Phillies await news on injured Romero, Ruiz
ATLANTA - Charlie Manuel is usually optimistic about these things. So after expressing hope that both lefthander J.C. Romero and catcher Carlos Ruiz would be ready to play in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the Phillies manager shrugged when asked of his back-up plan.
ATLANTA - Charlie Manuel is usually optimistic about these things. So after expressing hope that both lefthander J.C. Romero and catcher Carlos Ruiz would be ready to play in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the Phillies manager shrugged when asked of his back-up plan.
"I guess the same play we've been using all season," said Manuel, who just finished a regular season in which stars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco all missed significant stretches of time.
Much more will be known about the fates of Romero and Ruiz over the next couple of days. Romero left yesterday's 8-7 loss to the Braves with stiffness in his lower back. Ruiz left after being hit on the elbow by a pitch in the third inning.
Romero said he expects to be ready for Game 1, adding that the stiffness in his back was caused by irritation to his sciatic nerve, which sent a jolt of pain running through his leg when he dropped down to deliver his sinker.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Romero said when asked if he expected to be healthy enough to pitch in the NLDS starting Wednesday vs. the Reds at Citizens Bank Park. "It's just being smart. I don't want my sciatic nerve to get bad. Just go home and just do the exercises that I'm determined to do and I'll be fine."
Ruiz also expressed optimism that he would be ready. He was in obvious pain after taking a Tim Hudson pitch to his left elbow. He remained in the game after being examined by athletic trainer Mark Andersen and ultimately scored on a two-run homer by John Mayberry Jr. that gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
The Phillies said X-rays were negative but Ruiz will be evaluated today by team medical staff.
"The X-ray was fine," Ruiz said. "I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow in Philly and hope everything is OK."
Losing either player would be a significant blow. Ruiz finished the season with a career-high .302 batting average, making him just the second regular Phillies catcher since 1954 to finish the season at or above the .300 mark (minimum 400 plate appearances). The only catcher to do it is Mike Lieberthal, who hit .313 in 2003 and .300 in 1999. In 1954, Smokey Burgess hit .368 in 392 plate appearances.
Romero, meanwhile, is the Phillies' only veteran lefty reliever. If he were to miss the series, the job of facing vaunted Reds lefties Joey Votto and Jay Bruce would fall primarily to rookie Antonio Bastardo, who pitched well against the Braves but has had an up-and-down season and faced just two batters in last year's postseason.
Rollins ready
Charlie Manuel said he has not decided where he will hit Jimmy Rollins in his postseason batting order, but the manager did say that he expects the shortstop to be in the lineup.
Rollins has played in six games since returning from a hamstring strain that sidelined him for 14 games, going 4-for-19 with a double and a grand slam. He has not attempted a stolen base since the injury, which occurred on Sept. 8.
Rollins had a frustrating regular season, playing in a career-low 88 games thanks to two calf strains, a bruised foot and the hamstring strain. When he was healthy, he struggled to find his rhythm at the plate, finishing with a career-low .243 average. In the four games leading up to his hamstring strain, Rollins found himself hitting in the bottom half of the order while Shane Victorino thrived in the leadoff spot.
"I'll figure that out when I want to," Manuel said. "I don't really see him trying to steal a lot of bases, but at the same time, I'll wait on that."
Phillers
The Phillies have yet to announce their NLDS roster, but Vance Worley will not be a member despite throwing five scoreless innings against the Braves on Saturday. Worley will head to the instructional league in Clearwater, Fla., to stay sharp in case he is needed to make an emergency start . . . John Mayberry Jr. won't be with the team this postseason; he is headed to the Arizona Fall League . . . The Phils' eight Opening Day starters started together yesterday for just the 15th time this season. Jayson Werth went 1-for-3 and hit his 27th home run, Chase Utley had a 29-game on-base streak snapped.
