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Manuel shuffles line-up; Figueroa DFA'ed

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28 comments

Manuel shuffles line-up; Figueroa DFA'ed

POSTED: Monday, May 31, 2010, 11:45 AM

David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer

The line-up Charlie Manuel posted spoke for itself:

Ross Gload RF
Greg Dobbs 3B
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Shane Victorino CF
Raul Ibanez LF
Carlos Ruiz C
Wilson Valdez SS
Joe Blanton RHP

Slumping Jayson Werth has another day off.

The Phillies designated Nelson Figueroa for assignment and activated closer Brad Lidge from the disabled list. The move means lefthander Antonio Bastardo remains with the team.

Figueroa will be on waivers until June 3. If no team picks him up, he can either accept an assignment to Triple-A or become a free agent.

Figueroa indicated that he did not see a likely scenario in which he would accept an assignment to Triple-A, meaning his time with the Phillies is likely over.

28 comments

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Comments (28)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:54 AM, 05/31/2010

Werth's value keeps going down. That's could be a good thing. Also why does Charlie keep playing Dobbs?

— ronin32

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:15 PM, 05/31/2010

Hum. In one of my posts in Gelb’s article I suggested giving a Werth day off and replacing Castro with Dobbs. Nevertheless, I don't know why Charlie took Vic off the lead off spot. Didn't he have two singles yesterday and had another one Saturday? Also, before Valdez took the collar yesterday he was 4 for 8 in the 2 spot. I think Dobbs should be hitting a the bottom of the order. He can’t buy a hit this season. Batting 2nd, he’ll have a lot of more pressure. I also don’t like Vic hitting after Howard, because it will negate his speed if Howard gets on base. Let’s see if it works.

— EL Zorro

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:16 PM, 05/31/2010

I agree what's up with Dobbs,.093 as pinch hitter, .130 overall done nothing since 08. Cody Ransom looked good this spring though not lighting up in the minors. He bat's from the right side and would not have to do much to improve on Dobbs numbers.

— Parman

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:24 PM, 05/31/2010

Ransom has 11 homers after the one he hit yesterday, he could also play a little emergency SS and second.

— EL Zorro

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:40 PM, 05/31/2010

Shuffling the lineup is a good thing when you haven't played well for a few weeks. It might cause a spark, it might backfire but it's worth a try. It makes sense to move Victorino out of the leadoff spot and into the middle of the order, even if he's hitting well lately. Maybe the thinking there is instead of having Victorino get two hits leading off the game, or right after the pitcher bats, he could get those hits in the middle of the order and produce some runs. Dobbs is not as bad as everyone thinks. He's not good but he's a serviceable major league player, and much better than many in Triple A. The casual baseball fan may not realize this but true ones know there is a HUGE difference between AAA and the majors, much bigger than any other jump. The difference between AAA and the majors is bigger than the difference between A and AAA...so it doesn't make sense to say..."oh, this guy is tearing up AAA...he'll definitely tear up the majors."

— Eilex826

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:29 PM, 05/31/2010

line-up seems shuffled every day...maybe he needs to try some consistancy...and that even includes picking castro or valdez instead of the platooning

— MFPhils

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:39 PM, 05/31/2010

For some reason the Phils have tanked. Rollins and Polly hurt the squad because of injuries but something is wrong with 5 shutouts and one in progress right now. Did they think they could just turn it on when they wanted to? I really do not know but I am sad that this is occuring and Atlanta is not going to lay down with Cox in his last year. Is this the end of Rico??????

— KGKoons

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:04 PM, 05/31/2010

Say this five times real fast: GOLD GLOVE GLOAD. He and Dobbs are quite the pair.

— dasher

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:07 PM, 05/31/2010

WTF is Charlie doing - Gload, Dobbs one, two???? Big series - I guess he wants to give the first game away.... Each day there is a growing concern as the Phils tank each game not scoring.... yes it's early - still May, but a few more victories here against the East may impact next September...

— M60tanker

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:14 PM, 05/31/2010

Eilex, you have some valid points, especially the one about the difference between AAA and the majors. But why put Gload and Dobbs at the top of the order, one who's not a lead off guy and the other who's struggling big time for a year and 1/3. I still think Dobbs can help the Phillies, but you have to put him in the right situation. I would have kept Vic and Valdez at the top and move Raul or Gload to hit behind Howard, then Dobbs, who could have gotten some fastball if any of the middle of the orders guy gets on base. But that's just me.

— EL Zorro

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:22 PM, 05/31/2010

The only way to get out of a slump is to play your way out of it. It does no one any good to send a spring training line up out there.

— Joe Lis lives

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:24 PM, 05/31/2010

What difference does shuffling the line up when no one is hitting? If some guys are hitting and some aren't, then shuffle the line up. But they all stink at the plate right now. And you gotta keep guys fresh when the do come off the bench. If they kept Dobbs on the bench and played him in a key spot and he made an out, all Phillies fans would say "They should have played him more to keep him fresh." Charlie has won the league 2 years in a row. I'll cut him some slack to know what he's doing.

— NVPhillyfan