PHAIR AND PHOUL

* Suggestion box: The Phillies should arrange for a meeting between Phillippe Aumont and Randy Johnson. Here's why:

While there are some obvious differences between the two - Aumont throws right, Johnson left - there are some striking similarities as well. Both are big, power pitchers. The 21-year-old Aumont has struggled early in his career, having recently been demoted from Double A Reading, where he was 1-6, 7.43, to Class A Clearwater. That came after he was traded last winter. He has to be a little down.

Johnson could relate his own experiences. He, too, was traded when he was young. He, too, took a long time to find himself. He was a combined 7-13, 4.82 for the Expos and Mariners in 1989. He was 25. It wasn't until the following season that he had a full solid season and not until 1993, at age 29, that he had his breakout season. It could only help Aumont to hear about that directly from a guy who went on to win 303 games.

* Suggestion box II: The Cira Centre is a beautiful building that can do amazing things with its matrix of lights. Sometimes after a night game at Citizens Bank Park, the facade displays a Phillies "P" that is visible from Citizens Bank Park. But there seems to be no logic to when that's displayed. Wouldn't it be neat if it was illuminated after every Phillies win, much like the Cubs fly a white flag with a blue "W" high above the bleachers after each home victory? That could turn into a nice tradition.

* Class of 1987: The 1987 Phillies weren't one of the more distinguished teams in franchise history. Manager John Felske was fired in June. They finished tied for fourth with a losing record.

But several players who passed through the Vet that summer are still relevant in baseball. John Russell (Pittsburgh) and Juan Samuel (Baltimore) are big-league managers. Von Hayes is managing the Camden Riversharks in the independent Atlantic League. Milt Thompson, Ron Roenicke and Mike Maddux are major league coaches. And Steve Bedrosian's son Cam and Bruce Ruffin's son Chance were both first-day draft choices this week. Thanks to WFAN's Sweeney Murti for pointing this out.

* Did you know? That going into play yesterday, the first and second basemen for the woeful Arizona Diamondbacks (Adam LaRoche, Kelly Johnson) had combined for as many home runs as Ryan Howard and Chase Utley? Both duos had hit 20. *