The White Sox’s reluctance to give lefty Heath Phillips a chance smacks as much of stubbornness as scouting. The guy has been one of the most effective pitchers at the Triple-A level two years in a row and is on an 8-0 run over 11 starts, but the Sox treat him like his 85-m.p.h. fastball is an infectious disease. He’s 28-12 the last two seasons, including a starring role for Team USA in the Olympic qualifier in Havana, and deserves a September audition, at the least. … Josh Bard, not the currently disabled Michael Barrett (concussion syndrome), could be the Padres’ regular catcher in October if they make it to the playoffs. San Diego entered the weekend 48-30 when Bard starts. … Houston might be in the NL Central race if owner Drayton McLane hadn’t low-balled Andy Pettitte, which also led to Roger Clemens’ departure after last season. Pettitte, Clemens and Roy Oswalt are 18-4 with a 3.28 ERA since the All-Star break. …
Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, acquired from Seattle for current “Baseball Tonight” commentator Eduardo Perez last year, has become a valuable player for the Indians. They won 12 of the first 15 games after he took over for Josh Barfield. “He’s a baseball player,” said Eric Wedge, who has moved Cabrera into the No. 2 spot in the lineup. “He has a great feel for the game.” … Kendry Morales could be an October key for the Angels. He was killing the ball in Triple A and went 12-for-24 in his first six games after joining Mike Scioscia’s team. … John Smoltz faces Tom Glavine for the fourth time this season Sunday. Manager Bobby Cox used Smoltz on three days’ rest Tuesday so he would be in position to start the final game of the Mets series. He has two victories and a no-decision in the three starts against Glavine. … Former White Sox assistant general manager Dan Evans, now with Seattle, is among the candidates to replace Tim Purpura as Houston’s GM. The most qualified candidate for that opening — and any other opening — is Dodgers assistant Kim Ng, who worked her way up with the White Sox and Yankees.
