Utley back in third spot; Frandsen, Nix get starts

Despite two straight ugly losses, the Phillies can salvage a split in the four-game series on Thursday afternoon with Cliff Lee on the mound.

Charlie Manuel has been challenged to come up with different lineups through the first 23 games of the season. Thursday's game is no different. With center fielder Ben Revere struggling, Manuel gives Ezequiel Carrera a start.

Meanwhile, Laynce Nix and Kevin Frandsen also pick up a start to give John Mayberry and Michael Young the day off.

Here's how the Phillies line up against right-hander James McDonald and the Pirates:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Kevin Frandsen, 3B
3. Chase Utley, 2B 
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Laynce Nix, RF
6. Dom Brown, LF
7. Ezequiel Carerra, CF
8. Erik Kratz, C
9. Cliff Lee, P

Utley is 4 for 6 with a homer and a pair of walks against McDonald. Ryan Howard is 3 for 4 with a homer while Jimmy Rollins is 3 for 9 with a solo homer.

In his career against the Pirates, Lee is 1-0 with a 3.05 ERA in three starts. He has 20 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

The Pirates lineup:

1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Brandon Inge, 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
5. Michael McKenry, C
6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
7. Jose Tabata, RF
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. James McDonald, P

Inge has three career homers off Lee and is 16 for 43 (.372) against the Phils' lefty. Inge has also whiffed 15 times against Lee.

Comments

[lorecore]

im watching on gameday..legit 2b?

[awh]

bap, yeah, you have to wonder whether RAj thought Utley gave them any "production" that inning.

[Jack]

lorecore: It was better than legit. It was PRODUCTIVE.

[Jack]

This is actually kind of amazing.

After last inning, Dom Brown now has the second-highest OBP in the lineup (behind Utley).

[Phillibuster]

Man, who's that +defender in right?

[Cyclic]

lore-- well placed bloop. Helped that mccutchen dove

[RedBurb]

Hmm. Guys with good pitch selection and who walk equals a higher OBP. Someone should teach that to the FO.

[bay_area_phan]

"well placed bloop."

He has hit his share of line drives into outs this year. The BABIP Gods owe him a few.

[Cyclic]

I thought the same, Ron.

[Jack]

RedBurb: Well, before we get too excited, I think the more salient point is that a .321 OBP is good enough for second-best in this lineup.

The offense is really bad.

[Phillibuster]

This is why, as a pitcher, you break for first regardless.

[Muuurgh]

I never thought I'd say it, but I now can say that I like Laynce Nix. I feel like I can expect good results from him since he's done well for himself this year so far. Made some good defensive plays and some key offensive plays... actively glad he's on the team.

[Phillibuster]

Wait, what? Cliff had the green light for some reason? With that "hey! Notice me!" red jacket on?

[bay_area_phan]

cyclic: Since I don't know who Ron Swanson is, I don't really get the joke.

[Jack]

Nix actually has been one of the brighter spots this year.

Now, I'm not sure he's going to better than Jayson Werth, like Philpper claims, but there's certainly no reason to complain about Nix right now.

[Sophist]

Jack - Yeah. No on-base abilities in the lineup. But also nice that Brown has a double-digit BB% so that even when he stinks or is unlucky or whatever his deal is he still has an "okay" OBP.

[RedBurb]

Jack - An offense that has a bunch of guys in it that have no pitch selection and don't walk. Not saying .321 OBP is good or anything, just saying that if you have more of those guys, you don't find yourself in the situations the Phillies have been in this season so far.

[Brooklyn Phillies]

With Jimmy Rollins batting, Cliff Lee caught 
stealing 2nd base, pitcher James McDonald to 
shortstop Clint Barmes.

Really?

[Sil Campusano]

McDonald had no clue. Lee had that stolen if his infielders didn't get his attention.

[Jack]

Sophist and RedBurb, I agree with you both.

[Phillibuster]

Sil: Agreed. Hard not to notice when the guy in a bright red windbreaker is busting down the line.

Also: Blargh.

[quincy.mcneal]

Brooklyn Phillies - Not only that, he was roundly applauded as he returned to the dugout following the ridiculously idiotic move.

[Jack]

Clout thinks Cliff Lee is now to blame if we don't win this game.

[lorecore]

gaby snachez is horrible, wtf.

[Phillibuster]

If I had to guess, I would say it was a hit and run, and he mistook McDonald's movement as motion towards the plate.

Presumably to avoid the inevitable Rollins GiDP.

[Cyclic]

bap, aka Ron-- don't worry. You're perfect... Even if you don't watch Parks & Rec.

[awh]

This is starting to feel like a ...

[Jack]

...2013 Phillies game?

[The Perils of Thinking]

Are the ball and strike calls as bad as they appear on Gameday? Appears the home plate ump is suboptimal...

[Sil Campusano]

The 2013 Phillies are sub-optimal.

[Cyclic]

Can't wait until our bullpen gets to show their stuff in this one.

[SLO Phan]

Cliff at 95 pitches. I think you have to keep him out there for the 7th.

[Phillibuster]

Fugger Adams and Horst unavailable. So... Durbin, Valdes, Bastardo, and Paps if we hit a closing situation?

[Phillibuster]

*Figger, that should read figger.

[Steve]

Fugger seems oddly appropriate as well

[The Perils of Thinking]

At least you messed up the second letter and not the first, 'buster...

[Phillibuster]

Eh. Adams hasn't done enough to deserve the appellation.

Heck, really, none of the BP arms have. Although Valdes and Durbin are getting pretty close.

[bay_area_phan]

A walk from Frandsen is a rare event. RAJ must be seething.

[mainerob]

And, lookie here, Frandsen actually will take a walk when given pitches outside the strike zone. Wow!

[lorecore]

leadoff walk with a RHP on mound vs Utley/Howard/Nix...c'mon fellas.

[Jack]

Utley is a level above everyone else on this team right now.

Maybe two levels.

[Willard Preacher]

TMac made it sound like that play at third was going to be a hell of a lot closer than it actually was.

[Cyclic]

A tiring RH starter as well...

[Allen Thornberg]

If I'm Hurdle, I put my loogy in right here and now.

[awh]

"A walk from Frandsen is a rare event. RAJ must be seething."

That, or looking for someone's cornflakes to piss in.

[Cyclic]

Oh no. They have us right where they want us...

[The Perils of Thinking]

The dreaded 1st and 3rd with no outs trap; they've got us right where they want us...

[awh]

Well, Chase needs to steal to stay out of the GIDP.

[GTown_Dave]

The Pirates shouldn't overthink this. The Phillies will find a way to avoid scoring.

[Allen Thornberg]

Man on third, nobody out, the 4-5-6 batters coming up...I'm going out for a smoke.

[The Perils of Thinking]

Nice, Cyclic...

[Sil Campusano]

Third time's a charm for 1st and 3rd, no outs?

[Sil Campusano]

That's how.

[Muuurgh]

The ol' getting the Phils to 1st and 3rd with no one out trick...

[Jack]

Ok, Ryan.

If he wants to walk you, take it!

[bay_area_phan]

"Well, Chase needs to steal to stay out of the GIDP."

Done. Now what can he do to take us out of back-to-back Ks?

[Allen Thornberg]

Iron Boot does not take Walks. Iron Boot is a Productive Ball Player, not some Walking Loser.

[Dickie Thong]

C'mon Phils. I need a W for Lee for my fantasy team.

[awh]

Here comes the slop - showed him one FB

[GTown_Dave]

The key is you have to really believe it.

[Phillibuster]

Hey, lookit all that production there.

[Albert Ross]

YooHoo Jack? You there?

[RedBurb]

Your fantasy league still goes by Ws for pitchers? We go by Quality Starts. Much better for a fantasy league.

[Allen Thornberg]

Hoo ha! Iron Boot Produces!

[awh]

OMG, OMG, OMG...

[Jack]

Now they're bringing in the lefty.

Brilliant managing.

[Sil Campusano]

Howard getting no respect, that's a clear LOOGY situation. I'll take it, though.

Production!

[bay_area_phan]

Production! Again, however, discounted by the fact that it was partly attributable to a walk.

[mainerob]

Lovely, but how does Utley stay on third? I know the answer, but...

No outs. I get it, but...

[Willard Preacher]

Yeah, that's some Charlie Manuel level managing right there...

[Phillibuster]

Mainerob: Because they don't want to make the first out of an inning at the plate three games in a row.

[awh]

Wow, a little late with the LOOGY.

Still, the Phillies are in that pesky first and third with no one out situation that has vexed them all season.

[RedBurb]

So does UC counter with Mayberry?

[Allen Thornberg]

Now they're bringing in the lefty.

Brilliant managing.

Posted by: Jack | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:55 PM

I think Hurdle actually figured he didn't need to bring in a lefty to face Howard there; let's face it, like us, Hurdle probably expected him to strike out on any old slop.

[bay_area_phan]

Yeah, that was some seriously bad decision-making by Hurdle. Should have brought in the LOOGY as soon as Utley came up.

[awh]

Kliff Lee must be amazed he's gotten so much run support today!

[Jack]

So Utley and Howard are up, and you leave the righty in.

Then you bring the lefty in for Nix, when we can bring in Mayberry?

What on earth kind of managing is that?

[johnnysanz3]

Howard shooting for that .300 BA, no walks and a .450 SLG.

The "new" Howard.

I kid, I still think it will be more like .250 with more HRs

[mainerob]

Good one, Phillibuster. Also, Hurdle pulled a UC by saving his LOOGY for Nix. He didn't get his LOOGY warmed up in time to face Howard.

Sounds eerily like UC, doesn't it?

[clout]

Ha. Jack couldn't contain his disgust at Howard getting a hit.

[Allen Thornberg]

Mayberry looking to boost his LOB numbers again.

[awh]

WTF didn't Utley slide? Damn.

[Willard Preacher]

What's the record for # of outs made at home in a season? In a week?

[Phillibuster]

Nevermind. They just wanted to make it more dramatic.

[Sil Campusano]

Broken g'damn record.

[GTown_Dave]

MOTHERF*CKINGSONUVABITCH!

[lorecore]

mayberry is 1-4 this year on scoring a man from 3rd lt 2 outs. He's actually 30% for his career, which might be one the worst % in the MLB.

[Jack]

Clout: Offense has scored 2 runs.

More than enough, right?

[johnnysanz3]

Idk, I mean in hindsight, yes. But not many managers are taking a guy out in the 6th inning at 80 pitches who only gave up 1 run on 3 hits, and walked the first guy of the inning.

Maybe after Utley its more likely though.

[bay_area_phan]

3 straight games with a a runner thrown out at home on a FC in a non-force situation? That's some pretty impressive stuff.

[SLO Phan]

Pit is asking for the Phils to blow this game open...

[mainerob]

OMG, Phillibuster. Third game in a row that the runner on third has been thrown out at the plate. Unbelievable. Actually, not really with this team.

And, btw, Mayberry's average is taking its annual dip for those who still think he's got anything left. He is who he is.

[Jimmy Rollins]

Chase, ya gotta wait until the 3B throws to 2B before you break for home.

[Sil Campusano]

At least it wasn't a DP this time.

[Jack]

Dom with some PRODUCTION.

[Phillibuster]

Sac flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy~

(Read that in the voice of Trolololo guy)

[bay_area_phan]

Dom is all about production today.

[Willard Preacher]

Does that qualify as "production?"

[mainerob]

Good insight, Jimmy

[GTown_Dave]

And Howard tried his best to piss all over that one, too. This team is brain dead.