Charlie Manuel Shakes Up the Lineup, Part 14

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The Phillies were shut out for
the third time in eight games on Tuesday night, resulting in a post-game
appearance by Cranky Charlie Manuel.
Cholly knows it’s going to take more than
tough talk to right the ship though, so it’s back to tinkering with the lineup
card.

The big change this time
around
is Chase Utley moves up to second in the order, where he
has not hit since 2011, nor with any kind of regularity since ’08-’09. The idea
is to get the second baseman more plate appearances, as he’s been the club’s biggest threat
at the plate in the early stages of this season.

For what it’s worth, Utley has
better lifetime numbers batting from the two hole than in any other slot. His
batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS are all about .030 points higher
than his marks at customary number three, although again he hasn’t played there
regularly since his prime.

Here's the rest of the lineup:

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1) Jimmy Rollins, SS

2) Chase Utley, 2B

3) Michael Young,
3B

4) Ryan Howard, 1B

5) John Mayberry, LF

6) Domonic Brown, RF

7) Ben Revere, CF

8) Humberto Quintero, C

9) Roy Halladay, P

Utley should have the
opportunity to do some damage from up there, as Jimmy Rollins has had some
success against Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez. J-Roll is posting a .400
on-base percentage in 15 career plate appearances against the lefty.

The two of them together could
set the table nicely for Michael Young and Ryan Howard as well, who both hurt
Rodriguez in the past as well. Young is batting .333 with a .429 on-base
percentage against Rodriguez, while the Piece is 4-for-12 with one home run and
four RBI.

The longtime Houston Astro is
off to a very good start his second year with Pittsburgh however. Wandy is 2-0 in three appearances
with a 0.56 ERA, and while he won’t necessarily blow guys away, he has
surrendered just one walk compared to 11 strikeouts. He’ll make the Phillies earn it tonight.

As for the home team, they’ll
send Roy Halladay to the mound coming off of his second-consecutive solid
start, a seven-inning complete-game victory over the Cardinals last week. Doc will look to use
that momentum to help put the Fightins in position for a much-needed series win over a
competitive Pittsburgh team.

That is assuming, of course, Charlie
Manuel can manage to squeeze at least one run out of this lineup.

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