video thumbnail   NEW YORK -- Ryne Sandberg discussed the
importance of balance in the Phillies' lineup Tuesday afternoon
at Citi Field.  The Phillies are loaded with left-handed hitters
and could be loaded with more if rookie Cody Asche opens next
year as the team's everyday third baseman. If everybody on the
team returns as expected and Asche earns a job, the Opening Day
lineup could include five left-handed hitters with Ryan Howard,
Chase Utley, Domonic Brown, Ben Revere and Asche.  The lack of a
dominant right-handed bat or two is partially why the Phillies
entered the night 12th in the National League in batting average
(.232) and OPS (.675) against left-handed pitching. It is
partially why Mets left-hander Jon Niese cruised to a 5-0
victory Tuesday.  "Our numbers all year against left-handed
pitching are not impressive," Sandberg said. "That's something
that needs to be addressed. For sure, [we need] right-handed
bats. We have some left-handed hitters that can show some
improvement there. As a team, we