DFA

I forgot to mention the other day that the Red Sox early-season cult hero Darnell McDonald was designated for assignment. That's probably a good thing because it turns out that he wasn't designated after all. The Red Sox were planning on it, but then Jacoby Ellsbury had some discomfort in his ribs, so the Red Sox sent down Scott Atchison in case they needed an extra outfielder.

Funny story - McDonald was asleep in his hotel room when he was awoken by his cell phone vibrating:

"I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming," McDonald said. "[Monday] was a tough day for me. I knew what the circumstances were. Now I'm here."

While McDonald spent his time on waivers napping and watching movies in his hotel room, Wilson Valdez said he spent his time in exile listening to his iPod in his hotel room.

For the SoxandPhils, it's been a very insightful week about the waiver process. Paul Hoover cleared waivers today; I wonder if he also spent the week in his hotel room.

Today's games: John Lackey joined the pitching party that the Red Sox starters have been on. They're leading the Rays 6-2 in the 8th thanks to a two-run homer by scorching David Ortiz, who was bettered by Adrian Beltre who had a pair of two-run homers.

The Phillies? I don't think Christine wants to talk about them. She's convinced they will never score another run. In the 8th, Mets 5, Phillies ... see the last sentence.

Big acquisitions

Everyone is agog that the Red Sox are in a "full-court press" to make Roy Halladay next in the impressive line of Red Sox aces acquired by trade (Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, etc.), but I don't think it will happen.

As Sean McAdam notes:

A deal for Halladay would likely require the Sox to part with Clay Buchholz and also either Daniel Bard or Casey Kelly -- or both. Together, those three represent the most talented pitching prospects in the system, leaving the Sox with little organizational depth.

It's far more likely, said a source familiar with the Red Sox' plans, that the team pursues free agent John Lackey (left). The Boston Herald reported last week that general manager Theo Epstein met with the agent for Lackey at the GM meetings earlier this month.

Going after a Type A veteran starter in some ways goes against the Red Sox philosophy, since Epstein believes that signing 30-something pitching is a tremendous risk. The list of big-ticket free agent starters signed to disastrous deals (Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, Carlos Zambrano) is a long one and the Sox are said to be particularly wary of a similar misstep.

But given the choice between sacrificing a handful of young -- and inexpensive -- prospects and extending Halladay to a multiyear deal, or forfeiting only a draft pick and a big contract for Lackey, the latter is far more appealing to the Sox.

I thought we were done talking about Doc once the Phillies made the wise choice to get Cliff Lee instead.

The Roy Halladay rumors overshadowed the big news of the day: minor acquisitions! The Phillies, lacking a backup catcher, re-signed third-stringer Paul Hoover and three other minor leaguers. The Red Sox traded for Tug Hulett, son of former major leaguer Tim Hulett, whose family has a tragic story.

To finish on another down note, Jamie Moyer was hospitalized with recurring symptoms from his surgery.

Last dance, extended version

They're not saying "booooo," they're saying "Hoooove," in anticipation of Paul Hoover's walk-off hit.

I said that before Paul Hoover ended the game with a single in the 10th inning - a game that, with the Phillies playoff position cemented, felt like a spring training exhibition.

The only real drama was whether Jayson Werth - the only regular in the lineup for the Reading, err, Philadelphia Phillies - would get hits 100th RBI, hence the crowd's reaction when Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez played the game like it mattered in the 10th inning, opting to walk Werth with a base empty and a man in scoring position.

It didn't matter for the outcome. Hoover lined a single off the glove of former Phillie Wes Helms to end the Phillies last game of the regular season as reigning 2008 World Champions, 7-6.

As I said, this game was played like an exhibition. Charlie Manuel was auditioning pitchers for the playoff roster. He churned through eight of them - two more than an official Phillies scorecard can hold.

J.A. Happ started and was taken out after two innings. He was relieved by Kyle Kendrick, who pitched OK. He went 2 1/3 innings of hitless ball before walking pitcher Josh Johnson, which led to a two-run inning.

Brett Myers, possibly making his last appearance ever as a Phillie, started the 6th. He struck out the leadoff hitter, but was removed when he walked the next guy.

Sergio Escalona also pitched well in his last-minute push to make the playoff roster with just 14 major league games under his belt.

Phillies offense: They couldn't muster a hit off Josh Johnson until Miguel Cairo (Chase who?) led off the 4th with a home run. I was trying to convince Christine to root for the no-no because I really want to see one, and this one would have an asterisk because the Phillies didn't field a competent lineup.

(We've seen Johnson pitch twice this year - the same amount we've seen Jamie Moyer. We've seen Happ, Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton and Antonio Bastardo each start once.)

Cairo later tripled in the 8th and scored on an overthrow to tie the game. ... Stat-minded Werth stole two bases in the 4th, giving him 20 for the season. ... Stat-minded Ben Francisco was caught stealing three times today. Maybe he's not so stat-minded.

Observations from the stands: The anthem was sung by the Central Bucks West High School Choir, directed by Joseph Ohrt. Not bad, but we've heard it before. ... The crowd was so indifferent early on that Helms wasn't booed during introductions. Only one guy yelled "Phillies reject" when he came to bat. Also during introductions, they played "Under the Sea" for the Marlins. ... Like Lou Marson on last year's Fan Appreciation Day, they played Pat Burrell's old Holy Diver, this time for Andy Tracy's intro music.

The Phanatic rehashed his streaking skit when it was announced that his jersey was one of many giveaways on Fan Appreciation Day. ... Kudos to the Phillies: They seemed to give out a larger number of prizes this year and did a much better job of spreading them around to the upper sections (it seemed like every section in the 400 level won something, except ours). ... Comcast SportsNet employee Josh Schrager sang God Bless America.

A guy in front of me at the newsstand, wearing a Pat Burrell jersey, jorts and Phillies socks, bought Chris Wheeler's book. I probably shouldn't comment beyond noting my observations.

Before heading off to see whether the new 2009 flag will hang with the 2008 and 1980 World Champions, 1983 and 1993 League Champions, or relegated to mere division champs such as 2007, 1981 and 1976-1978, a couple of Phillies players (Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins) helped the Phanatic toss T-shirts and balls into the stands after the game, in further appreciation of us. We moved down and came close to some of the throws, but walked away with nothing but our memories ... and this picture someone took for us after asking us to take a picture of her.

I like it, but I'm biased.

Antiquated Phillies jerseys: We sat in the last row of the whole stadium and didn't see too many, but we made up for it in obscurity with David Bell and Robinson Tejeda. We also saw the obligatory Burrell, Jim Thome, Scott Rolen and Aaron Rowand.

Red Sox: In the last game before Jon Lester opens the ALDS in Anaheim, the Red Sox beat the Indians 12-7. Clay Buchholz gave up six runs in three innings, adding to my concern about the state of our pitching entering the playoffs, which don't start for me until Thursday. That's in a friggin' week. And I haven't mentioned that they're starting West Coast time, not Greg time.

Christine's not happy either. Her first two games are at 2:30 p.m. on weekdays, and her third will also be geared toward the West Coast.

We'll save the playoff rants for tomorrow while we watch the Twins and Tigers battle it out for the right to issue the Yankees an embarrassing first-round exit.