Charlie Manuel has handed in his Game 2 line-up and there are a couple things of note. Here’s the line-up:
1. Victorino
2. Polanco
3. Utley
4. Howard
5. Werth
6. Rollins
7. Ibanez
8. Ruiz
9. Oswalt
-Polanco’s back is obviously feeling better, as he’s back in his customary 2-spot. Good news.
-I love leaving Victorino in the lead-off spot. He’s now the Phillies all-time leader in post-season hits (35) and J-Roll isn’t running at 100%.
-Which brings me to the thing I don’t understand about this line-up: why is Rollins hitting ahead of Ibanez? Ibanez has been one the Phils’ hottest hitters, and Rollins has barely played over the last month. When Rollins has played this year, he’s been mostly ineffective. The Inquirer’s Matt Gelb pointed out that Rollins is 4 for 12 with a homer off Arroyo in his career, but is that really enough to bump him ahead of Ibanez? The only theory I can think of is that Charlie wants to get Ibanez a bit further away from the other two lefties, but isn’t the presence of Jayson Werth between Howard and Ibanez enough to take care of that? I don’t really get it. I trust in Charlie, and this isn’t a huge deal or anything, but it seems like a mistake.
Couldn’t agree more, Doogan. Werth should be enough of a detriment to LH relievers staying for Howard and Ibanez. It would make a little more sense if Arroyo was a lefty, with the thought that maybe Rollins is just a better matchup all game, but Ibanez hits left-handers extremely well, and Arroyo struggles mightily with power-hitting lefties.
Like you said, a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but still puzzling.