A rotation shuffle
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A rotation shuffle
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.
This means, if the rotation stays on schedule, Kendrick, Cole Hamels and Halladay would start the final three games of the season in Atlanta. Then again, those games may not matter.
If that's the case, Hamels and Halladay could make abbreviated starts just to get some work in before the postseason begins.
Halladay leads the majors in innings pitched with 241 2/3. He is on pace to throw more than he has since 2003, when he pitched 266 innings. And combined with the playoffs, it's very possible Halladay eclipses that mark.
"They've logged some mileage, there's no question about that, especially with Halladay," Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "I'm just hoping we clinch. We'll take it from there."
If the Phillies do clinch the National League East, there remains the other plateau of best record in the league. And don't think that is meaningless. This season, the team with the best record in the NL will have choice of having an extra day off during the division series.
"That makes a whole lot of difference," Charlie Manuel said.
But it sounds as if the Phillies would be willing to go for the best record with some reserves on the field. Entering Wednesday, the Phillies had five more wins than the next best teams -- Atlanta and Cincinnati.
"Home-field advantage is significant," Amaro said. "But again, we have to be cognizant of the workload these guys have had. We'll see how things go."
Here's a tid bit: After playing 153 games in 09 the Phillies were 6 up and the MN was 4. Identical to today's stats. Who would have thunk it on July 22?— stop2think
Welcome to Comedy Central...the Yankees are erecting a statue of Cliff Lee in Memorial Park. It will dwarf the 5 x 7 foot placque of King George and have just a little more gold than that Tut kid's tomb was made of, since Tut was not a power lefthander. He was more of a junkballer like Jamie Moyer though history shows by the time he was Jamie's age he had already been dead for 31 years.- If the games matter, the rotation will be Hamels, Halladay, Oswalt against the Braves...division will be clinched by then though!— abspe
- Cliff Lee would have cured djmarco's erectile dysfunction and helped P Even earn his GED— GoPhilsGo
- djmarco ... the $24 million Cheeseburger Joe will get from 2010 to 2012 is not "the same $$$" as the $55 million or so that Cliff Lee will earn for those years. In fact, the $$$ the Phils would have paid to Lee for 2010 to 2012 will probably be enough to pay the contracts of Cheeseburger Joe, Roy Oswalt and Carlos Ruiz for those years.— GoPhilsGo
- Alright, enuff areaddy with the awful Cliff Le jokes. Now I finally know why Carlos Mencia has a job. Bout time they rested Doc, I'd take it real easy on him the rest of the way. Keep the other 2 on a short leash too.— newintown
- The 3 Aces have stepped up big time. Now it is time for Blaton and KK to step up also.— jpelle36
- Why was KK "slated" to start Monday? That would be Oswalt's day (with 5 days rest). No need for KK. Of course inserting KK would give everyone 6 days rest since next Thursday is an off day also.— ras#2
- This has to be the most entertaining batch of comments I've seen in a long time on Philly.com. Thanks, everybody!— dlscholt
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Cliff Lee walk on water outside 31 Flavors last night. Even Chuck Norris was impressed.— ColKurtz
