Carlos Ruiz

It was 4:47 p.m. Sunday when a beaming Charlie Manuel sauntered into his team's clubhouse. He found Freddy Galvis, shook the diminutive hero's hand, and disappeared to pack for an eight-game road trip. As Galvis described his elation upon hitting an unbelievable home run that sealed a 3-2 Phillies victory to a throng of reporters, Kevin Frandsen jumped up and down to make Galvis laugh. A few lockers away, Carlos Ruiz struggled to pull green shorts over his wrapped right leg. Across the room, Ryan Howard dismissed the notion that a left knee injury that apparently has afflicted him since spring training was serious.

The white T-shirts were sprawled across the chairs sitting in front of every locker in the Phillies' clubhouse. They read "Vote for Chooch," the words of a promotional campaign to gin up votes for catcher Carlos Ruiz's bid for an All-Star berth. The players were supposed to wear them during batting practice, in a display of camaraderie that was part solidarity, part infomercial. The reason behind the shirts was simple. It was mid-June and Ruiz trailed in the fans' All-Star voting, despite putting up All-Star worthy numbers, including boasting the best batting average in baseball.

At 2:03 a.m. yesterday, cameras and microphones engulfed an unlikely man in the Phillies' clubhouse. "You're killing me!" reliever Chad Durbin barked at catcher Carlos Ruiz. Walking back from a shower, Durbin couldn't find a path to his nearby dressing space. A media type moved. "I'm just kidding," Durbin said. "He deserves it. " Questions came in Spanish and English. The 29-year-old native of Panama answered them in the language they were asked, understanding he is now part of Phillies World Series lore, the living embodiment of the ups and downs of a long night.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The human side of the Carlos Ruiz story bubbled to the surface Wednesday, and it was a painful experience for all involved. For the first time since the late November news that the Phillies catcher had been suspended for 25 games after violating baseball's substance-abuse policy, Ruiz was required to do more than make a statement about his transgression. When he completed the first official workout of spring training with his teammates, Ruiz sat down for a group interview on a blue picnic table just beyond the left-field wall at Bright House Field.

IN ADDITION TO righting their ship, the Phillies also must avoid taking on more water, a task that became more challenging yesterday when a couple of their stars were sidelined with injuries. Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard will both undergo MRIs today as the Phillies prepare to start a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami. At least for the moment, Ruiz' injury appears to be more significant. The catcher suffered a right hamstring strain while moving from first to third on a single in the second inning.

Carlos Ruiz will be paid a career-high $5 million next season after the Phillies picked up his 2013 option Monday. What he will make beyond that from the Phillies remains to be seen. Ruiz' agent, Marc Kligman, said at this point the two sides have not talked about a long-term contract extension for the all-star catcher. "No, I haven't received phone calls or overtures from the Phillies regarding an extension for a new contract," Kligman said. Both sides declined the $5.5 million option on third baseman Placido Polanco for 2013.

SAN FRANCISCO - Carlos Ruiz took part in his daily pregame routine during batting practice at AT&T Park yesterday. He fielded ground balls at third base alongside Michael Young. But for the second time in the last five games, Ruiz did not start behind the plate when the Phillies took the field later in the night to take on the San Francisco Giants. Erik Kratz started at catcher in place of Ruiz, who is hitting .100 (2-for-20) since returning from his 25-game suspension. Over the weekend, Ruiz said he's still attempting to get into a comfort zone at the plate after his near monthlong absence.

APPARENTLY, the end of the regular season was not enough to stem the tide of bad news that has battered the Phillies for the bulk of 2012. On Tuesday, the team announced that it will play the first 25 games of the 2013 season without its most productive hitter from a year ago, as Carlos Ruiz serves a suspension for testing positive for a banned stimulant. According to a baseball source, Ruiz tested positive for an amphetamine commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adderall is the brand name)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Along the back wall of the clubhouse, in front of the locker he has long called home, Carlos Ruiz sat and fiddled with an iPhone. The lineup card for the afternoon game against the Yankees was hanging on the bulletin board across the room. Once again, somebody else was starting for the Phillies at catcher. "I know what they are thinking," Ruiz said. "I have plenty of time to get ready for the season. " On Thursday, Ruiz will travel to Fort Myers for what will be only his third start since March 4. Once the Phillies break camp and fly north for a two-game exhibition series at Citizens Bank Park, the veteran catcher will head over to the Carpenter Complex and participate in extended spring training, where he will attempt to get himself into regular-season shape, along with a host of minor league players from the organization.

The Phillies' prospects didn't look so bright. Having been in a serious offensive drought, they entered the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale with the Cincinnati Reds trailing by 2-1. And they had to face reliever Aroldis Chapman, a pitcher they were 3 for 21 against with zero runs scored, all-time. Manager Charlie Manuel contemplated pinch-hitting for Freddy Galvis, the man who hit a home run to win it. None of it made much sense. A team that had scored one run in its previous 17 innings blasted consecutive home runs by Erik Kratz and Galvis off the flame-throwing Chapman in the ninth to stun the Reds, 3-2, at Citizens Bank Park.

It was 4:47 p.m. Sunday when a beaming Charlie Manuel sauntered into his team's clubhouse. He found Freddy Galvis, shook the diminutive hero's hand, and disappeared to pack for an eight-game road trip. As Galvis described his elation upon hitting an unbelievable home run that sealed a 3-2 Phillies victory to a throng of reporters, Kevin Frandsen jumped up and down to make Galvis laugh. A few lockers away, Carlos Ruiz struggled to pull green shorts over his wrapped right leg. Across the room, Ryan Howard dismissed the notion that a left knee injury that apparently has afflicted him since spring training was serious.

WHEN YOU are scuffling, there is no such thing as a little mistake. Domonic Brown's sixth-inning throw to first is misplayed into an eventual unearned run . . . Cliff Lee's ninth-inning baserunning gaffe gives dominant Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman a two-out save opportunity . . . and there you are again yesterday, tortured, angered, ready to swear off the local nine for maybe the 10th time just in the last month. Why didn't Charlie Manuel use an everyday player to run instead of a pitcher?

IN ADDITION TO righting their ship, the Phillies also must avoid taking on more water, a task that became more challenging yesterday when a couple of their stars were sidelined with injuries. Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard will both undergo MRIs today as the Phillies prepare to start a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami. At least for the moment, Ruiz' injury appears to be more significant. The catcher suffered a right hamstring strain while moving from first to third on a single in the second inning.

MIAMI - The Phillies know they will be without their starting catcher for approximately a month. They are less certain about their slugging cleanup hitter. Both Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard underwent MRI examinations Monday in Philadelphia, and the news was not welcoming for the Phillies. Ruiz will miss three to four weeks with a right hamstring strain. Howard received a cortisone injection Sunday for inflammation in his left knee. His examination was troubling. For now, the team is labeling him "day-to-day.

MIAMI - After missing most of the first month of the season while serving a suspension, Carlos Ruiz might miss another month because of an injury. The All-Star catcher had an MRI exam yesterday that revealed a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. Ruiz, who will be placed on the disabled list before tonight's game in Miami, is expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks. Ruiz left Sunday's game against the Reds after he was hurt running the bases in the second inning. First baseman Ryan Howard also had an MRI yesterday in Philadelphia.

On the heels of arguably their most dramatic win of the season, the Phillies are left dealing with an unsettled injury situation. Carlos Ruiz suffered a right hamstring strain while running the bases in Sunday's 3-2 comeback victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Ryan Howard did not play because of a sore left knee, an injury he traced back to spring training. Howard was replaced by Michael Young, who played his first game at first base since Sept. 28 of last season while with the Texas Rangers.

ROY HALLADAY yesterday had surgery to repair his $20 million shoulder, which, with the rest of him, was 36 years and 1 day old. The surgery likely will end his season and surely will alter his career. Mike Adams, the Phillies' featured addition to their pitching staff, has pitched through aches all season and is shelved for the time being with a back injury. Veteran middle man Chad Durbin, usually lousy early in seasons, has been lousy early this season. Huge reliever Phillippe Aumont, a 24-year-old who had pitched in 31 major league games since he was called up in late August, has pitched like a giant 24-year-old with about a half-season of experience.

MAY IS A month in which any amount of optimism can be excused, and if you spend enough time scanning the airwaves and sports pages in this town you will find a number of sources attempting to talk themselves into believing in this Phillies team. Some of that might be the result of a coping mechanism - the thought of 4 months of meaningless baseball is a weighty thought to process - but even the most ardent of cynics cannot deny the multitude of variables that could blossom into positives between now and October.

Phillies setup man Mike Adams is listed as day-to-day with back spasms, but he hopes he doesn't have too many more days like Tuesday. Adams said he was hurt Sunday while shagging a fly ball in batting practice. On Tuesday, he tried to test his back by having a catch and did not have favorable results. "I feel better than I felt Tuesday," Adams said Wednesday afternoon after a 10-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park. "Yesterday I felt horrible. " He said he received an injection to try to loosen the muscle in an attempt to recover quicker.