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BY SCOTT LAUBER
From his spot in the corner of the Phillies' dugout, Charlie Manuel had no idea if the ball was fair or foul.
He just wanted to be sure.
So, after Greg Dobbs' blast to right field in the 11th inning last night soared over the foul pole, Manuel asked first-base umpire Jim Joyce to go to the videotape. After all, Major League Baseball institued instant replay late last season to make judgments on hard-to-call home runs, and this was the textbook definition of a hard-to-call home run.
"He said they were not going to review it," Manuel said. "He said they didn't want to review it, basically. I asked him why. I wanted it reviewed. He said, 'It's my call.' He said he saw it. He said, 'I stayed on it, Charlie. I know it was foul.' I said, 'It's not where it lands. It's where it goes out.' He said, 'I stayed on it. I've been doing this a little while, too.'"
According to the replay rules, a manager has the right to ask for a review, but the umpires don't have to grant that request if they believe they got the call right. And while Manuel remained uncertain, Shane Victorino, who was standing on first base, thought Joyce got it right.
"I thought it was way foul, to be honest," said Victorino, who added that first-base coach Davey Lopes agreed.
And, really, if the Phillies hadn't struck out 20 times and stranded 10 runners, we wouldn't be talking about Joyce's call today.
***
So, remember those Brad Penny-for-Jason Donald trade rumors?
Yeah, doesn't look like that's going to happen.
Donald, who has drawn Boston's interest, will undergo surgery Monday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Also, Penny is pitching very well for the Sox (he tossed six scoreless innings Thursday night against the Yankees), and we're hearing that John Smoltz may be willing to pitch out of the bullpen when he returns, lessening Boston's need to make a move.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
HEBRON, Ky. -- Howdy from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, where we're sitting at Gate A-4, awaiting a Delta flight home. In the morning, I'll hop an Amtrak train to the Big Apple, and at about 2 p.m., before the big Phillies-Yankees inter-league series opens, Philled In will get a mini-tour of the House That George Built. We'll be sure to jot some notes and pass along our impressions of the New Stadium.
First, though, let's recap today's 12-5 Phillies win over the Reds.
1. Jimmy Rollins went 4-for-6 and has hit safely and scored a run in nine of the last 10 games, going 15-for-44 (.341) with 11 runs. That's good news for the Phillies' offense, which functions far more consistently when J-Roll reaches base. Rollins also notched a couple of milestones: He stole his 300th base in the second inning, then picked up his 1,500th hit in the seventh. "It means I'm halfway there," Rollins said, referring to the magical 3,000-hit plateau. Asked Rollins if he thinks he can reach 3,000 hits. "If I can play until I'm 39 or 40, yeah," he said. "It's a very large number, but it shows the longevity. The guys who got 3,000 hits played 19 to 24 years back in that time. They played forever. Guys just don't last that long if you're that significant of a player today. You get old, you're automatically a role player. That's what makes it even tougher. I've got to make sure the young guys stay young, until they say, 'J-Roll, you need to go.'"
2. One player who may reach 3,000 hits: Derek Jeter. The Yankees' shortstop, who turns 35 next month, has 2,580 career hits. During our weekly live Phillies chat Wednesday, there was a spirited debate about whether you'd rather have J-Roll or Jeter as your shortstop. To me, if you're basing your argument on the entirety of their careers, you'd have to go with Jeter. If you're talking strictly about 2009, you'd probably go with J-Roll. So, you tell me: What do y'all think?
3. Deep within the notebook in today's News Journal, there's this from Joe Blanton, who cruised through four innings before giving up a five-spot in the fifth: "I'm not pitching very well with runners on base," said Blanton, who has a 7.11 ERA in eight starts. "I'll just have to go to video, see if I'm doing anything different out of the stretch. I could be tipping my pitches. I'll have to go check it out." Entering Thursday’s game, opponents were batting .338 against Blanton with runners on base, .175 with the bases empty.
4. Charlie Manuel said Matt Stairs or Greg Dobbs will DH tonight against Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett. My money is on Stairs, who is 2-for-8 with two homers in his career against Burnett, his former teammate with Toronto. Dobbs is 4-for-6 in his career against Burnett. But with lefties Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia starting Saturday and Sunday, Stairs and Dobbs will be on the bench. Manuel hasn't decided who he'll use as a DH, but it'll be a right-handed hitter. Chris Coste may be the best option, although the Phils would have to be willing to use their backup catcher as the DH. Eric Bruntlett could play first or second base, freeing up Chase Utley or Ryan Howard to DH. It's also possible -- and likely, according to assistant GM Scott Proefrock -- that the Phillies will call up a right-handed hitter from Lehigh Valley, possibly Pablo Ozuna or John Mayberry Jr. My guess is it'll be Ozuna.
6. While the Phillies were winning their series against the Reds, Ruben Amaro Jr. dropped by Reading, where 21-year-old right-hander Vance Worley was pitching. Worley allowed a pair of solo homers but struck out three and didn't walk a batter in seven innings. In eight starts overall, he's 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA, 40 strikeouts and only nine walks in 50-1/3 innings.
OK, that's all for now. Back with more tomorrow from New York.
