Happ/Hamels flip-flop, plus another tough loss
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Happ/Hamels flip-flop, plus another tough loss
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Folks with tickets to the July 12 game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park will likely get to see ace lefty Cole Hamels pitch. The Phillies are planning on making a minor tweak to their rotation, moving Cole Hamels up to start Friday night against the Blue Jays. In exchange, J.A. Happ will slide from Friday to Saturday. The day off this past Monday enables the Phillies to do this while keeping Hamels on normal rest.
The reasoning is two-fold:
1) Hamels will get four more starts before the All-Star Break (Friday at Toronto, July 2 at Atlanta, July 7 versus Cincinnati, and July 12 versus Pittsburgh) instead of three (Friday at Toronto, July 3 versus the Mets, and July 8 versus the Reds).
2) Hamels will avoid experiencing a long layoff between starts over the All-Star Break, something he said caused him to grow rusty last season. If Hamels would have stayed on his normal day, he would have an eight-day gap between starts. The Phillies could theoretically use the off day next Monday to achieve the same affect, but doing it this way keeps their rotation in very much the same order.
Last year, Hamels said he felt rusty after making his second-half debut against the Marlins, thanks to two extra days off that the Phillies decided to give him.
“I think I learned something from last year,” Hamels said, “and that’s obviously something that they’ve taken into consideration, being able to throw on that last day (before the All-Star break).”
^
I'm sure you all are anxious to hear Jimmy Rollins explanation for his decision to flip to second base instead of throw to first in the eighth inning, which resulted in all runners reaching safely. The Rays went on to score five runs in the inning.
Well, there really isn't an explanation.
"Usually I just pick up and go to first automatically, just because the ball is hit soft toward the middle and I'm over on the pull side," Rollins said. "I don't know what to say. I really don't know."
It was a very rare miscue by the Gold Glove short stop, but it kept the Phillies from a ninth-inning in which a home run from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard or Jayson Werth would have tied the game.
Rollins' struggles at the plate also continued. He went 0-for-4 and is now hitless in his last five games.
Comment removed.
He's met Pat Burrell, right? I mean, J-Roll walks faster than Pat sprints.— sassuass- Rollins also made the mistake of not charging the ball. It's a low roller with two outs, bases loades, everybody going on contact. You have to charge the ball at full speed.— EL Zorro
- slow roller, should said— EL Zorro
- His BA is on a fast roll downward. Sit him please.— mick314
- At least he didn't make an excuse. That's progress.— RichNC
- No need to sit the best defensive ss in the NL; just get him out of the lead-off spot - it has phinally gotten in his head AND he's ripping the ball when down in the lineup...It's ashame that Rollins is too selfish and insecure to go to Cholly and say, "Ok, Coach, if this team is going to contend again, you gotta move me to the 6-hole and Vic to lead-off." 'Nuf said... PK— PhillyTheKid
- Jimmy knows what is wrong with Jimmy. He is just in a prolong slump. Even Roy Hobbs has gone through slumps.— wiseoldowl
- Yo, Murph - Sorry to bring up a "grammar" issue on your baseball blog, but you obviously want to be a writer; you just have to "proof" your stuff, Man! Of course, a "typo" isn't a big deal every now and again; however, certain things are unacceptable, i.e., using "affect" when you mean "effect"; also, you appear very lazy when you don't use a mandatory apostrophe. I know, Guys, the Grammar Police! AHHHH! Don't worry, most of you get a pass because you drink or snort before you blog. By the way, I cannot believe how many Rays fans don't understand baseball yet. At the games last night and Tuesday, I felt like I was at a local Little League field with all of the parents screaming at the umps. When I looked up at the CEILING, though, I just knew I was in a time warp...All they need at the Trop is a "baggie" in the outfield. The Vet was even nicer! PK— PhillyTheKid
- rare miscue? his entire season has been a miscue, so it's hardly rare anymore.— aldawg
Utley shares in the blame as well. If his head is in the game he doesnt go anywhere near second base in a bang bang play. Dont even tempt Rollins into making that ill timed flip. Burrell was running, instead of panicking and luring Jimmy to second all Chase should have done was say"First base Jimmy." I want my Phillies back. I dont know who these imposters are.— argonne- Mayberry needs to play more, even against RHP. I love Stairs, but I love him even more off the bench. Also, Paul Bako is still on the roster? Seriously? Three light hitting catchers just can't be the best that we can do.— KimBatiste
- Disappointing play, but agree with RichNC, at least he didn't make up some lame excuse for the play and took responsibility.— desaiguy
- Philly the Kid, I agree with you that Rollins is selfish but Manuel shares the blame also because he enables him. The last two times Charlie moved Jimmy to sixth, Jimmy made a remark to the media that he was "a leadoff hitter." Each time, Jimmy was back at leadoff within two days of his whining. Charlie is way too soft on these guys. It's time for him to take the bull by the horns and tell Jimmy that he's going sixth until further notice and he's going to like it. And if Jimmy doesn't shut his pie hole and cries to the media about batting leadoff then you bench him until he learns to shut it.— Dave34
- KimBatiste, I agree with your point regarding the three catchers. I fail to see what good that is doing for this team. A buddy of mine told me that he heard Coste was trade bait and this is why they brought up Bako. That and they like Bako's defense. The official story, of course, is that they want to use Coste as a RH PH off the bench and still have a backup catcher. If they want a RH hitter, I agree Mayberry needs to be that guy. Especially with Ibanez out and you could use a better defensive option in left than Stairs!— Dave34
