“Hard to Believe!” is the game-by-game story of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies, from the first pitch on Opening Day to the final pitch of the World Series. Each game is captured in analytical detail by Philadelphia Magazine’s 2008 “Best Sportswriter” Jason Weitzel, along with photos, behind-the-scenes access and exclusive interviews by Michael McNesby, making this 370-page compendium a must-own for all fans.
The game was shaping up to be a pitchers’ duel between two of the best young lefties in the game. But it was relegated to a lazy 5-2 loss for the Phillies after Cole Hamels’ premature exit.
In the fourth inning, Adrian Gonzalez hit a liner back through the box that Hamels knocked down and tossed to first for the out. The comebacker, however, got more flesh than leather, and Hamels left the game after the inning with a contusion on the base of his right palm. He exited having allowed just two hits in his four frames, striking out a pair and walking none. According to a tweet from CSNPhilly.com’s John Finger, X-rays were negative and Hamels is day-to-day.
The Phils called on David Herndon to spell the injured Hamels, and he proceeded to surrender two runs on four hits in the fifth. A Jason Varitek homer off Herndon the following inning made it 3-0 Red Sox, and Herndon closed his book with three earned on five hits in two innings of work. He took the loss, his second of the season.
Though the Phils offense managed just four baserunners off Jon Lester in his seven shutout innings on the hill, they were able to push a pair of runs across in the ninth. Ryan Howard’s homer off Bobby Jenks landed in the second deck of the right field stands and made it a 5-2 game, but that was all the juice the Phils’ rally had to offer. Howard, who had half of his club’s hits, finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Shoddy Carpentry: Lehigh Valley call-up Andrew Carpenter made his 2011 debut, going two innings and allowing two runs on four hits. His appearance was lowlighted by back-to-back homers from Dustin Pedroia and Varitek in the eighth.
Cole Hamels and the Phillies can sweep the Red Sox this afternoon (first pitch is at 1:05) as the teams conclude their interleague series.
Hamels (9-4, 2.49) has good career numbers against Boston. He's won all three of his starts vs. the Red Sox, allowing a total of four runs in 21 innings. However, the Phillies haven't been scoring many runs for him of late, with two runs or fewer in four of Hamels' last five outings. Hamels has dropped his last two starts despite pitching well in both outings. Jon Lester (9-4, 3.66) takes the mound for Boston. He's given up one run in 14 lifetime innings against the Phillies. He also has dropped two consecutive starts overall.
Lineups: The Phillies are going with Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Victorino, Francisco, Ibanez, Ruiz, Hamels. Of note for the Red Sox is Dustin Pedroia hitting fourth. Adrian Gonzalez is back at first base, batting third, while David Ortiz is sitting against the lefty.
Last sweep?: The last time the Phillies swept the Red Sox was in June 2000, when the Phils took three games from Boston at the Vet. The average attendance in that series? 27,902. How things have changed.
The Phils lost 18 players to the disabled list in 2010 and finished with baseball’s best record. The injury setbacks continued into ’11, yet they’re outpacing last-year’s first-half win total by 10 wins. (US Presswire)
Thirteen Phillies have missed time with injury, leading to a constant state of flux in the bottom of the rotation (Joe Blanton and Roy Oswalt), the back of the bullpen (Brad Lidge, J.C. Romero, Jose Contreras, Ryan Madson), second base (Chase Utley) and catcher (Carlos Ruiz and Brian Schneider). The team’s best overall performer, Shane Victorino, has also been sidelined.
Last season, they plugged holes at shortstop and at first through minor league free agents (Wilson Valdez) and waiver deadline moves (Mike Sweeney). At the end of 2010, the final tally revealed that the Phils had lost $20 million worth of service time to the disabled list. It will be a similar figure in 2011.
This season, the tale has been told through young, unheralded pitching, a story that played out in Wednesday’s memorable win. (Vance Worley to Mike Stutes to Antonio Bastardo). In the court of public opinion, in trade publications like Baseball America and on specialty sites like Beerleaguer, for example, expectations were low. All were seen as mid-level prospects with fringe Major League ability. Yet one always got a sense the Phils were playing it close to the vest, with Bastardo in particular. Moving Stutes from the rotation to the bullpen before the 2010 season instantly turned him into a viable asset. Meanwhile, better conditioning has helped Worley, but his mental toughness was on display Wednesday night, daring the league’s best offense with 82 strikes in 116 pitches.
To say the least, this isn't how Ruben Amaro Jr. drew it up back in March: Vance Worley gives way to Michael Stutes before Antonio Bastardo closes it out. Against the Red Sox, no less. But in impressive fashion, that's the way it played out in the Phils' 2-1 win over Boston on Wednesday.
The back end: With closers #1, #2 and #3 all on the DL, the Phillies got their first look at closer #4. And Bastardo didn't disappoint, retiring Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in order for his third career save. It should also be noted that Stutes logged a 1-2-3 eighth against the top of the Boston order.
The missing man: Raul Ibanez sparked the offense with three hits, including the go-ahead homer in the seventh. Ibanez, who also had an RBI single in the second inning, finished a triple shy of the cycle. He entered the game in a 1-for-22 slump but finished 3-for-3 on Wednesday. Raul improved his career numbers against John Lackey to 22-for-57 (.386).
The Vance Dance: Worley went a career-high seven innings, allowing only an RBI double to Lackey. He threw 116 pitches – also a career high – and gave up just five hits and a pair of walks. Worley has yielded a total of two runs in 18 innings over his last three starts in lowering his ERA to 2.57.
Next up: Cole Hamels and the Phillies go for the sweep on Thursday afternoon against Jon Lester in an awesome matchup of talented left-handers.
Vance Worley gets the nod for the Phillies tonight at 7 p.m. in the middle game of their interleague set with the Red Sox. The Phils are trying to win their first home series against Boston since 2003.
Pitchers: Worley (2-1, 2.83) has given up one run in 11 innings over his last two starts. However, he has yet to log more than six innings in any of his six starts this season. John Lackey (5-6, 7.36) goes for Boston. Of note are Raul Ibanez's career numbers against him (.352/.407/.426) over 54 at-bats.
Lineups: Charlie Manuel is going with Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Victorino, Ibanez, Brown, Schneider, Worley. The Boston lineup is noteworthy, as well, since Adrian Gonzalez is playing right field and Big Papi is at first. Here's their card: Ellsbury 8, Pedroia 4, Gonzalez 9, Youkilis 5, Ortiz 3, Saltalamacchia 2, Reddick 7, Scutaro 6, Lackey 1.
An old friend: So, Ryan Franklin was released by the Cardinals today. He can close, but he didn't exactly have the best stint with the Phils in 2006. And he wasn't exactly a fan favorite either. But is the 38-year-old a good option now? Given his numbers (27 runs and 44 hits allowed in 27 2/3 innings) and his previous history here, it's hard to think he's a great fit at the moment. Then again, desperate times do call for desperate measures.
Beerleaguer sister site, Nats Insider, reports that former Phillie J.C. Romero will head to Triple-A Syracuse (Nationals) on a minor league pact. The 35-year-old reliever was given his walking papers last week after posting a 3.86 ERA and 10/12 K/BB ratio in 16 1-3 innings, allowing 29 baserunners. The Nationals are thin on left-handed relief with Doug Slaten on the disabled list and Sean Burnett struggling, Mark Zuckerman reports.
Cliff Lee and the Phillies made a statement Tuesday night with a crisp 5-0 win over the Red Sox in the opener of a series billed as a potential World Series matchup.
Some players on the two teams have talked about the excitement surrounding this series and the potential it has to be an October preview. Other players have noted that it's just an interleague series in late June and that there is still a ways to go before the playoffs, let alone the World Series. Lee's outing on Tuesday generated lots of excitement in this city - and plenty of buzz around the country - but if we're being unbiased and level-headed - how big is this series really? Perhaps it only becomes a true statement if the Phillies sweep the Sox. Or maybe even that wouldn't change the fact that this is nothing more than an intriguing series between two quality teams.
Cliff notes: As you may have already heard, Cliff Lee allowed one run in 42 innings this month, good for a 0.21 ERA. In case you were wondering which major league starter had the worst ERA this month, that would be Ted Lilly, who had a 7.01 ERA in five starts for the Dodgers. Hypothetically, if Lilly was starting for Los Angeles tomorrow – on the last day of the month – he would literally need to hold the Twins scoreless for 874 1/3 scoreless innings just to match Lee’s June ERA of 0.21. … Lee and the Tigers’ Rick Porcello each faced 147 batters in June. Porcello allowed 27 of them to score. Lee allowed one – and that came on a two-out, bloop single. … The Phillies’ opened June with a loss to the Nationals. In that game, Roy Oswalt allowed a first-inning single to Roger Bernadina, who was sacrificed to second and then promptly scored on a base hit by Jayson Werth. So, it took Oswalt approximately five minutes to give up as many runs as Lee allowed over a period of 30 days. … One more thought: Lee just went five starts in which he allowed a total of one run. There are many, many bad Phillies pitchers over the years for whom this would work, but for the sake of example, let’s pick Andy Ashby in 2000. In the very best stretch he had for the Phillies that season, Ashby allowed 20 runs over five starts. Lee just went five starts where he allowed 21 hits. Let that - and the greatness of Cliff Lee - sink in for a minute.
Cliff Lee authored yet another dominant performance, tossing a two-hitter to extend his scoreless streak to 32 innings, as the Phillies blanked the Red Sox, 5-0, in the opener of an Octoberish series in South Philly.
The man: Lee did not give up a hit until the sixth inning in pitching his third straight shutout. In all, he gave up just a single to Marco Scutaro and a double to Darnell McDonald, in addition to a pair of walks. The dazzling lefty allowed a total of one run in 42 innings this month. And that run came on a bloop single against the Cubs on June 11. If not for that run, Lee would potentially be two starts away from breaking Orel Hershiser's all-time MLB record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings.
The history: The last Phillies pitcher to toss three straight shutouts was Robin Roberts in 1950. The last major league pitcher to do it was Brandon Webb in 2007. Lee also improved his career record in interleague play to 17-3. He has more shutouts in the last two weeks (3) than the Cubs and Yankees have recorded all season (2).
The offense: Domonic Brown took some terrific swings on the night, most notably a two-run homer into the Phils' bullpen. Shane Victorino also reached Josh Beckett for a two-run blast - his ninth of the season, halfway to his career high set last year. The Phils' other run came after Brown doubled to left field and came around to score on Lee's sac fly. The Phillies' hit total (six) was modest, but in fairness they were facing one of the AL's top pitchers. And when Cliff Lee is on the mound these days, well, nothing else seems to matter.
With this series being billed as a “World Series preview,” let’s take a look at the head-to-head positional matchup between these two squads (2011 Baseball Reference WAR in parentheses):
Catcher: Carlos Ruiz (1.3) vs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (0.5) – Ruiz has the edge here, but it is certainly not a runaway. While Chooch is more established defender and pitch-caller, Saltalamacchia’s OPS is nearly 60 points higher.
First base: Ryan Howard (1.3) vs. Adrian Gonzalez (4.6) – I don’t know if I would take any first baseman in baseball over Gonzalez right now. Over the last month, his slash line looks like this: .443/.515/.784.
Second base: Chase Utley (0.9) vs. Dustin Pedroia (3.3) – Though Utley’s only played in 29 games this year, I’d start him over Pedroia if the World Series was tomorrow. The pair of two-baggers have similar production rates this season, but Utley’s OPS edges Pedroia’s by 19 points.
Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins (1.4) vs. Marco Scutaro (0.5) – Scutaro has played in just 38 games this season, but his averages are strikingly similar to his Philadelphia counterpart (Rollins .260/.332/.378; Scutaro .276/.343/.370). Regardless, I have more confidence in Rollins to hit a gapper in a big spot than I ever would with Scutaro.
Third base: Placido Polanco (1.0) vs. Kevin Youkilis (3.2) – Both of these players bring a lot of intangibles to their respective teams, and they are both incredibly savvy all-around ballplayers. But when it comes down to it, Youkilis offers more pop, and ultimately more value.
Outfield: Raul Ibanez (-0.9), Shane Victorino (2.5) and Ben Francisco (-0.3) vs. Carl Crawford (-0.4), Jacoby Ellsbury (3.3) and J.D. Drew (0.3) – Boston’s outfield takes this matchup pretty handily. Though Crawford got off to a slow start and is on the DL now, he will be healthy in October, and that gives the Sox the edge in speed, power and defense. Ellsbury is also having a quietly huge year, better even than Victorino, the Phils’ top outfielder.
Starters: No need for any kind of WAR analysis here. Halladay, Lee and Hamels over Lester, Beckett and Lackey.
Bullpen: Right now, with the Phils’ bullpen in shambles, Boston takes the cake without question. But with a healthy Ryan Madson and an effective Jose Contreras, the discussion has at least some merit. All told, however, the combination of Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon at the back end of the Sox’s pen gives their stable of relievers the edge.
More bad news for the injury-plagued Phillies as Ryan Madson heads to the disabled list with a right hand contusion, retroactive to June 19.
Madson, who is 15-for-16 in save opportunities, leaves a massive void as the Phillies will likely look to their youngsters - Antonio Bastardo and Mike Stutes - in despiration to nail down the ninth inning. After Danys Baez, David Herndon has the most major league experience in the current bullpen, which now includes Andrew Carpenter, who has been summoned from Triple-A after spending all season in Lehigh Valley's bullpen. Carpenter is actually one of the hottest hands in the minors, going 5-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 24 games. He has not allowed a run over his last eight appearances (13.1 innings).
Beerleaguer: Phils are in a bad spot, no question. Bastardo, who has been consistently effective all season, would be my guy to close, even if it means losing their top lefty. I mentioned that I think Stutes is leaking oil in my earlier post. Wouldn't it be nice to see Baez, the former closer, finally step up while Madson recovers. A guy can wish, can't he?
The combination of a smoke-and-mirrors minors, a dominant starting staff, their flirtation with the luxury tax and a lack of a difference-making available bat could keep the Phillies from pulling the trigger before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Beerleaguer: Additions like Josh Willingham, Ryan Ludwick, Ryan Spilborghs and Jeff Francouer are fun to debate, but would likely turn an average offense into an average offense at the expense of a top prospect. If you believe Raul Ibanez can pull closer to the numbers on the back of his baseball card, Ryan Howard, too, than the best is yet to come for the offense, which had shown signs of improvement only a week ago. Nevertheless, the “golden age” is over. Jayson Werth’s five-hole vacancy has been felt more than any recent departure. Make no mistake: The Phils are swinging below-average sticks because .296/.388/.532, 27 homers and 46 doubles have gone missing. Indeed, the Phillies miss Werth as much as the bean counters knew they would.
Meanwhile, the obscene gobs of pitching hype have come to fruition. Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee: All-Stars all. Kyle Kendrick, once again, can’t possibly be for real because he doesn’t get strikeouts and his FIP says he’s lucky. Yet in five seasons, opponents have yet to break him. He’s 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA as his rubber arm floats between the bullpen and rotation, pitching to contact more than ever. There’s a much smaller book on Vance Worley, who isn’t dissimilar in that he needs to hit his spots. But he’s got a little bulldog in him and isn’t afraid to dare hitters with strikes, which has been Kendrick’s problem in the past.
The bullpen is leaking oil, and if there’s an area to upgrade, this is it. Getting Antonio Bastardo and Mike Stutes into this many pressure situations is a huge win for an aging club ready to get younger any way they can. Still, a rental could go a long way. Cracks are starting to show everywhere and they’re a couple men short with Jose Contreras out, J.C. Romero going bust and Kendrick lost to the rotation.
Stretch-run returns by Joe Blanton, Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge and Contreras also loom.
Stop me if you've heard this one. The Phillies' starters pitch brilliantly, the relievers hold down the fort, the defense gets the job done ... and the offense is nowhere to be found.
Over the weekend, the Phillies' starting pitchers combined to allow three runs in 23 innings. In all, the team's staff gave up just five runs in the weekend series with the A's. But the offense - oh, that offense - managed a total of five runs itself. And yes, it was as ugly as it sounds:
The numbers: The Phillies' batters hit .194 against the A's, including back-to-back 4-for-30 efforts on Friday and Saturday. They had four extra-base hits in three games - all doubles - and as a team, they now rank 20th in the majors in batting average (.246), 13th in OBP (.320) and 24th in slugging (.373). They also rank 17th in homers (64), 29th in doubles (115) and 16th in runs scored (320).
The situation: We all know that Raul Ibanez is brutal and that Ben Francisco and Dom Brown are, at least right now, more part of the problem than the solution. Placido Polanco is struggling, Ryan Howard has no protection in the order, and the Phillies are still trying to figure out their leadoff situation. And Chase Utley, while a welcomed addition to the lineup over the last month, hasn't exactly torn the cover off the ball.
The question: We all know what the Phillies' problems are, but what is the solution? A new batting order? A trade? A minor move? A major shakeup?
League strikeout leader Roy Halladay (9-3) toes the slab when the Phillies face off with former farmhand Josh Outman (3-1) and the Oakland A's in the series finale set for 1:35 p.m. (AP Photo)
Preview: Lineups are in against the lefty Outman: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Victorino CF, Howard 1B, Francisco RF, Ruiz C, Ibanez LF, Valdez 2B, and the stories there are the low slot for Ibanez and Victorino's insertion in the three-hole. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's honeymoon with Domonic Brown appears to be ending as the struggling rookie got an earful from the impatient Citizens Bank Park crowd Saturday night for not running out a grounder. Brown is hitting just .208/.292/.377 on the year and just .118/.231/.147 over his last 10 games (39 plate appearances) with one extra-base hit, a double.
Cole Hamels (9-3, 2.51) tries to shrug off Sunday's loss in Seattle when the Phillies continue their series with Trevor Cahill (7-5, 3.24) and the A's tonight at 7:05 from Citizens Bank Park.
Preview: The Philles took the series opener 1-0 Friday on Ben Francisco's walk-off hit. The Phillies, winners of seven consecutive home games, have not committed a single error over their last eight games. Lineups are posted: Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Victorino, Ibanez, Brown, Ruiz, Hamels. Carlos Ruiz returns to the lineup after missing Friday's game with a root canal. Hamels is tied with eight other pitchers with nine wins. The 48-29 Phils hold a five-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East. [Jump to the newest comments]
Ryan Madson's usual dominance has slowly faded since taking a line drive off his hand against the Rangers May 20, concludes one Beerleaguer reader, along with a consensus of Phillies' writers.
Before the May 20: 18 G, 18 IP, 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 8-for-8 SV, 11.5 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 5.8 K/BB, .175 BAA, 15 percent swing and miss rate, 10 percent LD rate, 1.67 GB/FB ratio.
After May 20: 13 G, 13 IP, 1-1, 4.15 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 7-for-8 SV, 7.6 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 2.7 K/BB, .300 BAA, 10 percent swing and miss rate, 23 percent LD rate, 0.82 GB/FB ratio.
Lost grip on change-up? "I wondered why two weeks ago against the Cubs on a Sunday when I saw Madson that he had no feel at all for his change-up and was almost all four-seam fastballs except a cutter he threw to Geovanny Soto. Literally threw one change-up that outing in 17 pitches. It was rather odd. Know I think I know why. His hand his hurting and is having a hard time finding his grip on his change-up. It would explain why he has had the notable drop in ground balls the last month or so." - MG
As expected, Roy Oswalt's back problems, and a tired bullpen, have forced the Phillies to send the ailing right-hander to the disabled list and summon a reinforcement for their series with Oakland.
Oswalt was reportedly scheduled for a Monday MRI, but he had one today instead, according to the Phillies' pregame broadcast. Scott Mathieson, who was recently turned from a reliever into a starter, has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he pitched 3 2-3 shutout innings with seven strikeouts in his maiden turn in the rotation. Mathieson will likely assume a longman role as Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley were confirmed as starters by Charlie Manuel (tweeted by Leslie Gudel just moments ago).
In addition, Brian Schneider, who last played May 11, has returned from the disabled list. Dane Sardinha, who was hitting .219/.419/.250 in 43 plate appearance, notably drawing 10 walks, was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The move means nothing in terms of wins gained. Sardinha had some good at bats here.
Finally, the Phillies issued J.C. Romero his unconditional release, officially ending the Romero era in Philadelphia.
Beerleaguer: The Phillies, who boasted some of the best pitching depth in baseball, are suddenly playing in shallow waters. All of the viable reservists, including a couple of stretches like Mathieson and Juan Perez, are part of the active roster. There's no clear timetable for Joe Blanton and Brad Lidge. Jose Contreras is optimistically a month away, while Oswalt painted a stark portrait of his future after Thursday's loss.
The Phils are still in great shape because of the lights-out reliability of the three remaining aces, but are quite vulnerable in the middle frames now and don't have much bandwidth to handle early exits like Thursday. Better consistency from Vance Worley, beginning tonight, would help.
Roy Oswalt, who left the game in the third inning after more back issues, got hit around as the Phillies fell to the Cardinals in a 12-2 debacle.
In just two innings of work, Oswalt surrendered four earned on five hits. CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury tweeted that his exit was due to lower back tightness. Considering Oswalt’s struggles in June (1-4, 5.81) and his chronic back problems, the four aces the Phils once boasted are beginning to feel more like three of a kind.
To literally add insult to injury, the Phils offense was unable to get anything going against Chris Carpenter, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball. Chase Utley was the lone player to register multiple knocks for the Phils as the team managed seven hits altogether. The only extra-base hits came with the game already in the bag as Carlos Ruiz homered and Ross Gload doubled with two outs in the ninth inning.
In need of relief: Jose Contreras hit the 15-day DL earlier today, but the team now estimates that the reliever will be out four to six weeks. He has a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right forearm, which will keep him from throwing for at least two weeks. After Danys Baez’s stellar eighth tonight, Contreras’ impending absence is all the scarier.
Next up: The Phils play host to the Oakland A’s on Friday as Vance Worley (2-1, 3.41) drops the gloves with Guillermo Moscoso (2-3, 3.30).
Preview: The Phils will trot out the same lineup as last night – Rollins ss, Vic cf, Utley 2b, Howard 1b, Polanco 3b, BenFran lf, Brown rf, Ruiz c – which means that Raul Ibanez is on the pine for the second straight game against a righty. That righty would be Chris Carpenter (1-7, 4.47), who will toe the rubber for St. Louis. The Cards have lost five of Carpenter’s last seven starts, but he has historically had success against the Phils’ current slate of hitters. The starting lineup’s career line against Carpenter: 62 plate appearances, .197/.213/.311 and four runs produced. Roy Oswalt (4-5, 3.38) is on the bump for the Phils, looking to straighten out what has been a shaky June. In four starts this month, Oswalt is 1-3 with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.438 WHIP. [Jump to the newest comments]
A few weeks ago, there was some talk that Cliff Lee was the Phillies' third best starter, that he was overpaid, and that he's been a disappointment this season.
You can still make a good case that he's their third best pitcher. Is he overpaid? You can make that argument too. But as far as whether he's been a disappointment this season? His last four starts have taken that argument and flushed it down the toilet.
The numbers: Lee's last four starts have seen the lefty go a total of 33 innings (7, 8, 9 and 9) and yield a grand total of one run. He has given up 19 hits in that stretch (17 of them singles) and has struck out 24 against only six walks. Following a loss to Washington on May 31, Lee was 4-5 with a 3.94 ERA. Now he is 8-5 with a 2.87 ERA.
The context: Prior to Lee, the last Phillies pitcher to record back-to-back shutouts was Cory Lidle in 2004. ... The last MLB pitcher to throw 33 or more innings while giving up no more than one run over a four-start span was Roy Oswalt for the Astros in 2008. ... The last three major league pitchers to throw back-to-back shutouts are Cliff Lee in 2011, Roy Halladay in 2009 and Roy Oswalt in 2008. Good stuff.
Scary thought: Statistically speaking, you could actually make an argument that the worst of the four starts that Lee has had this month was yesterday's six-hit shutout of the Cardinals.
Totally unnecessary hypothetical: If everyone was healthy and rested, which Phillies pitcher would you want starting Game 7 of the World Series if it was being played tonight?
Jose Contreras is likely to return to the disabled list with elbow soreness, according to CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury, and with J.C. Romero's recent DFA, the Phillies appear poised to recall Triple-A veteran Juan Perez.
Beerleaguer: A couple of reliable local reports from the Morning Calland Express-Times have confirmed that Perez's bags are packed and he'll fly to St. Louis today. Perez, 32, was with the Phillies in spring training, pitched pretty well and was among the last rounds of cuts. Aside from a couple of brief stints with the Pirates in 2006-07, he's your typical good-stuff, no-control lefty and has spent the last seven seasons toiling in Triple-A, earning paychecks from the Red Sox, Mets, Pirates, Braves, Dodgers and the Phillies. With the IronPigs, he was 0-3 with a 3.52 ERA and 41/21 K/BB in 30 2-3 innings, his ERA inflated by a recent bad outing.
His numbers are strong against lefties, holding them to a .184 BAA, but we all know that Charlie Manuel won't use him that way and the results will be predictably poor, the way they were for Romero, Zagurski, Escalona, Swindle, etc. Despite all the miles on the odometer, Perez isn't qualified for the bigs. The Phils know that and don't care (19 games over .500, offering Rule 5 protection to Michael Martinez, room on the 40-man with Romero's DFA, why the hell not?).
Bullpen buyers? The market may not materialize for an affordable, difference-making, right-handed outfield bat, but the Phils could - and really should - make a move to upgrade the bullpen, where they're putting a lot of faith in Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo. They were linked to San Diego's Heath Bell in yesterday's FoxSports Ryan Ludwick report. There are red flags all over Contreras as this point. Expect the Phils to shift gears and target relief.
Preview: Placido Polanco has been given the green light and assumes his place in the lowly five-hole when red-hot lefty Cliff Lee (7-5, 3.12) meets former Phil and equally hot right-hander Kyle Lohse (7-3, 2.88) in the second of three from Busch Stadium. Raul Ibanez, who is 3-for-the-roadtrip and hitless against the Cardinals this season, takes a seat on the bench. The Phillies go Rollins ss, Victorino cf, Utley 2b, Howard 1b, Polanco 3b, Francisco lf, Brown rf, Ruiz c. This mark's Ben Francisco's third start in left, a reward for knocking in his first run since May 29 in last night's victory.
Alert Beerleaguer, EastFallowfield, informs us that Tuesday's charitable eighth pushed the Phillies to the head of the NL East pack in runs (309).
No reason to feel guilty for enjoying the fruits of a massive bullpen fail like this (four walks, two hit batters, five hits, nine runs). The Phils haven't benefitted from such a meltdown all season and have mostly needed to scratch and claw for every single run since the opening weeks. All the gift runs from Tuesday's win are more than enough to cover the five shutouts the Phils have suffered this season. The Phils earned a few of them, too, with hard RBI hits by Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, and Ross Gload's seventh-inning pinch RBI, adding to his recent tear of big pinch hits, shows exactly why the Phils couldn't afford to lose him to the DL.
All things equal, the Phils have risen to the status of "league average offense," and there's comfort in that. For every below-average category, like slugging, they're above average in another, like walks or on-base. The Phils still trail the Mets in the division in average runs-per-game (4.18 to New York's 4.21), but they're in much better standing than the run-starved Braves, a team considered the Phillies' stiffest competition by a wide margin in Monday's vote. With the win, the Phils climbed back to their season-best 18 games over .500. If they can somehow sweep this series, they'll get another monkey off their back by improving to .500 against .500 or better competition.
Phillies in on Ludwick: According to a FoxSports report, the Phillies are among the teams that have inquired on the availability of Padres 32-year-old left fielder Ryan Ludwick, who is hitting .255/.322/.393 with nine homers playing half his games at hitter-unfriendly Petco. Comparatively speaking, Ludwick rates 10th among left fielders with a 1.2 WAR, while Raul Ibanez and his -1.2 rates 20th, which is dead last among left fielders and the lowest among all qualified outfielders.
Five-hole woes: Finally, check out these mindblowing numbers from Ryan Lawrence. Good grief.
If you didn't see the eighth inning of tonight's game, just imagine J.C. Romero trying to pitch ... after eight beers, four shots and a car bomb. There were bases-loaded walks, bases-loaded hit batters, and of course pitching changes galore thanks to the insufferable Tony La Russa.
In the end, the Phillies scored nine runs in the eighth en route to a bizarre 10-2 win. Lost in the Cardinals' hideous bullpen display was Ben Francisco's first RBI since the Clinton administration and two-run insurance singles by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. One of the hit batsmen was Placido Polanco, who left the game after being plunked in the hand. The injury didn't seem too serious.
Miguel Batista: Any pitcher who walks Michael Martinez with the bases loaded deserves his own section in the recap.
Doc report: Through little fault of his own, Roy Halladay matched his season low with six innings pitched (He was lifted for a pinch hitter, Ross Gload, who tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI single.) Doc yielded one run and four hits but was unable to become the first MLB pitcher to 10 victories.
Next up: Same time, same place on Wednesday night. The matchup is Cliff Lee against former Phils righty Kyle Lohse. Lee is 3-0 with an 0.38 ERA in his last three starts, while Lohse has cooled off following a hot start to the season.
Two days after Albert Pujols injured his forearm, Roy Halladay and the Phils will take aim at the new-look Cardinals lineup in the opener of a three-game set in St. Louis. First pitch is 8:15 p.m.
Halladay (9-3, 2.56) has 28 strikeouts and one walk over his last four starts. The Phillies have won the last six games started by Doc, who leads the league in wins, innings and complete games. He will be opposed tonight by Kyle McClellan (6-3, 3.96), who has given up 12 runs in nine innings over his last two starts.
Ryan Howard, of course, has great career numbers in his hometown. He is a .360 career hitter with 15 homers and 46 RBIs against the Cards. In St. Louis, his numbers are .365/.509/.694 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 23 games.
Lineups: The Phillies will go with Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Polanco 3B, Ibanez LF, Brown RF, Ruiz C, Halladay RHP. The new-look Cards order goes a little something like this: Theriot SS, Jay RF, Holliday LF, Berkman 1B, Rasmus CF, Molina C, Descalso 3B, McLellan RHP, Schumaker 2B.
Like any team, the Phillies have had their share of surprises and disappointments through the first three months of the season. Here's a quick look at some of the players that fit into each category:
Surprises - Offensively, Shane Victorino would probably be the biggest surprise, though the guy was an All-Star just two years ago. He has a line of .299/.364/.513 - all figures significantly higher than his 2010 stats. ... Pitching-wise, would you consider Cole Hamels a surprise? Perhaps, but many Phillies fans saw a career year coming for the 27-year-old lefty. The bigger surprise may be Kyle Kendrick, who has a 3.12 ERA and has pitched well as both a starter and a reliever. ... With all due respect to Vic and KK, though, the Phils' biggest surprises are definitely in the bullpen. Ryan Madson has had good seasons in the past, but never has he excelled in the closer's role as he has this year. ... Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes are both major surprises - arguably the two biggest surprises on the entire team. Combined, they have allowed eight runs and 23 hits in 48.2 innings.
Disappointments - Many Phillies fans probably figured Raul Ibanez would be right about where he is at this point (.243/.292/.402). Ben Francisco, though, was predicted by some on this site to emerge as a force (or at least a reliable starter) this season. However, Francisco has scuffled to the tune of a .218/.341/.361 line with six homers and 25 RBIs in 174 at-bats. ... And it's not as if he was expected to be Ted Williams, but Michael Martinez (.194/.215/.242) has definitely been a disappointment to this stage. ... From a pitching standpoint, Joe Blanton seems to get off to a cruddy start each season, but between his 5.50 ERA and his elbow injury, all that "Five Aces" talk has been put on the back burner. ... As far as Cliff Lee, you can't call him a disappointment now, can you? Maybe two or three weeks ago, but now the guy has a 3.12 ERA with more than a strikeout an inning... And sorry, J.C. Romero, but anytime you're DFA'd before the first day of summer, you're a disappointment.
Veteran right-hander Tim Redding was knocked around early, but settled in late in a six-inning, three-run, nine-hit no-decision in Lehigh Valley's 4-3 victory over Indianapolis.
Redding's Monday included a passed physical, signed contract and a starting assignment. According to beat writer Jeff Schuler, IronPigs manager Ryne Sandberg barely had enough time to meet his new right-hander before the 33-year-old took the mound. Redding finalized his deal just hours before pitching. The IronPigs' rallied in the eighth inning on a big hit by Delwyn Young to edge Indianapolis 4-3.
Polly maintains sizable lead: Placido Polanco, despite fading in recent weeks to pull his season production down to good, not great, 2010 levels, leads in All-Star voting at third base, approximately 1 million more votes than second-place vote-getter Chipper Jones. Meanwhile, Chase Utley gained at second base and is third in voting, less than 200,000 behind Rickie Weeks, who's in second. Shane Victorino, who is making a good case for mid-summer classic, is stuck at seventh in a crowded outfield picture.
Clearwater at the break: All-Star pitchers Jared Cosart, Julio Rodriguez and Jonathan Pettibone, along with catcher Sebastian Valle, represent the highlights in an interesting season for the 39-29 Class-A Clearwater Threshers. While the best pitching prospects in the system reside here and have, for the most part, met expectations, the Phillies are monitoring a couple of rocky seasons from Jonathan Singleton (.244/.326/.364, 60 strikeouts) and Jiwan James (.261/.303/.381, 67 strikeouts). Singleton, still 19, has plenty of time to figure it out, but James, a 21-year-old switch-hitter who relies on speed and doesn't hit for power, needs to shave some of his strikeouts in order to stay relevant.
Iguchi, Taguchi updates: Tadahito Iguchi is hitting .337/.452/.497 with five homers in 217 PA for Chiba Lotte. He ranks second in AVG, first in OBP in Japanese Pacific League. Meanwhile, So Taguchi is hitting a nifty .345/.424/.425 in 109 plate appearances for Orix. He would rate second in hitting ahead of Iguchi if he had enough at bats to qualify. [Link: Iguchi's simple approach paying dividends]
Nine of the 16 National League teams are currently below .500. Of the seven winning teams, the Phils lead the way at 45-28. The question is, how would you rank the other six teams, based strictly on how you view them as obstacles to the Phils winning the pennant.
Atlanta Braves (40-33) - The Braves have overcome massive slumps by Dan Uggla and Jason Heyward to lead the wild card chase. A solid rotation, anchored by Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson, and an underrated bullpen, led by the unhittable Jonny Venters, makes the Braves a scary October opponent.
Milwaukee Brewers (40-33) - Despite five losses in their last seven games, the Brewers might be the scariest opponent on this list. They can field three starters in Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum that stack up nicely against any non-Phillies 1-2-3 punch in the NL. They also have two MVP candidates in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. Their bullpen (do you trust John Axford in a big spot?) could be their undoing.
St. Louis Cardinals (40-33) - The Cardinals' season flashed before their eyes on Sunday with Albert Pujols' injury. The slugger will be out 4-6 weeks, which combined with Adam Wainwright's season-ending injury, could derail the Cards' playoff hopes. Then again, it's never good to count out a Tony La Russa team. We've been burned with that mindset before.
Cincinnati Reds (38-35) - They still have a solid staff and an underrated bullpen, but it's the 1-2 combination of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce that really makes Cincinnati an intriguing candidate in the NL playoff race. The Reds showed last October that they weren't ready for prime time. Will things be different in 2011?
San Francisco Giants (39-33) - The defending World Series champions barely had enough offense to win the title last year. Now, they are without Buster Posey. For all their pitching - both starting and relief - it's hard to determine if they're even legitimate contenders anymore.
Arizona Diamondbacks (39-34) - Does anyone consider them a true threat? Are we making a mistake to laugh at their chances to make the playoffs, let alone contend for the pennant?
These six teams have near-identical records. So, how would you rank them from the Phillies' biggest threat to win the pennant to their sixth-biggest threat to win the pennant? Write-in votes are welcome, as well.
The Phillies played a night game on Tuesday, a double-header on Wednesday and a day game on Thursday before flying 2,400 miles - without an off-day - to take on the Mariners, who have the fourth-most home wins in the AL.
So, the fact that they lost two of three in Seattle? Not exactly a shocker. And the fact that the game they won was a matchup of Vance Worley against Felix Hernandez? Not really that stunning either. Baseball has a way of working out like that sometimes. Some other developments from the weekend:
-That offense that was "back" has now scored 10 runs in the last four games, including a goose egg on Sunday. Shane Victorino was, in some way, involved in every run the Phillies scored in their series with the Mariners. As much as we love Vic, it's not good when you have to go back to Thursday to find a run scored by the Phillies without a contribution from Victorino.
-Cole Hamels is having a terrific season. He failed yesterday to become the first pitcher in the majors to 10 wins, but due to little fault of his own. Hamels has not given up more than eight hits in any start this season, and he only did that once. He has only walked more than two batters twice in his 15 starts. Since going 2 2-3 innings in his season debut, he's worked at least six innings in every outing. And he has - make no mistake about it - been more consistent than Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and, yes, even Joe Blanton.
-What do we think of the very early but understandable comparisons between Dustin Ackley and Chase Utley? Ackley had a solid debut in his first MLB series, notching a single, a triple and a homer in his first 11 at-bats. But do you see any similarities between him and a young Utley?
-Maybe most noteworthy was what took place halfway across the country in St. Louis, where Albert Pujols sprained his left wrist and injured his shoulder in the Cardinals' win over the Royals on Sunday. The Phillies open a three-game set with the Cards on Tuesday night. Pujols' status is TBD.
Shane Victorino stayed sizzling hot in Saturday's 5-1 victory over Seattle. Victorino, who delivered a superb go-ahead double and a two-run homer in the win, continues to be in the thick of things for the surging Phillies, who conclude their set with Seattle today. (US Presswire)
Beerleaguer: Is he an All-Star? I envision a scenario where Victorino is added to the final vote ballot, and if he stays hot, rides a wave of support to Chase Field. Last night's performance reinforced an idea that was adopted here last week, that Victorino has become the Phillies' best all-around player. He has all the right numbers to prove it: (.383 wOBA trails only Chase Utley's .391, but factor in defense and playing time and Victorino's 3.0 WAR leads the team by almost double Placido Polanco's 1.7). Victorino always seems to be in the middle of things, and at age 30, he's no longer a fastball hitter who flies by the seat of his pants. Displaying sharp focus, he tracked a Felix Hernandez curveball into his wheelhouse and laced it the opposite way for the game winner. It was the Phillies' one shot to jump on King Felix, and Victorino pounced. I thought it was one of his best at bats ever.
I'm really into Vic lately, and the "Bridge to Madson County" known as Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo. Opponents are hitting just .124 off Bastardo, who recorded huge strikeout with two down in the seventh before working a scoreless eighth. The left-hander rates 15th among MLB relievers with a 10.52 K/9. (I think Phuture Phillies coined "Bridge to Madson County," but I'm not sure).
Today: Another guy I'm into, Cole Hamels (9-2, 2.49) tries for the series win beginning at 4:10. It's been a terrific series. The 45-27 Phils have a six-game lead over the Braves and the best record in baseball. There've been lots of great storylines and emergent players. The Phils are on top, so enjoy it. Have a great Father's Day everyone.
Ross Gload, who delivered a key pinch hit in Wednesday's twin bill nightcap, earns a rare start and will serve as DH tonight when recalled right-hander Vance Worley meets reigning Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez in the second set between the Phillies and Mariners. First pitch is 10:10. The Phillies go Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Polanco, Ibanez, Gload, Brown, Ruiz. Domonic Brown will look to break out of his recent funk. He's 4-for-his-last-37 (.108) and hitless in his last 12 at bats with runners in scoring position, according to the pre-game notes. [Jump to the newest comments]
Mariners ballyhooed prospect Dustin Ackley makes his Major League debut tonight when the Phillies visit Seattle for the first time since 2005. First pitch is 10:10 from Safeco Field.
Preview: Ackley, the second overall selection in the 2009 draft, hit 303 with nine home runs in 66 games for Triple-A Tacoma. The second baseman's first at bat will come against Roy Oswalt, who's looking to build on a very strong finish in a seven-inning victory over the Cubs on Sunday. Massive, hard-throwing rookie right-hander Michael Pineda starts for the pitching-strong, offensively challenged Mariners, who carry a 35-34 record into the weekend series. Meanwhile, the 44-26 Phillies are seeking their eighth-straight win, but will need a reversal of fortunes on the road, where they're just 16-14 this season including recent series losses in Washington and Pittsburgh. Chase Utley and Shane Victorino are swinging the hottest bats for the Phillies, but the best work, overall, has come from Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, who starts Sunday, and the back of the bullpen.
Should be an interesting series that unfolds while I'm passed out on the couch.
The Phils’ series in Seattle marks the team’s first visit to the Emerald City since June 2005. In case you’re sick of having (yawn) Cy Young Award winners like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee and (ho hum) postseason heroes such as Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, let’s take a trip back in time.
June 14, 2005 – The Phillies lost 3-1 in a game where they managed just three hits – all singles – against Gil Meche and Eddie Guardado. Jon Lieber allowed three runs in eight innings. The Phils scored their only run when Bobby Abreu walked, stole second, and scored on a single by Jim Thome. Among the hitting stars for Seattle that day was Raul Ibanez, who went 2-for-4 with a double.
June 15, 2005 – Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a single against Aaron Sele, stole second, and scored on a base hit by Abreu. But that was it for the Phillies’ offense as they suffered a 5-1 defeat. Vicente Padilla allowed home runs to noted sluggers Ichiro Suzuki and Randy Winn. Ryan Madson put the game out of reach when he gave up a two-run shot to Michael Morse. Abreu had three hits for the Phils, while Chase Utley (batting sixth) had two hits in a losing effort.
June 16, 2005 – The Phillies won 3-2 in 13 innings on a sacrifice fly by Tomas Perez. Brett Myers worked 6 1/3 solid innings before giving way to Rheal Cormier, who allowed the tying homer to Ibanez in the eighth. Ugueth Urbina, Madson and Geoff Geary then came on before Billy Wagner worked the 13th for the save. Rollins had a career-high five hits in six at-bats, including a double and a triple. David Bell went 0-for-4 to conclude an 0-for-11 series. Sounds about right. For Seattle, Richie Sexson went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts. Sounds about right.
What has changed: Well, pretty much everything. The only constants with the Phillies have been Rollins, Utley, Madson and Ryan Howard. Oh, and the fact that Beerleaguer still writes some mean recaps. Check out this one from Phillies-Mariners 2005, when BL was just a toddler learning to walk. That story got just two comments. These days, Beerleaguer gets more comments than that every time Charlie Manuel looks in the direction of Michael Martinez.
Vance Worley's promotion, injuries and player departures have forced a series of contingency plans in the Phillies' high minors, including Scott Mathieson's return to the starting rotation and the signing of veteran right-hander Tim Redding.
Mathieson, 27, last started in 2007 before his arm finally succumbed to a series of career-derailing surgeries, but even before that, a lack of secondary pitches convinced the front office that his future home would be in the bullpen. Not anymore. Despite having good success as a Triple-A closer, including 26 saves in 2010 and a couple of spot appearances with the Big Club the last two seasons, Mathieson failed to distinguish himself as a reliever who could fool a big-league hitter with a fastball alone. His return to the rotation, coming on the heels of Worley's promotion, Brian Gordon's opt out and Nate Bump's untimely hamstring injury, is believed to be permanent.
De Fratus, Aumont: It's also a sign that the Phillies are "out with the old, in with the new" in their Triple-A bullpen testing ground. Relievers Justin De Fratus and Phillippe Aumont were both bumped up from Double to Triple-A. In 23 relief appearances, De Fratus posted a record of 4-0 with eight saves. He surrendered just 28 hits and 14 walks in 34 1-3 innings, striking out 43 in the process. His 2.10 ERA was the lowest among any Reading pitcher with 25 innings or more. Aumont was equally solid on the hill during his time with the R-Phils, recording the second-lowest WHIP on the team (1.100). He punched out 41 batters in 31 innings, allowing 23 hits and 11 walks en route to a tough-luck 1-5 record and a 2.32 ERA.
The IronPigs also received veteran minor league lefty Ryan Edell, 27, who was 5-1 with a 3.50 ERA in 12 starts for Reading.
Overbeck moves up: Meanwhile, Ronnie Belliard's retirement created an opening to promote mashing first baseman Cody Overbeck from Reading to Lehigh Valley. In 257 Double-A plate appearances, Overbeck had a .275/.331/.532 slash line with 18 homers and 46 RBIs. He's considered a more well-rounded prospect than fellow thumper Matt Rizzotti, as this promotion suggests.
In the wake of these moves, Reading filled their own roster gaps with converted first baseman Joe Savery and relievers Justin Friend and Chance Chapman.
Redding: It wasn't long ago that Tim Redding, who was a Phillies nuisance between 2007-08 with Washington, remade himself as a marketable free agent commodity following a 10-win season in 2008. His peculiar success against the Phils is well known, particularly in those early sessions with Washington. For his career, he's held the Phillies to a .578 OPS. But success quickly faded, as it often does, after signing a free agent deal with the Mets in 2009 (3-6 in 30 games, including 17 starts, with a 5.10 ERA and 76/50 K/BB ratio in 120 innings). He hasn't been back in the Majors since then, pitching in 2010 in the Rockies and Yankees farm systems, along with a short stint in Korea. This season, following a serious run at cracking the Dodgers' starting five in spring training, he posted a 6.59 ERA in 12 starts at Triple-A Albuquerque before opting out of his contract earlier this week.
He's strictly filler, which is all the Phillies need, but perhaps there's a spot start in his future if he can rattle off some consistent outings. The Phils were linked to Redding last April when they were monitoring his status with Colorado.
The J.C. Romero era is over (again) in Philadelphia.
The Phillies have designated the struggling left-hander for assignment in order to make room for Saturday's starter Vance Worley. Romero, who was pitching his fifth season with the Phillies after signing a small contract to return to Philadelphia this season, lost his feel for the strike zone over the course of two seasons and was mostly ineffective in a reduced role in the 'pen. In 16 1-3 innings, he had 12 walks and 10 strikeouts, facing (somewhat controversially) many more righties than lefties. Righties hit .297 against him with eight walks, lefties were hitting .202 with four walks.
The move means that David Herndon has bought himself more time in the Bigs, while Antonio Bastardo has received the Phillies' full blessing as the top lefty in the bullpen. The Phillies have 10 days to figure out what to do with Romero.
Cliff Lee (7-5, 3.12) went the distance to record his third win on the homestand as the Phillies swept all four from the Marlins with a 3-0 victory to run their winning streak to seven.
Lee, who bookended the 9-2 homestead with masterful wins in addition to a terrific start against the Cubs, kept the Marlins off balance with 117 precision pitches, striking out four and allowing just a pair of hits. Lee also continued to help his own cause with the bat with an RBI double in the fourth. Ryan Howard belted his 15th homer of the season. Jimmy Rollins knocked in Domonic Brown on a double that fell out of Mike Stanton's glove, typical of Florida's recent woes. With the loss, the 32-37 Marlins, who trailed the Phils by just two games a few weeks ago, are alone in the NL East basement. Meanwhile, the 44-26 (.629) surge into their series in Seattle.
Next up: Oswalt vs. Pineda at 10:10 on Friday, Worley vs. Hernandez 10:10 Saturday, Hamels vs. Vargas 4:10 Sunday.
The Phillies are playing some of their best baseball of the season and look to keep it rolling when they close out their homestead in their series finale with the reeling Fish. First pitch is 1:05.
Beerleaguer: Shane Victorino is quietly having a career year and continues to make things happen during this homestead. The Flyin' Hawaiian's two-run, game-tying single in the ninth gave the capacity crowd reason to cheer last night in the Phillies' comeback 5-4 win. His numbers are off the charts during day games - at last check, he was third in the league in hitting during the day. He always seems to be in the middle of something, the way Jimmy Rollins earned that reputation early in his career. In fact, Victorino's season reminds me a little of Rollins' in 2007, not to say that he'll win the MVP, but in his day-to-day impact and consistency. One could argue that Victorino is the team MVP the way Carlos Ruiz might have been last season. (My vote actually goes for Cole Hamels). Really, the combination of Victorino out of the two-hole and Chase Utley's production from the three-hole has given the Phils a much-needed boost. Utley gets the afternoon off. Michael Martinez will start at second and bat eighth. Hot-handed lefty Cliff Lee opposed washed-up right-hander Javier Vazquez.
Shane Victorino's two-run, game-tying hit in the ninth paved the way for Carlos Ruiz to plate the winning run in the tenth with a hit up the middle as the Phillies swept their doubleheader with a 5-4 thriller Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to six games. Lots to discuss here: Chase Utley's continued hitting, Dom Brown's critical walk to push Ryan Howard into scoring position in the 10th, the work of Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes and Ryan Madson to escape trouble from the eighth through 10th. And how about the dynamic bench duo of Ross Gload and Michael Martinez?
Anibal Sanchez and Roy Halladay are scheduled when the Phillies and Marlins play Game 2 of their day-night double-header beginning at 7:05. Using a six-run, third-inning ambush, the Phils cruised to victory earlier today 8-1. Wilson Valdez delivered the big blow, a bases-clearing triple, then Jimmy Rollins busted it wide open with a three-run homer, part of a four-RBI afternoon. Rollins has six RBIs already this series. Kyle Kendrick wrote the other storyline with a seven-inning, one-run performance. Placido Polanco and Carlos Ruiz are back in the lineup for the nightcap. [Jump to the newest comments]
Kyle Kendrick, who goes in Game 1 of the Phillies' day-night doubleheader, starts his fifth game of the season. Meanwhile, the club appears ready to promote Vance Worley to start Saturday. If he pitches well, Kendrick could return to the 'pen as a longman.
Even the best starting rotation in baseball needs to be six or seven bodies deep, with a reliable longman in reserve. Should Worley get the call Saturday, the Phillies will have distributed 10 starts between Worley and Kendrick already. One could argue that Danys Baez's five-inning outing in the 19-inning game was like an 11th start. Ever since then, Baez has absorbed some of the innings delegated away from Kendrick, and for the first time as a Phillie, the veteran appears to have found his niche. Meanwhile, three of David Herndon's last four appearances have gone more than two innings, including a gutsy performance in the 19 inning game. Herndon could be the odd man out if Worley comes up on Saturday and is likely to remain on the yo-yo, with along with Worley, for the rest of the season. According to Jim Salisbury, Joe Blanton isn't expected back until late July or early August.
Gordon gone: Beerleaguer person of interest Brian Gordon, the outfielder-turned-pitcher who had become Lehigh Valley's ace, opted out of his contract and signed on the dotted line with the injury-riddled Yankees Tuesday, and it's looking like he'll start Thursday's game against his old team, the Texas Rangers. Gordon, 32, was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 53 1-3 innings. Gordon would replace Bartolo Colon, who was recently placed on the disabled list with a pulled hamstring.
Belliard retires: Veteran utilityman Ronnie Belliard, who signed a minor league deal with the Phillies in the spring when the club was taking out insurance policies for Chase Utley, announced his retirement Tuesday. A veteran of 13 Major League seasons, including a trip to the 2004 All-Star Game with Cleveland, Belliard was hitting .251/.311/.347 with the Pigs as their third baseman and utilityman.
Bonine out for the year: Lehigh Valley starter Eddie Bonine will undergo Tommy John surgery, according to the Morning Call. Considering Worley's pending promotion, Belliard's retirement, Pete Orr's paternity leave, Gordon's departure and a number of other tweaks (Nate Bump hamstring), the first-place IronPigs (41-24) will need to scramble in order to stay atop the standings.
It was all going so perfectly. Two-run home runs from Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. A pair of solo homers from Domonic Brown. Seven terrific innings from Cole Hamels. And then ... uh oh.
Hamels began feeling tightness in his back in the eighth inning, forcing the star lefty out of a game the Phillies went on to win 9-1 against the Marlins. The injury didn't appear too major, though there's really no such thing as a minor injury when it comes to an athlete's back, particularly an athlete who now is tied for the NL lead with nine victories.
Power alley: The Phillies' offense put together its first five-homer game since last summer. For Brown, it was the first multi-homer game of his young career. Howard's blast was his seventh in 24 career at-bats against Marlins starter Chris Volstad. Utley, who also doubled, is now 6-for-11 with two walks, three doubles, two homers, and six RBIs in his last three games. The nine runs were the Phils' most since beating the Reds 10-4 on May 26.
Next up: The Phillies will carry a four-game winning streak into a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday. Florida righty Elih Villanueva will make his major league debut in the opener against Kyle Kendrick. Roy Halladay starts the nightcap for the Phils against Anibal Sanchez.
Cole Hamels (8-2, 2.58) brings a five-game unbeaten streak into tonight's game against Chris Volstad (2-6, 5.51) and the ice-cold Marlins. First pitch is 7:05. The Phillies go with their new, new lineup with Domonic Brown, hitting seventh, and Placido Polanco, batting fifth, back in the lineup after getting Sunday off. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has been activated from the disabled list for the Fish, who suffered a 1-10 homestead before heading to Philadelphia. [Jump to the newest comments]
With the All-Star Game less than a month away, it's not too early to ponder who could be the starting pitcher for the National League. The Phillies have two candidates, one of which (Cole Hamels) is on the hill tonight in the opener of a four-game set vs. Florida.
Here is a quickie glance at some of the candidates to start the game, though obviously a lot can change between now and the Midsummer Classic on July 11:
Roy Halladay (9-3, 2.39 ERA) - Halladay leads the league in wins and ranks second in ERA. He leads the NL with 105 1/3 innings and four complete games. The reigning Cy Young winner is also sixth in WHIP and leads the league in K/BB ratio. If WAR is your kind of stat, Halladay is the clear NL leader at 4.2, well ahead of Hamels (3.3) and Jurrjens (2.8).
Cole Hamels (8-2, 2.58 ERA) - Hamels was rocked in his season debut, giving up six runs in 2 2/3 innings vs. the Mets. Since that outing, the lefty is 8-1 with a 2.05 ERA in a dozen starts. He can tie Halladay for the league lead with nine wins tonight. On the year, Hamels ranks fourth in the NL in ERA, fifth in strikeouts, second in K/BB ratio, eighth in innings pitched, and first in WHIP.
Jair Jurrjens (8-2, 1.82) - You could definitely argue that Jurrjens, not Halladay or Hamels, has been the NL's best pitcher this season. The Atlanta right-hander has only made 11 starts, but he has yielded two earned runs or fewer in 10 of them. He leads the league in ERA and ranks fourth in K/BB ratio. His WHIP is second, behind only Hamels.
Other candidates - Braves righty Tommy Hanson is really coming into his own, posting an 8-4 record with a 2.48 ERA and a startling .189 opponents' average. Milwaukee's Shaun Marcum (7-2, 2.68) and Mets rookie Dillon Gee (7-0, 3.05) are potential sleepers.
Tonight's lineup: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Polanco, Ibanez, Brown, Ruiz and Hamels will face Chris Volstad, who is 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA in his last eight starts overall. In his last five starts against the Phils, the big righty is 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA.
Beerleaguer: Here's what's happening: the Phils became baseball's first 40-game winner Sunday. They are, however, in many ways statistical equals to the Braves, who fell to 2.5-games back of the Phils with a 8-3 loss to Houston Monday. The two sides have the same number of pythagorean wins (38). They're 1-2 in the league in pitching with Atlanta measuring a tick better, a difference that may drill down to the Braves having a slightly better bullpen. Offensively, they're both below-average producers with Atlanta just percentage points ahead in that category as well. They've each suffered injuries to the offense, but at the moment, the Phils are running at full strength. The Phils will look to Ryan Howard and Chase Utley to further stablize the offense. They'll look for improvement from catcher and left field. They'll search for affordable upgrades to the outfield. They'll continue to exercise patience with Domonic Brown. Meanwhile, they'll expect the same reliablity from the pitching staff, which has seen lights-out efforts recently by Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in particular. Miss anything?
What's gone right: Michael Stutes, Antonio Bastardo, Ryan Madson, the Four Aces Plan. What's gone wrong: Ben Francisco not the answer, Joe Blanton, nobody has gotten hot offensively.
Moves we care about: The Long Island Ducks signed Shane Youman to a deal last week.
According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Phillies are already scouring the league for right-handed outfield help.
Two of the names Olney throws out there are Oakland's Josh Willingham and Minnesota's Michael Cuddyer, both of whom have been connected with the Phillies in the past. Willingham, in particular, always seems to be a rumored target of the Phils. He is hitting .235/.315/.423 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs for the A's this season.
MLBTradeRumors.com also chimes in with some additional names that could interest the Phillies. Among them is Houston's Hunter Pence. However, Olney cautions in another tweet: "To get Pence from the Astros, the Phillies would have to pay sticker price X 2. He has become face of franchise, leader. Tough buy."
