Game Recap:
The Phillies completed their three game sweep of the Rockies this afternoon behind a four RBI game from Ryan Howard and seven innings on the mound from Roy Halladay.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.
Shane Victorino was 1-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Chase Utley was 2-3 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard had an interesting day playing defense, but went 2-4 with a two run home run and a two run double. He finished with four RBI.
Hunter Pence continued his modest six game hitting streak, going 1-4 with an RBI.
Roy Halladay didn't have his best stuff, but still got through seven innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He walked one, struck out seven and scored a run on a wild pitch.
Brad Lidge kicked it old school and recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 1ooth career save with the Phillies.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard was an adventure at first base in the first inning, recording a rare double error on one play that allowed an unearned run to score.
The Rockies stole two bases in three attempts off of Roy Halladay and Carlos Ruiz.
Antonio Bastardo had a rough eighth inning, allowing a Todd Helton home run to put the Rockies within two.
This game shouldn't have been nearly as close as it turned out. The Phillies left seven men on base.
Game Analysis:
Five games with Hunter Pence, and all of them have been wins. Now, I'm not saying that it's a coincidence. After all, the Phillies have played the Pirates and Rockies since he was traded to Philadelphia, but it's still a good sign for the rest of the season. Pence contributed again today with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and Ryan Howard did the rest of the heavy lifting at the plate, driving in four more runs to pace Roy Halladay's 14th win on the season and put the Phillies 32 games over .500.
Let's just get one thing out of the way right now: today was a sloppy game from both teams. Jason Hammel walked the bases loaded in the first inning, only for the Phillies to score just a single run. Roy Halladay wasn't much better in the first inning, but he got little help from his defense. Ryan Howard recorded two errors on the same play, first while trying to field a Dexter Fowler ground ball, and then when trying to throw the ball to Halladay at first. Eric Young scored on the play, and Fowler would come around later in the inning. Halladay couldn't get out of the weeds for much of the game, but the best part about having a pitcher like Halladay on your team is that, even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he can still go deep into the game. He did that today, pitching seven innings and keeping the Rockies at bay every time they seemed to get close enough to take the lead.
Fortunately, Howard was able to make up for his defensive miscues with his bat once again. He broke open the game in the second inning with a two run double that made everyone forget about his two errors, and then finished the scoring off for the Phils with a blast in the sixth inning. Howard's home run in the sixth was his first all season against a left handed pitcher and was to the opposite field, another sign that he's getting hotter at the plate at just the right time again this year. He has four home runs in the last five games, as well as nine RBI, and he's looking more and more like that work horse the Phils turn to every September. I don't know what it is about the end of the season, but something switches on in this guy. It's a good thing, regardless.
The top of the lineup performed well today, scoring five of the eight runs for the Phillies and recording three walks. That's what the top three hitters in this lineup, Chase Utley included, need to do. They need to get on base, with Utley driving in Rollins and then let Howard, Hunter Pence and Raul Ibanez drive them in. They've done that these last six games, and the Phillies have won them all. It's the kind of play that this team wasn't getting last year, and they've been getting it much of this season. The proof is in the results, and a 71-39 record speaks for itself.
There were some nervous people out there today when Brad Lidge came in to close the game out, instead of Ryan Madson, but Madson was not available for personal reasons. Luckily for the Phillies, Lidge pitched like it was 2008 once again, recording a perfect ninth inning for his 100th save with the Phillies. It was good to see Lidge back out there in the ninth, doing what he needed to do. In his limited appearances this season, Lidge has only allowed a run in one showing this season, and it looks like he's got a good bite on his slider this year, which is a very good thing, especially if he needs to step into the closer role at any point during the rest of the season.
This team is on a roll right now, there's not much else to say about that. The offense is clicking and the pitching is on another planet. The next series is going to be a really big test to see how the rest of the season is going to go. It's time to return to San Francisco.
Tomorrow night, Cliff Lee (10-7, 3.14 ERA) faces off against the Giants and Madison Bumgarner (6-10, 3.80 ERA).
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Phillies Recap: Phillies-5, Rockies-0
Game Recap:
Behind Kyle Kendrick's eight shutout innings, and Ryan Howard's two home runs, the Phillies took their second straight game from the Rockies last night and moved eight games up in the National League East.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Ryan Howard was 2-4 with his two solo home runs, giving him 23 on the season.
Hunter Pence was 2-3 with an RBI double and a walk.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 and scored a run.
Kyle Kendrick pitched his best game of the season, throwing eight shutout innings while allowing just four hits. He walked two and struck out a career high seven. He also went 1-3 at the plate.
Even though Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Brian Schneider didn't get base hits, they all either scored or drove in runs.
What went wrong?
Last night, nothing went wrong. It was a good game by the Phillies, and any time you can shutout the Rockies, in Coors Field, you're doing something right.
Game Analysis:
Someone needs to tell Roy Halladay that he's pitching again today. Last night, Kyle Kendrick made probably his last start for a while, and he made it count, going eight innings and allowing just four hits and two walks while shutting out the Colorado Rockies. Ryan Howard hit two solo home runs and the Phils got to Aaron Cook early on their way to a 5-0 win.
After their struggles at the plate the night before, last night the Phillies looked much better. Jimmy Rollins walked to start the game, and Chase Utley brought him home with an RBI groundout. Hunter Pence drove in Shane Victorino with an RBI double, and just like that, the Phils had a 2-0 lead before the Rockies even got to the plate. That's what this team needs to do. They need to jump out on teams early and often and put up crooked numbers. If they can do that, with the pitching that they have, they can win just about every game. Ryan Howard would add his first home run of the game in the fourth inning, and a Brian Schneider sacrifice fly would be the finishing blow for Aaron Cook, who left after just four innings with a neck injury.
People have been questioning this offense all season long, but the numbers don't lie. This offense has been getting better as the season has gone along. Their 476 runs scored is more than the Braves, and just four behind the Brewers, and I haven't heard anything negative about their offense all season long. Ryan Howard is starting to get his swing back into shape again, as evidenced by that opposite field shot he hit last night in the eighth inning, and Chase Utley has been hitting very well at the plate since coming off the disabled list. The majority of the players in this lineup have been around since the Phillies started this run that they're on now back in 2007, so they can still produce runs. It's just with the pitching that this team has now, they don't need to produce nearly as many. They can still do it, though.
You have to take your hat off to Kyle Kendrick for how well he pitched last night. With Roy Oswalt likely coming back over the weekend, this was probably Kendrick's last start in the rotation for a while. Well, the young man made it count. He struck out a career high seven batters, and had it not been for a pitch count that was close to 120 pitches through eight innings, he would have gone back out there for the complete game in the ninth. Despite all the hype with the "Four Aces" this season, Kendrick has had a solid year of his own. He's done everything that the Phillies have wanted him to do. He's come out of the bullpen, he's done spot starts, he's filled in when a pitcher has gotten hurt and he's done it all with an ERA of 3.19. That's not a typo. Kendrick may only have a 6-5 record, but he's also boasting a 3.19 ERA. The way that he's been pitching lately, he's been good enough for most teams to have in their starting rotations. Unfortunately for Kendrick, the Phillies have Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Worley and now Oswalt in their rotation, and he's the odd man out.
Hey, as long as Kendrick can still pitch well out of the bullpen, he'll be fine. Phillies fans love to hate on Kendrick, but he's done a lot for this team this year. I've got no problem with him at this point. Keep it up, kid.
Today, the Phillies go for their second straight series sweep, as Roy Halladay (13-4, 2.44 ERA) looks for his 14th win against Jason Hammel (6-10, 4.65 ERA).
Behind Kyle Kendrick's eight shutout innings, and Ryan Howard's two home runs, the Phillies took their second straight game from the Rockies last night and moved eight games up in the National League East.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Ryan Howard was 2-4 with his two solo home runs, giving him 23 on the season.
Hunter Pence was 2-3 with an RBI double and a walk.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 and scored a run.
Kyle Kendrick pitched his best game of the season, throwing eight shutout innings while allowing just four hits. He walked two and struck out a career high seven. He also went 1-3 at the plate.
Even though Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Brian Schneider didn't get base hits, they all either scored or drove in runs.
What went wrong?
Last night, nothing went wrong. It was a good game by the Phillies, and any time you can shutout the Rockies, in Coors Field, you're doing something right.
Game Analysis:
Someone needs to tell Roy Halladay that he's pitching again today. Last night, Kyle Kendrick made probably his last start for a while, and he made it count, going eight innings and allowing just four hits and two walks while shutting out the Colorado Rockies. Ryan Howard hit two solo home runs and the Phils got to Aaron Cook early on their way to a 5-0 win.
After their struggles at the plate the night before, last night the Phillies looked much better. Jimmy Rollins walked to start the game, and Chase Utley brought him home with an RBI groundout. Hunter Pence drove in Shane Victorino with an RBI double, and just like that, the Phils had a 2-0 lead before the Rockies even got to the plate. That's what this team needs to do. They need to jump out on teams early and often and put up crooked numbers. If they can do that, with the pitching that they have, they can win just about every game. Ryan Howard would add his first home run of the game in the fourth inning, and a Brian Schneider sacrifice fly would be the finishing blow for Aaron Cook, who left after just four innings with a neck injury.
People have been questioning this offense all season long, but the numbers don't lie. This offense has been getting better as the season has gone along. Their 476 runs scored is more than the Braves, and just four behind the Brewers, and I haven't heard anything negative about their offense all season long. Ryan Howard is starting to get his swing back into shape again, as evidenced by that opposite field shot he hit last night in the eighth inning, and Chase Utley has been hitting very well at the plate since coming off the disabled list. The majority of the players in this lineup have been around since the Phillies started this run that they're on now back in 2007, so they can still produce runs. It's just with the pitching that this team has now, they don't need to produce nearly as many. They can still do it, though.
You have to take your hat off to Kyle Kendrick for how well he pitched last night. With Roy Oswalt likely coming back over the weekend, this was probably Kendrick's last start in the rotation for a while. Well, the young man made it count. He struck out a career high seven batters, and had it not been for a pitch count that was close to 120 pitches through eight innings, he would have gone back out there for the complete game in the ninth. Despite all the hype with the "Four Aces" this season, Kendrick has had a solid year of his own. He's done everything that the Phillies have wanted him to do. He's come out of the bullpen, he's done spot starts, he's filled in when a pitcher has gotten hurt and he's done it all with an ERA of 3.19. That's not a typo. Kendrick may only have a 6-5 record, but he's also boasting a 3.19 ERA. The way that he's been pitching lately, he's been good enough for most teams to have in their starting rotations. Unfortunately for Kendrick, the Phillies have Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Worley and now Oswalt in their rotation, and he's the odd man out.
Hey, as long as Kendrick can still pitch well out of the bullpen, he'll be fine. Phillies fans love to hate on Kendrick, but he's done a lot for this team this year. I've got no problem with him at this point. Keep it up, kid.
Today, the Phillies go for their second straight series sweep, as Roy Halladay (13-4, 2.44 ERA) looks for his 14th win against Jason Hammel (6-10, 4.65 ERA).
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Phillies Recap: Phillies-4, Rockies-3
Game Recap:
John Mayberry hit a game tying, two run home run with two outs in the ninth inning, and Shane Victorino hit a game winning home run in the tenth to give the Phillies a come from behind, extra inning win over the Rockies.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-5 with that solo home run.
Chase Utley was 2-4 with a double.
Raul Ibanez went 1-3 with an RBI double and a walk.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-4 and scored a run.
John Mayberry hit his seventh home run of the season, this one being a game tying, two run shot into left field.
Cole Hamels pitched well enough to win, going six innings and allowing two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five.
Ryan Madson needed only eight pitches to record his 19th save of the season.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins, despite several solid defensive plays tonight, was 0-4 at the plate.
Ryan Howard went 0-5 with a strikeout and only saw 15 pitches.
Michael Stutes pitched two innings, but he looked a little shaky out there, allowing a home run to the first batter he faced. He finished with that home run allowed and two walks.
The Phillies left seven men on base, and had a few plays where they didn't seem to be hustling as well as they could.
Game Analysis:
Boy, the Phillies sure have had a flair for the dramatic over the last 48 hours, haven't they? First, Raul Ibanez has his first two home run game in almost two seasons, then drives in the game winning run in the 10th inning against Pittsburgh. Tonight, John Mayberry, with a full count and two outs in the ninth inning, hits a game tying, two run home run off of Huston Street, making the way for Shane Victorino to leadoff the 10th inning with a home run of his own and giving the Phils a win in their first game of their series against the Rockies.
It wasn't a great night for the offense, but they got done what they needed to do. Mayberry and Victorino provided the late inning heroics, and Raul Ibanez continued his little hot streak, driving in Hunter Pence from first with a double in the seventh inning. Victorino has just been solid all season. He's leading the team in batting average and is, surprisingly, the team leader in slugging percentage as well. Yes, Shane Victorino, not Ryan Howard, leads the Phillies in slugging. However, even Victorino had some issues on the basepaths tonight.
The third inning is where the baserunning woes stand out. After Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch, Victorino hit a ball that glanced off of pitcher Jhoulys Chacin. Troy Tulowitzki managed to get to the ball and threw to second to retire Rollins on a close play. The problem was that Rollins should have already been at second base, had he been hustling off of first. The close out never would have happened, and then, when Chase Utley came to the plate next and smacked a double off of the right field wall, Rollins would have scored easily. Instead, Victorino didn't seem to be running at full speed, and was tagged out at the plate. To be fair, the ball was played well in the outfield by Seth Smith, but on a double like that, Victorino should be able to score. Combine that with the bottom of the order leaving Ibanez on second base with no outs, and it was a little frustrating to watch the offense work tonight. These were some of the same problems that they had last year against the Giants in the NLCS.
The fact of the matter is still that the Phils won the game tonight and continued their great play that's followed them all season long. Cole Hamels had another solid start, going six innings and allowing only two runs on six hits. He did leave a few pitches over the plate, including one that Seth Smith hit for a two run home run, but that was the only damage he allowed. The fifth inning had it's moments, as Cole loaded the bases with just one out, but he struck out Mark Ellis and Tulowitzki to get out of the jam. Once again, Hamels pitched well enough to win, but he was plagued by the lack of run support. Out of his six losses this season, Hamels has allowed more than five runs just twice, and both times he was pitching against the Mets, a team that he doesn't do well against for whatever reasons. In those same six losses, the offense has only scored seven runs. Hamels should have one of the best records in baseball, and the amazing thing is that he still almost does. That's how good he's been pitching this season.
The back of the bullpen, save for a rough spot by Michael Stutes, was solid once again. Antonio Bastardo worked around a base hit to get through the bottom of the ninth, and Ryan Madson shut the door with just eight pitches to get through the 10th. That's what the back end of this bullpen has been doing all year long, and when you have starting pitchers that go six or seven innings, at least, most nights, that's all that you really need.
Come from behind wins are always fun, especially when they involve pinch hit, two out home runs in the ninth inning. Couple that with the fact that the Phillies are now 30 games over .500 and seven games up in the National League East, and it was a very good night. Not everything went right, but enough certainly did.
Tomorrow night, Kyle Kendrick (5-5, 3.52 ERA) goes for the Phillies against Colorado's Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.05 ERA).
John Mayberry hit a game tying, two run home run with two outs in the ninth inning, and Shane Victorino hit a game winning home run in the tenth to give the Phillies a come from behind, extra inning win over the Rockies.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-5 with that solo home run.
Chase Utley was 2-4 with a double.
Raul Ibanez went 1-3 with an RBI double and a walk.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-4 and scored a run.
John Mayberry hit his seventh home run of the season, this one being a game tying, two run shot into left field.
Cole Hamels pitched well enough to win, going six innings and allowing two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five.
Ryan Madson needed only eight pitches to record his 19th save of the season.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins, despite several solid defensive plays tonight, was 0-4 at the plate.
Ryan Howard went 0-5 with a strikeout and only saw 15 pitches.
Michael Stutes pitched two innings, but he looked a little shaky out there, allowing a home run to the first batter he faced. He finished with that home run allowed and two walks.
The Phillies left seven men on base, and had a few plays where they didn't seem to be hustling as well as they could.
Game Analysis:
Boy, the Phillies sure have had a flair for the dramatic over the last 48 hours, haven't they? First, Raul Ibanez has his first two home run game in almost two seasons, then drives in the game winning run in the 10th inning against Pittsburgh. Tonight, John Mayberry, with a full count and two outs in the ninth inning, hits a game tying, two run home run off of Huston Street, making the way for Shane Victorino to leadoff the 10th inning with a home run of his own and giving the Phils a win in their first game of their series against the Rockies.
It wasn't a great night for the offense, but they got done what they needed to do. Mayberry and Victorino provided the late inning heroics, and Raul Ibanez continued his little hot streak, driving in Hunter Pence from first with a double in the seventh inning. Victorino has just been solid all season. He's leading the team in batting average and is, surprisingly, the team leader in slugging percentage as well. Yes, Shane Victorino, not Ryan Howard, leads the Phillies in slugging. However, even Victorino had some issues on the basepaths tonight.
The third inning is where the baserunning woes stand out. After Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch, Victorino hit a ball that glanced off of pitcher Jhoulys Chacin. Troy Tulowitzki managed to get to the ball and threw to second to retire Rollins on a close play. The problem was that Rollins should have already been at second base, had he been hustling off of first. The close out never would have happened, and then, when Chase Utley came to the plate next and smacked a double off of the right field wall, Rollins would have scored easily. Instead, Victorino didn't seem to be running at full speed, and was tagged out at the plate. To be fair, the ball was played well in the outfield by Seth Smith, but on a double like that, Victorino should be able to score. Combine that with the bottom of the order leaving Ibanez on second base with no outs, and it was a little frustrating to watch the offense work tonight. These were some of the same problems that they had last year against the Giants in the NLCS.
The fact of the matter is still that the Phils won the game tonight and continued their great play that's followed them all season long. Cole Hamels had another solid start, going six innings and allowing only two runs on six hits. He did leave a few pitches over the plate, including one that Seth Smith hit for a two run home run, but that was the only damage he allowed. The fifth inning had it's moments, as Cole loaded the bases with just one out, but he struck out Mark Ellis and Tulowitzki to get out of the jam. Once again, Hamels pitched well enough to win, but he was plagued by the lack of run support. Out of his six losses this season, Hamels has allowed more than five runs just twice, and both times he was pitching against the Mets, a team that he doesn't do well against for whatever reasons. In those same six losses, the offense has only scored seven runs. Hamels should have one of the best records in baseball, and the amazing thing is that he still almost does. That's how good he's been pitching this season.
The back of the bullpen, save for a rough spot by Michael Stutes, was solid once again. Antonio Bastardo worked around a base hit to get through the bottom of the ninth, and Ryan Madson shut the door with just eight pitches to get through the 10th. That's what the back end of this bullpen has been doing all year long, and when you have starting pitchers that go six or seven innings, at least, most nights, that's all that you really need.
Come from behind wins are always fun, especially when they involve pinch hit, two out home runs in the ninth inning. Couple that with the fact that the Phillies are now 30 games over .500 and seven games up in the National League East, and it was a very good night. Not everything went right, but enough certainly did.
Tomorrow night, Kyle Kendrick (5-5, 3.52 ERA) goes for the Phillies against Colorado's Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.05 ERA).
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Phillies Recap: Phillies-7, Pirates-4
Game Recap:
Behind a four hit game from Ryan Howard, the Phillies scored seven runs and took their second game in a row from the Pirates. Cliff Lee pitched seven and two thirds innings for his tenth win of the season.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 2-5, scoring two runs and hitting his 13th home run on the season.
Shane Victorino was 2-5 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard went 4-4, finishing a triple short of the cycle, and had three RBI.
Hunter Pence made his debut as a Phillie, and went just 1-5, but was robbed of a hit by the first base umpire and drove in an insurance run in the eighth inning.
Cliff Lee pitched seven and two thirds innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out 11, walked two and went 2-4 at the plate with a run scored.
Ryan Madson struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 18th save of the season.
Every starter reached base at least once.
What went wrong?
Cliff Lee was left in for one inning more than he should have been, but that's all.
Really, that's it. It's a nice day to start these things again.
Game Analysis:
Tonight was all about Hunter Pence and his debut with the Phillies, but the old guard decided to show up once again, as Ryan Howard went 4-4 with three RBI to pace the Phillies to their second straight win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cliff Lee pitched seven and two thirds innings to pick up his 10th win of the season, and the Phillies moved to 28 games over .500.
While the Phillies should have been able to take care of Pittsburgh by themselves, the fact of the matter remained that this weekend is the trade deadline, and someone was coming to play for the Phillies before everything was said and done. While the last three years had brought Joe Blanton, Cliff Lee (the first time) and Roy Oswalt, this year brought a position player, Hunter Pence, to the Phils. Tonight, he made his first start with the team. The spotight was shining on him, and he responded by loving the Philadelphia fans, but tonight ended up being about Ryan Howard.
Howard did was he does best tonight, and that's drive in runs, regardless of the situation. In the second inning, he hit his 21st home run of the season to dead center field to give the Phillies a lead that they would never give up. After Jimmy Rollins homered in the third inning, Howard answered with his 1,000th career hit, a double into left that scored another run and put the Phillies ahead 3-0. The next time he came to the plate, he singled to right, beating the shift and scoring Rollins, giving him 1,001 hits for his career and another RBI for tonight. It's just what the Phillies need. Hunter Pence is a nice addition, but without Howard and Utley putting up numbers in the middle, this team can not win at the plate. Tonight, it was Howard's turn.
Then, there was Hunter Pence. In his first at bat as a Phillie, Pence was robbed of a hit by the first base umpire, and almost threw his helmet. Charlie Manuel came out to argue, but there was no sense in losing your new right fielder and your manager in the second inning, so nothing happened. Pence went 0-4 to start the game before driving in a run in the bottom of the eighth inning for insurance purposes. Sure, the run wasn't needed, but it was Pence's first hit with the Phillies, a team that he's going to be with through 2013, at least. It's a good start.
The rest of the offense did well tonight also, putting out 16 hits and getting three walks and two errors as well. That's the kind of offense that this team should be putting up every night. Placido Polanco came back from the disabled list as well, and had two hits in the late innings, but now he needs to keep things up. Getting Polanco back is like getting another player in a trade without giving anything up, and that's amazing. You throw that in with Roy Oswalt coming back from his injury, and it's like the Phillies are getting two all-stars back in trades, and all that's happening is that they're coming back from injury.
Cliff Lee was solid tonight, but he was left in for an inning too long. He should have been taken out after the seventh inning, and the eighth inning did him in, as he allowed two runs in that inning and was relieved by Antiono Bastardo. Bastardo did get the last out, so everything worked out, but it never should have happened. In my mind, Bastardo should have been out there to start the eighth inning without Lee even coming out there. Charlie Manuel loves this starting rotation, and who can blame him? However, the starters have limits, and Lee had clearly reached his by the end of the seventh inning. Fortunately, the Phillies managed to hold on for a win, as Ryan Madson stuck out the side for his 18th save this season, but this is something that could come back to bite this team in the playoffs, as long as they make it.
Tonight is a good night, though. Hunter Pence got a hit and an RBI in his first game with the Phillies, Cliff Lee got his 10th win, and Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save. Tomorrow, Vance Worley (7-1, 2.02 ERA) goes for his eighth win of the season against Jeff Karstens (8-5, 2.41 ERA).
Behind a four hit game from Ryan Howard, the Phillies scored seven runs and took their second game in a row from the Pirates. Cliff Lee pitched seven and two thirds innings for his tenth win of the season.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 2-5, scoring two runs and hitting his 13th home run on the season.
Shane Victorino was 2-5 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard went 4-4, finishing a triple short of the cycle, and had three RBI.
Hunter Pence made his debut as a Phillie, and went just 1-5, but was robbed of a hit by the first base umpire and drove in an insurance run in the eighth inning.
Cliff Lee pitched seven and two thirds innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out 11, walked two and went 2-4 at the plate with a run scored.
Ryan Madson struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 18th save of the season.
Every starter reached base at least once.
What went wrong?
Cliff Lee was left in for one inning more than he should have been, but that's all.
Really, that's it. It's a nice day to start these things again.
Game Analysis:
Tonight was all about Hunter Pence and his debut with the Phillies, but the old guard decided to show up once again, as Ryan Howard went 4-4 with three RBI to pace the Phillies to their second straight win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cliff Lee pitched seven and two thirds innings to pick up his 10th win of the season, and the Phillies moved to 28 games over .500.
While the Phillies should have been able to take care of Pittsburgh by themselves, the fact of the matter remained that this weekend is the trade deadline, and someone was coming to play for the Phillies before everything was said and done. While the last three years had brought Joe Blanton, Cliff Lee (the first time) and Roy Oswalt, this year brought a position player, Hunter Pence, to the Phils. Tonight, he made his first start with the team. The spotight was shining on him, and he responded by loving the Philadelphia fans, but tonight ended up being about Ryan Howard.
Howard did was he does best tonight, and that's drive in runs, regardless of the situation. In the second inning, he hit his 21st home run of the season to dead center field to give the Phillies a lead that they would never give up. After Jimmy Rollins homered in the third inning, Howard answered with his 1,000th career hit, a double into left that scored another run and put the Phillies ahead 3-0. The next time he came to the plate, he singled to right, beating the shift and scoring Rollins, giving him 1,001 hits for his career and another RBI for tonight. It's just what the Phillies need. Hunter Pence is a nice addition, but without Howard and Utley putting up numbers in the middle, this team can not win at the plate. Tonight, it was Howard's turn.
Then, there was Hunter Pence. In his first at bat as a Phillie, Pence was robbed of a hit by the first base umpire, and almost threw his helmet. Charlie Manuel came out to argue, but there was no sense in losing your new right fielder and your manager in the second inning, so nothing happened. Pence went 0-4 to start the game before driving in a run in the bottom of the eighth inning for insurance purposes. Sure, the run wasn't needed, but it was Pence's first hit with the Phillies, a team that he's going to be with through 2013, at least. It's a good start.
The rest of the offense did well tonight also, putting out 16 hits and getting three walks and two errors as well. That's the kind of offense that this team should be putting up every night. Placido Polanco came back from the disabled list as well, and had two hits in the late innings, but now he needs to keep things up. Getting Polanco back is like getting another player in a trade without giving anything up, and that's amazing. You throw that in with Roy Oswalt coming back from his injury, and it's like the Phillies are getting two all-stars back in trades, and all that's happening is that they're coming back from injury.
Cliff Lee was solid tonight, but he was left in for an inning too long. He should have been taken out after the seventh inning, and the eighth inning did him in, as he allowed two runs in that inning and was relieved by Antiono Bastardo. Bastardo did get the last out, so everything worked out, but it never should have happened. In my mind, Bastardo should have been out there to start the eighth inning without Lee even coming out there. Charlie Manuel loves this starting rotation, and who can blame him? However, the starters have limits, and Lee had clearly reached his by the end of the seventh inning. Fortunately, the Phillies managed to hold on for a win, as Ryan Madson stuck out the side for his 18th save this season, but this is something that could come back to bite this team in the playoffs, as long as they make it.
Tonight is a good night, though. Hunter Pence got a hit and an RBI in his first game with the Phillies, Cliff Lee got his 10th win, and Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save. Tomorrow, Vance Worley (7-1, 2.02 ERA) goes for his eighth win of the season against Jeff Karstens (8-5, 2.41 ERA).
Phillies do it again, bring in Hunter Pence
This is old news at this point, but it's the first time that I'm getting a chance to sit down and write about it. As you all know by now, Ruben Amaro did it again on July 29, getting right fielder Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros for four prospects.
First, and most importantly, Pence fills a big need for the Phillies this season. He's a right handed bat that can hit in the middle of the lineup, which is something that hasn't been there all season long. His .308 batting average with Houston would lead the Phillies, and he also has 11 home runs and 62 RBI for an Astros team that is one of the worst in baseball. He can also play solid defense in right, something that Ben Francisco and Domonic Brown were not able to do each game.
Secondly, the Phillies did well in not giving up two of their better prospects at the major league level. Neither Brown, nor Vance Worley were involved in the deal, which sent Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid and a player to be named later to the Astros. While Cosart and Singleton are two of, if not the best, prospects that the Phillies had, they're just that: prospects. Kyle Drabek was once considered the best pitching prospect in Philadelphia, and he's been struggling with the Blue Jays. J.A. Happ was considered a pitcher of the future, and he's had a horrible season in Houston. Prospects are never a sure thing, that's why they're prospects. Meanwhile, Pence is a sure thing. He's an all-star caliber right fielder that can fit into this lineup right away without a problem.
The aftermath of this is what is going to happen to Domonic Brown. For the moment, Brown has been sent back to Triple A Lehigh Valley, where he'll be playing in left field for the Iron Pigs. That seems like the best move at the moment, because with Pence and Ibanez playing the corner positions, the chances of Brown seeing much playing time is very slim. With a young player like Brown, you want him to get as much playing time as possible, and he can get that down in the minor leagues. It gives him a little time to learn how to play left field and keeps him in a starting lineup every night. Come September, he'll be called up again, and once Raul Ibanez's contract expires at the end of this season, he'll become the every day left fielder for the Phillies. It's not a bad thing that he was sent down, it was needed.
Now, is this the move that's going to put the Phillies over the top and give them another World Series title? It's certainly possible, but nothing is set in stone. Remember when the Phils got Roy Oswalt last year, everyone thought that was the move that was going to secure another ring. It didn't happen. The Giants are still a damn good team with a damn good pitching staff, and pitching will beat hitting in the playoffs nine out of ten times. However, the Phillies have a pretty solid pitching staff as well, and should be getting Roy Oswalt back sooner, rather than later. Placido Polanco was taken off the disabled list today, which is almost like trading for another all-star player.
This was a good trade for the Phillies, there's no doubt about that. When Ruben Amaro sets out to get someone, it seems like he always gets him, no matter what it will take. So far, it's gotten the Phillies some good players, but this move signals that the team is World Series or bust this year. There's no middle ground. Without that ring, this season is a failure, and all of us fans know that now as well.
The next two months should be very, very fun to watch.
First, and most importantly, Pence fills a big need for the Phillies this season. He's a right handed bat that can hit in the middle of the lineup, which is something that hasn't been there all season long. His .308 batting average with Houston would lead the Phillies, and he also has 11 home runs and 62 RBI for an Astros team that is one of the worst in baseball. He can also play solid defense in right, something that Ben Francisco and Domonic Brown were not able to do each game.
Secondly, the Phillies did well in not giving up two of their better prospects at the major league level. Neither Brown, nor Vance Worley were involved in the deal, which sent Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid and a player to be named later to the Astros. While Cosart and Singleton are two of, if not the best, prospects that the Phillies had, they're just that: prospects. Kyle Drabek was once considered the best pitching prospect in Philadelphia, and he's been struggling with the Blue Jays. J.A. Happ was considered a pitcher of the future, and he's had a horrible season in Houston. Prospects are never a sure thing, that's why they're prospects. Meanwhile, Pence is a sure thing. He's an all-star caliber right fielder that can fit into this lineup right away without a problem.
The aftermath of this is what is going to happen to Domonic Brown. For the moment, Brown has been sent back to Triple A Lehigh Valley, where he'll be playing in left field for the Iron Pigs. That seems like the best move at the moment, because with Pence and Ibanez playing the corner positions, the chances of Brown seeing much playing time is very slim. With a young player like Brown, you want him to get as much playing time as possible, and he can get that down in the minor leagues. It gives him a little time to learn how to play left field and keeps him in a starting lineup every night. Come September, he'll be called up again, and once Raul Ibanez's contract expires at the end of this season, he'll become the every day left fielder for the Phillies. It's not a bad thing that he was sent down, it was needed.
Now, is this the move that's going to put the Phillies over the top and give them another World Series title? It's certainly possible, but nothing is set in stone. Remember when the Phils got Roy Oswalt last year, everyone thought that was the move that was going to secure another ring. It didn't happen. The Giants are still a damn good team with a damn good pitching staff, and pitching will beat hitting in the playoffs nine out of ten times. However, the Phillies have a pretty solid pitching staff as well, and should be getting Roy Oswalt back sooner, rather than later. Placido Polanco was taken off the disabled list today, which is almost like trading for another all-star player.
This was a good trade for the Phillies, there's no doubt about that. When Ruben Amaro sets out to get someone, it seems like he always gets him, no matter what it will take. So far, it's gotten the Phillies some good players, but this move signals that the team is World Series or bust this year. There's no middle ground. Without that ring, this season is a failure, and all of us fans know that now as well.
The next two months should be very, very fun to watch.
Friday, July 29, 2011
So, some things happened today, didn't they?
Well then, today was a busy day, and I'm glad that my "NFL Lockout" rule is over on this blog. Yes, I wasn't posting anything major until the lockout ended, as per me. Today, however, makes things even better.
It's a bit late tonight, and I can't really comment on much, but I'll be here tomorrow for all kinds of responses on the moves made by both the Phillies and Eagles today.
Let me just say this....it's a good day.
It's a bit late tonight, and I can't really comment on much, but I'll be here tomorrow for all kinds of responses on the moves made by both the Phillies and Eagles today.
Let me just say this....it's a good day.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
I ain't heard no bell
That might be the worst grammar that I've ever posted on here, but it's for a reason. I've been gone for almost three months, but it's time to come back. It's time to rise back up and go the distance once again. Yes, it's time.
Yes, that's a sign for me coming back and a sign about what I'm about to do. No, I'm not fighting a Russian, Mr. T or Hulk Hogan, but I'm coming back, and I'm bringing the Rocky movies with me.
See you all real soon.
Yes, that's a sign for me coming back and a sign about what I'm about to do. No, I'm not fighting a Russian, Mr. T or Hulk Hogan, but I'm coming back, and I'm bringing the Rocky movies with me.
See you all real soon.
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