By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
Desperate times call for desperate measures. As cliched as that expression is, it fits what’s happening inside the offices at Citizens Bank Park and the visiting locker room in St. Louis right now.
The Phillies, fresh off losing three of four to the crappy Cubs at Wrigley and then the opening two games in St. Louis on Monday and Tuesday have shuffled the deck the last two days with more moves on the way.
Let’s recap.
On Tuesday Kyle Kendrick gave up seven runs in five innings , including five in the fifth frame alone, was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley and Andrew Carpenter was called up to serve as a long relief man.
On Tuesday night, Jamie Moyer hurt his arm and was placed on the DL. Carpenter, in his first outing, relieved Moyer and promptly gave up three runs in three innings. He was shipped back to Lehigh valley on Wednesday and 22-year-old Vance Worley was called up from Double A Reading to take his place.
Also, JA Happ was finally called up from the IronPigs to reclaim his starting spot. However, he may not even be here long enough to make that start as rumors have him involved in a deal to land Astros ace Roy Oswalt.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, skipper Charlie Manuel has seen enough of his runless producing sack of 2010 underachievers and overreachers that he’s made major lineup changes for Wednesday’s game.
Ben Francisco is slated to bat Third on Wednesday in St. Louis. That is not a misprint.
In fact, it looks nothing like it has at any point this year.
Here it is:
Polanco 3B
Victorino CF
Francisco LF
Howard 1B
Werth RF
Rollins SS
Ransom 2B
Ruiz C
Pitcher
Have things really gotten so bad that little-used-until-recently Ben Francisco — the “other” guy in the Cliff Lee deal — is taking over for Ibanez and hitting third. THIRD! Really?
Oh, and the spark plug that’s missing a few electric bolts, JRoll, is moved down to sixth?
Seriously, this is where the Phillies find themselves as they are on the verge of falling out of the postseason mix completely.
Times are desperate and the Phillies are making moves daily to try to find a fix. At least they’re trying, but is there really a cure at this point?
