All hands on deck: Ryan Howard activated

The Phillies are getting healthy at just the right time. Ryan Howard, who has been out since August 1st with an ankle injury, was activated from the disabled list. The return of the Big Piece means the Phillies can finally put their entire Opening Day lineup back on the field for the first time since late May.

The Phillies placed Ross Gload on the DL with a groin strain to make room for Howard. While most figured Domonic Brown would be sent down, the injury to Gload likely means that Brown is here to stay for the rest of the season. Perhaps the Phillies will start rotating in the rookie and getting him a few more at bats. The return of Howard also pushes Mike Sweeney into a bench role where he can be a solid right-handed pinch hitter.

With all hands on deck, the Phillies are now poised to make a run on the Braves, who still remain 2.5 games ahead. Expect some big fireworks from a lineup that no longer has to deal with any fill-in players.

Phillies activate Victorino, keep Brown (for now)

It appears that an injury to Ross Gload has extended Domonic Brown's stay in the major leagues. With the Phillies activating Shane Victorino from the disabled list today, all indications were that the team was going to send Brown down to the minors so he could play every day. Instead, because of a groin injury to Gload that the team is calling day to day, Brown will remain with the club as Antonio Bastardo is shipped back to Triple A.

Victorino's activation from the DL happened one day earlier than expected due to his drubbing of minor league pitching over the last two days. With Lehigh, Victorino proved he was ready as he went 4 for 6 with a triple and a homer.

As for Dom Brown, I still wouldn't count on the Phillies keeping him around for too much longer. Once Gload is back to full strength, at bats will be few and far between for Brown so he's better off with regular playing time in the minors. As I stated yesterday, Brown won't be gone for long, anyway, as the September 1st roster expansion is right around the corner.

Ross Gload is the newest Phillie

The Phillies sure aren't wasting any time this offseason. Fresh off the signings of Placido Polanco, Brian Schneider and Juan Castro, the Phillies have signed yet another hitter: 1B/OF Ross Gload. According to Ken Rosenthal, Gload, who played for the Marlins last season, signed a two year contract with the Phillies. The amount of money he will get is not yet known.

Gload, who will likely fill the final spot on the Phillies bench, is a lefty reserve player who can play multiple positions. In his 8 year MLB career spent with the Cubs, Rockies, White Sox, Royals and Marlins, Gload has played 1B, RF, LF, one game at CF and even one inning on the mound. It's likely the Phillies will use Gload as their primary left handed pinch hitter, meaning we have seen the last of Matt Stairs with the Phils. Gload is nearly the exact opposite from Stairs as he has no power (28 homers in 1432 AB's) but has hit for a decent average throughout his career (.283).

The signing of Gload likely means the Phillies have completed the position player portion of their roster. The Phillies will have just one new starter in Placido Polanco but they will have several new bench players in Gload, Schneider and Castro. Add in Ben Francisco and Greg Dobbs and the Phillie bench is certainly different but really not much better than last year's version. For example, who do the Phillies turn to now for speed off the bench? Or for that big homer? John Mayberry would have been a solution to the latter question but as of right now there isn't any room for him on the major league roster.

Gload will be a nice piece for the Phillies but he isn't someone to get too excited about. He will get a few timely hits and fill in at the outfield corners from time to time but that's about it. Now that, for better or for worse, the Phils have completed their bench, it's time for Ruben Amaro to move on to the important business of filling out their bullpen. Hopefully they have enough dough left to bring in a quality arm or two.