Monday, July 4, 2011
Posted: 5:45 p.m.
By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com
MIAMIAfter two straight years in which Charlie Manuel and his staff gave up their mid-season break so they could guide the National League All-Stars, the Phillies manager will get a short vacation this year.
Of course that means his team didn't go to the World Series the previous season, but Manuel and the gang are working on fixing it so they have no break in 2012.
In the meantime, four Phillies are headed to the midsummer classic in Phoenix next week and a fifth could join them if he pulls through in the Internet balloting.
Cole Hamels and Placido Polanco are headed to the All-Star Game for the second time, Cliff Lee is in for his third appearance and outfielder Shane Victorino has a chance to go to his second All-Star Game through the supplicant Internet voting. In 2009 Victorino campaigned his way into the game in St. Louis and ended up as the National League's starting centerfielder because of an injury to Carlos Beltran.
Indeed, sometimes it doesn't matter how you get there.
MLB
Meanwhile, Roy Halladay is headed to the All-Star Game for the eighth time of his career. Certainly there is no need to debate Halladay's worthiness to the gathering of the game's top players and finishing first in the player voting justifies it.
In fact, with Halladay likely to start Friday's game against the Braves at the Bank, it's lined up perfectly for him to start the game next Tuesday in Phoenix.
Halladay started the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis and will be on his normal rest for the 2011 game. If the pitcher were to get the ball for the All-Star Game, he will join Polanco in the starting lineup.
Not so curiously, Halladay, Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee aren't overly enthusiastic about the honor.
You're looking at a guy that's leading the league in innings pitched by a pretty good size, Dubee said. I don't know that you can deny the All-Star start. It would be an honor, but at the same time this guy is taking on a big workload again, like he always does.
No, Halladay isn't knocking the All-Star Game. Far from it. Now that he's 14 years into his big-league career and his kids are getting older and can appreciate the game and have their own favorite players, it's a pretty big deal for the pitcher.
But, with his 11-3 record with his league-leading 18 starts, six complete games and 136 13 innings pitched, a couple days off in the middle of July isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Obviously you go there to pitch and thats the main idea, but there are definitely other guys that are worthy of it, Halladay said. Whether they ask me or not I dont know. The only thing I always try to keep in mind is how is this going to affect me going forward. Obviously, starting you have to pitch longer than if you come in later. Not that its always in your control, but its just things you consider and you talk over with the staff here.
While Halladay could be in line for a starting nod, Hamels likely will not put on his spikes when he gets to Phoenix. Though he left his last start after just four innings because he was hit on his glove hand by a line drive, Hamels not only will start Tuesday against the Marlins, but will take the ball on Sunday, too, Manuel said.
With Thursday's off day factored in, Manuel can go with Halladay, Lee and Hamels on regular rest heading into the weekend. It also means Manuel can skip rookie starter Vance Worley.
In the meantime, a couple of the Phillies headed to Phoenix could really use the break. Halladay, of course, has piled up the innings, but Lee hasn't exactly been a slouch either. His four shutouts lead the league while his 129 13 innings are second in the NL behind Halladay.
Additionally, Polanco has been playing with a bad back, though it hasn't kept him out of the lineup. Before Monday's game against the Marlins, Polanco said stretching and rest can help alleviate the back pain, but he's just going to have to play through it.
That goes for the All-Star Game, too.
I think it's OK for him, Manuel said. I know it's a big honor for him. He's going to start the game and get one at-bat, maybe two and that will be OK for him.
Injury updates
Victorino hasn't been as lucky. Before Monday's game he was walking around the clubhouse with a compression sleeve on his swollen thumb that he injured in Sunday's loss in Toronto. The injury will keep Victorino out of the lineup and will keep him away from pinch-hitting duties, too.
The early reports have Victorino with a slight lead in the fan voting.
Though he's still on the disabled list with an injured hand, reliever Ryan Madson traveled with the team to Miami even though he's still about a week away from a return.
Dubee says Madson will need one really good bullpen session before he returns.
Meanwhile, injured pitcher Brad Lidge is pitching in a rehab outing for Single A Lakewood on Monday night and Joe Blanton came out of a bullpen session no worse for the wear.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @JRFingerCSN.
Related: Victorino hoping to be Phils' fifth all-starPolanco, Halladay, Hamels, Lee named All-Stars