Halladay Kicks Off Wrigley Series, Plus Other Exciting Tidbits

CHICAGO -- Phillies fans are out in force at Wrigley Field this week.

Stopping into the local drinking establishment Cubby Bear across the street prior to the game, Phils fans dominated the place. It was, however, 2:30 in the afternoon. So perhaps Philadelphians are just more into day drinking? Or unemployed/on vacation. Either way, they'll be both plentiful and vocal over the next few days in the Windy City.

Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.45) takes on former Phillie Rodrigo Lopez (1-2, 4.02) in the first of the three game set.

Lopez
appeared in seven games for the Phillies in 2009 and actually made five
starts, earning three wins despite a 5.70 ERA in 30.0 innings of work. Lopez got off to a hot start to his short stint with the World Series bound Fightins, but couldn't press his luck successfully and was eventually let go to make room for one Pedro Martinez.

Roy Halladay's career with the Phillies has gone a little bit better.

Charlie Manuel's thoughts on what the team should add prior to the trade deadline as well as Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco injury updates below. Plus a Sarge Matthews sighting.

Tonight's Phillies lineup: Jimmy
Rollins, Michael Martinez, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez,
Carlos Ruiz, Dom Brown, John Mayberry Jr., Roy Hallday

Bullpen Help or a Right-handed Bat

With the trade deadline inching closer, Charlie Manuel was asked before the game whether he believed the team could use more, another reliable arm in the pen or a right-handed bat. One thing in his response was clear, if the Phils are going to add a piece, he wants it to be an upgrade.

"I think we can definitely use a reliever, I think without a doubt, but we could also use a good bat. And when I say a reliever or a bat, I'm talking about a *good* one," Manuel said. "If we can find a good bat and we don't find a good reliever, then we take the good bat. If we gonna get somebody, I want somebody good. I want somebody that is going to help us. I don't to get what we already got."

So Charlie's thinking big?

"I always think big."

Vic Update

Shane Victorino chatted before the game and says that he expects to play tomorrow but added that there will continue to be discomfort in his thumb. He says he doesn't believe it's anything that will get worse, but added that when he swings the bat, particularly left-handed, that getting jammed certainly can generate discomfort.

Charlie Manuel added that he'll wait and see Vic get evaluated after he took batting practice and worked out this evening before making any decisions on whether Shane will be activated for tomorrow.

Shane, talking about the infamous beer throwing incident from 2009 at Wrigley, joked before the game about wearing a beer helmet out to the outfield this week.

Polly Outlook Not As Promising

Placido Polanco is not progressing as quickly, and will likely need a cortisone shot in his back. Jim Salisbury has more on that.

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Here's a random shot of Sarge Matthews this afternoon in Chicago. He just happened to be walking by as I was trying to take a picture of the iconic Wrigley sign: