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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Good God, people. 57 wins, best record in MLB, best 1st half in team history. Can you imagine the level of bile if this team wasn't on pace for 100 wins? Ditch the Eagles mentality while you're on the Phillies bandwagon - every game isn't life & death, kids.— Doctor D- Braves don't scare me because there starting rotation is all RHP. The Phillies can handle RHP. Their lineup is as weak hitting as the Phils. Of course, if the Phils don't get to their starters they have 3 very good lefties in the pen.— dankil13
- They win in spite of Manuel. Martinez is Valdez replacement next year. Cheaper option for the same thing.— Ssteve115
- I'm glad to be stupid. As long as I'm not stupid when I show my Phillies "homer" side.— road515
- prognosticator of the year. Phil Lee— Larry G
- I know it is easy to say after words, but that weak linup but up a record 20 hits, with a final score of 14 to 1... It helped that the lefties were burnt out....— PhilliefaninAZ
- Yeap, everybody kind of look stupid right now. This is why baseball is the best game.— EL Zorro
- Ibanez was a stud today...The weak line-up...season HIGH 21 hits...Philly poser fans...stop talking like you know something.— jlhocken
- lol at all the comments preceeding this one 14 runs and 20 hits for the 2nd time in 6 games— southernmostfan
- "This is an incredibly weak hitting line up." Phil Lee— akh
- Now you see why Charlie was so high on Martinez and convinced RAJ to keep him on the 25 man roster. I saw him playing SS for the Dominican team in the Caribbean World Series and was very impressed.— EL Zorro
- We're not going to be able to get Cabrera for a guy who hasn't pitched well or stayed healthy for two years.— VicM
- YES A WEAK LINEUP THAT HAS WON 56 GAMES BEFORE THE BREAK!!!— hrlevine
- roman, Texas wouldn't want Blanton for Young. Keep dreaming. Rube has 3 weeks to find a good RH bat to play the corner outfield positions. I think Frenchy is available.— palmyra21
Comment removed.- as long as we're dreaming wgureck, how about Joe Blanton and the expired contract of Steve Jeltz for Cabrera?— dragoon6
- blah blah blah— z03mbm
- 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
- Im thinking Lidge for melky cabrera...switch hitting outfielder hitting almost .300. put on our team now hes 2nd in rbi instantly.— wgureck
- 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.
- 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
- Just so people know, the lineup will look incredibly weak hitting until Polly and Shane come back. Just sayin....— ESFjellin
- 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
- 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
- What bunch of quitters! I'll be at the parade.— georgekissel
- What bunch of quitters! I'll be at the parade.— georgekissel
- 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
- Time to start making other plans for the day you were going to go to the parade. Its not going to happen.— hititwheretheyaint
- This is an incredibly weak hitting line up.— Phil Lee
