Reigning NL MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 4-4 with 2 RBIs in a minor league rehab start Monday. Rollins, on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career, is rehabbing a sprained left ankle. He injured the ankle running the bases in a game against the New York Mets back on April 8th.

In a game against the New York Yankees minor league affiliate, the switch hitting Rollins batted three times from the left side, hitting a double each time. His lone at-bat from the right side resulted in a single. “It was fine,” Rollins said. “Running around the bases for the first time, it felt good. Second time, I felt a little twinge, but I was still able to kick it in coming around to score, and I was fine.”

Philadelphia Phillies’ Manager Charlie Manuel expects his star shortstop back this weekend, but does not want to rush things. “We need him, man,” Manuel said. “He’s a part of us—he’s a big part. But we want him healthy. I …

Could the Philadelphia Phillies cash in on the failures of the New York Yankees? That’s the subject of a recent article by Jim Salisbury from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Yankees are currently sitting in fourth place in the American League East, three games back of hated rival Boston, with their two young superstars, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, a combined 0-6. Hughes has just landed himself on the disabled list with a stress fracture to one of his ribs. He is also going to start wearing glasses to correct his recently diagnosed near sightedness. Kennedy is just one bad start from going back down to the minors. Meanwhile, playing for crosstown rival New York Mets, Johan Santana is 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 47 strikeouts.

To many Yankee faithful, including Senior Vice President Hank Steinbrenner, Santana is the fish that got away, with much of that blame placed upon the shoulders of GM Brian Cashman. Steinbrenner was a very vocal proponent of trading for the Cy-Young winner, but Cashman talked …

For the second week in a row Antonio Bastardo tops the On the Farm segment. Aside from being Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April, the twenty-two year old lefthander was promoted to Reading. He continued to show dominance in his Double-A debut. On Saturday, Bastardo went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 run as the Phillies beat the Harrisburg Senators. Bastardo did struggle a little with control, walking three batters, but he’s obviously ready to handle Double-A hitting. If Bastardo keeps his dominance up (13-0, 2.29 in his minor league career), he’ll continue on the fast track to Philadelphia.

The Phillies Minor League hitter of the Month was Lakewood’s Michael Taylor. Taylor, the Phillies fifth round pick of the 2007 draft, hit .357 in April, leading all Phillies minor leaguers. May hasn’t been as kind to Taylor. He’s 1 for 11 with a double and 2 RBI’s.

Adrian Cardenas is off to a strong start at Clearwater. The second baseman is batting .347 in 13 games with the Threshers. Cardenas is a …