Philadelphia Phillies shuffle players in the line-up as Hunter Pence is placed at number three-MLB
In an attempt to get the best out of existing hitters, the Philadelphia Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel is making due adjustments in the line-up. As their offence slumps, few experiments are underway.
Few weeks ago, Jimmy Rollins was thrust the leadoff spot. As the move paid off, Hunter Pence has now been switched to third place in batting order and similar results are expected.
The strategy has been such that whenever the manager finds players down in line-up connecting well, they are brought up the order. Over the last week, Pence struck a number of home-runs and lifted the charge for the Phillies late in the innings.
Wanting to embrace fruits of his momentum to the maximum, the manager fancies a greater role by sending him earlier in the innings.
“I think he kind of asks too much of himself sometimes instead of relaxing and just playing the way where everything he’s got comes out,” Manuel said. “I think you might see that, when we get our guys back (Utley and Howard) he might take off and really
get good.”
Carlos Ruiz will assume Pence’s spot as clean-up hitter now. Expecting that he can capitalise on pitchers’ fatigue after four to five innings better, the manager is looking to give his expertise an ideal position to materialise.
Pence trivialises the move and shows indifference to the calls for changing his approach in new role. What matters the most is how well one reads the situation and lets one’s skills respond to it in a most appropriate manner, he maintained.
“The scoreboard, the outs, where runners are, the pitcher, the bullpen pitcher, who’s behind you. There are a lot of factors, but then you just simplify it into trying to do whatever the game needs of you at the moment,” Pence explained.
The Phillies’ offence is the greatest reason behind their unimpressive position on National League East Division table at the moment.
Until Chase Utley and Ryan Howard remain out of the season, existing hitters will be looking to bring their best into play and keep the Phillies on the surface. How far they can be successful will determine the Phillies' course ahead in the season.
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