Phillies

Here is Rich Hofmann's view on the Ryan Madson signing, posted yesterday on his blog, The Idle Rich, at www.philly.com/theidlerich .   NOBODY WILL need to hold a benefit for Ryan Madson. If reports are accurate, he is in the process of doing a 1-year, $8.5 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He is safely in the 1 percent. Again, no tears. But how did this happen? How did he and agent Scott Boras miscalculate the market so badly? I still would love to know how the whole Phillies thing went down.

No one could have predicted that Kyle Kendrick would become the pitcher he became this year. He had made just 12 starts in double-A Reading this season when the Phillies unexpectedly promoted him to the majors to start June 13 in place of injured righthander Freddy Garcia. But a long-term solution for the Phillies' rotation? The starter today in Game 2 of the National League division series against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park? No one could have predicted it. "If we don't feel the internal solution is enough for the long term, then we're going to have to go out there and find a starter," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said June 11. "That's pretty simple math.

BOSTON - All right, Philadelphia, what do you think of Terry Francona now? The man dismissed as a managerial lightweight when he was fired by the Phillies in 2000 has led the Boston Red Sox to the World Series for the second time in four years. By this time next week, he could find himself being measured for his second World Series ring. Sure, we're assuming a lot here, especially with the rugged Colorado Rockies standing in the way, but two World Series rings might just put Francona on course for election to the Hall of Fame someday, depending on how the rest of his career goes.

Inside Role players are crucial for the Phillies. D6.   The Phillies depth chart and roster. D6.   Opening Day Ramon Hernandez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Reds to a 7-6 win over the Brewers. D7.   The Yankees beat Detroit, 6-3, on Curtis Granderson's home run in the seventh. D8.

For what it's worth, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock downplayed the possibility of the Phillies making a significant move before the July 31 trade deadline. "If our guys perform to the levels they have in the past, we'll be fine," Proefrock said, adding that any team moves might amount to "tinkering around the edges (of the roster), if anything. " - Phil Anastasia

At least this time Michael Young had the opportunity to hit for the cycle. Two seasons ago, as a member of the Texas Rangers, Young had already singled, doubled, and tripled when it was his turn to hit in the eighth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Instead, Rangers manager Ron Washington sent Mike Napoli to the plate as a pinch-hitter because he thought Young had two doubles and a single. "I screwed that one up," Washington said that night. Young, the consummate professional, said the at-bat was more important to Napoli because he had just returned from a 22-day stint on the disabled list and he maintained that was the case two years later.