Sunday, July 13, 2008

July 13 -- YOUR BASIC LINEUP

Buddy Hurlock reporting from Citizens Bank Park today. The Phillies do not have any wrinkles in today's starting lineup. They're going with SS Jimmy Rollins (.270/6/30), CF Shane Victorino (.279/5/29), 2B Chase Utley (.292/25/69), 1B Ryan Howard (.233/28/84), LF Pat Burrell (.275/22/54), RF Geoff Jenkins (.240/7/24), 3B Pedro Feliz (.263/11/44), C Chris Coste (.278/7/21), LHP Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.18 ERA).

They'll face Brandon Webb, who's 13-4 with a 3.27 ERA. He was winner in the Diamondbacks' 8-3 win against the Phils in Arizona on May 8.

UPDATE

LHP R.J. Swindle was sent back to Class AAA Lehigh Valley today, with RHP Joe Bisenius recalled. The IronPigs were in Syracuse, N.Y., last night, with Bisenius staying there last night before flying in this morning.

Additionally, pitching coach Rich Dubee said today that Jamie Moyer will start in Florida on Friday, the Phillies' first game following the All-Star Break. Kyle Kendrick will start Saturday, with no starter officially slated for Sunday, though Dubee gave a strong indication that it will be Hamels. Beyond that, Dubee said nothing else is decided (such as, if Adam Eaton's time in the rotation is done, if J.A. Happ will be recalled, or when Brett Myers will next pitch for the Phillies).

The second batter of the game, Arizona left fielder Conor Jackson, popped up foul and Howard had it in his glove before bobbling it. He was charged with an error. Hamels went on strike out Jackson, and when second baseman Orlando Hudson flew out to right to end the inning, the question in the press box was this: Can Hamels (at this point) still pitch a perfect game?

There's no consensus. Some say yes, because Jackson did not reach base. Some say no, because the idea of game being perfect means that the pitcher's team made no errors whatsoever. Maybe we won't have to worry about it. But maybe we will. (In the top of the second, Arizona's Chad Tracy makes this point moot when he sends a one-out no-doubt homer to right field)

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