Utley gets the day off
Chase Utley will get his first day off since returning from a seven-week layoff due to thumb surgery. I wouldn't read anything into it at this point, although if I hear otherwise before the start of the game I will be sure to update. It just seems like a logical spot to get Utley a day off: Although he has three home runs in his career against Nats lefty starter Scott Olsen, he is just 5-for-30 with 10 strikeouts overall. The rest of the Phillies line-up, meanwhile, has crushed Olsen. Today's eight regulars have combined to go 43/130 (.331) with 9 home runs, 7 doubles and a 2 triples off of him in his career. Ryan Howard is 14-for-32 with two home runs and 3 doubles. Jayson Werth is 10-for-20 with three home runs and two doubles.
Utley gets the day off
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Chase Utley will get his first day off since returning from a seven-week layoff due to thumb surgery. I wouldn't read anything into it at this point, although if I hear otherwise before the start of the game I will be sure to update. It just seems like a logical spot to get Utley a day off: Although he has three home runs in his career against Nats lefty starter Scott Olsen, he is just 5-for-30 with 10 strikeouts overall. The rest of the Phillies line-up, meanwhile, has crushed Olsen. Today's eight regulars have combined to go 43/130 (.331) with 9 home runs, 7 doubles and a 2 triples off of him in his career. Ryan Howard is 14-for-32 with two home runs and 3 doubles. Jayson Werth is 10-for-20 with three home runs and two doubles.
Utley has started five straight games since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 17. He has reached base in the last four, and is 4-for-18 with a double, two walks an RBI and 3 runs scored.
Last night, in an 8-1 loss to the Nationals, he was 0-for-3 with a walk. He has struck out just once sicne returning.
The Phillies have scored just four runs in their last three games, and have managed just four hits in each one of those.
Here is today's line-up against Nationals lefty Scott Olsen:
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Raul Ibanez LF
- Placido Polanco 3B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Jayson Werth RF
- Shane Victorino CF
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Wilson Valdez 2B
- Roy Oswalt RHP
Why is Francisco on the bench again? Raul is looking lately like last year's 2b half and this year's first half hitter.— EL Zorro- Correcto El Zorro, I can't understand why Charlie doesn't see Raul's production slipping again. He needs a couple days off and Francisco still has his stroke as we saw last night.— bigtbone
- Oops, 2nd half. Raul has 4 hits in his last 30 AB with only 2 RBI and struck out 3 times last night. We need Francisco sharp for the stretch drive.— EL Zorro
Maybe Raul is playing because he's 5 for 8 with 2 HR against Olsen. Francisco has not faced Olsen.- More importantly, why is Raul, a lefthanded facing a lefthander, batting second instead of Shane?— VicM
Utley has had 7 weeks off and just returned from the DL...why does he need a day off??? He needs as many "at bats" as possible to get his swing back. I believe he returned too soon and now may be hurting the team in doing so. Not calling him selfish, however he's known to play hurt without telling anyone, compromising his contributions to the team...maybe I am calling him selfish.- Polanco gets all this praise for being the proto-typical number 2 hitter with his bat control and ability to do it all, and I'm not saying he isn't by any means, he's impressed me with it, yet Charlie doesn't bat him number 2. He's used so many different combo's, why not try Jroll, Polly, the Big Piece, Werth, Raul, Vic, Ruiz and WV? It is not etched in stone that Howard has to hit 4th, especially if Utley isn't in the lineup. IMO, Charlie has really struggled with the lineup this year b/c he's to dependent on his 'rules of the lineup' than just assessing who's playing, and then lining them up with the opposing pitcher in mind. I know there have been injuries, but his stubborness is why they're in 2nd place right now.— Bleue
- Charlie is trying to be cute with all the lineup shuffling. Squeak, Yeah, but he’s batting .167 in his last 47 PA, with 10 K’s, 0 HR and 3 RBI. He’s batting .225 against lefties overall, (.198 aganst LH starters) and has a .200 BA hitting in the second hole. Maybe he’ll recover his stroke against Olsen, but I would have taken my chances with Francisco and give the 37 year old a break.— EL Zorro
- Do you guys know how to do anything but complain? I've never seen a lineup from one game in August scrutinized so much. Take a deep breath and relax— Potus415
- had to be done.
- No— EL Zorro
Win series... mantra for rest of year... win series, win series, win series...— Ump Al- Why doesn't Ibanez ever sit? He had one good half season last year plus 3 weeks after the all star break this year and that's it. He's been ice cold the rest of the time.
- That's a great observation. A late August game lineup isn't very important in the crucible of a pennant/wild card race where - if you don't win today - you're going to lose a series to one of the worst teams in the league. Brilliant.— Bob1
- By the way, Utley and Olsen have a history when Olsen pitched for Florida. The benches emptied after Olsen yelled at Utley after walking him. Olsen was upset that Utley called time on him during a pitch. Olsen has a long history of instability: fights with teammates, managers; DUI arrest; suspensions. You would think having Utley in the lineup can only get him rattled, so Utley must really need the day off for his hand.— Bob1
