Maybe Next Season is the Time

Out: Pat Burrell, facing season-ending surgery.

In: Cory Lidle, acquired from the Reds for two minor leaguers, neither of them a blue-chipper, and a PTBNL.

Burrell had dropped off after his promising start, but still showed enough flashes to provide some measure of protection for Jim Thome. If Chase Utley is even remotely ready for leftfield, I'd run him out there over the Doug Glanville/Jason Michaels combo any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

As for Lidle, he's no one's idea of a Cy Young Award candidate, but the guy does eat innings, and if there's one thing the Phillies' staff needs, it's that. Much of the bullpen's struggles this year can be attributed to the increased workload forced upon it by ineffective starting pitching. Lidle, who doesn't walk a ton of guys, looks to be able to hold down the fort -- and make no mistake, that's why he's here, not because anyone thinks he's going to have a Randy Johnson- or Livan Hernandez-like impact -- better than Paul Abbott.

Regardless, each passing day seems to bring news that buries the Phillies deeper and deeper. This season of promise increasingly feels destined to end in all-too-typical disappointment.