Game Recap:
The Phillies beat the Astros for the first time this year behind the strength of Pedro Feliz's grand slam and Jayson Werth's two run home run.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with an RBI.
Ryan Howard was 1-4 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez was 1-3 with two runs scored.
Jayson Werth went 2-3 with a two run home run and two runs scored.
Pedro Feliz was 1-4 with a grand slam home run.
Paul freaking Bako was 1-3 with a run scored.
J.A. Happ pitched ok, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He walked one and struck out six.
Ryan Madson worked the eighth and ninth innings for his tenth save of the season.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-4.
Chase Utley was 0-4.
Game Analysis:
It's amazing what happens when the Phillies win a game when they have to. It wasn't the prettiest win in the world, but J.A. Happ did what he had to do, and backed by the bats of Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth, the Phils inched closer to their third straight division crown.
It was about time for the bats to wake back up, and when they did, oh did they strike quickly. After Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez singled in the fourth inning, Jayson Werth walked, and Pedro Feliz came to the plate with no one out. I would have been happy with an RBI double, but Pedro did everyone one better and took the first pitch he saw into left field for a grand slam, and the Phillies never looked back tonight. Jayson Werth's two run shot in the fifth inning gave the Phils all the insurance runs they would need, and after Jamie Moyer and Ryan Madson shut the Astros down in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, the Phillies were one game away from clinching the NL East again.
J.A. Happ didn't pitch great tonight, but he did what he had to do. When he got into jams, he pitched out of them, aside from the two run shot he gave up to Kaz Matsui in the top of the sixth inning. Jamie Moyer did his job out of the bullpen before leaving the game because of a groin strain, and Ryan Madson worked a solid two innings for a save. I really have very little to complain about tonight, because the Phillies played well and did what they had to do tonight. That closed door meeting with Charlie Manuel today seems to have done exactly what it had to do, because the Phillies came out today and looked like a different team compared to yesterday.
I'm not saying the NL East race is over, but it's damn sure close. Thanks to the Phillies winning tonight and the Marlins taking a game from the Braves, the magic number is down to just one game. One win by the Phillies or loss by the Braves gives the Phils a third straight division crown. I'm banking on it happening tomorrow, since I just bought a ticket for the game.
Tomorrow night, the Phillies go for the division crown, as Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.32 ERA) goes against Brian Moehler (8-11, 5.21 ERA).
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Guess Who's Back Part Two: Welcome Back, Trotter
Well, this 2009 season just keeps getting weirder and weirder for the Eagles. First they sign Michael Vick, then Donovan McNabb breaks a rib, only to have Kevin Kolb become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in his first two NFL starts. Now, they've brought back a blast from the past. According to Jay Glazer, the Eagles have reached a one year agreement with Jeremiah Trotter. The Eagles worked Trotter out last week, and while I didn't think much of it then, apparently the Eagles saw something in him they liked.
The big question now is what will his role be? I'm not sure how well a 32 year old with bad knees could do on special teams, and though it doesn't appear the Eagles are sold on Omar Gaither taking Stewart Bradley's starting spot this year, Gaither did play well last week against the Chiefs. This move does make it clear that the Joe Mays experiment has reached its end, and the Eagles aren't that comfortable with any of the middle linebackers that they have right now.
Trotter will bring a veteran presence to the locker room, and he does already know the system, since he's been with the Eagles two times before. I'm still curious as to where he fits in. I'd think that the Eagles would at least give Gaither a chance to fight for the job, since Trotter hasn't played a football game since 2007, and Gaither at least played well last week. Whatever the case is, the Eagles have two weeks to work it out, and this season has just taken another fun little turn.
Oh, and the Eagles released Jeff Garcia to make room for Trotter. Thanks for the two weeks Jeff. Can your wife stick around?
Fox Sports: Eagles sign 4-time Pro Bowl LB Trotter
The big question now is what will his role be? I'm not sure how well a 32 year old with bad knees could do on special teams, and though it doesn't appear the Eagles are sold on Omar Gaither taking Stewart Bradley's starting spot this year, Gaither did play well last week against the Chiefs. This move does make it clear that the Joe Mays experiment has reached its end, and the Eagles aren't that comfortable with any of the middle linebackers that they have right now.
Trotter will bring a veteran presence to the locker room, and he does already know the system, since he's been with the Eagles two times before. I'm still curious as to where he fits in. I'd think that the Eagles would at least give Gaither a chance to fight for the job, since Trotter hasn't played a football game since 2007, and Gaither at least played well last week. Whatever the case is, the Eagles have two weeks to work it out, and this season has just taken another fun little turn.
Oh, and the Eagles released Jeff Garcia to make room for Trotter. Thanks for the two weeks Jeff. Can your wife stick around?
Fox Sports: Eagles sign 4-time Pro Bowl LB Trotter
Monday, September 28, 2009
Phillies Recap: Astros-8, Phillies-2
Game Recap:
Cole Hamels was knocked around by the Astros as the Phillies were beaten soundly tonight.
What went right?
This shouldn't take long.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-3 and scored a run.
Shane Victorino went 2-4 and scored a run.
Yep, that's it.
What went wrong?
I'm not going to break it down player by player, but aside from Shane and Jimmy, the Phillies managed one other hit. Just one.
Cole Hamels allowed six runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Game Analysis:
I've really got nothing to say tonight. That game was horrible. It started out ok, with the Phillies actually manufacturing a run in the first inning, but it was all downhill after that. The Phils managed just two hits off of a pitcher who's ERA was closer to my shoe size than anything else. Getting two hits off that guy is not good baseball. Making him look like the second coming of Cy Young is not good baseball. Watching Cole Hamels get knocked around for six runs just as he finally looked like he was back to his form is not good for anyone. I'm a fat guy, my heart can't take this sort of play.
After the Astros took the lead, I honestly knew that this game was over. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but just look at how the Phillies played tonight. They scored their second run on a fluke double, a fielder's choice and a balk. There's nothing even good sounding in that sentence, and it summed up perfectly the way the Phils played tonight. Nothing went right, not a damn thing. All this team has to do is win just three more games, and that's it. There's nothing special there. Just win. I've got nothing else to say tonight.
Tomorrow, J.A. Happ (11-4, 2.79 ERA) can hopefully get this team back on track. He's going up against Wilton Lopez (0-0, 8.44 ERA). Please Phillies, for the love of God, play better than you did tonight.
Cole Hamels was knocked around by the Astros as the Phillies were beaten soundly tonight.
What went right?
This shouldn't take long.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-3 and scored a run.
Shane Victorino went 2-4 and scored a run.
Yep, that's it.
What went wrong?
I'm not going to break it down player by player, but aside from Shane and Jimmy, the Phillies managed one other hit. Just one.
Cole Hamels allowed six runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Game Analysis:
I've really got nothing to say tonight. That game was horrible. It started out ok, with the Phillies actually manufacturing a run in the first inning, but it was all downhill after that. The Phils managed just two hits off of a pitcher who's ERA was closer to my shoe size than anything else. Getting two hits off that guy is not good baseball. Making him look like the second coming of Cy Young is not good baseball. Watching Cole Hamels get knocked around for six runs just as he finally looked like he was back to his form is not good for anyone. I'm a fat guy, my heart can't take this sort of play.
After the Astros took the lead, I honestly knew that this game was over. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but just look at how the Phillies played tonight. They scored their second run on a fluke double, a fielder's choice and a balk. There's nothing even good sounding in that sentence, and it summed up perfectly the way the Phils played tonight. Nothing went right, not a damn thing. All this team has to do is win just three more games, and that's it. There's nothing special there. Just win. I've got nothing else to say tonight.
Tomorrow, J.A. Happ (11-4, 2.79 ERA) can hopefully get this team back on track. He's going up against Wilton Lopez (0-0, 8.44 ERA). Please Phillies, for the love of God, play better than you did tonight.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Phillies Recap: Phillies-6, Brewers-5
Game Recap:
Despite leaving 14 men on base, the Phillies managed to hold on to beat the Brewers and trim their magic number down to just three games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 3-5 with a leadoff home run.
Shane Victorino was 1-5 with two RBI.
Ryan Howard was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Chase Utley was 2-5 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez went 1-2 with three walks and scored twice.
Pedro Feliz was 1-5 with two RBI.
Paul freaking Bako went 2-5 and scored a run.
What went wrong?
Joe Blanton wasn't so hot, allowing five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. He walked four and struck out four.
The Phillies left 14 men on base.
Game Analysis:
It wasn't pretty...Lord knows it wasn't pretty, but the Phillies managed to hold on against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon. Joe Blanton didn't pitch well, and the offense, despite scoring six runs, managed to leave 14 men on base and make a game that should have been a blow out much closer than it had any right to be. Either way, the Phils will take it right now, since wins have been much harder to come by lately.
The Phillies got started on offense early today, scoring four times in the first two innings. After that though, they would only score two more runs the rest of the game. The biggest issue they had was leaving the bases loaded today, which they did three innings in a row. The Phillies loaded the bases in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and only managed to get two runs out of those three huge chances. They got lucky that the Brewers weren't able to take full advantage of that and take this game, but it got close.
After pitching well in his last two starts, Joe Blanton did not look that good today. He labored through a few tough innings, and couldn't get out of the sixth without giving up a three run bomb to Mat Gamel that put the Brewers right back into the game. By the time he left, Joe had thrown 124 pitches, and he was out of gas. I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank, but if the Phillies manage to clinch the division before his next start, I would certainly consider resting him until the playoffs get here. The boy just looks like he needs to take some time off.
Like I said to start this, it wasn't a pretty win, but it was a win. The Phillies are now just three more wins away from their third straight division championship, and with the Astros and Marlins left on the schedule, it should be possible. Things looked very bleak during this series, but the Phils worked a split, and I'll take it.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.11 ERA) takes on Houston's Yorman Bazardo (0-2, 9.55 ERA).
Despite leaving 14 men on base, the Phillies managed to hold on to beat the Brewers and trim their magic number down to just three games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 3-5 with a leadoff home run.
Shane Victorino was 1-5 with two RBI.
Ryan Howard was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Chase Utley was 2-5 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez went 1-2 with three walks and scored twice.
Pedro Feliz was 1-5 with two RBI.
Paul freaking Bako went 2-5 and scored a run.
What went wrong?
Joe Blanton wasn't so hot, allowing five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. He walked four and struck out four.
The Phillies left 14 men on base.
Game Analysis:
It wasn't pretty...Lord knows it wasn't pretty, but the Phillies managed to hold on against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon. Joe Blanton didn't pitch well, and the offense, despite scoring six runs, managed to leave 14 men on base and make a game that should have been a blow out much closer than it had any right to be. Either way, the Phils will take it right now, since wins have been much harder to come by lately.
The Phillies got started on offense early today, scoring four times in the first two innings. After that though, they would only score two more runs the rest of the game. The biggest issue they had was leaving the bases loaded today, which they did three innings in a row. The Phillies loaded the bases in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and only managed to get two runs out of those three huge chances. They got lucky that the Brewers weren't able to take full advantage of that and take this game, but it got close.
After pitching well in his last two starts, Joe Blanton did not look that good today. He labored through a few tough innings, and couldn't get out of the sixth without giving up a three run bomb to Mat Gamel that put the Brewers right back into the game. By the time he left, Joe had thrown 124 pitches, and he was out of gas. I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank, but if the Phillies manage to clinch the division before his next start, I would certainly consider resting him until the playoffs get here. The boy just looks like he needs to take some time off.
Like I said to start this, it wasn't a pretty win, but it was a win. The Phillies are now just three more wins away from their third straight division championship, and with the Astros and Marlins left on the schedule, it should be possible. Things looked very bleak during this series, but the Phils worked a split, and I'll take it.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.11 ERA) takes on Houston's Yorman Bazardo (0-2, 9.55 ERA).
Eagles Aftermath: Eagles-34, Chiefs-14
What happened?
Kevin Kolb looked well adjusted in his second NFL start, throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in an easy win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Good:
Kolb looked great, completing 24 of 34 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
LeSean McCoy was solid in replacing Brian Westbrook, picking up 84 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown.
DeSean Jackson continued his great start, bringing in six passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Brent Celek had eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
The defense looked much better, recording three sacks, recovering a fumble and holding the Chiefs to 196 total yards.
The Bad:
Michael Vick made his much talked about debut, and was simply mediocre, gaining seven yards on one run and going 0/2 passing the ball.
Jeff Garcia fumbled his first snap when he came in at the end of the game, setting up a late touchdown by the Chiefs.
The Ugly:
Nothing. Everything was fine this week.
The Breakdown:
Man, nothing cures a week long hangover like playing the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles came out and looked like a different team than the one that got destroyed against the Saints last week. Kevin Kolb looked very sharp, and the Eagles managed to beat up on the Chiefs despite missing their starting quarterback and running back. All in all, it was a very good day.
I've got to say, I've been quite impressed with the way that Kevin Kolb has played in the place of Donovan McNabb. Andy Reid hasn't changed the game plan one bit, and Kolb has responded with back to back 300 yard passing games. Of course, once Donovan comes back for Week 5, Kolb will take his place back on the bench, but it's nice to know that the kid can actually play well when he gets time to work with the first team. It makes me feel a lot better than when the Eagles had Mike McMahon and Koy Detmer backing McNabb up, that's for sure.
Speaking of backups playing well, LeSean McCoy had a solid game as well. He was elusive on several runs, and handled his share of the Wildcat snaps without any problems. As it is with Kolb, it's nice to know that there's a guy on the bench that can not only spell Westbrook when number 36 is healthy, but he can start for him if he needs to as well. It's nice to see that the starters from two years down the road are solid and the team isn't really missing that much.
What else can be said about the receiving corps so far this year? In the last two games, DeSean Jackson has emerged as a go to wideout, and Brent Celek has put up back to back eight catch, 104 yard games. I've been saying that a good tight end makes all the difference for a young quarterback for as long as I can remember, and that's been the case with Celek and Kolb. Kolb is looking to Celek when he has to, and Celek has been there with big plays. The kid is taking advantage of his first chance to start, and I don't see him going anywhere for a while. If Celek keeps playing like he has the last two weeks, then he is going to become a fan favorite very, very quickly.
It was refreshing to see the defense get back to playing the way they did in Week 1. They only got to Matt Cassel three times, but they had pressure on him for most of the game. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket, and since Larry Johnson and Jammal Charles couldn't get anything going on the running front, the Eagles were able to pin their ears back on defense and go after Cassel whenever he dropped back. They only forced one fumble, but that was enough today. The Chiefs couldn't get anything going on offense, so turnovers would have just been icing on the cake. I'm still not sure how good this defense is, but I know that it's not as bad as it was last week against the Saints. I think it's somewhere in between last week and this week, but as long as the group can find that happy medium and not swing back towards how they played against the Saints, they should be just fine.
When the hype finally stopped, Michael Vick didn't exactly do much on offense. Yes, it was a nice wrinkle to have in there, but most of the time, he was just in the game to hand the ball off. He only ran it himself once, and he picked up seven yards. Other than that, it was all handoffs to McCoy or Jeremy Maclin. I'm still not sure what his purpose on the Eagles is. He didn't do anything today, and his two throws weren't the best in the world. Opposing defenses know to look for him when he comes in on Wildcat plays, so it's not like the Eagles are sneaking him in anywhere. Vick is going to have to learn the rest of the playbook and get back to full strength if the Eagles want to actually use him to his full potential. If not, I feel like it's going to look like this for the rest of the season.
All in all, it was a good game this week. Kevin Kolb looked much better than last week, and even with Brian Westbrook out, the offense didn't miss a beat. Everyone should be healthy after the bye week and ready to take on the Buccaneers, but if they're not, I'm confident that who the Eagles put out there can at least put up one hell of a fight.
Kevin Kolb looked well adjusted in his second NFL start, throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in an easy win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Good:
Kolb looked great, completing 24 of 34 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
LeSean McCoy was solid in replacing Brian Westbrook, picking up 84 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown.
DeSean Jackson continued his great start, bringing in six passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Brent Celek had eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
The defense looked much better, recording three sacks, recovering a fumble and holding the Chiefs to 196 total yards.
The Bad:
Michael Vick made his much talked about debut, and was simply mediocre, gaining seven yards on one run and going 0/2 passing the ball.
Jeff Garcia fumbled his first snap when he came in at the end of the game, setting up a late touchdown by the Chiefs.
The Ugly:
Nothing. Everything was fine this week.
The Breakdown:
Man, nothing cures a week long hangover like playing the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles came out and looked like a different team than the one that got destroyed against the Saints last week. Kevin Kolb looked very sharp, and the Eagles managed to beat up on the Chiefs despite missing their starting quarterback and running back. All in all, it was a very good day.
I've got to say, I've been quite impressed with the way that Kevin Kolb has played in the place of Donovan McNabb. Andy Reid hasn't changed the game plan one bit, and Kolb has responded with back to back 300 yard passing games. Of course, once Donovan comes back for Week 5, Kolb will take his place back on the bench, but it's nice to know that the kid can actually play well when he gets time to work with the first team. It makes me feel a lot better than when the Eagles had Mike McMahon and Koy Detmer backing McNabb up, that's for sure.
Speaking of backups playing well, LeSean McCoy had a solid game as well. He was elusive on several runs, and handled his share of the Wildcat snaps without any problems. As it is with Kolb, it's nice to know that there's a guy on the bench that can not only spell Westbrook when number 36 is healthy, but he can start for him if he needs to as well. It's nice to see that the starters from two years down the road are solid and the team isn't really missing that much.
What else can be said about the receiving corps so far this year? In the last two games, DeSean Jackson has emerged as a go to wideout, and Brent Celek has put up back to back eight catch, 104 yard games. I've been saying that a good tight end makes all the difference for a young quarterback for as long as I can remember, and that's been the case with Celek and Kolb. Kolb is looking to Celek when he has to, and Celek has been there with big plays. The kid is taking advantage of his first chance to start, and I don't see him going anywhere for a while. If Celek keeps playing like he has the last two weeks, then he is going to become a fan favorite very, very quickly.
It was refreshing to see the defense get back to playing the way they did in Week 1. They only got to Matt Cassel three times, but they had pressure on him for most of the game. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket, and since Larry Johnson and Jammal Charles couldn't get anything going on the running front, the Eagles were able to pin their ears back on defense and go after Cassel whenever he dropped back. They only forced one fumble, but that was enough today. The Chiefs couldn't get anything going on offense, so turnovers would have just been icing on the cake. I'm still not sure how good this defense is, but I know that it's not as bad as it was last week against the Saints. I think it's somewhere in between last week and this week, but as long as the group can find that happy medium and not swing back towards how they played against the Saints, they should be just fine.
When the hype finally stopped, Michael Vick didn't exactly do much on offense. Yes, it was a nice wrinkle to have in there, but most of the time, he was just in the game to hand the ball off. He only ran it himself once, and he picked up seven yards. Other than that, it was all handoffs to McCoy or Jeremy Maclin. I'm still not sure what his purpose on the Eagles is. He didn't do anything today, and his two throws weren't the best in the world. Opposing defenses know to look for him when he comes in on Wildcat plays, so it's not like the Eagles are sneaking him in anywhere. Vick is going to have to learn the rest of the playbook and get back to full strength if the Eagles want to actually use him to his full potential. If not, I feel like it's going to look like this for the rest of the season.
All in all, it was a good game this week. Kevin Kolb looked much better than last week, and even with Brian Westbrook out, the offense didn't miss a beat. Everyone should be healthy after the bye week and ready to take on the Buccaneers, but if they're not, I'm confident that who the Eagles put out there can at least put up one hell of a fight.
Guess Who's Back?
Now, everyone and their cousin has already written something about morals and ethics and things like that, and quite honestly, I'm sick of it. The NFL is full of scumbags who have done drugs, cheated on their wives, lied and various other horrible things. Remember, Leonard Little drove drunk and killed someone. He's still in the NFL. Donte Stallworth was drunk and high when he drove and killed someone. He got 30 days in jail. Jamal Lewis was caught trying to be a coke mule. He got 4 months in jail. No one knows exactly what Ray Lewis did the night of Super Bowl XXXIV, but two people were killed, and he was investigated.
So, before people that are fans of other teams get on your high horses and ask how the Eagles could sign someone that killed dogs, remember this: there's probably someone on your team that's done some nasty stuff, too. It's just the fact that it was dogs that got everyone in an uproar. Now, I'm not defending Michael Vick, nor am I condoning what he's done in the past, but if it was your brother, your uncle, your father...you would want them to have a second chance, right?
Enough about that, it's time to see what Vick can do on the football field. He's going to see playing time today, and probably a lot of it, since McNabb and Westbrook are both out. This is going to be interesting.
Breaking News: Westbrook, Curtis out for the Eagles today
Well, I was all set to post something else up here, and I'll get to that in a minute, but first I've got some more news for you. Sheil Kapadia, from Philly.com has posted the inactives for the Eagles this week, and Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Kevin Curtis are all on there. So that means Kevin Kolb, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin will be starting for the Eagles today. Luckily for the Eagles, they're playing the Chiefs, but nothing is certain, especially when the Eagles are starting a veritable preseason backfield.
Phillie of the Week: September 20-26
It wasn't the best week for the Phillies, as they seem to be stuck in a September swoon. Regardless, there was one player that stood out this week. So, this week's Phillie of the Week is:
Ryan Howard
The big man did what he does best as the season comes to a close this week, hitting .355 with two home runs and 13 RBI for the Phils. He's one behind Prince Fielder for the National League RBI lead, and while the rest of the team has struggled, he's certainly held up his weight.
Ryan Howard
The big man did what he does best as the season comes to a close this week, hitting .355 with two home runs and 13 RBI for the Phils. He's one behind Prince Fielder for the National League RBI lead, and while the rest of the team has struggled, he's certainly held up his weight.
Phillies Recap: Brewers-7, Phillies-5
Game Recap:
Ryan Braun hit a walk off two run home run to push the Brewers past the Phillies for the second straight night.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 3-4 with a home run and two runs scored.
Pedro Feliz went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Paul freaking Bako was 2-4 with a two run home run.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 0-5 and missed a catch in the sixth inning that allowed the Brewers to tie the game.
Raul Ibanez was 0-3.
Kyle Kendrick lasted just four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Jamie Moyer pitched four innings, but allowed two runs on three hits. That's not as bad as...
Tyler Walker, who gave up the walk off home run without recording an out. He allowed two runs on two hits in the ninth inning.
Game Analysis:
Ok, I've had it. That is enough. After last night's horrible performance, I don't know what the Phillies are up to right now. They can't hit, they can't field and their pitching is falling apart. They picked a hell of a time to go into one of these cold streaks. It's not good right now, especially with the Braves having an easier schedule right now than Penn State did to start off the season.
It's pretty clear that the Phillies are tired on offense at this point. You can't go day in and day out in a 162 game schedule without having a few guys get tired at the end. The only problem is that most of the guys are tired right now, and without a day or two off, they're not going to get any better. Their swings are slow right now, they don't seem to be reading the ball well, and everything that was going well for them in July and August is now going for the other team. It wasn't like the Brewers deserved to win that game last night, neither team did. Both teams played sloppy baseball, with errors and bad swings and poor pitching. It's just that the Brewers got the breaks that the Phillies have been getting in September the last two seasons. They scored in the sixth inning thanks to a walk, a flare that turned into a ground rule double and a base hit that Jimmy Rollins should have caught. It wasn't pretty, but it's the same thing that happened to the Phillies the last two years. They've caught the breaks that pushed them over the edge, and this year, it's not happening the same way.
The important thing is that there are just eight games left in the season, and two wins by the Phillies, coupled with two Atlanta losses, will still give them the division. I'm not saying it's a sure thing right now, but something's got to give either way. The Phillies have seen this happen to the Mets two years in a row...there's no damn way their going to let it happen to them.
Today, Joe Blanton (11-7, 3.82 ERA) can hopefully salvage a split in this series, as he goes against Dave Bush (5-8, 6.22 ERA).
Ryan Braun hit a walk off two run home run to push the Brewers past the Phillies for the second straight night.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 3-4 with a home run and two runs scored.
Pedro Feliz went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Paul freaking Bako was 2-4 with a two run home run.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 0-5 and missed a catch in the sixth inning that allowed the Brewers to tie the game.
Raul Ibanez was 0-3.
Kyle Kendrick lasted just four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Jamie Moyer pitched four innings, but allowed two runs on three hits. That's not as bad as...
Tyler Walker, who gave up the walk off home run without recording an out. He allowed two runs on two hits in the ninth inning.
Game Analysis:
Ok, I've had it. That is enough. After last night's horrible performance, I don't know what the Phillies are up to right now. They can't hit, they can't field and their pitching is falling apart. They picked a hell of a time to go into one of these cold streaks. It's not good right now, especially with the Braves having an easier schedule right now than Penn State did to start off the season.
It's pretty clear that the Phillies are tired on offense at this point. You can't go day in and day out in a 162 game schedule without having a few guys get tired at the end. The only problem is that most of the guys are tired right now, and without a day or two off, they're not going to get any better. Their swings are slow right now, they don't seem to be reading the ball well, and everything that was going well for them in July and August is now going for the other team. It wasn't like the Brewers deserved to win that game last night, neither team did. Both teams played sloppy baseball, with errors and bad swings and poor pitching. It's just that the Brewers got the breaks that the Phillies have been getting in September the last two seasons. They scored in the sixth inning thanks to a walk, a flare that turned into a ground rule double and a base hit that Jimmy Rollins should have caught. It wasn't pretty, but it's the same thing that happened to the Phillies the last two years. They've caught the breaks that pushed them over the edge, and this year, it's not happening the same way.
The important thing is that there are just eight games left in the season, and two wins by the Phillies, coupled with two Atlanta losses, will still give them the division. I'm not saying it's a sure thing right now, but something's got to give either way. The Phillies have seen this happen to the Mets two years in a row...there's no damn way their going to let it happen to them.
Today, Joe Blanton (11-7, 3.82 ERA) can hopefully salvage a split in this series, as he goes against Dave Bush (5-8, 6.22 ERA).
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Phillies Recap: Brewers-8, Phillies-4
Game Recap:
Cliff Lee was knocked around for seven runs as the Phillies dropped the second game of their four game series against the Brewers.
What went right?
Ryan Howard was 2-4 with three RBI.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 and scored twice.
Third string catcher Paul Hoover went 2-3.
What went wrong?
Ben Francisco was 0-3.
Cliff Lee lasted six innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
The Phillies struck out eight times and left seven men on base.
Game Analysis:
It was not the best game for Cliff Lee last night. After starting out 5-0 and wowing everyone with his stuff, everyone's favorite new Phillie has come back down to Earth, and at the worst possible time. In September, Lee is 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA. He has only walked three batters, but he's been getting hit around more and more as the season comes to a close. He has got to get himself back in the zone as the Phillies get closer and closer to the playoffs. I'm not sure what has to be done, but something obviously isn't working right now. He's getting hit a lot and leaving more pitches hanging and out over the plate. Last night was another example of that, as the Brewers jumped on him for four runs in the first inning, putting the Phillies in a hole early.
It didn't help that that the offense decided to take another night off, save for Ryan Howard. The big man drove in another three runs last night, and had the first hit of the game for the Phillies in the fourth inning. Of course, Cliff Lee gave up a three run home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach, but if the offense could have done what it's capable of, Lee probably would have been able to settle down a bit more and not have to worry about leaving so many pitches out over the plate.
There isn't much else to say about the game last night, other than the fact that it appears Brad Lidge has been moved into a mopup role in the bullpen. I have to say it's about freaking time that happened. Lidge could not be trusted anymore to close games, and if you listen to Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro, it's possible that J.A. Happ could be the closer during the playoffs. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad idea, and considering the other options the Phillies have, it might be the best thing they can do, but I hate to see such a good arm come out of the starting playoff rotation. Of course, there's no way the Phils would throw three lefthanders out there in a best of five series. It just doesn't make any sense to do that. Hopefully, Pedro Martinez will be able to pitch in the playoffs then, because it seems like that's the way the Phillies are leaning right now.
Last night was just one of those frustrating games where nothing seemed to go right. The Phillies were held without a hit for three innings by Manny freaking Parra, Cliff Lee got lit up like a Christmas tree, and the team just seemed like they were going through the motions. There's only nine games left this season, so the Phils had better kick it up a notch, and fast.
Tonight, Kyle Kendrick (2-1, 2.70 ERA) makes the start for Pedro Martinez against Braden Looper (13-7, 5.12 ERA).
Cliff Lee was knocked around for seven runs as the Phillies dropped the second game of their four game series against the Brewers.
What went right?
Ryan Howard was 2-4 with three RBI.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 and scored twice.
Third string catcher Paul Hoover went 2-3.
What went wrong?
Ben Francisco was 0-3.
Cliff Lee lasted six innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
The Phillies struck out eight times and left seven men on base.
Game Analysis:
It was not the best game for Cliff Lee last night. After starting out 5-0 and wowing everyone with his stuff, everyone's favorite new Phillie has come back down to Earth, and at the worst possible time. In September, Lee is 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA. He has only walked three batters, but he's been getting hit around more and more as the season comes to a close. He has got to get himself back in the zone as the Phillies get closer and closer to the playoffs. I'm not sure what has to be done, but something obviously isn't working right now. He's getting hit a lot and leaving more pitches hanging and out over the plate. Last night was another example of that, as the Brewers jumped on him for four runs in the first inning, putting the Phillies in a hole early.
It didn't help that that the offense decided to take another night off, save for Ryan Howard. The big man drove in another three runs last night, and had the first hit of the game for the Phillies in the fourth inning. Of course, Cliff Lee gave up a three run home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach, but if the offense could have done what it's capable of, Lee probably would have been able to settle down a bit more and not have to worry about leaving so many pitches out over the plate.
There isn't much else to say about the game last night, other than the fact that it appears Brad Lidge has been moved into a mopup role in the bullpen. I have to say it's about freaking time that happened. Lidge could not be trusted anymore to close games, and if you listen to Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro, it's possible that J.A. Happ could be the closer during the playoffs. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad idea, and considering the other options the Phillies have, it might be the best thing they can do, but I hate to see such a good arm come out of the starting playoff rotation. Of course, there's no way the Phils would throw three lefthanders out there in a best of five series. It just doesn't make any sense to do that. Hopefully, Pedro Martinez will be able to pitch in the playoffs then, because it seems like that's the way the Phillies are leaning right now.
Last night was just one of those frustrating games where nothing seemed to go right. The Phillies were held without a hit for three innings by Manny freaking Parra, Cliff Lee got lit up like a Christmas tree, and the team just seemed like they were going through the motions. There's only nine games left this season, so the Phils had better kick it up a notch, and fast.
Tonight, Kyle Kendrick (2-1, 2.70 ERA) makes the start for Pedro Martinez against Braden Looper (13-7, 5.12 ERA).
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Phillies Recap: Phillies-9, Brewers-4
Game Recap:
The Phillies bounced back from their two game skid against the Marlins with a nice win over Milwaukee tonight to drop their magic number down to four.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with three RBI, a home run and two runs scored.
Shane Victorino went 3-5.
Ryan Howard was 1-5 with two RBI.
Ben Francisco went 2-5 and scored twice.
Pedro Feliz was 3-5 and drove in two.
Paul Bako even managed two hits and an RBI.
J.A. Happ pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out seven while also going 1-2 at the plate with an RBI.
What went wrong?
Clay Condrey made things a little more interesting in the ninth inning, giving up two runs on two hits.
Game Analysis:
That's more like the team that I saw before the meltdown in Miami last night. The Phillies came out tonight and took it to Jeff Suppan and the Brewers before Milwaukee even knew what hit them. Even though J.A. Happ didn't make it out of the sixth inning, he pitched well, and the offense came to play tonight. By the time the top of the fifth inning was done, the Phils were up 8-1, and that would be all that they would need tonight.
It's amazing how many runs Jimmy Rollins has scored and driven in, considering his below average season. Just think what he could have done if he had even come close to playing well in the first half. He's still managed to score 94 times and drive in 75 runs, which is just a testament to how well the Phillies have played on offense this year. Ryan Howard continues to do what he does best each and every night down the stretch, and the back end of the lineup contributed greatly tonight, with Pedro Feliz driving in two, and Paul Bako scoring and driving in a run. Yes, Jimmy Rollins drove in the most important runs with a three run shot in the fifth, but what matters more is getting some production from the back of that rotation. Without that, the Phils can't get that far in the playoffs.
I'm still a little worried about the bullpen situation. Even though it wasn't a save tonight, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker both had to labor to get through an inning of work a piece, with Condrey allowing two runs before recording the final out of the game. There are just ten games to play in the regular season, and something has to be done with the back of the bullpen. I don't know who is going to close games, but someone in there has to be capable of recording a 1-2-3 ninth inning a few times. It can't be as hard as Brad Lidge is making it out to be, but Lord knows the Phillies can't go back to him any more.
Anyway, it was a good win tonight, and with both the Marlins and the Braves off, the Phillies not only knocked their magic number down to four, but also gained a half game on each of their two division foes.
Tomorrow, Cliff Lee (14-11, 2.99 ERA) goes for the Phillies. He'll face off against Manny Parra (10-10, 6.42 ERA).
The Phillies bounced back from their two game skid against the Marlins with a nice win over Milwaukee tonight to drop their magic number down to four.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with three RBI, a home run and two runs scored.
Shane Victorino went 3-5.
Ryan Howard was 1-5 with two RBI.
Ben Francisco went 2-5 and scored twice.
Pedro Feliz was 3-5 and drove in two.
Paul Bako even managed two hits and an RBI.
J.A. Happ pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out seven while also going 1-2 at the plate with an RBI.
What went wrong?
Clay Condrey made things a little more interesting in the ninth inning, giving up two runs on two hits.
Game Analysis:
That's more like the team that I saw before the meltdown in Miami last night. The Phillies came out tonight and took it to Jeff Suppan and the Brewers before Milwaukee even knew what hit them. Even though J.A. Happ didn't make it out of the sixth inning, he pitched well, and the offense came to play tonight. By the time the top of the fifth inning was done, the Phils were up 8-1, and that would be all that they would need tonight.
It's amazing how many runs Jimmy Rollins has scored and driven in, considering his below average season. Just think what he could have done if he had even come close to playing well in the first half. He's still managed to score 94 times and drive in 75 runs, which is just a testament to how well the Phillies have played on offense this year. Ryan Howard continues to do what he does best each and every night down the stretch, and the back end of the lineup contributed greatly tonight, with Pedro Feliz driving in two, and Paul Bako scoring and driving in a run. Yes, Jimmy Rollins drove in the most important runs with a three run shot in the fifth, but what matters more is getting some production from the back of that rotation. Without that, the Phils can't get that far in the playoffs.
I'm still a little worried about the bullpen situation. Even though it wasn't a save tonight, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker both had to labor to get through an inning of work a piece, with Condrey allowing two runs before recording the final out of the game. There are just ten games to play in the regular season, and something has to be done with the back of the bullpen. I don't know who is going to close games, but someone in there has to be capable of recording a 1-2-3 ninth inning a few times. It can't be as hard as Brad Lidge is making it out to be, but Lord knows the Phillies can't go back to him any more.
Anyway, it was a good win tonight, and with both the Marlins and the Braves off, the Phillies not only knocked their magic number down to four, but also gained a half game on each of their two division foes.
Tomorrow, Cliff Lee (14-11, 2.99 ERA) goes for the Phillies. He'll face off against Manny Parra (10-10, 6.42 ERA).
Phillies Recap: Marlins-7, Phillies-6
Game Recap:
Brad Lidge blew his 11th game of the season as the Marlins rallied late to push past the Phils, keeping their magic number at five.
What went right?
Ryan Howard was 2-5 with a home run and four RBI, giving him four straight seasons of 40 home runs and 130 RBI.
Raul Ibanez was 2-3 with a home run.
Pedro Feliz went 1-4 and scored a run.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 and scored once.
Cole Hamels pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out four, walked none, and went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-4 with a walk.
Jayson Werth was 0-3.
Brad Lidge blew his 11th save of the season and picked up his eighth loss. He allowed two runs in two thirds of an inning on three hits and a walk.
Game Analysis:
Let me tell you something right now. If Brad Lidge is still the closer against Milwaukee this weekend, I am going to find a way to get up there and injure him somehow so he can't pitch. Every time this guy comes into a game, I don't get a good feeling. Tonight, he did it again, blowing a one run lead and giving the Marlins new life. Yes, I know the Phillies are still 6.5 games up with 11 to play, but a win tonight would have buried Florida for the season. Remember, the Braves get to play such tough teams as the Mets, Nationals and Mets for the rest of the year, while the Phillies get the Brewers, Astros and Marlins.
Aside from Lidge, the game wasn't that bad. Ryan Howard just continues to produce in September, and he reached 40 home runs and 130 RBI for the fourth straight season. It's amazing what he can do when he's locked in like this. Raul Ibanez had another homer tonight, giving him 34 on the season, and even Cole Hamels had two hits. He did enough to win tonight, this one is not on him. Tonight, it's all about Brad.
Lidge has to get out of that closer role. I'm sorry, I will love everything that he did last season, but this is too much. The rest of the team looks rock solid going into the playoffs. The Phillies have their big bats ready to go, their speed guys are set, and their starting pitching has been some of the best in baseball since the All Star break. The only thing that's missing is that nail it down closer that was there all year last season. I don't know who Charlie can throw in there at this point, but it's not Brad Lidge. He's done this year. I've got no faith in him, even with a ten run lead. Find someone, anyone, that can get those last three damn outs of a game without any drama, and I'll be happy. Not only that, but the Phillies might be playing a long time in October.
Tomorrow, the Phils take their act to Milwaukee for their last road series of the year. J.A. Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA) can hopefully pitch a complete game against Jeff Suppan (7-10, 4.76 ERA).
Brad Lidge blew his 11th game of the season as the Marlins rallied late to push past the Phils, keeping their magic number at five.
What went right?
Ryan Howard was 2-5 with a home run and four RBI, giving him four straight seasons of 40 home runs and 130 RBI.
Raul Ibanez was 2-3 with a home run.
Pedro Feliz went 1-4 and scored a run.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 and scored once.
Cole Hamels pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out four, walked none, and went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-4 with a walk.
Jayson Werth was 0-3.
Brad Lidge blew his 11th save of the season and picked up his eighth loss. He allowed two runs in two thirds of an inning on three hits and a walk.
Game Analysis:
Let me tell you something right now. If Brad Lidge is still the closer against Milwaukee this weekend, I am going to find a way to get up there and injure him somehow so he can't pitch. Every time this guy comes into a game, I don't get a good feeling. Tonight, he did it again, blowing a one run lead and giving the Marlins new life. Yes, I know the Phillies are still 6.5 games up with 11 to play, but a win tonight would have buried Florida for the season. Remember, the Braves get to play such tough teams as the Mets, Nationals and Mets for the rest of the year, while the Phillies get the Brewers, Astros and Marlins.
Aside from Lidge, the game wasn't that bad. Ryan Howard just continues to produce in September, and he reached 40 home runs and 130 RBI for the fourth straight season. It's amazing what he can do when he's locked in like this. Raul Ibanez had another homer tonight, giving him 34 on the season, and even Cole Hamels had two hits. He did enough to win tonight, this one is not on him. Tonight, it's all about Brad.
Lidge has to get out of that closer role. I'm sorry, I will love everything that he did last season, but this is too much. The rest of the team looks rock solid going into the playoffs. The Phillies have their big bats ready to go, their speed guys are set, and their starting pitching has been some of the best in baseball since the All Star break. The only thing that's missing is that nail it down closer that was there all year last season. I don't know who Charlie can throw in there at this point, but it's not Brad Lidge. He's done this year. I've got no faith in him, even with a ten run lead. Find someone, anyone, that can get those last three damn outs of a game without any drama, and I'll be happy. Not only that, but the Phillies might be playing a long time in October.
Tomorrow, the Phils take their act to Milwaukee for their last road series of the year. J.A. Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA) can hopefully pitch a complete game against Jeff Suppan (7-10, 4.76 ERA).
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Phillies Doubleheader Recap: Phils split with the Marlins
Game Recaps:
Behind a strong offensive performance and good pitching from Joe Blanton, the Phillies took the first game of the doubleheader, only to have their offense shut down by Anibal Sanchez in game two as the Marlins worked a split.
What went right? (Game One)
Shane Victorino was 2-3 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard went 2-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
Jayson Werth went 1-3 with two RBI.
Miguel Cairo was 2-5 with an RBI.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 with an RBI and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez was 1-5 with an RBI.
Paul Bako even scored a run.
Joe Blanton pitched seven innings, shutting out the Marlins on two hits. He walked two and struck out nine.
What went right? (Game Two)
Chase Utley went 2-4.
Jamie Moyer didn't pitch badly, allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five.
What went wrong? (Game One)
Sergio Escalona made the game much more interesting, allowing three runs on two hits in one third of an inning.
The Phillies struck out 16 times.
What went wrong? (Game Two)
Aside from Utley, the rest of the Phillies couldn't manage a single hit, and struck out seven times.
Game Analyses:
Well, I was hoping that the Phillies would at least work a split against the Marlins today, and that's exactly what they did. Of course, I had the games that I thought they would win backwards, but that's not the point. The point is that the Phillies managed to cut their magic number down to just five games, and if the Braves would ever lose to a team besides the Phils, they might be able to move it down a little quicker.
Game one was a great showing by the offense and Joe Blanton. Blanton pitched great in seven innings, keeping the Marlins off the board while the Phils were able to get to their best pitcher. Josh Johnson only lasted five innings in front of what appeared to be about 5,000 people, most of whom were Phillies fans. The Phillies actually manufactured some runs in the first game, scoring their first two on RBI groundouts before the big bats came to play in the later innings. It was nice to see the Phillies manage to beat up on a great pitcher and win a game that I had started to write off, just by looking at the matchup.
Now, game two was the exact opposite. I had this game in the win column before the Phillies even took the field, since Jamie Moyer owns the Marlins. He didn't pitch badly tonight, but Anibal Sanchez was lights out, and held the Phillies to just two hits, both by Chase Utley. Moyer didn't pitch badly, only allowing three runs, but the Phils just couldn't get anything going on offense in the second game. I'll give credit to Sanchez, and I'm just happy that the Phillies could at least work a split with the Marlins today.
What the split means is that the Marlins don't gain any ground, while the win pushes the Phillies closer to another division title. It would have been nice to sweep Florida today, but there's still another game tomorrow to play. A win tomorrow, coupled with a (seemingly impossible) Atlanta loss moves the magic number down to three, and makes a celebration either in Milwaukee over the weekend or early next week in Philadelphia very likely.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.07 ERA) looks to keep his hot streak going, as he faces Rick VandenHurk (2-2, 4.24 ERA).
Behind a strong offensive performance and good pitching from Joe Blanton, the Phillies took the first game of the doubleheader, only to have their offense shut down by Anibal Sanchez in game two as the Marlins worked a split.
What went right? (Game One)
Shane Victorino was 2-3 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard went 2-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
Jayson Werth went 1-3 with two RBI.
Miguel Cairo was 2-5 with an RBI.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 with an RBI and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez was 1-5 with an RBI.
Paul Bako even scored a run.
Joe Blanton pitched seven innings, shutting out the Marlins on two hits. He walked two and struck out nine.
What went right? (Game Two)
Chase Utley went 2-4.
Jamie Moyer didn't pitch badly, allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five.
What went wrong? (Game One)
Sergio Escalona made the game much more interesting, allowing three runs on two hits in one third of an inning.
The Phillies struck out 16 times.
What went wrong? (Game Two)
Aside from Utley, the rest of the Phillies couldn't manage a single hit, and struck out seven times.
Game Analyses:
Well, I was hoping that the Phillies would at least work a split against the Marlins today, and that's exactly what they did. Of course, I had the games that I thought they would win backwards, but that's not the point. The point is that the Phillies managed to cut their magic number down to just five games, and if the Braves would ever lose to a team besides the Phils, they might be able to move it down a little quicker.
Game one was a great showing by the offense and Joe Blanton. Blanton pitched great in seven innings, keeping the Marlins off the board while the Phils were able to get to their best pitcher. Josh Johnson only lasted five innings in front of what appeared to be about 5,000 people, most of whom were Phillies fans. The Phillies actually manufactured some runs in the first game, scoring their first two on RBI groundouts before the big bats came to play in the later innings. It was nice to see the Phillies manage to beat up on a great pitcher and win a game that I had started to write off, just by looking at the matchup.
Now, game two was the exact opposite. I had this game in the win column before the Phillies even took the field, since Jamie Moyer owns the Marlins. He didn't pitch badly tonight, but Anibal Sanchez was lights out, and held the Phillies to just two hits, both by Chase Utley. Moyer didn't pitch badly, only allowing three runs, but the Phils just couldn't get anything going on offense in the second game. I'll give credit to Sanchez, and I'm just happy that the Phillies could at least work a split with the Marlins today.
What the split means is that the Marlins don't gain any ground, while the win pushes the Phillies closer to another division title. It would have been nice to sweep Florida today, but there's still another game tomorrow to play. A win tomorrow, coupled with a (seemingly impossible) Atlanta loss moves the magic number down to three, and makes a celebration either in Milwaukee over the weekend or early next week in Philadelphia very likely.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.07 ERA) looks to keep his hot streak going, as he faces Rick VandenHurk (2-2, 4.24 ERA).
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Phillies Recap: Phillies-4, Braves-2
Game Recap:
The Phillies got good pitching out of their bullpen and Cliff Lee as they took the final game of the season against the Braves to move their magic number to six.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Ben Francisco went 1-3 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-5 with an RBI triple.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Pedro Feliz was 2-4 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth walked three times and scored a run.
The bullpen came in after an almost two hour rain delay and allowed just one run on two hits. They combined to walk two batters and strike out nine.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was thrown out of the game in the first inning for arguing a steal at second base.
The Phillies struck out nine times.
Game Analysis:
Man, does it feel nice to be done with the Atlanta Braves this season. The Phillies came into this series knowing that anything but a sweep for the Braves would help them out, and that's exactly what they got. Save for a poor game last night, the Phils controlled the Braves throughout the series and pretty much finished off Atlanta's chances for a division crown this season. Though he only pitched four innings because of the rain, Cliff Lee looked good while he was in there. He had some great bite on his curveball, and his other stuff was pretty sharp, too. He did give up five hits, but only allowed a single run, and the Phillies would provide him with more than enough support.
For the second straight time, the Phillies were able to catch Tommy Hanson in a rain delay game, and they tagged him with another loss. He didn't look as sharp this time around, and the Phillies seemed to have a better read on what he was throwing. Ben Francisco started things off with an RBI double in his first at bat, then three straight hits in the fourth inning brought in two more. Chase Utley capped the scoring with an RBI triple in the fifth inning, and that would be all she wrote on this day.
It was another solid performance by the Phillies bullpen today as well. While Tyler Walker and Sergio Escalona normally don't strike fear into the hearts of opposing batters, today they did quite well, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings and allowing the Phillies to get to Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge without any major issues. Madson did his job in the eighth, striking out the side, and while Lidge gave up a run in the ninth, he struck out two to get his 31st save of the season. I'm not saying anything else about Lidge right now, but it was good to see him out there pitching aggressively. It's what he needs to do now as the playoffs get close.
I said it to start this off, but this was just what the Phillies needed to do this weekend in Atlanta. They played good baseball and took two out of three from the Braves, moving them 8.5 games back with just 14 games left. Up next are the Florida Marlins, and the Phillies need to do the exact same thing to them. Of course, a sweep of the Marlins, coupled with a Mets sweep of the Braves means that the Phillies will have clinched the division on Thursday night, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
The Phils have an off day tomorrow, then play a doubleheader to start the series against Florida. In game one, Joe Blanton (10-7, 3.97 ERA) will go against Josh Johnson (15-4, 3.01 ERA). Game two will feature Marlin killer Jamie Moyer (12-9, 5.05 ERA) and Anibal Sanchez (2-7, 4.50 ERA).
The Phillies got good pitching out of their bullpen and Cliff Lee as they took the final game of the season against the Braves to move their magic number to six.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Ben Francisco went 1-3 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-5 with an RBI triple.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Pedro Feliz was 2-4 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth walked three times and scored a run.
The bullpen came in after an almost two hour rain delay and allowed just one run on two hits. They combined to walk two batters and strike out nine.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was thrown out of the game in the first inning for arguing a steal at second base.
The Phillies struck out nine times.
Game Analysis:
Man, does it feel nice to be done with the Atlanta Braves this season. The Phillies came into this series knowing that anything but a sweep for the Braves would help them out, and that's exactly what they got. Save for a poor game last night, the Phils controlled the Braves throughout the series and pretty much finished off Atlanta's chances for a division crown this season. Though he only pitched four innings because of the rain, Cliff Lee looked good while he was in there. He had some great bite on his curveball, and his other stuff was pretty sharp, too. He did give up five hits, but only allowed a single run, and the Phillies would provide him with more than enough support.
For the second straight time, the Phillies were able to catch Tommy Hanson in a rain delay game, and they tagged him with another loss. He didn't look as sharp this time around, and the Phillies seemed to have a better read on what he was throwing. Ben Francisco started things off with an RBI double in his first at bat, then three straight hits in the fourth inning brought in two more. Chase Utley capped the scoring with an RBI triple in the fifth inning, and that would be all she wrote on this day.
It was another solid performance by the Phillies bullpen today as well. While Tyler Walker and Sergio Escalona normally don't strike fear into the hearts of opposing batters, today they did quite well, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings and allowing the Phillies to get to Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge without any major issues. Madson did his job in the eighth, striking out the side, and while Lidge gave up a run in the ninth, he struck out two to get his 31st save of the season. I'm not saying anything else about Lidge right now, but it was good to see him out there pitching aggressively. It's what he needs to do now as the playoffs get close.
I said it to start this off, but this was just what the Phillies needed to do this weekend in Atlanta. They played good baseball and took two out of three from the Braves, moving them 8.5 games back with just 14 games left. Up next are the Florida Marlins, and the Phillies need to do the exact same thing to them. Of course, a sweep of the Marlins, coupled with a Mets sweep of the Braves means that the Phillies will have clinched the division on Thursday night, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
The Phils have an off day tomorrow, then play a doubleheader to start the series against Florida. In game one, Joe Blanton (10-7, 3.97 ERA) will go against Josh Johnson (15-4, 3.01 ERA). Game two will feature Marlin killer Jamie Moyer (12-9, 5.05 ERA) and Anibal Sanchez (2-7, 4.50 ERA).
Eagles Aftermath: Saints-48, Eagles-22
What happened?
Kevin Kolb didn't look bad in his first NFL start, but the defense and special teams of the Eagles doomed Philadelphia in their home opener.
The Good:
DeSean Jackson had four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, as well as three runs for 15 yards.
Brent Celek had eight catches for 104 yards.
Jason Avant had seven catches for 79 yards and a score.
The Bad:
Kevin Kolb wasn't horrible in his first start, but he wasn't great. He completed 31/51 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns.
Brian Westbrook had 52 yards on 13 carries before the game got out of hand.
The Ugly:
The defense was the exact opposite of what it was last week. This week, the Eagles allowed Drew Brees to pass at will against them, and allowed 421 total yards.
How many wildcat formation plays is Andy Reid going to run?
Special teams weren't much better than the defense, with DeSean Jackson fielding a punt inside the five yard line, and Ellis Hobbs fumbling the opening kickoff of the second half back to the Saints. Way to kill all the momentum, guys.
Kolb also had some bad moments, including three interceptions in the second half, though the last one was due to a dumbass timeout before the last play of the game. Andy, it's 48-22 with seven seconds to play. One last snap isn't going to make a difference.
Both Brian Westbrook and Asante Samuel left the game with injuries.
The Breakdown:
Oh good lord, what a mess this game was. I can't blame Kevin Kolb for the way he played, in fact, he didn't look half bad. The problem was with the other two units on the field, namely, the defense and special teams. After a great week last week, this looked like the exact opposite. While nothing went wrong last week on defense, this week, the Eagles couldn't stop Drew Brees from carving up the secondary, or Mike Bell and Reggie Bush from beating them up on the ground. It was just a horrible day all around for the Eagles, who were outplayed and outcoached by the Saints.
I'm still trying to figure out what the gameplan was going into this game. Kevin Kolb is making his first ever start, so what does Andy Reid do? Rather than make the gameplan simple, with short passes and lots and lots of running, he slips in about ten wildcat plays and has Kolb pass the ball 51 times. Yes, a lot of the throws came after the game was out of reach, but the plan was flawed even while the game was close. Where the hell was LeSean McCoy for most of this game? He looked solid last week against Carolina, and this week, he only touched the ball nine times. DeSean Jackson looked good on offense anyway, and Brent Celek was a damn good target out there for Kolb, but it wasn't enough, not with the mistakes the Eagles made.
Last week, the special teams looked, well special. This week, they looked special again, but not in a good way. It was more like a riding the short bus kind of special. DeSean Jackson decided to field a punt inside his own five yard line for reasons that are lost to everyone but him. The Eagles went three and out, and two plays later, Drew Brees hit Marques Colston for a touchdown right before the half. Then, Ellis Hobbs managed to fumble the opening kickoff of the third quarter over to the Saints after the Eagles had ended the first half with a good drive and a field goal. The Saints would score quickly, and it was all downhill from there. These are issues that have to be resolved, because I don't care if you have Joe freaking Montana back at quarterback, no team can win with those mental mistakes and a defense that forgets how to tackle. It just didn't look good today.
I have to give Kolb credit, at least he didn't look that bad. He showed he can at least play quarterback in the NFL in a pinch, and though he had three interceptions, I'd only really put the blame for one of them solidly on his shoulders. The first one he threw was a bad read by him and never should have been thrown. The other two happened after the game got out of reach, so I can't hold him responsible for those, no matter how much I may want to. He did manage the game well when it was close, and was able to move around in the pocket and get rid of the ball when he had to. You could see the full week of practice really helped him get ready for the game, but in the end, the Eagles just didn't have enough this week. I don't think Kolb played well enough to start any sort of quarterback controversy, though I do think that he should start next week if McNabb isn't ready to go. Jeff Garcia can back him up for another week, and Michael Vick can...well, I just don't know what Vick is going to do, but I bet Andy has some really cute crap in the playbook for him.
Oh yeah, Vick comes back next week, and Brian Westbrook and Asante Samuel left the game. The next six days leading up to next Sunday are going to be fun.
Kevin Kolb didn't look bad in his first NFL start, but the defense and special teams of the Eagles doomed Philadelphia in their home opener.
The Good:
DeSean Jackson had four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, as well as three runs for 15 yards.
Brent Celek had eight catches for 104 yards.
Jason Avant had seven catches for 79 yards and a score.
The Bad:
Kevin Kolb wasn't horrible in his first start, but he wasn't great. He completed 31/51 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns.
Brian Westbrook had 52 yards on 13 carries before the game got out of hand.
The Ugly:
The defense was the exact opposite of what it was last week. This week, the Eagles allowed Drew Brees to pass at will against them, and allowed 421 total yards.
How many wildcat formation plays is Andy Reid going to run?
Special teams weren't much better than the defense, with DeSean Jackson fielding a punt inside the five yard line, and Ellis Hobbs fumbling the opening kickoff of the second half back to the Saints. Way to kill all the momentum, guys.
Kolb also had some bad moments, including three interceptions in the second half, though the last one was due to a dumbass timeout before the last play of the game. Andy, it's 48-22 with seven seconds to play. One last snap isn't going to make a difference.
Both Brian Westbrook and Asante Samuel left the game with injuries.
The Breakdown:
Oh good lord, what a mess this game was. I can't blame Kevin Kolb for the way he played, in fact, he didn't look half bad. The problem was with the other two units on the field, namely, the defense and special teams. After a great week last week, this looked like the exact opposite. While nothing went wrong last week on defense, this week, the Eagles couldn't stop Drew Brees from carving up the secondary, or Mike Bell and Reggie Bush from beating them up on the ground. It was just a horrible day all around for the Eagles, who were outplayed and outcoached by the Saints.
I'm still trying to figure out what the gameplan was going into this game. Kevin Kolb is making his first ever start, so what does Andy Reid do? Rather than make the gameplan simple, with short passes and lots and lots of running, he slips in about ten wildcat plays and has Kolb pass the ball 51 times. Yes, a lot of the throws came after the game was out of reach, but the plan was flawed even while the game was close. Where the hell was LeSean McCoy for most of this game? He looked solid last week against Carolina, and this week, he only touched the ball nine times. DeSean Jackson looked good on offense anyway, and Brent Celek was a damn good target out there for Kolb, but it wasn't enough, not with the mistakes the Eagles made.
Last week, the special teams looked, well special. This week, they looked special again, but not in a good way. It was more like a riding the short bus kind of special. DeSean Jackson decided to field a punt inside his own five yard line for reasons that are lost to everyone but him. The Eagles went three and out, and two plays later, Drew Brees hit Marques Colston for a touchdown right before the half. Then, Ellis Hobbs managed to fumble the opening kickoff of the third quarter over to the Saints after the Eagles had ended the first half with a good drive and a field goal. The Saints would score quickly, and it was all downhill from there. These are issues that have to be resolved, because I don't care if you have Joe freaking Montana back at quarterback, no team can win with those mental mistakes and a defense that forgets how to tackle. It just didn't look good today.
I have to give Kolb credit, at least he didn't look that bad. He showed he can at least play quarterback in the NFL in a pinch, and though he had three interceptions, I'd only really put the blame for one of them solidly on his shoulders. The first one he threw was a bad read by him and never should have been thrown. The other two happened after the game got out of reach, so I can't hold him responsible for those, no matter how much I may want to. He did manage the game well when it was close, and was able to move around in the pocket and get rid of the ball when he had to. You could see the full week of practice really helped him get ready for the game, but in the end, the Eagles just didn't have enough this week. I don't think Kolb played well enough to start any sort of quarterback controversy, though I do think that he should start next week if McNabb isn't ready to go. Jeff Garcia can back him up for another week, and Michael Vick can...well, I just don't know what Vick is going to do, but I bet Andy has some really cute crap in the playbook for him.
Oh yeah, Vick comes back next week, and Brian Westbrook and Asante Samuel left the game. The next six days leading up to next Sunday are going to be fun.
Phillie of the Week: September 13-19
The Phillies had a great showing this week, winning six in a row before dropping a game last night to the Braves. This might be the most unlikely Phillie of the Week ever, but the way he played this week, he deserves it. This week's Phillie of the Week is:
Kyle Kendrick
I'm not sure where this guy came from, but he looked nothing like the pitcher that I thought was washed out last season. Kendrick went 2-0 this week, allowing two runs on ten hits in 11.1 innings. He only walked one batter and struck out three, and finished the week with a 1.59 ERA. With the way the starting pitchers have left the last two games, I'm hoping he can keep this up.
Kyle Kendrick
I'm not sure where this guy came from, but he looked nothing like the pitcher that I thought was washed out last season. Kendrick went 2-0 this week, allowing two runs on ten hits in 11.1 innings. He only walked one batter and struck out three, and finished the week with a 1.59 ERA. With the way the starting pitchers have left the last two games, I'm hoping he can keep this up.
Phillies Recap: Braves-6, Phillies-4
Game Recap:
Pedro Martinez left after just three innings and the Braves handed him his first loss in a Phillies uniform.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 1-3 with a two run home run.
Jimmy Rollins went 1-5 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-3 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez went 1-3 and scored a run.
Greg Dobbs had a pinch hit RBI in the ninth inning.
What went wrong?
Jayson Werth went 0-3.
Paul Bako once again existed and was 0-2.
Pedro Martinez left after three innings with neck stiffness. He allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out one.
Game Analysis:
It was bound to happen eventually. Just as Cliff Lee had to lose a game as a Phillie, the same had to happen to Pedro Martinez. I just didn't think it would happen like this. Just one start removed from an eight inning scoreless showing, Pedro only lasted three innings last night before leaving due to neck stiffness. I doubt it's anything serious, but it's something that's going to have to be looked at until it's time for him to start again.
Even while he was in there, he didn't have the same stuff he had brought to the table in most of his starts. The Braves were on most of his pitches, and it showed as they managed seven hits and three runs in just three innings. Luckily, it's just one game, and I'm not too torn up about it, as long as he can pitch better his next time out. Pitchers make bad starts, it's part of baseball. If his neck is ok, then he'll be able to pitch, and should do fine in his next start.
The offense was asleep for most of the game, not waking up until the ninth inning, when they actually made things interesting. Ryan Howard launched his third home run in two nights, and the Phils would add two more runs, but Ben Francisco flew out to end the game and put a lid on any chance of a comeback last night. I'll give the Phillies credit for putting some fear into the ten Atlanta fans that were at the game last night, but it wasn't enough. The Phils need to get their offense going a little bit sooner than the ninth inning if they want to win the rest of these games and get back to the playoffs for the third straight season. There are 15 games left in the season, and the Phillies have a seven game lead. As long as they can avoid disaster in their next four games, they should be able to celebrate their third straight NL East crown.
Today, Cliff Lee (14-11, 3.00 ERA) looks to give the Phillies a win in their last game against the Braves this year. He'll be taking on promising rookie Tommy Hanson (10-3, 2.65 ERA).
Pedro Martinez left after just three innings and the Braves handed him his first loss in a Phillies uniform.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 1-3 with a two run home run.
Jimmy Rollins went 1-5 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-3 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez went 1-3 and scored a run.
Greg Dobbs had a pinch hit RBI in the ninth inning.
What went wrong?
Jayson Werth went 0-3.
Paul Bako once again existed and was 0-2.
Pedro Martinez left after three innings with neck stiffness. He allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out one.
Game Analysis:
It was bound to happen eventually. Just as Cliff Lee had to lose a game as a Phillie, the same had to happen to Pedro Martinez. I just didn't think it would happen like this. Just one start removed from an eight inning scoreless showing, Pedro only lasted three innings last night before leaving due to neck stiffness. I doubt it's anything serious, but it's something that's going to have to be looked at until it's time for him to start again.
Even while he was in there, he didn't have the same stuff he had brought to the table in most of his starts. The Braves were on most of his pitches, and it showed as they managed seven hits and three runs in just three innings. Luckily, it's just one game, and I'm not too torn up about it, as long as he can pitch better his next time out. Pitchers make bad starts, it's part of baseball. If his neck is ok, then he'll be able to pitch, and should do fine in his next start.
The offense was asleep for most of the game, not waking up until the ninth inning, when they actually made things interesting. Ryan Howard launched his third home run in two nights, and the Phils would add two more runs, but Ben Francisco flew out to end the game and put a lid on any chance of a comeback last night. I'll give the Phillies credit for putting some fear into the ten Atlanta fans that were at the game last night, but it wasn't enough. The Phils need to get their offense going a little bit sooner than the ninth inning if they want to win the rest of these games and get back to the playoffs for the third straight season. There are 15 games left in the season, and the Phillies have a seven game lead. As long as they can avoid disaster in their next four games, they should be able to celebrate their third straight NL East crown.
Today, Cliff Lee (14-11, 3.00 ERA) looks to give the Phillies a win in their last game against the Braves this year. He'll be taking on promising rookie Tommy Hanson (10-3, 2.65 ERA).
Friday, September 18, 2009
Phillies Recap: Phillies-9, Braves-4
Game Recap:
Ryan Howard launched two home runs as the Phillies took the first game of their three game series against Atlanta, moving their magic number down to eight.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with a three run home run.
Ben Francisco was 3-5 with two runs scored and a solo home run.
Ryan Howard was 2-4, scoring twice and driving in three with two home runs.
Jayson Werth went 3-4 with two RBI.
Kyle Kendrick relieved J.A. Happ in the fourth inning, and pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just three hits.
What went wrong?
J.A. Happ left the game after three innings for what the Phillies are calling "precautionary reasons." He allowed one run on five hits while he was in there.
Raul Ibanez was 0-4.
Pedro Feliz was 0-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-1 before leaving with a strained wrist in the fifth inning.
Game Analysis:
There were very few teams as hot as the Atlanta Braves coming into tonight's game. It took all of four innings before the Phillies had started to stomp that fire out, and by the time the ninth inning came around, the fire was out and the Phillies were 8.5 games up on the Braves with just 16 to play. I'm not saying it's over yet, but it's damn sure close.
The Phillies needed to make a statement tonight, and they did so with their offense. For some reason, Tim Hudson continued to pitch to Ryan Howard, and the big man made him pay again, launching two more home runs into the Georgia night to put the Phils up early. The two shots gave Howard 40 home runs and 120 RBI for the fourth straight season, and while his numbers more than likely won't be as good as last year, I'll take 40 homers and 120 RBI out of my number four hitter any season. Jimmy Rollins and Ben Francisco put the game out of reach with back to back home runs in the ninth inning after the Braves had gotten close in the eighth. This is how the Phillies should be responding right now. Atlanta put up two runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Phils came right back with four runs in the top of the ninth. It quieted the Braves and gave the Phillies all the momentum. Best of all, it kept Brad Lidge in the bullpen and moved the game away from a save situation.
I am concerned about J.A. Happ, but it seemed like he was taken out as a precaution, rather than having an actual injury. He was allowed to finish pitching the bottom of the third inning, and if anything was really wrong, he would have been taken out on the spot, so it's hopefully nothing major. I have to give a lot of credit to Kyle Kendrick, who has been nothing short of great in his last two showings. He kept the Phillies in front and had his good stuff again. The Braves looked lost against Kendrick, and his four innings of work were just the thing to help keep the bullpen arms fresh and give the Phils another win.
All in all, it was a great start to this ten game road trip. The offense was spot on, and despite J.A. Happ leaving the game early, the pitching was solid as well. There should be more news tomorrow on Happ's and Carlos Ruiz's statuses, and hopefully it's good news.
Tomorrow, Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.87 ERA) takes on Javier Vazquez (13-9, 3.01 ERA). It should be a good matchup, as Vazquez has solid numbers against the Phillies this season, and Pedro...is Pedro.
Ryan Howard launched two home runs as the Phillies took the first game of their three game series against Atlanta, moving their magic number down to eight.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with a three run home run.
Ben Francisco was 3-5 with two runs scored and a solo home run.
Ryan Howard was 2-4, scoring twice and driving in three with two home runs.
Jayson Werth went 3-4 with two RBI.
Kyle Kendrick relieved J.A. Happ in the fourth inning, and pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just three hits.
What went wrong?
J.A. Happ left the game after three innings for what the Phillies are calling "precautionary reasons." He allowed one run on five hits while he was in there.
Raul Ibanez was 0-4.
Pedro Feliz was 0-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-1 before leaving with a strained wrist in the fifth inning.
Game Analysis:
There were very few teams as hot as the Atlanta Braves coming into tonight's game. It took all of four innings before the Phillies had started to stomp that fire out, and by the time the ninth inning came around, the fire was out and the Phillies were 8.5 games up on the Braves with just 16 to play. I'm not saying it's over yet, but it's damn sure close.
The Phillies needed to make a statement tonight, and they did so with their offense. For some reason, Tim Hudson continued to pitch to Ryan Howard, and the big man made him pay again, launching two more home runs into the Georgia night to put the Phils up early. The two shots gave Howard 40 home runs and 120 RBI for the fourth straight season, and while his numbers more than likely won't be as good as last year, I'll take 40 homers and 120 RBI out of my number four hitter any season. Jimmy Rollins and Ben Francisco put the game out of reach with back to back home runs in the ninth inning after the Braves had gotten close in the eighth. This is how the Phillies should be responding right now. Atlanta put up two runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Phils came right back with four runs in the top of the ninth. It quieted the Braves and gave the Phillies all the momentum. Best of all, it kept Brad Lidge in the bullpen and moved the game away from a save situation.
I am concerned about J.A. Happ, but it seemed like he was taken out as a precaution, rather than having an actual injury. He was allowed to finish pitching the bottom of the third inning, and if anything was really wrong, he would have been taken out on the spot, so it's hopefully nothing major. I have to give a lot of credit to Kyle Kendrick, who has been nothing short of great in his last two showings. He kept the Phillies in front and had his good stuff again. The Braves looked lost against Kendrick, and his four innings of work were just the thing to help keep the bullpen arms fresh and give the Phils another win.
All in all, it was a great start to this ten game road trip. The offense was spot on, and despite J.A. Happ leaving the game early, the pitching was solid as well. There should be more news tomorrow on Happ's and Carlos Ruiz's statuses, and hopefully it's good news.
Tomorrow, Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.87 ERA) takes on Javier Vazquez (13-9, 3.01 ERA). It should be a good matchup, as Vazquez has solid numbers against the Phillies this season, and Pedro...is Pedro.
Phillies Recap: Phillies-4, Nationals-2
Game Recap:
Cole Hamels was dominant, striking out ten Nationals in eight innings as the Phillies swept Washington and moved their magic number to just ten games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 2-4 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-3 and scored a run.
Jayson Werth went 1-3 and scored a run.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3, but had an RBI on a bases loaded walk.
Cole Hamels allowed one run on five hits in eight innings. He walked one and struck out ten, while also going 1-3 at the plate with an RBI single.
What went wrong?
The Phillies left seven men on base and struck out seven times.
Game Analysis:
What else can be said about the starting pitching for the Phillies lately? It seems like it doesn't matter who is out on the mound, because they're going to pitch well. Cole Hamels continued that trend last night, and continued to turn his season around with an eight inning, one run, ten strikeout performance. After a horrid start to the year, Cole's got his ERA just above 4.00 now, which is impressive, considering how this year started for the World Series MVP. He's pitching like his old self again, too, going 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA in the month of September. That's what counts for the Phillies right now...their pitching is stepping up when it matters the most.
The offense didn't have the best night last night, but with the pitching doing as well as it has, it doesn't really matter. Right now, the Phillies are 25 games over .500 for the first time since the 1993 season, and are looking like a team that could go a long, long way in the postseason. The Cardinals are slumping right now, and the Dodgers have come back to Earth, too. With the starting pitching doing as well as it is for the Phils, they have a real chance to get homefield throughout the National League playoffs if they keep up with this hot streak.
Now, none of that matters right now, because the Phillies have a huge six game stretch starting tonight. They head to Atlanta for three, then down to Miami for three games against the Marlins. These six games could easily bury everyone else in the National League East, or it could leave the door open for a potential collapse. Don't laugh about that. With 17 games to play, the Phillies are 7.5 games up on Atlanta. We've seen it happen before, so I wouldn't discount anything at this point. One game at a time boys, one game at a time.
Tonight, J.A. Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA) returns to the mound to take on Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.63 ERA). A win tonight, coupled with a Florida loss in Cincinnati, takes the magic number down to eight.
Cole Hamels was dominant, striking out ten Nationals in eight innings as the Phillies swept Washington and moved their magic number to just ten games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 2-4 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-3 and scored a run.
Jayson Werth went 1-3 and scored a run.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3, but had an RBI on a bases loaded walk.
Cole Hamels allowed one run on five hits in eight innings. He walked one and struck out ten, while also going 1-3 at the plate with an RBI single.
What went wrong?
The Phillies left seven men on base and struck out seven times.
Game Analysis:
What else can be said about the starting pitching for the Phillies lately? It seems like it doesn't matter who is out on the mound, because they're going to pitch well. Cole Hamels continued that trend last night, and continued to turn his season around with an eight inning, one run, ten strikeout performance. After a horrid start to the year, Cole's got his ERA just above 4.00 now, which is impressive, considering how this year started for the World Series MVP. He's pitching like his old self again, too, going 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA in the month of September. That's what counts for the Phillies right now...their pitching is stepping up when it matters the most.
The offense didn't have the best night last night, but with the pitching doing as well as it has, it doesn't really matter. Right now, the Phillies are 25 games over .500 for the first time since the 1993 season, and are looking like a team that could go a long, long way in the postseason. The Cardinals are slumping right now, and the Dodgers have come back to Earth, too. With the starting pitching doing as well as it is for the Phils, they have a real chance to get homefield throughout the National League playoffs if they keep up with this hot streak.
Now, none of that matters right now, because the Phillies have a huge six game stretch starting tonight. They head to Atlanta for three, then down to Miami for three games against the Marlins. These six games could easily bury everyone else in the National League East, or it could leave the door open for a potential collapse. Don't laugh about that. With 17 games to play, the Phillies are 7.5 games up on Atlanta. We've seen it happen before, so I wouldn't discount anything at this point. One game at a time boys, one game at a time.
Tonight, J.A. Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA) returns to the mound to take on Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.63 ERA). A win tonight, coupled with a Florida loss in Cincinnati, takes the magic number down to eight.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Phillies Recap: Phillies-6, Nationals-1
Game Recap:
Jayson Werth's grand slam provided all the runs the Phillies needed tonight, as Joe Blanton pitched six scoreless innings to move the magic number to 11.
What went right?
Chase Utley went 1-3, scored two runs and stole two bases, included a steal of home in the first inning.
Ryan Howard was 1-3 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez was 1-1 with three walks and scored twice.
Jayson Werth went 2-4 with a grand slam in the seventh inning.
Joe Blanton pitched six scoreless innings, giving up five hits. He walked four and struck out seven.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-4.
Pedro Feliz was 0-4.
Chan Ho Park left the game with a strained hamstring.
Tyler Walker allowed the first run that the Phillies gave up in 26.2 innings in the ninth inning...but I'm just nitpicking.
Game Analysis:
How good is the starting pitching for the Phillies right now? Even though Joe Blanton only lasted six innings, he continued the scoreless streak that the starting pitchers have going right now. He pitched himself into a few situations, but then managed to pitch out of them, and that's the sign of a very good pitcher. I don't care how many times runners get on base, as long as you can keep them from scoring, and that's what happened tonight.
The Phils couldn't get much going on offense, with Chase Utley's steal of home providing the first run, and Raul Ibanez getting home on an error by Ian Desmond. Then, Jayson Werth broke the game open in the seventh inning with a grand slam that pretty much put the game out of reach. Werth has been one of the hottest players for the Phillies of late, and that's a good thing. With Ibanez getting better again, and Werth having an outside chance of hitting 40 home runs this year, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have some great protection in the lineup.
Of course, not all went well tonight. Chan Ho Park strained his hamstring at the end of the seventh inning, forcing him to leave the game. A hamstring injury is nothing to mess around with, so I wouldn't expect Park to be pitching for at least a week, but that's just me. I could also get on Tyler Walker for ending the Phillies' scoreless streak at 26.2 innings, but I won't do that. I'm just happy that the Phillies keep winning right now. There's only one more game this year against Washington and after that, the going gets tougher, so I'm hoping this hot play carries over against the Braves and Marlins this weekend.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (9-9, 4.21 ERA) goes against Ross Detwiler (0-5, 6.17 ERA).
Jayson Werth's grand slam provided all the runs the Phillies needed tonight, as Joe Blanton pitched six scoreless innings to move the magic number to 11.
What went right?
Chase Utley went 1-3, scored two runs and stole two bases, included a steal of home in the first inning.
Ryan Howard was 1-3 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez was 1-1 with three walks and scored twice.
Jayson Werth went 2-4 with a grand slam in the seventh inning.
Joe Blanton pitched six scoreless innings, giving up five hits. He walked four and struck out seven.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-4.
Pedro Feliz was 0-4.
Chan Ho Park left the game with a strained hamstring.
Tyler Walker allowed the first run that the Phillies gave up in 26.2 innings in the ninth inning...but I'm just nitpicking.
Game Analysis:
How good is the starting pitching for the Phillies right now? Even though Joe Blanton only lasted six innings, he continued the scoreless streak that the starting pitchers have going right now. He pitched himself into a few situations, but then managed to pitch out of them, and that's the sign of a very good pitcher. I don't care how many times runners get on base, as long as you can keep them from scoring, and that's what happened tonight.
The Phils couldn't get much going on offense, with Chase Utley's steal of home providing the first run, and Raul Ibanez getting home on an error by Ian Desmond. Then, Jayson Werth broke the game open in the seventh inning with a grand slam that pretty much put the game out of reach. Werth has been one of the hottest players for the Phillies of late, and that's a good thing. With Ibanez getting better again, and Werth having an outside chance of hitting 40 home runs this year, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have some great protection in the lineup.
Of course, not all went well tonight. Chan Ho Park strained his hamstring at the end of the seventh inning, forcing him to leave the game. A hamstring injury is nothing to mess around with, so I wouldn't expect Park to be pitching for at least a week, but that's just me. I could also get on Tyler Walker for ending the Phillies' scoreless streak at 26.2 innings, but I won't do that. I'm just happy that the Phillies keep winning right now. There's only one more game this year against Washington and after that, the going gets tougher, so I'm hoping this hot play carries over against the Braves and Marlins this weekend.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (9-9, 4.21 ERA) goes against Ross Detwiler (0-5, 6.17 ERA).
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Phillies Recap: Phillies-5, Nationals-0
Game Recap:
Cliff Lee pitched his third complete game for the Phillies to power them past Washington and move their magic number to just 12 games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-4 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth was 3-4 and scored a run.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-4 with two doubles and three RBI.
Raul Ibanez went 1-3 and scored once.
Cliff Lee pitched a complete game shutout, giving up six hits. He walked three and struck out nine.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard went 0-3.
That's it.
Game Analysis:
That's the Cliff Lee I remembered from the first five starts he had with the Phillies. After struggling in his last three appearances, Lee came out tonight and was dealing. After he struck out the side in the first inning, it was clear that this wasn't the same guy that didn't have his best stuff the last three times he pitched. This was the Cliff Lee the Phillies had traded for, and man did he look good tonight.
It helped that the Phils got out to a good start on offense tonight, too. Chase Utley brought Jimmy Rollins home in the first inning, and Carlos Ruiz cleared the bases with a three run double in the second, and that would be all she wrote for the Nationals on this night. The Phillies wouldn't score again after the second inning, but they wouldn't need to.
So, where do the Phils stand now? As of me writing this, their magic number has slipped down to 12 games, and they have a 7.5 game lead over the Braves and Marlins. That number means nothing right now, not with a series against Atlanta, then one against Florida coming up. However, the way the starting pitching has been going lately, I like the Phillies' chances. When you can get Kyle freaking Kendrick to pitch well, things are going right for your starting rotation. The Phillies haven't allowed a run in the last 18 innings, and their starters have thrown 17 of those innings. This is what good playoff teams are made out of. Starting pitchers this time of year need to go deep into games to save the bullpen, and that's what the Phillies have working for them right now. They've still got 19 games left, and anything could happen, but right now, I'm cautiously optimistic.
Tomorrow, Joe Blanton (9-7, 4.11 ERA) tries once again for win number ten on the season as he goes against Livan Hernandez (8-10, 5.30 ERA).
Cliff Lee pitched his third complete game for the Phillies to power them past Washington and move their magic number to just 12 games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with an RBI.
Chase Utley was 1-4 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth was 3-4 and scored a run.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-4 with two doubles and three RBI.
Raul Ibanez went 1-3 and scored once.
Cliff Lee pitched a complete game shutout, giving up six hits. He walked three and struck out nine.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard went 0-3.
That's it.
Game Analysis:
That's the Cliff Lee I remembered from the first five starts he had with the Phillies. After struggling in his last three appearances, Lee came out tonight and was dealing. After he struck out the side in the first inning, it was clear that this wasn't the same guy that didn't have his best stuff the last three times he pitched. This was the Cliff Lee the Phillies had traded for, and man did he look good tonight.
It helped that the Phils got out to a good start on offense tonight, too. Chase Utley brought Jimmy Rollins home in the first inning, and Carlos Ruiz cleared the bases with a three run double in the second, and that would be all she wrote for the Nationals on this night. The Phillies wouldn't score again after the second inning, but they wouldn't need to.
So, where do the Phils stand now? As of me writing this, their magic number has slipped down to 12 games, and they have a 7.5 game lead over the Braves and Marlins. That number means nothing right now, not with a series against Atlanta, then one against Florida coming up. However, the way the starting pitching has been going lately, I like the Phillies' chances. When you can get Kyle freaking Kendrick to pitch well, things are going right for your starting rotation. The Phillies haven't allowed a run in the last 18 innings, and their starters have thrown 17 of those innings. This is what good playoff teams are made out of. Starting pitchers this time of year need to go deep into games to save the bullpen, and that's what the Phillies have working for them right now. They've still got 19 games left, and anything could happen, but right now, I'm cautiously optimistic.
Tomorrow, Joe Blanton (9-7, 4.11 ERA) tries once again for win number ten on the season as he goes against Livan Hernandez (8-10, 5.30 ERA).
Eagles add Jeff Garcia back to the mix, do so by putting Shawn Andrews on IR
Well, the saga that is Shawn Andrews just keeps getting more and more depressing (no pun intended). After trying to deal either Reggie Brown or Hank Baskett to make room for Jeff Garcia, the team instead was forced to put Shawn Andrews on injured reserve, ending his 2009 season. Andrews only played in two games last year with a back injury, and now he's going to miss all of this season with the same problem. Meanwhile, Jeff Garcia has been brought in as a short term insurance policy for Kevin Kolb, if Donovan McNabb's injury is worse than expected.
It's certainly the right move, since A.J. Feely signed with the Panthers earlier on Monday. Garcia already knows the offense from the 2006 season, and could step in fairly easily if Kolb struggles. I'm not too concerned about the quarterback position right now then. Garcia knows what he's doing and got the Eagles to the playoffs in his one season here, so having him, even for just the short term, is a sound investment.
What I am worried about is where Shawn Andrews goes from here. It's pretty obvious now that his career in Philadelphia has just about reached its end. The Eagles did everything they could to make his life easier this offseason by bringing in his brother and college roommate to play next to him on the offensive line. Instead, Andrews continued to have problems with his back, cut his hair into a mohawk and made Youtube videos. It's a shame to see him fall so far after looking like he was going to be one of the best linemen in the NFL for about a decade. I don't know what's going to come for him next, but I think I would be safe in saying that it's not going to come as a member of the Eagles.
Andy Reid had better get Jon Runyan on the phone, and quick. That depth on the offensive line is a little thin now.
ESPN: Shawn Andrews of Philadelphia put on IR to make room for Jeff Garcia
It's certainly the right move, since A.J. Feely signed with the Panthers earlier on Monday. Garcia already knows the offense from the 2006 season, and could step in fairly easily if Kolb struggles. I'm not too concerned about the quarterback position right now then. Garcia knows what he's doing and got the Eagles to the playoffs in his one season here, so having him, even for just the short term, is a sound investment.
What I am worried about is where Shawn Andrews goes from here. It's pretty obvious now that his career in Philadelphia has just about reached its end. The Eagles did everything they could to make his life easier this offseason by bringing in his brother and college roommate to play next to him on the offensive line. Instead, Andrews continued to have problems with his back, cut his hair into a mohawk and made Youtube videos. It's a shame to see him fall so far after looking like he was going to be one of the best linemen in the NFL for about a decade. I don't know what's going to come for him next, but I think I would be safe in saying that it's not going to come as a member of the Eagles.
Andy Reid had better get Jon Runyan on the phone, and quick. That depth on the offensive line is a little thin now.
ESPN: Shawn Andrews of Philadelphia put on IR to make room for Jeff Garcia
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Phillies Recap Part 2: Phillies-1, Mets-0
Game Recap:
One run was all the Phillies needed, as Pedro Martinez pitched eight shutout innings to help the Phillies sweep the doubleheader against New York.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4.
Chase Utley went 1-3 with an RBI.
Pedro Feliz went 1-3.
Pedro Martinez pitched eight shutout innings, giving up just six hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
What went wrong?
The Phillies only had three hits.
Game Analysis:
With a prime time game and a chance to move 6.5 games up on Florida on the line, Pedro Martinez stepped back into a time machine and pitched like it was 1999 again. Eight shutout innings, seven strikeouts and just having a great feel for the game. It was vintage Pedro tonight, and my God, I was glad he was wearing a Phillies uniform tonight.
Tim Redding did what he normally does against the Phillies, but the first three batters of the game managed to reach base, and that would be all that was needed tonight. Chase Utley drove home Jimmy Rollins, and from there, it was all Pedro. I can't even begin to tell you how great he pitched tonight, you had to see it to fully enjoy it. The Mets just couldn't get anything going, and when they did, Pedro was able to get out of it without giving up anything. It was the exact kind of showing the Phillies needed tonight.
If you had told me before he started the season that Pedro Martinez would be 5-0 with an ERA under 3.00 in his first seven starts, I would have laughed in your face and asked for some of the drugs that you had. However, that's what has actually happened, and bringing him in might even be a better decision than trading for Cliff Lee. In the span of two weeks, the Phillies managed to bring in two former Cy Young winners, and they've both pitched like it. All of a sudden, the starting rotation that was such a question midway through the season has become one hell of a strength.
The Phillies have an off day tomorrow, then welcome the Nationals in for three games. Cliff Lee (13-11, 3.13 ERA) takes the ball for the Phils, going against Garrett Mock (3-7, 5.75 ERA).
One run was all the Phillies needed, as Pedro Martinez pitched eight shutout innings to help the Phillies sweep the doubleheader against New York.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4.
Chase Utley went 1-3 with an RBI.
Pedro Feliz went 1-3.
Pedro Martinez pitched eight shutout innings, giving up just six hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
What went wrong?
The Phillies only had three hits.
Game Analysis:
With a prime time game and a chance to move 6.5 games up on Florida on the line, Pedro Martinez stepped back into a time machine and pitched like it was 1999 again. Eight shutout innings, seven strikeouts and just having a great feel for the game. It was vintage Pedro tonight, and my God, I was glad he was wearing a Phillies uniform tonight.
Tim Redding did what he normally does against the Phillies, but the first three batters of the game managed to reach base, and that would be all that was needed tonight. Chase Utley drove home Jimmy Rollins, and from there, it was all Pedro. I can't even begin to tell you how great he pitched tonight, you had to see it to fully enjoy it. The Mets just couldn't get anything going, and when they did, Pedro was able to get out of it without giving up anything. It was the exact kind of showing the Phillies needed tonight.
If you had told me before he started the season that Pedro Martinez would be 5-0 with an ERA under 3.00 in his first seven starts, I would have laughed in your face and asked for some of the drugs that you had. However, that's what has actually happened, and bringing him in might even be a better decision than trading for Cliff Lee. In the span of two weeks, the Phillies managed to bring in two former Cy Young winners, and they've both pitched like it. All of a sudden, the starting rotation that was such a question midway through the season has become one hell of a strength.
The Phillies have an off day tomorrow, then welcome the Nationals in for three games. Cliff Lee (13-11, 3.13 ERA) takes the ball for the Phils, going against Garrett Mock (3-7, 5.75 ERA).
Phillies Recap: Phillies-5, Mets-4
Game Recap:
Kyle Kendrick looked very sharp, handling the Mets for 7.1 innings as the Phillies took the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-4 with a two run home run. He also scored a run.
Ryan Howard was 1-3 with an RBI double.
Ben Francisco went 2-4 with a solo home run.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 with a run scored.
Andy Tracy had a huge pinch hit RBI that proved to be the difference maker in the game.
Kyle Kendrick allowed two runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
What went wrong?
Paul Bako continued to exist and went 0-3.
Brad Lidge saved the game in the ninth, but allowed two runs on three hits to make it close. He didn't walk a batter and struck out one.
Game Analysis:
Who was that guy pitching today, and what did he do with the real Kyle Kendrick? I'm not going to complain, though, since Kendrick looked lights out in a very nice spot start for the Phillies this afternoon. Kendrick had the Mets guessing all day, and had a very nice sinker working for him. Any time a pitcher can record 15 groundball outs, his sinker is working, and Kendrick had his on the money today.
The offense also did just enough to get by today, but it was fine. Shane Victorino hit his tenth home run of the season, and Ryan Howard just keeps doing what he does this time of the year with an RBI double in the first inning that gave Kendrick the early lead. Ben Francisco added another homer as well, but the story today was how good Kyle Kendrick looked.
Of course, it almost all fell apart in the ninth inning when Brad Lidge came in to pitch, but fortunately he could hold a three run lead, and only allowed two runs to score. He didn't look that good, but Charlie Manuel didn't have any other options out there for this game. Lidge had to come in and pitch, that was all there was to it. Luckily, he did just enough to save the game, despite a few nerve racking moments. I'm not happy with Lidge in the closer role right now, but he did his job today, and that's what matters. The good news is, if the Washington/Florida game stays the same, the Phillies will have their six game lead back with another game to play tonight. I'd love to see the Phils up 6.5 games with Washington coming to town for three more games this week.
Tonight, Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.64 ERA) looks to close out the doubleheader with a win. Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78 ERA) will go for the Mets.
Kyle Kendrick looked very sharp, handling the Mets for 7.1 innings as the Phillies took the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-4 with a two run home run. He also scored a run.
Ryan Howard was 1-3 with an RBI double.
Ben Francisco went 2-4 with a solo home run.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 with a run scored.
Andy Tracy had a huge pinch hit RBI that proved to be the difference maker in the game.
Kyle Kendrick allowed two runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
What went wrong?
Paul Bako continued to exist and went 0-3.
Brad Lidge saved the game in the ninth, but allowed two runs on three hits to make it close. He didn't walk a batter and struck out one.
Game Analysis:
Who was that guy pitching today, and what did he do with the real Kyle Kendrick? I'm not going to complain, though, since Kendrick looked lights out in a very nice spot start for the Phillies this afternoon. Kendrick had the Mets guessing all day, and had a very nice sinker working for him. Any time a pitcher can record 15 groundball outs, his sinker is working, and Kendrick had his on the money today.
The offense also did just enough to get by today, but it was fine. Shane Victorino hit his tenth home run of the season, and Ryan Howard just keeps doing what he does this time of the year with an RBI double in the first inning that gave Kendrick the early lead. Ben Francisco added another homer as well, but the story today was how good Kyle Kendrick looked.
Of course, it almost all fell apart in the ninth inning when Brad Lidge came in to pitch, but fortunately he could hold a three run lead, and only allowed two runs to score. He didn't look that good, but Charlie Manuel didn't have any other options out there for this game. Lidge had to come in and pitch, that was all there was to it. Luckily, he did just enough to save the game, despite a few nerve racking moments. I'm not happy with Lidge in the closer role right now, but he did his job today, and that's what matters. The good news is, if the Washington/Florida game stays the same, the Phillies will have their six game lead back with another game to play tonight. I'd love to see the Phils up 6.5 games with Washington coming to town for three more games this week.
Tonight, Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.64 ERA) looks to close out the doubleheader with a win. Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78 ERA) will go for the Mets.
Eagles Aftermath: Eagles-38, Panthers-10
What happened?
The Eagles allowed a long scoring drive to start the game, but then forced Jake Delhomme out of the game and dominated the next three and a half quarters. Of course, not all the news was good, as Donovan McNabb was injured on a touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Good:
The defense was awesome, allowing just ten points for the game. They recorded five sacks, intercepted five passes, recovered two fumbles and scored a touchdown. Jake Delhomme was pulled midway through the third quarter, and his replacements didn't do much better.
DeSean Jackson scored on an 85 yard punt return, the second longest in Eagles history.
LeSean McCoy looked good, picking up 46 yards on nine carries.
Brian Westbrook has 64 yards on 13 carries, and also had three catches and a touchdown.
The offensive line looked great, giving up just two sacks on the day.
Donovan McNabb went 10/18 for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 27 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Bad:
On the touchdown run, McNabb was injured. According to Andy Reid, he's got a cracked rib, and while he might play next week, odds are he's going to miss 2-4 weeks.
Kevin Kolb was not that impressive in relief of McNabb, completing 7/11 passes for just 23 yards.
The Ugly:
Did I mention that Kevin Kolb is probably going to start next week against the Saints?
Kevin...Kolb.
The Breakdown:
Ugh. This game against Carolina was looking like a great way to start the regular season after an interesting preseason. Aside from the opening drive of the game, the defense locked the Panthers down and kept them away from the end zone, and the makeshift offensive line was great, aside from a few false start calls. That's not what matters right now, though.
What matters is the health of Donovan McNabb, especially for next week. On the last scoring drive the Eagles had, McNabb ran for a three yard touchdown run, but Jon Beason hit him late, after he had scored. McNabb broke a rib on that play and didn't return to the game. I didn't want him to come back in, but that's not important. What is important is whether or not McNabb is even going to be close to playing next Sunday in the home opener against the Saints. I've heard conflicting reports right now that he could play next week, or he could miss 2-4 weeks. If the latter is the case, I want A.J. Feeley on the next plane to Philadelphia before this day is over.
I don't trust Kevin Kolb to run this offense. I never have. If McNabb can't start next week, odds are the Kolb is going to get his first career start, then things will get interesting, since Michael Vick can play in Week 3. Do the Eagles let Vick start that game if McNabb can't go? I don't even want to think about that right now. All I care about right now is the health of #5. We're not going to know more until tomorrow, when he gets looked at back at the NovaCare Complex, so it's going to be an anxious night for Eagles fans.
Big ups to the defense, who looked leaps and bounds better than they did at any point during the preseason. Any time you can get the opposing quarterback booed off the field, during the season opener, you're doing something right. Jake Delhomme had no time to throw all day, and ended up throwing four interceptions and fumbling once. By the time the dust had settled in the second quarter, the Eagles were up 31-7, and Delhomme was looking for the license plate of the truck that ran him over.
The offense was solid, too. I was thrilled with the way LeSean McCoy looked, and Brian Westbrook didn't seem to have any ill effects from missing all of preseason. DeSean Jackson was sharp on punt returns, taking one back in the second quarter that really turned things around for the Eagles. If this is what this offense can do, and McNabb doesn't miss much time, you had better look out.
Dammit, this game was so good, too...it's just that one injury that the Eagles couldn't afford to have happen did.
The Eagles allowed a long scoring drive to start the game, but then forced Jake Delhomme out of the game and dominated the next three and a half quarters. Of course, not all the news was good, as Donovan McNabb was injured on a touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Good:
The defense was awesome, allowing just ten points for the game. They recorded five sacks, intercepted five passes, recovered two fumbles and scored a touchdown. Jake Delhomme was pulled midway through the third quarter, and his replacements didn't do much better.
DeSean Jackson scored on an 85 yard punt return, the second longest in Eagles history.
LeSean McCoy looked good, picking up 46 yards on nine carries.
Brian Westbrook has 64 yards on 13 carries, and also had three catches and a touchdown.
The offensive line looked great, giving up just two sacks on the day.
Donovan McNabb went 10/18 for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 27 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Bad:
On the touchdown run, McNabb was injured. According to Andy Reid, he's got a cracked rib, and while he might play next week, odds are he's going to miss 2-4 weeks.
Kevin Kolb was not that impressive in relief of McNabb, completing 7/11 passes for just 23 yards.
The Ugly:
Did I mention that Kevin Kolb is probably going to start next week against the Saints?
Kevin...Kolb.
The Breakdown:
Ugh. This game against Carolina was looking like a great way to start the regular season after an interesting preseason. Aside from the opening drive of the game, the defense locked the Panthers down and kept them away from the end zone, and the makeshift offensive line was great, aside from a few false start calls. That's not what matters right now, though.
What matters is the health of Donovan McNabb, especially for next week. On the last scoring drive the Eagles had, McNabb ran for a three yard touchdown run, but Jon Beason hit him late, after he had scored. McNabb broke a rib on that play and didn't return to the game. I didn't want him to come back in, but that's not important. What is important is whether or not McNabb is even going to be close to playing next Sunday in the home opener against the Saints. I've heard conflicting reports right now that he could play next week, or he could miss 2-4 weeks. If the latter is the case, I want A.J. Feeley on the next plane to Philadelphia before this day is over.
I don't trust Kevin Kolb to run this offense. I never have. If McNabb can't start next week, odds are the Kolb is going to get his first career start, then things will get interesting, since Michael Vick can play in Week 3. Do the Eagles let Vick start that game if McNabb can't go? I don't even want to think about that right now. All I care about right now is the health of #5. We're not going to know more until tomorrow, when he gets looked at back at the NovaCare Complex, so it's going to be an anxious night for Eagles fans.
Big ups to the defense, who looked leaps and bounds better than they did at any point during the preseason. Any time you can get the opposing quarterback booed off the field, during the season opener, you're doing something right. Jake Delhomme had no time to throw all day, and ended up throwing four interceptions and fumbling once. By the time the dust had settled in the second quarter, the Eagles were up 31-7, and Delhomme was looking for the license plate of the truck that ran him over.
The offense was solid, too. I was thrilled with the way LeSean McCoy looked, and Brian Westbrook didn't seem to have any ill effects from missing all of preseason. DeSean Jackson was sharp on punt returns, taking one back in the second quarter that really turned things around for the Eagles. If this is what this offense can do, and McNabb doesn't miss much time, you had better look out.
Dammit, this game was so good, too...it's just that one injury that the Eagles couldn't afford to have happen did.
Phillie of the Week: September 6-12
This week started out poorly for the Phils, as they were in the process of getting swept by the Astros. By the end of the week though, the boys in red were playing more like the defending World Series champs. It's been a while since this guy was named Phillie of the Week, but it's well deserved this time. This week's Phillie of the Week is:
Raul Ibanez
Raul finally snapped out of his slump by hitting .400 with four home runs and seven RBI this week. He also scored six times, and it's a very welcome sight to see him playing well again.
Raul Ibanez
Raul finally snapped out of his slump by hitting .400 with four home runs and seven RBI this week. He also scored six times, and it's a very welcome sight to see him playing well again.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Double dip Phillies Recap: Some good, some bad
So, the first two games against the Mets this weekend are in the books, and while there is some good news, there's also some crappy stuff that went down this afternoon.
First, the good news. Cole Hamels looked good last night as he finally beat the Mets this year. He lasted 6.2 innings and only allowed one run. The offense picked him up when they needed to, and Cole got the win. I know I've said it before, but he has to keep pitching like this if the Phillies want to have a shot in the playoffs. A four man rotation with Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ or Pedro Martinez would be tough to top for any team, even St. Louis, so to see Cole pitching well again is a very, very good thing.
The offense didn't score much yesterday, but they didn't need to. Four runs with Cole on the mound should be more than enough, and it was last night. Shane Victorino dropped three doubles and Pedro Feliz, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins all drove in runs to give Cole all the support he would need. It was exactly the kind of game the Phillies needed to get the series started.
Then came today's game. Jamie Moyer looked like the guy that had been pulled out of the rotation when Pedro Martinez came up in the first inning, allowing four runs. After that, he settled down, and the Phillies went out and scored eight straight runs. Unfortunately, the bullpen then came into the game, and while the pen has been solid for most of the year, today they just didn't have anything. Brett Myers allowed three runs, and Ryan Madson blew the save, thanks to a two run home run by David freaking Wright, giving the Mets the win and putting the Marlins five games behind the Phils again.
I can't get on the offense today, since they beat up on Mike Pelfrey, who has had the Phillies' number this season. I can, however, get on the bullpen for blowing an 8-4, then a 9-5 lead. If Jamie Moyer has your team in position to win a game with a four run lead, you had better take advantage of it. If the team that is right behind you in the standings is playing the worst team in baseball, you had damn sure be able to win with a four run lead going into the eighth inning. Today, the Phillies couldn't do that, and the Mets made them pay. The Mets aren't going to the playoffs this year, but you can bet they will be happy to play spoiler, especially to the team that knocked them out of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. I've seen the Phillies come back each of the last two years, and I know that a five game lead is not safe, not at this point.
I want the Phillies to be five games up with five games to play. That is when I think a five game lead will be safe. All that today's game did was raise even more questions about the closer position. Ryan Madson doesn't really have the stomach for it, Brad Lidge has blown ten saves, and Brett Myers has only been back for a week. Who the hell is the closer? Lidge is being paid way too much money to be a setup or mop up guy, but with that many blown saves this season, can the Phillies trust him? Can Madson find a way to get the nerves to move from the eighth inning to the ninth and be the closer that the Phillies need? Can Brett Myers show that he can recapture what he had in 2007 and close for the last month of the season? Out of everything going on with the Phillies right now, the closer spot is the biggest question mark, and something that makes me afraid as the Phils head down the stretch. If they don't have someone that can close out games, they had better be damn confident in that starting pitching, because the bullpen is anything but set right now.
Tomorrow, it's a doubleheader for the Phillies against the Mets. In game one, Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 5.06 ERA) is going against John Maine (5-4, 4.52 ERA). If he doesn't pitch well, I'm driving to Philly to personally trade him to Japan.
First, the good news. Cole Hamels looked good last night as he finally beat the Mets this year. He lasted 6.2 innings and only allowed one run. The offense picked him up when they needed to, and Cole got the win. I know I've said it before, but he has to keep pitching like this if the Phillies want to have a shot in the playoffs. A four man rotation with Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ or Pedro Martinez would be tough to top for any team, even St. Louis, so to see Cole pitching well again is a very, very good thing.
The offense didn't score much yesterday, but they didn't need to. Four runs with Cole on the mound should be more than enough, and it was last night. Shane Victorino dropped three doubles and Pedro Feliz, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins all drove in runs to give Cole all the support he would need. It was exactly the kind of game the Phillies needed to get the series started.
Then came today's game. Jamie Moyer looked like the guy that had been pulled out of the rotation when Pedro Martinez came up in the first inning, allowing four runs. After that, he settled down, and the Phillies went out and scored eight straight runs. Unfortunately, the bullpen then came into the game, and while the pen has been solid for most of the year, today they just didn't have anything. Brett Myers allowed three runs, and Ryan Madson blew the save, thanks to a two run home run by David freaking Wright, giving the Mets the win and putting the Marlins five games behind the Phils again.
I can't get on the offense today, since they beat up on Mike Pelfrey, who has had the Phillies' number this season. I can, however, get on the bullpen for blowing an 8-4, then a 9-5 lead. If Jamie Moyer has your team in position to win a game with a four run lead, you had better take advantage of it. If the team that is right behind you in the standings is playing the worst team in baseball, you had damn sure be able to win with a four run lead going into the eighth inning. Today, the Phillies couldn't do that, and the Mets made them pay. The Mets aren't going to the playoffs this year, but you can bet they will be happy to play spoiler, especially to the team that knocked them out of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. I've seen the Phillies come back each of the last two years, and I know that a five game lead is not safe, not at this point.
I want the Phillies to be five games up with five games to play. That is when I think a five game lead will be safe. All that today's game did was raise even more questions about the closer position. Ryan Madson doesn't really have the stomach for it, Brad Lidge has blown ten saves, and Brett Myers has only been back for a week. Who the hell is the closer? Lidge is being paid way too much money to be a setup or mop up guy, but with that many blown saves this season, can the Phillies trust him? Can Madson find a way to get the nerves to move from the eighth inning to the ninth and be the closer that the Phillies need? Can Brett Myers show that he can recapture what he had in 2007 and close for the last month of the season? Out of everything going on with the Phillies right now, the closer spot is the biggest question mark, and something that makes me afraid as the Phils head down the stretch. If they don't have someone that can close out games, they had better be damn confident in that starting pitching, because the bullpen is anything but set right now.
Tomorrow, it's a doubleheader for the Phillies against the Mets. In game one, Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 5.06 ERA) is going against John Maine (5-4, 4.52 ERA). If he doesn't pitch well, I'm driving to Philly to personally trade him to Japan.
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