We're going to see the right-handed relievers tonight - you can bet on that - be we're not going to see Jimmy Rollins.
Rollins is not in the lineup Wednesday for the Phillies' rubber match with the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Instead, the shortstop is headed back to Philadelphia to be with his wife as the couple is expecting its second child. Instead, Jayson Nix is making his Phillies' debut at short. Kyle Kendrick makes his season debut on the bump. Ryan Howard will DH. The John Mayberry Jr. experiment at first continues into the 2014 season, and I know you're excited about that.
Well, his dad played first base. Maybe they just like seeing his name there. Plus, he has the glove.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 06:04 PM
I dont think we'll be seeing the right handed relievers.
KK for the complete game, ya'll!
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 06:11 PM
I want to see the rookie beautillion again. He's already initiated by Texas Hellfire.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 06:43 PM
A few months ago, remember how we all just assumed that Howard would be our DH for this entire series as they eased him back in after his prolonged injury stint(s)? Pretty ironic that it took until the 3rd game and at the expense of a crappier 1st baseman...
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:00 PM
Nice to see you, Weitzel. Not sure I agree that there was nothing wrong with Holland's baptism by fire, and I definitely don't understand the use of Diekman. But you're right that there's the whole summer before us to second-guess our manager.
BAP, in the 80's, the closer didn't pitch only 1 inning, either. If he came in to pitch the 7th, he stayed in the rest of the game, unless he got in trouble.
May Jimmy's wife be blessed with an easy and safe delivery of a healthy baby.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:01 PM
I was finally able to use the radio audio overlay last night when I accessed mlb.tv via PS3. It was damn refreshing to hear Franzke's voice again while getting to actually watch the game (though there are still glitches with buffering and cutting in/out). Hearing how much he knew about the TX squad reminded me that this is his stomping grounds and how lucky we are to have him in our booth, calling our games (I believe he actually turned TX down a year or two back to stay with the Phils?). At any rate, for all of the TBag bashing I do, I freaking love Franzke and hope he's around for a long time.
(I'm fully expecting RAJ to find a way to trade him for Abe Nunez, Jr. by the deadline)
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:05 PM
Mayberry is a bad first baseman as well?
I thought it was just CF he sucked at... (and hitting RHP)
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:07 PM
Matt Gelb @magelb 12m
Why April 29 is looking like a safe bet for Cole Hamels' return: http://bit.ly/1iiyHbk
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:10 PM
"If Hamels pitches every fifth day and does not suffer any setbacks, it could put Hamels back in the Phillies rotation around April 26. But the Phillies could cushion a few of those outings with extra days and have Hamels pitch the opener of a homestand vs. New York on April 29.
That scenario makes sense because it would come on the regular turn for the fifth spot in the rotation. David Buchanan will start triple-A Lehigh Valley's season opener Thursday. That puts him on schedule to pitch April 13 at Citizens Bank Park.
Buchanan would make three starts — at home vs. Miami and on the road against Colorado and Los Angeles — before Hamels replaces him April 29."
So Buchanan has the inside track now? What about Pettibone?
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:13 PM
Jason - How long will this place stay safe? I sacrificed a well-known handle to the troll - he simply cut and pasted the TypePad url and posted under my name.
To those who use a Typepad-registered handle, it's not very useful. Unless security has been upgraded, anyone's TypePad url can be used to hijack your posts.
Back to baseball. Two out of 3 from the Rangers and a win for Kyle Kendrick would be a great start to the season.
Posted by: Rally Red '67 | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:47 PM
If Ross has reverse splits, then what's the logic of playing Mayberry?
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:54 PM
RR67, yeah, any troll can cut/paste the TypePad URL, but at least you can click on said URL/TypePad profile to see actual verified posts from the logged in user, to substantiate which are legit and which are the result of trolldom. Not a perfect fix, but the link they're pasting will actually contain only a list of legitimate posts.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:56 PM
Mike Adams is also on track to return mid-late April.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:56 PM
"If Ross has reverse splits, then what's the logic of playing Mayberry?"
Best I can come up with is that when you're electing to use a 24 man active roster, you're going to be limited in your options. When it's the Phillies using a 24 man active roster with that expertly assimilated bench, you just smile, nod and give thanks that the Michael Martinez era has come and gone (for now...).
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 07:58 PM
Though I'd kill to see even a single shred of an explanation on how/why a team with the 3rd highest payroll* in MLB is electing to use a 24 man roster. It's not like they didn't know JRoll's wife was pregnant.
*please save me the "cost of travel" line of b.s.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Rally Red 67 is cut fastball?
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:05 PM
It's true there aren't many options. Sandberg might have had Dom DH, Howard at 1B and Gwynn in LF, like he did opening day.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:06 PM
Any word on how Adams' stuff looks?
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:10 PM
It's a true testament to the hideousness of the Phillies' bench that, even against a pitcher who completely dominates RH hitters, Mayberry might still be our best option. At worst, he's the 2nd best after Cesar Hernandez.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:11 PM
Oh brother.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:13 PM
Chooch!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:14 PM
Chooooooooooch
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:14 PM
Wooo!
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:16 PM
Utley!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:17 PM
Nice start.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:17 PM
He stands so far off the plate. No wonder he's useless against outside pitches.
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:18 PM
Howard....
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:19 PM
This lead is safe.
CGSO for Kendrick
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:23 PM
Cyclic, I can't find anything on how Adams looks. I just heard Amaro say that he's progressing in a straight line.
Galvis is also improving, per Amaro.
* * *
Well, we got 1 run, at least.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:23 PM
I'm believing this is Kendrick's year starting tonight. 10 man roster should cover it with an 8 inning shutout performance.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:25 PM
Anonymity:
Todd Zolecki @ToddZolecki 16m
Rangers TV broadcast yesterday used Cody Asche's photo for Jayson Nix. Today they're using Cesar Hernandez's photo.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:26 PM
"I just heard Amaro say that he's progressing in a straight line."
Unfortunately, he was referring to Adams' velocity, which is progressing in a straight line to 65 MPH.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:28 PM
Hey, I was just googleing the Phillies ownership, and noticed that one of the Phillies owners Claire S. Betz passed away in February, is that true or do I have the wrong lady. They have made no public statement about her at all.
Posted by: DCPhilsfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:28 PM
Oh, KK!
Oh, Dom!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:29 PM
Brown is such a lousy defensive OF.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:29 PM
My above post was meant to be read in a sighing voice, by the way.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:30 PM
That may have been the worst throw of Domonic Brown's career.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:30 PM
#fundamentals
Posted by: Shoeless Joe | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:31 PM
DCPhan, that's the CB on the Jersey.
Posted by: Phanatic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:31 PM
Chooch, standing up and throwing his chest at that pitch to block it. Love him.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:33 PM
Fielder bailed out KK there.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:33 PM
Prince Fielder is reminding us we aren't the only team with an overpaid LHB 1B who can't lay off stuff low and away.
Thanks, Prince!
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:34 PM
Wow. The defense. Got lucky there.
Posted by: BobbyD | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:34 PM
Brown practiced worse throws at LV.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:34 PM
More stellar defense with KK bobbling the ball. However, it worked out OK because Choo got confused.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:35 PM
One of the strangest scoring decisions you will see
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:35 PM
I love that Utley ran over to cover 3B.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:36 PM
If you replay that sequence on the computer 1,000 times, it ends with a worse result in 992 of them.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:36 PM
I suspect Ranger BL just exploded in anger over Fielder's chasing that third strike followed by Choo's baserunning shenanigans.
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:36 PM
Oh KK...you crazy diamond.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:39 PM
I have no idea how they didn't score a single run there.
Posted by: Jack | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:39 PM
Well, they should be, Juums.
I can't believe KK got out of that inning without a run.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:39 PM
Take it but man it took a lot of pitches (24) to get out of the inning.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:39 PM
@juums, righto sir. I wonder if when asked whether he prefers batting 4th or 5th in the lineup, Fielder can offer up more than Howard's childish "I don't know"
Posted by: spike | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:40 PM
A 6.5 inning shutout for Kendrick would be more than enough for this guy.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:40 PM
GBrettfan:
Oh, I think we'd be livid too. $50MM/year in new salary obligations just screwed the pooch royally. It's the kind of thing we've come to expect from, well, the Phils.
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:41 PM
the graphics on espn are far superior to comcast's. you can actually read the pitch speed. also it's placement in the lower right doesn't compete for space w/ the closed captioning.
Posted by: bullit | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:41 PM
Getting 0 runs out of that was something I'd have expected from the Phillies.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:42 PM
Key to that inning was the routine DP ball going through the SS hole because Choo broke for second and Jimmy raced over to cover. Otherwise it's an easy inning.
Posted by: clout | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:42 PM
By the way, that was a terrible decision by our 3B coach holding Chooch initially on the single by Utley.
With Howard on deck against a lefty, you send just about anyone there. He's lucky the CF bobbled the ball and gave us the run.
Posted by: Jack | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:42 PM
"Key to that inning was the routine DP ball going through the SS hole because Choo broke for second and Jimmy raced over to cover."
Jayson, you mean.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:44 PM
Asche starts, Asche hits.
Maybe we should just start him for a bit to see what we've got instead of platooning him with Jayson Nix.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:46 PM
Jayson Nix...just terrible.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:46 PM
Nix redux
Posted by: Phanatic | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:46 PM
This is twice in 2 games that Asche has swung at an outside pitch out of the strike zone and slung it right down the third base line. If he can do that at will, he'll be a big success.
Posted by: clout | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:47 PM
Nicely threaded ball there by Asche. Good to see that plus bat control manifesting itself to let him go the opposite way like that.
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:47 PM
BAP: Yes, Jayson. I'm used to the other guy being there.
Posted by: clout | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:48 PM
It'd be a better sign if Asche was hitting line drives than little slappers down the line.
But I'll take what I can get here. I like what Asche has done so far.
Posted by: Jack | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:50 PM
KK doesn't have good feel early on with any pitch. Missing his spots and not locating his cutter well.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:50 PM
Who was it that said Dom Brown playing defense looks like a giraffe on acid?
Posted by: Jake | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:53 PM
MG: He's missing with his changeup to LH hitters, which will burn him eventually if he can't fix that.
Posted by: clout | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:53 PM
clout - Yeah and even his sinker has been up. Hopefully he settles in and can give the Phils at least 6 IP tonight.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:56 PM
An aside, retweeted by Zolecki:
Chris Haft/SF Giants @sfgiantsbeat 12m
Pat Burrell, now a Giants scout, just dusted off his muscles and hit a batting-practice home run
Sign him, Ruben! Just kidding.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 08:56 PM
"Giraffe on Acid" was spot-on soon after I witnessed the same at LV. It had to be LV area poster. He's a regular lurker, can't remember name but it was the perfect description. Arms - Legs going all ways.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:00 PM
Phils used to just pound a starter like this who tried to get by with 4-seam fastball after 4-seam fastball.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:01 PM
He did it! Howard with a HR! Yee haw!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:02 PM
Meatball slider and Howard crushed it! Alright Big Man!
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:02 PM
Wow. This guy really does suck against LHP if he's giving up homeruns to Ryan Howard.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:02 PM
Cue post by Albert Ross.
Posted by: clout | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:03 PM
HR...of a LHP too.
Damn.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:04 PM
That's why they call me the BIG PIECE!
Posted by: Ryan Howard | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:04 PM
Washed up indeed!
Posted by: Albert Ross | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:06 PM
Check the scoreboard boys my brother Chase B. and Me.
Posted by: Albert Ross | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:08 PM
Given Brown nothing but 4-seam fastballs and still badly overmatched Brown in his 2 ABs so far.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:15 PM
How impressive was that homerun, though?
Posted by: Big Piece | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:15 PM
That Howard HR should answer once and for all whose splits matter more, the pitcher or the hitter.
Posted by: Jack | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:18 PM
That curve wasn't even close. Terrible called 3rd strike on Asche.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:19 PM
Revere needs some discipline on this AB.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:21 PM
This is an incredibly charitable strike zone.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:21 PM
That's putting it mildly, bap.
3 games, 3 very very odd strikezones so far.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:22 PM
The umpires are doing their damnedest to make the case for automated strike-calling.
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:23 PM
guys on espn talking about the loop/hole in dom's swing.
Posted by: bullit | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:24 PM
More good defense by the Phils.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:28 PM
Howard makes that scoop.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:28 PM
I was about to say that Howard's scooping ability has really declined, and then I realized that isn't Howard.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:29 PM
Burrell would've dug that one out.
Posted by: SeanofDead | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:29 PM
bullit: Jamie mentioned the same thing on the CSN broadcast.
Posted by: EDGE | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:30 PM
Dick Stuart nabbed that one.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:31 PM
Howard would have made that play.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:31 PM
Burrell was a solid 1B compared to Mayberry. Hell, he was drafted as a 3B if you'll remember.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 09:31 PM