Jimmy Rollins, mired in a brutal drought, sets the table in Charlie Manuel's latest lineup tonight at 7:05 at Citizens Bank Park. Newly retired Eagles great Brian Dawkins throws out the first pitch.
Notes: Here's the lineup card: Rollins SS, Polanco 2B, Pence RF, Thome 1B, Victorino CF, Nix LF, Ruiz C, Orr 2B, Blanton. Juan Pierre sits for the first time since April 17. Freddy Galvis, who has provided minimal offense for two weeks, also sits. Joe Blanton tries to avoid a third-straight loss. He allowed one run and three hits over seven innings in his only start at home - his best outing since the 2010 season. Right-hander Randy Wells has the ball for the Cubs. The Phillies would need to win the final three games of this series to finish April over .500.
Howard, Utley progressing: Meanwhile, Jim Salisbury spreads good news regarding Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Howard has been cleared for baseball activities, Salisbury reports, and will travel to Florida on Sunday to begin working out in Florida. Utley, meanwhile, could join the Phils for workouts “in the next week or so,” Ruben Amaro Jr. tells Salisbury. [Full article]
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This game feels like the Phillies will score about 5 runs, but Blanton will give up 6.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 06:39 PM
Nice to see a guy, at the end of April, hitting .118 hitting cleanup.
Posted by: denny b. | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 06:46 PM
Nelson Figueroa facing iron pigs tonight. Pods leads off with a hit.
Posted by: jr | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 06:54 PM
Feeling good about this game. For whatever reason. Maybe because it's hard to suck more than last night's.
Posted by: Scotch Man | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 06:54 PM
Did anyone notice Zolecki's blog this morning?
He posted:
"My first inclination is return Rollins to the leadoff spot, where he has made his career, and have Pence hit third."
Then posted this suggested lineup:
That lineup would look something like this:
Rollins
Polanco
Pence
Wigginton/Thome
Victorino (.861 career OPS hitting fifth: second best spot in the lineup)
Ruiz
Pierre
Galvis
Pitcher
* * *
Charlie didn't go exactly this route, but I find it prescient - or lucky - of Zolecki to have suggested this lineup earlier today, only to see a similar lineup in place tonight!
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 06:57 PM
Good news about Howard & Utley - finally taking steps forward.
Any help they can provide this season will be a welcome relief, a breath of fresh air...but we still need the other regulars to contribute. I'm hoping Rollins comes out of his slump tonight - Pence, too. And, oh, yes, Thome.
(Even if it is cold, as opposed to "hittin' weather".)
And I hope Blanton is better than mediocre. Hoping for 6IP and no more than 3 runs - in other words, a "quality start". That's reasonable, right?
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:03 PM
I hate it when teams wear their batting practice jerseys in a game.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:11 PM
So glad Blanton's healthy this year.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:12 PM
(Not so) suddenly, this game . . . feels like a loss.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:12 PM
Another Great Moment In MLB Umpiring.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:12 PM
It's uncanny how these other teams actually manage to knock home the runners who get on base.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:13 PM
All Jimmy does is make weak contact anymore. It's hard to get hits if you never hit the ball ahrd.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:16 PM
At least he looked awake during that AB.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:17 PM
It's hard to stay awake when you're apart of this lineup. Hard to stay awake watching them, too.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:21 PM
I keep missing the Dawkins pitch. Was it anywhere near the plate?
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:22 PM
Classy guy, that Brian Dawkins.
Maybe the singular best Philadelphia athlete of the last quarter century.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:24 PM
Bak, not even close. He bounced it about 15 feet short.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:25 PM
I was really counting on Dawk hauling off & killing CSN Philly's in-the-stands idiot. No such luck.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:26 PM
Fata, thanks. It somehow seems fitting that Rollins was involved in a pitch like that.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:29 PM
Howie-esque swing-and-a-miss there by Nix.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:32 PM
A walk. Shocker.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:32 PM
Another shocker: a man left on.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:34 PM
This is just pitiful watching this lineup fail to hit the complete slop being thrown out there by Randy Wells.
Posted by: Jack | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:36 PM
What was that about rearranging chairs on the Titanic?
Meanwhile, Blanton gives up a hit to their pitcher....
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:37 PM
Ok, nice job with the DP, Blanton.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:41 PM
Ok, nice job with the DP, Blanton.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:41 PM
Orr, Blanton, Rollins. Think I'll go grab dinner.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:43 PM
And I was just thinking, "If only Joe could get hit by a pitch here. That'd be something, at least."
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:46 PM
So predictable.
Posted by: Adambperry | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:48 PM
Rollins.
Pop-up.
Out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUFBNMzZ4_8
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:48 PM
Is Rollins capable of anything other than pop-ups and weakly dribbled groundouts?
I AM GETTING STEAMED!!!
Posted by: They Call Me King of The Bop | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:50 PM
Corey Seidman: "There have been 876 runs scored in the first 3 innings of major-league games this season. The Phillies have scored 16 of those runs, or 1.8%"
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:52 PM
It's so bad that now I'm just rooting for outs that are hard hit...and we can't even get that.
Posted by: gjs | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:52 PM
Is Rollins capable of anything other than pop-ups and weakly dribbled groundouts?
No.
Posted by: Jimmy "My Option" Rollins | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:53 PM
The most entertaining portion of the WGN Broadcast is them focusing on two guys eat steaks for 4-5 pitches.
Posted by: sdphillie | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:55 PM
I have no choice but to post it again because it really, really should be Rollins' "I'm a-comin' to the plate" song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUFBNMzZ4_8
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:55 PM
The last time Rollins made solid contact w/ anything was when he held a pen to his new contract.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:58 PM
Rollins is as defensively consistent as they come, but he has very little range anymore. If the ball is hit 3 feet to his side, it's a hit. Of course, I realize that he's not in the lineup for defense; he's in there for his prodigious bat.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 07:58 PM
A hit! An extra-base hit! Celebrate good times, whoohoo!
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:01 PM
Man, I was yearning for a New York Life promotion.
Thank you, Mr. Pence.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:01 PM
"A hit! An extra-base hit! Celebrate good times, whoohoo!"
Yeah, but you know what's coming now.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:02 PM
Of all the ABs to laud Thome's patience, this is not the one. Wells hasn't thrown a pitch within 2 feet of home plate yet.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:03 PM
By the way, you all just got a picture of the treatment Howard is going to get whenever he returns. Why pitch to the guy in the lineup who can actually hurt you.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:04 PM
Great freeze-cam on the TV just now showed that bad call by the ump on the Cubs' CS-called-SB.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:04 PM
Well, at least he didn't hit into a DP.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:05 PM
Jim Thome: 21 PA, 3 BB
Juan Pierre: 65 PA, 2 BB
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:05 PM
"Of all the ABs to laud Thome's patience, this is not the one. Wells hasn't thrown a pitch within 2 feet of home plate yet."
But he didn't swing at 4 of them -- which makes him more patient than anyone else on the team.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:06 PM
That's true, Fata.
Which is why Vic needed to step up with at least a single that advanced all runners.
At least he didn't GIDP.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:06 PM
Yep, looked like Thome came up grimacing after that slide. In fact, he looked hurt right as he finished sliding.
End of April. Little earlier than I thought, but figured he's eventually get hurt.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:08 PM
Please, Chooch, for the love of baseball, do NOT hit into a DP.
We need to capitalize on this opportunity.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:11 PM
CHOOOOOOOOOOOCH!!!!
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:12 PM
CHOOOOOOOOO ...
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:12 PM
CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCH
Posted by: HammRadio | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:12 PM
Well-placed, Chooch! Thank you!
Crowd is hungry for something to cheer about. Sitting out in the chilly rain, for this offense and a Blanton outing - they deserve a reason to cheer.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:12 PM
Looks like Ruiz took offense at all those Phlipper posts which said that he's worse than Galvis at driving in runs.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:13 PM
It only took Randy Wells completely forgetting how to throw strikes, but at least we took advantage of it.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:13 PM
I love that chooch gave himself five.
Posted by: Adambperry | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:13 PM
We didn't really expect anything more, did we? Whether or not the pitcher is struggling, when it's Orr, then Blanton, you know the scoring is almost surely over.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:14 PM
That's why Pete Orr is a garbage hitter. How in the hell did he hit a fly ball on a pitch THAT low? It was half way down his shin, and he somehow popped it up.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:15 PM
Wow, he walked Blanton. He IS struggling.
Jimmy, please do NOT pop up!
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:16 PM
Time to not be a useless sack o' crap, Jimmy.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:16 PM
Wells hasn't thrown a strike since 1975, and Charlie, the lovely country bumpkin that he is, gave Blanton, a friggin pitcher, the green light.
Even if Blanton didn't swing, as the pitch was predictably way out of the zone, why in the hell would you give an undisciplined hitter the green light against a pitcher who is visibly unable to throw a strike?
I don't get Manuel sometimes...or most of the time.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:17 PM
Can't imagine Rollins not ending the inning.
Posted by: Adambperry | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:17 PM
Jimmy! Finally!
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:17 PM
POW!!! Luck on our side!!! JROLL
Posted by: HammRadio | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:18 PM
YES! Earn that money, baby!
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:18 PM
Now that's the leadoff hitter we know and love.
Posted by: sdphillie | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:18 PM
Thank goodness for Randy Wells.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:18 PM
Wow, huge hit by jimmy
Posted by: Adambperry | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:19 PM
You were saying, G-Town.
Posted by: Useless Sack O' Crap (sent from my iPhone at 2nd base) | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:19 PM
The Rollins Redemption!
Posted by: Allan Thornburg (AT) | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:19 PM
Cholly liked those RBIs so much, he's going to move Rollins back to the 3-hole.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:19 PM
BAP, mid-game?
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Fat: For tomorrow's game -- although, if he could do it mid-game, he probably would.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:23 PM
... why in the hell would you give an undisciplined hitter the green light against a pitcher who is visibly unable to throw a strike?
Charlie Logic: Joe Blanton hit a HR in the World Series. Joe Blanton is Harmon Killebrew ... & he can pitch, too!
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:24 PM
"Left Lower Back Tightness" for Thome.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:24 PM
Pleasantly surprised with the outing by Blanton so far tonight. Offspeed stuff has been pretty good.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:26 PM
C'mon, we need 2 more Outs here ...
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:27 PM
Man, our hitters must have been watching tape of Freddy Galvis and his magical 5 RBIs before the game today.
Right, Phlipper?
Posted by: Jack | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:28 PM
Alright. Let it rain.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:28 PM
Cholly: "I've got an aging 1Bman with a bad back. Should I start him in Arizona when it's 98 degrees, or wait for a cold, rainy nite in Philly?"
Posted by: goody | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:37 PM
Funnily enough, I find myself pleased with Nix for taking that borderline strike 3 pitch. It resulted in a scoreless inning, but it also demonstrated a selectivity I didn't think he had.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:40 PM
Thome should just retire.
A total waste of a roster spot. Plus Cholly has to start him once a week, just because he's his buddy.
The only place Thome should be playing is the Retirement League, known as the American League. Where he can DH occasionally. Why he was brought here made no sense in the winter and makes even less sense now.
Posted by: denny b. | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:43 PM
And here's the cloud that comes w/ every silver lining. Schneider time.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:46 PM
Man. The way Chooch went down I thought he must be dead. Toughest guy on the team to walk that off. Sit, Schneider, sit.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:48 PM
denny b.- word
Posted by: wes covington's ghost | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:48 PM
Chooch toughs it out with the best of them.
Posted by: Scotch Man | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:50 PM
CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Posted by: HammRadio | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:53 PM
Adios pelota!
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:54 PM
5 minutes ago, we thought he was dead. Then he killed that pitch.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:54 PM
And now he hits a HR! Chooch sez "Pain don't hurt!"
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:54 PM
Pete Orr: Not Chooch.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 08:55 PM
Word is Aumont has left the Piggies game w/ "some sort of injury" after walking the first 2 batters he faced.
Gee, thanks for the detailed info, Jeff Schuler.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:00 PM
Blanton still dealing after 7 is a pleasant sight.
Posted by: curt | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:06 PM
If Blanton can pitch like this all year, he'll be incredibly more valuable than I figured he would be. I'm not expecting 1 ER and 7IP every night, but a solid 2-3 ER and 7 IP would be huge for a team that has crap hitting like us (at the moment.).
Posted by: Greg | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:07 PM
Thats all we can ask for Greg..
Posted by: Luis | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:17 PM
its just unsettling looking at the inning and seeing blanton still on the mound...
love it...
but unsettling.
Posted by: HammRadio | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:17 PM
Blanton hasn't started a game & completed 8 IP since 20 August '09. 7.1 IP tonight. I'll gladly take it.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:21 PM
I'm applauding Blanton. He did his job well.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:23 PM
Qualls in now, with a mess to clean up. If he can get out of it with only one run, I'll be happy--but I hope we see Pap, not Schwimmer, in the 9th, and I hope Pap is sharp.
Posted by: Allan Thornburg (AT) | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 09:23 PM