Game chat: Lopez takes second turn tonight in Philly

Coming off a solid debut, veteran Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 2.84) takes a crack at the Reds in Game 3. First pitch is 7:05. Erratic righty Homer Bailey (1-0, 5.94) toes the slab for Cincinnati.

Comments

[CJ]

We crushed Bailey two years ago, but merely beat him last year. Here's hoping we keep the runs coming against him!

[CJ]

Standard lineup tonight, except for Bako catching in place of Ruiz.

Rollins, Vic, Utley, Howard, Werth, Dobbs, Feliz, Bako, Lopez

[limoguy]

Here's a great chance to go to Coca Cola Park and see the Iron Pigs. The next two nights, Thursday 7/9/09 & Friday 7/10/09 were games originally scheduled to be played at Scranton Wilkes-Barre but have been moved to Allentown. Apparently, the field at SWB has severe drainage problems and is currently unplayable. There will be plenty of great tickets to these games because they were just added to the schedule.

[PhillyBlunt]

thanks limodude!

[TNA]

Ryan was released by the Jays. Adds to the FA pitchers I wouldn't mind the Phillies taking fliers on, including the recently released Brandon Backe.

[CJ]

I'm not smart enough to know what pitches Lopez throws, but I'm impressed with the movement he gets on his pitches.

FYI: Ollie Perez walked the leadoff hitter on 4 pitches.

[CJ]

1-0 Dodgers, Ollie has walked two and given up an RBI single so far. Two outs. He's wild. (Does that last sentence ever need to be said with Ollie?)

[EastFallowfield]

Ollie Perez walked another, then gave up an RBI single.

[CJ]

Only 25 pitches for Ollie Perez in the first inning. He's apparently returned unchanged.

[bay_area_phan]

Jack: Ok, back now. Brian G. basically gave the same response that I would have given. Taylor may not even be ready by next year and, if he is, so what if he is blocked from a starting spot for a year? When 2011 rolls around, he'll STILL be more major league ready than Brown, who -- going by the book -- would only be in his AAA season.

Besides, being one level closer to the majors is not only about offering more immediate return. It's also about possessing a greater degree of certainty, since he has succeeded at a higher level. This is especially true when we're comparing Brown & Taylor, since Taylor has not only succeeded at a higher level, but his numbers at that level are also vastly superior to Brown's numbers one level down.

I'll grant you that it's a close call between Brown & Taylor. It's NOT a close call between Happ & Knapp. The whole point of acquiring Halladay is to compete now. If that's the logic, how can you prefer trading away a current major league starter (and a damn good one) over a guy who MIGHT be a starter 5 years down the road? It makes absolutely no sense. If we have to trade Happ to get Halladay, that's one thing. But to say that Knapp is off limits, and Happ isn't, is just ludicrous.

[CJ]

Manny's defense leads to the Mets first extra-base hit in four games.

[bay_area_phan]

Rodrigo Lopez >>> Roy Halladay.

[bay_area_phan]

Ugh, Howard. Why would you swing 3-0 with the bases empty? I don't care who you are. That's just dumb.

[curt]

Howard seems to think that 3-0 green light means "I must swing"

[GBrettfan]

I think Howard was probably thinking, "3-0 count, he's gotta throw a strike" and looking fastball. But he would have been wise to take it.

[That Dude]

dudes RyHo hit a rocket, it just went right at a fielder.

[bay_area_phan]

Dude: My objection was not to the quality of his contact, but to the thought process that caused him to swing there. He was one pitch away from getting on base, which is exactly what would have happened if that rocket had fallen in -- which rockets often don't.

[tg082]

Idiot play.

[bathtubhippo]

i don't know about you guys, but i'm so glad bako is getting playing time.

[CJ]

Ryan Howard isn't paid to walk. He got a pitch to hit and hit it hard.

[curt]

Maybe it's just as well Bako doesn't get on base very often...

[bathtubhippo]

for what it's worth, i'll just say that ryan howard is paid to produce runs. if it comes by BB or by HR, i care little, and so should you.

[curt]

Howard hit the pitchers pitch, not his - below the knee, inside.

[Knight]

And then Lopez' miracle run all falls down in one inning.

[tg082]

Why the hell did he throw it home? Give me a break; the throw HAS to go to third there.

[phlipper]

Maybe if Ryno took a less aggressive approach at the plate, he would walk more. You know, like Pat Burrell? I mean what use is all those RBI if you don't get more walks?

[bay_area_phan]

phlipper: Who exactly was he trying to drive in there?

[CarlosBeltransexual]

Remember when some complained that Harry got fooled on a lot of fly balls? What's TMac's excuse?

[phlipper]

BAP - it reflects his attitude toward hitting. I'm not saying that situational hitting is a BAD thing, but at some point you have to accept a player's accomplishments as being a reflection of his pros and cons. If he were less aggressive as a hitter, and more "situational" in his approach, he wouldn't get as many RBI (including from bases loaded HRs, btw).

And as I type, Utley swings 3-0 with a runner on base.

And then Ryno picks up yet another RBI.

[phlipper]

Sorry - I meant from bases-EMPTY HRs, btw.

[curt]

Nice to see Howard take that to right with Vic on 3rd.

[pblunts]

RE: Bruntlett pinch hitting in the 7th last night along with several of Chollie's recent boneheaded moves: I don't know what kind of coin Jimy Williams was asking for this past off-season, but it probably would have already been worth a couple of wins. And we're not even at the All-Star break.

[curt]

Umm, left.

[That Dude]

why take out Lopez now?

[MPN]

Why pinch hitting here??? Lopez only was up to 69 pitches.

[joe l]

Injury?

[bay_area_phan]

That Cholly pulled an effective starter after just 69 pitches can only mean something bad.

[MPN]

Damn, Coste looked like crap there.

[tg082]

Jimmy!

[Spitz]

Maybe they just traded Lopez for Doc Halladay.

[That Dude]

Per ZOlecki's twitter...Doc K to Phils for Drabek, Taylor, Brown and Ro Lopez.......SIKE

[MPN]

Man, Victorino has hit the ball to within 5' of that spot all damn night.

[phlipper]

Spitz - word is that they had to throw in Bruntlett as well. Lopez for Halladay I can understand, but adding in the Gnome is just giving away too much.

[Spitz]

Philipper - as long as they are able to get Halladay AND hold on to the three catchers they have on the major league roster, I am happy.

[GBrettfan]

I thought that looked like a strike.

[GBrettfan]

Lopez: Right shoulder inflammation.

[phlipper]

They're going to run out of minor league pitchers at this rate.

[timr]

Yikes, now Rodrigo is hurt too? Who will be the fifth starter if he misses time?

This reminds me: if the Phils are even thinking for one second about trading Happ, they are, as the kids say, "straight trippin."

[Joe Koppe]

Cholly nixed throwing in Brunlett. Who would mow his lawn, wash his car and pick up his laundry from the cleaners????

[bay_area_phan]

With the AS break, they could push Rodriguez's next start back as far as July 20. That would give him 12 days of rest. It would be a big blow to lose him because he has pitched well both times out & they're running out of viable replacements.

[redbeard]

nice ab dobbs

[timr]

They sure are running out of viable replacements. Think they'd pull CHP back into the rotation if Lopez and Bastardo were unavailable?

[David Putty]

Is it me or is T-Mac packing on the pounds??? Pretty soon there will be no room in the booth for him and Muffin or Wheels. And I'd suggest Scott Palmer speak to him about getting one of those male brassieres being sold by Frank Costanza and Cosmo Kramer. His profile on TV is disgusting to look at.

[curt]

Rube's on the phone with Pedro right now making sure he has a visa.

[thephaithful]

Werth has almost got that a play a few times this year.

Dangerous with Howard being exposed from behind like that tho.

[Mac Tonight]

Looks like Carrasco might finally get his shot.

I'm having an odd experience; watching the game on tv and an avi download of the 1988 Geraldo special: Exposing Satan's Underground.

My only trouble is in thinking of a way to make this night a bit more bizarre. Maybe I can call a phone sex line and order a pizza.

[Spitz]

Hopefully no more CHP - especially with his success in the pen.

I have a feeling that Rube will pull the trigger on Pedro. I have no problem with that as long as Pedro's $2.5MM salary doesn't affect the chances of getting Halladay.

[Juan Marichal]

Detroit.– Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed a report that he sent a scout to watch free-agent right-hander Pedro Martinez work out in the Dominican Republic on Friday. The Brewers sent two scouts, in fact. But they never saw Martinez pitch.

"This was twice," said Dick Groch, the Brewers' director of pro scouting. "The second time we sent people there, his publicist was there and said, 'He's on his way.' He was already 45 minutes late. We had other workouts to do. We can't wait forever. We [told the scout], 'Go. You can't stay there forever.'"

The scouts were Bruce Seid, Milwaukee's amateur scouting director, and Fernando Arango, the club's Latin American coordinator. They were already in Santo Domingo for a series of showcases with amateur players ahead of the July 2 international signing date. Melvin, who is on the lookout for pitching help, figured it made sense to swing by for a look at Martinez.

Groch's understanding was that a handful of scouts from other teams left at the same time. That contradicted a report from newspaper Hoy, that said Martinez threw 75 pitches Friday at Estadio Quisqueya in front of 160 reps from the Yankees, Rangers, D-backs, Nationals, Cubs, Indians and Angels.

[thephaithful]

Reds are being pansies, that def tailed back.

[thephaithful]

another good looking third strike to me.

[bay_area_phan]

If Lopez were to miss one or two starts, I think we'd use KK or Carpenter, since we've already used options on both this year. If Lopez is down and out, I would put my money on Pedro to be the next guy up.

Hopefully, Lopez's injury will be minor enough that 10 to 12 days rest can cure it.

[Kool Earl]

Here comes the hard part, manufacturing a run or 3

[denny b.]

Carpenter on his way to his 8th win tonight.

6 IP, 0 ER, 8 K's.

Marson with 2 more hits and 3 RBI's. Now approaching .290 for the year.

LV cruising 9-0.

With Lopez's shoulder problem, this gives the Phils the perfect opportunity to DL him and use his roster spot to activate Ibanez on Friday.

Won't need the 5th starter spot for a while (the St. Louis series), so you can add a extra position player for a while.

By that time, I think Ruben will have made a move for another pitcher anyway.

[Knight]

These swings by Stairs are crazy.

[Knight]

That looked high, but this Ump has had a huge strike zone all night.

[joe]

at this point, i wouldnt be surprised if they roll the dice on drabek.

[limoguy]

Maybe CHP for a spot start. Hopefully it never comes to that.

[Kool Earl]

Please score a frigging run this inning. I dont want to see Lidge in a tie game

[bay_area_phan]

Using Park for a spot start would: (1) temporarily rob our bullpen of an effective swing man; (2) potentially screw Park up, even in a relief capacity; (3) send a confusing message to Park about his role on the team; and (4) probably result in a disastrously bad outing.

[curt]

Rhodes - superb control - 13 pitches to Vic, none hittable. Great AB.

[timr]

Yeah I agree that Park would be a bad idea. I guess I forgot about Carpenter too, as it does seem like he'd be first in line for the spot start.

[limoguy]

I agree with you bay_area_phan. A lot of bad things could happen.

[Jack]

Howard... a lefty reliever... color me shocked.

[thephaithful]

yeah cuz utley really helped that inning out too Jack.

[timr]

So they're int. walking Werth to get to Dobbs. Think Chollie will pinch hit with his secret weapon again tonight?

[thephaithful]

thank god charlie didnt counter with Brunlett again.

[timr]

Still, Mayberry's not exactly tearing it up either.

I can't help but hear Mr. Burns talking about "playing the percentages" when Chollie does this sort of thing.

[mm]

phaithful: It could all just be a dirty trick putting mayberry up there. He still has time to pull him back for bruntlett.

[clout]

I am baffled and why Manuel can't help Howard vs. LHP. He should just take every breaking pitch from a LHP and if he strikes out looking, fine. He is incapable of not swinging at breaking pitches out of the strike zone against LHPs right now.

[clout]

Wily vet Weathers vs. young rookie Mayberry.

[Jack]

phaithful: You're right Utley didn't help. Let's just compare their numbers against lefties this year for some perspective though:

Utley: .293/.411/.586

Howard: .194/.259/.321

Little bit of difference, no?

[pblunts]

well here we go: coming to an extra inning near you: uncle chollie with zero bench options. Or Bruntlett, which is the same thing.

[Knight]

What? That kicked up chalk.

[thephaithful]

yeah i know, just saying that arthur rhodes vs all lefties has been very nasty

[TK]

That was not a friggin' strike.

[Mike]

Awful strike call. That was clearly low and outside.

[curt]

Probably the best mid-season acquisition we could make is Jimy Williams.

[mm]

This team needs ibanez back now!

[MPN]

clout: Sure, too bad strike 3 was a ball...

[pblunts]

brutal call.

[Jack]

And he was safe. Nice makeup call. Umping has been awful.

[TK]

That was a makeup call for Mayberry's K.

[mm]

He's been calling it for us too. His strike, will favoring the pitcher, has been consistent. Rookie mistake not to swing at a pitch that close in that count.

[TK]

Madson giving up one of his patented late inning HRs?

[pblunts]

wow the whole crew sucks.

[MPN]

mm: Umm, he's been calling the corners up in the zone, but not down there. And a lot of the pitches the Reds bitched about earlier in the game were what the late great Tug McGraw would call "Bo Derek" pitches, they had a nice tail back over the plate.

[GBrettfan]

I think Mayberry was struck out - it was another on the outside corner like the ump's been calling all night.

Caught a break there - Nix was safe. Still good play by Jimmy.

I wasn't on BL last season, but I read many complaints then, too, of Charlie's moves, so not sure Jimy Williams is the solution. What about the guy he has now? I can't spell his name, Pete M.

[bay_area_phan]

I was thinking it was a makeup call for last night's blown call at the plate on the Mayberry slide.

[curt]

Seems like yesterday when Jay Bruce showed up and couldn't make an out.

[timr]

Feliz, Ruiz, and Bako will almost certainly win it in the bottom of the ninth.