Bruised and battered Phils overcome Mets, win 5-2

Summary: The Phillies waited until the seventh inning to spoil opening day for a sellout crowd at Shea Stadium, capitalizing on a costly error to score two, then score the eventual game winner on an RBI single by Jayson Werth, as the Phillies came back to beat the Mets this afternoon.

But ... The victory came at a potentially high price. After scoring in the eighth inning, Jimmy Rollins left the game for what is being called "a left ankle sprain." No further word on the extent of the injury. The game wasn’t kind to Chase Utley, either. Utley, who set a franchise record with 25 HBP last season, was plunked three times today, which ties a Major League, single-game record, according to the announcers.

The late rally meant Jamie Moyer (1-0) was rewarded for a fine effort, allowing two runs on four hits through six innings. Mets starter Oliver Perez earned a no decision. Scott Schoeneweis was tagged with the loss and blown save. Tom Gordon recorded his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Comments

[jhart]

Psychologically speaking this is a great win for the Phils. The Mets players are going to get hounded by the press for blowing a lead and not getting any clutch performances in the final 3 frames.

I'd love to occupy that five inch space between the ears of every single Mets player for the remainder of the whole season.

[Sophist]

I thought Vic had a solid game today as well. A couple hits, a walk, and some arguably game-saving catches in center.

Solid day from Romero and Gordon as well.

[El Capitan Obviouso]

Kind of a microcosm of last year. They lead early, fall apart late, Phils run em down and win. Whats the deal with Chase and the HBPs? The guy bails out late on inside stuff, but not THAT late. This is getting ridiculous.

[RSB]

Yet again, the reports of Tom Gordon's imminent demise have been greatly exaggerated. Give the guy credit, he keeps coming off the mat.

Meanwhile, what a difference from the last Mets' home opener. They don't have Geoff Geary to kick around anymore.

So, is everyone still all afraid of the Mets?

Can we now plainly see they are an extremely average team?

Can we also very plainly see this team (and its fans) is still back on its heels, that there has been a psychological carry-over from the events of last season?

Didn't this game closely resemble so many of the contests from those stretch drive series between these two teams - particularly the one at Shea - where the Phillies' bullpen is lights-out and the Mets' pen is a disaster?

Think the crowd might have picked up on that?

Don't the dynamics of the Mets/Phillies imbalance seem identical to the one Florida had over the Phillies in '03/'04?

Are we still expected to take Oliver Perez seriously? How could any team feel confident when he takes the mound knowing he could implode at any second?

Is there anything more satisfying than knowing Shea Stadium is presently being emptied of over 50,000 seriously pissed off and utterly defeated New Yorkers?

I'll answer that one. Nooooo, sir.

[bigmyc04]

Utley gets hit three times!? Are you kidding me? I couldn't watch the game or even follow it, but someone please tell me somebody got plunked on that Mets roster.

I'm not the sort of guy who's consumed with vengeance at whatever the cost, but gimme a break..... 3 times? What's Chase doin?, diving into the pitches?.....

If these Phils didn't retaliate against this club, I'd be very disappointed.

[Bob]

Beltran gets hit tomorrow

[RSB]

What's with this infantile notion of retalitaion? Utley got grazed twice and then hit on the back by a rattled Schoenweis in the decisive 7th inning. Utley gets hit so often because, let's put it this way, he doesn't go out of his way to avoid the prospect. None of the HBPs were emotely intentional. Cool your testosterone.

[ae]

I never really understood the logic of retaliation (except of course in obvious cases where a pitcher's really coming after your guys). you're getting free bases! there isn't really a downside, especially when the only thing "hit" by the pitch is your jersey.

Utley's a lot like mid/late-90s Biggio - he does whatever it takes to get on base.

[MG]

RSB - Agreed on Utley but disagree about Gordon. He has had a nice week but I am still not sold on him being effective (season ERA under 4.50) or the impact he will make (less than 45 innings this year due to time on the DL). Hope I am completely wrong on both acconts.

[diggitydave]

You can't deny the fact that at least SOME of the HBP's incurred by Utley last year were intentional. he is the best all-around hitter on our team, and I would argue the most balanced left-handed hitter in the NL, so it is expected that he would be targeted by opposing pitchers from time to time.

STILL, the 3 HBP's today are of no consequence. Perez has awful control, and he really only barely grazed Utley with both of the HBP's. And regarding Schoenweis, do you really think he wants to hit Utley to load the bases in that situation??
No need to hit Beltran/Wright/Delgado tomorrow. I'd much rather see Kendrick get a W and the Phils absolutely pound Pelfrey back to the minor leagues where he belongs.

[MG]

Phils really can't seem to catch many breaks in the early going here. Had the Delgado error today to help spark the rally but losing JRoll for 3-4 weeks would be huge.

[Brian G]

ae: The idea of retaliation is to make pitchers think twice about coming inside with hard stuff on your star players... which is the type of thing that can cause star players to miss a month of a season where they're the MVP frontrunner.
In this case, however, if it was all soft garbage that just slipped then I wouldn't care if they didn't relaliate.

[Mr. Mack]

RSB - I tend to agree with your testosterone comment, however that is something that should be monitored. I am not calling for a hockey game to break out or anything, but as a pitcher, you gotta watch out for your players. If it looks intentional or retalitory on the opposing team's ledger, you have to show team togetherness, even if it's just a brushback pitch. Just avoid the stupidity of meaningless beanball contests. My Spidey senses tell me that a few more Chase plunkings and there could be fireworks in this series however.

[GM-Carson]

We've been all over Vic for his bat, but he had 2 hits and a walk today and without his defense the Phils would have lost.

[MG]

RSB - Phils still have Kendrick and Eaton going the next 2 days. If they manage to split and take 2 out of 3, that was about the best you could realistically expect going into this series.

[GM-Carson]

What's wrong with testerone...should I get you a maxipad?

[MG]

GM-Carson - Agreed. Victorino was the player of the game today (even more so with a couple of tremendous catchers). If the Phils play solid defense behind him, Moyer will be serviceable this year. Kendrick - ????

[RSB]

MG: I'm not sold on the idea of consistency from Gordon, either; but that's quite different from insisting, as so many have on so many occasions, that he's flat-out finished.

[GM-Carson]

I hope Gordon turns out to be as good as some people think he's going to be after his "5 straight scoreless appearances". Me, I think he's still washed-up, but glad he got the save today.

[MG]

RSB - With Gordon (and Eaton this year), you take it where you can get it. It was the same in spring training though where Gordon was awful early, had a string of scoreless appearances, and was awful at the close of camp.

[phila fan in dc]

Anyone else out there think that there won't be much payback for Chase being HBPs? I saw the first two hits, and they didn't seem like anything major.

[MG]

Despite all the hoopla about Lidge and others, Gordon and Eaton are the keys to this pitching staff. If Gordon holds up and they even get a year from Eaton that more normally resembles his career numbers (ERA around 4.75-5), they have a really good shot at making the playoffs.

[Bob]

NEW YORK - Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins left today's game in the eighth inning against the Mets with a sprained left ankle but said he hopes to play tomorrow.

"I could have stayed in the game, but that would not have made sense," Rollins said. "It wouldn't have been the right thing to do to help our team win."

[GM-Carson]

MG- I like the "take where you can get it" approach to dealing with Eaton and Gordon. My guess is that we won't "get" too much though, but I'll be happy when we do.

[Mike Cunningham]

"I could have stayed in the game, but that would not have made sense," Rollins said. "It wouldn't have been the right thing to do to help our team win."

Except for the occasional hiccup, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley consistently show that they are not only MVP caliber players ON the field, but OFF the field as well...

[CJ]

From last thread:

Tray: I'm not sure anyone, even the Phillies, see Durbin as a set-up man. He's going to primarily be long-relief or extra innings man.

Madson, Gordon and Romero are the set-up guys. Lidge is the closer.

Madson has shown bouts of inconsistency, especially in big spots.

Gordon could get shut down at a moments notice.

Few believe Romero can be this effective all year.

Lidge has injury issues already and there are concerns about his mindset.

Apart from all that, we're just fine ;-)

[MG]

My money is that Romero and Madson with both finish with just fine stats. Whether Gordon and Lidge hold up though will be the question. Both have to be considered big question marks from a health perspective.

[Sophist]

There's a lot of Willie Randolph vitriol on MetsBlog. Does anyone know why Randolph is seen to be at fault for the Mets play? It doesn't seem to be in-game decision-making.

[Bill In Elkton]

I'm a first time beerleaguer blogger, longtime NL Phillie fan. Big Orioles fan. We have a couple posters blogging on our site and we need to trade, release or send them down to AA blogs.
I suggested we trade them both to beerleaguer.com for your own El Capitan Obviouso.
They both have been bickering amongst themselves on our site and are a distraction so it might not be the best deal for you guys.
Just a suggestion.
In other news, I've been checking on any Kris Benson updates and wishing Jason Werth (Orioles first round draft pick in 97) the best of luck. Go Phillies!

[Dan]

they were definitely not happy about endy hitting into a DP as opposed to bunting the runner over...moreso than his game management, Met fans look at Willie's stoic exterior and perceived lack of passion and think its rubbed off on the players; Reyes especially....

it's amazing, though...a week ago, they were ready to crown them WS champs...now, they want willie fired and they dont think theyll make the playoffs.....i love it

this was a big game for them, as much as the players might downplay it...and with pelfrey going tomorrow, they cant be too confident

9 in a row, and counting.......

[CJ]

Funny... Metsblog.com closed comments on the game post and haven't put up a new post. Guess they got tired of the doom and gloom.

As ugly as things sometimes get over here, at least we know Jason will keep things open for us to vent!

[J. Weitzel]

I quickly wrote the header before leaving the office and forgot to mention Vic's defense today. Obviously, a brilliant game with the glove.

[ROB]

One observation.. Don't you get tottally psyched when Aaron Heilman comes in against the Phils? Seems like he "sees RED". We absolutely own that guy.. He has decent stats year to year, but damn, he SUCKS against us.. Maybe NY fans are tired of Willie runnin him out there.

[kbless]

Sure is alot of doom and gloom over on metsblog. Seems like the sky is falling. "Team has no heart." "Team has no talent, no leadership." "Won't make the playoffs, be lucky to win 85 games" "Here comes another sweep at the hands of Philadelphia" I thought stuff around here made me pessimistic. Today's loss sure did not help their fractured psyche either.

[CJ]

Yeah, remarkably, Heilman has a 7.41 ERA and a WHIP of nearly 2.000 in his 34 career innings against the Phils. Interestingly, that's the fewest innings against any NL East opponent by at least 13 innings. They must know he sucks against us. His second-worst ERA against any opponent with more than 2 innings pitched is 5.60 against Houston.

[Morty]

Not sure if it was intentional or not, but I thought it was a great move bringing Romero into the 8th to face the heart of the order, while leaving the back end for Gordon to finish off.

[Morty]

ROB:

Agreed. Heilman is my favorite Mets pitcher.

[ROB]

CJ.. just to clarify.. it was 7.41 BEFORE today's 18.00 effort

[ROB]

Also, Mitch Williams remarked that Chase "ran into" the throwing lane of Delgado because he knew what Delgado's angle to throw would be.. At first , I said to myself, Yeah, right.. like you can think of that when you're tryin to break up a double play. Then it came to me.. Chase Utley was doing the running.. I BELIEVE!! :)

[bay_area_phan]

The thing about Gordon is that he's physically broken down but, when he's good, he's still really good -- as he was last September and as he has been in the last 2 outings. But when he's bad, he's also really bad. The thing is, if he's going to be bad, you can usually tell pretty quickly because he falls behind hitters and is unable to throw strikes.

After seeing Gordon the last 2 games, it's hard for me to sit here and pronounce that he can't help us this year. After all, even a broken down Gordon still has the best pure stuff of anyone in our bullpen besides Lidge. I think the key is that Cholly/Dubee need to monitor him very closely, and not be afraid to give him a quick hook if he's off.

[CJ]

ROB: Good point.

Morty: Good point on Romero vs. the heart of the order.

Is that the example of putting your best reliever available in the highest leverage situation? Or was Charlie simply following his standard playbook? I'd guess the latter, but I'll take it.

[CJ]

BAP: Not afraid to give him the hook... and not afraid to set him down for a couple of days. His is not an effective tired arm.

[xfactor]

RSB:

Your comment about the Marlins owning us in 03/04 like we now own the Mets is spot on. Seems like they are just snakebit against us.

I also recall the Eagles and Giants trading off long winning streaks against each other several years ago. It turned on a dime and went the other way for a stretch, something the Phillies can't let happen with the Mets.

Hopefully we can take advantage and stay in their heads with another win behind Kendrick tomorrow. If not, then the series hangs on Eaton vs. Maine.

Big game, great win today, good going guys!

[Andy]

CJ, ROB, Morty, as I said during the game:
We should send Heilman flowers...or maybe a case of Tiger Balm so he's alwayd ready to pitch against the Phils.

I love (ina loyal Phillies kind of way) Aaron Heilman.

[Andy]

Anyone know where Phils team ERA for the season ranks in the NL after today's game?

We seem to be much better than normal.

[Morty]

Andy:

Ditto.

CJ:

Right. I also kinda think it was just the Uncle Charlie play book, but here's hoping it was not.

[Andy]

{It's currently 4.30.}

[Morty]

We really need honesty from Gordon to the coaches about how he feels this year if we expect effectiveness from him. No false bravado, or "I can get it done, somehow."

[mattw]

From Metsblog: "…Jimmy Rollins has been taken out of the game in favor of Eric Bruntlett, so i can only assume that something is up with rollins, who jogged home slowly in the previous inning…

…forgive me if i’m not crying…"

Those guys over at Metsblog are real class acts.

[Sophist]

Andy -- ESPN.com has their ERA at 4.55, good for 13th in the NL. They're 10th in OPS against.

[Sophist]

One explanation for good feelings about the Phils' pitching is that in 5 of 8 games they've allowed 4 runs or less (with a 2-run game and a 1-run game in there.)

[KidCarnivore]

Eh, the Rollins comment from the MetsBlog people isn't that bad. It's not like they're gloating.

[CJ]

If you didn't hear, El Duque was sent for another MRI, so his minor league start has been pushed back.

With El Duque and Pedro on the shelf for the forseeable future, sure does cut into their starting pitching edge.

Also, predictably, Luis Castillo left today's game with a knee injury of some kind.

Nice to see them dropping like flies again. It's just a matter of time until Delgado goes down.

[Jimbo Jones]

I as well could not watch the game today and after freakishly updating the game on my cell I notcied Gordon was pitching in the 9th. That's when I stopped updating. Glad to see he came through cause I'm with the doubters on Gordon and his inability "to get it done, somehow." Nice one Morty. I'll be watching the replay to see for my own eye's. As for Utley being hit 3 times I'm not worried about it cause I thought he led the league in that category last year. Nothing like showing off your inner grit my taking one for the team. I know I wouldn't. Though from what I read the hbp's weren't even all that bad. At .500 and 8 games into the season! After a tought start my impression of the Phills is slowly improving.

[AWH the RBP]

My favorite comment from steM-heads blog:

"Comment by kingkongkoo
2008-04-08 17:26:45

Can anyone think of a team in the last decade more overrated than this piece of crap we have to watch for the next 156 games?"

Boy, and they call Philadelphians negative?

I hope, at least, their start to the season will bring some sense to steM's fans, especially the obnoxious one who invade this blog.

Hopefully, the idiots among them will realize that the games actually have to be played.

Lots of baseball left. May the best team win!

[B-Mac]

After the way Pelfrey stunk down the stretch last year, you got to think we can hit him tomorrow. Hopefully Kendrick can hold down the fort and throw a quality start.

[stjoehawk]

"Don't the dynamics of the Mets/Phillies imbalance seem identical to the one Florida had over the Phillies in '03/'04?"

Somewhat. I think that the Mets are closer in talent level to the Phillies than the Phillies were to the Fish.

But I REALLY, REALLY hated to see the Marlins coming on the schedule during those years.

[MG]

Heilman is getting along of love here but what about Schoeneweis (the most overrated arm in the Mets' pen).

Schoeneweis is really the guy that blow the game today for the Mets and is yet another example of a guy who should be used almost strictly to face lefties although "Brains" Randolph has some odd fetish about using him against righties.

[mrose]

as a mets fan who likes to see whats goin on with you guys and your blog ...i typically just read, but ....this comment:
Comments
One explanation for good feelings about the Phils' pitching is that in 5 of 8 games they've allowed 4 runs or less (with a 2-run game and a 1-run game in there.)

Posted by: Sophist | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:02 PM

Eh, the Rollins comment from the MetsBlog people isn't that bad. It's not like they're gloating.

Posted by: KidCarnivore | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:03 PM

If you didn't hear, El Duque was sent for another MRI, so his minor league start has been pushed back.

With El Duque and Pedro on the shelf for the forseeable future, sure does cut into their starting pitching edge.

Also, predictably, Luis Castillo left today's game with a knee injury of some kind.

Nice to see them dropping like flies again. It's just a matter of time until Delgado goes down.

Posted by: CJ | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:05 PM

I as well could not watch the game today and after freakishly updating the game on my cell I notcied Gordon was pitching in the 9th. That's when I stopped updating. Glad to see he came through cause I'm with the doubters on Gordon and his inability "to get it done, somehow." Nice one Morty. I'll be watching the replay to see for my own eye's. As for Utley being hit 3 times I'm not worried about it cause I thought he led the league in that category last year. Nothing like showing off your inner grit my taking one for the team. I know I wouldn't. Though from what I read the hbp's weren't even all that bad. At .500 and 8 games into the season! After a tought start my impression of the Phills is slowly improving.

Posted by: Jimbo Jones | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:09 PM

My favorite comment from steM-heads blog:

"Comment by kingkongkoo
2008-04-08 17:26:45

Can anyone think of a team in the last decade more overrated than this piece of crap we have to watch for the next 156 games?"

Boy, and they call Philadelphians negative?

I hope, at least, their start to the season will bring some sense to steM's fans, especially the obnoxious one who invade this blog.

Hopefully, the idiots among them will realize that the games actually have to be played.

Lots of baseball left. May the best team win!

Posted by: AWH the RBP | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:20 PM

After the way Pelfrey stunk down the stretch last year, you got to think we can hit him tomorrow. Hopefully Kendrick can hold down the fort and throw a quality start.

Posted by: B-Mac | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:26 PM

"Don't the dynamics of the Mets/Phillies imbalance seem identical to the one Florida had over the Phillies in '03/'04?"

Somewhat. I think that the Mets are closer in talent level to the Phillies than the Phillies were to the Fish.

But I REALLY, REALLY hated to see the Marlins coming on the schedule during those years.

Posted by: stjoehawk | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 07:32 PM

Heilman is getting along of love here but what about Schoeneweis (the most overrated arm in the Mets' pen).

Who EVER said hes the most overrated arm in our bullpen? At least as FANS and most writers...noone rates him anywhere near good. If he can ONLY pitch to lefties..hes not terrible, but to righties or a slew of batters, hes typically terrible..
I agree with the rest of your statement MG as a Mets fan, but hes def not overrated, by anyone....EVER

[AWH the RBP]

mrose, to which comment were you referring?

Your post is a little confusing, as you copied and pasted several of or comments.

[EastFallowfield]

Yeah, the Metsbloggers constantly hope for lots of Phils to get hit with pitches. Guess they got their wish today.

[mrose]

wow holy wrong pasting...

OK, I was replying to this:

Heilman is getting along of love here but what about Schoeneweis (the most overrated arm in the Mets' pen).

Schoeneweis is really the guy that blow the game today for the Mets and is yet another example of a guy who should be used almost strictly to face lefties although "Brains" Randolph has some odd fetish about using him against righties.

thats better

[Tray]

I think it's way too early to be calling the Mets an "extremely average team." The Tigers are 0-7 and yet you have to think they have at least a 50/50 shot at the division, and if they were to fail there, a 50/50 chance at a wild card. So how can we reach any conclusions about the Mets?

[mike s]

From Zolecki - doesn't seem overly serious:

"Jimmy Rollins said he is day to day.

We'll see.

He sprained his left ankle trying to get back to second base on a pickoff attempt in the eighth inning of today's 5-2 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium. Rollins isn't certain if will be able to play tomorrow night in Game 2 of the three-game series.

"The ankle is fine," he said. "I’m able to walk pretty much without a limp. It’s just when I did it I heard a nice little pop and it felt like somebody dropped a weight on my foot. I probably could have gone out there (to play shortstop in the eighth inning), but me at 50 percent and (Eric) Bruntlett at 100 percent, I’d rather have him out there.

"I don't know what happened. I guess my cleat got stuck. I was more concerned about my knee popping than anything, but the ankle went. Ankle or the knee, I'd rather have the ankle any day. It feels fine right now. We'll see how it feels over night, try to get off of it as much as I can. The way it feels right now I'll be able to go, but we'll see."

Rollins remained in the game after he injured the ankle and scored the game's fifth run. He went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and one RBI."

[Bob]

The other Bob figured Beltran would get plunked.

The first hit was the only one I saw but it looked like he leaned into a soft pitch to me.

Any consensus on whether the baserunning hit was intentional?

[Ian]

Burrell is the NL MVP so far.. just wanted to mention it while it was true.. he is the quintessence of the type of player who performs better in his walk year so there's reason for hope there..

[KidCarnivore]

It's not just that Burrell is in a walk-year. He's been unfairly maligned by Philly fans for a long time, but his numbers are better than perceived.

[Ian]

KidCarnivore: His obp slg has been better than average but is every team in the major leagues perceiving him wrong for not wanting him and his salary? You'd think there'd be one team that's fair that'd trade for him and his salary, but no calls.