Darren Daulton

ST. LOUIS - The tone was conversational, the posture casual. But if you listened to the words that Charlie Manuel said, really listened, there was more than just the usual afternoon banter. The Phillies manager doesn't call out his players in public. That doesn't work anymore, not with the security that comes with high salaries and long-term contracts. But his frustration with the team's sputtering, stuttering offense has been bubbling just below the surface for a while now. So as he sat in the dugout before last night's 4-0 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, his core message was strikingly similar to the look-in-the-mirror challenge hurled so effectively by Dallas Green 30 years ago. Don't look at him. Don't look at hitting coach Greg Gross.

For the second year in a row, the Phillies will induct a member of the 1993 National League champions into the team's Wall of Fame. John Kruk is the newest member, the team announced Wednesday. He will be honored before the Aug. 12 game against Washington. He follows Darren Daulton, who was honored last season. They are the only two players from the '93 team to make the wall. So which other players from that beloved squad will be honored? There's Curt Schilling, who is all but a shoo-in.

What's wrong with me? It's April 27. The Phillies are in first place and own one of baseball's best records. And yet my psyche's third-base coach is signaling me to panic. It's a little early, I know. Normally, I wait until Aug. 1 or until Ryan Madson can pitch three consecutive days without requesting a breather, whichever comes first. But the omens are everywhere. Think of all the worries afoot just 22 games into this season: Roy Halladay's arm may fall off. Danys Baez's won't.

Who: Pirates at Phillies When: 7:05 Where: Citizens Bank Park TV: None Radio: WPHT (1210-AM) Gates: Open at 5:35 p.m. and Ashburn Alley opens at 4:35 p.m. Giveaway: All fans receive a schedule magnet. The big screen: Fans will get their first look at the new massive HD videoboard. For the fans: Players are expected to be at various outposts around the ballparks. Pregame autograph opportunities with Phillies alumni including Bob Boone, Ricky Bottalico, Larry Bowa, Darren Daulton, Tommy Greene and others.

SAN FRANCISCO - It is the question most asked a Philadelphia writer covering the Giants in this postseason. "What was Pat Burrell like as a Phillie?" There's no short answer to that, of course. During his nine seasons in Philadelphia, he was loved, hated and loved in wildly vacillating proportions by fans; he went from a willing interviewee to an incredibly difficult one; he was seen in so many different lights by so many different people that, even today, I am not quite sure what I would think of him if I didn't have to cover him all those years.

Comcast SportsNet will continue its coverage of the Phillies through the National League Championship Series with special editions of "Daily News Live," "SportsNite" and pregame and postgame shows. Coverage for Game 1 begins on the Comcast Network with "Voice of Reason - Harry The K" at 7 p.m., followed by "Phillies Pregame Live," with analysts Darren Daulton and Ricky Bottalico. After the game on Fox, CSN will air "Phillies Postgame Live" at approximately 11:15. For Sunday's Game 2, "SportsNite" begins the coverage at 6 p.m. followed by "Phillies Pregame Live" at 7 p.m. "SportsNite" airs at 10 p.m. with "Phillies Postgame Live" immediately after the game, at approximately 11:15.

Comcast SportsNet will air special playoff editions of "Daily News Live" and "SportsNite" throughout the Phillies' postseason. Coverage for today's Game 1 begins with "Phillies Pregame Live" at 4:30 p.m., followed by "Daily News" Live at 5, "SportsNite" at 6 and "Phillies Postgame Live" at approximately 8 p.m. For Friday's Game 2, "DNL" begins the lineup at 5 p.m., followed by "Phillies Pregame Live" at 5:30, "SportsNite at 6 and "Phillies Postgame...

DARREN Daulton's induction into the Phillies' Hall of Fame a couple of Fridays ago brought back some wonderful memories of the 1993 pennant-winners and their long-haired, trash-talking Macho Row. Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, John Kruk, Mitch Williams and Dave Hollins were the swaggering nucleus of the '93 Phillies. Cut from the same blue-collar mold as the fans, they were diehards who functioned in a black-and-white world of heroes and bums. While those players weren't nearly as talented as either the 1980 or 2008 world champions, they were beloved because they were throwbacks who hung out with the fans after games and showed their humanity - warts and all. That's why I'm glad some of them are back in town.

He was greeted by some of the greatest names in franchise history: Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Jim Bunning. He was also joined on the podium by some of his teammates on the 1993 team, including John Kruk, Jim Eisenreich, Dave Hollins, Kevin Stocker and Kevin Jordan. Darren Daulton was officially added to the Phillies Wall of Fame in a ceremony before last night's game, an occasion marked by a short speech and the unveiling of his plaque in Ashburn Alley. "I'm not sure if I'm quite worthy to be next to some of those names up there, but that's what you get when you stuff the ballot box," he joked shortly before his induction.