Mike

Lieberthal

Lieberthal was scheduled to get tonight off anyway with Kevin Millwood on the mound. Todd Pratt will catch.

Lieberthal had a bases-loaded triple last night, bringing him to 5-for-9 with four RBI and three runs so far. As long as he’s healthy, he’s one of the top offensive catchers in the NL.

He’s done well to boost his average to .267 after it stood at .174 after April and .224 after May, but Lieberthal said all he would remember about 2004 were the boos he got from the home crowd (and a few fantasy owners, we imagine).

Lieberthal had fluid drained from his knee and received a cortisone shot Sunday.

He wasn’t scheduled to play today, but he is expected to play tomorrow.

This was the same night Ivan Rodriguez walked five times. Chalk it up to the alignment of the stars (or in Lieberthal’s case, the fact that opposing pitchers would rather face Marlon Byrd than him).

Lieberthal’s poor clutch performance last year has created the possibility that the Phillies could deal him. Still, no team is going to be eager to take on the $15 million he’s owed over the next two years. It’s likely that he’ll remain with Philadelphia.

Lieberthal could be cleared to return to Philadelphia’s lineup. He hopes to play either Thursday or Friday.

Lieberthal is receiving the same treatment he needed four times to solve a similar problem during a six-week absence in 1998. Clearly, this injury is getting to be a real concern. An official from another team said yesterday that the Phillies do not think Lieberthal will be able to play more than three days a week this season. The Phillies dismissed the report, but if you’re drafting soon, you’ll want to avoid Lieberthal.

Lieberthal tested his abdominal injury for a second straight day Sunday by running through a series of agility drills. ''It felt better,’' Lieberthal said. ''I still felt it, but I feel stronger.’'