Rollins back, Utley healthy, and Kendrick to start
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Rollins back, Utley healthy, and Kendrick to start
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- Charlie Manuel spent a good 15 minutes chatting with Ed Wade early Monday afternoon as some Astros pitchers practiced bunting. Let the jokes flow.
It's a reunion for more than a few people. Hunter Pence was bombarded by the local media and he answered a litany of questions about his return. In a new club lounge at Minute Maid Park, Pence's photo adorns a wall. No need to change it when the current team is 48 games under .500.
A few notes before the late start:
-- Jimmy Rollins is back in the lineup. He's leading off. Charlie Manuel said he will play Rollins for a few days then give him a rest. I could foresee Rollins playing Monday and Tuesday, sitting Wednesday, and then play in one of Thursday's two games.
Rollins said he's ready to play every day after the strained groin kept him out of the lineup since Aug. 21.
-- Chase Utley's most recent ImPACT test Monday showed he has returned to baseline readings, meaning all of his concussion symptoms are gone. The team expects him to be ready Thursday, when the homestand begins.
-- The mystery is solved: Kyle Kendrick, as expected, will start Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against Florida. Cliff Lee will start the nightcap.
When Kendrick takes the mound Thursday, he'll be pitching on 21 days' rest. How will that go?
"We'll see," Kendrick said. "It'll be the first time."
Kendrick has thrown regularly on the side, but he hasn't faced a hitter in three weeks, and that's important. The last time Kendrick pitched, he wasn't a father. Now he has a 13-day-old baby girl.
-- The Phillies and Astros are separated by 46 1/2 games in the standings. Chew on that for a second.
-- Assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said the team is unlikely to add another pitcher before Thursday's doubleheader. Triple-A Lehigh Valley begins its five-game championship series with Columbus on Tuesday.
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Dear Ed Wade,
One last favor before you leave Houston. Please sign "Wheels" to a long term contract.
Sincerely,
All Phillies fans that try to relax and enjoy the games on TV without constantly being overeducated about the obvious— dave13- For all those who think Worley needs to go to the bullpen so Oswalt can be the 4th starter in the post-season....take a look at the boxscore tonight. I would be happy to see Oswalt finish out the regular season and then announce the team is not picking up his option for next year. He has been a disaster this year. For October, maybe he can find a backhoe to operate for 3-4 weeks.— scootch
- Why would Oswalt be batting in the 7th inning with the Phils down 4-1?....The Phils will not be picking up that option for next year.— bearsfriend
- Because the most underworked bullpen in MLB is somehow tired.— blaqjaq
- scootch, you obviously didn't see the game. He gave up 2 runs in the fourth because Ibanez can't catch, rollins and orr collided on a potential ground out and the ball bounced out of Oswalt's glove when he was covering first. The next two runs was on a shallow fly ball into the leftfield seats, generously described as being 361 feet.— palmyra21
- palmyra you obviously didn't see the season -- Oswald is 7-9 for a team that is 46 games above .500 without him and he gave up a total of 11 hits and 5 runs to the worst team in baseball becuase he doesn't have the werewithal to work out of trouble like a rookie named Worley— warbiscuit
Comment removed.- Relax.
Ossie definitely not hisself; defense shaky tonight; Oh-fense sputtery; and we're in yet another hotel and ballooninmous lidded ballpark with 20 fans. Who cares if Ossie batted in 7th? What does a comment like 'pig-headed' net as results? And lastly, stop the Fire Wheels and Matthews campaign. It is pointless and all of you complaining about them - and you're right - don't add anything to the discourse.
Sit back, look at the mirror and enjoy the rest of the season. Stop complaining. We clinch in 5 or less, we rest, get back in order, and we move to the playoffs.
I suggest a moratorium on all postings until October 1.— 24sDad - palmyra21 has it right. RoyO should be starting in the playoffs. Worley to the Pen. Roy's got the experience which is what you need in the playoffs. What is it that you wonderful non-baseball playing fans don't get??? Ooop... There's the bandwagon!!! I forgot - Philly fans.
— Phillyexp - Need 3 starters Halladay, Lee, Hamels in playoff rotation for 7 game series to keep them armed and fresh - Ossie gets one start, maybe - Worley to bullpen where he will be incredibly effective.
Moratorium On!— 24sDad - Why did Oswalt bat for himself in the top of the 7th? My theory: Because Charlie knows the Phillies have home field effectively clinched and he's trying to tune up individuals. Hence the resting of regualrs. In Oswalt's case, Charlie's trying to help him get his arm strength back. He hadn't thrown that many pitches, so he wanted Roy to get another inning. (He ended up with 103 pitches in 7 innings.) Charlie thinks there is a good chance that the "good" Oswalt will be back if he pitches enough to get back into shape.
Will Roy be the 4th starter in the play-offs? Probably, but Charlie doesn't have to make up his mind yet. With those double headers, Worley will be a starter for a bit more, so he won't be changing his routine until 1-2 more starts.— judas_priest - Oswalt needed to "stretch" his arm out. Due to his stints on the DL, he really hasn't been able to. He didn't pitch bad last night. There were three misplays in the Houston 5th, Ibanez, then Orr colliding with Rollins, then Howard missing the line drive by the #8 hitter, waving at a ball he should have at least knocked down, and probably should have caught. I'm okay with Oswalt starting games in post season. But don't think they should pick up his option. Hamels will need to be paid.— retzlaff
- Wonder when Ed Wade was slipped his weekely cash payment for helping the Phils with trades the last few years...— furio
- I think RAJ and Charlie are capable of deciding the staring staff. Remember they got us to 44 games above 500. How many other teams accomplished this. Go Phillies— wcoastphan
