One day after helping the Phillies end a four game losing skid rookie left hander J.A. Happ was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley. The reasoning is that with the all star break upcoming the big league club will not need a fifth starter until July 23rd when they face the Mets in New York. It is very possible that Happ might be recalled to start that day but in the interim the team wants him to pitch in a regular rotation at the Triple A level rather than sitting.

Called up to replace Happ on the roster was infielder Mike Cervenak. Cervenak is a thirty two year old right hand hitter who was batting .310 at Lehigh with 7 home runs and 52 rbi’s in 90 games. This is his first opportunity to play in the big leagues. Prior experiences include a stint in the Korean Baseball League. He was drafted in the 43rd round by the Oakland A’s in the 1998 player draft and is a graduate of Michigan State University. He will provide pinch hitting off the bench and can play both first and third base. The move leaves the Phillies with 11 active pitchers on the roster and 14 position players.

While a somewhat curious move from the perspective that Adam Eaton struggled in his last start the team feels that Eaton is a better option as the fourth starter than Happ at this point……….perhaps a sign that a trade is brewing ?