Phillies starter Freddy Garcia didn’t come out for the 2nd inning after  suffering stiffness in his right biceps while being pounded by the Toronto Blue Jays for 3 runs on 5 hits, including a homer, and walking one in the 1st inning.  But the Phils came alive as the beat the Blue Jays by a  10-6 score.

MLB.com’s Ken Mandel reports;

Garcia threw 32 of his 85 scheduled pitches in one inning against the Blue Jays at Knology Park. He surrendered three runs on five hits, including a long home run to Troy Glaus.

With two outs in the first, five straight Jays smoked balls off Garcia, who appeared to be throwing below the 88-90 mph velocity he had shown in his early outings.

“He wasn’t throwing a whole lot up there,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I figured something might be wrong. I’ll have to see what the problem is and know how long [he’s going to be out].”

Yahoo sports’ AP post reports;

Garcia, picked up in an offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox, was to be examined by the Phillies medical staff on Thursday, team spokesman Larry Shenk said.

Also going down was catcher Carlos Ruiz who was a late scratch from the lineup with sore right shoulder.

The Yahoo sports’ AP report also cites; “‘Ruiz is a concern because he has had that problem before,’ Manuel said.”

In the game, after the Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 1st inning lead, Garcia was pounded in the 1st inning.  Reliever Fabio Castro, vying for a spot in the Phils bullpen, did no better in the 2nd and 3rd innings being pounded for 3 runs on 3 hits, including a homer by DH Frank Thomas, and walking 2.

But then Castro got through the 4th inning with no further damage and 4 other Philllies relievers; Clay Condrey, Eude Brito, closer Tom Gordon and  Jim Ed Warden closed down the Blue Jays over the rest of the game.

The Phils slugged 3 homers in the game; Chase Utley and Shane Victorino clubbed two-run homers and Wes Helms added a solo shot.

Phils reliever Clay Condrey was credited with the win as being the pitcher of record as the Phillies took a 7-6 lead in the 6th inning.  The Phils bludgeoned Toronto starter Josh Towers over 4 2/3 innings for 5 runs on 9 hits, including a homer.  Reliever Jeremy Accardo was charged with the loss giving up the go-ahead run in the 6th inning.

Ken Mandel also reports on Carlos Ruiz’s injury and Phils possible alternative moves;

“Ruiz is a concern, because he’s had that problem before,” Manuel said, referring to Ruiz’s 2005 season for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In that season, Ruiz appeared in 100 games, though only 56 were at catcher. Soreness in his right shoulder forced him to make 32 starts at designated hitter and two at first base.

If Ruiz goes down, the possibility increases for Jayson Werth to see some time behind the plate. Werth was drafted in 1997 as a catcher. Chris Coste might also become more valuable behind the plate, though he’s still recovering from a tender right hamstring.

On that front, Coste said he hopes to test the hamstring in the next “two or three” days. If all goes well, he could play in a game this weekend.

While he hasn’t played in a game since Friday, Coste said he’s done all other baseball activities except run.

To get mentally ready, Coste said, “The first thing I do is pop in the 2006 highlight tape to help the brain release some good endorphins. That will help me heal faster.”

Once Coste can play, he’ll head to the Minor League complex for extra at-bats. In 18 Grapefruit League at-bats this spring, he’s hitting

Also announced was the Phillies offical move switching starter Jon Lieber to a relief role in the bullpen.

Sports Illustrated’s AP posting reports;

Jon Lieber is going to the bullpen for now, ending weeks of speculation, because the Philadelphia Phillies have six starters.

“I’m disappointed,” Lieber said Wednesday. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. I think I can still start.”

A former 20-game winner with the Chicago Cubs and the opening-day starter in each of his two seasons in Philadelphia, Lieber became the odd man out when the Phillies re-signed Jamie Moyer, signed free agent Adam Eaton and acquired Freddy Garcia.

But the move to the bullpen might turn out to be temporary after Garcia left Wednesday night’s game against Toronto after the first inning with stiffness in his right biceps. 

ESPN adds this on Lieber’s assignment to the bullpen;

Lieber, who turns 37 on April 2, has been mentioned in trade rumors for months. But general manager Pat Gillick hasn’t found the right deal and isn’t willing to unload Lieber for the sake of making room in the rotation. The Phillies have sought a late-inning reliever, but the asking price may be too high.

“They’re going to do what’s best for the club,” Lieber said. “My hands are tied. I’m disappointed, but I’m going to give it my best.”

Ken Mandel reports these additional notes;

Closer Tom Gordon had an adventurous eighth inning, allowing two walks and hitting a batter in a scoreless inning. He said he felt fine and is scheduled to throw again on Friday.

Jamie Moyer is still baffling hitters at age 44, and will face the Red Sox on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Bright House Networks Field. He has a 2.51 spring ERA and hasn’t allowed an earned run in his previous three outings. Lieber, moved to the bullpen on Wednesday, is scheduled to make his relief debut.

Apparently another prominent baseball site agrees with me that the Phillies are World Series bound.  

Jim Callis of Baseball America writes in his National League review;

After near misses the last four years, the Phillies break through the playoff barrier and advance all the way to the World Series.

All of the scores, boxscores and recaps of Wednesday’s games can be found here and the scores and boxscores for Thursday’s games can be found  here.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary
Off-Season Action
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