Now Finish The Job - Thursday, June 26, 2008
192 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   It may have looked like Charlie Manuel picked last night's lineup out of a hat, but he had a definite strategy in mind. Moving Jayson Werth to the top of the lineup put a productive hitter in the one spot, who (gasp!) actually walked twice. Chase Utley in the two hole? Inspired, especially after the second baseman's four hits.

   Dropping J-Roll into the three hole may be temporary, but it showed the shortstop what will happen if he keeps swinging at the first pitch all the time. Leadoff hitters don't do that, and Rollins didn't do it last year. The flip-flop of Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard is fine, too, both to separate the team's lefthanders (2-5 now goes: left, switch, right, left) and to let Howard know it's time to start producing, or he'll lose that coveted cleanup spot. Shane Victorino had a hit and a walk in the seven spot, and all Chris Coste did at number eight was get two hits and launch a sac fly. He's a line-drive machine, as my Phillies source Deep Nose says.

   Throw in a clean, dominant performance by Kyle Kendrick, and you had a great night, not to mention a fine Mulligan by Manuel after his ham-handed handling of Tuesday's game, when he couldn't do the right thing and pull Jamie Moyer in the seventh. The win snapped a six-game losing streak and helped the Phils keep the Mets and Braves -- both of whom won -- at bay.

   Now comes the tough part. Winning one game on the road is all right. Winning two means you're on to something. The Phillies face tough Rich Harden this afternoon in Oakland and must be ready to play some big-time ball or risk dropping their fifth series in a row. Last night was a must win, if only to stop the bleeding. The Phils must prove they're capable of getting on a roll by taking their second of three against the A's. Do that, and the Wednesday moves will look like more than a desparation play. They will look like the kind of strategic leadership a manager must provide during tough times.

   But Charlie Manuel can only do so much. It's up to the players to do the rest. If Utley's four hits are an indication that he's out of the slump, great. But Howard must do better than an 0-for-5 with three Ks, and Adam Eaton, who's facing Harden on the hill, has to keep things close in case the A's ace is dealing. Wednesday was nice, but there's plenty more to do.