NEW YORK -- Believe it or not, no team in baseball has used a lineup more this season than the one the Phillies used Saturday night at Citi Field.It was the 16th time Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had Ben Revere, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Marlon Byrd, Domonic Brown, Carlos Ruiz and Cody Asche hit in that exact order. (No other team has used an identical lineup more than 11 times.) Before the season started, it seemed like the Phillies' ideal lineup, but Saturday's 7-2 victory over the Mets made them just 5-11 with it. 
"We're due," Sandberg said about the lineup that averaged just 2.7 runs per game. "Law of averages, right?"The Phillies entered the night averaging just 3.89 runs per game this season, which ranked ninth in the National League. They had been held to two or fewer runs 50 times, which was the third-highest mark in baseball.Clearly, an offensive upgrade needs to happen. But where to begin?The Phillies could try to trade a couple of their more prominent hitters.Byrd could be one of them. He ripped a 1-0 fastball to right-center field for a solo home run in the fifth inning to hand the Phillies a 1-0 lead.It was his 25th homer of the season, which is career high.It came on his 37th birthday, too.The Phillies signed Byrd to a two-year, $16 million contract in November. His .786 OPS entering Saturday was the highest of any qualifying player on the team: 11 points higher than Utley (.775), 75 points higher than Rollins (.711) and 98 points higher than Howard (.688). Despite the production, the Phillies would have traded him before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, except sources said the Phils would have received little in return.Teams apparently were wary of Byrd's age and contract. He not only will make $8 million next season, but he has an $8 million club option for 2016 that automatically vests with 1,100 plate appearances in 2014-15 or 600 plate appearances next season.Byrd entered Saturday with 549 plate appearances.The Phillies scored five runs on seven singles in the sixth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Howard's single to right field scored two runs to give him 83 RBIs, which ranks fourth in the NL. Howard is owed $50 million over the next two seasons, but the Phillies will talk to American League teams about him -- although they will have to eat a significant portion of his salary to get them to listen.But even then it will not be easy. While the Phillies trumpet Howard's RBIs, it is telling that none of the other 29 general managers in baseball are salivating at the prospect of acquiring him. That is because his power has dissipated, which is the biggest part of his game.His .688 OPS entering Saturday ranked 117th out of 152 qualifying hitters in baseball.Moving one or both of those players at least would give the Phillies a new look, although it would not guarantee success.But for one night the lineup clicked. The five-run sixth inning proved more than enough for Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams, who allowed four hits, two runs, three walks and struck out three in 6 1/3 innings.Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
"We're due," Sandberg said about the lineup that averaged just 2.7 runs per game. "Law of averages, right?"The Phillies entered the night averaging just 3.89 runs per game this season, which ranked ninth in the National League. They had been held to two or fewer runs 50 times, which was the third-highest mark in baseball.Clearly, an offensive upgrade needs to happen. But where to begin?The Phillies could try to trade a couple of their more prominent hitters.Byrd could be one of them. He ripped a 1-0 fastball to right-center field for a solo home run in the fifth inning to hand the Phillies a 1-0 lead.It was his 25th homer of the season, which is career high.It came on his 37th birthday, too.The Phillies signed Byrd to a two-year, $16 million contract in November. His .786 OPS entering Saturday was the highest of any qualifying player on the team: 11 points higher than Utley (.775), 75 points higher than Rollins (.711) and 98 points higher than Howard (.688). Despite the production, the Phillies would have traded him before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, except sources said the Phils would have received little in return.Teams apparently were wary of Byrd's age and contract. He not only will make $8 million next season, but he has an $8 million club option for 2016 that automatically vests with 1,100 plate appearances in 2014-15 or 600 plate appearances next season.Byrd entered Saturday with 549 plate appearances.The Phillies scored five runs on seven singles in the sixth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Howard's single to right field scored two runs to give him 83 RBIs, which ranks fourth in the NL. Howard is owed $50 million over the next two seasons, but the Phillies will talk to American League teams about him -- although they will have to eat a significant portion of his salary to get them to listen.But even then it will not be easy. While the Phillies trumpet Howard's RBIs, it is telling that none of the other 29 general managers in baseball are salivating at the prospect of acquiring him. That is because his power has dissipated, which is the biggest part of his game.His .688 OPS entering Saturday ranked 117th out of 152 qualifying hitters in baseball.Moving one or both of those players at least would give the Phillies a new look, although it would not guarantee success.But for one night the lineup clicked. The five-run sixth inning proved more than enough for Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams, who allowed four hits, two runs, three walks and struck out three in 6 1/3 innings.Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
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