Jim

Thome

Thome missed time last season with back problems, not long after Cleveland played in Montreal. ''I’ve had my back [problems], so I know the early stages of it,’' Thome said. ''It’s more like the early stages of it [now].’' Manager Larry Bowa doesn’t believe Thome will miss any more games.

Thome has had heartburn and tightness since colliding with Todd Pratt last week. He could sit out the final week of the season and let Ryan Howard play.

“It’s day-to-day,” he said.

The Phillies have already talked to Grady Little, Don Baylor and Charlie Manuel. Buddy Bell, Jim Fregosi and Pendleton are scheduled for interviews.

Neither piece of news come as a surprise. It’s hard to blame Bowa for what happened with the Phillies this season, but there isn’t a lot to like about him as a manager. Kerrigan, who did such a good job in Boston, seems to have more enemies than friends on the Philadelphia pitching staff. Several reports say that he was involved in a physical confrontation with a pitcher earlier this season in Bowa’s office.

Manuel would probably be the best choice of this weak group. Baylor and Little have demonstrated that they belong in other roles.

Jim Leyland was unable to sneak in and steal away the job. Manuel, who had a 220-190 record with the Indians from 2000-02, was the best choice among the weak group of candidates the Phillies interviewed.

Those four join Don Baylor, Charlie Manuel and Grady Little, who were interviewed two weeks ago, as the Phillies’ managerial candidates. It’s not believed that anyone else will be added to the list.

It sounds odd for Thome to be rested against a right-hander, but Ohka defies percentages. Lefties are hitting just .244 off him, while righties are hitting .392. Todd Pratt or Tomas Perez will take over at first base for Thome today.

If the fracture is in a spot that affects the tendon in the finger, a pin might need to be inserted. The Phillies won’t know that until tomorrow, when Thome visits a hand specialist in Philadelphia. Chase Utley began taking grounders at first base yesterday and could fill in for Thome.