--3B Pedro Feliz is finally pain-free after Nov. 20 surgery to repair a herniated disc, and it shows. Feliz has started each of the Phillies' 13 games and is batting .326 (14-for-43) with one homer and nine RBIs. It's been a significant improvement from last season, when Feliz's average dropped to .249 and he hit only 14 home runs, his lowest total since he appeared in only 67 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2002.
"He could definitely hit 25," manager Charlie Manuel said. "His defense is real good, and a prototype third baseman usually hits with power and drives in runs. When I look at (Feliz), I know what kind of potential he has. It's just a matter of him getting consistent." And if Feliz can achieve offensive consistency, he'll give the Phillies another right-handed hitter in a lineup that prominently features lefty-swinging Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez. He also would give the Phillies greater reason to exercise their $5 million option on his contract for 2010.
"That's not even in my mind," Feliz said. "I don't put that pressure on myself. I just want to feel 100 percent and do my best to help the team win. I know I've got to be prepared for next year, but what happens, happens. I'm just happy to be in the lineup every day."
--CF Shane Victorino has won the 2009 Lou Gehrig Award, presented by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The award, given for Victorino's work to raise money for ALS, will be presented on July 4. Gehrig was a member of the fraternity's chapter at Columbia University.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Home runs allowed by RH closer Brad Lidge through April 19. Lidge allowed only two homers all of last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Harry Kalas may have -- if you can look past Ben Franklin and William Penn -- been the greatest person ever to grace Philadelphia in the history of this city. As many lives as he affected over the time that he lived in Philadelphia and around this area, who would have had a bigger impact on the city? Who would?" -- Mike Schmidt.
