Morning Report: Time for Manuel to shake ’em up

It's not time for Charlie Manuel to throw a hissy fit, no matter how many fans are dying for the manager to throw furniture around in the clubhouse.

It is time for Charlie to shake up the lineup for a Phillies team that is dying at the plate, on the bases and on the scoreboard.

Players usually describe a show of managerial temper as "weak," and laugh it off. They then go back to striking out, leaving runners on base, and losing 2-1 games in which the ace of the staff strikes out 10 and doesn't walk a batter.

They can't laugh off a new lineup, one that reflects the realities of a team that got swept at home by last-place Baltimore. That team had no Raul Ibanez, one glorious at-bat by Ryan Howard and virtually nothing from either Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins.

Only a solo home run by backup Greg Dobbs let the Phillies avoid being shut out on Sunday when Cole Hamels gave them their best shot at a second win on the 1-8 homestand.

So here's what Charlie should do tonight when the team enters Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field for what undoubtedly will be a bitterly contested "revenge" series for the Rays:

1. Face the fact that Rollins is not in a slump - the 2007 MVP is having a bad season.

2. Use the only consistent hitter in the lineup right now - Pedro Feliz - in an RBI spot.

3. Try this lineup against Rays lefthander Daniel Price:

1. Jayson Werth, RF

2. Shane Victorino, CF

3. Chase Utley, 2B

4. Ryan Howard, 1B

5. Pedro Feliz, 3B

6. John Mayberry, LF

7. Carlos Ruiz, C

8. Jimmy Rollins, SS

9. Jamie Moyer, P

When a righthander pitches, put Matt Stairs in right, batting sixth, and move Werth to left.

Right now, the Phillies are about where they were from 2001 through 2007 - a pretty good team with no closer and a tendency to leave too many runners on base.

The closer part will be solved when (if?) Brad Lidge's knee comes around.

The LOB part needs to be solved right now.