Staring down the road portion of their Interleague Schedule, which begins on Friday in Baltimore, the Phillies have activated future Hall of Famer Jim Thome from the Disabled List, likely to act as the team's Designated Hitter for the nine June games in American League parks. Infielder Pete Orr was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to create roster space.

Thome was only 2 for 18 in April (both singles), and aggravated a chronic back condition while playing first base. Phillies personnel have said that Thome is unlikely to play first base the rest of the season.

It's unclear what the Phillies will get out of Thome over the next couple of weeks, but it seems overwhelmingly likely that this stretch of games will be Thome's last hurrah as a starting lineup player, barring a very possible trade to an American League team. If it turns out to be Thome's swan song, I hope that MANY A TATER WILL BE MASHED.