Saturday: Phils call on Cole to keep chipping away

With Cole Hamels (12-9, 3.12) on the mound, the pitching match-up favors the hometown nine this afternoon when the Phils and Brewers continue their series at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is 3:55 ET, televised regionally on Fox.

Summary: Operation: Salvage the Surly Season continues with Hamels looking to rebound from a poor start against the Mets on Sunday. Behind Hamels, the Phils will be hoping for more of the same from Ryan Howard, who's hot enough to carry the entire offense on his shoulders. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt when the role players produce, and some of them are. Catcher Carlos Ruiz has also undergone a resurgence lately, hitting .309 since Aug. 10.

If the lineups are the same as the one posted before yesterday’s rain out, Jayson Werth moves back into the No. 3 spot, Pedro Feliz starts at third and bats seventh and Ruiz does the catching. Left-hander Manny Parra (10-7, 4.03) goes for Milwaukee. Parra has faced the Phils only once and it was in a relief appearance in 2007.

Notes: Joe Blanton is slated to pitch tomorrow’s 1:35 game, with Brett Myers working the 7:35, according to the pregame notes.

Comments

[Hugh Mulcahy]

Guess the probables in my local paper were wrong. Is it supposed to rain in Philly today?

[J. Weitzel]

Chance of a T-Storm. Right now, no immediate threat of rain in Philadelphia.

Last night was a screwed up night. Lots of confusion as to scheduling. I still don't think the starting order is truly finalized for tomorrow.

[Squonk64]

I didn't even think of rain until you mentioned it, Hugh. Yeah, it's coming. The western third of the state is in the rain. Hopefully it will dry up before it gets that far.

[Squonk64]

Copy/paste, and zoom out about two clicks.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/map/interactive/19101?from=36hr_maps&zoom=8&interactiveMapLayer=radar

[AFish]

For out-of-town folks, the game is on Fox Sports en Espanol nationwide.

[clout]

Hugh Mulcahy: I think I see the problem you had on the last thread. You interpret "could care less about the Phillies" as "don't care if they lose against the Phillies" even though neither Truth nor I said anything of the sort.

You may recall the discussion began with the Brewers decision to play a DH Sunday and keep Monday off. Posters, apparently including you, were shocked at that decision since Sabathia could be used against the Phillies if they played Monday.

Truth and I were responding to that by suggesting the Brewers are targeting the Cubs and the division and not the Phillies. Please note the phrase "don't care if they win or lose to the Phillies" doesn't appear there, as it didn't appear in any prior posts.

Hope you understand a little better now.

[clout]

The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy with scattered showers. The band coming from the west doesn't look real thick, so I think they'll start the game on time and, while there could be a delay by the 3rd inning, a postponement seems unlikely.

[joe l]

This game is on Fox 25 up in Boston for those fans up here. Unfortunately they picked Tom McCarthy to call the game, ugh. Beggars can't be choosers I guess.

[MetMajor]

While there is a chance for a shower in a hour and a half or so, a delay seems unlikely, and the game will 100% not be postponed. The game will also 100% start on time.

[joe l]

Hah, was Howard drinking milk in the dugout in that "Only one October" commercial?

[Sophist]

Gotta love the S-L-R-L-R-S lineup.

[Jack]

Clout- Back to the last thread, no one would ever accuse Wakefield of being a power pitcher. But I'm not sure I'd characterize him as a "high strikeout" pitcher, either. He has a career K/9 of 6.1, compared to Myers who has 7.8. Hamels has a career K/9 of 8.6. That's a huge difference between Wakefield, who is about an average pitcher, and Myers and Hamels, who are strikeout pitchers.

I don't know if I'd call Myers a "power pitcher" right now, but I can't think of a lot of guys who you could by your definition of having a fastball be their "out" pitch. Most guys with great fastballs have another pitch they use as their out pitch. Lidge mostly gets K's on his slider; would you not consider him a power pitcher? Tim Lincecum throws 98, but uses his curveball like Myers to get most of his K's. Pedro Martinez had one of the best fastballs in baseball for many years, but got plenty of K's on his changeup, also among the best pitches in baseball. Same thing with Johan Santana.

I know that most of these guys have better fastballs than Myers, which is why I said I'm not sure I would characterize Myers as a power pitcher anyway, at least this year. But I'm not sure if you could characterize anyone as a power pitcher based on your definition. I would argue a better definition is a guy who is a high strikeout guy who relies on a plus-velocity fastball to at least set up most of his at-bats. Like Myers last year in the bullpen, for example.

[clout]

Here's all you need to know about the Fox boardcasters. Hamels first pitch was a changeup with nice break on it, which the gun pegged at 79 mph. They called it a fastball.

[redbeard]

yea, why was he drinking a glass of milk? pretty strange.

[MetMajor]

Clout, so far I disagree with your weather forecast, your definition of a power pitcher, and you don't realize that the Fox announcer is Tom McCarthy, a Phillies announcer.

[Jack]

This game worries me even with Hamels on the mound. The Brewers hit lefties very, very well.

Of course, I thought that about Moyer as well.

[clout]

Jack: In his prime, Wakefield had a K/9 rate of 7.5.

I also challenge your assertion that Lincecum gets most of his Ks with the curve like Myers.

[clout]

MetMajor: Oh, he's alone in the booth?

[clout]

MetMajor: Let me guess, you thought the first pitch was a fastball too.

[MetMajor]

Clout: Lincecum's curve is nasty, Wakefield is NOT a power pitcher, and the other guy in the booth has barely said anything.

[joe l]

Scary play Rollins, nice job Feliz.

[clout]

Jack: Depending on your definition of "plus velocity" and "high strikeout," this would apply to 90% of the league's pitchers: "I would argue a better definition is a guy who is a high strikeout guy who relies on a plus-velocity fastball to at least set up most of his at-bats."

[MetMajor]

Clout, let me guess: your baseball analysis and weather analysis blows.

[clout]

MetMajor: Never said different. Your point?

[clout]

MetMajor: Now, now, I know you're a Mets fan and used to living in the cesspool that is MetsBlog, but try to show a bit more class when you're with a group that's above your class. Thank you.

[MetMajor]

I don't quite understand never said different. Never said what, your analysis doesn't blow?

[MetMajor]

I am the farthest thing from a Mets fan. Phillies, Flyers, Eagles to death!

[joe l]

Finally one of these Rollins ground balls finds its way up the middle.

[RT]

FOX just gave Larry more TV airtime than Larry's had in what, two seasons?

[MetMajor]

Yeah I like Larry, I wish he was on TV instead of Wheeler.

[joe l]

Interesting cutoff from Fielder there.

[redbeard]

utley SMOKED that ball!

[redbeard]

werth wants some too!

[MetMajor]

Parra really blew up in the first against the Mets in his last start too. Church hit a slam and Schneider homered. Maybe we can pile on the runs now too.

[joe l]

Nice to see some consecutive hits (not HR) here.

[Sophist]

Brewers are Marlin-like in their fielding ineptitude.

[MetMajor]

If only Howard wouldn't chase those balls in the dirt against Feliciano...

[Jack]

Clout: Plus-velocity would be a guy who regularly sits at 92-95 and can hit above that. High-strikeout meaning a guy averaging close to a K an inning, probably a 7.5 or 8 K/9 guy. Does that not sound like a power pitcher to you? I'm thinking of guys like Lincecum, Beckett, Pedro in his prime, Santana, Joba Chamberlain, Jake Peavy. Good pitchers who I would NOT characterize as power pitchers include Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Brandon Webb, Chien-Ming Wang, Dice-K.

As you would guess, most of the best pitchers in the league I would characterize as power pitchers. This is not a coincidence. As great as you think guys like Paul Byrd and Aaron Cook are, and they are very good major league pitchers, chances are a #1 pitcher will be a power pitcher.

[Jack]

Sick start.

[MetMajor]

Perfectly stated about power pitchers...

[Sophist]

MetMajor - contrast your responses to clout to Jack's.

[redbeard]

pat burrell doing his best to try to stay in philly.

nice grounder vic!

[Sophist]

Parra has allowed 33 runs (unearned and earned) in his last 45 IP.

[MetMajor]

Wow Kendall has holes in his equipment the same way Pat has holes in his bat.
Second-half Myers is a power pitcher right now. He is attacking batters with his fastball and putting them away with his curve.

[Mike]

Really nice to see them pouring it on in the first.

[joe l]

Hamels could really help his cause here.

[MetMajor]

Nice to see Burrell and Feliz showed up against the lefty today...those at bats were jokes.

[CJ]

Pete Happy is terrible.

[Durbinator]

Has Ruiz ever been intentionally walked before?

[redbeard]

come on cole, swing the bat kid.

[KoolEarl]

Time to pull the plug on Pat The Flatliner. He is not going to snap out of it this season.

[clout]

MetMajor: Is today your first day posting?

[MetMajor]

Clout: Why does it matter?

[clout]

Jack: "I'm thinking of guys like Lincecum, Beckett, Pedro in his prime, Santana, Joba Chamberlain, Jake Peavy. Good pitchers who I would NOT characterize as power pitchers include Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Brandon Webb, Chien-Ming Wang, Dice-K."

I agree.

[clout]

MetMajor: I haven't seen that screen name before and you act like a newbie. Or a Mets fan.

[CJ]

Fox announcers just said the Phils fans found a bright spot in Feliz's defense. Um... when you're OBP is .295, you damn well better be good with the glove!

[joe l]

Time to put the offensive pressure back on boys...

[MetMajor]

Well I could change my name after each post if I wanted to...and stop conspiring as if I'm a Mets fan it's making you look like an ass. And I was just cheering for the Phillies several posts ago so don't worry bout it.

[MetMajor]

Are you one of those Warcraft geeks: god hes such a n00b, lets pwn n00bs, omg butt secks, no one talk to him hes a n00b, lets pwn him.
Using the word newbie makes you sound REAAAL intelligent...

[clout]

MetMajor: "Well I could change my name after each post if I wanted to"

Yes, if you were 12. Come to think of it.....

[clout]

Getting Parra out early could be the key to a sweep. Wreck their pen before the DH tomorrow.

[MetMajor]

How would that make me 12? It isn't immature to change your name. I don't know what your definition of being mature is but keeping the same screen name isn't in mine.

It's pretty immature to act like your so much mature and better than everyone else.

[joe l]

clout/metmajor - who cares, can we focus on the game?

[Sophist]

Joe Sheehan on BP.com:

The Brewers’ slide is a surprise for primarily one reason: they are a team that hammers left-handers, yet they’ve been getting beaten by them lately. Going back to September 1, they’ve lost their last five games started by an opposing southpaw. Given that any tough right-hander presents a challenge, they have to take advantage when facing a lefty. When Jamie Moyer tosses a quality start against them, that’s a missed opportunity. Throw in the bullpen problems that have cost them some games, and you have a team that’s losing both the games it should lose and too many of the others.

[MetMajor]

Clout: The Fox announcers just said that in the first inning. I could use some new analysis from the seasoned beerleaguers.

[clout]

joe l: It's partly my fault. He's a troll and incapable of making an intelligent post. I'll ignore him.

[joe l]

Gift single there... it took such a crazy hop I'm surprised the ump didn't consult with the others.

[MetMajor]

Clout: I know more about the Phillies than you will ever know. I just don't sit on my computer all the time and type on here cause I go out to watch the games. Ignorance is very mature by the way, figured I'd let you know.

[MetMajor]

Interesting post Sophist. And Parra has just plain sucked since the All Star break.

[redbeard]

ned yost looks scared

[joe l]

Big big at bat here, I'd even take a SAC fly.

[clout]

sophist: "The Brewers’ slide is a surprise for primarily one reason: they are a team that hammers left-handers, yet they’ve been getting beaten by them lately."

Could this be the reason: Braun .692 OPS the psat 2 weeks. He usually destroys lefties

[MetMajor]

Great hit by Howard, but that's a BAAAAAAD out by Werth.

[redbeard]

howard is locked, loaded and firing at will.

[joe l]

That'll do. (Though Werth first to third on a groundball up the middle was a little greedy.)

[Mick O]

Damn this hitting with runners in scoring position! Totally worthless play there Howard, that tells us nothing about your value!!

[The Theory]

Parra was the Phillies 10th starter today. Kudos.

[Sophist]

There's the early call to the 'pen. This could be big for tomorrow, as mentioned earlier.

clout - it could be more than Braun. The Brewers have 7 guys with ~100 PA and an OPS over .800 against LHP. JJ Hardy's OPS against LHP is over 1; Cameron's is .998; Hall's is .920; Hart's is .859.

But, Braun is probably a big part of it. His OPS against LHP was 1.344 in July, .871 in Aug, and is .742 so far in September.

[redbeard]

wow pat, way to kill the rally

[Will]

That was a potential triple play ball hit by Pat

[MetMajor]

The rain is breaking up over the moutains in Central PA. Delay still looks very unlikey; can't rule out a sprinkle or brief shower.

[Klaus]

McCarthy's skepticism regarding the ball off Utley's foot is really exhibition A of his incapacity as an announcer.

And please let's trade Howard. Ought to have been platooned today anyway.

[Mike]

Burrell must just be out of gas at this point. The days off didn't help much it seems.

[The Theory]

i like how the gameday boxscore showed a person with a .000BA replacing someone with a 1.000BA. I had to laugh, even though I know the circumstance behind it.

[clout]

sophist: Yep, and Hardy's OPS over last 7 games is .533. Hart over past 14 days is .688, Hall is .570 and Cameron is .517.

Looks like an offensive collapse.

[joe l]

Nice Jimmy.

[MG]

Everybody looking decent their first time around the order except Machine. He needs to be sent back to the shop for further repairs.

Already left 3 guys on base and I will be willing to bet he is among the league leaders in the category the past month.

[Squonk64]

Weather update: I'm at the far southern edge of this front, and it's starting to rain...

Hurry up 5th inning...

[MG]

Yost looks a guy completely lost and without an answer. If the Phils' fans should adopt a mantra for the last two weeks it is "In Yost We Trust"

[thephaithful]

Thank god we put a 5 spot up - Hamels isn't hitting his spots very well so far through 3 innings

[MG]

Machine seems like he is really pressing at the plate too. Have to wonder if the FA thing isn't on his mind and that he basically realizes that his big slump the last 6 weeks might have cost him at least a few million.

[KoolEarl]

MG- Pat The Flatliner disappears for a chunk of any given season. The Werth baserunning gaffe did save him the embarrassment of hitting int a triple play

[Andy]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080913&content_id=3467647&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

hahahahahahaha!!!heeeheeehheee...

Oh, that's so funny....

It's like whoever wrote it was serious and everything!

[MG]

I don't understand why Hamels struggles so much during the day. Enough of a track record to indicate this is an obvious trend but what isn't as obvious is why. His stats (K/9, BB/9, K/BB) all decline a bit but not significantly though. Just seems like Hamels struggles more with his location during day starts including his fastball.

[clout]

MG: Seeing guys like Yost and Freddi amkes me appreciate (barely) Cholly. I mean, it truly could be worse.

[Andy]

MG - You did know that Hamels is a Transylvanian name, right?

[MG]

I bet you have to pour through some of the Pitch F/X to really figure out why Hamels struggles a bit but I wonder if the scouts reports (and Cholly) stating that Hamels' changeup is easier to pick up during the day.

His career BAA is a meager .217 at night and jumps to a number more the league average during the day (.264). Maybe his is an indication his changeup is easier to pickup.

[joe l]

Simple, Hamels is part vampire.

[joe l]

Right on Andy.

[Andy]

He's missing high again. I do not expect him to throw a shut-out today.