A lineup shakeup
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A lineup shakeup
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Charlie Manuel wouldn't call it a shakeup. We will.
The Phillies manager is giving Jayson Werth and Placido Polanco the night off as the Phils attempt to break a three-game scoreless streak. Werth, Manuel said, has been pressing at the plate. Polanco is dealing with some soreness in his left elbow (the same one that has bothered him since mid-April after being hit by a pitch in Atlanta) and Manuel wanted to give the third baseman a blow.
That results in this lineup:
1. Shane Victorino CF
2. Wilson Valdez SS
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Raul Ibanez LF
6. Ross Gload RF
7. Greg Dobbs 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Kyle Kendrick P
It's the second time this season Gload and Dobbs have started on the same day. Valdez is hitting second for just the sixth time in his career.
Righthander Chris Volstad starts for the Marlins and he's been much better against lefties (.652 OPS) than righties (.742 OPS). Manuel has five lefties batting in a row from Utley down to Dobbs.
But at this point, it's less about splits and batters vs. pitchers' history. Manuel is looking for something, anything to jump start this team offensively. If it means making changes for the sake of making changes, then so be it. When you've been shut out four of the last five games, something has to give.
Manuel said the vibes in the clubhouse have been fine.
"Our main guys don’t get down," Manuel said. "That’s good. That’s a good sign. They get mad. They don’t get down."
When asked whether he considered having his team skip batting practice for a mental rest, Manuel snapped at the notion.
"A blow for what?" Manuel said. "That’s why I’m the manager. I listen to my players. I listen to my coaches. But me, I hit everyday. Our teams hit every goddamn day. And a lot. Name me a guy that’s a good hitter and I’ll show you a guy who hits a lot. Seriously."
The best way to stop a slump is to start Dobbs?— 2smart4philly- Need Jroll back. 6.1 runs with him, 4.5 without him.— stoop57
- great give the only player in the lineup that is hitting a night off— amann08
- Amaro made the mistake in 2010 by staffing the team with an excess of left-handed hitters. They have not improved in the basis of advancing runners, hitting to the opposite field and holding runners to 1st base with sharp throws and not slow throws.— tulsaphil
- wow gload, dobbs and KK pitching....zero chance of a win...hey cholly, why dont you bench yourself— tooltime
- stop whining, they're a little off, but so what. they're still in the lead, it's early in the season. this happens in september then start worrying. it's a long season, they're all capable players, this fine. give the guys a break, just cheer them through this little bump in the road, that's when teams need their fans, not just when things are going great, but when things hit a little bump - not worried— LeftField
- They want offense? Void Howard's premature contract extension. That'll shake 'em up.— scootch
- alvarez is a waste of a uniform...you're telling me we have no one better in the system to sub in? WTF Ruben...Scubas and Hippo son— DennyP
- greg dobbs is a AA player at best who had a good month one year...a world series team with KK pitching every 5 days? how many sell outs in a row? couldnt afford Lee? This team is stealing from the fans— tooltime
Comment removed.- This doesn't worry me. A rough 10 game stretch in baseball is the same as throwing a one game clunker in football. Being a Flyers fan here in den of the enemy is what worries me. Orange & Black stands out.— ChiBubba
- There is about a half dozen regulars who are stealing money from the club right now. Glad we upped Howard for a billion dollars...— Rod72
- As long as Utley and Howard are still flailing (and failing) back to back in the 3 and 4 holes, it's not really much of a shakeup. Utley, Howard, Werth, and Ibanez are the primary reasons this team isn't scoring runs.
- Comment removed.
Kendrick needs to go back to triple AAA....2 outs, runners at the corners, ball hit back to mound (Kendrick) for easy 3rd out; Kendrick throws the ball in dirt to Howard...2 runs score. Little League baseball!! Kendrick still doesn't have his head screwed on right. Howard still striking out at junk balls. Go Flyers!!— dogman5- Holy smokes they scored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— zonaindie2
- dobbs is just horrible.— PYW
- well so far Gload and Dobbs suck. Blew a chance to open up an inning started by the regulars but went down like the mediocrities these two guys are.— atp2007
- CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHY DOBBS IS IN THE MAJORS?????
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO MAKE A MOVE ON THE RELIEVERS WE'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON IN CHICAGO!!!!???- To all of you blogging geniuses....they won. Yo Tonka, talk to me in August after your manager been fired and your 13 games out. Please tell me your a Rangers fan to, that would be perfect.— blchops08
- Ha, ha, ha, guess all the experts were wrong! PHILLIES WIN!!— notsofast
- Hey tooltime....the name fits....how'd that prediction work out for ya?— Gary81
- Lot of cutsie comments here. Guess what ? They Phillies Won ! And Kendrick pitched a great game. I love it when all the know-it-alls find out they don't !— dondon
put dobbs in give me a break - no offense, no defense- Bad throw by Kendrick but Howard needs to keep that ball in front of him. How can you can a player 125 Million who cannot field his own position. If it wasnt so horrible it would be funny! He makes some kind of mistake in the field every two or three games. I was watching the Padres and they might have a First Basemen who is worth Howard's contract because he is a well rounded and doesnt have obvious areas of improvement. Howards p0wer numbers are WAY down, he cant field his position or make routine throws and his wild strikeouts are rally killers. How many times during this recent Phillies slump has Howard come up to the plate with a man on third and only one out? ALL we need is ball hit to outfield but worst possible thing is a strikeout! Werth looks terrible too, why is he trying to hit a homerun on every swing. Jayson, you are going to get your money and you dont need to hit 60 homeruns. Sometimes a double the other way is good enough, ya know!
