Carlos Ruiz

Charlie Manuel was not surprised to hear that Carlos Ruiz was trailing in the all-star voting for catchers. Yes, Ruiz led the National League in batting average and ranked fourth in on-base percentage and third in slugging percentage entering Tuesday. But fans had voted more often for St. Louis' Yadier Molina, San Francisco's Buster Posey, and Atlanta's Brian McCann. "From the national standpoint, they probably don't know Chooch is this good," the Phillies manager said. "He probably doesn't have the exposure like the other ones have.

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.

Has Kyle Kendrick proved himself to be a long-term solution for the Phillies' rotation? Not yet. It's still too early to reach that conclusion. But he has pitched well enough in his first three starts that the Phillies aren't at DEFCON 5 after losing starters Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber in a span of 12 days this month. (They're at more like DEFCON 4.) They still are looking to trade for a starter to replace Lieber, who likely is lost for the season. But the Phillies are undefeated in Kendrick's starts as Garcia's replacement, including last night's 11-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

Carlos Ruiz's telephone rang a few weeks ago in Panama. The man on the other end wanted to know why Ruiz wasn't going to play for his country in the World Baseball Classic. Ruiz explained that as much as he wanted to, he thought it would be best if he remained in Phillies camp and worked with the team's pitching staff throughout March. The man on the other end of the telephone said he understood Ruiz's reasoning, but before hanging up asked the 30-year-old catcher to give it a little more thought.

PHOENIX - The Phillies won but Charlie Manuel was distracted. He uncapped a blue marker and doodled on his worn lineup card late Saturday night in the desert. He never lifted his head when asked about his hitters' finally executing in key situations to snap a three-game losing skid. The 69-year-old manager mumbled. He repeated a message heard so frequently in the last 13 months, and his plodding tone suggested that even Manuel had doubts about it. "We don't need to get down and everything," Manuel said.

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.

1. Carlos Ruiz's elbow          2. J.C. Romero's back 3. LeSean McCoy's ribs       4. Michael Vick's ribs

The cameras first surrounded Erik Kratz, who said he was "disappointed" when he arrived Monday at Citizens Bank Park and did not see his name in the lineup. Then the pack shuffled to the other side of the Phillies clubhouse to question Humberto Quintero. All the while, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels stared as the two catchers were interviewed. Halladay, immersed in preparation for his start, raised his head from his notes and sneered. The players may have viewed it as a media concoction, but the melodrama Monday was set in motion by Halladay's words five days earlier.

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.