Once in a while someone pens a novel that’s missing a letter. Usually the writer is French, as denying oneself the use of a letter speaks to the existential void we all face on the cusp of creation. Because, as we all know, the French are either busy overturning cars in the impoverished Parisian suburbs, drinking coffee from tiny cups, surrendering, or pondering their navels. That’s it. Nothing else.
Nearly as frightening as a day without cheese is a post about the Phillies without the substitution of “ph” for every “f.” I must will myself not to do it. The need is deep, I pheel feel its pull, but I will steel my lipogrammatic spine and press —– ngh! ugh! — forward.
Like the Giants, the Phils were nearly written off for dead two weeks into the season, but they’ve rebounded. The much-derided move of starter Brett Myers to the bullpen has actually worked. We may see him try to close this weekend, as closer Tom Gordon is having his shoulder examined.
Jimmy Rollins is doing a fair Barry Bonds impression, Ryan Howard is not, but the rest of the Phillie lineup is pretty thorny, especially with Aaron Rowand playing out of his mind at the moment.
The Phils’ rotation runs from the ridiculous to the sublime, and the Giants will see them in that order: Eaton tonight, Hamels Sunday. In between it’s Jamie Moyer v. Matt Morris and Jon Lieber v. Noah Lowry.
We’ll see how long the latest lineup wrinkle lasts. Bochy has flip-flopped the hot-hitting Randy Winn and Omar Vizquel, or at least said he would starting tonight. Any time a 40–year-old starts so poorly — .221/.267/.263 — you can’t but wonder if the inevitable decline has begun. Is there an injury we don’t know about? If Vizquel is out for any length of time, the Giants infield defense would be in trouble. Aurilia as an everyday SS is a bad idea, and Kevin Frandsen would be a significant downgrade on offense and defense, at least compared to the Omar of the past two years.
With an eye on career numbers v. Adam Eaton, here is tonight’s lineup prediction:
- Roberts CF
- Winn RF
- Aurilia 3B
- Bonds LF
- Durham 2B
- Sweeney 1B
- Molina C
- Vizquel SS
- Cain P
