Why is Ryan Howard hitting 7th?

[BANDINI]

ok, I am grasping at straws here, but here it goes. 1 reason could be like chris shelton, young guy, don't want to put pressure on them. also, the phils lineup at the top is pretty nasty, rollins leading off, then abreu3rd, burrell cleanup and utley 5th. Of course, howard should be fith, utley cleanup an dhoward 5th, but thats not the point.

ideally Abreu should be leading off given his great OB% and speed. But since he is not a team player and he refuses to do it, it is now causing lineup issues because he will "only" bat 3rd. I'd like to see Abreu lead off, Rollins 2nd, Utley 3rd, Burrell 4th, Howard 5th, Delucci/Rowand 6th, Bell, Leiberthal. this way you have leftie, switch, leftie, right, left, left/right platoon, right, right.

[Doughhead]

ok, I am grasping at straws here, but here it goes. 1 reason could be like chris shelton, young guy, don't want to put pressure on them. also, the phils lineup at the top is pretty nasty, rollins leading off, then abreu3rd, burrell cleanup and utley 5th. Of course, howard should be fith, utley cleanup an dhoward 5th, but thats not the point.

ideally Abreu should be leading off given his great OB% and speed. But since he is not a team player and he refuses to do it, it is now causing lineup issues because he will "only" bat 3rd. I'd like to see Abreu lead off, Rollins 2nd, Utley 3rd, Burrell 4th, Howard 5th, Delucci/Rowand 6th, Bell, Leiberthal. this way you have leftie, switch, leftie, right, left, left/right platoon, right, right.

Sounds genius to me.

[Insanity]

The issue is burrell being too darn tempermental (and yes he is) and can't hit a slider that isn't hanging for the life of him.. Otherwise:

rollins
rowand (.345, 12 HR in the number 2 slot over 380 AB)
howard (he's showing more patience at the plate)
abreu
utley
burrell
bell
leibby
pitcher


but, Burrell needs protection to be effective...

[checkers]

Today's lineup is ideal... should stick like this from here on.. i hope..

J. Rollins ss
C. Utley 2b
B. Abreu rf
P. Burrell lf
R. Howard 1b
A. Rowand cf
D. Bell 3b
M. Lieberthal c

[thebrain]

$$!

(Howard Owner)

[checkers]

Per Rotoworld..

Aaron Rowand has been dropped to the sixth spot in Philadelphia's lineup on Monday night. Chase Utley is batting second.

This is the arrangement manager Charlie Manuel should have used at the start of the season. With Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard comprising the middle of the order, the Phillies' best players will get more at-bats and the team will have someone better than David Bell batting behind Howard. Rowand did nothing to deserve the demotion and his value decreases for as long as he bats sixth, but it's the right move for the Phillies.