Mixing it up

Anyone can manipulate statistics to say whatever it is they want, but sometimes the cold, hard numbers on the page are simply too hard to ignore. For manager Charlie Manuel, Ryan Howard’s stats jump right off the page:

Try 4-for-27 (.148); 0-for-3 with two strikeouts; and .217.

Those stats indicate Howard’s hitting against left-handed pitchers so far this season, his record against the Florida Marlins’ lefty Dontrelle Willis this year, and finally his batting average for 2007.

That’s why it was so easy for Manuel to give Howard a night off to rest his, ahem, achy knee that he injured last week while running the bases in Washington. So in order to compensate for the struggling yet reigning NL MVP, Manuel will attack Willis and the Marlins with a lineup heavy with righties with one of the game’s hottest hitters in the leadoff and No. 3 slots.

Manuel’s order for Saturday night:

Aaron Rowand, cf
Shane Victorino, rf
Jimmy Rollins, ss
Chase Utley, 2b
Pat Burrell, lf
Wes Helms, 1b
Abraham Nunez, 3b
Rod Barajas, c
Adam Eaton, p