Phillies lose, trade Thome

MIAMI - The Phillies had already decided a spot no longer existed for Jim Thome when a rally brewed in the ninth inning Saturday. He was unaware of his trade to Baltimore moments before, and paced the dugout in anticipation of an at-bat.

Shane Victorino hit a 96 m.p.h. fastball that bounced four times before it hit Jose Reyes' glove. From deep in the hole at shortstop, Reyes fired a bullet that beat Victorino by a full step at first base to cap a 3-2 Marlins victory. The Phillies lost for the 19th time in June, completing their worst month since September 2000, and Thome's Phillies career ended on the dugout steps.

The Phillies said goodbye to a future Hall of Famer in a clubhouse that must now seriously wonder about the future. They are a season-high eight games under .500. The halfway point of a charmless season arrives Sunday.

"If people think this is the start of us selling players off, that's incorrect," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We are in a tough spot because we have not played well and are behind. But we're not throwing in any towels."

Thome was traded for two single-A players because the Phillies decided that carrying a 41-year-old with limited bench experience and no ability to field was a liability. Amaro claimed he would have made the trade even if the Phillies were in better standing. But reality says the Phillies have lost four straight and shown zero signs of life.

This could be only the beginning.

"It's just a matter of time if you're not winning," said Cole Hamels, who tossed seven solid innings. "Things are going to go in different directions."

Hamels is one of those in limbo. He is a free agent at season's end and could fetch prospects before the July 31 deadline.

"I'm not even thinking about that," Hamels said. "I'm trying to not lose. I've got a game in five days, so that's all my focus."

The Phillies lost nine of 11 games started by Hamels and Cliff Lee in June.

"When we can't win with Lee and Hamels," manager Charlie Manuel said, "that kind of tells you how things are going."

He chuckled. It was gallows humor.

"I don't mean to laugh," he said. "It's definitely not a laughing matter. We're trying to turn it around. We're trying to get something going, and we can get so close yet we drift back and get so far away."

There was a fleeting chance at victory in the ninth. Carlos Ruiz doubled to put the tying run at second with one out. Thome clapped his hands, snatched his black bat, and swung at air.

Hunter Pence struck out and Thome summoned his aching body to run in place. If Victorino somehow reached base to extend the game, Thome would have pinch-hit.

"It would have been special, for sure," Thome said.

Manuel spoke in hushed tones. He was informed of the trade via phone by Amaro immediately after the game. He called Thome into his office.

"I love Jim Thome like he's my son," Manuel said.

Even the manager was willing to admit that carrying Thome was detrimental to both team and player. In spring training, Manuel was confident Thome's positive presence would permeate a depleted clubhouse. His teammates could only watch Saturday as Thome departed and improved six games in the standings with the Orioles.

Amaro says no message was sent with the trade. Manuel believes a few in the clubhouse will receive one.

"Players have it figured out," Manuel said. "They're a lot smarter than you think they are."

The return of Chase Utley was supposed to inject life into the team, but Utley has yet to experience victory. Amaro maintained the additions of Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay in July will change things. Utley also acknowledged time is not on their side.

"I don't think we really think about it, to be honest with you," Utley said. "I guess the reality is, yeah, we need to start winning games or things can change."

Things changed Saturday. Thome scrambled for a flight to Baltimore, leaving behind this shipwreck of a season.