First Half Finale, Second Half Rotation, Etc.
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First Half Finale, Second Half Rotation, Etc.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It's the final day of the unofficial first half of the season, when players will scatter to various parts of the country to kick back and relax for four days. First, though, we've got a game between the Phillies and Braves with the outcome of this three-game series hanging in its balance.
Placido Polanco is not in the line-up for a fifth straight game as he continues to battle a back injury. Polanco had hoped to play in the All-Star Game, where he is scheduled to start at third base. But he has decided against it, although he and teammate Shane Victorino will travel to Arizona to represent the Phillies despite their respective injuries.
Cole Hamels will start today, and pitching coach Rich Dubee said he will likely return to the mound on Saturday against the Mets, while Vance Worley will start on Friday. From there, a lot depends on how much Roy Halladay pitches in the All-Star Game. The starter for the game will not be announced until the NL and AL teams gather in Phoenix.
- Rollins SS
- Martinez 3B
- Utley 2B
- Howard 1B
- Ibanez LF
- Ruiz C
- Brown 9
- Mayberry CF
- Hamels LHP
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This is an incredibly weak hitting line up.— Phil Lee- Time to start making other plans for the day you were going to go to the parade. Its not going to happen.— hititwheretheyaint
- What's the big deal with a guy throwing an inning in the all-star game? Isn't just like an extended bullpen session that they throw between starts anyway. And why isn't Cole going on normal rest on Friday? He'd then pitch on Wednesday before an off day Thursday. It looks like Worley gets that start instead the way Dubee set it up. We should be maximizing Hamels' starts, not Worleys'.— tripleplay83
- What bunch of quitters! I'll be at the parade.— georgekissel
- What bunch of quitters! I'll be at the parade.— georgekissel
- That lineup is awful. Cole will have to be very good today. Murph, love high Cheese, by the way. You do an excellent job.— 6thman
- tripleplay, I think the point is if Halladay starts the game, he must pitch two innings, which would be more than a BP session. If he doesn't start the game, then I agree, it's nothing more than a BP session and shouldn't affect when he pitches next. Here's hoping the rotation is Hamels, Halladay, Lee coming out of the ASB (after Worley of course).— robm0202
- Just so people know, the lineup will look incredibly weak hitting until Polly and Shane come back. Just sayin....— ESFjellin
- george......the way the Phillies game was yesterday....that was a bitter loss. Nobody should feel good about that game. It was like getting your clothes tore off in public, so everyone can laugh at you.— road515
- even when shane and polanco were in there, we're 10th in the national league in scoring. we need help.
should of traded blanton for michael young when we had the chance. 2nd til chase got back, then could of
stuck him in right. what a right handed bat that is.
— romanT - The Rangers will never give us Michael Young and then take Blanton off our hands. That's 2 favors in one trade. They are surely still peeved about Cliff Lee. Young makes too much anyway and would be a downgrade defensively.
- Im thinking Lidge for melky cabrera...switch hitting outfielder hitting almost .300. put on our team now hes 2nd in rbi instantly.— wgureck
- Charlie is doing it again, putting 3 LH hitters in a row, playing into the hands of Freddie Gonzalez and his 3 LH relievers. Why not flip flop Ruiz with Ibañez or insert Mayberry in the 5 spot?— EL Zorro
- blah blah blah— z03mbm
