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With Kyle Kendrick being sent down to the minors recently, there's an open spot this Saturday for a starting pitcher, so the Phillies need to figure out their plan of attack quickly.

In Kendrick's stead, they brought up Andrew Carpenter, but General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. made it very clear that they see Carpenter as a bullpen pitcher. Ruben did say Carpenter could have an outside chance to start Saturday, but that really just means he's there last resort.

Phil Hughes got rocked, Jonathan Albaladejo got called up and gave up an earned run, and the Yankees lost 10-2 in the first game of a two game series against the Angels last night.

Here are some notes:

Hughes has now allowed at least five ER in three of his last four starts. Every home run he’s allowed this year has been at Yankee Stadium.

As much as it hurts to say, it's looking like the Phillies' season is going to be a wash. They keep falling further and further behind the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets in the NL East race, and are just as far behind for a Wild Card spot.

In fact, short of charging back and winning the division, there's likely no chance the Phils will be able to make it back to the postseason, much less to a third straight World Series.

PHOENIX: Every Mets season always seems to have its ups and downs. Unfortunately, they normally lead to heartbreak and disappointment.

A season that looked like it was going to be almost magical, from no expectations whatsoever to near first place in June, is starting to fade away.

Yes, it's only July 21. There is still two and half months for the Mets to correct their problems. But right now, there are too many problems.

The starting pitching is an issue with the historic regression of Mike Pelfrey, and the uncertainty of the fifth spot.

With news from multiple media sources that the Phillies are discussing a "major" deal, the question becomes: Who will be stepping onto the mound for the Phillies this next week? And perhaps more importantly, what Phillies will be donning some other teams duds?

It seems almost assured that Jayson Werth, the lone right handed power bat in the Phillies lineup, will be heading out of town. Contract talks have apparently not gone well and the Phillies are concerned that they will not be able to sign him to a long-term deal.

So you know the theory to the idea.

Now, it is time for an actual deal.

First off, we have to create a list of teams that can afford Albert Pujols financially.

Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers.

San Francisco Giants fans who have spent Bruce Bochy's entire tenure as manager calling him names and blaming him for much of what troubles the club have to step back now.

The Giants rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Dodgers, in Los Angeles, 7-5 on Tuesday night. Bochy deserves credit for putting a club that has done everything right since the All-Star break in position to come back, then win.

It appears that Jayson Werth's days are numbered in Philadelphia. According to reports by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and others, the Phillies are discussing a deal that could see them land a top of the rotation starter. 

With the recent elbow injury to Phillies 47-year-old starter Jamie Moyer, the Phillies could be in need of a starter soon.

Jayson Stark and Buster Olney of ESPN believe that the Phillies are discussing a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. It appears outfielder Jayson Werth and possibly pitcher J.A. Happ are at the center of these talks.

Two pitchers with heavily decorated resumes.

The first, CC Sabathia, has more of a track record and is completing his 10th full season in the Majors.

The second, Tim Lincecum, affectionately known as "The Freak," is in his fourth season, and has two Cy Young Awards.

However, both are known as workhorses, the proverbial baseball term that gives revered status to those pitchers who miss very few starts to injury and normally throw 200-plus innings per season.

I sit here and realize I haven't written Part II to my thoughts about trading Albert Pujols. I just about started writing Part II right now, but it took a backseat to this.

I read Bernie Miklasz's "Bernie Bytes" just about everyday, and I like what that piece is about. He just writes for five minutes and comes up with masterpieces. It is incredible.

That lead me to writing this. So much is happening right now and I feel obliged to write about it and offer my thoughts...

First thought: Sweet Lou