Archive: October, 2010
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
I'm here in San Francisco preparing for Game 1 of the World Series, but Phillies news never ends, right? An update on Placido Polanco...
It was the middle of August, between his third and fourth cortisone injections, when Placido Polanco first acknowledged he'd probably need surgery on his left elbow following the season.
Polanco was hit by a Tim Hudson pitch on the elbow April 21 in a game at Atlanta. That merely aggravated what was a chronic injury to Polanco's elbow, full of tendinosis and bone fragments.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- Ah yes, baseball is not over. They will play the World Series without the Phillies for the first time in three years.
That doesn't mean this series between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants fails to offer intrigue for those back in Philadelphia. You know, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is starting Game 1 for the Rangers.
Some Phillies, Jayson Werth included, will be watching Cliff Lee on TV.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
As expected, the Phillies declined reliever J.C. Romero's $4.5 million option for 2011. The left-hander will receive a $250,000 buyout and become a free agent.
It's unlikely the Phillies will bring back Romero, who went 1-0 with three saves and a 3.68 ERA this season. Romero spent part of 2007 and the last three full seasons with the Phillies.
The Phillies undoubtedly will be looking for left-handed relief help in the free-agent market this offseason. Lefthander Antonio Bastardo is also likely to make the team out of spring training next season.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke for a half hour Monday at Citizens Bank Park to issue his state of the team address as the Phillies head into the off-season without a pennant for the first time in three years.
He had plenty of interesting things to say.
"I think there are three elements we have to be ready to handle this off-season. One is our six free agents," Amaro said. "We have to deal with those. I think we have to deal with our age because we're starting to move past and into the prime ages of production. And I think we have to address the bullpen because that's something that could have been an Achilles' heel. They ended up performing very well because our starters went deep into games."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Apparently Jimmy Rollins' two stolen bases in Game 5 were enough proof for Charlie Manuel that his leadoff hitter is healthy enough to bat at the top of the lineup.
Rollins returns to the leadoff spot for the second time this postseason in Game 6. Rollins batted leadoff in five games at the end of the regular season and was 4 for 18.
But against the lefthander Jonathan Sanchez, Rollins will be batting from his stronger side (right) and Manuel must like the matchup.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Phillies will play an elimination game with a familiar lineup.
Raul Ibanez is back in the lineup after sitting in Game 4. And Charlie Manuel has moved Placido Polanco back up to the two spot. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are not split up.
1. Shane Victorino CF
2. Placido Polanco 3B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Jayson Werth RF
6. Jimmy Rollins SS
7. Raul Ibanez LF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Roy Halladay P
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- A lot going on out there. Rightfully so. There was so much that happened in Game 4 that it's hard to begin, in no particular order...Jimmy Rollins, Joe Blanton, Sam Perlozzo, Chad Durbin, Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge, Ben Francisco, Jeremy Affeldt...take your pick. (OK, many have chosen Charlie Manuel.)
Both teams combined to use 11 pitchers and 23 hitters in Game 4, which featured 321 pitches. Some decisions mattered more than others. Some are being second-guessed a day later.
We won't go on the offensive. Instead, here are two situations I perceived to be extremely interesting and weren't talked about at great length about in the mass of postgame opinion and analysis that followed Game 4...
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- Following Game 3, I asked Charlie Manuel if he thought it was time to start Ben Francisco in leftfield as Raul Ibanez extended his hitless streak to 15 at-bats.
"I'll think about all that," Manuel said. "But at the same time it's getting kind of late to be trying to make moves, isn't it?"
Apparently not.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- So it's come to this. Joe Blanton, the fourth member of a pitching rotation that features a Big Three, is pitching in the season's most important game.
I'm assuming much of the debate back home today as been about starting Blanton over Roy Halladay. As I wrote for Tuesday's paper, the other scenario was an enticing one. Halladay and Roy Oswalt have had success pitching on short rest. Cole Hamels has never done it, but if there ever was a time to do it, it's now.
Instead, the Phillies chose Blanton.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Any time a baseball team loses a close game, there are moves that can be questioned.
Such was the case Saturday night after the Phillies dropped a 4-3 decision to the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
One popular question: Why didn't Charlie Manuel order a sacrifice bunt from Shane Victorino after Roy Halladay followed Carlos Ruiz' third-inning home run with a single to left field. The argument went like this: If Victorino sacrificed Halladay to second, the pitcher would have scored when Placido Polanco doubled.
