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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Phillies Zone

Game 21: Rollins To Lead Off

Charlie Manuel has put Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff spot for tonight’s game with the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.

18 comments

Game 21: Rollins To Lead Off

POSTED: Saturday, April 28, 2012, 3:54 PM

Marc Narducci

Charlie Manuel has put Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff spot for tonight’s game with the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.

After scoring 15 runs in winning the final two games in Arizona, the Phillies reverted to form in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

When the Phillies didn’t score with runners at the corners and no outs in the first inning, it was an indication that this wouldn’t be their night.

Manuel hopes that Rollins (.216, 0 HR, 3 RBI) can benefit from the change against Cubs RHP Randy Wells (0-0, 3.60).

Here is the lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS

2. Placido Polanco, 3B

3. Hunter Pence, RF

4. Jim Thome, 1B

5. Shane Victorino, CF

6. Laynce Nix, LF

7. Carlos Ruis, C

8. Pete Orr, 2B

9. Joe Blanton P

18 comments

Comments (18)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:08 PM, 04/28/2012

Charlie simply does not get it.

J-Roll should be moved down in the lineup, not up.

One of the (few) bright spots in this lineup has been the play of Juan Pierre batting out of the leadoff spot. Now, he's being supplanted in an effort to jump-start Rollins. Twisted logic. But, hey, it's what we've come to expect.

Chipper Jones has batted third for the majority of his career in Atlanta. But that has not prevented manager Fredi Gonzalez from batting him sixth this season. See, it's not about loyalty, it's about what's in the best interest of the team.

— PhightinPhil

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:27 PM, 04/28/2012

PhightinPhil...You're point is a good one, but makes no sense. Rollins is no supplementing Pierre in the leadoff spot, as Pierre is on the bench with Nix playing LF. Why not give Rollins a chance to bat leadoff and see if it can spark his own production? Chances are he'll be back lower in the lineup tomorrow when Pierre is back in the lineup (at his age, he can't play everyday).

It makes no sense to me the hatred for Jimmy Rollins from a lot of fans, and the infatuation with Chase Utley. Both were great players who have been in downward spirals for several years, but at least Rollins can get on the field, and he's much more open and honest with the fans than Utley is. Of course, these are the same fans who wanted the Phillies to break the bank a few years ago to sign Chone Figgons. Guess they got that one right, huh?

— Eilex826

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:31 PM, 04/28/2012

This lineup is madness. The #1 and #2 best hitters on the team right now (Pierre and Wigginton) are both on the bench. Hitters that have consistently and unarguably established themselves as worthless: Rollins and Polanco are batting in the first 2 spots. I don't understand.

— kilo_005

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:45 PM, 04/28/2012

That's because Cholly has written tonight's game off as a loss.

— orange rhino

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:51 PM, 04/28/2012

Have to agree with Kilo. How you don't have Pierre and Wiggington in the lineup (who are your hottest hitters) is foolish with the way this team struggles to score.

Even if you want Jimmy to lead off, you can't play Thome and Orr along with Rollins who are all struggling. Wiggington should be hitting 4th behind Pence and Pierre could be down in the lineup providing a spark there. They need to win some games.

— Fan74

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:15 PM, 04/28/2012

Oh i should also point out that Juan Pierre is career 4-10 against Wolf, with 2 walks as well....

— kilo_005

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:37 PM, 04/28/2012

Great but Wells is pitching, not Wolf.

— hey buddy

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:19 PM, 04/28/2012

Rollins is most productive in the #1 hole. The Pierre experiment was good, but he is a defensive liabity and gets picked off/thrown out on the base paths too often. Time to think optimisitcally. Rollins/Polanco/Victorino/Pense/Nix-Wigginton/Victornio/Mayberry Jr/Ruiz/Galvis...and in about two weeeks, Rollins/Polanco/Utley/Pense/Niz-Wiggington/Victorino/Mayberry Jr/Ruiz. Gotta think Utley will be in Clearwater by May 1st. Gotta.

— drhoffman

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:28 PM, 04/28/2012

That's why RAJ should have said thanks and good-bye to JRoll after last season. RAJ has no vision. None. He is strictly a reactionary GM...as can be seen in his mandatory trade deadline deals and his poor off-season F.A signings.

— scootch

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:28 PM, 04/28/2012

Unbelievable. Pierre starts against a lefty and sits against a righty. Orr and Thome get playing time but no Mayberry. The manager is coaching to get fired, which I think is the greatest of his ideas.

— EL Zorro

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:35 PM, 04/28/2012

Moving an automatic out like Pop-Up Jimmy up in the lineup is the dumbest thing I've read all day. Of course, I'm not a self-proclaimed "hitting guru" and never batted .198 in a sorry MLB career so the Hillbilly gets his way.

— Wilhelm Von Humboldt

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:36 PM, 04/28/2012

El Zorro is 110% correct. Line-up makes zip - zero sense!! Thome playing ahead of anyone - is shameful.

— Northcountry

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:01 PM, 04/28/2012

Putting negativity to the side for a moment. I would rather see Pence hit from the 3 hole instead of the 4 hole. I don't believe that Rollins is going to hit .200 for the season and the pressure of the 3 hole was wearing on him and the team.

A lot depends on which Wells show up tonight--maybe a couple of bats will get rolling.

— Smoothellc