Believe it or not, Cody Asche will start at third vs. southpaw Mark Buehrle on Wednesday ... and Ryan Howard will get the night off.
All is took was the baserunning gaffe of the year, a botched play at shortstop and an 0-for-2 day at the plate for Freddy Galvis, combined with a 4-for-4 night and a game-tying grand slam for Asche for Asche -- finally -- to get the start at third base against a left-handed starter.
Asche has been crushing the ball recently and is 9 for 22 with three doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last eight games.
It's the first time he's in the lineup against a lefty starter since the second series of the year against the Cubs.
And even with the designated hitter creating room for a ninth bat in the order, Howard, who's 8 for 37 vs. LHP this season, will sit in favor of John Mayberry Jr.
Jimmy Rollins will get another day off from the field, but he'll serve as the DH and Jayson Nix will man shortstop. Rollins has started only once as a DH -- July 1, 2011 in Toronto -- and he went 0 for 4.
Cliff Lee (3-2, 3.00) opposes Buehrle (5-1, 2.25) at the Rogers Centre.
I give Phillies fans a lot of crap, but to be fair - STILL PLENTY OF GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE IN TORONTO!
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:09 PM
7 pitch AB.
I'll take that from Revere.
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:10 PM
At least the loss will be quick, with two fast workers pitching.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:11 PM
I lost the announcers, but I still have the stadium sounds.
This is a beautiful way to watch baseball.
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:16 PM
Chase looked like he got more of that one.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:16 PM
Cyclic: You can watch every game that way. You just won't get the infographics.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:16 PM
6 outs, 6 flyouts
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:18 PM
Byrd remains the wyrd.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:20 PM
Byrd is the word
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:20 PM
And let's hear it for the astroturf bounce. I'd almost forgotten what that was like.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:20 PM
Brown remains down
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:22 PM
If I was a beer vendor tonite, game time under 2 hrs. and less than a 1000 people, I'd have to think about one of those jobs spending a few hrs. at the computer:)
Posted by: Conway Twitty | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:22 PM
Thanks, JMJ. Swinging at stuff a foot outside and high is usually a good plan. I'm glad you got the memo.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:24 PM
I have a bad feeling this game is gonna suck
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:24 PM
I'd like to keep the poetic theme going. What rhymes with Mayberry and is a synonym for "worthless piece of sh*t?"
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:24 PM
Dingleberry?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:25 PM
Philli: Actually, that kind of works. Close enough, anyhow.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:26 PM
Keep it up, Jayson. Freddy needs to spend some time soul-searching in Lakewood.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:26 PM
BAP: I remember my old Creative Writing prof reminding us that a word rhymes with itself. Or in this case, a multisyllabic proper noun.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:31 PM
Cody, gettin' that OBP up.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:33 PM
Also, when they cut to him staring down the pitcher, you can really tell the Nixes are related.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:33 PM
"I remember my old Creative Writing prof reminding us that a word rhymes with itself."
Yes, I have used that technique in several of the songs that I've written for Beerleaguer, when I can't think of another word that rhymes. It feels like cheating but sometimes it can't be helped.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:35 PM
Nix trying to get tossed. Maybe he wants Galvis to play
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:36 PM
Nix just had no concept of the inside of the zone in that AB. Every single strike was called, and not even so far in that it was on the black.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:36 PM
What's he upset about? That was a fairly obvious strike.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:37 PM
Nice work, Benny. Now time for James to get something done.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:37 PM
J-Pop
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:38 PM
Well done, Nix. Spoil a good PA that burned a lot of pitches by looking you want to throw a tantrum over taking what was something that should've been swung at.
The Revere Express also continues to chug along.
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:38 PM
Sigh. Well, Jimmy is going to do that sometimes, I suppose.
Time for some Chase redemption.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:38 PM
Ugly. But that's what a good Buehrle breaking pitch looks like to a lefty, I guess.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:40 PM
Utley's still-gaudy numbers sort of mask the fact that he has been terrible for like the last 3 weeks.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:41 PM
I would send down Nix, Galvis, Mayberry and Brown, and tomorrow bring up Brignac, Hernandez, Henson and Thomas.
Posted by: Wayne from PA in Nebraska | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:43 PM
Chase looks rather pathetic.
Loved the torrid hot streak to start the season, but now the cold streak is twice as long.
Also, I liked it better when his cold streaks carried a .700 OPS rather than .550.
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:43 PM
Francisco helped us out by swinging at Ball 4.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:44 PM
Not that he could have gotten that one, but there was Brown jogging leisurely again. No way he knew it was going over the wall when he broke that direction.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:46 PM
I have to begrudgingly admit that Byrd is a really good defensive right fielder.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:48 PM
Insurmountable
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:49 PM
Chooch, as expected, starting to cool off.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:51 PM
Wow. That is a lot of empty seats.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:52 PM
I liked Domo's look of sheer admiration for that ball he just hit. Like it was going to land in Niagara.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:54 PM
Chooch doubled and raised his OPS last night
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:55 PM
Didn't he double twice? No, that was Byrd...
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:56 PM
This shocks me, but the Phillies' team OPS against LHP this year is somehow .748 -- compared to .671 against RHP. I'm not sure where that's coming from because it's inexplicable & totally at odds with what my eyes tell me.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:57 PM
Cliff appears to have Bautista's number tonight.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 07:59 PM
Is that something like his 4th first-pitch curveball in 4 innings? He's feeling confident.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Basically, these are the Phillies who are hitting LHP better than RHP:
Chooch: 1.206
Byrd: .992
Revere: .872
Dom: .967
Mayberry: 954 (SSS)
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:03 PM
Nothing short of a Fair Weather Blow-up Doll Night will fill the stands in these beginning lean years.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:04 PM
Yeah, Revere's reverse (small) splits are actually kind of nice, considering the odds of advancing a runner against LHP on this lineup.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:04 PM
Meyer: This game is in Toronto.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:04 PM
bap, I have been told that Mayberry can no longer hit LHP. What gives>
Posted by: awh™ | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:05 PM
Huh. Shifting for Asche already? Interesting. I wonder if that'd pay off in the long run, or if he doesn't pull as much as he might.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:06 PM
My eyes tell me Mayberry still sucks
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:07 PM
Oh. Thanks.
Posted by: Meyer | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:08 PM
It's weird to me that a LH hitter can be better against LHP than RHP, although Ichiro had similar splits. I guess their ground ball/line drive style works better on pitches that are tailing away from them, rather than running in on their hands.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:09 PM
Hm. Does appear that most of his power hits are pulled. Though he gets a fair number of singles up the middle, and a few singles and doubles to the left side.
Looks like the majority of his liners are to right also, although he hits a few to center and left. As seen here
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:09 PM
Interestingly, Asche has no "bloopers."
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:10 PM
Wow that's a nasty curveball he's got tonight.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:13 PM
Lee's curve is just ridonk tonight
Posted by: Cyclic | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:15 PM
Nice catch.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:20 PM
Remember that off-season Dom-for-Bautista rumor that everyone on Beerleaguer thought was such a terrible idea?
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:21 PM
Problem is, Bautista's likely to see plenty of DL time.
Also, his cost would have prevented them from getting AJ, guaranteed.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:22 PM
Stairs pointed out that Dom was popping his hip ahead of his swing rather than using his lower body to power the swing. Hope Dom notices that, too.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:24 PM
"Also, his cost would have prevented them from getting AJ, guaranteed."
Perhaps. I'm not saying I'd go back and do it, if it meant losing out on Burnett. I'm just saying that, in hindsight, the move doesn't seem nearly as ridiculous as it was treated at the time.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:27 PM
I don't think anybody was thinking ridiculous as far as an OPS comparison. However, considering the injury factor and the cost, it didn't strike me as an awesome idea.
On the other hand, I suppose we could have him instead of Byrd? Or was that after the Byrd signing?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:30 PM
Can Lee end the streak?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:32 PM
I think it was before, but I'm not sure. I believe I was against the idea, as well. If I recall, I said it would be a good move if we were in win-now mode, but I didn't think we had any realistic chance of winning now.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:32 PM
Dom's bringing me down.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:37 PM
Cliff Lee & Mark Buehrle are the best left-handers in baseball, according to the Jays' announcers? I believe they're forgetting, like, the game's best pitcher. I believe they're also forgetting multiple other guys who are better than Buehrle.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:37 PM
At least he busted it down the line to avoid a DP
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:38 PM
In play (outs) Your 2014 Philadelphia Phillies!
Posted by: Rally Red '67 | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:40 PM
" I have been told that Mayberry can no longer hit LHP. What gives."
Why don't you take a look at his OPS after this game. It'll probably drop 200 pts since it was only based on 15 PAs.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:40 PM
Correction. 19 PAs. 15 ABs.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:40 PM
Oh, Ben.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:44 PM
Wonder why they didn't have Lee as DH. Phil's offense isn't outdone by their bullpen. Nothing ever changes! The offense and bullpen are just as bad as last year and no changes!
Posted by: Atlanta Phil | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:44 PM
Oh brother. It's hard to keep defending this guy. The defensive gaffes just keep coming fast and furious.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:46 PM
Can't give Kratz a fastball like that.
Posted by: MG | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:47 PM
KRATZ'D!
...no, wait, that's a bad thing now. D'oh.
Posted by: Juums | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:47 PM
And a three run lead feels like 30.
Posted by: bittel | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:47 PM
Kratz beats Lee and the Phillies, for sure. Nice guy, but it stinks that we're going to drop at least 3 to the Jays.
It also stinks that our offense has only scored in 1 inning out of the past 3, is it? games.
Hm. Another hit. Maybe Lee is done.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:48 PM
And another 2-R HR. I'd say it's a done deal now. Crap.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:48 PM
I know Jake said it would never happen but you can see Cliff Lee getting old before our eyes. He's still capable of brilliance, but the bad stretches are becoming more and more frequent.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:49 PM
Hey its our other ace in our vaunted overpaid pitching staff which is actually the strength of our team. Hey good strategy rube.
Posted by: Five-4-One | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:49 PM
BAP, you are seeing the predictably ugly side of rube's pitching at al costs strategy.
Posted by: Five-4-One | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:52 PM
Ugh.
Posted by: NEPP | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:54 PM
If Hollands gets totally battered here, it might end the illusion that he is a viable major league pitcher. In which case, it would actually have served a useful purpose.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:57 PM
If Mr. Lee's woes (hits allowed come to mind) continue, he's not going to bring (name your nauseating noun here) at the deadline.
Posted by: Rally Red '67 | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 08:58 PM
Now, was Hollands in for the situational pitching, or was it just he was the one who got warm the fastest and they felt the need to yank Cliff (understandably) as fast as possible?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:00 PM
Honestly, I still don't expect Lee to end the season with an ERA over 3.50. More likely 3.30 at the worst. That may be wishful thinking on my part, but he's just too good even for most of this game. He had one bad inning after he'd shown some of his stuff a little bit too much by the 3rd/4th time through the lineup.
If he waits until the 4th to start throwing one of his pitches, he probably doesn't give up more than 2 this inning.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:03 PM
If Mike Trout hits a grand slam off Camp, is that spawn-camping?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:04 PM
Kratz is now officially a Phillie-killer, yes?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:07 PM
have the Phillies won a seriesagainst an American league team since the 2008 World Series?
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:07 PM
Hittin wedder comes early in Canada.
Posted by: Jolly Cholly Manuel | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:08 PM
BAP - A declining Lee is still better than Mike Olt + org filler
Posted by: Jake | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:08 PM
This feels like the 2013 post-ASB losing streak bottled up into one dreadful inning
Posted by: Jake | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:09 PM
Ugh, indeed. I stopped watching when Lee was about to be pulled. Glad I did as I see things only got worse.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:10 PM
Once again, the Phillies just can't compete with A.L. teams. The Angels' series has the potential to be ugly.
Posted by: Rich D | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:13 PM
"A declining Lee is still better than Mike Olt + org filler."
Wait, you're conceding the possibility of a declining Lee? That is progress. But no one was talking about trading him for Olt last year. And certainly no one was talking about trading him for organizational filler.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:14 PM
Am I correct in thinking that we care more than the players seem to?
Posted by: Marc H | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:17 PM
"Am I correct in thinking that we care more than the players seem to?"
I'll take a stab at answering that question: No.
They undoubtedly care. They just suck.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:18 PM
Even Sanberg gave up on this game! Bring up minor leaguers that want to play!
Posted by: Atlanta Phil | Wednesday, May 07, 2014 at 09:19 PM