I haven’t thought much about the line-up for the Phillies this season. I figured that Werth would bat 5th to break up the lefties, and Ibanez would hit 6th.
But with the team struggling offensively in spring training, it appears Charlie Manuel is already exploring other options. Here is the line-up he put out there today against the Astros…
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Jayson Werth, RF
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- Raul Ibanez, LF
- Shane Victorino, CF
- Eric Bruntlett, 3B
- Carlos Ruiz, C
Utley moves up from 3rd to 2nd, Werth gets a big bump from 5th to 3rd, Ibanez is moved from 6th to 5th and Victorino drops from a secondary lead-off man to a run producing role.
Any thoughts on how you guys think Manuel should have his line-up come opening day?
I don’t mind that lineup. Victorino was very effective out of the 6th spot during the playoffs. When will the debate about Rollins moving out of the leadoff spot creep up this season? Is Victorino a capable leadoff man?
Victorino actually draws less walks than Rollins (45 vs. 58 in similar ABs last year). Neither is an ideal lead-off man.
I hoping Lou Marson continues his progress and can be put into the 2nd spot next year or soon after. He has a very high OBP and a good, not powerful bat, that would be good for getting runners from 1st to 2nd and all that stuff a 2nd hitter should do.
I’m glad to see Manuel starting to tinker with the lineup. I wouldn’t be able to continue putting guys in the same slots day after day if we were struggling to score runs. I also wouldn’t be able to deal with guys who prefer to hit or are only comfortable hitting in a certain spot in the lineup when they are not producing from that spot. If the lineup isn’t scoring runs, then I’m going to try to find the right combination.
I really wish that Werth could get the job done out of the leadoff slot. Then we could have Werth-Utley-Rollins-Howard-Ibanez-Victorino (5 & 6 flipped against lefties if needed)-Feliz-Ruiz.
Well, this lineup went bananas today and pounded the Astros 13-3. Could it be this lineup? Could it be Manuel’s comments after yesterday? Could it be that the Astros have been ridiculously awful this spring? Don’t know, but I’ll take it as a good sign regardless.