Phils shake up lineup for tonight's game; Oswalt off DL
ST. LOUIS - The Phillies have shaken up their lineup for Monday night's game against the Cardinals.
Phils shake up lineup for tonight's game; Oswalt off DL
Daily News staff
ST. LOUIS - The Phillies have shaken up their lineup for Monday night's game against the Cardinals.
Here is tonight's lineup:
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Wilson Valdez, 3B (Placido Polanco said he is not injured, he is just getting a day off.)
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, CF
6. Ben Francisco, RF
7. Pete Orr, 2B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cliff Lee, P
Also, Roy Oswalt has been activated from the 15-day disabled list, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today, and will start Tuesday night's game against the Cardinals.
Oswalt was originally placed on the DL on May 6, retroactive to April 27, with lower back inflammation. He made one rehabilitation start with Class A Clearwater on May 12, allowing three earned runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings, while striking out five. In five starts with the Phillies this season, he is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA.
Oswalt admitted tonight that he’ll probably need a couple more starts to build his arm strength back up after missing 3 weeks with lower-back inflammation and being away from the team while helping his family in Mississippi clean up after tornado damage.
Which begs the question of why he’ll pitch against the Cardinals tomorrow night instead of making at least one more rehab appearance.
Ruben Amaro Jr. said that Oswalt is healthy. Case closed.
“I’d rather have him start here than there,” the general manager declared. “Why? He’s healthy. And he’s a professional. “If he said he was not feeling healthy enough to pitch, then we would not pitch him,” Amaro continued. “We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully he’ll be fine. I asked him if he felt okay to pitch, he said fine, so he’s pitching.”
Oswalt agreed that he’s physically fit but added a disclaimer. “It should be interesting,” he said. “The biggest thing is just getting my arm strength going again. You’ve got to build your arm strength when you haven’t thrown in awhile. It may take a start or two to get going.”
It should be fascinating to watch.
In other news tonight: Righthander Vance Worley (2-0, 1.13 in four appearances, two of them starts, was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley to make room on the roster for Oswalt. . .Chase Utley will make his second straight start at Class A Clearwater tonight, but Ruben Amaro said he still needs at bats before the team will consider activating him. . .Shane Victorino (right hamstring) was out of the lineup for the second straight game, but is getting closer to being ready.
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Comments (82)
oy— jamesiri- What kind of a lineup is this? Is Polanco now injured as well?— jas157
- oh joy !! looks like another 2 run effort for the Phils.— wardachrob
Ibanez hitting 3rd?— wylies99- Can't wait for Rollins to lead off with a hit and for Wilson to roll one over for a 4-6-3 DP.— Dull
- Here's how this lineup plays out. Ninth inning Phils down 1-0, one out: PH Gload - single. Rollins - pop up. Valdez 6-4-3 DP. Have a beverage.— jamesiri
- Well, you know he won't bunt. — Deward
Comment removed.- This line-up is pathetic.— karlfreds
- This line-up is pathetic.— karlfreds
- Guess what you get when you shake up a bag of sh**?— Byter
- Come on Murph - find out what the deal is with Polly...— M60tanker
Jeez can't a brother get a day off. RELAX. Here is to hoping Blanton pitches well enough to be trade-able so we can bet Worley back up ASAP.— KINGOFZED- Polly probably needs a day off... I think the Phils win tonight.. Lee is due and the lineup for a W... the Cards are a hitting team with shaky pitching this year...— PEV27
- So a cluless Iabanez (except against Washington, note that 8 of his 17 hits this month were in that 3 game set) is supposed to be productive in the 3 hole? Ibanez has had some of the worst at bats I have ever seen in the history of baseball this season, including this past week. it's time he and Ben platoon. They are essentially the same, and are basically below average players at this point.— homerjay99
- I can believe that Charley made the lineup all by himself.
- This isn't even a AAA lineup? WTF?— foment3
- We don't win the 1st game against the Braves with out Raul and the times he has been put third in the past has been his best spot. Give me Raul everyday over Ben. Orr and Valzez should be switched. PP needs a day off he has stopped hitting. Can't run these guys out here night after night. He needs a blow— pattymac3
- Comment removed.
- Really? They better get great pitching from here on out...the team itself is average at best as long as they start Valdez, Orr and Francisco...and people will argue with me but both Victorino and Rollins should no be guarenteed spots...I think both have seen their best years.— mbutley
- Optioned Worley and kept Danys Baez, which is why Charley should be fired.— Deward
- Do you really think Charlie makes those calls? I guess you don't know how it works, do you?
I hate seeing Worley leave - the kid is ice out there, at least so far. And why do people act like Baez has sucked every time out this year? He really hasn't been bad.— COskier - FYI Ibanez has hit great as the # 3 hitter in his career and Mayberry at 5 is a good move-finally a RH power bat behind Howard.— jeff gross
- lol...Ol Chollie went all out...he should have gone the little be EXTRA and started Gload instead of Howard.— hope55
- Looks like a blackhole tonight 2-3 hitters. Need to try Brown and Mayberry in LF-RF to see if that can work until the break. At least they have upside (especially Brown).
- Best record in all of baseball. This is where we are after being hurt and getting nothing from the corner outfielers. Charlie has to play who he has. This means Ibanez and Fransisco are going to play there way back to being productive. If not, there aren't many moves Charlie can make. If we can get healthy, Utley, I like our team more than I did in the off season.— hawk18
- Sweet... let's find a way to maximize the number of unproductive players in a lineup. This ought to work out just great. Three-game losing streak, here we come.— psuflyers
- Maybe somebody other than myself will finally realize that Chawlie is an average manager and does not deserve credit for the Phillies success the past few years. The TEAM is what won games...he has no clue when he actually needs to manage. He has never handled pitchers well and is too ready to let players who everyone else knows stink play on and on and on.— mbutley
- Same deadbeat players...different order. And one of the best pitchers sent down. Nice job Amaro.— scootch
- Vance "the Bird" Worley set free. Just not right that Danny Boy Baez maintains his job.— NewMick314
- Predictions: J-Roll will pop up on the first pitch in his first AB, foul out on the second pitch in his second AB, strike out, and then get a hit. Benny will go hitless with a walk. Valdez will ground into 2 DPs. Howard will K twice and hit a 2-R shot. Raul will strike out twice, once looking, and hit weak ground balls to first.— palmyra21
- That lineup is a joke— Kenny Junod.
- That lineup is a joke— Kenny Junod.
- Why not hit Howard 3rd? Get him an AB in the first inning and see if we can get at least one run on the scoreboard after Valdez hits into a double play - assuming Rollins didn't start the game with a pop-up.— FakeName
- More importantly, they keep the 5 inning 3-4 run Blanton as # 5 and let go the 7 inning 1-2 run Richard Vance Worley. dumb!— jsa
- Relax. When Polly has a day off, with Chase and Shane injured, this is what you get. But, I do admit, putting Raul in the 3 hole is puzzling.— Phront_Runner
- gotta throw a CG SO Cliff and then hope...— jhjack
- Dull: And at least look at one pitch.— jjthree
- Polly should have some days off. I can buy that at face value unless he's out tomorrow. Westbrook has been horrible for the Cards. Of course, with our luck, he'll turn it around tonight. Philly jinxes aside, Lee is due for a win, Howard always hits well in his home town (best average against them of any NL team), and Ibanez has a sick average of over .625 against Westbrook (Howard, .500). Only 8 at bats for Raul so not a huge sample set but Charlie's going with some averages. We'll see if it works. Ibanez has fallen off a bit this week but his May has been pretty good .386/.400/.636 (BA/OBP/SLG). If you've only tuned in on Sundays thinking it's football, you missed that. Polly, btw, is .300 against Westbrook. Don't count Polly out as a pinch hitter if the game is close.
No guarantees but I like the Phils' chances tonight.
— s 
The manager is out of his cotton-picking mind.- Comment removed.
- Sending down Worley is just plain stupid. Put Blanton on DL, release Romero, or send down Mathiesen. Worley has been very, very effective. Just dumb!!— pahag
- agree with posters, Raoul had been successful in number 3 slot in past seasons. hope we haven't jinxed him.— righty
- Watch ole patient Jrolle swing at the first pitch and popup or ground out---he aint no leadoff hitter.— george22
- When Charlie does retire, Reuben can save money by taking SEPTA to conduct interviews for his successor.
- Comment removed.
- Why didn't they option Baez to triple A?— GHK
- Because they can't. With his service, he'd go on waivers. If no one claimed him he could refuse the minor league assignment and become a free agent. He's really mostly a mop-up guy. Not great but off the books after this year and really a minor worry compared to other issues.
With all these guys everyone would "send down" who would go on waivers, we'd be paying a fortune to guys on other teams or sitting at home. There's a reality the contracts impose, like it or not. You may not like all the contracts but usually the guys RAJ signs are on the decline right near the end of their contracts. He's not doing an awful job there in my opinion.
Worley makes sense as a starter to me. You don't do the guy or the team any favors by shuttling him between the pen and starting (my opinion anyway). I think they knew that bullpen deal was a short term thing for Vance. He's young. Keep him fresh in the minors (he DOES have options) until he's needed.
— s - Should have kept Worley...— dogman5
- Looks like the line up for a spring training game -
Lee better pitch a complete game shutout
or Howard needs to go off in his hometown again and hit three homeruns.— phillydude - cholly is a moron, try shaking it up with someone who can actually hit leading off— tooltime
- Comment removed.
- Gee. Keep people like Baez and Blanton and drop Worley.— knebman
- And why in earth did the Phillies send Worley down??
he has pitched a whole lot better than Blanton as a starter
and even pitched well out of the bullpen - I don't get it.— phillydude - If Cliff can pitch a no-hitter tonight, we MAY win with that lineup. Amaro, you've assembled a great rotation, but even allowing for injuries, that 2011 lineup you've given us is a pile of steaming turds. What would it hurt to put Gload, suspect glove and all, in RF for a game or two? The decision to send Worley down based on everything but merit is so... Phillies.— dasher
- Comment removed.
- Jimmy and Raul need to find some juice— attila
- yeah send down the better 5th starter!! wtf!! Trade fat boy already!!— sawgrass
- yeah send down the better 5th starter!! wtf!! Trade fat boy already!!— sawgrass
- Ibanez' recent numbers were inflated in that 3 game series vs the Nats. If you exclude the Nats stats, I think Raul is about 2 for 60.
So, you have a guy hitting 3rd whose only recent success was against the Nats and you have a double play machine in the 2 hole & don't forget Ben Fran is something like 2 for his last 30 in the 6 hole.
Rollins only has 2 hits in his last 16 AB's leading off.
Westbrook will slop up so much off-speed pitches to Howard but Howard will stay chase as he refuses to walk.
Tonite's starting pitcher for the Cardinals is already foaming at the mouth about facing this high school lineup.
This could be real ugly tonite, folks but get used to it.
— johnpaulcpa - Isn't Worley just about thier 2nd or 3rd best pitcher???— ericg610
- Worley will be back...Baez will develop mysterious impingement on elbow after All Star Break. Guess when Big Truck comes back Stutes goes down. But, that's about an even trade and BT has about 34 years of experience that will help him stay calm in pennant race. And pennant race we will have, Braves look like Phils, but with better hitting. Florida looks like Phils in 2007. Or Marlins in 2002. Young, strong, growing in confidence. Gonna be a fun summer (if you like lots of games with meaning).— Eephus
- I think Mathieson goes down when Contreras comes back.
The Baez decision is probably not made until Lidge comes back.— s - Why are they so mean to Lee? Whenever Rollins gets on 1st, he should steal do Valdez doesn't hit in to a DP.— awl
- come on...this makes no sense, they should have sent down Baez & kept Worley, who was having a real impact on the team...Rube should acknowledge his mistake with Baez and get rid of him— Dallas Sucks
- Vance is the only guy who should be in the 5th starter spot. Yikes. This is a sign of desperation and stupidity at the same time. Unless Rube, of course, trades Blanton or Oswelt. For a hitter. Any hitter.— Koons
- If Lee pitches a shutout tonight, he will not lose; however, he will not win either. This lineup does not scare any opponent, even Westbrook who could pitch like Brian Westbrook and shut this lineup out. For those of you who keep proclaiming the first place record, the Phils are putting tremendous pressure on their starting pitchers who know that if they give up more than two runs, they are done. At some point soon, that will catch up to them. They need Utley badly and a healthy Carlos Ruiz and a platoon at the corner outfield spots. Charlie has to stop waiting for three-run homers.— chuckw
- That lineup is absurd. I dont care if they score 10 runs. If they do its just dumb luck. Victorino is out, Utley is already out and you are "resting" one of the only good hitters you have in Polanco?? LaRussa must have laughed out loud when he saw that lineup. To top it off Lee is being squeezed tonight. If he has to pitch right down the middle of the plate this may get ugly. If the Cards score 2 runs I'm not sure the Phils can match that no matter how bad Westbrook is.— Sewellmatt
- Blanton will have to have a season of good games before the Phillies are offered anything of value for him. If you were a GM, would you take a chance on him?— kmon
- You didn't hear? A bunch of GMs are aching to give us their top players for Blanton, Ibanez, Baez, and Lidge.
This "not quite an injury" of Blanton's and his inconsistency have probably killed any possible trade, even if we eat a lot of his salary.
— s - Know whats scary? Cliff Lee may be a better hitter than everyone in tonights lineup other than Rollins and Howard. Im being somewhat sarcastic......but just somewhat.— Sewellmatt
- Worley sent down? They must watch different games than me— Ssteve115
- They said on the broadcast that Polly has a sore back. Yikes.
— s - wtf?!
u send down worley?! send down fat boy joe!!!!!!
typical example of phils using the guy they pay, not the guy who play.
— depressed - Well, that was sickening. Valdez at the top of the order = Absolutely Brutal.
No more predictions from me for a while.
— s - The lone voice in the desert says that the Phils are in 1st despite devastating injuries.. The younger pitchers are holding their own and I don't see another team in the NL east with nearly as good a line up. From offense to defense to starting pitching to the bullpen. My money is on the Phils and will stay there. Come on you guys this isn't 1964. This is an excellent team and they will prove it.— JamesSeitz
- With an average run production of about 3, the pitchers take the mound knowing that if they don't shut out the team, or restrict them to 1 run, its over. That is a psychological death blow to any pitcher regardless of how great they are. As I said, be it Clemens, Koufax, Smoltz, or Josh Johnson, knowing your team can't scratch more than 5-8 hits and less than four runs a game, they would all have pitch with a zero margin of error and I doubt that even the robot pitcher from the Twilight Zone's Brooklyn Zephers could handle that:-)— daystrum
- Baez stays. Worley goes. Vintage Phils.— LI PhilPhan
- The reason they sent Worley down is because they want him to start with the Pigs instead of relieving with the major league club. They could have sent Mathieson instead, but I agree with this decision. That said, this decision was caused because I thought they made a mistake in rushing Blanton back. A few rehabs in the minors was the way to go. Worley game them two pretty good spot starts. Now Blanton is rehabbing while trying to win at the same time. Too many risks involved in this decision: reinjury, ineffectiveness (and he wasn't great to begin with), trade value, losing ground to the opposition, stretching the bullpen, etc.— EL Zorro
- Had to read it twice. Still can't believe Worley sent down. Their pitching Raul outside. He has to drive the ball where it's pitched. Outside of the Howard long out to center did team hit many balls hard?— Don w
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