It was, like, 24 hours ago.  For about 20 minutes.  It was starting with Erik Kratz’s home run and after all the post game shows ended following Freddy Galvis’ home run.  Let’s take a trip back to that magical time in our lives.

May 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Erik Kratz (31) celebrates his home run in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

May 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) reacts after giving up home run to Philadelphia Phillies catcher Erik Kratz (31) (not [pictured) in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

May 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia second baseman Freddy Galvis (13) celebrates his walk off home run \with Philadelphia Phillies third base coach Ryne Sandberg (23) in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

May 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Erik Kratz (31) and second baseman Freddy Galvis (13) celebrate their back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

May 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia second baseman Freddy Galvis (13) celebrates his walk off home run with his teammates in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Good times.

Chooch will be out 3-4 weeks with a grade two hamstring strain.

The club has already put Humberto Quintero in a Phillies uniform and made the corresponding farm system shifts (Congratulations Justin Dalles for leaping from Lakewood to Lehigh, at least for a few weeks!)

Ryan Howard has been labeled “day-to-day.”  A doctor injected some cortisone into him.  We’re not entirely sure which “days” they’re talking about but Howard will be available for those, I guess.

Mar. 12, 2013; Phoenix AZ, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Ryan Howard (6) sits in the dugout in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports Images

Being the good teammate that he is, Ryan Howard isn’t letting Carlos Ruiz stay behind and be the only one getting an MRI.

After some knee troubles surfaced for Howard, he’ll be hanging out at the doctor’s office today too, while the rest of the team jets to Miami.

Actually, Ruiz will be joining Howard.  Ryan didn’t play at all Sunday due to knee soreness, while Chooch’s exit was just a delightful gift from the baseball gods, in the form of a “pop” in his leg while running the bases.

Weeeee.

Regardless, they’ll both be there, awaiting results that if our current luck is any indication will be miraculous.

“I’ve been able to tough it out but told (Manuel) it was sore.”

–Ryan Howard, via ESPN

So Ryan’s been playing through soreness, which is really only effective when you’re able to produce despite the injury, not fail because of it.  Of course, Ryan’s spent the year hitting better than I think.  Every time I think he’s definitely got to be under .200 by now, I look and see he’s closer to .250.  Maybe they should start taking off more points when he swings and misses at a breaking ball that could hit him in his back foot.

I mean he does have four hits in his last 34 ABs.  But one of them won a game.  So.

May 17, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) celebrates scoring beating the tag of Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan (29) during the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

He smiled, he answered questions, he read the lineup; probably mispronounced a word or two.  But when he chuckled, he seemed to indicate the idea that preceded his actions was laughable; impossible; ridiculous.

Let’s back up for a moment.  The Phillies lost their lead last evening when Antonio Bastardo entered the game.  Not literally when he entered – that would be insane.  But about 60 seconds after he entered the game and threw his second pitch, Joey Votto quite easily took him deep.

This put the Phillies in a 3-3 stalemate, and required them to **gasp** score more runs to win the game.  How would they do this?  Was a miraculous comeback victory in the works?

Sort of!

It was through a Michael Young walk, a Ryan Howard swinging bunt, a Delmon Young HBP, a Domonic Brown reached-on-error, and a blown call at the plate by the umpire that the Phillies quite involuntarily took a two run lead and wound up winning the game.

So let’s zero in on what Charlie was talking about – Howard’s bunt.  For years and year, we’ve asked: What if Howard responded to the shift by bunting away from it?

“Just once,” even people smarter than me have wondered out loud.  ”I’d like to see him try it.”

He never did.  And I’m sure it was never considered.  After all, he’s a power hitter. Lord knows he can’t do anything but hit for power up there.  Or, you know.  Strike out humiliatingly.

May 12, 2013; Phoenix AZ, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel (41) inside the dugout prior to the game against Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, we saw what happened.  The bunt even caught Howard off guard.  But he reached, bum ACL and all.  He was aided by the infielder not successfully getting the ball out of his glove, but it was a success, and indicated at least a few times in the future, were he to try it again, he might get away with it.  Other teams must be so ingrained with him not even considering a bunt that they hesitate in shock.

But Charlie nipped that in the bud last night, suggesting “That’s how you beat the shift.”  Then laughing and making sure everyone knew he was kidding.

“Some people think you might be serious right now,” one reporter suggested.

“Actually, if he’d get a bunch of hits, I would be serious,” Manuel replied, his finger twisting in his ear.

“Yeah?”

“No,” Charlie said with another laugh.  ”No.”