Morning rundown: Is a lineup change in order against Paul Maholm?
The Phillies get a look at the species that is their traditional nemesis: the left-handed starter.
Morning rundown: Is a lineup change in order against Paul Maholm?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
While the majority of attention will be paid toward Roy Halladay tonight, another important story line will begin to unfold when the Phillies have the bats in their hands. Last season, the Phillies went 23-30 in games where they faced a left-handed starter. That's what they will be up against tonight in Braves veteran Paul Maholm, who had an excellent spring training that included an outing against the Phillies. The central characters are not a surprise. Just look back to last Sept. 2, when the Phillies scored seven runs against Maholm. Five of those runs came in the first inning, three of them on a double by Erik Kratz. John Mayberry Jr. also singled and scored a run in that frame, while Ty Wigginton drew a walk. The Phillies scored their other two runs in the third inning, which led off with a Wigginton walk and a Mayberry double. I'll be interested to see if Charlie Manuel does something different with his lineup tonight in order to break up Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, although both had hits against Maholm last September (including a two-run double by Howard). Ben Revere had a good game in the leadoff spot on Monday night, but keep in mind that Jimmy Rollins has struggled the last couple of seasons from the right side of the plate. Use the same lineup, and the Phillies are starting off with four straight hitters who struggle against lefties (Revere-Rollins-Utley-Howard).
One potential lineup:
1. Jimmy Rollins SS (SHB)
2. Chase Utley 2B (LHB)
3. Michael Young 3B (RHB)
4. Ryan Howard 1B (LHB)
5. John Mayberry Jr. RF (RHB)
6. Domonic Brown LF (LHB)
7. Erik Kratz C (RHB)
8. Ben Revere CF (LHB)
Hitting Revere eighth is not ideal. Problem is, I'm not sure there is an ideal batting order given the pieces in play.
Here's today's Phillies coverage:
Curt Schilling tells Ryan Lawrence that every workhorse pitcher "hits a wall" at some point and has to adapt. Roy Halladay may have hit that wall.
Here's an update on Delmon Young along with some other news and notes.
Sam Donnellon has the Phillies as part of a jumbled race for one of the two National League wild card spots. Here's how he sees the season shaking out.
Bob Brookover notes that tonight's game is rare in its importance. In many ways, it could provide a glimpse of the season ahead.
I don't think Hallady will take the mound to Tupac tonight, but all eyez are definitely on him, as Phil Sheridan writes.
Excerpted from above: "Ben Revere had a good game in the leadoff spot on Monday night, but keep in mind that Jimmy Rollins has struggled the last couple of seasons from the right side of the plate."
And then, the author proposes a lineup with J-Pop leading off.
Yeah, I get it.— advantasux- Any writer that feels Revere should bat 8th tells everyone that Philly needs a new writer. Revere is by far the best leadoff man the Phillies have had in years. Wow! I thought Charlie was clueless!— wmontanez27
- Did Henderson bat down in order against any pitchers? Jeter bats leadoff. Watching this spring should tell any and everyone Revere is one of the few bright spots this year. Have you watched him closely? It does not matter if a lefty is on hill. Maybe writers should be a bit concerned about Young at third or Young's lack of power? Chris Johnson in Atlanta will have better stats than Young.— wmontanez27
- For what it's worth, Murph, I sat down with a pen and a sheet of paper, and came up with the same lineup as you.
But after thinking about it, I came up with a lineup I like more: Revere/Utley/Rollins/Howard/Young/Brown/Mayberry/Kratz/Pitcher. There are only consecutive lefties once, with Revere and Utley, and the bottom of the order, perhaps, could contribute to some runs. I also like that with Revere, Utley, and Rollins in the top 3 spots, you have enough speed at the top of the order to scare the other team a bit.— Chris Garrity - Revere might be the "better" lead-off guy (over Rollins) - but that's not saying much. Revere should at least be given a chance to show that he can take pitches, make an opposing pitcher work, and get on base (things JStroll doesn't do well). What will Clueless Rube do when Michael Young's errors and Dom Brown's misplays really start to pile up? What will Ruin Tomorrow Jr. do when Howard slips to .125 against lefties (he was .175 last season)? What will he do when the fans start throwing tomatoes at him at CBP? Because that's what they should be doing ...
— Copper34 - Worst writer, geez.
Mayberry protecting Howard, yikes that dumb.
Revere 8th, that's good use of his speed, WOW.
But blame it on the pieces.
Same line up as Monday, speed at the top with Revere/Rollins always, just like 2008 with Rollins/vic, if one doesn't get on the other usually will, putting pressure on the pitcher with UT/Howard/Young/Brown next.
Not rocket science Murph, but lets hear about the WAR...
— WFChamps - Copper34 you must have one heck of a pathetic existence— DogBiscuitthedope
- The Phils struggle against Maholm for the same reasons they struggle most other soft-tossing lefties, i.e., they get pull-happy on his soft stuff and they keep trying to hit his letter-high (and higher) fastballs. After all this time, one would think that Rollins, Utley and Howard would understand that they are all low-ball hitters.— southpaw57
