The Phillies closer, Brad Lidge, has been activated off the disabled list for tonight’s match-up with the rival New York Mets.  The question is, will Lidge’s return be a good thing or a bad thing for the Phillies?  Lidge had a very bad 2009 and the off-season avalanche of injuries does not breed confidence.  However, can things get much worse for this bullpen?  Probably not.

In that case, Lidge’s return should be a good thing.  He swears he is 100% and totally pain free.  We would all love to believe this.  Hopefully, he will come out tossing lightning bolts and put any doubts to rest.  Left-hander Antonio Bastardo has been optioned to AAA to make room on the roster.

So tonight begins a 3-game set with the Mets and my faithful readers, you know what that means: J-Roll Smurf is back!  And he has brought his special voodoo Smurf magic with him to beat the Mets.  Although the real J-Roll is still on the disabled list, he is with us in spirit.  And J-Roll Smurf, with a little help from his friends, is promising a win tonight!  Well, that is unless of course Kyle Kendrick bombs and crushes J-Roll Smurf’s poor, helpless little soul.  Please Mr. Kendrick, have pity on J-Roll Smurf; after all, he is only 3-apples tall.

Speaking of small, fluffy critters, Chase and Jen Utley held their annual “Utley’s All-Star Animals” event last night.  Over 450 people attended the casino-theme night with all proceeds to benefit the PSPCA.  And for the 3rd year in a row, it appears again that my invitation must have been lost in the mail.  Because everyone knows what a huge animal activist I am, so how could they possibly forget me?  Damn those mailmen!  Leave it the US government to ruin my day.  Oh well, maybe next year…

Game time tonight is 7:05pm…Go Phillies!