Phillies Notes: Phillies' Ruiz still experiencing concussion symptoms

PITTSBURGH - As if the injury news concerning Chase Utley and Placido Polanco weren't troubling enough for the Phillies, their injured catcher Carlos Ruiz is not ready to proceed on a rehab assignment this weekend as originally planned.

Ruiz met with renowned concussion specialist Michael Collins at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for Sports Concussions. Collins was one of the founders of the Impact test, which is now administered to athletes in every sport to determine how severe concussion symptoms are.

Collins' testing showed Ruiz is still experiencing some symptoms from the concussion he suffered June 18 when a broken bat struck him in the head.

"He's progressing very well, but there are some things that are still concerning on his test," Phillies head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said. "So while we're here, we're going to do some things with him. We'll do some exercises and things to challenge Chooch."

Sheridan said the team would play it cautious with Ruiz, who had one previous concussion while in the minors.

"Our goal here is to put him back when he's ready," Sheridan said. "Worst-case scenario is you take a player that has a concussion and he comes back too early. It's not like he's a position player. You know it just as well as I do - the first day he goes behind the plate, the first pitch is going to be a foul ball right off the mask."

Sheridan provided updates on the four Phillies pitchers on the disabled list:

Righthander Ryan Madson (broken right toe) will pitch for double-A Reading in his third rehab outing Friday. Madson will throw 30 pitches to extend his arm. He could be activated before the all-star break. "If all moves right," Sheridan said, "yes, we'd like that to happen."

Lefthander J.A. Happ threw a bullpen session Thursday in Pittsburgh without pain. He will pitch for triple-A Lehigh Valley in Pawtucket on Sunday, his sixth rehab start. "He's not reporting any problems," Sheridan said. "It's a matter of him feeling comfortable on the mound with his pitch ability as opposed to other things."

Chad Durbin (strained right hamstring) is rehabbing in Florida. Sheridan said Durbin was running at 70 percent. He will begin throwing in rehab games in the next week. Durbin could return before the all-star break, but he'll likely come back after the break, when the Phillies are in Chicago.

Lefthander Antonio Bastardo (left elbow inflammation) will throw a bullpen session Saturday in Pittsburgh. Beyond that, the Phillies have no long-term plans for Bastardo's progression.

For one night, Charlie Manuel was a fan. Banned from the dugout and his office, Manuel sat in the visiting executives' box with assistant general manager Scott Proefrock.

The Phillies manager served a one-game suspension levied by Major League Baseball on Thursday. Manuel was also fined an undisclosed amount for "aggressive arguing and inappropriate contact" with home plate umpire CB Bucknor during Tuesday's win against the Reds.

Manuel yelled at Bucknor from the dugout, opposing a strike call, and then came onto the field to continue his argument before being ejected. At one point, the brim of Manuel's hat appeared to make contact with Bucknor's forehead, causing the umpire to walk away and point at his forehead.

It was Manuel's fifth ejection of the season.

"I don't like getting thrown out of the game," Manuel said. "Let me clear that up. Nothing good comes out of it. Actually, it's my job and I'm here to do it. That's not good. And when you get suspended, that doesn't set a good example.

"I had no intention of bumping him. I was definitely under self-control, I knew what was going on and I definitely didn't have any intention of hitting him with my hat bill."

Bench coach Pete Mackanin managed in Manuel's absence.