Game 125: Hey, this could be fun
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Game 125: Hey, this could be fun
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
There is a certain lack of anticipation for Phillies baseball on most nights because reality dictates it. Then, even when the season is rendered irrelevant, there are still nights like Thursday:
Cueto vs. Hamels.
It's a matchup of two of the best pitchers in the National League. Johnny Cueto leads everyone with 16 wins and a 2.44 ERA. Hamels has a 2.94 ERA with 168 strikeouts in 171 1/3 innings. He is seeking his 15th win, which would tie a career high.
Both figure to finish high in Cy Young balloting. Cueto is currently viewed as the favorite.
Charlie Manuel's lineup includes no one from the starting nine on opening day:
1. Juan Pierre 7
2. Kevin Frandsen 5
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Domonic Brown 9
6. Laynce Nix 8
7. Erik Kratz 2
8. Michael Martinez 6
9. Cole Hamels 1
Jimmy Rollins, apparently, has a day off. He is 3 for 15 lifetime against Cueto with three doubles.
Dusty Baker will finally appease a hungry Philadelphia crowd by starting Wilson Valdez:
1. Zack Cozart 6
2. Drew Stubbs 8
3. Jay Bruce 9
4. Ryan Ludwick 7
5. Todd Frazier 5
6. Miguel Cairo 3
7. Wilson Valdez 4
8. Ryan Hanigan 2
9. Johnny Cueto 1
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Jimmy Rollins "apparently" has a day off? He obviously has a day off. What's the inference with "apparently"?— vafan- Pierre leading off? what a novel idea— Snake Pliskin
- Glad to see Frandsen and Kratz back in the lineup.— zeke128
- If this lineup hits Johnny Cueto and CM changes it friday he should be impeached— baeboo
Comment removed.- No Jimmy Poppins? Just throwing in the towel, eh Chuckie?— hunglikeaton
- Like this lineup. Also will be good to see Wilson again. Wish he was still on the team.— dogman5
- will echo some others and say it will be nice to welcome Wilson Valdez back for the hustle and energy he brought to the Phils every day he was here, and it will be doubly sweet to watch a game where our first batter won't automatically pop to shallow center. I might even close my eyes and dream of the time we won't have that poison at the top of our order for an entire season.Knowing Manuel, he will make sure to joke with the Stroller throughout the game to make sure he knows he's always golden in Charlie's book. Nights like this kill Charlie; he doesn't have the mettle to be a true manager, believing instead that his job is to cheer lead and joke around with the men he's supposed to lead. Yeah, sure!Of course, the fact that Rube and Charlie's Rule 5 sweetheart, Martinez, is in the lineup will give me a good chance every 2 - 3 innings when he's due up to go get my next beer. (HTML deleted)— advantasux
- Oh how I've missed Wilson and his technicolor goatee Valdez. Glad he's getting the start and what an ovation for him at CBP! Well deserved!— bingbangbong
