The Phillies are now utilizing metal detectors on fans as they enter Citizens Bank Park. Before they go through the gates, fans are scanned by the metal detectors at the right-field entrance to the park.
It's part of a security move by Major League Baseball. Next year all fans will be screened as they enter stadiums. The Phillies decided to get a jump-start on things and are testing the program at one gate, starting last night.
If they're looking for weapons of mass destruction, I think we can safely rule out the Phillies' bats.
Last night they rapped out 14 hits - every one of them singles.
Add to that a less than stellar outing by Cliff Lee in his return from the disabled list - and apparently in front of a slew of major league scouts in town to check him out as the trade deadline looms next week, and it was a not a good night for the Phils.
Lee was not sharp, just as he was in his last rehab start in Clearwater. The lefty got dinged for six runs on 12 hits in going just five and two-thirds innings. Just to rub a bit of salt in the wounds, three of those hits were by Hunter Pence, who once patrolled right field at Citizens Bank Park.
The Giants rolled, 7-4.
Where does this leave the Phils, and embattled GM Ruben Amaro Jr. Without a lot of options. There are reports out there that the Phillies have taken ace Cole Hamels off the market. That's probably a good thing. Pretty much everyone else on this roster is potential trade bait.
The problem is none of them is likely to bring much in return.
Lee didn't seem especially concerned about the idea of all those scouts in town to check him out.
"I could care less about the scouts in the stands or trade rumors or anything like that," Lee said.
Ruben Amaro doesn't have that luxury.
He's got to try to salvage this mess.
And he has nine days to do it.
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