Archive: September, 2010
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Without saying it, Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee made it clear Tuesday that Roy Halladay will pitch Game 1 in the postseason against an opponent still to be determined.
Conventional wisdom has been that the Phillies will follow Halladay with Cole Hamels in Game 2 and Roy Oswalt in Game 3 to split up the two righthanders, but there are strong indications now that Oswalt will pitch Game 2 and Hamels Game 3.
"It's going to be Oswalt in Game 2, you can bet on it," a baseball source said Wednesday.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CORRECTION: This will be Polanco's fourth cortisone shot of the season, not his third, as incorrectly stated before. Story is updated.
WASHINGTON -- The early clinch has offered this benefit: Placido Polanco will be able to have a fourth cortisone injection in his left arm before the postseason begins.
Last week, Polanco told The Inquirer he wanted another shot in the arm. Two of the previous shots were in his left elbow, where bone spurs have caused constant pain this season. That has also developed into tendinitis in his left forearm, where he had a third cortisone injection in June and the fourth will be applied.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- And so the slog to the postseason begins.
The primary task before Tuesday's game was finding the bullpen bag, which contains rosin bags, exercise balls and other assorted necessities for the relievers. Bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer remembered telling Antonio Bastardo to grab it as the relievers sprinted from the bullpen to the celebration on the mound. But it had gone missing as the partying intensified.
Finally, after some thorough searching, Billmeyer found it in the laundry room. Phew.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- The tarp is not covering the infield. It was removed by Nationals grounds crew members a few hours ago. But it was not rolled up. Instead, it sits ominously in right field.
The Phillies pitchers are in left field, warming up for the game a few hours beforehand as they normally would. Roy Halladay was in the players' kitchen going over the Washington lineup with catcher Carlos Ruiz.
But around 7 p.m., the rain is forecasted to come. And it isn't supposed to let up until well beyond 10 p.m. After that, the forecast calls for 70 percent rain.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND WASHINGTON -- I'm on a train, probably not as nice as the one as the Phillies rode last night when they learned they had qualified for the postseason. As far as clinching moments go, well, it wasn't exactly dramatic.
But the Phillies are hoping for a celebration on Monday night. A few things could complicate that, mainly, the weather forecast for Washington is downright discouraging. The chance for rain showers is 70 percent the entire day and night with significant rainfall predicted.
So, what happens if, say, the Phillies are rained out and the Braves lose to the Marlins, thus clinching the National League East for the Phillies? I'd guess there will probably still be a celebration at Nationals Park. Unless the game is called early in the afternoon, the entire team will be at the ballpark already. The team had its champagne shipped south. They wouldn't tell everyone to go their own ways, would they? We'll see.
On to actual baseball...now that the Phillies have clinched a spot, we'll draft our preliminary division series roster here. A few questions the team will have to answer in the next week:
1. How many pitchers do you take?
Last season, the Phillies carried 12 pitchers in the division series. To do that again would be completely counterintuitive.
Last season, they did it for a few reasons: No. 1, they were playing Colorado, which meant games at Coors Field, and whatever happens at Coors Field stays at Coors Field. It also messes up pitching staffs. No. 2, the quality of the starting pitchers last season was far from the Big Three of this season. So for a five-game series, it would be silly to carry 12 pitchers.
2. OK, so who then is the sixth bench player?
This figures to be the most interesting debate. When the Phillies carried Domonic Brown on their bench in August instead of Greg Dobbs, Ruben Amaro Jr. said it was because that meant the Phillies were fielding a roster of their 25 best players.
Right now, it certainly sounds as if Charlie Manuel has changed his mind there. It didn't help that Brown suffered a strained right quadriceps injury that has sidelined him for much of September. He is finally 100 percent and hoping for some decent playing time in the final week once the Phillies have clinched so he can prove his worth.
While Brown has been out, Manuel has favored Dobbs as a pinch-hitter in certain situations. Dobbs has six at-bats since being recalled in September and is 1 for 6, the one being a pinch-hit home run against Florida. Is that enough for Manuel? He said last week he favors his veteran pinch-hitters over Brown because they have experience doing it.
Dobbs, of course, has struggled terribly this season. He is 3 for his last 31 in the majors, dating back to July 26. He has twice been designated for assignment this season by the Phillies.
Yes, Brown is inexperienced. He has not blown anyone away yet primarily because of his limited playing time. Coming off the bench is something he has never done with the exception of the last month.
One other factor: Brown is faster than Dobbs. He hasn't shown a penchant for stealing bases, but he has speed. Right now, the bench player with the most speed on the 25-man roster would be Wilson Valdez, who is also your only backup middle infielder. You figure the sixth man on a bench will rarely be used. Maybe the speed is what puts Brown over the top. We'll see.
3. Do you take two lefties?
The concerns for J.C. Romero have been well-documented. He is unscored upon in 10 of his last 11 outings, but 12 of the 27 batters he has faced in that span have reached base via a hit, walk or hit batsman.
Antonio Bastardo is the other option and he hasn't pitched since Sept. 11. The young lefty has shown flashes of brilliance, but clearly needs refining.
This decision could ultimately come down to which team the Phillies face in the first round. In terms of lefthanded and switch hitters, San Francisco has Mike Fontenot, Aubrey Huff, Travis Ishikawa, Pablo Sandoval, Nate Schierholtz and Andres Torres. San Diego has Adrian Gonzalez, Tony Gwynn, Matt Stairs and Will Venable. Cincinnati has Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.
So, considering all of that, here is our prediction for what the Phillies will do. (Note: The writer may not agree with all decisions. This is his best attempt at entering Charlie Manuel's and Rich Dubee's minds, a tedious exercise at best.)
Catchers (2)
Carlos Ruiz (R)
Brian Schneider (L)
Infielders (7)
Ryan Howard (L)
Chase Utley (L)
Placido Polanco (R)
Jimmy Rollins (S)
Wilson Valdez (R)
Mike Sweeney (R)
Greg Dobbs (L)
Outfielders (5)
Raul Ibanez (L)
Shane Victorino (S)
Jayson Werth (R)
Ben Francisco (R)
Ross Gload (L)
Pitchers (11)
Roy Halladay (RHP)
Cole Hamels (LHP)
Roy Oswalt (RHP)
Joe Blanton (RHP)
Brad Lidge (RHP)
Ryan Madson (RHP)
Jose Contreras (RHP)
Chad Durbin (RHP)
J.C. Romero (LHP)
Antonio Bastardo (LHP)
Danys Baez (RHP) **
** The toughest decision is the 11th pitcher and it could go quite a few ways. Kyle Kendrick is a consideration and I think in a seven-game series, he makes it. But for the first round, we'll say they go with Baez over Kendrick and David Herndon.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Impressed with what he saw during a simulated game Thursday, Charlie Manuel said he hopes to start Jimmy Rollins at shortstop on Sunday.
Rollins has missed the last 12 games with a strained right hamstring. The shortstop took some swings against live pitching for the first time Thursday and also ran the bases. How did it feel?
"It felt like running," Rollins said.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Phillies' magic number stands at four as the Mets come to Citizens Bank Park and the Braves travel down I-95 for a weekend series against the Nationals.
So yes, the division could be clinched as soon as Saturday. But remember: The Phillies are throwing Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick the next two days and Atlanta has Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe going in Washington.
Sooner or later, the team's attention will shift from the division to the best record in the National League. But that shouldn't last very long.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
In a clear sign the Phillies are at least mildly concerned about Roy Halladay's workload, they have bumped their ace back a day during the next turn through the rotation. It also shows they have an eye toward resting as many regulars as possible should the team clinch early.
Kyle Kendrick, who was originally scheduled to start Monday, will now take his normal turn in the rotation on Saturday. That pushes Halladay from Sunday to Monday.
Halladay was scheduled to receive an extra day of rest in between his last two starts. The Phillies decided it was best to give him the extra day now.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
In the last seven games, no opposing starter has pitched beyond five innings against the Phillies. So that tall task belongs to Braves rookie lefthander Mike Minor tonight. He goes against Roy Halladay, who is seeking to become the Phillies' first 20-game winner since 1982.
Here are the lineups:
Braves
1. Omar Infante 2B
2. Jason Heyward RF
3. Martin Prado 3B
4. Brian McCann C
5. Derrek Lee 1B
6. Nate McLouth LF
7. Alex Gonzalez SS
8. Rick Ankiel CF
9. Mike Minor LHP
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Read my earlier post on Werth-Boras here.
After Jayson Werth canvassed the agent community over the past month, he settled upon Scott Boras, one of the game's most powerful figures. Boras could land Werth a huge deal this off-season when he becomes a free agent, but the superagent thinks a common bond helped forge the two parties.
"I think we got along because we were both raised by farmers," Boras said by phone. "His stepfather and my father were both farmers. You go to work, get your job done, you do your thing and you keep your mouth shut."
Werth hired Boras late Sunday night. He called the agent to inform him of his decision hours after hitting a walk-off home run to beat the Washington Nationals.
"It was a real good day," Boras said.
Boras expects his client to command a significant deal on the market. The first positive about Werth's 2010 season that Boras mentioned was the fact he could play centerfield. Werth has started 18 games in center this season.
So will talks with the Phillies, who appear to be a significant long shot to re-sign Werth, begin before the season is over?
"Certainly," Boras said. "The Phillies are a very viable alternative."
Alternative?
"Whenever a player is playing well at a place, you have to look at those places closely because they're a good combination," Boras said. "It's good business for the Phillies. They've been running their business rather well. They're putting together a core, a dynasty."
Boras has had limited dealings with the Phillies since the J.D. Drew saga in 1997. He also represents current Phillies Ryan Madson and Domonic Brown -- coincidentally, the player who could replace Werth in the Phillies' lineup.
The agent said he has kept in contact with Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.
"In the era of Ruben, we talk about a lot of free agents," Boras said. "We interact quite a bit. Ruben and I have a very good working relationship over the years."
For more, read Tuesday's Inquirer.
