Game 57: The band is back together
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Game 57: The band is back together
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Enough about the roster. This is what you really care about: For the first time all season, Charlie Manuel can write out a lineup with eight players he calls regulars.
The result is this:
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Placido Polanco 5
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Shane Victorino 8
6. Raul Ibanez 7
7. Domonic Brown 9
8. Carlos Ruiz 2
9. Cole Hamels 1
He goes with Victorino fifth and that breaks up the three lefties (Utley, Howard, Ibanez) in the middle. Brown earns a start; he should play all weekend with three righties on the mound for Pittsburgh. Jeff Karstens (3-4, 3.58) is starting tonight.
It's the 38th lineup Manuel has filled out in 57 games, but needless to say, this one has the most promise.
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Finally. Hopefully this fixes some of the offensive inconsistency of the first 56 games.— jpk
Wow what a Lineup the same one without Werth Last Year that Lost To GIANTS?— Kevinmac- Hamels pitches a shutout!
- @Kevinmac The lineup didn't lose because of lack of talent; it lost because of complacency. Case in point, our $25 million man standing there with the bat on his shoulder. Don't underestimate the potential of this group, when motivated. Also, give the SF pitchers some credit... they were unbelievable all year.— maximusud
- I'm not sure Howard didn't swing because he was complacent. Besides, aren't we normally on his case for swinging at bad balls? I'm still not entirely convinced that ball was even a strike, but the Phillies lost that game/series well before that. — cloudkitt
- Vic batting 5th exploits the need for a RH power bat.— ronin32
Comment removed.- I hate to say this, but I have to. The whining over the Phillies line-up is pathetic with a capital P. Would you prefer that we go back to the early 2000's (and before) where we really did have subpar players? This team has been to the NLCS 3 times in a row. They won the first championship for our city in 25 years. If this doesn't put them beyond the whining and constant criticism the fact that they are LEADING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE AGAIN sure should. Don't get your undies in a ruffle fellows. Its all good in South Philly, and it'll be even better come November.
- I sometimes wonder if most of these posts are made by 15 year olds. Doesn't anyone remember what it was like to be glad if they just didn't finish last. I'm certainly not suggesting this team is beyond criticism, but they have earned the benefit of some faith haven't they?— DODGE.EM
- Comment removed.
- philly.com I hope you and your autoplay advertisements with sound die a slow and painful death— jwgealt
- I remember following many Phillies teams with far bigger problems over the last 30 years. Being in 1st place with 4 aces, returning injured stars (Utley, Victorino), having one of the most feared home run hitters, and some young players with potential (Brown, Stutes) is not the worst place to be. Yes they are flawed, as all teams made of humans are, but they are less flawed that virtually every other team.— JohnFC
- @dodge yes, i remember. i also remember when it didn't cost a small fortune to take my family to a baseball game and the phillies' payroll wasn't in the same conversation as that of the yankees. the phillies were given the benefit of the doubt in 2009 and 2010 ... at this point, it's been 3 years since a W.S. and some of us are done giving passes.— PhillyPhan4for4
- I get it mainlinephan. And I'm sure you agree with me in thinking that their potential is to have the best record in the league. Which they do. So I still don't get the complaining. Sadly, they won't win every single game. But they will win at least 100 of 162, the National League East and most likely a whole lot more. The thing I find funniest is that the tune in these comments was a whole lot more positive before the Phils lost a series to the Nationals. We lose one series to a bad team and the roof is falling in? I don't think so.
- Excited to see what they can do over the next month as they start playing together.— kdavis2172
