said before last night's game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. "You just grow up watching stuff like that, and now they want you to be on there. It's a little different. But it'll be fun. I'll try to make it that way."

Does he have any material prepared for the show?

"I'll just go and see how it flows," he said.

The 27-year-old Howard, who has a good sense of humor and a big laugh, should be fine.

Eaton's debut. Righthander Adam Eaton, who signed a three-year, $24.5 million contract in the off-season to replace lefthander Randy Wolf, makes his Phillies debut today against Braves lefthander Chuck James.

Eaton went 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in the spring.

Asked whether he feels he pitched better than his spring-training numbers look, Eaton said, "I hope so. Obviously, the spring-training numbers are what they are. You can't change them."

Eaton's problem has been a lack of command with his pitches, something he hopes he can square away tonight.

Extra bases. Righthander Freddy Garcia, who is on the disabled list with right biceps tendinitis, will make his first rehab start tonight for single-A Clearwater. Garcia is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday. Catcher Chris Coste, on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, also is scheduled to play. . . . Righthander Jon Lieber, on the DL with a strained right abdominal muscle, threw three innings and 42 pitches Monday in an extended spring-training game in Clearwater. He will make his first rehab appearance tomorrow for Clearwater.

-Todd Zolecki