Ibanez in Reading, could play tomorrow

Raul Ibanez has flown north. The DL'd left fielder, sidelined with a groin injury, will take batting practice and fly balls before Reading's game. If he feels well, he'll begin a rehab assignment Wednesday night.

According to the pregame notes issued by the Phillies, J.A. Happ will jump into Antonio Bastardo's spot in the rotation Thursday.

Since the Phils were off Monday, Happ will be on his regular, four days of rest. The Phillies will still need a starter for Saturday at the latest.

As for now, they have "TBA" next to Friday, so the assumption is one of their minor leaguers (Carlos Carrasco or Andrew Carpenter) will pitch against the Mets Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

I'm not entirely surprised by this, since Happ is pitching well and you want to get him out there as many times as possible (remember, the All-Star Game is approaching.).

Also, Happ was 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts against the Braves last year.

Phillies left-hander Antonio Bastardo was placed on the 15-day disabled list tonight with a left posterior shoulder strain.

Bastardo, as you may recall, was lifted in the fourth inning of his most recent start, Thursday, with shoulder tightness. He met with team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti today.

The Phils recalled left-handed reliever Sergio Escalona to take Bastardo's place on the roster. The team will likely make another roster move later this week (Carlos Carrasco or Andrew Carpenter are good bets) to start in Bastardo's place.

Jimmy Rollins hasn't spoke to the media since his four-game hiatus began Thursday in St. Petersburg.... until Sunday, when he sat down for a one-on-one with yours truly before the series finale in Toronto.

Rollins, mired in the longest slump of his career, is starting Tuesday in Atlanta, batting leadoff.

Here's the exclusive, Jimmy on Jimmy:


By RYAN LAWRENCE
ryanlawrence21@gmail.com

TORONTO — Jimmy Rollins said he wasn’t “completely on board” when Charlie Manuel told him it was time for an extended break Thursday in Tampa, but he didn’t see any point to barter with his manager.

“You can’t fight the powers. It isn’t like it’s something you can argue about,” Rollins said in his first public comments since his four-game hiatus began Thursday. “It’s something he wanted to do and something he felt like he needed to do.”

Rollins will be back at the leadoff spot when the Phillies open a three-game series at Atlanta Tuesday.

Rollins hasn’t taken batting practice with the team in any of the four games he’s been out of action, but he has put his bat to work.

“I haven’t been in the dugout (a lot). I may go out to the bench, but then I come right back in and do some more work with flips or on the (batting) tee,” Rollins said. “Then go back on the bench, hang out in the tunnel, watch the game and go back and do some more flips.”

“You get bored, bored as hell. What am I going to do? Sit around and not do anything?”

Initially, that’s what Manuel had in store for Rollins. He wanted the struggling shortstop, who is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and hitting .211 for the season, to relax and get his mind away from the game.

“The first day I was taking swings in Tampa Bay and I knew Charlie might be mad, but I said, ‘Oh well, I have to get my work in,’” Rollins said. “I’m not going to sit around for a day or two, not do anything and then come back and try to find it, not in the middle of the season.”

So, does Rollins believe he has found the swing that largely has been lost since spring training.

“I’m getting the right stroke down, which is good. I’ve been doing very well,” Rollins said. “It’s like, ‘There it is, you dodo brain ... it took you so long to remember that?’”

Rollins’ importance is illustrated by the team’s 70-22 (.761) record when he scores a run over the last two seasons. The Phillies didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard in the first two games Rollins sat, either.

“We weren’t playing well when I was in the lineup either,” said Rollins, whose replacement, Eric Bruntlett, is 1-for-15 in the last four games. “It’s been a while.”

In addition to being hitless since June 18, Rollins is batting .167 in the last month (22 games) and has an on-base percentage of .204, numbers that have put his candidacy for batting leadoff in question. But Manuel plans to continue to hit Rollins first since he did win an MVP as a leadoff hitter and the team won back-to-back division crowns along with a World Series title.

Shane Victorino is 2-for-15 with two walks in the four games at leadoff in place of Rollins.

Although he didn’t use the word “pressing,” Rollins admits he may have been guilty of trying too hard in escaping the longest hitting funk of his big-league career.

“That was a part of the reason (Manuel) gave me time off. He sees me as a I-want-to-do-something type of player,” Rollins said. “Well I wasn’t doing anything (at the plate), so it became, ‘Today I’m going to try to steal a bag.’ But then you’re trying to force the issue and that doesn’t always work ... it’s just, relax, kick back and let it come to you.

“It was a big part of Charlie’s speech. Don’t go out there and try to force it; the game will come to you. If you try to force it, it won’t ever come to you and then you’re also getting away from what you normally do the way you go about doing things.”

Rollins says he’s healthy, physically and mentally.

“It’s just finding the right stroke,” Rollins said. “Confidence isn’t the problem; it’s about getting the results.”

Rollins to return Tuesday

He'll be playing SS, batting leadoff against the Braves.

Phillies reliever J.C. Romero was reportedly involved in an incident that brought the St. Petersburg police to the scene late Thursday night.

According to a report by the St. Pete Times, police responded to a battery call by 25-year old Rays fan Robert Eaton. According to Eaton, Romero allegedly grabbed him in the neck and pushed him after Eaton made a steroids-related remark.

The Phillies issued the following statement earlier today:

"We're disappointed to learn about the alleged incident with a Rays fan and one of our players following Thursday night's game at Tropicana Field. We are in the process of gathering all of the details surrounding the situation. Until such information is provided, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time."

We'll have to see what Romero says after the game...

His name was first reported by the St. Pete Times earlier this afternoon.

Jimmy Rollins, mired in an 0- for-19 slump, is out of the lineup for the third straight game.

Rollins hasn't started since Wednesday in Tampa. He declined to talk before the game.

Charlie Manuel said yesterday the decision on whether to start J-Roll remains a "day to day" decision.


-------------

Also -- Chan Ho Park is fine. Despite crumpling down to the turf and grabbing his right knee last night, Park said it was a bruise and that he would be able to pitch today if needed.

Jimmy Rollins, mired in an 0- for-19 slump, is out of the lineup for the third straight game.

Rollins hasn't started since Wednesday in Tampa. He declined to talk before the game.

Charlie Manuel said yesterday the decision on whether to start J-Roll remains a "day to day" decision.


-------------

Also -- Chan Ho Park is fine. Despite crumpling down to the turf and grabbing his right knee last night, Park said it was a bruise and that he would be able to pitch today if needed.

Just got word that Antonio Bastardo, who left Thursday's game in Tampa with shoulder tightness, will fly back to Philadelphia sometime in the next two days.

He has an appointment to meet with team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti Monday morning.

This would lead me to believe his next start is in jeopardy; but that might be jumping to conclusions.

According to a Phils official, he is "likely" to miss his next start.

Bastardo is tentatively on tap to start Wednesday, but an off-day in the schedule (the Phils don't play Monday), gives the team flexibility for a little while.

Phils starting pitcher Antonio Bastardo was the latest pitcher to catch the injury bug.

In the middle of the fourth inning, pitching coach Rich Dubee and team athletic trainer Scott Sheridan visited the mound. Shortly afterward, they removed Bastardo from the game with a left shoulder strain.

Bastardo, who was given a 4-0 lead before he took the mound, allowed six runs in his first two innings of work. He was called up earlier this month to take the rotation spot from Brett Myers, who had hip surgery.

Rollins out of the lineup

Jimmy Rollins, who is 0-for-19 since last Thursday, is not playing tonight.

Eric Bruntlett is batting 8th and playing short. Shane Victorino is leading off; Greg Dobbs is hitting second.

Lidge will be activated Thursday

Since he pitched last night, the Phils didn't plan on pitching him tonight, according to manager Charlie Manuel.

Lidge still inactive?

I'm awaiting word here in the visiting clubhouse, but my guess is Lidge will not be activated. Why?

Tyler Walker, Sergio Escalona and Jack Taschner are all here.

It was only 11 months ago that Jimmy Rollins famously called Philadelphia baseball fans "front runners." (An aside - I wonder what THEY are calling Jimmy these days?)

Well, Phillies fans have got nothing on Rays fans. Because Rays fans apparently don't exist.

In Tuesday's Phillies-Rays game at Tropicana Field, the first regular season meeting of the two 2008 World Series foes, the ballpark was barely half full. There were 19,608 fans (the place holds 36,973).

That's both sad and weak.

You'd imagine true blue baseball fans in the Tampa area would not only revel in the World Series rematch, but also with the opportunity to see guys like Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, who rarely come to town (it was an interleague game). That's not to mention their own team is stacked with All-Stars (Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and budding star B.J. Upton).

Or the fact that the team was throwing top-prospect David Price at the defending World Series champs.

And yet, the ballpark is basically empty and lifeless.

(Another aside - it was borderline unhealthy hot here yesterday (a heat index at somewhere around 105 degrees; BUT, the ballpark is very comfortable, since it's indoors and air-conditioned).

Here's a little of what Rays coaches/management said after the game to the St. Pete Times:

Manager Joe Maddon, whose team lost 10-1:

"The mood lighting was not very good tonight. It's kind of awkward when you get to this point and all of a sudden the majority of the crowd is for the other side."

Rays president Matt Silverman, on what was the lowest attendance ever for a first-time World Series rematch:

"As we were planning for the season, we circled this series as one of the most compelling of the year. It's a rare privilege to host a rematch of the World Series, especially against a team with local connections. Based on all the information we had, we projected full houses. It's a huge miss."

"Quite frankly, we don't know what to attribute it to, but it's not just the economy. It’s bewildering. There seems to be great affection for the team and excitement for the '09 campaign, but it's not showing up at the gate at all."

"A matchup of World Series teams would clearly have drawn a good deal better in every other baseball market."

The Rays are averaging just 22,703 fans a night, which is almost 7,000 less than the major league average (29,562) entering Tuesday night.

Howard is in the lineup

He's batting fourth, playing first. He just told us he's "75 percent."

If you're curious, Chris Coste is the DH; John Mayberry Jr. is starting in left.

Howard is in the building

Just found out... and now I see him. I assume if he was well enough to fly down, he'll be well enough to play.

I'm back at lovely Tropicana Field - honestly, I do LOVE it --- there's air conditioning here. Considering the heat index is triple digits, I'll take a sorry-lookin' cool ballpark over a sweet-lookin' hot one.

I digress...

A bunch of Phillies are taking early batting practice - in case you missed it, they didn't hit at all against the Orioles. Among those hitting - DL'd slugger Raul Ibanez. It's the first batting practice he's taken since being place on the DL last week.

No sign of Ryan Howard, however. Diagnosed with acute sinusitis Monday morning, Howard did not fly with the team last night.

The team hoped he would feel well enough to fly on his own today and play in tonight's game, but no word on that yet. Stay tuned, however - the clubhouse opens in 10 minutes and I'll throw up a blog entry on Howard's status then.

Also, Clay Condrey, as expected was placed on the 15-day DL. You can read more about his recent struggles/ailment in the blog post below. Left-hander Sergio Escalona, who is earning a lot of frequent rider miles on the Allentown-Philly trip along the Pennsylvania turnpike, takes Condrey's place on the active roster.

Escalona may earn more miles in a couple days: Brad Lidge is throwing a minor league rehab outing tonight for the Clearwater Threshers up the road in Tampa.

Lidge could be activated as early as tomorrow; or the Phils could opt to have Lidge throw another rehab (likely Thursday in a Gulf Coast League game at the Carpenter Complex, since the Threshers will be on the road in Jupiter (the city, not the planet).

Once Lidge is activated, Escalona's latest cup of coffee will be expired once again.

So I'm watching the College World Series on a day away from the ballpark (yeah, I'm a baseball addict) and the scroll at the bottom of the screen reads:

"ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting the Phillies will place (pitcher) Clay Condrey on the 15-day DL (oblique strain)."

The Phils are in route to Tampa, so I can't get confirmation. But I'm not surprised if this happened before they open their series with the Rays.

Charlie Manuel said over a week ago - following the rain delayed game against the Red Sox two Saturdays ago - that Condrey was battling a balky back. He's pitched just twice since then and saw his ERA spike from 2.14 to 3.71 after allowing six runs in those outings.

If the Phils make the move, Sergio Escalona, who has already been up twice, would be the most likely man to take the vacant roster spot. If the Phils wait a day (which I don't expect), Brad Lidge could be activated (after his scheduled rehab outing Tuesday) to take Condrey's spot.

Condrey would be the third reliever to go on the DL, joining Lidge and Scott Eyre. Anyone else thinking the "The Pen" TV show is a jinx?

The Phillies have just issued a statement on the status of all-Star first baseman Ryan Howard, who was hospitalized twice this weekend and had a fever that ran as high as 103.9 degrees.

"Ryan Howard was seen by (team physician) Dr. Marc Harwood today. After reviewing previous tests and evaluating him, Dr. Harwood has diagnosed him with acute sinusitis," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr said. "His fever is gone and he will rest at home today. If he feels better, Ryan will travel tomorrow to Tampa Bay to rejoin the team. We are hopeful he will be able to play tomorrow as well."

Ryan Howard, who came off the bench Saturday night to hit a three-run, pinch-hit home run despite being hospitalized earlier in the day with flu-like symptoms, was back in the hospital following the game.

As of noon Sunday, although he had been discharged from the hospital, Howard was not in the ballpark. According to the Phillies spokesperson, Howard's fever "spiked" overnight.

When he first went into the hospital shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, Howard was running a temperature of 103.9.

Obviously more on Howard's status when it becomes available...

Lidge won't be activated Tuesday

Phils closer Brad Lidge is eligible to come off the DL Tuesday, but won't; after throwing his first minor league rehab Saturday, Lidge is scheduled to throw his second rehab stint on Tuesday for Single-A Clearwater.

He'll either be activated Wednesday, or if the team feels he needs a third rehab appearance, on Friday in Toronto.

Brad Lidge's first rehab outing appeared to be a successful one at Double-A Reading.

Lidge, who started in Reading's game tonight against Harrisburg, threw one scoreless inning in his first game action since being place on the DL with a right knee sprain on June 9. Lidge gave up a double to the first batter he faced but then retired three in a row, two on strikeouts.

Lidge is expected to throw in at least one more minor league outing to test his knee.

He is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday.

Ryan Howard is not in tonight's starting lineup. It's the first time all season he has not started.

Manager Charlie Manuel said Howard fell ill late last night - he had a fever of 104 - and wasn't released from the hospital until sometime between 12:30 and 1 p.m. this afternoon. He was in the clubhouse this afternoon - and in uniform - so he appears to have bounced back some.

Greg Dobbs is playing first and Matt Stairs (playing left field) is at cleanup.

Ibanez MRI results

Raul Ibanez had an MRI after being placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday and all signs point to the slugging left fielder returning early next month.

The MRI results showed no tear and nothing out of ordinary; it confirmed the original diagnosis of a groin strain.

Ibanez is eligible to be activated on July 3, but it's too early in his rehab to determine if he'll be ready by then.

As you may have read in this very space last night, Raul Ibanez has been hurting.

But the news that he was placed on the DL still was a little surprising. Bothered by a left Achilles injury in the last week, Ibanez has also been battling a groin injury "off and on since April," according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

Ibanez tried to play through it, and quite frankly, held his own. In case you missed it, he's been one of the best players in the National League.

"It started bothering him a little bit more on this last, long road trip," Amaro said. "It got to the point where the discomfort was enough to shut him down. I talked to (team physician) Dr. Michael Ciccotti and (head athletic trainer) Scott Sheridan yesterday and we concurred that the best thing to calm it down was to put him on the DL and get him right."

"We needed to shut him down and make sure we get him healthy."

Ibanez is expected to have an MRI later today. He wasn't available to the media before Thursday's game.

Amaro said Ibanez was not necessarily happy to hear the team was placing him on the DL, but added that, like in Brad Lidge's situation, "we have to save the forest from the trees."

Speaking of Lidge was, the closer was encouraged after he threw a 42-pitch bullpen session Thursday morning and reported no pain.

Lidge said, depending on how his body reacts Friday morning, he could begin a rehab in Reading as soon as tomorrow night.

Lidge would likely need three rehab outings. There is an outside chance he could return to the team when he us eligible to be activated from the DL (Tuesday) although Amaro said the the team will not rush Lidge back.

Lidge throws again; may start rehab Friday

Brad Lidge (right knee sprain) threw a 42-pitch bullpen session Thursday morning and reported no pain.

Lidge said, depending on how his body reacts Friday morning, he could begin a rehab in Reading as soon as tomorrow night.

Lidge would likely need three rehab outings. There is an outside chance he could return to the team when he us eligible to be activated from the DL (Tuesday) although GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the the team will not rush the closer back.

Raul Ibanez to the DL

The Phillies placed outfielder Raul Ibanez on the 15 day DL with a groin strain; John Mayberry Jr. was called up to take the roster spot.

More later...

Raul Ibanez, the Phils first-half MVP and a top candidate for NL MVP honors 10 weeks into the season, may still be bothered by a sore left Achilles.

Ibanez sat out Sunday's game, breaking a string of 222 consecutive games played; but he told reporters he was fine and that he was told he would get a regular day off a day earlier.

But since Sunday, Ibanez is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts. He snapped a 13-game hitting streak Tuesday and finished 0-for-3 with a walk Wednesday.

Manuel noticed Ibanez favoring his aching left ankle in his second at-bat Wednesday.

“When he hit the ball to shortstop (in the fourth inning) it looked like couldn’t turn it on, he kind of gimped,” Manuel said. “I saw that. It looked like it was bothering him.”

Manuel said he wasn’t sure if he would play Ibanez in this afternoon’s series finale with the Blue Jays. Ibanez was unavailable to the media following Wednesday's game.

Ibanez is hitting .312 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs, both second in the NL, in 62 games.

For the first time since June 7, Brad Lidge threw off a mound.

Lidge tested out his right knee in a bullpen session prior to Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. The closer, placed on the disabled list a week ago, reported no pain.

He'll give it a go again in the 'pen Thursday, and barring a setback, could be sent out on a rehab assignment this weekend.

Lidge, who is eligible to return a week from today (next Tuesday in Tampa), said he is shooting to be ready at some point during that series against the Rays... but if he needs extra time, he could join the Phils at another point during the road trip.

But as long as his rested knee responds as it did today, he shouldn't need much more than the 15-day disabled list trip to get back into a major league game.

In the meantime, Ryan Madson will continue to hold down the fort in the closer's role.

The Phillies have played a good bit of extra baseball lately.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, they played a combined eight extra innings - one frame shy of an extra game. On Saturday, they physically didn't play longer than a nine-inning game, but a 95-minute rain delay after the first inning, they were without their starting pitcher for eight innings.

That overtime work had taken a toll on the bullpen. Following Saturday night's 11-6 loss to the Red Sox, Charlie Manuel admitted at least a couple of his relievers are banged up.

Chan Ho Park is "tender," according to the mananger, and Clay Condrey is battling a balky back.

Since the Phils needed eight innings from their relievers Saturday, they couldn't manage without Condrey. He pitched the eighth.

But constant work of the bullpen meant they had to throw little-used Jack Taschner for an inning (and he allowed five hits and three runs in that inning) and recently-promoted lefty Sergio Escalona for two innings (he allowed two runs on three hits).

The five runs combined given up by Taschner and Escalona? Sounds like the difference in an 11-6 game.

The Phils would like a win to avoid a sweep on Sunday... but perhaps what they'd like even more is an eight-inning start from J.A. Happ.

While sitting in the press box at Citizens Bank Park Saturday night, I was curious what Boston top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz was up to in the minor leagues.

So I went to google and typed "Buchholz" in the search engine.

What I found was bad news for another Buchholz, Springfield High product Taylor Buchholz, a former Phillies prospect and current Rockies reliever. According to the Denver Post, his season may be in jeopardy.

Buchholz has been out of action since suffering elbow soreness in his first spring training outing back in March.

Kendrick back to Triple-A

Kyle Kendrick's return to the Phillies was a brief one. Prior to Saturday's game, the Phils sent Kendrick down and recalled left-hander Sergio Escalona.

The Phillies minor-league system took two big blows Friday afternoon.

Top catching prospect Lou Marson, who was up with the Phillies earlier in the season and traveled with the active roster during the playoffs last season, was placed on the disabled list with a bruised foot. Marson was hitting .232 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.


Meanwhile, top infield prospect Jason Donald was scratched before IronPigs game Friday and may be looking at a longer layoff than Marson. According to a team source, there’s a “good possibility” he will undergo knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Donald is hitting .230 with one home run and 25 RBIs in 50 games at Lehigh. If he has surgery, Donald, who is one of the team’s most attractive offensive trade chips, could be out of action for a month.

Scott Eyre placed on DL

The Phils placed reliever Scott Eyre on the DL this afternoon with a left calf strain. Kyle Kendrick has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take the vacant roster spot.

2 75 Kelly Dugan OF Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif. Calif.
3 106 Kyrell Hudson OF Evergreen HS, Vancouver, Wash. Wash.
4 137 Adam Buschini 2B Cal Poly Calif.
5 167 Matt Way LHP Washington State Wash.
6 197 Stephen Inch RHP Vauxhall Academy, Edmonton
7 227 Brody Colvin RHP St. Thomas Moore HS, Lafayette, La. La.
8 257 Jonathan Singleton 1B Millikan HS, Long Beach Calif.
9 287 Aaron Altherr OF Agua Fria HS, Avondale, Ariz. Ariz.
10 317 Josh Zeid RHP Tulane La.
11 347 Jeremy Barnes SS Notre Dame Ind.
12 377 Nicholas Hernandez LHP Tennessee Tenn.
13 407 Ryan Sasaki LHP Connally HS, Austin, Texas Texas
14 437 Jacob Stewart OF Rocky Mountain HS, Fort Collins, Colo. Colo.
15 467 Austin Hyatt RHP Alabama Ala.
16 497 Andrew Susac C Jesuit HS, Carmichael, Calif. Calif.
17 527 Michael Dabbs OF Oklahoma State Okla.
18 557 Carl Uhl OF UC Riverside Calif.
19 587 Stephen Batts 1b East Carolina N.C.
20 617 Darin Ruff 1B Creighton Neb.
21 647 Chase Johnson RHP Deer Valley Ariz.
22 677 Kyle Lafrenz RHP George Mason Va.
23 707 Evan Porter ss Nebraska Neb.
24 737 Justin Long RHP Bellevue (Neb.) Neb.
25 767 Eric Massingham RHP Cal Poly Calif.
26 797 Brian Gump of Santa Barbara Calif.
27 827 Marlon Mitchell C Hillsborough Fla.
28 857 Justin Beal RHP Missouri Southern State Mo.
29 887 Mark Doll RHP Southern Polytechnic State Ga.
30 917 Stephen Kohlscheen RHP Cowley County Kan.
31 947 David Doss C South Alabama Ala.
32 977 Kevin Angelle LHP San Jacinto (Texas) JC Texas
33 1007 Colin Kleven RHP Mountain SS, Langley, B.C.
34 1037 Arthur Griffin RHP San Diego Calif.
35 1067 Phil Aviola C Wilmington (Del.) Del.
36 1097 Matt McConnell 2B Metro State (Colo.) Colo.
37 1127 Brodie Greene 2B Texas A&M Texas
38 1157 Cory Wine 1B Penn State Pa.
39 1187 Samuel Kidd RHP Ohio County HS, Hartford, Ky. Ky.
40 1217 Robert Amaro 3B Penn Charter HS, Philadelphia Pa.
41 1247 Jeff Gelalich OF Bonita HS, La Verne, Calif. Calif.
42 1277 Matthew Laney LHP Miami Dade CC Fla.
43 1307 Francois Lafreniere RHP Ahuntsic (Quebec)
44 1337 Brian Feekin LHP Iowa Western Neb.
45 1367 Richard Bain OF Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. Fla.
46 1397 Jeff Ames RHP Skyview HS, Vancouver, Wash. Wash.
47 1427 Ryan Bollinger 1B Magic City HS, Minot, N.D. N.D.
48 1457 Wander Nunez RF Frankford Pa.
49 1487 Chris Gosik 3B Malvern (Pa.) Prep Pa.
50 1517 David Hissey OF Emory Pa.

So I was doing a little number crunching while eating lunch this afternoon (that's why I got in the writing business, after all, to do math) and I came upon this:

Jimmy Rollins is hitting a robust .208 as a leadoff hitter this year.
Jimmy Rollins is hitting .409 when he is not the leadoff hitter this year.

Granted the sample data is a lot larger when Jimmy is at the top spot, it's worth digging into, right?

Rollins is 47-for-226 with one home run and an on-base percentage of .244 as the leadoff man.

Rollins is 8-for-22 with three home runs in every other spot in the lineup. He has a .273 on-base percentage when hitting fifth and a .625 on-base percentage when hitting sixth.

Although the Phils won in 11 innings Wednesday night, Rollins was 0-for-5 in his return to the top of the order. Charlie Manuel hinted before the game he'd likely stick with Rollins at the leadoff spot, but he hasn't unveiled tonight's lineup yet.

Where would you hit Rollins?

Personally, I'd want him at leadoff when he's beginning to show consistency at the plate. Since he hasn't, I'd hit him lower in the order, in part to break up the lefties/righties in the order.

Last night, when Rollins was hitting first, Mets manager Jerry Manuel's job was made easy in the eighth and ninth innings of a tie game.

He brought in lefty setup man Pedro Feliciano in the eighth... and Feliciano easily sent down lefties Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez in order for a 1-2-3 inning. In the ninth, Manuel summoned right-handed closer Francisco Rodriguez, who sent right-handers Jayson Werth, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz back to the dugout for another 1-2-3 frame.

In order to break up the righties and lefties, the Phils are best served using one of their switch-hitters in the middle of the order. The only two switch hitters are Rollins and Victorino.

Although Victorino isn't an ideal leadoff man, I'm not sure the team can continue to afford sending a sub-.220 hitter out there at the top spot every game either.

So I'd roll out something like this:

Victorino
Utley
Werth
Howard
Ibanez
Rollins
Feliz
Ruiz
Pitcher's spot

Where would you hit Rollins?

One product of the domino effect of Brad Lidge's trip to the bullpen is Ryan Madson filling in as the Phillies closer - something he's never done for an extended period in his major league career.

Madson has emerged as a shutdown setup reliever in the last 10 months. But isn't performing in the pressure-filled ninth inning a different ballgame?

Here's a little of what Madson and others had to say Tuesday:

Madson, on if he's more comfortable now than he would have been a year ago:

"I think I’m more comfortable overall after the experiences of the playoffs and the World Series and I think I’m just going to continue throwing the ball like I have... The playoffs and World Series, every inning was the inning. This year, getting the chance to do it, I guess it’s been less stressful. I think I’m more prepared this year than I have been in the past to do it."


Charlie Manuel, on Madson's filling in for Lidge:

"I think he can definitely do it. He definitely has the talent. I think he’s earned a shot."


Rich Dubee, on whether the jump to the eighth to the ninth inning is a big deal:

"Yeah, because there’s no game after (the ninth); but Ryan has had enough experience... I think he experienced it last year pitching in those pressure situations in the playoffs, I think getting big outs in the eighth often against the middle of lineups has given Ryan confidence he can close for us and do very well at it."

-------------------

In case you missed it, the Phillies took a pair of high school outfielders with their first two picks in the draft last night - Kelly Dugan and Kyrell Hudson.


Interesting note about Dugan: his father, Dennis Dugan, is apparently pals with Adam Sandler. Dugan is an director/producer/actor who directed four Sandler movies: "You Don't Mess with the Zohan," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," "Big Daddy" and "Happy Gilmore."

He also appeared in each of those movies, most recently as "Homeless Guy" in "Zohan."

The Phillies have addressed the struggles of Brad Lidge.

The closer was placed in the 15-day disabled list today with a sprained right knee. Veteran catcher Paul Bako was called up to take Lidge's place on the active roster.

Lidge is 0-3 this season with 13 saves and a 7.27 ERA in 28 relief appearances. He leads all of baseball with six blown saves.

Opponents have hit .306 against off Lidge this season. Lidge blew saves in back to back appearances this weekend in Los Angeles.

Ryan Madson will likely take over the closer's role in Lidge's absence.

It may be difficult to fathom, but the MLB draft is longer than the NFL draft. It begins tonight and doesn't end until late Thursday afternoon.

But just because you may not recognize the vast majority of names being selected, you should pay some attention to the draft if you're a Phillies fan since the vast majority of the marquee players on their current roster (the second best team in baseball, as I type) were originally drafted by the team (or in Brad Lidge's case, acquired in a trade involving homegrown prospects).

The Phils don't pick until the second round, the 75th selection overall. They lost their first-round pick when they signed Raul Ibanez over the winter (no, they're surely not regretting that decision).


But don't think you can't get a productive, future major league player at No.75. Cleveland All-Star center fielder Grady Sizemore was taken 75th overall by the Montreal Expos in 2000 and Atlanta selected current shortstop Yunel Escobar with the 75th pick in 2005.

The baseball draft is also a bit of a crap shoot, for lack of a better description, meaning teams can often find future big leaguers in later rounds as often as they find them in early rounds.

Here is just a sampling of seven players who have suited up for the Phillies this year who were selected after the 75th pick:

Ryan Howard - 140th pick (5th round in 2001)
Shane Victorino - 194th pick (6th round by the Dodgers in 1999)
Ryan Madson - 254th pick (9th round in 1998)
J.A. Happ - 92nd pick (3rd round in 2004)
Raul Ibanez - 1,006th pick (36th round by Mariners in 1992)

Lou Marson - 122nd pick (4th round in 2004)
Jamie Moyer - 135th pick (6th round in 1984)

The draft begins at 6 p.m. tonight and it will be televised on the MLB Network.

With approximately three weeks left until the polls close, the Phillies are sitting pretty in All-Star balloting.

If the polls closed today, the Phillies would field 1/3 of the National League's starting lineup.

Chase Utley (1,749,457 votes) continues to lead all second baseman while teammates Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez moved into the top spots at their respective positions.

Ibanez, who was sixth in the voting two weeks ago, has surged to the top thanks to his consistent bat. The new Phillies left fielder his hitting .329 with 19 home runs (second in the league) and 54 RBIs (most in NL and one behind major league leaders Jason Bay and Evan Longoria).

Rollins spot at the top is a little surprising. While he brings arguably the top glove among all major league shortstops to work every day, he's hitting .222 with three home runs, 18 RBIs, 10 steals and 34 runs scored.


With 936,377 votes, Jimmy Rollins is ahead of Florida's Hanley Ramirez (871,917 votes), who is batting over 100 points higher than his NL East counterpart. Ramirez entered Monday hitting .332 with eight home runs, eight steals, 26 RBIs and 36 runs scored.

The Phillies also have players receiving votes at first base (Ryan Howard, 2nd place), third base (Pedro Feliz, 4th) and catcher (Carlos Ruiz, 5th).


CURRENT VOTING RESULTS:

1st Base

1. Albert Pujols Cardinals 1,751,945
2. Ryan Howard Phillies 876,149
3. Prince Fielder Brewers 697,456
4. Adrian Gonzalez Padres 473,060
5. Joey Votto Reds 323,791


2nd Base

1. Chase Utley Phillies 1,749,457
2. Orlando Hudson Dodgers 735,973
3. Rickie Weeks Brewers 560,670
4. Skip Schumaker Cardinals 425,636
5. Brandon Phillips Reds 302,035


3rd Base

1. David Wright Mets 994,855
2. Ryan Zimmerman Nationals 747,380
3. Chipper Jones Braves 640,598
4. Pedro Feliz Phillies 598,563
5. Bill Hall Brewers 551,202


Shortstop

1. Jimmy Rollins Phillies 936,377
2. Hanley Ramirez Marlins 871,917
3. J.J. Hardy Brewers 662,474
4. Jose Reyes Mets 526,591
5. Miguel Tejada Astros 462,941


Catcher

1. Yadier Molina Cardinals 874,329
2. Brian McCann Braves 660,523
3. Ivan Rodriguez Astros 625,389
4. Jason Kendall Brewers 619,954
5. Carlos Ruiz Phillies 599,167


Outfield

1. Raul Ibanez Phillies 1,415,493
2. Ryan Braun Brewers 1,269,033
3. Carlos Beltran Mets 1,092,516
4. Alfonso Soriano Cubs 1,078,904
5. Manny Ramirez Dodgers 858,353
6. Shane Victorino Phillies 852,667
7. Mike Cameron Brewers 716,343
8. Jayson Werth Phillies 636,818
9. Rick Ankiel Cardinals 615,875
10. Ryan Ludwick Cardinals 612,094
11. Corey Hart Brewers 608,704
12. Adam Dunn Nationals 468,957
13. Matt Kemp Dodgers 460,341
14. Andre Ethier Dodgers 427,680
15. Kosuke Fukudome Cubs 371,946

I was curious to see how Kyle Drabek would do in his Double-A debut tonight in Reading.

The Phils first round pick from the 2006 draft did not disappoint. As I follow the game on milb.com, I see the hard-throwing right-hander, who also features a nasty hook and plus changeup, has been removed from the game.

How did Drabek do?

He allowed three hits in seven shutout innings against Akron. He struck out four and walked three.

The R-Phils are up 3-0 in the eighth inning, thanks to Kyle D.

Fearless prediction: If Drabek keeps rolling like this in the next 4-6 weeks, the Phils might not need to add a big-name pitcher at the trade deadline. Drabek, like Cole Hamels before him, might be a fast mover through the organization and be fitted in red pinstripes before September if not sooner.

Of course, this doesn't mean the Phils won't trade for a pitcher, too. But the rapid development of Drabek, who missed most of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, sure doesn't hurt.

It was sunny in South Jersey today.... and just as I was about to take advantage of it, the rain came down.

No, I'm not with the Phillies in Southern California. You can still got all the late-game results on line at delcotimes.com

I'm enjoying some comp time, which you rack up by the boatload when you're at spring training, working all but two days, from Feb. 8 to April 3... not to mention the grind continuing when the regular season begins.

Thus, I won't be blogging as often this week.

Here's a quick rundown on some news that's been happening in the last 48 hours:

-Antonio Bastardo, who was called up over the weekend to take Brett Myers' spot in the rotation, makes his major league debut tonight. Against Jake Peavy, of all people. This story writes itself. You may have heard about this Peavy guy.

-Kyle Drabek, arguably the Phillies top pitching prospect, has benefited from the domino effect of the Myers' injury. Drabek was promoted from Single-A Clearwater to Double-A Reading on Monday. Keep an eye on his progress - he could be a candidate in the Cole Hamels-mode to be a quick move through the organizational ladder, with a chance of even joining the big league club at some point in '09.

(I caught up with Drabek, who missed most of last season with Tommy John surgery, at spring training).

-John Mayberry Jr. was sent back to Triple-A to make room for Bastardo. This wasn't shocking news. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told me last week that Mayberry wasn't the Phils answer for a right-handed bat off the bench; and Charlie Manuel said over the weekend that with a young pitching staff, they could carry 13 pitchers.

-J.C Romero will be activated before Wednesday's game; fellow lefty reliever Sergio Escalona would be the guy most likely to be sent back to the minors to make room for J.C., but Jack Taschner could also be optioned. Bet on Escalona.

Here's more on Romero's battle back from a 50-game drug suspension.

The second round of All-Star voting results are in... and the Phillies are like George and Weezy.

They're movin' on up.

Raul Ibanez, who was sixth in the vote a week ago, is now second... meaning if the polls closed today, he'd be in the starting nine for the NL All-Star team next month.

Chase Utley continues to lead at his second base. With 1,111,963 votes, Utley trails only St. Louis Albert Pujols in votes for any player, regardless of position.

Pujols has 1,240,395 votes. He's well ahead of Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (527,165) and Ryan Howard (524,879).

Perhaps the best battle is at shortstop. A week ago, Milwaukee's J.J. Hardy was in the lead. This week, Florida's Hanley Ramirez is at the top, but holds a very slim lead over Jimmy Rollins.

Hanley has 586,300; Jimmy has 569,639. Rollins hasn't started an All-Star game since 2002.

Pedro Feliz's strong start to the season also hasn't gone unnoticed; he's fifth among NL third basemen.

If you're looking for a darkhorse, Shane Victorino's your man. The Flyin' Hawaiian climbed to seventh in the voting... but he's still a couple hundred thousand votes out of the third and final starting spot.

The top three outfielders are Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Ibanez and Chicago's Alfonso Soriano.


COMPLETE VOTING (Phils players in italics):


1st base:

1. Albert Pujols Cardinals 1,240,395
2. Prince Fielder Brewers 527,165
3. Ryan Howard Phillies 524,879
4. Joey Votto Reds 240,383
5. Adrian Gonzalez Padres 220,080

2nd Base

1. Chase Utley Phillies 1,111,963
2. Orlando Hudson Dodgers 486,359
3. Rickie Weeks Brewers 465,812
4. Skip Schumaker Cardinals 308,867
5. Brandon Phillips Reds 210,938

3rd Base

1. David Wright Mets 685,972
2. Ryan Zimmerman Nationals 482,059
3. Bill Hall Brewers 440,159
4. Chipper Jones Braves 434,383
5. Pedro Feliz Phillies 349,818

Shortstop

1. Hanley Ramirez Marlins 586,300
2. Jimmy Rollins Phillies 569,639
3. J.J. Hardy Brewers 500,570
4. Jose Reyes Mets 389,416
5. Miguel Tejada Astros 279,851

Catcher

1. Yadier Molina Cardinals 629,007
2. Jason Kendall Brewers 471,557
3. Ivan Rodriguez Astros 423,369
4. Brian McCann Braves 416,149
5. Russell Martin Dodgers 385,532

Outfield

1. Ryan Braun Brewers 908,745
2. Raul Ibanez Phillies 817,849
3. Alfonso Soriano Cubs 775,319
4. Carlos Beltran Mets 741,875
5. Manny Ramirez Dodgers 635,530
6. Mike Cameron Brewers 533,923
7. Shane Victorino Phillies 517,760
8. Corey Hart Brewers 475,809
9. Ryan Ludwick Cardinals 463,350
10. Rick Ankiel Cardinals 455,525
11. Jayson Werth Phillies 389,275
12. Matt Kemp Dodgers 307,724
13. Andre Ethier Dodgers 307,003
14. Adam Dunn Nationals 305,831
15. Kosuke Fukudome Cubs 281,337