Just a few days after losing the NLCS to the Giants, the Phillies have already started shaping their 2011 roster. CSNPhilly.com reports that the Phils have declined J.C. Romero's option for next season, making him a free agent.
Romero had some success in Philadelphia, as the Phillies picked him up off of waivers from the Boston Red Sox back in 2007. Romero pitched well that year, and then did even better in 2008, winning two World Series games for the Phils when they took down the Tampa Bay Rays. The last two years haven't been as kind to Romero. In 2009, he missed the first 50 games of the season due to a banned substance suspension, and then he battled injuries and inconsistency through the rest of that year and 2010.
This past season was Romero's worst as a Phillie, as he struggled to get right handers out all year long, and walked more batters than he struck out. Though his ERA was just 3.68, it was high enough that the Phillies feel more comfortable with Antonio Bastardo and Mike Zagurski as in house options to replace him, and the $4.5 million that they were due to pay Romero can now go towards signing another left handed relief pitcher or resigning another player that they might need (Jayson Werth). It might not be the most popular move, but it's a good one for the Phillies moving forward. Romero wasn't going to get any better, and had gone through a few different injuries over the last two years. Bastardo has shown flashes, and the Phillies can always find another left handed pitcher on the market for even less than Romero was going to make. It's not fun to see any player from the 2008 team leave, but this feels like the right move at the moment.
I'll always wish Romero luck, just as long as he's not pitching against the Phillies.
CSNPhilly.com: Phillies decline option for Romero.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Eagles Aftermath: Titans-37, Eagles-19
What happened?
Up 19-10 in the fourth quarter, the Eagles let Tennessee score 27 points in the last 13 minutes of the game and fell to 4-3 and the season.
The Good:
This won't take long.
David Akers was 4/4 on field goal attempts just a week after missing three against the Falcons.
Sav Rocca averaged almost 50 yards per punt.
Riley Cooper had three catches for 51 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
Chris Johnson had a quiet day, being held to 66 yards on 24 carries.
The Bad:
LeSean McCoy only had 48 yards on 16 carries. At just three yards a carry, that's not good enough. He did have six catches for 54 yards, though.
A week after having a career game, Jeremy Maclin caught just five passes for 42 yards.
Kevin Kolb did everything he could to give the starting job back to Michael Vick, completing 26 of 48 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also fumbled at the Tennessee three yard line in the third quarter.
The Ugly:
The fourth quarter was one of the worst that I've ever seen. The Eagles allowed Kenny Britt to run wild through their secondary, and Britt finished the day with 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Ellis Hobbs was covering Britt for most of the fourth quarter. That was a mistake.
Nate Allen got burned on the 80 yard touchdown pass to Britt, and had the worst game of his young career.
Philadelphia had four trips into the red zone, and only scored one touchdown.
The Eagles committed ten penalties, costing them 100 yards.
Once again, I have to mention the fourth quarter. 27 points in 13 minutes? Really?
The Breakdown:
Two days after this game, and I still can't quite come to terms with it. For 45 minutes, the Eagles had handled the Titans, with the defense sacking Kerry Collins three times, intercepting him twice and forcing him to fumble as well. Then, after a David Akers field goal, his fourth of the day, things went south in a hurry. Kenny Britt caught an 80 yard touchdown pass on the next offensive play, and from that point out, the Eagles couldn't stop Tennessee's offense. Every Titans drive for the rest of the game resulted in points, and by the time the dust had settled, the Titans had scored 27 points in 13 minutes, and the Eagles had been handed their worst loss of the season.
While it would be easy to pin this loss on the defense, and trust me, I'll get there, the core of this entire defeat comes down to one simple fact: the Eagles didn't perform in the red zone. Four times, Kevin Kolb got the offense down inside the Tennessee 20 yard line, and just once did they come away with a touchdown. Two times, David Akers kicked short field goals, and the other time was the turning point in the game. On third and goal from the three yard line, Kolb lost a fumble that the Titans recovered. Tennessee kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive, and while the Eagles came back down the field and answered with another field goal, the tide had turned in the game. It wasn't the only time that Kolb cost the Eagles a chance at points during the game, either. In the second quarter, Quintin Mikell forced a Kerry Collins fumble that Juqua Parker recovered. On the very next play, Kolb threw an interception at midfield. That's not what a starting quarterback in the NFL should be doing. Kolb still struggled against the Tennessee defense, and though the running game never got established and some of the play calling was predictable, it wasn't good enough. The Eagles had the Titans on the ropes for most of the game, but their failures in the red zone doomed them.
Of course, the defense in the fourth quarter was as bad as they've been all year. While they were able to shut down Chris Johnson for most of the game, Kenny Britt burned them for three touchdowns and 225 yards on seven catches. His 80 yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter began the Tennessee onslaught, and his 16 yard touchdown later in the quarter gave the Titans an eight point lead that they wouldn't give up. Quite simply, Ellis Hobbs should not be a starting cornerback for this team. He looked horrible against Britt, and was called for a pass interference call when the Titans were facing a second and 12 at their own one yard line that allowed them another chance. Tennessee kicked a field goal on that drive, and Kerry Collins picked on Hobbs the rest of the game. Nate Allen had his worst game as a pro, as he struggled to cover Britt as well. The only silver lining to the entire thing was that Britt was benched for part of the first half, so he didn't get a chance to set an NFL record for receiving yards. Had he played the entire game, he might have done just that.
There are no excuses for this game. This was a total team failure. The offense couldn't score touchdowns when they needed to, and the defense couldn't stop the Titans when the Eagles were up 19-10. A stop on Tennessee's drive at that point, rather than an 80 yard touchdown pass to Britt, might have allowed the Eagles to drive back down the field and score again, then who knows how the game turns out. Instead, the Eagles had a complete and total breakdown. The offense could do nothing, going three and out for most of the fourth quarter, and the defense allowed the Titans to score almost at will. It may have only been 15 minutes, but that fourth quarter could define the entire season for the Eagles. The NFC isn't very good this year, and if the Eagles had won that game, they would have been sitting at 5-2, the best record in the NFC. Now, they're at 4-3, tied for second place in the NFC East with the Redskins and they're dealing with a horrible loss against a team that they should have beaten.
The only good part about this whole thing is that the Eagles have their bye week next week. Michael Vick will be the starting quarterback again, so says Andy Reid, when the Eagles play the Colts in Week 9.
Dammit, they play the Colts next? Oh, that's not going to be fun to watch. Peyton Manning's going to have a field day if this team doesn't get their act together.
Up 19-10 in the fourth quarter, the Eagles let Tennessee score 27 points in the last 13 minutes of the game and fell to 4-3 and the season.
The Good:
This won't take long.
David Akers was 4/4 on field goal attempts just a week after missing three against the Falcons.
Sav Rocca averaged almost 50 yards per punt.
Riley Cooper had three catches for 51 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
Chris Johnson had a quiet day, being held to 66 yards on 24 carries.
The Bad:
LeSean McCoy only had 48 yards on 16 carries. At just three yards a carry, that's not good enough. He did have six catches for 54 yards, though.
A week after having a career game, Jeremy Maclin caught just five passes for 42 yards.
Kevin Kolb did everything he could to give the starting job back to Michael Vick, completing 26 of 48 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also fumbled at the Tennessee three yard line in the third quarter.
The Ugly:
The fourth quarter was one of the worst that I've ever seen. The Eagles allowed Kenny Britt to run wild through their secondary, and Britt finished the day with 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Ellis Hobbs was covering Britt for most of the fourth quarter. That was a mistake.
Nate Allen got burned on the 80 yard touchdown pass to Britt, and had the worst game of his young career.
Philadelphia had four trips into the red zone, and only scored one touchdown.
The Eagles committed ten penalties, costing them 100 yards.
Once again, I have to mention the fourth quarter. 27 points in 13 minutes? Really?
The Breakdown:
Two days after this game, and I still can't quite come to terms with it. For 45 minutes, the Eagles had handled the Titans, with the defense sacking Kerry Collins three times, intercepting him twice and forcing him to fumble as well. Then, after a David Akers field goal, his fourth of the day, things went south in a hurry. Kenny Britt caught an 80 yard touchdown pass on the next offensive play, and from that point out, the Eagles couldn't stop Tennessee's offense. Every Titans drive for the rest of the game resulted in points, and by the time the dust had settled, the Titans had scored 27 points in 13 minutes, and the Eagles had been handed their worst loss of the season.
While it would be easy to pin this loss on the defense, and trust me, I'll get there, the core of this entire defeat comes down to one simple fact: the Eagles didn't perform in the red zone. Four times, Kevin Kolb got the offense down inside the Tennessee 20 yard line, and just once did they come away with a touchdown. Two times, David Akers kicked short field goals, and the other time was the turning point in the game. On third and goal from the three yard line, Kolb lost a fumble that the Titans recovered. Tennessee kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive, and while the Eagles came back down the field and answered with another field goal, the tide had turned in the game. It wasn't the only time that Kolb cost the Eagles a chance at points during the game, either. In the second quarter, Quintin Mikell forced a Kerry Collins fumble that Juqua Parker recovered. On the very next play, Kolb threw an interception at midfield. That's not what a starting quarterback in the NFL should be doing. Kolb still struggled against the Tennessee defense, and though the running game never got established and some of the play calling was predictable, it wasn't good enough. The Eagles had the Titans on the ropes for most of the game, but their failures in the red zone doomed them.
Of course, the defense in the fourth quarter was as bad as they've been all year. While they were able to shut down Chris Johnson for most of the game, Kenny Britt burned them for three touchdowns and 225 yards on seven catches. His 80 yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter began the Tennessee onslaught, and his 16 yard touchdown later in the quarter gave the Titans an eight point lead that they wouldn't give up. Quite simply, Ellis Hobbs should not be a starting cornerback for this team. He looked horrible against Britt, and was called for a pass interference call when the Titans were facing a second and 12 at their own one yard line that allowed them another chance. Tennessee kicked a field goal on that drive, and Kerry Collins picked on Hobbs the rest of the game. Nate Allen had his worst game as a pro, as he struggled to cover Britt as well. The only silver lining to the entire thing was that Britt was benched for part of the first half, so he didn't get a chance to set an NFL record for receiving yards. Had he played the entire game, he might have done just that.
There are no excuses for this game. This was a total team failure. The offense couldn't score touchdowns when they needed to, and the defense couldn't stop the Titans when the Eagles were up 19-10. A stop on Tennessee's drive at that point, rather than an 80 yard touchdown pass to Britt, might have allowed the Eagles to drive back down the field and score again, then who knows how the game turns out. Instead, the Eagles had a complete and total breakdown. The offense could do nothing, going three and out for most of the fourth quarter, and the defense allowed the Titans to score almost at will. It may have only been 15 minutes, but that fourth quarter could define the entire season for the Eagles. The NFC isn't very good this year, and if the Eagles had won that game, they would have been sitting at 5-2, the best record in the NFC. Now, they're at 4-3, tied for second place in the NFC East with the Redskins and they're dealing with a horrible loss against a team that they should have beaten.
The only good part about this whole thing is that the Eagles have their bye week next week. Michael Vick will be the starting quarterback again, so says Andy Reid, when the Eagles play the Colts in Week 9.
Dammit, they play the Colts next? Oh, that's not going to be fun to watch. Peyton Manning's going to have a field day if this team doesn't get their act together.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
NLCS Game Six Recap: Giants-3, Phillies-2
Game Recap:
Juan Uribe hit a two out, solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, and Brian Wilson recorded a five out save to eliminate the Phillies from the playoffs and send the Giants to the World Series.
What went right?
Roy Oswalt pitched well, allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits in six innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
Yeah, that's it.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard had two hits, but struck out three times, including the last out of the series with the bat on his shoulder.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3.
Jayson Werth went 0-2. He drove in a run, but also struck out in the eighth inning.
The Phillies left 11 men on base.
Oh, and the season is over. Did I mention that yet?
Game Analysis:
When people look back at the 2010 NLCS, they should notice one thing, after the great pitching efforts on both sides, and that's the missed chances by the Phillies in each and every game that they lost. That was the theme during this series, and it's one that is going to stick with the Phils throughout the offseason until next year's Spring Training starts. Last night was no different, as the Phillies wasted chance after chance, and the San Francisco Giants took advantage of a few mistakes to eliminate the Phils and head to the World Series.
Last night started out so well, too. Roy Oswalt struck out two of the first three batters he faced, and the Phillies scored two quick runs on a double by Chase Utley and a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth. Jonathan Sanchez only lasted two innings before the Phillies chased him from the game, and though Oswalt had given up hits in the first two innings, he was able to get out of trouble. Then came the third inning. Sanchez started things off with a single, and then Andres Torres hit a ball towards Shane Victorino that he should have caught. Instead, it got away from Shane, and the Giants ended up with two men on and no one out. A sacrifice by Freddy Sanchez moved the runners, and a single by Aubrey Huff scored Sanchez, while Torres was thrown out at the plate. Then, Buster Posey hit a ball to third that should have ended the inning. Instead, Placido Polanco's throw to first was low, and Ryan Howard couldn't scoop the ball. Another run scored and the game was tied. Unlike the Phillies, the Giants took advantage of mistakes, and the third inning was no exception.
For the rest of the game, the story was more about what the Phillies couldn't do than what the Giants could, because neither team was able to do much. The Phillies left two runners on base in the third inning, had the bases loaded in the fifth, put a runner on third with one out in the sixth, and had two on in the eighth and ninth innings. None of those men came around to score. That's the story of the game, and the series, right there. Ryan Howard, who just last year told his teammates to get him to the plate so he could deliver a go ahead hit, struck out looking this year with two on in the bottom of the ninth inning on a 3-2 pitch. Howard didn't have a single RBI during the playoffs, though he did hit pretty well. The rest of the team in front of him couldn't get on base, and when they did, it seemed like his bat would go cold. That was huge in this series.
I have nothing bad to say about the pitching for the Phillies. When you have Roy Halladay throw almost five innings on a pulled groin, and Roy Oswalt pitch just two days after coming out of the bullpen and go six innings, along with a bullpen that was almost lights out in every game, there's no faults here. Yes, Ryan Madson gave up the series winning home run, but it wasn't like it was a tape measure shot. It was a ball that just found the first row in the right field stands. The Phillies have hit plenty of home runs like that one at home, so to have it come back and bite them shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Oswalt didn't have his best stuff last night, and he got hit early and often, but he did enough to get through six innings and allow just two runs. That's still a good showing for him.
Before the series started, I said that the Phillies would have to take advantage of every mistake that the Giants made. The Phils did that in the NLDS when they took care of the Reds, but they couldn't do it against San Francisco, and that's why the Giants are the team heading to the World Series. Poor defense, a lack of clutch hitting and just overall sloppy baseball doomed the Phillies from Game One of this NLCS. For the first time since the 2007 season, the Phillies have to watch someone else represent the National League in the World Series. This year is over, but there's going to be a lot of questions still to come.
No more games this year, no more pitching matchups, previews or anything like that. For the next 125 days, baseball is over in Philadelphia. That sucks.
Juan Uribe hit a two out, solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, and Brian Wilson recorded a five out save to eliminate the Phillies from the playoffs and send the Giants to the World Series.
What went right?
Roy Oswalt pitched well, allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits in six innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
Yeah, that's it.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard had two hits, but struck out three times, including the last out of the series with the bat on his shoulder.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3.
Jayson Werth went 0-2. He drove in a run, but also struck out in the eighth inning.
The Phillies left 11 men on base.
Oh, and the season is over. Did I mention that yet?
Game Analysis:
When people look back at the 2010 NLCS, they should notice one thing, after the great pitching efforts on both sides, and that's the missed chances by the Phillies in each and every game that they lost. That was the theme during this series, and it's one that is going to stick with the Phils throughout the offseason until next year's Spring Training starts. Last night was no different, as the Phillies wasted chance after chance, and the San Francisco Giants took advantage of a few mistakes to eliminate the Phils and head to the World Series.
Last night started out so well, too. Roy Oswalt struck out two of the first three batters he faced, and the Phillies scored two quick runs on a double by Chase Utley and a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth. Jonathan Sanchez only lasted two innings before the Phillies chased him from the game, and though Oswalt had given up hits in the first two innings, he was able to get out of trouble. Then came the third inning. Sanchez started things off with a single, and then Andres Torres hit a ball towards Shane Victorino that he should have caught. Instead, it got away from Shane, and the Giants ended up with two men on and no one out. A sacrifice by Freddy Sanchez moved the runners, and a single by Aubrey Huff scored Sanchez, while Torres was thrown out at the plate. Then, Buster Posey hit a ball to third that should have ended the inning. Instead, Placido Polanco's throw to first was low, and Ryan Howard couldn't scoop the ball. Another run scored and the game was tied. Unlike the Phillies, the Giants took advantage of mistakes, and the third inning was no exception.
For the rest of the game, the story was more about what the Phillies couldn't do than what the Giants could, because neither team was able to do much. The Phillies left two runners on base in the third inning, had the bases loaded in the fifth, put a runner on third with one out in the sixth, and had two on in the eighth and ninth innings. None of those men came around to score. That's the story of the game, and the series, right there. Ryan Howard, who just last year told his teammates to get him to the plate so he could deliver a go ahead hit, struck out looking this year with two on in the bottom of the ninth inning on a 3-2 pitch. Howard didn't have a single RBI during the playoffs, though he did hit pretty well. The rest of the team in front of him couldn't get on base, and when they did, it seemed like his bat would go cold. That was huge in this series.
I have nothing bad to say about the pitching for the Phillies. When you have Roy Halladay throw almost five innings on a pulled groin, and Roy Oswalt pitch just two days after coming out of the bullpen and go six innings, along with a bullpen that was almost lights out in every game, there's no faults here. Yes, Ryan Madson gave up the series winning home run, but it wasn't like it was a tape measure shot. It was a ball that just found the first row in the right field stands. The Phillies have hit plenty of home runs like that one at home, so to have it come back and bite them shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Oswalt didn't have his best stuff last night, and he got hit early and often, but he did enough to get through six innings and allow just two runs. That's still a good showing for him.
Before the series started, I said that the Phillies would have to take advantage of every mistake that the Giants made. The Phils did that in the NLDS when they took care of the Reds, but they couldn't do it against San Francisco, and that's why the Giants are the team heading to the World Series. Poor defense, a lack of clutch hitting and just overall sloppy baseball doomed the Phillies from Game One of this NLCS. For the first time since the 2007 season, the Phillies have to watch someone else represent the National League in the World Series. This year is over, but there's going to be a lot of questions still to come.
No more games this year, no more pitching matchups, previews or anything like that. For the next 125 days, baseball is over in Philadelphia. That sucks.
Friday, October 22, 2010
NLCS Game Five Recap: Phillies-4, Giants-2
Game Recap:
Roy Halladay pitched six innings, including four with a pulled groin, and the Phillies scored three runs in the third inning off of Tim Lincecum to take Game Five of the NCLS and force the series back to Philadelphia.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 1-3 with an RBI.
Shane Victorino may have gone 0-5, but he drove in a run in the third inning and then scored as well.
Jayson Werth was 1-4 with a solo home run in the ninth.
Raul Ibanez started tonight, and went 2-4 with a run scored.
The bullpen was outstanding tonight. Jose Contreras, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge worked three scoreless innings, with Madson striking out the side in the eighth inning, and Lidge saving his 12th playoff game for the Phils.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard went 0-4 with three strikeouts. He also committed an error at first base.
Roy Halladay pulled his groin muscle in the second inning, but refused to be pulled from the game. He's likely unable to pitch now until a potential Game One of the World Series.
Game Analysis:
The Phillies found themselves in unfamiliar territory tonight, down to their last game in the NLCS. Not only did they have that facing them, but they also had to deal with Tim Lincecum, who, in case you didn't know, has won the last two National League Cy Young Awards. Well, things didn't go as smoothly as Phillie fans may have hoped, but the end result was still a 4-2 win for the Phillies and a trip back to Philadelphia for Game Six on Saturday.
Their have been a few plays throughout this entire series that have changed the momentum of the games. Tonight was no exception, only this time, the play was in favor of the Phillies. After Raul Ibanez singled and Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count in the third inning, Roy Halladay stepped to the plate to attempt a sacrifice bunt. Halladay's bunt attempt looked to roll foul as it hit home plate, but the umpire called it fair. Halladay didn't run, but Ibanez and Ruiz did, and Pablo Sandoval couldn't get back to third in time. One batter later, Shane Victorino's ground ball to first base was booted badly by Aubrey Huff, and two runs scored, giving the Phillies a lead that they would never give back. Was the ball that Halladay bunted foul? It sure looked like it, but that's not the way that the call went on the field. The Giants have had a few of those calls go their way in this series, so it's nice to see one go the way of the Phils this time out. Regardless, the Phillies actually took advantage of the miscue and scored three times in the third inning off of Tim Lincecum.
Those three runs would be the only ones that the Phils would get until the ninth inning. Fortunately, Jayson Werth nailed a solo home run down the right field line to give the Phillies an insurance run. It wasn't necessary, but it gave Brad Lidge some breathing room going into the bottom of the ninth inning and quieted the San Francisco fans a little bit more. Werth has been scuffling this entire series, but tonight, with just one hit, he may have helped turn things around. Plus, he nailed Cody Ross trying to get to third on a fly ball in the fourth inning. If Werth and Raul Ibanez can keep playing like they did last night, just maybe the rest of the bats can start to warm up, too. They needed to tonight, due to Ryan Howard's awful showing at the plate. Howard still doesn't have a run batted in during the playoffs, if you can believe that.
Hopefully, Roy Halladay's groin issue will be minor, because even with it bothering him tonight, he looked ok out on the mound. You could tell early that something was bothering him, but with a game like this on the line, he wasn't going to come out of the game. Halladay couldn't get a great feel for the strike zone and had to rely more on his off speed pitches than his fastball, but he got the job done, striking out five and walking two in six innings of work. This might be the last time we see Halladay on the mound this year. Hopefully it isn't, but if it is, it's been a hell of a season for Roy, and pitching four innings of solid baseball with a pulled groin is the icing on the cake.
There's not much that can be said about the bullpen tonight. Jose Contreras, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge were great in their three innings of work. Contreras was the only one that allowed a runner to reach base, but nothing came of it. Then, Ryan Madson struck out the side in the eighth inning, allowing Brad Lidge to do his thing and save the game in the ninth. Madson and Lidge tonight looked more like the 2008 versions of themselves than at any point since that season two years ago. Madson was on point with almost every pitch, and Lidge had the Giants guessing at his pitches. That's what the Phillies are going to need out of their bullpen if they want to complete any type of comeback. They can't have what happened in Game Four happen again in this series. If they do, the Giants will be celebrating in Philadelphia.
Everyone just has to remember that it's one game at a time right now. The Phillies needed to win Game Five to force Game Six, and they did that. Now, they have to win Game Six to force a Game Seven. Can they do it? Of course they can. If they can get a break or two, like they did tonight, and actually get some timely hitting from the offense, then the pitching will do enough to carry them through. It won't be Roy Halladay, but Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels aren't bad second and third options, either. Game Six is Saturday in Philadelphia. The Flyers already managed to pull a miracle this year, let's see if the magic can carry over to the Phillies.
Roy Oswalt (1-1, 3.29 ERA) should be going for the Phillies. Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 2.03 ERA) is going for the Giants. The Phils aren't dead yet, and hopefully Oswalt can keep it that way.
Roy Halladay pitched six innings, including four with a pulled groin, and the Phillies scored three runs in the third inning off of Tim Lincecum to take Game Five of the NCLS and force the series back to Philadelphia.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 1-3 with an RBI.
Shane Victorino may have gone 0-5, but he drove in a run in the third inning and then scored as well.
Jayson Werth was 1-4 with a solo home run in the ninth.
Raul Ibanez started tonight, and went 2-4 with a run scored.
The bullpen was outstanding tonight. Jose Contreras, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge worked three scoreless innings, with Madson striking out the side in the eighth inning, and Lidge saving his 12th playoff game for the Phils.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard went 0-4 with three strikeouts. He also committed an error at first base.
Roy Halladay pulled his groin muscle in the second inning, but refused to be pulled from the game. He's likely unable to pitch now until a potential Game One of the World Series.
Game Analysis:
The Phillies found themselves in unfamiliar territory tonight, down to their last game in the NLCS. Not only did they have that facing them, but they also had to deal with Tim Lincecum, who, in case you didn't know, has won the last two National League Cy Young Awards. Well, things didn't go as smoothly as Phillie fans may have hoped, but the end result was still a 4-2 win for the Phillies and a trip back to Philadelphia for Game Six on Saturday.
Their have been a few plays throughout this entire series that have changed the momentum of the games. Tonight was no exception, only this time, the play was in favor of the Phillies. After Raul Ibanez singled and Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count in the third inning, Roy Halladay stepped to the plate to attempt a sacrifice bunt. Halladay's bunt attempt looked to roll foul as it hit home plate, but the umpire called it fair. Halladay didn't run, but Ibanez and Ruiz did, and Pablo Sandoval couldn't get back to third in time. One batter later, Shane Victorino's ground ball to first base was booted badly by Aubrey Huff, and two runs scored, giving the Phillies a lead that they would never give back. Was the ball that Halladay bunted foul? It sure looked like it, but that's not the way that the call went on the field. The Giants have had a few of those calls go their way in this series, so it's nice to see one go the way of the Phils this time out. Regardless, the Phillies actually took advantage of the miscue and scored three times in the third inning off of Tim Lincecum.
Those three runs would be the only ones that the Phils would get until the ninth inning. Fortunately, Jayson Werth nailed a solo home run down the right field line to give the Phillies an insurance run. It wasn't necessary, but it gave Brad Lidge some breathing room going into the bottom of the ninth inning and quieted the San Francisco fans a little bit more. Werth has been scuffling this entire series, but tonight, with just one hit, he may have helped turn things around. Plus, he nailed Cody Ross trying to get to third on a fly ball in the fourth inning. If Werth and Raul Ibanez can keep playing like they did last night, just maybe the rest of the bats can start to warm up, too. They needed to tonight, due to Ryan Howard's awful showing at the plate. Howard still doesn't have a run batted in during the playoffs, if you can believe that.
Hopefully, Roy Halladay's groin issue will be minor, because even with it bothering him tonight, he looked ok out on the mound. You could tell early that something was bothering him, but with a game like this on the line, he wasn't going to come out of the game. Halladay couldn't get a great feel for the strike zone and had to rely more on his off speed pitches than his fastball, but he got the job done, striking out five and walking two in six innings of work. This might be the last time we see Halladay on the mound this year. Hopefully it isn't, but if it is, it's been a hell of a season for Roy, and pitching four innings of solid baseball with a pulled groin is the icing on the cake.
There's not much that can be said about the bullpen tonight. Jose Contreras, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge were great in their three innings of work. Contreras was the only one that allowed a runner to reach base, but nothing came of it. Then, Ryan Madson struck out the side in the eighth inning, allowing Brad Lidge to do his thing and save the game in the ninth. Madson and Lidge tonight looked more like the 2008 versions of themselves than at any point since that season two years ago. Madson was on point with almost every pitch, and Lidge had the Giants guessing at his pitches. That's what the Phillies are going to need out of their bullpen if they want to complete any type of comeback. They can't have what happened in Game Four happen again in this series. If they do, the Giants will be celebrating in Philadelphia.
Everyone just has to remember that it's one game at a time right now. The Phillies needed to win Game Five to force Game Six, and they did that. Now, they have to win Game Six to force a Game Seven. Can they do it? Of course they can. If they can get a break or two, like they did tonight, and actually get some timely hitting from the offense, then the pitching will do enough to carry them through. It won't be Roy Halladay, but Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels aren't bad second and third options, either. Game Six is Saturday in Philadelphia. The Flyers already managed to pull a miracle this year, let's see if the magic can carry over to the Phillies.
Roy Oswalt (1-1, 3.29 ERA) should be going for the Phillies. Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 2.03 ERA) is going for the Giants. The Phils aren't dead yet, and hopefully Oswalt can keep it that way.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
NLCS Game Four Recap: Giants-6, Phillies-5
Game Recap:
Joe Blanton was ineffective, but it was Roy Oswalt that got the loss last night, giving up a sacrifice fly to Juan Uribe that scored Aubrey Huff and pushed the Phillies to one game from elimination.
What went right?
Placido Polanco was 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Jayson Werth was 1-3 with an RBI.
Shane Victorino went 1-4, drove in a run, scored once and walked.
Ryan Madson worked one and two thirds innings of shutout baseball, striking out two while walking one.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with two strikeouts. He was also caught stealing twice and had an error.
Carlos Ruiz was 1-4 with three strikeouts.
Joe Blanton didn't make it out of the fifth inning, throwing only four and two thirds innings last night. He allowed three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three.
Chad Durbin couldn't hold the slim Phils' lead in the sixth inning, allowing two runs to score on two hits and two walks.
Roy Oswalt was called on to pitch the ninth inning and got hit for his first loss of the playoffs, allowing a run to score on two hits.
The Phillies left six men on base. It's not as big of a number, but it's still important.
Game Analysis:
Well, this is not where many people thought that the Phillies would be after four games in the NLCS, was it? Last night, the Phils did what they needed to do in driving the San Francisco starting pitcher out of the game early and getting to the Giant bullpen, but the Philadelphia bullpen couldn't hold up to their end of the deal. When Aubrey Huff scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Phillies found themselves down three games to one. Now, they have to win three games in a row to make it back to the World Series.
Save for the fifth inning last night, the Phillies once again wasted chance after chance on the bases. In the first inning, Placido Polanco reached after being hit by a pitch. Ryan Howard struck out to end the inning. In the second, Jimmy Rollins singled, but Ben Francisco struck out and then Rollins was caught stealing. Inning over. The Phillies got two on with one out in the fourth inning, but Jayson Werth lined out and Rollins struck out to end the threat. Even in the fifth inning, when the Phillies actually scored, they left runs on the basepaths. Carlos Ruiz was thrown out at home by Aaron Rowand on a Shane Victorino single, and Victorino failed to advance to second on the throw. Even though Victorino would later score in the inning, it's those types of plays that have haunted the Phillies throughout this series. Later in the inning, the Phils had the bases loaded with Rollins at the plate again. What did he do this time? Struck out to end the inning. When one player ends three potential scoring chances by himself, something is not right there.
Then came the top of the eighth inning. Ryan Howard doubled to start things off, and Jayson Werth followed with a double that tied the score. For a few moments, we were starting to get that Game Four magic back from the last two NLCS showdowns with the Dodgers. Not last night, though. Jimmy Rollins poppped up, and Ben Francisco and Carlos Ruiz both struck out with Werth standing on second. The potential series tying run was wasted, and the Giants wouldn't let their chance in the ninth inning go to waste. That's been the problem in this series. You can complain about missed calls or a small strike zone all you want, but the fact of the matter is that the Giants have taken advantage of what the Phillies have given them. That's what the Phillies had done in their last two trips to the playoffs, and that's not what they're doing here. Right now, it's costing them.
I have no problem with starting Joe Blanton last night, for the very reason that Blanton was going to have to throw at some point during this series. Just like the Yankees with A.J. Burnett, you don't want your three best pitchers having to go on short rest for the rest of the series. Blanton wasn't too bad while he was out there, but he didn't do enough. His last pitch of the game was an run scoring single, and that was the story of his night. Blanton never gave up the big inning, but he gave up three small innings that came back to bite the Phils. The bullpen wasn't any better, as Chad Durbin couldn't hold a lead in the sixth inning, allowing two runs to score before even recording a single out. The Phillies needed a shut down inning from Durbin after finally taking the lead, and he couldn't make it happen. Durbin has had ups and downs this season, and last night might have been his lowest point.
Then came the ninth inning. I can understand why you would bring Roy Oswalt out to pitch; it's his throw day between starts to begin with, and other than Oswalt, the only other pitcher that seemed like he was out in the bullpen was Kyle Kendrick, and we all know how things with Kendrick on the mound would have ended. Unfortunately, Oswalt wasn't nearly as sharp last night as he was in Game Two, and the Giants made him pay. They put runners on the corners, and Juan Uribe did the rest, flying out to left field, but deep enough to score Aubrey Huff. You can't really pin this on Oswalt, he did what he could with what he had last night. It still comes down again to missed chances by the offense. In every game of this series, the Phillies have had a chance to score and take the lead, or drive a pitcher out of the game. In every single game, they've wasted those chances, even in Game Two, which they won. It's been one of those series for the Phillies, but you have to remember that it's not over yet. Sure, only six teams have come back from being in a 3-1 hole in the LCS, but that means that it has happened.
It's not over until that final out is recorded. Tonight, Roy Halladay (1-1, 2.25 ERA) will try and keep the season alive against Tim Lincecum (2-0, 1.69 ERA).
Joe Blanton was ineffective, but it was Roy Oswalt that got the loss last night, giving up a sacrifice fly to Juan Uribe that scored Aubrey Huff and pushed the Phillies to one game from elimination.
What went right?
Placido Polanco was 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Jayson Werth was 1-3 with an RBI.
Shane Victorino went 1-4, drove in a run, scored once and walked.
Ryan Madson worked one and two thirds innings of shutout baseball, striking out two while walking one.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with two strikeouts. He was also caught stealing twice and had an error.
Carlos Ruiz was 1-4 with three strikeouts.
Joe Blanton didn't make it out of the fifth inning, throwing only four and two thirds innings last night. He allowed three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three.
Chad Durbin couldn't hold the slim Phils' lead in the sixth inning, allowing two runs to score on two hits and two walks.
Roy Oswalt was called on to pitch the ninth inning and got hit for his first loss of the playoffs, allowing a run to score on two hits.
The Phillies left six men on base. It's not as big of a number, but it's still important.
Game Analysis:
Well, this is not where many people thought that the Phillies would be after four games in the NLCS, was it? Last night, the Phils did what they needed to do in driving the San Francisco starting pitcher out of the game early and getting to the Giant bullpen, but the Philadelphia bullpen couldn't hold up to their end of the deal. When Aubrey Huff scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Phillies found themselves down three games to one. Now, they have to win three games in a row to make it back to the World Series.
Save for the fifth inning last night, the Phillies once again wasted chance after chance on the bases. In the first inning, Placido Polanco reached after being hit by a pitch. Ryan Howard struck out to end the inning. In the second, Jimmy Rollins singled, but Ben Francisco struck out and then Rollins was caught stealing. Inning over. The Phillies got two on with one out in the fourth inning, but Jayson Werth lined out and Rollins struck out to end the threat. Even in the fifth inning, when the Phillies actually scored, they left runs on the basepaths. Carlos Ruiz was thrown out at home by Aaron Rowand on a Shane Victorino single, and Victorino failed to advance to second on the throw. Even though Victorino would later score in the inning, it's those types of plays that have haunted the Phillies throughout this series. Later in the inning, the Phils had the bases loaded with Rollins at the plate again. What did he do this time? Struck out to end the inning. When one player ends three potential scoring chances by himself, something is not right there.
Then came the top of the eighth inning. Ryan Howard doubled to start things off, and Jayson Werth followed with a double that tied the score. For a few moments, we were starting to get that Game Four magic back from the last two NLCS showdowns with the Dodgers. Not last night, though. Jimmy Rollins poppped up, and Ben Francisco and Carlos Ruiz both struck out with Werth standing on second. The potential series tying run was wasted, and the Giants wouldn't let their chance in the ninth inning go to waste. That's been the problem in this series. You can complain about missed calls or a small strike zone all you want, but the fact of the matter is that the Giants have taken advantage of what the Phillies have given them. That's what the Phillies had done in their last two trips to the playoffs, and that's not what they're doing here. Right now, it's costing them.
I have no problem with starting Joe Blanton last night, for the very reason that Blanton was going to have to throw at some point during this series. Just like the Yankees with A.J. Burnett, you don't want your three best pitchers having to go on short rest for the rest of the series. Blanton wasn't too bad while he was out there, but he didn't do enough. His last pitch of the game was an run scoring single, and that was the story of his night. Blanton never gave up the big inning, but he gave up three small innings that came back to bite the Phils. The bullpen wasn't any better, as Chad Durbin couldn't hold a lead in the sixth inning, allowing two runs to score before even recording a single out. The Phillies needed a shut down inning from Durbin after finally taking the lead, and he couldn't make it happen. Durbin has had ups and downs this season, and last night might have been his lowest point.
Then came the ninth inning. I can understand why you would bring Roy Oswalt out to pitch; it's his throw day between starts to begin with, and other than Oswalt, the only other pitcher that seemed like he was out in the bullpen was Kyle Kendrick, and we all know how things with Kendrick on the mound would have ended. Unfortunately, Oswalt wasn't nearly as sharp last night as he was in Game Two, and the Giants made him pay. They put runners on the corners, and Juan Uribe did the rest, flying out to left field, but deep enough to score Aubrey Huff. You can't really pin this on Oswalt, he did what he could with what he had last night. It still comes down again to missed chances by the offense. In every game of this series, the Phillies have had a chance to score and take the lead, or drive a pitcher out of the game. In every single game, they've wasted those chances, even in Game Two, which they won. It's been one of those series for the Phillies, but you have to remember that it's not over yet. Sure, only six teams have come back from being in a 3-1 hole in the LCS, but that means that it has happened.
It's not over until that final out is recorded. Tonight, Roy Halladay (1-1, 2.25 ERA) will try and keep the season alive against Tim Lincecum (2-0, 1.69 ERA).
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
NLCS Game Three Recap: Giants-3, Phillies-0
Game Recap:
Matt Cain pitched seven shutout innings for the Giants, who took Game Three of the NLCS and now lead the series 2-1.
What went right?
Even though he lost, Cole Hamels pitched well, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
Jose Contreras pitched two shutout innings.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley was 0-4.
Placido Polanco went 0-4 and struck out once.
Jayson Werth went 0-3 with two strikeouts.
Raul Ibanez was 0-4 and struck out twice.
The Phillies only had three hits, and left seven men on base.
Game Analysis:
Just when you thought the Phillies couldn't top their showing against Tim Lincecum, they come out and play like this yesterday. Matt Cain shut down the Phillies for seven innings, and then the San Francisco bullpen did the rest. The Phillies were shut out in the playoffs for the first time since 1983, and now they're facing a 2-1 hole against the Giants.
The lineup change that seemed to work so well against Jonathan Sanchez in Game Two did nothing against Matt Cain yesterday. Of course, the Phillies still did him favors by leaving men in scoring position once again. The first two innings were uneventful, but in the third, the Phillies got two men on with two outs for Chase Utley, who proceeded to ground out. In the fourth inning, the Phils were in an even better situation, having two runners on and just one out. There was a real chance that they would be able to get a run or two on the board early and calm down the San Francisco crowd while rattling Matt Cain. Instead, Jimmy Rollins popped out and Raul Ibanez struck out, ending the last real threat that the Phillies had in the entire game.
Aside from Ryan Howard, no one on the Phillies is hitting right now, and when you're facing a team like the Giants, that's going to be a problem. Raul Ibanez doesn't have a hit in any of the first three games of this series, and Chase Utley has just one. Two of your best bats in the lineup can't hit the broad side of a barn right now, and while part of that is certainly due to the San Francisco pitching, another part of it has to be more mental than anything else. The Phillies are a team that's made their living off of hitting, and while it hasn't always been the case this year, they've still shown that they can hit when they need to. Well, they need to hit now.
You can't blame Cole Hamels for this loss. Just like most of his losses during the regular season, Hamels got no run support for a solid effort out on the mound. The bottom of the fourth inning was his downfall, which happened right after the Phillies wasted their best scoring chance of the game. Hamels walked Pat Burrell with two outs, and Cody Ross drove in yet another run in this series with a single. Burrell made it to third, and would score when Aubrey Huff's hit bounced off of Chase Utley's glove. The fifth inning was more of the same, as Hamels got two quick outs after an Aaron Rowand double, only to have Freddy Sanchez drive in Rowand with a two out hit. The Giants don't have the best offense in baseball, but when you can get clutch two out hits to drive in runs, you're going to win. The Giants have done that in their two wins. The Phillies have had their chances, but haven't been able to get it done.
Now, the Phils have their backs against the wall. Tonight's game is a must win, because Roy Halladay is pitching in Game Five with a real chance to give the Phillies a series lead if they can win Game Four. If they don't win tonight, then there's a real good chance that this series won't come back to Philadelphia.
Joe Blanton pitches for the first time in the playoffs tonight. He'll be opposed by Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 3.00 ERA).
Matt Cain pitched seven shutout innings for the Giants, who took Game Three of the NLCS and now lead the series 2-1.
What went right?
Even though he lost, Cole Hamels pitched well, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
Jose Contreras pitched two shutout innings.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley was 0-4.
Placido Polanco went 0-4 and struck out once.
Jayson Werth went 0-3 with two strikeouts.
Raul Ibanez was 0-4 and struck out twice.
The Phillies only had three hits, and left seven men on base.
Game Analysis:
Just when you thought the Phillies couldn't top their showing against Tim Lincecum, they come out and play like this yesterday. Matt Cain shut down the Phillies for seven innings, and then the San Francisco bullpen did the rest. The Phillies were shut out in the playoffs for the first time since 1983, and now they're facing a 2-1 hole against the Giants.
The lineup change that seemed to work so well against Jonathan Sanchez in Game Two did nothing against Matt Cain yesterday. Of course, the Phillies still did him favors by leaving men in scoring position once again. The first two innings were uneventful, but in the third, the Phillies got two men on with two outs for Chase Utley, who proceeded to ground out. In the fourth inning, the Phils were in an even better situation, having two runners on and just one out. There was a real chance that they would be able to get a run or two on the board early and calm down the San Francisco crowd while rattling Matt Cain. Instead, Jimmy Rollins popped out and Raul Ibanez struck out, ending the last real threat that the Phillies had in the entire game.
Aside from Ryan Howard, no one on the Phillies is hitting right now, and when you're facing a team like the Giants, that's going to be a problem. Raul Ibanez doesn't have a hit in any of the first three games of this series, and Chase Utley has just one. Two of your best bats in the lineup can't hit the broad side of a barn right now, and while part of that is certainly due to the San Francisco pitching, another part of it has to be more mental than anything else. The Phillies are a team that's made their living off of hitting, and while it hasn't always been the case this year, they've still shown that they can hit when they need to. Well, they need to hit now.
You can't blame Cole Hamels for this loss. Just like most of his losses during the regular season, Hamels got no run support for a solid effort out on the mound. The bottom of the fourth inning was his downfall, which happened right after the Phillies wasted their best scoring chance of the game. Hamels walked Pat Burrell with two outs, and Cody Ross drove in yet another run in this series with a single. Burrell made it to third, and would score when Aubrey Huff's hit bounced off of Chase Utley's glove. The fifth inning was more of the same, as Hamels got two quick outs after an Aaron Rowand double, only to have Freddy Sanchez drive in Rowand with a two out hit. The Giants don't have the best offense in baseball, but when you can get clutch two out hits to drive in runs, you're going to win. The Giants have done that in their two wins. The Phillies have had their chances, but haven't been able to get it done.
Now, the Phils have their backs against the wall. Tonight's game is a must win, because Roy Halladay is pitching in Game Five with a real chance to give the Phillies a series lead if they can win Game Four. If they don't win tonight, then there's a real good chance that this series won't come back to Philadelphia.
Joe Blanton pitches for the first time in the playoffs tonight. He'll be opposed by Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 3.00 ERA).
Monday, October 18, 2010
NLCS Game Two Recap: Phillies-6, Giants-1
Game Recap:
Roy Oswalt pitched eight innings of one run baseball and the Phillies got to the Giants for six runs, tying the NLCS at one game a piece heading to San Francisco.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-4 with a run scored.
Chase Utley walked and scored twice.
Placido Polanco was 1-3 and drove in two runs.
Ryan Howard went 2-3.
Jimmy Rollins went 2-3 with a walk and four RBI.
Roy Oswalt pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He walked three, struck out nine, and went 1-3 at the plate, scoring a run in the seventh inning.
Ryan Madson got into a little trouble in the top of the ninth inning, but worked out of it to close out the game.
What went wrong?
Raul Ibanez was 0-4 and struck out twice.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
The Phillies left eight men on base.
Game Analysis:
No matter what people want to tell you about last night's game, it wasn't necessarily a must-win for the Phillies. Before the series started, I was confident that if the Phillies could get a split out of the first two games, they would win the series. After seeing the last two games, I'm even more confident that the Phillies are going to take the NLCS and head to their third straight World Series. Why would I be able to say that after just two games that have the Phillies and Giants tied at 1-1? It's what the Phillies have shown in both games.
Coming into last night's game, Jonathan Sanchez had dominated the Phillies through his career. It's why he got the start instead of Matt Cain, who has struggled against the Phils in Philadelphia. Against Sanchez in the regular season, the Phillies have batted .157 with just a single home run and twice as many strikeouts as hits. That's not a good sign coming into the playoffs, but instead of swinging freely against Sanchez, they did exactly what they had to do in the first inning, and that was take pitch after pitch.
The plan worked almost to perfection. Chase Utley walked and stole second, and Placido Polanco reached on a Mike Fontenot error. Ryan Howard then walked, and, following a Jayson Werth strikeout, Jimmy Rollins earned a bases loaded walk to force in the first run of the game. Four batters reached base in the first inning, and none of them did so with a hit. That's not the same Phillie team that people are used to seeing, but it was effective in the first inning. Sanchez threw 36 pitches, and only allowed one run, but the damage had already been done. The only problem with the first inning was that the Phillies only scored one run. The Giants got their bullpen up in the first inning, meaning that a big start to the game would have chased Sanchez. Instead, the Phils only scored once, and Sanchez started to settle down after that. He ended up throwing six innings, and needed just 64 pitches to get through the rest of his night. Considering he threw 36 pitches in the first, that's not very good from the offense after that.
However, the small ball option that the Phillies used in the first came into play in the fifth inning as well. After the Giants tied the game in the top of the fifth, Shane Victorino started things off with a double. Two sacrifice flies by Chase Utley and Placido Polanco later, the Phillies had a lead that they weren't going to give up. The four runs in the seventh inning were icing on the cake and provided a bit of a show, thanks to Roy Oswalt running through a stop sign at third and scoring anyway, and Jimmy Rollins' bases clearing double against Sergio Romo later in the inning. The Phillies did a great job last night breaking up their normally thick left handed lineup, and it paid off right away. If Charlie Manuel was smart, he would keep the lineup just like it was last night. The Giants had to make several pitching changes, and their bullpen didn't look nearly as sharp as it did in Game One.
Then, there's Roy Oswalt on the mound. After getting hit up a little bit in his first playoff start, Oswalt was back in form from the very start of the game last night. He struck San Francisco leadoff hitter Andres Torres out all four times he faced him, fanned another five Giants and walked just three. The only mistake he made was the same mistake that Roy Halladay made twice in Game One: he pitched to Cody Ross. Ross has three hits in this NLCS, and they're all home runs on inside pitches. The Phillies have to start pitching him outside more, because he's not going to drive the ball on pitches like that. When any pitcher throws inside on Cody Ross, he has a chance to take the ball over the fence, and he's done that three times already against the Phillies. Either walk him, or pitch him outside. I don't want to see Ross hurt the Phillies anymore, because, without him, the Giants have scored just two runs in two games, and that's a good thing.
There's not much else you can say about how Roy Oswalt pitched last night. That game was the reason why the Phillies traded for Oswalt at the end of July. He's never lost a playoff start, and always seems to have his best when things are on the line. Let's be honest here, who would you rather have seen start that game: Roy Oswalt, or J.A. Happ? If any of you reading this said Happ, then you're liars. Oswalt is a big game pitcher, and big game pitchers can shut down an opposing team. Aside from Ross's home run, Oswalt allowed two meaningless singles, and talked Charlie Manuel into letting him stay in the game for Aubrey Huff in the top of the eighth inning. Oswalt had already established himself as a fan favorite in Philadelphia, but he's gaining more popularity with each game he pitches in the playoffs.
Now, the series is tied heading to San Francisco for three games. The Phillies haven't had that much success out in San Francisco of late, and they needed extra innings just to avoid being swept out there earlier this season. This isn't the same Phillies team, though. The Phils have had Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez on the ropes early in both games, and though they couldn't fully take advantage of either situation, they've set the tone for this series. The Giants may have great pitching, but the offense of the Phillies is better. As long as the Phils can make the Giants pay for a few mistakes a game, they'll be just fine for the rest of the NLCS.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitches for the Phillies in Game Three. He'll be opposed by Matt Cain (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Roy Oswalt pitched eight innings of one run baseball and the Phillies got to the Giants for six runs, tying the NLCS at one game a piece heading to San Francisco.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-4 with a run scored.
Chase Utley walked and scored twice.
Placido Polanco was 1-3 and drove in two runs.
Ryan Howard went 2-3.
Jimmy Rollins went 2-3 with a walk and four RBI.
Roy Oswalt pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He walked three, struck out nine, and went 1-3 at the plate, scoring a run in the seventh inning.
Ryan Madson got into a little trouble in the top of the ninth inning, but worked out of it to close out the game.
What went wrong?
Raul Ibanez was 0-4 and struck out twice.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
The Phillies left eight men on base.
Game Analysis:
No matter what people want to tell you about last night's game, it wasn't necessarily a must-win for the Phillies. Before the series started, I was confident that if the Phillies could get a split out of the first two games, they would win the series. After seeing the last two games, I'm even more confident that the Phillies are going to take the NLCS and head to their third straight World Series. Why would I be able to say that after just two games that have the Phillies and Giants tied at 1-1? It's what the Phillies have shown in both games.
Coming into last night's game, Jonathan Sanchez had dominated the Phillies through his career. It's why he got the start instead of Matt Cain, who has struggled against the Phils in Philadelphia. Against Sanchez in the regular season, the Phillies have batted .157 with just a single home run and twice as many strikeouts as hits. That's not a good sign coming into the playoffs, but instead of swinging freely against Sanchez, they did exactly what they had to do in the first inning, and that was take pitch after pitch.
The plan worked almost to perfection. Chase Utley walked and stole second, and Placido Polanco reached on a Mike Fontenot error. Ryan Howard then walked, and, following a Jayson Werth strikeout, Jimmy Rollins earned a bases loaded walk to force in the first run of the game. Four batters reached base in the first inning, and none of them did so with a hit. That's not the same Phillie team that people are used to seeing, but it was effective in the first inning. Sanchez threw 36 pitches, and only allowed one run, but the damage had already been done. The only problem with the first inning was that the Phillies only scored one run. The Giants got their bullpen up in the first inning, meaning that a big start to the game would have chased Sanchez. Instead, the Phils only scored once, and Sanchez started to settle down after that. He ended up throwing six innings, and needed just 64 pitches to get through the rest of his night. Considering he threw 36 pitches in the first, that's not very good from the offense after that.
However, the small ball option that the Phillies used in the first came into play in the fifth inning as well. After the Giants tied the game in the top of the fifth, Shane Victorino started things off with a double. Two sacrifice flies by Chase Utley and Placido Polanco later, the Phillies had a lead that they weren't going to give up. The four runs in the seventh inning were icing on the cake and provided a bit of a show, thanks to Roy Oswalt running through a stop sign at third and scoring anyway, and Jimmy Rollins' bases clearing double against Sergio Romo later in the inning. The Phillies did a great job last night breaking up their normally thick left handed lineup, and it paid off right away. If Charlie Manuel was smart, he would keep the lineup just like it was last night. The Giants had to make several pitching changes, and their bullpen didn't look nearly as sharp as it did in Game One.
Then, there's Roy Oswalt on the mound. After getting hit up a little bit in his first playoff start, Oswalt was back in form from the very start of the game last night. He struck San Francisco leadoff hitter Andres Torres out all four times he faced him, fanned another five Giants and walked just three. The only mistake he made was the same mistake that Roy Halladay made twice in Game One: he pitched to Cody Ross. Ross has three hits in this NLCS, and they're all home runs on inside pitches. The Phillies have to start pitching him outside more, because he's not going to drive the ball on pitches like that. When any pitcher throws inside on Cody Ross, he has a chance to take the ball over the fence, and he's done that three times already against the Phillies. Either walk him, or pitch him outside. I don't want to see Ross hurt the Phillies anymore, because, without him, the Giants have scored just two runs in two games, and that's a good thing.
There's not much else you can say about how Roy Oswalt pitched last night. That game was the reason why the Phillies traded for Oswalt at the end of July. He's never lost a playoff start, and always seems to have his best when things are on the line. Let's be honest here, who would you rather have seen start that game: Roy Oswalt, or J.A. Happ? If any of you reading this said Happ, then you're liars. Oswalt is a big game pitcher, and big game pitchers can shut down an opposing team. Aside from Ross's home run, Oswalt allowed two meaningless singles, and talked Charlie Manuel into letting him stay in the game for Aubrey Huff in the top of the eighth inning. Oswalt had already established himself as a fan favorite in Philadelphia, but he's gaining more popularity with each game he pitches in the playoffs.
Now, the series is tied heading to San Francisco for three games. The Phillies haven't had that much success out in San Francisco of late, and they needed extra innings just to avoid being swept out there earlier this season. This isn't the same Phillies team, though. The Phils have had Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez on the ropes early in both games, and though they couldn't fully take advantage of either situation, they've set the tone for this series. The Giants may have great pitching, but the offense of the Phillies is better. As long as the Phils can make the Giants pay for a few mistakes a game, they'll be just fine for the rest of the NLCS.
Tomorrow, Cole Hamels (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitches for the Phillies in Game Three. He'll be opposed by Matt Cain (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
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