Give Grady Sizemore some credit.
He inspired Jimmy Rollins.
Rollins bunted on the first pitch from Cleveland Indians lefthander Jason Stanford in the top of the first inning last night in a 9-6 victory at Jacobs Field. Rollins got to first for a single and the hit ignited a three-run rally to hand rookie righthander Kyle Kendrick a 3-0 lead. Sizemore pulled the same stunt in Monday's 10-1 victory over the Phillies. He bunted on the first pitch from Cole Hamels in the bottom of the first inning to spark a three-run rally.
"He just started bunting five days ago," Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia told Rollins on Monday.
"For real?" Rollins said.
Rollins laughed last night as he recalled the conversation.
"I was just trying to be energy, that's all," Rollins said. "We didn't have it (Monday). It was leftover from Detroit. I haven't been hitting righthanded, so I figure I'd try something different and take my chances."
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Kendrick earned his first big-league victory. He has allowed three runs in six innings in his first two big league starts.
The Phillies will take that every time from a rookie called up from double-A.
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The Phillies thought Ryan Madson should have been out of the eighth inning before he worked himself into a bases loaded jam, but home umpire C.B. Bucknor missed some pitches. I heard the Indians announcers were commenting on how bad Bucknor was.
But Jose Mesa saved the day by getting a big out to end the eighth. Mesa has a 3.86 ERA in four appearances with the Phillies. Charlie Manuel said pitching coach Rich Dubee tweaked something in Mesa's delivery that has added a little velocity to his fastball.
As long as it works, right?
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Geoff Geary talked yesterday about his recent struggles. Geary not only shaved off his goatee to try to change his luck, but he also had Madson trim his hair. Madson is the resident barber in the Phillies clubhouse.
Nice gig.
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Comments (6)
great to see rollins bunt. i guess he wants to be a power hitter, but if he'd just bunt like once a week he'd draw in the corner guys and maybe get a few more hits over the course of the season.
Posted by mike | June 20, 2007 9:18 AM
Posted on June 20, 2007 09:18
You know Kendrick is going to get torched in one of these next starts, I just hope they keep giving him the ball. Let's see if he can adjust once the teams get a book on him. He looks confident and if we can get 5-6 quality innings most games, he's already better than Garcia. He can be this year's Chris Coste (who I still think should be here taking Barajas and Helm's at bats).
Posted by jimmy mack | June 20, 2007 10:30 AM
Posted on June 20, 2007 10:30
Jimmy Rollins, power hitter? Surely you jest, mike. I think of J-Roll as someone with lots of hustle who'll hit more than a few out of the yard each year, but "power hitter" is not a phrase I'd use to describe him. That said, that bunt last night was glorious, a little taste of the Indians' own medicine. (Please be gentle if I'm in the wrong on this.)
Kyle Kendrick has more than earned his stripes in his last two starts. Nice to see him get his first notch in the W column.
Posted by Clare![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/zozone/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 20, 2007 12:55 PM
Posted on June 20, 2007 12:55
Madson is the resident barber in the Phillies clubhouse.
Don't quit your day job, Madson (and by day job I mean barber).
Posted by Civil Negligence | June 20, 2007 6:06 PM
Posted on June 20, 2007 18:06
i did say "he wants to be" not that "he is" clare. although 25 hrs last year is nothing to sneeze at- even adjusted for CBP-inflation. i agree with you though, he's not a power-hitter, for every homer he hits there are 10 flyballs that are 5 strides short of the warning track. that's why his lack of even trying bunts is so frustrating.
Posted by mike | June 20, 2007 10:29 PM
Posted on June 20, 2007 22:29
Madson may need more than just a haircut or shaving off of a moustache to allow him to pitch better. Most of the time he pitches right down the middle of the plate without movement on the ball and the hitters are having a field day with him. Maybe a barber would be a better profession for him!
Geary did so well early in the season, but his stuff is alluding him too now, he's got to get better placement of his pitches and get a little off speed stuff happening too!
Posted by Rich B | June 20, 2007 10:33 PM
Posted on June 20, 2007 22:33