Just got a call from MLB.com’s Phillies beat writer, Ken Mandel. He’s reporting that first baseman Jim Thome will miss the remainder of the season.

Thome has opted to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow to clean out what has been termed a “fraying” of the tendon. He’ll have the procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

It’s a big blow for the Phillies, who are in the thick of the National League Wild Card race. Prospect Ryan Howard has stepped up in Thome’s absence, but he had also become a valuable trading chip.

Now the Phillies won’t be able to trade Howard in the offseason, and not many teams will want Thome, who has a big contract and is coming off a serious injury.

Scott Harper is a famous man today in New York City. The 18-year-old nitwit ended up on the back page of the New York Daily News and the front page of the New York Post after his swan dive from the upper deck at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

According to the NYPD, Harper was at the game with three friends, and the four idiots had been discussing whether the protective netting behind home plate would support Harper’s weight. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with the Yankees trying to mount a late rally, Harper jumped over the railing on the upper deck, landing on the netting. He even caused a hole in the net. Watch the incident >>

Harper, from Armonk, N.Y., looked like he was out of his mind drunk. He was taken from the ballpark wearing a neck brace, was sent to a hospiral for observation, and then placed under arrest.

Harper could be charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct. A police spokesperson declined to say whether alcohol was involved in the incident. Well, it sure looked like it. The ***** was on something.

Because of work, I don’t get to go to as many games at Yankee Stadium as I would like. But every time I do go, it’s like Amateur Hour. During an afternoon game last year, I sat in right field, behind then-Orioles right fielder Larry Bigbie. And these two punks — who were atending their first game at The Stadium — would not shut up all day long. Security came over a few times, and I was getting angry because the guards thought I was with them. One of the kids ended up getting tossed for smoking in the bathroom. And he’s buddy stayed at the game. What tools.

I hope the Harper the swan diver gets a lifetime ban from The Stadium. He could have seriously hurt some people with his dumb stunt.

Jose Contreras was an enigma duiring his 1-1/2 year career with the Yankees. He never displayed the potential Yankee scouts had drooled about. And he was road kill against the Red Sox.

But on Tuesday night, Contreras returned to the Bronx with the White Sox and baffled the Yankees. He tossed seven-plus innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits, striking out six batters and walking two. After the game, Contreras called it his best Major League start.

This is a guy who just couldn’t handle the New York pressure. The Yankees were obsessed with keeping him away from the Red Sox when they signed him prior to the 2003 season. And the Sox made him pay for signing with the Yankees.

I definitely don’t miss Contreras. I was frightened every time he took the mound with the Yankees. He was motivated to pitch well last night because it was his former team. He’s not exactly lighting things up with the Pale Hose (7-6, 4.18 ERA) this year.

As for the Yankees, Shawn Chacon continues to surprise me. He allowed one run — on a Tadahito Iguchi short-porch special — on three hits over seven innings. But his teammates couldn’t generate any offense off Contreras.

Kenny Rogers will be pitching on Wednesday night at Fenway Park after independent arbitrator Shyam Das ruled Tuesday that the 20-game suspension handed down to Rogers on July 27 should be reduced to time served.

Rogers was out 13 games since Commissioner Bud Selig announced the 20-game suspension for Rogers’ confrontation with two cameramen on June 29 at Ameriquest Field.

This is a horrible decision. Rogers was caught on tape, attacking two innocent bystanders who were just doing their jobs. Heck, I thought 20 games wasn’t enough — that’s just four starts. He deserved a 30-game suspension.

Selig wasn’t happy with the decision either.

“It sends the wrong message to every one of our constituents: the fans, the media and our players,” Selig said.

I hope the Red Sox take out the big bats and give Rogers a Fenway welcome. He hasn’t pitched too well there in his career — he’s 5-5 lifetime in Boston with a 5.29 ERA. Plus he’s rusty. So it could be a short night for the Gambler.

This is my fifth season at MLB.com. I have seen some incredible plays during that time. But on Tuesday night, I saw one of the best plays I have ever seen in any sport.

Mets third baseman David Wright made a brilliant, sprawling — and barehanded — catch in short left field in the seventh inning of the Padres’ 8-3 victory to take a hit away from Brian Giles. My jaw dropped. The entire room was in awe. The name Kevin Mitchell was invoked. Back on April 26, 1989, the Giants left fielder made a barehanded grab while running down a fly ball hit by Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. But Wright’s grab was a tougher one to make.

Watch the play and see for yourself.

Time to unveil my early NL Cy Young pick — and darkhorse — for this season.

The pick: Roger Clemens. Yes, Chris Carpenter is having a nice season. But what Clemens is doing at his age — 43 — is mind-boggling. He’s 7-1 over his last 10 starts with a 1.06 ERA. His ERA on the road is a miniscule 0.37. And let’s not forget, the Rocket pitches his home games in a hitter’s park. His ERA at Minute Maid Park is a more-than-respectable 2.28. And if it weren’t for Clemens’ run over the past six weeks, the Astros would be Wild Card also-rans. Instead, they are leading the pack.

Carpenter has been just as dominating over the past six weeks. He’s 8-0 in his last 10 starts with a 0.97 ERA. He also has more wins (16) than the Rocket (11). But Clemens’ overall ERA (1.38) is better than Carpenter’s (2.26).

And yes, I am giving Clemens the edge because of his age. He was a few months from his 13th birthday when Carpenter was born.

The darkhorse: Jake Peavy. Can you imagine his numbers if he were completely healthy? Peavy leads the Majors in strikeouts, and if the Padres are to win the NL Jest, they are going to need a sharp Peavy. He’s the kind of guy that can pull an Orel Hershiser and let a team ride his back. Peavy’s ERA is a respectable 3.11, and he has the advantage of pitching in a cavernous pitching park.

Having trouble falling asleep, which is normal when you work these hours. I am always wired when I come home. I sit back, relax with my wife and scan what’s on the TIVO. Sundays are always great because “Entourage” is waiting for me.

Tonight, I got to see the latest episode of HBO’s “Real Sports,” which includes a feature on the best announcer in baseball, Vin Scully. It was a great piece and I recommend you watch it. No other announcer does it better than Mr. Scully. The man is a legend.

I was just watching the local morning news on WABC-7 when anchor Steve Bartelstein — a huge Cubs fan — mentioned my brother, Joe. He’s better known as “The Monkey Boy,” a radio personality here on New York’s WPLJ, 95.5 FM.

My brother and I are very different. For one, he is a die-hard Mets fan/Yankee hater. Whenever the Yankees lose a heartbreaker, Joe will call and bust chops. Like if David Ortiz kills the Yanks — which has been often — Joe will call and say, “Hello, it’s David Ortiz. Stop throwing me junk.”

Bartelstein got that treatment on Monday. After the Mets polished off a sweep of the Cubs, Joe sent the anchor this message: “Hollandsworth, Lawton, Macias. There’s a scary outfield for you right there.”

My brother and I can talk baseball for hours. He really knows his stuff. And he’s suffering. It’s been 19 years and counting since the Mets last won the World Series. And he’s never seen his beloved Jets play in the Super Bowl. The day either of those teams win it all, I am hiding my phone.