GaryMrMets
06-01-2004, 03:06 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8802640.htm
Posted on Mon, May. 31, 2004
Phillies Notes | Rollins' injured ankle interrupts leadoff plan
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins learned Saturday that Larry Bowa wanted him to bat leadoff yesterday.
"Oh, yeah," Rollins said.
Oh, no.
Rollins was a late scratch after his right ankle started to bother him. Rollins suffered a bruise on his right ankle Saturday - What? Another Phillies injury? - when he fouled a ball off it. Rollins went through his regular pregame routine yesterday, but it got worse.
"I can walk," he said.
That's good. Rollins said he hopes to play today, or tomorrow at the latest. Tomas Perez took his place and hit eighth.
That's where centerfielder Marlon Byrd was supposed to hit, but he moved back to the top spot with Rollins out. Byrd is hitting .225 with two home runs and 15 RBIs this season, but he has just two hits in his last 27 at-bats.
"We haven't had too much success up there," Bowa said of the leadoff spot. "I'm just trying to find somebody to get on base consistently."
Rightfielder Bobby Abreu gets on base.
"Yeah, but he's also probably our best hitter," Bowa said.
Byrd started slowly last year, too. He was hitting .193 at this time last year, but hit .364 in June and ended the season at .303.
Hancock joins rotation. Righthander Josh Hancock (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will replace Vicente Padilla in the rotation while Padilla is on the 15-day disabled list with right biceps tendinitis. The Phillies will make room for Hancock on the 25-man roster before Thursday's start in Atlanta.
The Phillies expect Hancock to make two starts before Padilla returns.
"He pitched well in the spot start" for Randy Wolf on May 22, Phillies GM Ed Wade said. "He's done a good job."
The Phillies had options other than Hancock. They talked about righthanders Ryan Madson and Amaury Telemaco, but Wade said they have been too valuable in the bullpen and their arms aren't stretched out so they wouldn't be able to pitch many innings. Hancock, who pitched Saturday, will start on his normal day.
On the mend. Second baseman Placido Polanco, on the DL since May 8 with a strained left quadriceps, could begin his rehab assignment later this week in Scranton... . Righthander Brian Powell, on the DL since May 16 with a neck strain, begins his rehab today in Scranton.
Extra bases. Braves outfielder Chipper Jones is sore, and it's not the just the bruise above his left knee. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he's ticked that Wolf hit him with a pitch in the first inning Friday, which forced him to sit until he pinch-hit in the seventh inning yesterday. "The pitch raised a lot of eyebrows in the clubhouse and didn't go unnoticed," Jones said. "It was his reaction, too. Usually when a pitch gets away from a guy, he reacts like, 'Ahh.' He was pretty much stone-faced." Wolf said he was just trying to jam Jones inside... . Righthander Brett Myers (3-2, 4.31) faces New York Mets righthander Matt Ginter (1-0, 3.24) today in the first game of a three-game series. Righthander Kevin Millwood (4-3, 4.90) faces lefthander Al Leiter (1-2, 2.52) tomorrow night and Wolf (2-3, 2.98) faces lefthander Tom Glavine (6-3, 2.17) Wednesday night.
Posted on Mon, May. 31, 2004
Phillies Notes | Rollins' injured ankle interrupts leadoff plan
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins learned Saturday that Larry Bowa wanted him to bat leadoff yesterday.
"Oh, yeah," Rollins said.
Oh, no.
Rollins was a late scratch after his right ankle started to bother him. Rollins suffered a bruise on his right ankle Saturday - What? Another Phillies injury? - when he fouled a ball off it. Rollins went through his regular pregame routine yesterday, but it got worse.
"I can walk," he said.
That's good. Rollins said he hopes to play today, or tomorrow at the latest. Tomas Perez took his place and hit eighth.
That's where centerfielder Marlon Byrd was supposed to hit, but he moved back to the top spot with Rollins out. Byrd is hitting .225 with two home runs and 15 RBIs this season, but he has just two hits in his last 27 at-bats.
"We haven't had too much success up there," Bowa said of the leadoff spot. "I'm just trying to find somebody to get on base consistently."
Rightfielder Bobby Abreu gets on base.
"Yeah, but he's also probably our best hitter," Bowa said.
Byrd started slowly last year, too. He was hitting .193 at this time last year, but hit .364 in June and ended the season at .303.
Hancock joins rotation. Righthander Josh Hancock (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will replace Vicente Padilla in the rotation while Padilla is on the 15-day disabled list with right biceps tendinitis. The Phillies will make room for Hancock on the 25-man roster before Thursday's start in Atlanta.
The Phillies expect Hancock to make two starts before Padilla returns.
"He pitched well in the spot start" for Randy Wolf on May 22, Phillies GM Ed Wade said. "He's done a good job."
The Phillies had options other than Hancock. They talked about righthanders Ryan Madson and Amaury Telemaco, but Wade said they have been too valuable in the bullpen and their arms aren't stretched out so they wouldn't be able to pitch many innings. Hancock, who pitched Saturday, will start on his normal day.
On the mend. Second baseman Placido Polanco, on the DL since May 8 with a strained left quadriceps, could begin his rehab assignment later this week in Scranton... . Righthander Brian Powell, on the DL since May 16 with a neck strain, begins his rehab today in Scranton.
Extra bases. Braves outfielder Chipper Jones is sore, and it's not the just the bruise above his left knee. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he's ticked that Wolf hit him with a pitch in the first inning Friday, which forced him to sit until he pinch-hit in the seventh inning yesterday. "The pitch raised a lot of eyebrows in the clubhouse and didn't go unnoticed," Jones said. "It was his reaction, too. Usually when a pitch gets away from a guy, he reacts like, 'Ahh.' He was pretty much stone-faced." Wolf said he was just trying to jam Jones inside... . Righthander Brett Myers (3-2, 4.31) faces New York Mets righthander Matt Ginter (1-0, 3.24) today in the first game of a three-game series. Righthander Kevin Millwood (4-3, 4.90) faces lefthander Al Leiter (1-2, 2.52) tomorrow night and Wolf (2-3, 2.98) faces lefthander Tom Glavine (6-3, 2.17) Wednesday night.