Hoping to jumpstart the offense, Charlie Manuel inserts Ross Gload (RF), Greg Dobbs (3B) and Wilson Valdez (SS) into the lineup this afternoon as the Phillies and Diamondbacks settle up starting at 4:10.
Preview: The Phillies, who are hitting just .214 this series, give Gload his first start and insert him into the lead-off spot, followed by Dobbs and then the usual suspects. Manuel said that he had hoped to get Gload onto the field this weekend and what better time than with Shane Victorino struggling; Vic has started every game this season. Valdez also gets his first start in place of Juan Castro, who's out with a mildly strained hamstring. The Phillies are basically stacking the lefties against Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.50), who earned a couple of wins for the Phils last season. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.24), making his fourth start, is hoping to build on one of the best starts of his career, an eight-inning masterpiece in Atlanta.
Always enjoy the time-honored tradition of playing the bench players on Sunday. The Phillies typically seem to get a lift from it. Enjoy the game and the rest of your weekend.
Gload in RF? That should be interesting. Hope Werth stretched out before the game. Raul and Gload on either side of him...ouch.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 03:45 PM
NEPP - "good for a 17 year old" is a bit of an understatement. Would be interesting to find some recent 17 year olds in SAL. He's up against a bunch of 20 year olds. Also, Santana has struck out in about half his AB so far. That's a lot no matter how you look at it. The walks are encouraging though.
Posted by: Sophist | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 03:57 PM
dennyb will be ecstatic when he sees this lineup.
Considering that we're not hitting, I have no problem with the concept of emptying the bench. But I'm not sure it's a great idea to put such a weak defense on the field when you've got Kyle Kendrick as your starting pitcher.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 03:57 PM
Santana has a chance to develop into a AS level player...or he might not make it past AA.
Considering he's playing full season ball when most American prospects are HS juniors is highly encouraging either way. He, of course, has some problem areas (that K rate) but the rest has been very very impressive. He's the kind of guy that might be a MLB starter at Age 20 if it comes together.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 03:59 PM
I'll always cherish the day Matt Stairs personally lost a game out in RF last summer, followed, of course, by incessant demands on BL that he get more starts.
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:07 PM
Kyle can hit RoLo.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:11 PM
curt: The truth is, Eric Bruntlett and Abraham Nunez would have been .300 hitters if only Cholly had given them more playing time.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:12 PM
Wow Dobbs. Charlie is a genius.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:13 PM
our new lineup rules!!! DOBBS
Posted by: toddzilla | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:13 PM
Cool. Now we can dump those bums Vic and Polly.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:13 PM
Trust the gut!
Posted by: Jonesman | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:13 PM
Hmm . . . the gut seems to be dialed in today.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:14 PM
These bench guys should play more...
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:14 PM
Does anyone really doubt that players need playing time to be more effective?
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:14 PM
Well that could not have started any better for Charlie and his mishmashed line-up.
Posted by: TTI | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:15 PM
Ibanez's bat accidentally hit the ball a couple times yesterday. Now it's back to being pathetic again.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:20 PM
Nice inning, KK.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:27 PM
Great inning by KK.
Posted by: dlhunter | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:27 PM
Prediction: Wilson Valdez leads off this inning with a homerun.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:28 PM
Never mind. Didn't realize he hadn't hit a homerun since 2004.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:29 PM
Hey! Do you see what I see? KK's ERA is below 7!!!
Baseball is a strange and wonderful game...
Posted by: philwynk | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:30 PM
Looked at Dobbs' stats in a Philly uniform and the conventional wisdom is that he hits as a starter.
Yeah he has decent lines as a starter in a Phils' uniform but he actually outperformed his numbers as a sub in '07 & '08 than a starter.
Dobbs starter
07 - .266/.319/.436 (98 G/259 ABs)
08 - .287/.321/.583 (47 G/150 ABs)
09 - .309/.340/.489 (28 G/103 ABs)
Dobbs sub
07 - .292/.368/.508 (64 G/65 ABs)
08 - .329/.358/.487 (62 G/111 ABs)
09 - .150/.227/.217 (69 G/60 ABs)
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:31 PM
Kyle can hit RoLo.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:31 PM
Polanco has cooled off a bit too the last week:
4-20 with 1 XHB.
Just hopes that Dobbs has a decent enough day at 3B defensively.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:34 PM
If KK keeps giving up fly balls, Dobbs won't have much work to do today at 3rd.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:36 PM
"Baseball is a strange and wonderful game...but I prefer football."- Joe Buck
Posted by: dlhunter | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:37 PM
Let's hope RoLo can't hit KK
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:40 PM
I suppose you can't really do any better than allowing 0 runs in the first 2 innings. But, there is absolutely nothing about KK's performance so far which inspires confidence that the next 4 innings will yield the same results.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:43 PM
Nice of Gload to show up today, eh?
Dobbs too.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:44 PM
Is it fair to call Gload "One bagger"?
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:44 PM
KK not getting the ground balls really...kinda a worrisome sign.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:45 PM
Interesting start for Kendrick. Lots of fly ball outs. Trouble with lefties after the first couple. But a strike out. And no runs yet. I wonder if the second time through the line-up whether he'll start getting some grounders or whether the excrement will fly into the rotational cooling device.
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:45 PM
Love Gloader.
Posted by: Unikruk | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Snake bite for Dobbs.
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Unfortunately, I gotta leave for around 90 minutes. I fully expect that the D-backs will be around 6 runs ahead by the time I return.
Oh, and Hamels sucks too. There, I got my first BAP since Iceman invented the statistic.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:48 PM
The only thing sinking with Kyle is his ERA. He'll need the beast of Roy this inning.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:49 PM
Only 6? The optimism seems unwarranted.
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:50 PM
"The only thing sinking with Kyle is his ERA"
That's a good thing, no?
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:50 PM
BAP, are you sending in someone off the bench to fill in while you're gone?
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:51 PM
A ground out by a LHB...someone should track these over the course of the season. Someone that can count to, say, fifty at least.
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:51 PM
Kyle is throwing the "toothpick maker" to the lefties this inning.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:52 PM
Two LHB GBs in a row. A new personal best, I think. Sophist?
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Wow. I think Upton is the first person not a pitcher to ever strike out twice in a row against Kendrick.
A monumental game.
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:54 PM
I know Upton is still really young and improving but man he is a sucker for that high strike out of the zone. Loves chasing the letter-high or better strike. Wonder how many of them he actually hits.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:55 PM
Werth looks hitterish.
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:59 PM
Yikes. Or not.
Posted by: Andy | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Werth with those sunglasses look like an extra from Nickelback from their most recent album cover?
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:01 PM
Raul looks a couple months away from buying a place at The Villages.
Posted by: dlhunter | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:02 PM
Lopez has looked pretty solid in the early going. Getting ahead early in the count and pretty sound with his location so far.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:03 PM
We are making Rodrigo Lopez look way too good so far.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:04 PM
Does KK have a bitch more of a hitch/hesitation in his delivery today than normal?
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Finally found a team who has a worse television crew than we do. Mark Grace is not impressive.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:05 PM
BAP: Before you jump into the bay on monday, can you give us your thoughts on Cole vs. Lincicum in a day game wednesday?
Posted by: goody | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:07 PM
MG: Does KK have a bitch?
No idea, MG. I dont think anyone has ever asked that before.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:07 PM
KK just got robbed there. That was strike 3.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:08 PM
KK should be out of this inning and now he walks him thanks to a terrible non-strike call.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:09 PM
So Dubee calls Ruiz "The Preacher?" I still like Chooch better but that's not bad.
More KK nibbling. Hopefully that BB doesn't cost him.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:10 PM
Really hope Kendrick doesn't fall apart after the ump didn't give him that strikeout.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:10 PM
Scott isn't giving the corner at all this inning to KK.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:11 PM
I don't know if KK can make it as a starter long-term but that sinker is a quality MLB pitch.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:12 PM
Mark Grace said Jamie Moyer was on the 1980 Phillies WS team and it really didn't sound like he was joking.
In other news, KK's location so far today has been phenomenal.
Posted by: Brian G | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Yeah, I dont know if Grace really thought he was or not...disturbed.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:14 PM
Wow. That was a "Home Run Derby" pitch there.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:15 PM
"Mark Grace said Jamie Moyer was on the 1980 Phillies WS team "
Wrong. He had already been traded to Chicago by then.
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:17 PM
Honestly, Kendrick's looked pretty good today.
Posted by: Unikruk | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:18 PM
He was at the parade as a high school student. He was not on the phillies not the cubs.
Posted by: gobaystars | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:21 PM
Nice nine-pitch AB by Ruiz there.
Posted by: timr | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:23 PM
RoLo can hit KK.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:29 PM
Vic tracks that one down but it was a tough catch.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:32 PM
Tough play, but JW could have caught that ball.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:32 PM
Trade an out here for a run.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:33 PM
Wow. This 'kidcaster' is actually worse than Mark Grace. Didn't think that would be possible. It's uncomfortable.
"Fly ball to center OH and an error by CF Shane Victorino and a triple for Stephen Drew!"
Posted by: Brian G | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:36 PM
Sh!t...walk away to do some dishes for 10 min and the wheels came off of KK.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:37 PM
Ouch. Aint that a kick in the head.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:38 PM
Well that got ugly quick for Kendrick.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:38 PM
Terrible pitch. Right over the heart of the plate with not much movement.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:38 PM
A page out of the Cole Hamels guide to pitching apparently.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:38 PM
KK was 2 batters beyond his expiration date before Reynolds even stepped in.
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:39 PM
Would have called for a 2-2 sinker there given how Reynolds had swung for the fences in his first 2 swings.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:39 PM
Why did we put in Cole Hamels? Kendrick was pitching great.
Posted by: Brian G | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:40 PM
Good news. Now Ruben does not have a tough decision to make when Blanton comes back. DFA Kendrick once and for all. Spare everyone the sight of watching Kendrick every 5 days.
Posted by: mikes77phillies | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:41 PM
The kidcaster is terrible...almost as bad as KK's inning.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Damn shame because he had Reynolds 0-2 and really off-balance & just missed with 2 fastballs.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Up until this fifth inning I was impressed that Kendrick was doing as well as he was with seemingly not his best stuff. Now I just miss Joe Blanton and JA Happ.
Posted by: AL | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:43 PM
I wonder if there are times where KK sits back and thinks "Damn, maybe I should have asked to be traded to Japan."
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:43 PM
RoLo can hit KK.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:45 PM
What idiots are booing this IBB to get to the pitcher? Same idiots who probably boo when the pitcher throws over to 1st.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:45 PM
Call for the f@cking sinker here Ruiz. WTf.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:46 PM
Thank God they're out of that inning.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:46 PM
The new Daily News contest: which inning is the opponent going to score 5 runs in 5 minutes?
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:47 PM
Glove save and a beauty!
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:47 PM
Bad inning all around there from the Phils. Werth missed a play that he should have had and then the wheels came off a bit on the walk to KK and the 3-run bomb to Reynolds.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:51 PM
That last inning was all Cole Hamels' fault.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:52 PM
I see a gapper in Werth's future here. . . .
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:53 PM
Game tied if Ryan is paying attention.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:57 PM
Cholly's retarded insistence on always hitting the C 7th really annoys me at times.
Sarge/TMac really criticized Howard there but what about Valdez swinging at the first pitch there?
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:58 PM
No excuse for Valdez to swing there...terrible.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Good thing Chooch showed up today.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:59 PM
CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOCH!
Posted by: Timothy Malcolm | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:59 PM
I love Chooch
Posted by: Brian G | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 05:59 PM