Phillies Notes | Garcia is ready to rejoin rotation
Phillies Notes NEW YORK - Righthander Freddy Garcia says he is finally ready to pitch for the Phillies. Garcia, who opened the season on the disabled list with right biceps tendinitis, threw 70 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday in Clearwater, Fla. He rejoined the Phillies yesterday at Shea Stadium.
Phillies Notes
NEW YORK - Righthander
Freddy Garcia
says he is finally ready to pitch for the Phillies.
Garcia, who opened the season on the disabled list with right biceps tendinitis, threw 70 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday in Clearwater, Fla. He rejoined the Phillies yesterday at Shea Stadium.
The Phils have not made it official, but unless there is a rainout or unexpected setback, Garcia will make his Phillies debut Sunday against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park.
Setup man?
Charlie Manuel
had said last month that he planned to give
Ryan Madson
a real opportunity to be his setup man, but has backed off.
Madson is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three appearances this season. Manuel said yesterday that that Madson "will get chances" but that he has not designated a specific setup man.
Righthander Antonio Alfonseca pitched the eighth with a three-run lead in last night's 5-2 victory over the Mets. Alfonseca has a 2.08 ERA in four appearances.
Howard on TV
Ryan Howard
appeared Tuesday on
Late Show with David Letterman
and held his own.
"It was cool," Howard said. "It's different when you're watching stuff and then you're on there. It's just a different feeling. There's a live audience there, so you're trying to stay on your game and be quick on your feet and be funny and witty at the same time."
The show is taped in the afternoon, but Howard said he watched himself later that night.
"I thought I was pretty good," he said with a smile.
Oh, brother
The Phillies claimed infielder
Michael Garciaparra,
a supplemental first-round pick in 2001, off waivers from Seattle. Garciaparra is the brother of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Nomar Garciaparra.
Michael, 24, hit .316 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 136 at-bats last season for triple-A Tacoma. In five seasons in the minors, he is a .267 hitter.
The Phillies have a history of acquiring the less famous of baseball brothers: Ken Brett instead of George, Vince DiMaggio instead of Joe or Dom, Juan Bell instead of George, Mike Maddux instead of Greg, Mark Leiter instead of Al, Jeremy Giambi instead of Jason, and Frank Torre instead of Joe.
Extra bases
Every player on the Phillies and Astros will wear No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson in Sunday's game, the teams announced.
- Todd Zolecki