Charlie Manuel's Not About to Jump Off the Walt Whitman Bridge

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Aside from Saturday night's division-clinching victory, the Phillies didn't give the Citizens Bank Park faithful a whole lot to cheer about over their four game set with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Phils don't seem real worried about it though.

The most entertaining moment of Monday night came after the loss when Charlie Manuel was asked in his post-game presser if he'd ever consider moving a struggling Chase Utley (1-5 on the night) out of the three hole.

"I don't like to commit to nothing," Manuel said. "I might do anything, I don't know. I ain't gonna jump of the Walt Whitman Bridge though."

Duly noted.

Manuel also added that he thinks Chase Utley may have a hot streak hiding somewhere inside his bat and that it's due for an appearance.

"He's not where he used to be [due to injuries], but I think he's due to get hot. I think it's coming. I think that he's due to have a little old run where he's hitting good and hopefully we can get him there before the playoffs start," Charlie said.

One might point to Ryan Howard's absence from the lineup the past few nights as a contributing factor to the offensive sluggishness, and there could be something to that, but his replacement tonight, Ross Gload, notched a pair of hits and scored the Phils first run.

They fought back with two runs in the ninth to bring the tying and eventual winning run to the plate but it was too little too late.

Roy Halladay was not lights out, but gave credit to the Cardinals offense for being aggressive on piches he thought were pretty damn good. It wasn't just that he made bad pitches.

"I wish I could say that. The first pitch, the guy ambushed," Halladay said of Rafeal Furcal's leadoff double.

"He's quick in, but it was where I wanted it. The pitch to Berkman, it's a 1-0 curveball so, it's hard to bounce one there," Halladay said. "They were aggressive. They're playing with a lot of energy right now. They came out to go after us."

The Cardinals have to be aggressive because they're still fighting for a playoff spot, but are the Phillies playing flat now that they've clinched? Roy didn't want to use the word flat per se, but admitted there's something to it.

"You do clinch and there's so much excitement," Doc said. "There is a bit of a downpoint after that, so hopefully we get things going and finish up strong and get ourselves on the right foot."

Charlie Manuel insisted they'll be all right. But damn it, they do gotta start scoring more runs.

"We gotta score enough runs to support our pitching, basically what it boils down to," Manuel said. "I'm not talking about 8-10 runs a night but I am talking about 4, 5, or 6."

They most certainly have to get the offensive producing again, but if it doesn't happen overnight, don't go jumpin' off any bridges.

Charlie Manuel ain't.

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On a positive note, the Phillies announced Monday's game against the Cardinals marked the 200th consecutive regular-season sellout -- an impressive feat no matter how you look at it. Despite hurricanes, torrential downpours, and everything else a team can run into throughout a season, 200 straight sellouts is something to be proud of. Keep winning division crowns and the streak could go on for years.

PHOTO CAPTION: Sep 19, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay (34) waits for a new ball as St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Lance Berkman (12) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

bridge photo by erglantz

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