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Phillies Notes: Expect a Phillies call to arms for final game

ATLANTA - An old-school baseball lifer, Charlie Manuel embraces the integrity of the game, but a manager always must do what's best for his team. After all, that's his job.

Joe Blanton will start for the Phillies in tonight's regular-season finale agains the Braves. (David M Warren/Staff file photo)
Joe Blanton will start for the Phillies in tonight's regular-season finale agains the Braves. (David M Warren/Staff file photo)Read more

ATLANTA - An old-school baseball lifer, Charlie Manuel embraces the integrity of the game, but a manager always must do what's best for his team. After all, that's his job.

With Saturday's Game 1 of the National League division series approaching, what's best for the Phillies is having all their pitchers in a routine. It's a luxury earned by teams that clinch early.

It's why Joe Blanton will start Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. At some point, Cole Hamels also will pitch. It's also likely Kyle Kendrick will get in a couple of innings, and it's possible reliever Antonio Bastardo will get a final chance to ease concerns before the postseason begins.

The St. Louis Cardinals, who are fighting it out with the Braves for the wild card, may not be thrilled by the Phillies' plan, but if they don't make it they can only blame themselves for stumbling against last-place Houston.

"Thank God I don't live in St. Louis," Manuel said with a laugh.

Besides, the game will be important for Blanton, who is battling for a place on the 25-man playoff roster. Blanton likely will go two innings, three at the most. He went two solid innings in a start Saturday against the New York Mets, striking out three and showing a lively fastball. In four appearances since he was activated from the disabled list, Blanton has thrown five innings and allowed one run with five strikeouts. The righthander missed most of the season with elbow inflammation. He could play a role as a late-inning reliever in the playoffs.

Halladay for Game 1

Even though the Phillies have yet to officially name the starter for Game 1, Manuel came as close as possible to confirming it will be Roy Halladay.

"If you're good baseball people, you should be able to see how we're setting it up," he said with a smile. "I shouldn't have to answer that."

Tops in majors

The Phillies led the majors in attendance for the first time in club history, with 3,680,718 fans passing through the turnstiles at Citizens Bank Park. The New York Yankees finished second with 3,653,680.

The Phillies averaged 45,441 and finished the regular season with 204 consecutive sellouts covering 21/2 seasons. They played to 104.1 percent capacity, highest in the majors, according to statistics compiled by Major League Baseball.

Gimpy Howard

Ryan Howard appears to be favoring his right foot when he runs. After he banged it into a wall Saturday while making a sliding catch, he said his big toe was bothering him. Howard had a cortisone injection for bursitis in his left ankle more than a week ago.

If Howard is a one-base-at-a-time runner in the playoffs, it may force Manuel to make a difficult decision late in a game. Would he send in a pinch-runner for his top run producer in a tight game?

"It makes it kind of difficult for him to score," Manuel said. "He's going to have to deal with that."

Hamels the winner

Cole Hamels won the hitting competition among Phillies pitchers, edging Cliff Lee.

Bench coach Pete Mackanin based the scoring on several factors, including RBIs, sacrifice bunts, walks, quality at-bats, and hard-hit balls. Quality at-bats was the deciding factor for Hamels. The winner's prize? No one is saying. Amusement purposes only, perhaps.

Sandberg to Cubs?

There is speculation in Chicago that Ryne Sandberg may be in line to become the Cubs' next manager.

Citing team sources, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Sandberg became open to returning to the Cubs after Jim Hendry was fired as general manager. Hendry passed over Sandberg when he hired Mike Quade as manager last fall. Of course, the Cubs first would have to hire a new GM.

Sandberg impressed the Phillies by leading their triple-A affiliate, Lehigh Valley, to its first winning record and the International League playoffs. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. had high praise for Sandberg on Monday. At present, there is no opening for Sandberg on the Phillies' coaching staff.