Good riddance? Phillies place Baez on DL, recall Bastardo

Phillies fans have been calling for the team to release Danys Baez for months. While they didn't quite get their wish, those that despise Baez and his 5.14 ERA will be happy to know that the Phillies had to place the reliever on the disabled list due to back spasms. In his place, Antonio Bastardo was called up from Triple A to reprise his role as lefty specialist.

Baez has been the very definition of a disappointment this season. When he was signed in the offseason, the Phillies probably thought they were bringing in someone who could lock down the 7th inning and help bridge the gap from the starting pitcher to Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge. Instead, Baez has been completely unreliable and can only pitch in low-leverage situations when the Phillies are up or down by multiple runs. What makes his bad season even worse is knowing that he's signed on to play another season with the Phillies.

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.

Finally, Scott Mathieson returns to the Phillies

Scott Mathieson made his major league debut for the Phillies back in June of 2006, starting a handful of games for the team and posting some terrible numbers (1-4, 7.47 ERA). Nearly four years and two Tommy John surgeries later, Mathieson is finally back with the big club, this time as a flame-throwing reliever. With Lehigh this season, the righty has put up some great numbers, posting a 2.43 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while saving 12 games. Hopefully he can act as a nice midseason acquisition for a Phillies pen that lacks trustworthy arms.

Mathieson was called up to replace Antonio Bastardo, who was placed on the 15 day disabled list with left elbow ulnar neuritis. Seems like every time Bastardo flashes some of his potential as a quality lefty out of the pen he goes and gets injured.

Phillies roster shuffle: Rollins, Bastardo in; Lidge, Valdez out

With most of my attention focused on the Flyers playoff run, I haven't had much energy to talk about the Phillies on the site lately. Needless to say, despite whatever imperfections the Phils have in the bullpen, the team has been on a roll lately, playing like the two time National League Champs that they are.

The only real news to come from the Phillies in the last few days has been a series of roster moves as more players have succumbed to injury and others have made their way back. First, the bad news: Brad Lidge was placed back on the disabled list as he continues to deal with elbow issues. Things just haven't been right for Lidge this season and I would expect him to not be rushed back this time. In his absence, with Ryan Madson also still out for several weeks, Jose Contreras is taking over at closer. While Contreras has been a stud out of the bullpen, should the Phillies be without Lidge for a long period of time, I would expect them to start seeking out a trade for a new closing option.

With Lidge being removed from the roster, Antonio Bastardo was called up once again. He will give the team a second lefty out of the pen but should be ready to get shifted back down to the minors at any time.

Also returning to the Phillies on Monday was Jimmy Rollins, who was activated from the disabled list and inserted right into the lineup. While his replacements at shortstop haven't been terrible, J-Roll's return brings the Phillies one step closer to their ideal lineup, a scary thought for a team that has been producing plenty of runs recently. To make room for Rollins, the Phillies designated Wilson Valdez for assignment, meaning they have 10 days to trade, release or place him on waivers. With how well Valdez had been playing in the field, it's a shame they may lose him, but he is the third string shortstop and he was pretty terrible with the bat.

Two more pieces of good Phillies news: Carlos Ruiz is back after taking a few days off and J.A. Happ is starting to throw, signaling he is making progress towards a return to the team. It should be frightening to the rest of the league that, with all of these players coming back into the fold, this Phillies team, already 10 games over .500, is only going to get better. Be afraid, National League, be very afraid.

Another Phillies injury? Madson to the DL

It's a good thing Brad Lidge is back. According to the Phillies beat writers on Twitter, Ryan Madson has been placed on the 15 day disabled list with a broken toe. Madson suffered the injury after Wednesday's game against the Giants, a game in which he blew a save. Notice that he hurt himself AFTER his blown save, a revelation that has led many to speculate that he broke his toe kicking something in frustration. (Update: this has now been confirmed, he broke his foot kicking a chair)

Whatever the cause of the injury, the Phillies bullpen remains unsettled without Madson. Just when you figured everything was going to fall in place with the return of Lidge, the Phils go and lose their setup man. Look for the new 8th inning guy to be Jose Contreras instead of the inconsistent Danys Baez.

Antonio Bastardo was called back up to replace Madson on the roster. Hopefully he never left Philly after being demoted to make room for Lidge!

The closer returns: Phillies activate Lidge

Those that are sick of watching Ryan Madson struggle through closing situations now have someone else to sweat through the 9th inning with: Brad Lidge is back. Lidge, who was placed on the disabled list at the end of spring training, will be activated before Friday's game against the Mets. To make room for Lidge, Antonio Bastardo was sent to the minors.

It's not known if Lidge will return to the closer spot right away. Given how Madson blew a save yesterday against the Giants, I'm sure Lidge will be finding his way back to the 9th sooner rather than later. How he does in the role is another story, though, considering his 11 blown saves and ERA over 7 last season. Let's hope his return solidifies the back end of the Phillies bullpen and let's the relievers all fall into their normal roles.

LOOGY race is down to two: Escalona sent to the minors

As the season draws near, the Phillies bullpen is starting to take shape. With J.C. Romero likely to start the season on the disabled list, the Phillies will have one, and possibly two, spots open for lefties out of the pen. Entering Friday, three pitchers still vied for the LOOGY (Lefty One Out GuY) role: Antonio Bastardo, Sergio Escalona and Mike Zagurski. Well, with the demotion of Escalona to the minors, that race is down to two.

Escalona, who shuttled back and forth from the minors to the Phillies last season, will likely start the year in Double A where he will look to refine his control and get some innings under his belt. At only 25, we will certainly be hearing from him in the future, although he may never be anything more than a serviceable major leaguer.

As for the remaining lefties, Bastardo seems to nearly have a bullpen spot locked up while Zagurski will only make the team if the Phillies decide to start the year with two lefties. With Romero not expected to be out for an extended period of time, Zagurski seems destined for the minors, which is where he probably should be as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

Bastardo to the DL, Phillies acquire Mazone

The Phillies have made a series of minor moves in the last 24 hours.

First, as expected, the Phillies placed Antonio Bastardo on the 15 day disabled list. To take his place on the roster, but not in the rotation, the Phils called up Sergio Escalona. Escalona figures to be with the team until they need to call up another starter to take Bastardo's turn in the rotation.

That day will be Friday, when the Phillies play the Mets. The Phils moved J.A. Happ from Friday's start to Thursday, meaning they have an open spot for Friday's game. Possible candidates include Drew Carpenter, Carlos Carrasco and Rodrigo Lopez, all of whom pitch for Lehigh Valley. There is also an outside chance the Phillies could make a trade by Friday and plug the new pitcher into the rotation. Let's hope it isn't Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees, like some of the rumors I've heard.

The Phillies also made a move today that will allow them to replace whoever they call up from Lehigh: they acquired Brian Mazone from the Dodgers. Mazone is a former Phillie farmhand who is strictly a minor league pitcher, there is no chance he will be called up to pitch for the Big Club.

I would expect the Phillies to keep tinkering with their roster over the next few days. Stay tuned!