Game 30: Oh, there is baseball
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Game 30: Oh, there is baseball
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
An existential debate on the meaning of unwritten baseball rules aside, the Phillies actually have another game today. After establishing a new rivalry this weekend, their old rival comes to town. And the Mets also have a better record than the Phillies.
Roy Halladay is on the mound after his worst start as a Phillie. He left the team for a day for personal reasons following the eight-run outing, but both team and pitcher say he is completely healthy.
Charlie Manuel will use his 25th lineup in 30 games.
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. John Mayberry Jr. 7
3. Shane Victorino 8
4. Hunter Pence 9
5. Ty Wigginton 3
6. Carlos Ruiz 2
7. Placido Polanco 5
8. Freddy Galvis 4
9. Roy Halladay 1
Mayberry is hitting second, presumably, because of his career figures against Mets lefty Jonathon Niese.
| PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placido Polanco | 26 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | .417 | .462 | .583 | 1.045 |
| Jimmy Rollins | 21 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .263 | .333 | .263 | .596 |
| Shane Victorino | 19 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .278 | .316 | .444 | .760 |
| John Mayberry | 17 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .294 | .294 | .706 | 1.000 |
| Hunter Pence | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .143 | .200 | .143 | .343 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 14 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .357 | .357 | .357 | .714 |
| Roy Halladay | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Brian Schneider | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Freddy Galvis | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
| Ty Wigginton | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .667 | .500 | 1.167 |
| Total | 138 | 130 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 29 | .269 | .307 | .377 | .683 |
One matchup to watch against Halladay: Mets catcher Josh Thole is 7 for 16 with a double.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Using the "Mayberry Logic," why isn't Polanco hitting second? He's hitting .417 against Niese.— apreziosi- Polanco should hit first...— Hammer859
- Polanco should be playing second base. He fields as well as Freddy and, of course, is a better hitter.
I dare say he should play second all year. Wouldn't third be easier for Utley's knees (i.e. no take-out slides, no double-play pivot, less ground to cover) when he returns?
Just a thought.— yahzooman - Where's the great Pete Orr? I'd rather see them call up Fontenot— t4tuck
- Just another loss....these guys can't hit Niese. He's a two pitch pitcher and these guys don't hit those two pitches.....— Mark1npt
- Mayberry batting 2nd? In memory of Goober Pyle?— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- For the umpteenth time....Utley can't play 3rd....he tried to convert there in the minors and oculdn't do it...no arm.....— Mark1npt
yahzooman - might make some sense...until we talk about Utley throwing to first, which he has enough trouble doing from 2nd base.
Comment removed.- Mayberry batting in itself is a mystery. Do you think the Yankees would trade Ibanez even up ?
The Phillies haven't put anything better in left field.
So far they haven't tried a broken down mule, or a three legged dog ! Stay tuned .— phineas - Aunt Bea and all the Mayberry bretheran are in mourning today. Lets hope little Johnny brightens things us tonight.— NewMick314
- Mayberry just needs ab's superior defense better arm and speed with power. Albert pujols hit his first hr yesterday yet we can't let John figure it out with part time play? Doc take care of business!— Phillyphan26
- Why not play Ty Wigginton at 3B, he's played close to 700 career games there.— Ray Sharp
- Doc gave up 2 in the 6th and that probably will give the Mets confidence to win. He looks OK but the Phils just cannot hit so even with a 2 run lead for Doc, nothing is safe for this team and they look weak even against this Mets team. Frustrating unless someone comes up with a big hit for the Phils and pulls this out. Braves already winning and the Nats did suffer a blow with Jayson's wrist but the Phils still are not even favored to make the PO's according to the gurus at ESPAN.— Koons
- they can't hit with RISP. It's pathetic.— palmyra21
- It HAS to get better when Utley and Howard come back, right? Mark - what's your take on Cliff Lee's problem?— dwp66
