Exit Jimmy Rollins; enter Placido Polanco.
Even more importantly for Phillies fans, enter Cliff Lee, who took the mound last night just a few hours after the Phils did their latest injury list shuffle.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins went on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain. He likely will not play again until after Labor Day.
Raul Ibanez also was out of the lineup last night. He also apparently aggravated a groin.
But there was a familiar face back at third base, with Placido Polanco coming off the DL in time for last night’s game.
Couple the latest injury news with a shaky weekend in D.C. and word that the red-hot Atlanta Braves were now just six and a half games behind the Phils, and some people might start having flashbacks of 1964.
Forget it. Here’s why.
The Phillies simply are not going to go into any prolonged tailspin.
Why do I say that? Easy. Because every four or five days, they are going to trot someone named Cliff Lee out to the mound. Or Roy Halladay. Or Cole Hamels. Or Roy Oswalt.
Last night it was Lee’s turn, and he toyed with the Mets while the Phils won a laugher, 10-0.
Lee allowed only three hits and struck out seven while going seven strong innings.
He was backed up by homers from John Mayberry Jr., who is making a serious push for more playing time, and newcomer Hunter Pence.
And, of course, a Mets team that is just a mess. New York starter Dillon Lee was approaching 90 pitches before the fourth inning. It was that kind of night.
But it was really a night that belonged to Lee, and the way he goes about his business.
After the game, Lee did not want to talk about his seven strikeouts, which padded his career high that is quickly approaching 200. He didn’t want to talk about his 4-0record or 0.58 ERA in August, similar to the gaudy numbers he put up in June.
He wanted to talk about the three guys he walked.
He’s that kind of pitching perfectionist.
And a big part of the reason why you can forget about any kind of collapse by this edition of the Phillies.
Even more importantly for Phillies fans, enter Cliff Lee, who took the mound last night just a few hours after the Phils did their latest injury list shuffle.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins went on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain. He likely will not play again until after Labor Day.
Raul Ibanez also was out of the lineup last night. He also apparently aggravated a groin.
But there was a familiar face back at third base, with Placido Polanco coming off the DL in time for last night’s game.
Couple the latest injury news with a shaky weekend in D.C. and word that the red-hot Atlanta Braves were now just six and a half games behind the Phils, and some people might start having flashbacks of 1964.
Forget it. Here’s why.
The Phillies simply are not going to go into any prolonged tailspin.
Why do I say that? Easy. Because every four or five days, they are going to trot someone named Cliff Lee out to the mound. Or Roy Halladay. Or Cole Hamels. Or Roy Oswalt.
Last night it was Lee’s turn, and he toyed with the Mets while the Phils won a laugher, 10-0.
Lee allowed only three hits and struck out seven while going seven strong innings.
He was backed up by homers from John Mayberry Jr., who is making a serious push for more playing time, and newcomer Hunter Pence.
And, of course, a Mets team that is just a mess. New York starter Dillon Lee was approaching 90 pitches before the fourth inning. It was that kind of night.
But it was really a night that belonged to Lee, and the way he goes about his business.
After the game, Lee did not want to talk about his seven strikeouts, which padded his career high that is quickly approaching 200. He didn’t want to talk about his 4-0record or 0.58 ERA in August, similar to the gaudy numbers he put up in June.
He wanted to talk about the three guys he walked.
He’s that kind of pitching perfectionist.
And a big part of the reason why you can forget about any kind of collapse by this edition of the Phillies.
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