Phillies Notes: Manuel downplays struggles by Rollins

ST. LOUIS - More than once, Charlie Manuel has said it's still like spring training for Jimmy Rollins. Since the Phillies shortstop returned from the disabled list for the second time June 22, he has had 105-at-bats.

So, when won't it be spring training anymore?

"Jimmy, once he finds his swing, that's when he gets consistent," Manuel said. "Right now he's having a hard time getting good balance and rhythm at the plate, being short and quick to the ball."

In those 105 at-bats, Rollins is hitting under .200. Manuel finally moved him out of the leadoff spot Wednesday, bumping the shortstop to sixth. He had batted sixth once before this season.

Third baseman Placido Polanco replaced Rollins at the top of the order, batting leadoff for the first time in 2010.

Manuel said he isn't concerned about Rollins. From the left side, he is rolling over the ball and popping it up too much, the manager said. He's too quick on his front side.

"He knows what he's doing," Manuel said. "It's just a matter of correcting it. Sometimes you know what you're doing and it still takes some time to get your swing down."

Lefthander Jamie Moyer will be examined by a doctor in Philadelphia on Thursday but Manuel said it's still almost certain Moyer is headed to the disabled list.

Moyer strained his left elbow in the first inning of Tuesday's loss to St. Louis.

The Phillies have not listed starters for Saturday and Sunday's games against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.

Lefthander J.A. Happ was pulled from his start in triple A on Tuesday after just three scoreless innings. He is a likely candidate to start one of those games.

For the third straight time, Ben Francisco started in left field when the opposing team sent a lefthanded pitcher to the mound.

But Manuel insisted he is not platooning Francisco with Raul Ibanez.

"It's still not a platoon, but I want to get Ben in the game," Manuel said. "Ben needs to play some, too. I wanted to put as many righties on their lefty as I could."

Ibanez is hitting just .212 with a .605 OPS against lefthanded pitching in 2010. Francisco, in fewer at-bats, is hitting .250 with a .745 OPS.

Needing another extra arm for a fluid pitching staff, the Phillies selected the contract of righthander Vance Worley from double-A Reading on Wednesday. Righthander Andrew Carpenter, who pitched three innings in Tuesday's blowout loss, was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Worley, 22, is 9-4 with a 3.20 ERA at Reading. He was a third-round pick in 2008 by the Phillies. He had thrown 17 straight scoreless innings at Reading.

Righthander Nelson Figueroa was claimed off waivers by the Astros and added to their active roster. In 13 games with the Phillies, Figueroa was 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA. In his second go-around with the Phils this season he pitched 71/3 scoreless innings. . . . Manuel said he was surprised to hear Pedro Martinez will reportedly not pitch in 2010. "I look at Pedro as a guy who could probably start 15-20 games for you on a regular rotation," Manuel said. "I think he can still pitch."

Wednesday's Phillies game against the Cardinals ended too late for this edition.