Charlie Manuel tests different top of lineup
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Charlie Manuel tests different top of lineup
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Ask the manager, and he is sure to offer a steadfast defense of Jimmy Rollins batting leadoff. Charlie Manuel has done such already this spring. It is quite likely Rollins is the first Phillies batter to hit April 1.
Naturally, Manuel batted Rollins second Thursday. Ben Revere led off.
"I don't know," Manuel said when asked why he did it. "I just wanted to see it. Actually, it looked pretty good. We won the game and got some runs. Ben, the last two days, he has hit the ball pretty good. We'll see how it goes. That will work itself out."
Rollins will play Friday against the Yankees in Tampa and then depart for the World Baseball Classic. He could be gone for almost three weeks, depending on how far the United States advances.
During that time, Revere will see action at the top. He was 2 for 3 Thursday with a double, bunt single, walk and two runs scored. Behind him, Rollins was 0 for 3.
Rollins has not batted second during a regular-season game since May 29, 2004.
"I just wanted to see how our lineup looked," Manuel said.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Like the lineup. JRoll can be excellent batting 2nd. A guy who can run, takes his walks and has some power is a prime #2 hitter. Revere looks like he can be special. Revere, Rollins and Utley at the top = .300 with speed, speed and power, speed and power at 1-2-3. Hope Manuel gives it more looks when Rollins returns in a few weeks.— oldfriar- This will be the most talked about issue with the Phils this year. Rollins has already proven that with Charlie as his manager, he will go into a self induced funk if he hits anywhere but 1st in the order. Charlie will bat him first, as he has said. If the Phils' offense sputters and is maddeningly ineffective, as it was for long periods last season, and J-Rol is among the leaders in lead-off hitters' percentage of pop-up outs like last season, Charlie will be replaced by Ryne Sandberg, and Jimmy will be moved down in the order so the best lead-off guy on the team, Revere, can hit 1st. If Jimmy sulks, walks out ground balls and pop ups, walks into 2nd base rather than running hard to break up double plays and so forth with Ryne as the manager, he will sit. I don't see that happening if Charlie is not around though...— topwonk
- Haven't the times Jimmy has been moved out of the leadoff spot been because he was already in a funk, or slump? He might like hitting 2nd since the guy in front of him won't clog the bases and the two of them together could run wild. Also, if Revere hits 300 and steals 60, Rollins could drive in a bunch of runs and he might like that.
— oldfriar
