Setback

CLEARWATER, Fla. - A day after general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said manager Charlie Manuel had miscategorized a "setback" in Ryan Howard's recovery from Achilles surgery, the Phillies permitted their head athletic trainer to make public remarks regarding Howard. Howard's visit to foot specialist Mark Myerson is scheduled for Monday in Baltimore, and Scott Sheridan said the team planned to send the first baseman for a follow-up visit even before a postsurgical problem surfaced in recent days.

Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park could cut its $500,000 annual energy bill in half if it were allowed to build a co-generation plant to produce its own electricity, according to a hospital official. Dominic A. Colaizzi, senior vice president and chief operations officer at Taylor, told the Ridley Park Zoning Board of Appeals Thursday night that the hospital needed to cut its energy bill "to continue to provide programs for the community. " The hospital has requested a zoning variance from the borough's setback requirements to allow construction of the plant adjacent to its service entrance along Bartol Avenue.

Righthander Tyler Green, the Phillies' No. 1 draft choice two years ago, has suffered another setback. Green, sidelined three previous times by elbow and shoulder problems since signing with the Phillies, was placed on the disabled list at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a sore lower back. Green says he was injured pitching in Rochester Saturday because of the difference between the mound in the bullpen and the one he threw off in the game. However, he has not been particularly effective for the Red Barons since being optioned to the minors on April 13. In seven relief appearances covering 13 1/3 innings, he allowed 17 hits and had a 4.05 earned run average.

First baseman Jim Thome, on the disabled list since July 1 with tendinitis in his right elbow, had a setback yesterday and had to curtail his pregame hitting session in Citizens Bank Park's indoor batting cage. Thome was not available to comment, but Phillies manager Charlie Manuel downplayed the setback. "He got a little pain in the elbow, but that's to be expected when you have tendinitis," Manuel said after the Phillies rallied past Washington, 5-4, in 12 innings. "It just means it hasn't completely healed; he didn't think it was a big deal.

Avon Grove coach Carl Benson has a talented boys' track and field team. He knows it; his team knows it. The Devils have won the last two Southern Chester County League titles, and are hoping for a third this season. That is why Benson came away so baffled by the Devils' setback Monday at the Southern Chester County League Relays at Unionville, where they were surprised by the host Indians. He's hoping it can spur his team on to better things the rest of this season. Before it was suspended, the meet began Saturday at Oxford, where Avon Grove started impressively, winning the 4x100 relay (Matt Jones, Ray Jackson, Jason Ward and Robert Saunders)

The Tinicum Township Board of Commissioners has approved a variance for a 50-foot reduction in its rear-setback requirements, a change that the developers said was necessary for the construction of the proposed 130-unit Knights Inn motel in Essington. The developers, Cardinal Industries of Columbus, Ohio, had asked the board to reduce the setback requirement from 100 feet to 50 feet. Cardinal's Jim Sankovich said the setback reduction was "critical," because it was the one variance needed to proceed with the project.

ASHBURN, Va. - Robert Griffin III looks good to go. The Washington Redskins rookie had a full practice Thursday for the second straight day as the team prepares for Sunday's game against the Eagles. "I like what I see," coach Mike Shanahan said. "If there is no setback, he should be ready to go. " Griffin missed Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns with a sprained right knee. On Wednesday, he had his first full practice since the injury, and coaches and doctors were eager to see how the knee would respond.

It hasn't taken long for the optimism regarding Cliff Robinson's comeback to turn to pessimism. The 76ers forward, who has been out since December with a splintered left kneecap, had planned to resume practicing with the team yesterday. But his return temporarily was put on hold because of unexpected soreness in his knee. Robinson, who had arthroscopic surgery on the knee Jan. 10, last week worked out with Sixers shooting instructor Bob Salmi and played some one-on- one last Friday with forward Shelton Jones.

The Kixx lost their season-high third consecutive game last night when they fell, 22-18, to the Wichita Wings in a National Professional Soccer League game at the Kansas Coliseum. Domenic Mobilio, Chris Marinos, Kevin Sloan and Goran Hunjak each scored two goals for the Kixx (14-7), who have lost three in a row since winning 11 of 12. The Kixx went 0 for 4 in shoot-outs and fell to 1-4 when playing in Wichita. The Wings (11-10) avenged a 14-4 loss in Philadelphia on Nov. 25 and tied a season high for points against the Kixx this season.