PHILLIES NEWS

Well, as you probably know by now the Phillies have begun spring training and as luck would have it there is already bad news to report. The biggest offseason pickup for the Phils was veteran closer Brad Lidge. Unfortunately during an early batting practice toss last week he tweeked his knee. The same knee that kept him out for a while last season. While he was hopeful, it was just some torn cartilege from the knee surgery he underwent this offseason, it turned out to be a bit more serious and on Monday he will have to undergo Arthroscopic knee surgery again. Thus, he will likely miss 3 to 6 weeks and might miss opening day, which would not be a disaster, but it would be rather unpleasant. So while this is not a crushing blow to the Phils it is a bit unsettling to say the least.