Game Recap:
The Phillies didn't have enough in them to come back today as the Rockies evened up the series at a game a piece heading to Denver.
What went right?
Shane Victorino went 3-5 and scored a run.
Ryan Howard went 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Jayson Werth was 1-4 with a home run.
Raul Ibanez went 2-4 with two RBI.
Ryan Madson was great in the ninth, needing only seven pitches to strike out two batters and get another to pop out.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-5, and didn't get a hit until the ninth inning.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-2.
The Phillies hit into three double plays.
Cole Hamels only lasted five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. He picked up his first playoff loss since Game One of the 2007 NLDS. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
J.A. Happ pitched to one batter, then had to leave the game with what's being called a leg bruise.
The Phillies used seven pitchers in the game.
Game Analysis:
Honestly, this game wasn't as bad as the doomsayers are going to say it was. Yes, the Phillies lost, but every team is going to lose a game or two in the playoffs. Hell, even the 1998 Yankees lost back to back games in the ALCS. That's not the problem today. I give the Phils credit for coming back once they were down 4-0 and then making Huston Street sweat out a very tight ninth inning. The problem today comes down to how Charlie Manuel handled the pitching situation, and the ramifications that might come because of it.
The first issue was that Cole Hamels certainly wasn't the Cole Hamels of 2008. Only when he left the game after the fifth inning did we learn that his wife had gone into labor DURING the game. So, Cole might have had a reason for not pitching as well as he did last postseason. Of course, had he not pitched today because of the chance of his wife going into labor, the media would have eaten him alive, so he really was in a no win situation. In all honesty, he didn't do that bad of a job while he was in there. The problem was that the Rockie hitters were much more patient today against Cole than they were against Cliff Lee yesterday, and, unlike the Phillies, they didn't ground into double plays once they got runners on base. If you look at how Cole pitched compared to Aaron Cook, the main difference was that the Phillies wasted chances on the bases, while the Rockies took advantage of them.
Then, we get to the bullpen situation. I know that there is basically Ryan Madson out there and not a whole lot else, but I need to know what Charlie was thinking using both Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ in this game. Not only is that going to force him to pitch Pedro Martinez in Game Three, but it raises serious questions for the starting pitcher in Game Four and Game Five, if it comes to that. To make matters worse, Happ had to leave the game after taking a pitch right below his knee on the first batter he faced. The x-rays were negative, but if that knee swells up, he's not going to be able to pitch. Basically, Charlie's move there might have cost the Phillies a great left handed arm that owned the Rockies the last time he pitched against them in the regular season. It's not a good feeling. The rest of the bullpen situation was handled as well as it could have been, I guess. Scott Eyre got out of a bases loaded, no out situation with only one run crossing the plate, and Antiono Bastardo stuck out Jason Giambi with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. Ryan Madson was awesome in the ninth, but I still have to question what Charlie was thinking with Blanton and Happ out there today.
I had a feeling coming into the game that the offense might struggle, just because of the kind of pitcher Aaron Cook is. The Phillies do not hit sinkerball pitchers well, and Cook had his sinker working when he needed it today. The Phillies had their leadoff man get on twice against Cook, only to have him wiped out with a double play on the next batter. By the time Cook started getting hit, it was the sixth inning, and though the Phillies were able to plate three in the inning, it wouldn't be enough. Hopefully, they don't see him again during this series. I just don't think their style of play at the plate works well against pitchers that use a sinker like he does.
Just remember, one loss isn't the end of the world. Yes, the series is tied going to Denver, but the Rockies are more than likely going to see Cliff Lee again in Game Four, and if the weather that's beating the hell out of Colorado right now forces a delay, the issues with the starting pitching won't be issues any more, since Cole will be able to pitch in Game Five on full rest. Of course, that's just an if, but it's out there. Check the weather for Denver on Saturday...it's calling for a high of 34 degrees with a chance of snow and ice. Not exactly the best baseball weather.
Either way, Game Three is Saturday night in Denver. At this point, Charlie hasn't named a starter, but I'd put money on it being Pedro Martinez. Jason Hammel will be going for the Rockies.
No comments:
Post a Comment