Placido Polanco is back in his rightful spot in the number two slot of the Phillies order. He had been dealing with back issues during the early part of the week, but felt better yesterday. He was able to take BP and fielding practice, so it’s a go for Polly today. Here is the early Phillies order.
Phillies lineup: Victorino 8, Polanco 5, Utley 4, Howard 3, Werth 9, Rollins 6, Ibanez 7, Ruiz 2, Oswalt 1.
UPDATE, 4:00 pm — Pregame Quotes:
-Charlie Manuel on Jimmy Rollins being able to run: “I think it’s a day-to-day thing. I think it’s a confidence thing…I think that once something happens in the game where he gets confident, once he tests it, I feel like that will tell him…something about how good a shape he’s in and how good his leg feels.”
Manuel on Polanco in the lineup: “He’s feeling very good. He said he feels a lot better. I took it that he’s going to play the game just like he always has.”
Dusty Baker on facing Roy Oswalt tonight: “I think that’s the most important thing here. Get on the board with a win…A chance to go home 1-1 and maybe celebrate at home.”
Baker on the crowd being involved: “…I mean, the crowd means a lot. The noise level, you can feel the energy and the spirit of the crowd energizing your team. So, the crowd means a lot. These guys perform better and play well in a big crowd.”
-More Halladay Fun Facts:
- The matchup between Roy Halladay and Edinson Volquez ws the fourth in major-league postseason history between a starting pitcher who won more than 20 games that season against a starting pitcher who won fewer than five games. The last time was the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks Curt Schilling (22-6) and the Yankees Orlando Hernandez (4-7). In each of the previous four games, the team with the starting pitcher with fewer wins won the game.
- Halladay agreed to donate his No. 34 jersey to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
