By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

Ruben Amaro is on the verge of facing a full out firestorm, the likes of which he has not had to endure since striking out in a crucial situation during his playing days.

Let’s face it, the man has had a nice run as assistant GM to Pat Gillick, and GM of a World Series champion. He’s had to tweak here and there to keep the Phillies among the class of the National League.

That all changed Monday night.

The second Chase Utley hurt a ligament in his thumb, and Placido Polanco couldn’t bounce back from elbow soreness, Amaro was put in a situation he had yet to face — upgrade the team significantly during the season.

The injuries to Placido Polanco and Chase Utley are going to test the GM ability of Ruben Amaro.

Sure, he acquired Cliff Lee last year, a move that helped the Phils reach the Fall Classic for the second straight season.

A year later, Lee may just be the player to push Amaro’s reputation under the dump truck.

See, when the Phillies acquired Roy Halladay last winter, Amaro also had to dump Cliff Lee. At the time, the company line indicated that the Phillies payroll couldn’t absorb both Halladay and Lee.

Amaro had a mancrush on Halladay for a year and decided to make his move. He got the player he lusted after, and now could fall for pursuing one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

The Phillies, citing a need to replenish the farm system with prospects for future deals, dealt Lee to the Mariners for Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies and JC Ramirez.

The Phillies are now in need of prospects to deal for infield help. Cliff Lee was dealt for just this situation. Where are the prospects?

Honestly, at the time, you could almost accept Amaro’s reasoning. Sure, the greedy fan in us all wanted Halladay and Lee in the same rotation. However, you know injuries happen and every team needs to tweak its roster for the stretch drive. Getting prospects to move for bullpen help and to bolster the bench would be essential.

As of Tuesday, when Utley and Placido Polanco were both placed on the DL, Amaro was placed in a position to show the City of Brotherly Love and baseball executives just how smart he was with his foresight.

No amount of pitching depth could make up for the losses of Utley and Polanco. If you disagree, just look at all the games Roy Halladay has lost this year in which he’s given up three or less earned runs. Try four games.

With the hits the Phillies projected everyday lineup has taken, Amaro now needs to deal prospects for starting-caliber infielders.

The problem? Who beyond Domonic Brown do the Phillies have that would interest teams.

The three players the Phillies got for Lee have other GMs salivating like the CEO of BP Oil awaiting the next stockholders meeting. Aumont has a 5.06 ERA in four games at Single A Clearwater after posting a 7.43 in 11 starts at Double A Reading.

Gillies is batting a studly .238 at Reading, while Ramirez has an ERA north of 5.00 at Reading.

As of right now, you have to think Amaro got hosed in the Lee deal. If he can’t dupe a dope into handing him a legit major league infielder soon, Amaro’s name will be mud in Philly.

It’s a firestorm alright. A firestorm he created.