Game chat: Phils carry 5-game streak into St. Louis

Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.27) and Kyle Lohse (12-3, 3.68) square off in the first of three from Busch Stadium. First pitch is 8:15 ET.

Catching up on yesterday’s news, now that my eyes have readjusted from an afternoon eye exam. Old news: the Phillies doubled up the inferior Nationals 8-4. Kyle Kendrick (9-4) earned the win against a badly flawed lineup. Just a brutal situation for Manny Acta’s club, which has now lost nine in a row. Jayson Werth and Jimmy Rollins went deep. As bad as the Nats are, John Lannan’s been decent, so it’s not like the Phils lit up a creampuff. Tim Redding isn't a creampuff, either.

I’m pleased with the way they’ve played this week, but it wouldn’t be very BL of me if I didn’t nitpick about something. It was a little unsatisfactory to see Chad Durbin enter the game during an inning that started with the Phils up 8-2. Durbin has become a precious commodity. He’s established himself as part of the big three with J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge. Unfortunately, this trio is starting to log some needless innings because parts of the bullpen are starting to crack and the starters haven't pitched as deep. Rudy Seanez has been hit very hard lately and I wonder if he’s reached the end of the line.

Of course, the Phillies tried to get reinforcements yesterday, but came up empty. The market crashed. Buyers universally denied the high asking price for mid-level relief. Only the Marlins added bullpen help on a day that saw far more losers than winners.

According to reports, the Phils were close to a three-way deal to acquire a fourth-starter type, but details were not revealed. They’ll come out eventually. Names like Bronson Arroyo spring to mind. In other words, no one close to the difference makers that relocated to the Cubs and Brewers in earlier deals. Along with the Yankees, who did more with less, and the rebuilding Pirates, who loaded up on young players that can become building blocks or off-season trade bait, they’re the four winners in the deadline sweepstakes.

Relax on Happ: That’s my official position on the J.A. Happ situation. He’s on the roster because he’s ready to contribute. No further training required. It’s August and it’s time to hire the best hands. The Happ situation will sort itself out. Bear in mind there are two months to go. I'd rather have him sit and learn from the best than expose him to more "grooming" with the IronPigs. Forty-four AAA starts, spread over three seasons, should suffice.

Comments

[NEPhilliesPhan]

BUT WHY HAVEN'T WE USED HAPP!?!?!?

Seriously though, the pitching will work itself out...it always does.

[donc]

Have to agree on the bullpen use last night. Extremely wasteful. Didn't I also hear that Lidge even loosened up? If so that's really frustrating.

[JB]

Sorry off topic but I read Eaton was thinking of purchasing the Marlins.

[clout]

NEPP: I love talking prospects. Taylor could end up being a poor man's Luzinski: A huge hulking righthanded power hitter with a sweet short stroke and the ability to hit .300. For a monster of a guy, Luzinksi had the daintiest swing you'll ever see.

Two differences: Taylor's way better defensively than The Bull was, but he won't ever hit 39 HRs either. He might hit 30, however, with a near .300 average and good OB.

Yes, I'm fantasizing but this kid tore apart the Sally League.

[bay_area_phan]

Happ pitched 2.2 innings in his last AAA start on July 27. So there's a pretty good explanation why Cholly hasn't used him yet. With Blanton and Myers scheduled to start tomorrow and Sunday, I'd be fairly astonished if we don't see plenty of Happ by the end of the weekend.

[clout]

BAP: If Les Walrond and Brian Mazone become successful major league pitchers I will walk from Philadelphia to Allentown along the NE Extension wearing a sign that says: "I am a Beerleaguer idiot."

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Ryan Howard June/July stats: 55 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 52 RBI, .268 AVG, .527 SLG,

[NEPhilliesPhan]

clout: Yes, I'm fantasizing but this kid tore apart the Sally League.

And even more importantly, after a slow start he's been pounding the ball in the FSL. Taylors still technically a longshot but he could end up as a Craig Monroe type of hitter but maybe with more OBP...I'm hoping thats his lowend.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Michael Taylor in July: .340 AVG, .404 OBP, .936 OPS, 9 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI...he's coming on strong

[AWH the RBP]

Happ is on the roster as an insurance policy in case of a Myer or Blanton meltdown.

He can be used in long relief in that situation.

He can be used as an emergency LOOGY.

He can be used to pitch multiple innings in extra inning games without having to use one of the big three.

[doubleh]

Doesn't Howard usually fare well against the redbirds?

[clout]

NEPP: I think you're on the money with the Monroe comparison power-wise, but I honestly think he'll hit for a way better B.A.

[clout]

NEPP: "Michael Taylor in July: .340 AVG, .404 OBP, .936 OPS, 9 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI...he's coming on strong."

Let's get his butt to Reading. If Golson sees someone about to pass him on the depth chart maybe he'll work even harder.

[NEPP]

I'm hopeful that he will...as I'd said I'd be happy if he turns into a .280/.330 guy with 25 HR power in the majors. (Monroe in his prime). He could be more and I hope he is.

[NEPP]

I'd probably let him [Taylor] stay the rest of the season (its only 1 month) in Clearwater and start him in Reading next season. Make sure he's simply not on a hot streak for a month. If he continues to do well he could theoretically be up in 2010 at some point.

[mb]

just a heads up to JW - Lohse's stats are incorrect in the post up there. I believe those were Lannan's stats before yesterday's game

[doubleh]

Yep, Lohse is 12-3, 3.68 ERA

[clout]

NEPP: In our discussion of toolsy Phillies prospects we should also mention Domnic Brown, a football player drafted by the Phillies who gambled he'd turn down a football scholarship to Miami. He's also made excellent progress (unlike Golson). He's .291/.373/.415 at Lakewood at age 20 with an impressive 58/49 K/BB. He lacks Taylor's power, but is ready to move up to Clearwater.

[bay_area_phan]

clout: I mentioned Walrond & Mazzone because I was trying to come up with a 12-man starting rotation for the Phillies. My point was a sarcastic one, made in response to Willie's suggestion that the best solution to having one mediocre starter too many is to go with a 6-man rotation. In no way, shape, or form do I think either of these guys is a legitimate major league starter.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Brown's got potential...like you stated, his K/BB ratio is very impressive. His power numbers are a tad low but he's expected to gain that as he thickens up. He's made some pretty good strides this year. He's a legit prospect.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

James at PhuturePhillies actually has Dominic Brown as their 3rd best position prospect in his mid-season update...he's falls in after Marson and Donald and in front of D'Arnaud, Collier, and Golson.

[bay_area_phan]

Addendum to that last post: But if you ever did have to make that walk of humiliation, I can think of quite a few BL posters who would come out to watch you.

[NEPP]

Who was it that volunteered to walk from Philly back to Pittsburgh if they lost? It was back in the early 90s.

[AWH the RBP]

Anyone mention LIvan Hernandez was DFA'd?

[doubleh]

NEPP: Jim Rooker

[NEPP]

Yeah...they called up some young guy...can't remember his name...hopefully he works out for them.

[bay_area_phan]

Yeah it was the Pirates announcer. Jim Rooker, maybe?

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Thanks doubleh...I couldn't think of it for some reason.

[doubleh]

Story:
June 8, 1989: Phillies 15, Pirates 11
The Pirates jumped out to a 10-0 first-inning lead in Pittsburgh, causing Pirates announcer Jim Rooker to say, "If the Pirates lose this game, I'll walk home." Well & the Phillies scored a pair of runs in the first, third and fourth innings to cut the lead to 10-6. Philly scored four more in the sixth to make it a one-run game, trailing 11-10. The Phillies then scored five runs in the eighth to win it. As for Rooker, he did walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, taking 13 days and raising $81,000 for a local children's hospital.

[AWH the RBP]

Craig Monroe also DFA'd. Is he really only 31?

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Ah crap...central time and an 8:15 start...I hate when they do that.

[bay_area_phan]

I'll bet he hasn't used that line again, in games where the Pirates jumped out to a 10-run lead. Come to think of it, I'll bet the Pirates haven't HAD any 10-run leads in the last 19 years.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Monroe is one of those guys who had just enough skills to been barely adequate in his peak years (for him 26-29) as an everyday player. He's never been fast enough or had enough OBP to be a long-term player. He had an okay peak where he had around 20 HRs (a peak of 28 one year) and around a .275 average. He's done though...

[MG]

Howard quietly has had a really good July but this numbers (like the Phils) were pretty lackluster in June.

One guy I wonder if he has finally turned a corner a bit is JRoll. He has started to look like he found his stroke the past week including his missing HR swing. If JRoll could get hot for even 2-3 weeks, it would make a world of difference for this offense.

[NEPP]

Kashmir's off to a rough start for TB...he's walked 3 out of the first 4 batters.

[MG]

"James at PhuturePhillies actually has Dominic Brown as their 3rd best position prospect in his mid-season update...he's falls in after Marson and Donald and in front of D'Arnaud, Collier, and Golson."

That tells you all you need to know about the positional prospects in this system. I would honestly argue there really has been no fundamental improvement since Gillick started 3 years ago. By now, things should have started to improve a bit especially given the large amount of draft picks the Phils had in 2006 and 2007.

[NEPP]

That's somewhat unfair to Dominic Brown...he's a legit prospect even if he doesn't have AS potential. I think our most recent draft was a very successful one that will greatly help our system...there's still a couple guys we need to sign like Pettibone which would make it better.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

Eh, I think the lower levels of the Phils system actually have *some* signs of life, compared to the last several years. They have a LONG way to go, but some of this year's draft picks are flashing some skill. Baby steps overall, but I don't think it can be said that there's no improvement.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Oh, JRoll actually had a pretty good month of July: .291 avg, .830 OPS, 12 XBH, 9 SB, 16 R, 12 RBI. If he can do that the rest of the way I'll be very happy.

[NEPP]

So the BoSox are batting Bay in the 5 hole between Lowell and Drew.

[MG]

NE - Those numbers are kind of bogus though. He had 4 XBH (including 2 HR and 5 RBIs) in just the last 5 games. Overall, JRoll had a mediocre July offensively and in the clubhouse.

[NEPP]

Well yeah its a bit misleading overall but hopefully he can keep up the overall numbers.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

When looking at Ryan Howard's K rate...let us also compare him to Jack Cust who is striking out in a ridiculous 46.9% of his ABs...that's brutal no matter how many HRs you hit.

[Jim]

Harry's on vacation the whole weekend? Ugh! I know Sunday is an ESPN game, is tomorrow a Fox game?

[Iceman]

Too bad Kaz Matsui can't be in our line-up tonight..

[joe l]

Is it just me or is the gameday audio feed for 1210 incredibly soft? I have to jack the volume all the way up on my macbook and it's still faint.

[redbeard]

bummer harry having off

[Iceman]

Jeez, if Lohse keeps getting the corner like this, it's going to be a long night for our hitters.

[bensdad00]

wHY THE HECK IS THE GAME HUNG UP?

[bensdad00]

Rain Delay, injury, Riot, UFO? Who knows why the bottom of the first isnt showing up on ESPN?

[GoPhilsGo]

None of the above. 2 outs bottom of the 2nd

[Mike H.]

Marlins? Bullpen help? That's Arthur Rhodes, 64 years young...

[Steve Jeltz]

Pedro gave up a dinger to Brandon Backe. That's cute.

[J. Weitzel]

Kyle Lohse is the latest in a long line of players I was completely wrong about. Couldn't understand the offseason hype. Today, I'd gladly have him for the next few years.

[redbeard]

i hate kyle lohse

[Iceman]

I HATE SKIP SCHUMAKER.

[AFish]

Cole is not sharp.

[king myno]

Jason: But could Rich Dubee have done with Lohse what Dave Duncan has? I don't know for a fact that he's the main reason behind his success, but if you can make Jeff Weaver a winner, you can do it with anybody.

[curt]

Dave Duncan works his magic one more time.

[redbeard]

not sharp at all

[Iceman]

Let the injury speculation begin.

[bay_area_phan]

An alternative explanation for Lohse: when an average major league starter sticks around for 8 or 10 years, he's bound to eventually have a great year. Lohse is having it this year. He'll earn his big 5-year contract, and then he'll go back to being an average starter next season.

[bay_area_phan]

Ugh. Two terrible games in a row. The DL beckons.

[J. Weitzel]

Wow. Hamels totally sucks lately. Up in the zone big time.

[curt]

2 games in a row -- very worrisome.

[AFish]

Gnome-tastic!

[AFish]

Ig-gnome-ious.

[RSB]

What it is, is two starts in a row where Hamels has just combusted and couldn't stay out of a big inning. He definitely still has some maturing to do as a pitcher.

[phil]

his velocity actually seems up, i cant see it being an injury. and I really don't want Howard Eskin to be right, ever.

[GoPhilsGo]

Ouch. Cole looks rattled like he did against the Braves.

[curt]

Happ's not far from pitching tonight.

[phil]

atleast the marlins are down big and pedro can't keep the ball in the park tonight.

[J. Weitzel]

Dumb throwaway by Bruntlett, too, trying to do too much.

What did Eskin say about Hamels? Did it have to do with his suspicious early departure for St. Louis?

[Iceman]

With the way Lohse has dominated us, 4 runs might be too many. Unless we make him throw some pitches and break into the bullpen.

[phil]

eskin claimed he had an elbow injury. but I find it hard to believe since Hamels is very sensitive and intouch with his body. He didn't pitch last year down the stretch, he certainly wouldn't harm himself right now. I wonder why anyone listens to him, I can only take it for about 5 minutes at a time.

[Dull]

Didn't appreciate being set up in the rotation to be skipped over in the Mets series. Tired of them jerking him around.

[Iceman]

How many times have we heard "LaRussa has done some of his best managing this year"? Every f*cking year? I'm sick of his getting his knob slobbered on every time we see these guys, every single season.

[J. Weitzel]

Spare me with that swing, Jenkins. Please.

[RSB]

I'd seen enough of Jenkins by early May. Don't ask me what I think of him now.

[curt]

The least (and probably the most) Jenkins could do is work on Lohse's pitch count.

[J. Weitzel]

An injury to Hamels isn't hard to believe. He's never pitched a complete season.

[curt]

A lot of impressive BAs up and down this Card lineup.

[joe l]

Oof.. some fan sitting on the top of the monster at Fenway just took a HR off the face (bounced off the top and up into the person)

[curt]

Unlike the Phils, who have nothing at 6-8 for about the 70th time this year.

[bay_area_phan]

The Phillies can make 5 days of good will evaporate faster than any other team in the major leagues.

[curt]

Unfortunately we can't play the Nats and Braves for the rest of the year.

[curt]

I don't think Lohse will be losing his no hitter this inning.

[J. Weitzel]

Is there an explaination as to why Bruntlett got the start over Dobbs tonight?

[GoPhilsGo]

"The Phillies can make 5 days of good will evaporate faster than any other team in the major leagues."

Is that due to the team or the fans?

[bay_area_phan]

He has gotten the start 3 days in a row -- twice against right-handed pitching.

[phil]

Dobbs is an abysmal third baseman. He shouldn't field 3b more then twice a week.

[jordan]

f this ump

[Iceman]

Good Lord, Lohse is getting that strike low and away 3-5 inches off the plate consistently. Why even try if they're going to call that a strike?

Speaking of trying, nice try there, Chooch.

[Iceman]

Good Lord, Lohse is getting that strike low and away 3-5 inches off the plate consistently. Why even try if they're going to call that a strike?

Speaking of trying, nice try there, Chooch.

[redbeard]

for cryin out loud, get a damn hit

[J. Weitzel]

Jesus Christ. Come on, Ruiz.

It's just a losing lineup for me tonight. People are getting on the Mets for rolling with Tatis. Eric Bruntlett is our third baseman and Carlos Ruiz is our catcher.

[redbeard]

thank you, cole.

[Iceman]

That's right Cole! Break it up!

[joe l]

Go Cole

[phil]

ziegler just pitched his 31st straight scoreless innings