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"I'm starting," Victorino said. "I don't care.''
"I just like being in the lineup," Werth said.
"Tonight, that's what I wanted to do," Manuel said.
So, don't read too much into the move, even though Victorino hadn't played rightfield since last year's playoffs and is coming off a series against San Francisco in which he appeared to get turned around on a couple of fly balls.
Manuel said his reasons were related more to preparation than performance: That is, he wants to keep Werth prepared for the days when he will start in center while Victorino gets a breather.
"I give him a blow every now and then or 2 days off," Manuel said, "and when I give him a rest, Werth will be the guy to go to centerfield."
Manuel has routinely said he thinks Victorino is one of the best rightfielders in the game. Last season, he finished second among all National League rightfielders, with 10 assists. (Jeff Francoeur, who finished first, with 19, started for the Braves last night.) Even after Victorino returned from the 15-day disabled list, Manuel left open the possibility that he could see some time in rightfield. Werth played in 18 games in centerfield while Victorino was sidelined with a strained calf.
Manuel indicated Victorino's apparent misjudgments of a couple of fly balls, which came in the notoriously tricky AT & T Park, had little to do with the decision.
"He got turned around a few times, but I think I told you guys before that Werth will play some in centerfield," Manuel said. "I said that in the winter, I said that in the spring, I said it right before Victorino came back."
Victorino, for one, said he thinks he has made a good transition from right to center. The position wasn't new to him this season. He played 60 games in center in 2006. In fact, he played more in center than in right in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
"There's a lot more ground to cover, that's basically it," said Victorino, who entered the game with 11 hits in 48 at-bats (.229) since returning from the disabled list. "Other than that, there's no difference. I might have misjudged a few balls this week in San Fran . . . but the adjustment going back is still a process of me getting used to covering all the ground that's out there, my angles and stuff like that. But like I said, to me, it's not a major difference. A fly ball is a fly ball. You have to catch a fly ball."
With two outs in the ninth inning of the Phillies' 5-4 victory last night, Werth misplayed a line drive hit by Brian McCann. He broke in and the ball sailed over his head, scoring a run and putting the tying run at second, before closer Brad Lidge got the final out.
"I read the swing, the crowd was yelling and I wasn't able to hear the contact," Werth said. "It was a one-handed swing. I read 'in' all the way. It was definitely a miscue. You learn from it."
One of Manuel's chief concerns with his team is its ability to hit lefthanded pitching, particularly in this series, when it will face three such starters. Though the Phillies entered last night's game against lefty Jo-Jo Reyes 8-6 in games started by lefthanders, they were hitting only .235 against them, compared to .257 against righties.
Of course, several factors are involved. One is that two of their better switch-hitters, Victorino and Jimmy Rollins, missed significant chunks of time with injuries. Also, powerful bats such as Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Geoff Jenkins are all lefties.
Righthanded-hitting Pat Burrell generally hits better off lefties than righties. He entered last night a career .254 against righties, .280 against lefties; this season, he is hitting .307 vs. righthanders, with eight homers, 27 RBI.
Righthanded-hitting catcher Carlos Ruiz, who entered hitting .190 against lefties this season, has never hit well against them.
"I think the lefthanders keep the ball hard in on him, soft away, sink the ball and things like that, and I think he pulls off," Manuel said.
Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira did not start because of back spasms he suffered Monday at Pittsburgh. *
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