April 7 -- LEFTY, LEFTY, LEFTY

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, a few weeks ago, I had an interesting conversation about the Phillies' offense with Joe Sheehan, one of the knowledgeable analysts for Baseball Prospectus. In the abstract, we agreed that it makes sense for Charlie Manuel to bat Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez consecutively in the middle of the lineup. But it was Joe's contention, and he feels strongly about this, that Manuel must split up the big three left-handed run-producers.

Why?

Well, look no further than the ninth inning Sunday night.

Trailing 4-1 and facing left-handed Braves closer Mike Gonzalez, the Phillies had one on, one out and their big three lefties coming to the plate. Utley walked, but Howard struck out and Ibanez grounded out.

Game over.

Point is, the Phillies may be vulnerable to being shut down by left-handed pitchers if they keep the block of lefties together in the middle of the lineup. Gonzalez would've pitched the ninth inning no matter what. But let's say the Phillies are in a similar situation in the seventh or eighth inning against the Mets. Jerry Manuel won't have to think twice about which reliever to use. The Phillies will see lefty Pedro Feliciano, and the Mets simply can leave him in the game to face Utley, Howard and Ibanez.

Typically, Utley has success against southpaws (.280 average in his career). But lefties dominate Howard (.231 average, .786 on-base/slugging percentage), and although Ibanez batted .305 with an .837 OPS against lefties last season in Seattle, that seemingly was an aberration. For his career, he's only a .268 hitter with a .733 OPS against lefties.

Asked after Sunday night's game if he might consider changing the lineup, Manuel bristled. "We've played one game, man," he said. "What would you do?"

Well, I asked Sheehan that exact question last month. His solution is simple: At the very least, he'd bat Jayson Werth in the No. 5 spot and bump Ibanez to sixth. Werth, the Phillies' top right-handed power threat, has success against lefties (.291, .920 OPS) and would give opposing managers something to think about late in a game. For instance, if the Mets use Feliciano against Utley and Howard, they'd have to decide if they want to leave him in the game to face Werth or replace him with a right-hander who most likely would then also have to face Ibanez. (It should be noted that, before the lefties came up in the ninth inning Sunday, Werth ripped an RBI single against Gonzalez.)

"Werth eviscerates lefties," Sheehan said. "He almost has to be moved to the middle of the lineup. Now, you may get a pitching change, an intentional walk. You're not necessarily giving every manager a free shot with his lefty specialist."

Manuel has hinted that he may heed Sheehan's suggestion when the Phillies face left-handed starters or teams with multiple lefties in their bullpen. But against right-handed starters and teams with only one lefty reliever, Manuel seems to like keeping Utley, Howard and Ibanez together.

So, you play manager: How would you structure the lineup?