A line-up for the ages
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
A line-up for the ages
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
You aren't the only one who had a rough commute. Not that it makes you feel any better, but the Phillies had a pretty bumpy ride from Philadelphia to Milwaukee on Wednesday evening, prompting Charlie Manuel to start telling stories about crazy plane flights from his career that we cannot immediately verify.
"It was pretty rough," Manuel said of this one, an evaluation that was seconded by veteran left fielder Raul Ibanez.
Nothing life-threatening. The pilots never made any ominous announcements. Still, enough to shake the nerves of the travelling party. That said, Ibanez noted that in the wake of the heart-breaking plane crash in Russia, it probably isn't a good time to be complaining about turbulence.
Speaking of turbulence, the Phillies are going through some minor bumps right now, as is evidenced by the line-up they are throwing out against the Brewers tonight in the first of a four-game series in Milwaukee:
- Shane Victorino CF
- Wilson Valdez SS
- Placido Polanco 3B
- Hunter Pence RF
- John Mayberry Jr. 1B
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Ben Francisco LF
- Michael Martinez 2B
- Cole Hamels LHP
It might be the shortest batting order in major league history, with Victorino, Valdez, Polanco, Ruiz and Martinez all measuring under six feet.
Chase Utley is out of the lineup tonight and for the forseeable future with a concussion. Assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said today that Utley cannot undergo IMPACT concussion testing until 48 hours after the initial hit, which came in the sixth inning yesterday when he was hit in the head by a pitch from Eric O'Flaherty. Utley remained in the game, but left in the eighth after complaining of a headache.
Proefrock said that Utley will not play this weekend. The same could be true of Jimmy Rollins, although he was activated off the disabled list today. Rollins is not in the lineup, but can be used as a pinch-hitter. When he returns to the lineup remains to be seen. Proefrock and Manuel offered no timetable, so it could be tomorrow, or it could be next week.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
Ya never know...maybe THIS is the lineup that will support Hamels!
Shame we couldnt fit Bowker into the lineup also.— rumple- All righty (or switch) lineup against the lefty. — ESFjellin
- Home field is still up for grabs, but this is a good play in getting rest for the weary (or injured). And seeing how the Brewers don't employ a lefty in the bullpen, this should be an advantage for the Phils later on in the game. I still say the Phils take at least 3 games, but going 2-2 or even 1-3 won't hurt in the long run.— ESFjellin
- I like this lineup...Victorino needs to bat righty to break his slump, Pence knows NL central pitching, and Mayberry and Francisco are foaming at the mouth to play...Let Narvesson relax with no J Roll, Chase, or Ryan....he'll get his.— bearsfriend
- Doesn't make a difference what line up they have when Cole is pitching:)— pattymac3
- This should be interesting...— TerryW
Comment removed.- We have a 10.5 game lead. To the winner goes the spoils.— eman
- Some sort of record for line up with v's and z's in names.— rwwhit
- OK OFF TOPIC... Hamels just breezed through the 9th.... BUT, why the h#ll is he in there in a four run game in the ninth. The guy is three games off the DL, we are a month from the post season, and Charlie is letting him pitch... Love you Charlie but come on...— KINGOFZED
- Low pitch count and low stress pitching with a 5 run lead. Also he's the only one of the under 3.00 ERA starters not to have a complete game. OK, now he's done it, so unless he's gong for a no-hitter, that's also his last of the regular season.— judas_priest
- Judas_priest, I think he had one against SF— furio
- Willie V does it again !— NewMick314
- Cole Hamels had 2 CGs before the one last night. Against SF and the Nats.— re6035
- winter is coming.— PhillyCheeseSnake
- That was a seriously low stress outing for Hamels. 9 innings or not, he almost never had runners on base, didn't run deep counts, and generally was never in trouble. I had no problem with him finishing it, and I am generally one to advocate getting pitcher's rest when possible.— Phils Phan 28
