Plotting a new lineup
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Plotting a new lineup
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
(David Maialetti)
Ryan Howard will see Phillies doctors Friday morning as a mere formality. The Phillies decided Thursday night their slugging first baseman was ready for a return to the majors less than nine months removed from Achilles surgery and after only seven minor-league games.
Finally, Charlie Manuel will have his full lineup.
There are, of course, changes. A reporter noted Manuel would usually not have to worry about where Carlos Ruiz hits in the full unit. The manager laughed.
"Those are good wrinkles," Manuel said. "I don't have any trouble with those wrinkles."
So what will Manuel's lineup resemble in Game 85? Here's a best guess:
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Juan Pierre 7
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Carlos Ruiz 2
6. Hunter Pence 9
7. Shane Victorino 8
8. Placido Polanco 5
Atlanta is throwing three righthanders this weekend. But once the Phillies face a lefty, it's reasonable to assume Polanco or Victorino slides to the No. 2 spot with John Mayberry Jr. playing left field and batting eighth.
Hector Luna appears to be the most logical player to demoted make room for Howard. Luna has started six games and batted 40 times since June 1 with a .189 average. He has an option remaining, so he need not clear waivers to rejoin triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies could also send out Jason Pridie, who bats lefthanded. He, too, has an option remaining.
What is the lineup you would use with Howard in the mix?
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
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Buy Phillies tickets Comments (53)
Why is Rollins still batting lead-off?????????????????????????????— chucksf- is it too early to be looking forward to Dylan Cozens.— jgf
- Charlie Manuel is a good coach, but this team is just not suitable for him, the established players are aging, and the young players are average at best and really needs better coaching. As a team, we are not executing.
Why not get Ryne Sandberg to take over!!! We have regressed every year from WS champion to last year's first round exit. If we don't make a change now, we ain't even going to make that new wild card spot this year.— cvs737 - No way--- this team is cooked! DONE! RAJ FLUNKED BULLPEN From THE GET GO---he gets a D in not being aware of UT'S not coming back sooner-that's on him not doing his JOB in the off season…Jolly Charlie flunked playing a different brand of baseball early on--his approach station to station did not change from last year--HE FLUNKED demanding that his Players play SMALL BALL--hit run'- move runners over hitting to right field-et al-- AND Practicing IT IN SPRING TRAINING--being prepared as they--a BIG FLUNK!!RAJ AND JOLLY Charlie both flunked sticking with players that DO NOT HAVE effective BIG LEAGUE ARMS --- MLB and contending for a WS is not a training /learning ground for pitchers in the bullpen!!! and they BOTH FLUNKED TELLING US AND THE TEAM JUST TREAD WATER TILL UT AND HOWARD RETURN---THAT PROVIDED EXCUSES FOR LESS THEN PERFORMANCES---AND IT DID !!!!!! (HTML deleted)— carmen2
- How about plotting a new 3rd base coach!— cooperhawk
- Agree with jtj06. Bat Chooch 4th...J-Roll, Pierre, Utley, Chooch, Howard, Pence, Victorino, Polanco. Pretty well balanced lineup if you ask me...
— HJ_88 - On paper, this lineup is as strong as any in the league, but that's on paper. The team is demoralized and their body language has been that of a defeated fighter who once knew glory. On paper, having a lineup with Polanco in the eight hole is awesome. But in the real world, Polonco is a shadow of the hitter he was even 2 years ago. Can this team stand up and have one more moment of glory? Who knows but it is what we are stuck with for this year. Maybe all we can accomplish is to find out if Chase Utley has anything left in his tank. He is "The Man" when healthy but will he hold up for the long haul. Howard will get back to what he did best. Give the other manager nightmares when he is hot and give us nightmares when he is flailing at outside pitches.— gotedge
- i'd like to see if pridie can hit because its quite obvious that mayberry is not ready to take the next step in his career,....i am hoping against hope that the mere presence of Howard will make the rest of the team play better and i include mayberry in that mix,.....we know that in hockey, certain players can lift the team and everyone plays better, and ryan howard is one of the top 3 sluggers in the whole league, so i am hoping this rationale plays out here in baseball,......otherwise its see ya later to cole hamels— SyddBarrett
- 10 games below .500 and 13 out of first. Team is not playing well, but there are ton of injuries. How many teams in baseball could lose an Utley, Howard (say what you will, but he drives in 120+ runs a year), Doc and a struggling Lee. How many teams could have all of that going on and still win? The team is finally getting all of the pieces together. Don't do a fire sale. Let's see what happens first. Look at the average scoring just with Utley back. Throw Doc in the mix which will take some pressure of Lee and Hamels. Pickup some bullpen help at the deadline and play HARD! You don't blow up 178 million dollar payroll when you have this many injured star players coming back. The money is spent to win now! Also they have to sign Hamels long term, Doc will only be around another 3 years and pitching wins championships. I'm guessing Amaro is joining the team and meeting with Hamels to squash the rumors. You can backload his contract if need be. You will have Utley and rollins coming of the books in a couple of years.— bobf876
- Any line-up, just as long as someone other than who is currently on the coaching staff puts it together.— homerjay99
- Best lineup-Replace MANUEL with SANDBERG, replace DUMBEE with LEO MAZZONE. No way should UTLEY and HOWARD bat next to each other. CHARLY don't get it ,or won't get it. GOOD TIME CHARLY'S GOT THE BOOS.— tudj
- Well Howard is back and now we asked about who sg\hould hit were.
1. Pierre 2. Jroll 3. Utley 4. Chooch 5. Howard 6.Hunter 7. Victorino 8. Polly Would be a good line up breaks up the left handed hitter with Jroll and Victorino being a switch hitters. I like this line up but Charlie wouldn't do it Howard has to hit 4th. but I would bet my line up would be better than his. again just my opinion!— srcdaddy1216 - Can we fire Dubee and hire Jamie Moyer as the pitching coach?
It'll be nice to see the Big Piece back in the line-up tonight.— bingbangbong - @wofat:Winning without a lot a talent is an understatement. Pat Misch..Scott Elarton.. Matt Wright... and don't forget all the guys on the Phils to LHV shuffle that are his main guys out of the pen like BJ Rosenberg, Brian Sanches( here now, but not for long), Joe Savery. And guys they won't even make part of the shuffle, like Phillippe Aumont. Add some Pete Orr, Micheal Martinez, Dom Brown ( hurt, again),Kevin Fransden, Tug Hulett and you have a team that somehow has a winning record. Sandberg must be doing something right; at the break they should tell Charlie thanks for the memories, but it's over. And let Juan Samuel go with him.— drbob1
- 1. Pierre, 2. Polanco, 3. Utley, 4. Howard, 5. Ruiz, 6. Pence, 7. Rollins, 8. Victorino— DaleACooke
- Is it just me or do others think that the Phillies are rushing Howard back in desperation? I'd hate to think they will do long term damage to put lipstick on this pig of a season.— jfdatl
- I disagree with putting the 3 LHHs in a row then loading up with RHHs later; it makes it too easy to bring in a hard lefty to face those 3. I suggest Pence bats 4th and is protected by Utley and Howard. Ryan, who needs it the most would be protected by Pence and Ruiz. So the lineup would be Rollins, Pierre, Utley, Pence, Howard, Ruiz, Victorino, Polanco.— PHILPHAN1
- For what it's worth, it does look a lot more like a major league lineup.— cloudkitt
- That lineup will only work 2 games out of 3 since the simple minded Philly brass have decided to sit Chase every third game. Perhaps they feel Utley would get tired! After all he hasn't played since last October! That is what you call over managing!— erniebanks14
- faber, Pence is only consistent when there is no one on base. having a .216 hitter with RISP bat any higher than sixth is crazy.— palmyra21
- comparing relievers (including closers) to starters (and paying them comparable money) is absurd ..asking a closer to get 3 outs without giving up a run is not the same as asking a starter to navigate a lineup 3 or 4 times ... 98% of closers are failed starters ... Papelbon is overrated and has struggled over past few years in real clutch situations (1-run leads or tie games) against good times bearing down on his fastball and not going after his balls outside the strike zone --and when they do that he invariable gets beaten --as Yankee fans, RedSox fans and now Met fans know too well... though he pads his stats with the 3-run saves against the likes of the Royals, there are easily a dozen closers --who make much less money -- who are much more clutch in genuine tight situations— warbiscuit
- Its time to wear a brown bag at the games— attila
- "save" stat would be more meaningful if it were limited to coming in to a game with the tying run at bat instead of with the tying run in the on-deck circle (the current rule)..that would mean that a closer could get a save only coming into a game with a 1-run lead, unless there were men on base (e.g., if he came in with 2 men on, he could get credit for a 3-run save)... a closer should also get a "blown save" for giving up the go-ahead run in a tie game (regardless if whether his team come back), and indeed, where he both blows the lead and then the tie game (like last night) a closer should get 2 "blown saves" (or "poor performance" or whatever you wanna call it )..and where he comes into a game leading by 2 and gives up 1 run to make it "interesting" well that's a shoddy appearance (era of 9.0 for that inning) and should not be a "save" but a "poor performance"...by this standard I can tell you that Papelbon has been quite mediocre, if not downright bad (only 3 real "saves" with a 1-run lead, 2 blown saves, and 3 times giving up runs in tie game)— warbiscuit
- Vs Right handed pitchign hit Howard 4th but vs lefties hit him 6th....Of course dumb country boob won't do anything but leave him in the 4 hole just like he never moves Rollins. Oh and last night why do you pull Bastardo for Papelbom when you have Ike Davis leading off the 9th? He's hitting .178 vs lefites this year, if the mets make a move then you bring in pappelbom and you just wanted their 5 hole hitter.— JuanSamuel4prez
- I'd go old school....Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Pense, Ruiz, Mayberry Jr. Victorino. Polanco is a prototypical #2 hitter. If you have the line up, time to go for it.— drhoffman
- It is completely ridiculous that Pierre is batting 2nd. After the 1st time through it doesnt matter. I am not a huge fan of Hunter Pence but to bat your 2nd most consistent hitter all year batting .280 14 hrs and 50 RBI's 6th doesnt make sense. jroll utley pence howard cooch pierre vic polly. Restart the order at the bottom.— FABER
- Replace Juan Samuel immediately. He has no skill at coaching 3rd. He cost them another run last night. Put Sam Perlozo back at 3rd and put Gregg Gross at first. Samuel should be tied to the bench and terminated at season end.— richw38
Comment removed.- The left handers & right handers should be split up, Utley 3rd, Chooch 4th, Howard 5th & then Pence 6th. Its not the opposing starters Im worried about, we all know our problems start in late innings when the other team brings in relievers— Bishop-X
- Whats interesting is that Lehigh Valley is winning without a lot of talent. No surprise I guess when you have the Manager of the Year for all Minor league baseball running the show. Chawlie, on the other hand by all accounts has talent, and the team is woefully underperforming. We need a call up from Lehigh Valley, and it isn't only Ryan Howard.— wo_fat
- Ten games below 500; 13 games from lst place in the division and all Amaro/Manuel can do is the Lehigh Valley shuffle. I enjoy following Lehigh Valley on gameday as they at least make an effort to win.— tulsaphil
- that is because LV have a manager who knows what the he!! he is doing. — coloradoeagle
- Pence should hit 8th. He kills too many rallies.— palmyra21
- Take out Pierre and platoon Brown and Mayberry in Left.— wo_fat
- What a dumb idea! Pierre should play every game because he is not only a good hitter (over .300) but also a great bunter. Brown and Mayberry together couldn't carry Pierre's jockstrap! I do think you're speaking about Domonic Brown, the no hit, no field Iron Pig! — erniebanks14
- I' with you Ernie, what a ridiculous comment by fat. Pierre is the 2nd best hitter on the team. He's fast and plays with passion. If I was the manager lineup:
Pierre
Utley
Chooch- your best hitter always hits 3rd
Howard
Rollins- switch hitter offers more protection for Howard
Victorino
Polanco
Pence
— bobf876 - Jimmy Rollins 6
Carlos Ruiz 2
Chase Utley 4
Ryan Howard 3
Hunter Pence 9
Shane Victorino 8
Placido Polanco 5
Juan Pierre 7
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- Chooch is having a fine year and was a worthy selection to the All Star team. He should bat behind Howard and give him some protection. Howard is a true clean up hitter. From the time he was promoted until the beginning of this season do you know how many players had more RBI in MLB? NOBODY!!!! Not Hamilton, or Batista, or Fielder or Rodriguez, not even Pujols.— Paul SoTX
- Word. Your cleanup hitter is designed to drive in runs and hOward does that better than anyone. Howard hit the ball very well this week in rehab. It's time for the Big Piece to carry the team — bobf876
- If you accept that clean up is an important role and realize the Phillies have the best clean up hitter in the league this year (Chooch, hitting .382 with 1.085 OPS at clean up)it is clear that the line up should be built around Chooch. He has been the best overall hitter on the Phillies for the last 3 years.— jtj06
- All Charlie has done this season is fiddle with the lineup while Dubee and the pitching staff burn.— Dull
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
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