Leftovers: Chase Utley No Longer Only Person On Phillies With Blank Expression

• Turns out Chris Coste switched to a blank red catching mask because his old nice-looking one violated some new MLB rule due to a league agreement with another equipment manufacturer. Coste called the rule “asinine.” [High Cheese]

• The new SEPTA trains will soon be on their way! And by soon, I mean not so soon. (Note: This article features a bonus random Carrie Underwood reference.) [Inquirer]

• The question must be asked: What did the governor know, and when did he know it? About his lieutenant governor’s cancer treatments, that is. Although Catherine Baker Knoll is sick, she’s upbeat and in good spirits. [KYW 1060]

• From the front page of Phillyburbs right now, presumably from an AP story: “Barack Obama says he’s decided on a running mate, but he won’t say who. The Democratic presidential candidate told USA Today on Thursday that he went with someone who is independent and would challenge him in the White House. He also said he wanted someone who is prepared to be president and would help him strengthen the economy.” If you tried, you could probably come up with more meaningless qualifications (”I want someone with at least one x chromosome who has political experience!”) but it would be tough. Here’s the full story, which is (right now) three paragraphs long. [AP/Phillyburbs]

• Comcast is testing a new bandwidth-limiting tool, “an experimental method for managing the Internet [that] could slow speeds for all heavy online users for 10 to 20 minutes.” So instead of just punishing users of the bittorrent protocol, it will punish all users? Oh, goodie. [Inquirer]