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Phillies seek an identity

Four times in 2011, the Phillies endured losing streaks of three or more games. Inside the Phillies clubhouse, those moments were treated just as the start of 2012 has been. It's just they weren't at the beginning of a season so anticipated after a winter longer than desired.

"This is why we play 162 games and why you stay focused." Shane Victorino said Tuesday. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
"This is why we play 162 games and why you stay focused." Shane Victorino said Tuesday. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

Four times in 2011, the Phillies endured losing streaks of three or more games. Inside the Phillies clubhouse, those moments were treated just as the start of 2012 has been. It's just they weren't at the beginning of a season so anticipated after a winter longer than desired.

"Unfortunately, right now, it's kind of like a snowball," Shane Victorino said in a quiet room Monday. "Things are rolling down the hill, and it's happening right now. This is why we play 162 games and why you stay focused."

Victorino smiled because he understands the questions, however misplaced they may be. After a 6-2 loss to Miami on Monday to open Citizens Bank Park, the centerfielder said he planned to go home, enjoy a nice dinner and relax until Wednesday, when the Phillies face the Marlins' Josh Johnson.

Which team shows up Wednesday, three Wednesdays from now or come September is unknown. Few expected life without Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to arrive with a smooth transition. The Phillies are asking this current makeshift group to tread water. (Remember when, in 2010, the Phillies were 48-46 on July 21?)

But it's fair to wonder what exactly these Phillies are. Charlie Manuel has used four different lineups in four games. He's asked Victorino to lead off, hit fifth and bunt with runners in scoring position. He's used four first basemen in four games.

It will take some time to find an identity.

"We talked about it all spring, without the big boppers that we have to play small ball," Victorino said. "And we played small ball, and now it's like guys questioning guys bunting in certain situations. Now, which way are we going to approach the game?"

That's for Manuel to decide.

"I have faith in our hitters," Manuel said. "I don't care what we've got. Give them to me, and we'll work with them. Really. We have guys who are supposed to be able to hit."

This, of course, is far from foreign territory. In the last two seasons, Manuel fielded what would be considered a "regular lineup" 33 times in 324 games. He used 199 different batting orders (not including the pitcher) in that span.

The quartet of Wilson Valdez, Michael Martinez, Juan Castro and Pete Orr started a total of 267 games for the Phillies during that span. Utley started 214 games, Jimmy Rollins 220.

And Manuel won 61 percent of those games, finished with the best record in baseball both times, plus tied a franchise record for wins in 2011.

When asked if he could do anything to the current lineup, Manuel hinted at the difficult hand he's been dealt.

"We have a day off, a day to work on it," he said. "We'll see what I come up with. When I look there, I still see the same names. That's all right. We'll do something. We have to stay at it. We're just having a hard time coming out of the gate. Bottom line, we have work to do. We're going to get better. We're going to do that."

Strategy can and will vary by the night. After a weekend of bunting, he did not call for a sacrifice Monday, but that's largely because the Phillies trailed for the entire game.

After another walk-off loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Manuel offered interesting insight into his mind. The manager kept pounding his desk with his right hand. It wasn't because he was angry, but Manuel spoke with conviction, and he wanted emphasis to his ideas.

"I don't want our guys to think we can't score," Manuel said. "Sometimes when we bunt in certain situations, it sends a message. I'm here because I was an offensive guy. I'm a true believer you get better because of confidence, and the manager has to show that."

An example of that was allowing Freddy Galvis, hitless for his career, to bat in the seventh inning with two runners on base. Galvis promptly doubled two runs home.

For now, moments like those are only silver linings.