LYNX: RUIZ CUT LOOSE; ANOTHER LONG NIGHT

These are some dog days down in Richmond, Va., for reasons beyond Michael Vick's pending arraignment there on Thursday — the Lynx took an 8-0 whuppin' (boxscore, play-by-play) tonight from the Braves.

So understandably, the parent Philies releasing Lynx first baseman-outfielder Randy Ruiz earlier today rates more attention. Read into what you will, but one argument is that the 29-year-old's value to the organization was outweighed by the moral and ethical questions the Phillies were facing over the two positive drug tests he had in late 2004 and 2005.

Once, people can kind of forgive or make peace with. These things happen, they shouldn't, but people so very human and competition gets the better of people. There can be a false positive, a young guy who didn't know any better, or got bad advice from his physician about what he was taking (which seemed to be the case with Lynx pitcher Matt Childers, who had a suspension for a positive drug test reduced recently) or someone who was a bit naive and was a tool of agents or coaches. But twice, that's a pretty big matzo ball hanging out there.

Ruiz was having trouble hitting a matzo ball on some days in Triple-A -- .215/.295/.418, so it's kind of clear why he's going, based on what we know. (There could always be more that we didn't know.) He has power (four homers in just 79 at-bats) and a relatively soft pair of hands at first base, but the Phillies have Ryan Howard with the major-league club and there's no DH in the National League. Someone will surely give Ruiz another "second chance," perhaps an indie-league team.

As for the game, R-Braves right-hander Lance Cormier could probably pitch in tomorrow night's doubleheader if needed: He threw just 83 pitches in going the route on a six-hit shutout, getting five double plays behind him and throwing just 24 balls to 28 batters (one over the minimum).

Was it already mentioned the Lynx play a third doubleheader in five days tomorrow? Kevin Nelson (3-6, 4.62, 1.34 WHIP) throws vs. R-Braves swingman Blaine Boyer (1-1, 4.79, 1.72 WHIP) in the first game. After that, it's pretty much anyone's guess.

One more Lynx note: No. 2 hitter Joe Thurston was named Phillies minor league player of the week. The smooth-fielding second baseman (and occasional outfielder) hit .314 across eight games last week.