Pre-Game Notes: McNabb, Werth, and more

Lots to get here tonight. We'll be keeping our eye both on the field and on the radar, as another storm system looks poised to blow through here in about an hour to an hour and a half. Which could mean one of two things -- a late night, or a day-night double header. I'd take the former. Actually, I'd take neither. But we'll wait and see. . .

The pre-game run down:

1) Looks like Jayson Werth will be shipping out to the minor leagues, possibly Clearwater, possibly tomorrow. Charlie Manuel said he was going to talk to Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro this evening to get the definitive plans. Werth said yesterday he'd likely return either Saturday or Tuesday, depending on how the final throes of his rehab go. The Phillies are slated to face a righty in Atlanta on Sunday, so if he's not ready for Jo Jo Reyes on Saturday, the Phils could wait until after the off day Monday to activate him.

2) Donovan McNabb was in the house for batting practice. He was here to meet Ken Griffey Jr. and exchange autographed jerseys with him, but he stuck around to hang out in the Phillies clubhouse and take some swings on the field. No home runs for him, but he did hit a ball that bounced off the warning track and into the stands.

"In Little League, that's gone," McNabb said. "And in some softball leagues, that's gone. At least in women's softball, that's a home run."

3) Tom Gordon is likely unavailable tonight after pitching three straight games for the first time all season. We'll have to see about Brad Lidge, who threw 20 pitches last night while recording his 15th save of the season. Lidge has pitched three straight nights.