Raul Ibanez

Iron Pigs. Now that's a great fantasy baseball team name right there. Heck it even has crossover appeal, as it would work in football and hoops too.

Raúl Ibañez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 18 with a left groin strain, finished his three-game rehab stint at triple-A Lehigh Valley last night as the IronPigs beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 6-3, at Coca-Cola Park. Ibañez looked ready for the big leagues.

According to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, the first-time all-star could return to the lineup as early as tonight, when the Phillies begin a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "We'll see how he does and we'll go from there," Manuel said before last night's 9-6 win over Cincinnati. "I would like to get him in two games over the weekend."

Ibañez expects to be in left field for the Phillies tonight. "I think that's the plan," Ibañez said. "I expect to play well and try to help the team tomorrow."

Philadelphia Inquirer

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Best Free Agents
2. Trevor Hoffman, Brewers closer. He took the chance leaving Southern California (he had an offer to go with the Dodgers) to go for beer and brats, and he hasn't missed a beat. For a bargain $6 million, his 17 saves are only three off the NL lead, and he missed the first three weeks of the season.

3. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets closer. The Mets solved their relief woes by signing one of the very best for $37 million over three years. Worries about him losing his stuff appear wholly unfounded, as he has 20 saves in 22 tries and has allowed just 19 hits in 35 2/3 innings. Plus, he's hit as high as 96 mph on the gun lately. One of only two blown saves came when Luis Castillo dropped a pop fly on the last out.

Jon Heyman - SI.com

A sense of relief wafted through the Phillies' clubhouse yesterday after it was learned an MRI on Raul Ibanez showed his groin injury was no more severe than the team announced on Thursday. A club spokesman said before last night's game against Baltimore the results of the MRI were consistent with the original diagnosis - a strained left groin. "I'm feeling better," Ibanez said. "I expect to continue to progress."

Phillies Notes

In his second bullpen session since he went on the 15-day disabled list, Brad Lidge threw more than three dozen pain-free pitches yesterday. Afterward, he said his right knee felt fine. "I threw 42 pitches and put something on them, and I felt really good again, so that's pretty darn encouraging," Lidge said. "We have to kind of see how I feel when I wake up."

If the Phillies' closer does not experience swelling or inflammation this morning, he could be headed for a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, perhaps as soon as tonight in Reading. The earliest Lidge could come off the disabled list is Tuesday, when the Phillies play at Tampa Bay. "If he feels 100 percent, we'll probably start him on a rehab," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We're not going to put him on the mound until he absolutely feels 100 percent. It makes no sense to rush him."

Philadelphia Inquirer

Phillies place Ibanez on disabled list

Raul Ibanez seemed to have a little problem running at times tonight in a 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays. He said Sunday he has had a sore left Achilles because of some bad shoes, but insisted it was not serious. I might be mistaken, but I thought I noticed him running with a limp as long ago as last week at Citi Field.

"It looked like tonight when he hit that ball to shortstop he couldn't turn it on," Manuel said. "He kind of gimped. I saw that. It looked like it might have been bothering him." It could explain why Ibanez has hit .194 (6-for-31) in his past seven games, although he also has three home runs and five RBIs in that span. Ibanez could not be reached for comment after the game.

The Zo Zone

sure, blame the shoes.

Ibanez had started 222 consecutive games until today.

He has been bothered the past few days with some soreness in his left Achilles area because of some ill-fitting shoes, so Manuel rested him. He said the shoes have been fixed and he is fine. He also said after a long week, which included three consecutive extra-inning games and a game Saturday that ended after midnight, Ibanez just got today off.

"It's nothing at all," he siad.

It's June, but it isn't too early to say Raul Ibanez is making himself an early candidate for National League MVP.

He hit a three-run home run tonight in a 6-3 victory over the Mets in 11 innings at Citi Field. He leads the National League in RBIs (58), runs (49) and slugging percentage (.674). He is second in home runs (21). He is hitting .322 with a .377 on-base percentage. He has 15 doubles and two triples. He is playing good defense and has shown good abilities running the bases.