Rollins Out Of Tonights Lineup

This is a move that should have been made over a week ago. Jimmy Rollins will not be in the lineup tonight in the series finale with the Rays. Eric Bruntlett is scheduled to play shortstop.

Rollins who has not only been a liability at the plate since the beginning of the season, he might have single-handily cost the Phils a possible comeback when he butchered a force-out at second base last night.

Shane Victorino will take over the leadoff spot tonight. In my opinion, Victorino should be the permanent leadoff hitter for this team. His on-base percentage, and obviously every other offensive category is better than Rollins this season.

Utley, Mayberry Pound Rays 10-1

Its one of the more puzzling stories of the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies, the fact that they dominate on the road, yet, can't buy a win at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies pushed their road record to 24-9 after an absolute drubbing of the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, beating them 10-1.

The Phillies offense blasted off early and often in the top of the first. Rays starter David Price surrendered six runs highlighted by a three-run homer from John Mayberry Jr. Chase Utley had a two-run double, Ryan Howard smacked an RBI double.

Charlie Manuel spoke on the importance of having Howard back in the lineup.

"It gives us a four-hole hitter who hits 48 to 60 home runs a year," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's what it gives us. I don't know where we'd go to replace him."

Utley continued his hit brigade, and in the fourth inning his Price was right when he smacked a two-run homer to right-center to make it an even 10-0.

Jamie Moyer shut down the off-balance Rays the entire game en route to his 251st victory.

Moyer allowed just one run while allowing three walks and striking out four in six innings to sure up the win.

"You're looking at Jamie, who's been around, throwing 80 mph, carving us up," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "And then you've got the young left-hander who's throwing 93to 94 [mph] and having a hard time. Baseball's a beautiful game."

"You know what you've got going into the game (against Moyer)," Rays third basemen Evan Longoria said. "He throws it just a little bit below hitting speed, and that's just something you have to plan for. I think he was pretty much vintage Jamie Moyer tonight. He made the pitches when he needed to. And he just kept us off-balance."

Last night was the clubs first win since June 14, and today is a whole new day. The Phils have to do the same thing and hope their pitching does the job.

Joe Blanton will square off against Matt Garza tonight at the Trop.

Howard, All-Star Update, Condrey To DL

I'll start this in order of the title. Ryan Howard was released from the hospital after being diagnosed with acute sinusitis, according to GM Ruben Amaro in a statement.

“His fever is gone and he will rest at home today. If he feels better, Ryan will travel tomorrow to Tampa Bay to rejoin the team," Amaro said.

The team is also hopeful that Howard will be in the lineup tomorrow in Tampa Bay to start the three game set with the Rays.

Howard will most likely fly with the team, but, I doubt he'll be in the lineup tomorrow. Wednesday is more of a possibility.

In the latest All-Star voting results; Raul Ibanez and Chase Utley still lead the voting in their respected positions. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins is now trailing Florida's Hanley Ramirez by over 154,000 votes. Rollins was the leader for the past two weeks.

Shane Victorino is fifth in outfield numbers with over 1.3 million votes.

It was announced today by the Phillies that reliever Clay Condrey has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained-left oblique.

Condrey is 4-2 with a 3.71 ERA. He is 0-1 with a 162.00 ERA (six earned runs in 1/3 inning) in his last two appearances. Left-hander Sergio Escalona is the most likely scenario to be called up.

Griffey's Pinch-Hit Heroics Electrify M's

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu told the media that he thought Ken Griffey Jr. was starting to get his groove back. Last night was the perfect indication that he was right.

Ken Griffey Jr. slammed a pinch-hit home run in the eighth to tie the game at three. It was a classic shot by Junior that sent the Safeco crowd into a frenzy. He hit it seven-rows deep over the right-centerfield wall on the first pitch off D'Back reliever Tony Pena.

The blast propelled his teammates as Chris Woodward came up next and ripped a single, and scored on catcher Rob Johnson's triple. The M's took the lead and defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3.

Russell Branyan also clubbed his 16th dinger of the season to open up the eight inning.

After the game all the Mariners players could talk about was Junior's memorable blast.

"That was unbelievable," catcher Rob Johnson said. "The fans were going crazy when Branyan hit the home run, but when Junior stepped into the box it was as loud as I have heard it here, and the place wasn't even packed. I can't think of a better situation for something like that to happen.

"There wouldn't be this stadium if not for him. The people in this city love him and the players on this team love him. For something like that to happen is special."

After Griffey hit his seventh homer of the season, he got to the dugout and took his first curtain call of the season.

"I was just looking for a pitch I could hit," Griffey said of his 618th career home run and sixth in a pinch-hit role. "I was not trying to do too much, get a pitch I could hit and hopefully hit it. I wasn't trying to hit a home run."

"The only thing I was thinking about (going around the bases) is don't fall and embarrass yourself," Griffey said.

Griffey dropped his bat, and went into his historic home-run trot down the first base line.

"He jumped on that ball and it looked like he was 18," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "It was beautiful."

It was Juniors first pinch-hit home run since September of 2006.

A scary moment for the Mariners occurred in the fifth inning. Left fielder Endy Chavez injured his right knee in a collision with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.

Chavez had to be taken off the field on a cart. He will have an MRI exam on the knee on Saturday.

M's starter Jarrod Washburn pitched pretty well going seven innings, and giving up just three hits in a no-decision. Problem is, Washburn has not won a game since April 21. That's 12 starts.

It was a special night for the 27,319 that paid to see a win. What they got was a win and some extra magic.

Their prodigal son Ken Griffey Jr. electrifying them in the house that he built.

Orioles Down Phils 7-2, Time to Vent

This isn't going to be a game recap because I wasn't there tonight. This is going to be a venting period.

Im tired of watching this team go through the motions every other game. I get the feeling that this team, the defending world champions of baseball, are showing up at the ballpark in Philadelphia expecting the other team to just lay down. I've seen it before.

I play the game, and have for over 15 years, I can tell when a team just expects to win and not work hard at doing it.

What happened to our fans? The most passionate, hard working, victory-craving lunatics, who show up and sell-out a ballpark every night to watch their Phillies play competitive baseball and want to win? Where are you right now?

I'll tell you where your at; your in a corner somewhere drinking red kool-aid, because you don't want to face the fact that this team, our beloved Phillies team is in trouble.

75...

75 strikeouts on this current homestand. DISGUSTING. Utterly disgraceful. This team cannot hit in important situation as a whole, the pitching is beyond brutal. The rotation might be the worst in baseball right now. The bullpen, although tired, stink. I expected much more out of this rotation and pen as a whole and have gotten squatta.

This lineup is striking-out at an alarming rate, a rate that might break records. They have to remember the basics. See the ball, look for contact. Your gonna hit home runs boys, firstly though, you have make sure the bat touches the ball.

Where is our GM? Our GM who everyday, and has said this in front of my face into my recorder and said that he is always on the phone, always talking to teams, and always looking for the best deal.

Obviously your not looking hard enough. Roy Oswalt, Washburn, Jason Marquis, and even Brad Penny are just waiting to hear their name called into the office, to tell them they have just been traded.

Do something about it. YOU owe us, the fans of the Philadelphia Phillies answers.

Ibanez Hits The DL With Groin Strain

The Phillies announced this morning that their star outfielder Raul Ibanez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin.

Ibanez was a leader in All-Star votes and the game is scheduled for July 14.

Phillies have called up John Mayberry Jr. from Triple-A to take his place.

Ibanez is hitting .312 with 22 homers and 59 RBIs. He is second in the National League in both home runs and RBIs.

Manager Charlie Manuel noticed the issue last night.

"It looked like tonight when he hit that ball to shortstop he couldn't turn it on," Manuel said. "He kind of gimped. I saw that. It looked like it might have been bothering him."

This probably explains Ibanez's recent slump in which he hit .194 (6-for-31) in his past seven games.

This could be the worst possible time for Ibanez to hit the DL. The team is about to be swept at home by the Toronto Blue Jays, and the rotation is a mess. The Phils better start ringing the alarms now and pray Mayberry can produce effectively

Flyers' Holmgren Talks Draft, Roster Moves

Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren met with the media this afternoon to touch on a number of topics.

One of the main topics, of course, was what the team has planned heading into free agency. The draft was a hot topic, along with the continuing contract talk with free-agent goalies Marty Biron and Antero Niittymaki.

On Free Agency:

“It’s something we’ve talked about with some teams," Holmgren said of trading the pick to move up.

"It gets down to price, and if there’s something that there’s a fit there. But, we have talked about that with other teams. We’ve also talked about moving back and getting into a different group of players where maybe we might have access to more than one.

Although players weren't mentioned, it looked clear to me that the Flyers are going to be very active in the NHL's shopping season come draft time.

Marty Biron:


“Well, I know he’s changing agents, so I don’t even know who to talk to right now, but we’ve tried a bunch of different things and I don’t know what the number is and what the term is. We’re still going to talk, but obviously the window is closing.”

Doesn't sound too promising. So long Marty, you were a good guy, and good luck with your future endeavors.

Homer had a simpler answer regarding Niittymaki's situation and if he's still in the picture. Simply stating 'yes'.

The good news that really came out of this press conference was when Holmgren said that the Flyers are upwards of four million under the cap.

The club is looking to try and sign Mike Knuble before July 1. The same goes for defensemen Andrew Alberts. Hopefully, the second name decides to move on.

On the Draft:

“Our stance is probably pick the best available player. Our first pick is the 21st. There’s actually guys at each position there that we have in that group.

“I think it’s a lot like last year. I think it’s a good draft. We believe certainly with our first pick we’ll get a good prospect. I don’t think it will be a guy that…well, I shouldn’t say that, last year we never thought we’d get a guy (Sbisa) who would be able to step on to our team in training camp.

Holmgren closed out the conference stating that he doesn't think this team is too far away from being in the same place the Pittsburgh Penguins were just at. That's accepting Lord Stanley's Cup.