Gameday: Nationals (14-15) vs. Phillies (19-9)
Jason Marquis (3-0, 2.62 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (1-0, 0.00)
Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Cloudy/Windy, 50
TV: Comcast Network
Twitter: Phillies Nation
PLAYER UPDATES:
-Carlos Ruiz was set to take swings in the cage today and take part in a soft-toss, he could take part in BP tomorrow if his back holds up. Charlie Manuel thinks Chooch could be back this weekend at some point.
-The Phillies have Roy Oswalt scheduled for Saturday against the Braves after being away from the team for over a week. Oswalt will likely rejoin the team tomorrow after heading back to his hometown of Weir, Mississippi to assess the damage after tornadoes wreaked havoc once again.
-As you probably have heard, JC Romero is back in Philly. The team optioned struggling David Herndon to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Charlie Manuel said he really needs to work on his sinker, his bread and butter pitch, after it escaped him early this year. The move means Michael Stutes stays after having pitched three scoreless innings in succession.
Jason Marquis once told the media that Ryan Howard’s swing was filled with holes and that he could only hit mistake pitches. I guess Howard has proved him wrong, going 7 for 19 in his career against Marquis. Then again, Marquis has made plenty of mistakes, which is why he’s been a journeyman throughout his career.
We’re all happy Raul Ibanez is “off the schnide” and he’s again in the lineup tonight. Let’s see if that ugly 0-fer can turn into a nice, long hitting streak.
Vance Worley starts again for the Phillies, filling in for the injured Joe Blanton. Worley pitched six shutout innings on April 29. There was some chatter in the clubhouse between the beat reporters on whether or not Worley would stay if Joe Blanton comes back. That doesn’t seem possible, though, as the Phillies would like Kendrick in his current role and have Worley stay fresh as a starter in Triple-A. For now, enjoy what could be the future of the Phillies rotation.
Lineup:
Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Howard 1B, Francisco RF, Ibanez LF, Schneider C, Valdez 2B, Worley P
Gordon Biersch is a brewery in Washington, D.C. that makes a fine beverage. Winterbock is a strong, dark beer that was used by eleventh century Bavarian monks to help sustain themselves during winter fasts. These creamy bocks ensured that the monks would fast frequently. Pretty neat. But you won’t fast. You’re going to eat well tonight. Get some lamb chops and a nice, fresh salad. – by Pat
GO PHILLIES!
