Archive: October, 2010
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
According to a story in his hometown newspaper, authorities in Florida have dropped the cocaine possession charge against Phillies prospect Tyson Gillies.
Gillies faced the charge after hs arrest on Aug. 20 for an incident that occurred on June 11 in Clearwater, where he had been rehabbing a hamstring injury that plagued him throughout the season.
Kevin Hayslett, a high-profile Tampa attorney who represents Gillies, told the Kamloops (British Columbia) Daily News that the state attorney's office has decided not to proceed with the case.
Daily News staff
The Yankees' sweep of the Twins in the American League Division Series means the Phillies-Reds game Sunday night has been pushed back an hour to an 8:07 p.m. start time. The game will be shown on TBS.
Major League Baseball had announced the change was possible a few days ago, pending how many games were needed Sunday. With the end of the Yankees-Twins ALDS, there now will be three games Sunday. Game 4 of the Rays-Rangers series begins at 1 p.m. followed by Game 3 of the Giants-Braves series at 4:30 p.m. and then Game 3 of the Phillies-Reds series.
Had there been four games Sunday, Phillies-Reds would have been at 7:07 p.m. on TNT.
Daily News staff
So, how daunting is the task in front of the Cincinnati Reds?
Well, they have to beat the two-time defending National League champions in three consecutive games to advance and beat Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt to do it.
Said Charlie Manuel: "I think sometimes when you play, and when you look and say, 'There is no way that can happen,' the more I think about it and the longer I've been in the game and how we talk about the day to day thing and how we're going to play on that day, it can happen. It ain't goin' to happen, but it can happen."
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
A few quick pre-game notes:
1) Placido Polanco is back in the line-up after missing Game 1 with back soreness.
Charlie Manuel said the trainers cleared Polanco to play.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Placido Polanco took batting practice today during the Phillies' workout at Citizens Bank Park.
Manager Charlie Manuel said he spoke with Polanco earlier in the day and Polanco told him that his sore back was feeling better. Polanco missed Game 1 after injuring his back Monday and not being able to to bend down or twist yesterday.
Manuel said he is hopeful that Polanco will be in the lineup Friday night for Game 2 of the NL Division Series against Cincinnati.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies just announced their lineup for Game 1 of the National League Division Series and there is an omission that is both surprising and notable: veteran third baseman Placido Polanco is not starting at third base. Instead, utility man Wilson Valdez is at third and hitting eighth.
Polanco has battled a sore elbow all season, but a Phillies spokesman said today that the veteran third baseman is not in the lineup because of back soreness. Manager Charlie Manuel said Polanco told him yesterday that he had a stiff back and that it got worse overnight. Polanco told him today that he could not bend over or move side to side, Manuel said.
As for a prognosis for Friday's Game 2, the Phillies are hopeful, but Manuel said they would just have to wait and see.
Jonathan Tannenwald
Daily News baseball columnist Paul Hagen takes your questions ahead of Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Phillies and Reds in a live chat at 12 p.m.
On a mobile phone? Click HERE.
Daily News staff
Catcher Carlos Ruiz and lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero are both good to go for the National League Division Series, manager Charlie Manuel said today.
Both were injured in Sunday's regular season finale. Romero left the 8-7 loss to the Braves with stiffness in his lower back. Ruiz left after being hit on the elbow by a pitch in the third inning.
Ruiz finished the season with a career-high .302 batting average, making him just the second regular Phillies catcher since 1954 to finish the season at or above the .300 mark (minimum 400 plate appearances). The only catcher to do it is Mike Lieberthal, who hit .313 in 2003 and .300 in 1999. In 1954, Smokey Burgess hit .368 in 392 plate appearances.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Some tidbits from today's 8-7 loss to the Braves, which ultimately gave Atlanta the Wild Card and helped avoid a one-game playoff between them and the Padres, who lost to the Giants.
-Vance Worley's solid performance in a win over the Braves on Saturday wasn't enough to win him a spot on the National League Division Series roster. But the rookie righthander is very much on the team's radar. Prior to the game, the Phillies told him they were sending him to the instructional league in Clearwater, Fla. to stay sharp in case he is needed to make an emergency start against the Reds.
Worley could still factor into the equation for the National League Championship Series if the Phillies advance that far. The NLCS will feature one less off day, meaning the Phillies could need a fourth starter, and thus need extra help in the bullpen.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies' NLDS opponent is a lot more uncertain than it was just 24 hours ago, which means there is a chance that the Reds' naming of Edinson Volquez as their Game 1 starter could prove to be irrelevant (playoff scenarios below). But if the Phils' do end up playing the Reds, they'll face a guy who matches up well against them.
Lefties are hitting .229 with a .691 OPS against Volquez with 33 strikeouts in 105 at-bats. They also have one home run against him. Righties: .273 AVG, .776 OPS, 34 strikeouts in 128 at-bats with five home runs.
As we noted in our previous post on the Reds' rotation possibilities, 23-year-old lefty Travis Wood would seem to make a lot of sense in Game 2. Which begs the question: Does Bronson Arroyo or Johnny Cueto get the other start?
