After two starts with the IronPigs, Robertson will finish the season in Philadelphia.
The 33-year-old veteran is an example of why there are not many things in this world better than being a lefthanded pitcher in the major leagues. Robertson has a career 57-77 record and a 4.97 ERA, but financially he should be set for life.
After he went 9-13 with a 4.76 ERA in 2007, the Tigers gave Robertson a three-year, $21.25 million deal; they paid him $9.5 million this season not to pitch for them. He went 6-8 with a 5.47 ERA in 19 games - 18 starts - for the Marlins before they released him July 27.
Praising Howard
If it's true that a man's character is measured by the things he does when nobody is looking, then Ryan Howard passed the test a couple of weeks ago during his one-day rehab visit to the Phillies' single-A Lakewood affiliate.
Mark Parent, the Lakewood manager, was so impressed with the way Howard conducted his business during his evening near the Jersey Shore that he felt the need to say something in his voice-mail report to assistant general manager Chuck LaMar.
"I simply put on my voice message one night that I hope Philadelphia realizes how lucky they are to have this guy as the face of their franchise, because he is awesome," Parent said last week. "He took time out for everybody. If you wanted to talk to him, he'd talk to you."
