After two rough outings, the less-dominant Roy Halladay takes the mound on Sunday afternoon against the Miami Marlins.
Of course, Halladay has never gone through what he has endured this season, either. At a crossroads in his pitching career, Halladay has attempted to compensate throughout the spring and in his first two outings this season. The results haven't been pretty. In his two outings, Halladay is 0-2 with a 14.73 ERA. In 7 1/3 innings, Halladay has allowed 12 runs on 12 hits with six walks and 12 strikeouts. He also has surrendered three homers.
Needless to say, all eyes will be on Halladay again as the Phillies (5-6) try to take the series from the 2-9 Marlins. Kevin Slowey (0-2, 2.19) puts his 10-game losing streak on the line against Halladay and the Phillies.
Phillies
1.) Ben Revere, CF
2.) Freddy Galvis, SS
3.) Chase Utley, 2B
4.) Ryan Howard, 1B
5.) Michael Young 3B
6.) Dom Brown, LF
7.) John Mayberry, RF
8.) Humberto Quintero, C
9.) Roy Halladay, P
Once again, Quintero gets the call to catch Halladay. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins is getting his first day off of the season with Freddy Galvis filling in at shortstop. Galvis got his first start of the season on Saturday night at third base.
Didn't look like Jimmy was going to get a chance to contribute to this suckfest, but lo and behold...
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:19 PM
I refuse to watch this anymore. This is so sad.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:19 PM
It doesn't get much worse than this.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:19 PM
Ok, with that, I'm out of here.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:19 PM
The one thing the Phils do extremely well is play down to their opponent. I look forward to it happening again in the Pittsburgh series.
Posted by: SLO Phan
You are so right. I don't know why this should surprise us. How many games did we lose to the Astros in recent years?
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:19 PM
Is it just me or does JRoll pop up a lot?
Posted by: clout | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:20 PM
This is much worse than yesterday. At least yesterday Fernandez pitched well.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:20 PM
clout: You know what they say: never settle for solid contact & an RBI single when you can pop out trying to hit a 3-run home run.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:22 PM
What you are seeing is a team that is far more Marlin than Brave or National.
Thinking of the Phils even contending for the 2nd WC is hard to imagine right now. RAJ and the FO needs to think about the long term as this season goes on.
Posted by: Five-4-One | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:23 PM
Doc still below 90 pitches. Nice outing wasted.
Posted by: Sil Campusano | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:24 PM
Matt Gelb: Chad Qualls completed a scoreless outing of more than two innings for the first time in six years. http://bit.ly/YGg6jW
And to think, all it took was facing the Phillies.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:24 PM
Great play, boys!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:24 PM
If I never see another WB Mason commercial in my life, it'll be too soon.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:25 PM
jroll is vying for the phillies pop up trophy currently shared by willie jones and granny hamner.
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:25 PM
When Ruiz comes back, it will be just as much of a tangible boost to this team as when Utley and Howard came back replacing Galvis/Wigginton.
I can't believe I was duped into thinking Kratz would be a fine replacement for 25 games.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Atta boy, Nix!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Yeah Nix!!! You stud!
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Fix it Nix!
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Thank you, Laynce Nix!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
holy sh*t nix
Posted by: chondromalacia | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Wyay tyo gyo Laynce!
Posted by: Sil Campusano | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
So it is possible to hit a HR in this ballpark.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Nix!!! Someone finally
Posted by: Fightins' | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
I must admit, I did not expect that.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
Maybe Nix earned a start there.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
regardless of outcome i'm sure this is a victory for doc's psyche.
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
Another nail-biting pitcher's duel with the worst team in baseball. At least Nix is becoming a decent pinch hitter.
Posted by: timr | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
You just saw why Mayberry shouldn't be in the lineup against some mediocre RHP like Slowey. Every now and then, Nix will get into one, and he's been swinging well lately.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
"6 pinch hits for the Phillies off the bench this year."
As opposed to another kind of pinch hit?
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Cross your fingers, Phillies fans: your ball club is just 3 Outs away from taking a series from the Marlins!
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:32 PM
Iceman: right on the money.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:32 PM
Crap.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:33 PM
So who gets called up to replace Galvis?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:33 PM
Well f#ck.
Posted by: Sil Campusano | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:33 PM
Mini-Mart, come on down!
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:34 PM
That buzzed his helmet, too. He narrowly missed a concussion.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:34 PM
Suddenly Mini-Mart sees his opening.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:34 PM
Here comes Mini-Mart!
Posted by: timr | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:34 PM
Mini-Mart just wired the money into Rauch's bank account.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:35 PM
Mini Mart sighting
Posted by: Fightins' | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:35 PM
Done, broken. Well I hope not.
Posted by: CS | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:35 PM
GTown, I will cross my fingers. It's inevitably going to happen a few times, so I always hold my breath that a closer won't blow the save.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:36 PM
Really bad day for Utley at the plate.
Posted by: Sil Campusano | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:36 PM
This is where Papelbon earns his paycheck.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:36 PM
Who plays short in the 9th? Can we trust Galvis with a swelling hand? And why don't they stuff some ice in his hitting glove?
Posted by: Fan from Fifty | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:36 PM
If you put someone on the 15 day DL they still hold there spot in the 40'man right? Cesar is the only other IF on the 40 man roster.
Posted by: CS | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:38 PM
The Braves are about to sweep the Nats in resounding fashion, beating their two best pitchers with Hudson/Maholm opposing them. They had a +30 run differential heading into this game, and it will only get bigger after today. And they're doing it without Freeman or McCann.
I'll believe Atlanta is a better team than Washington until proven otherwise. Power up and down the lineup to rival the best Phillies lineups of the late '00s, with a deep rotation and bullpen to boot. And they've got depth. Other than that, they're totally overrated.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:38 PM
Meanwhile, if Papelbon blows the lead here, my hatred for him will go way beyond what I've thought possible.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:40 PM
You just can't do that.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:41 PM
Oh my God. You're a fastball pitcher and step on the mound and walk a singles hitter on four pitches.
Jesus Christ.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:41 PM
Does this feel like a blown save to anyone? My nerves are on edge.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:42 PM
*Exhale*
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:44 PM
Playing the no-doubles defense against the Marlins is stupid.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:45 PM
Why in the world is Revere playing towards the warning track with Dobbs at the plate?
I assume that's a coaching decision, and a stupid one at that.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:45 PM
Revere's defense has definitely been as advertised.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:45 PM
he caught that on the heel and managed to contain it.
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:45 PM
I hate the no doubles defense. Almost cost the Phillies there.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:45 PM
As J-Roll once said to Flash: "Babe Ruth is dead. Throw strikes."
Come on, Paps!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:47 PM
Fastball velocity is up a tick (at 93) but his location with it is total crap.
Definitely likely linked.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:48 PM
*Another exhale*
Cliff looked like he wanted to come in to finish the game.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:48 PM
It's like he's flirting with disaster. I can't take it. Just get Doc his 200th W already!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:49 PM
how many of you guys who said you were turning the game off actually did? lol
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:50 PM
Watching Papelbon pitch is torture. You'll either die from boredom, or disgust.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Great win for Doc.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Way too difficult to take 2 of 3 from these bums.
Posted by: Sil Campusano | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Yes! Thank you, Papelbon!
DOC! A WIN! YOUR 200th!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Won 2 of 3 by about as slim as a margin as you can.
A win is a win though and Phils took care of business this week at 4-2 vs Mets/Fish. Exactly what they needed to do.
I just hope Galvis doesn't have a fracture.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Hooray! We are slightly better than the Marlins.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:52 PM
Congratulations to Roy Halladay on the 200th Win of his MLB career! He certainly had to earn it, & did.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:52 PM
As annoying as today was, 2 of 3 and 4 of 6 in these two series = mission accomplished.
Have a real test in the next two series against playoff contenders. Some tough pitching matchups.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:53 PM
Ugly ugly weekend but congrats Doc. And despite the struggle, a 4-2 week is what they needed. Keep on doing it
Posted by: Fightins' | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:53 PM
It was nice to see the Phils play solid defense today. Revere and Utley both had a couple of nice plays.
On a day where they didn't have much margin for error (due to their Groundhog Day like performance with RISP), they couldn't afford to give the Fish an unearned run or two.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 03:54 PM
Random. Are there 20+ hall of famers active today? There may be and I can put together a list of the potential 20.
I went through a duffel bag full of Topps cards from 1979 last night and came up with 27 guys I think are HOFers or know are. Including Rose.
Pretty good list.
Bench
Blyleven
Brock
Carlton
G. Carter
Dawson
Fisk
Gossage
J. Hunter
R. Jackson
Jenkins
McCovey
Molitor
J. Morgan
Murray
P. Niekro
Palmer
Rice
Rose
Ryan
Schmidt
Seaver
Oz. Smith
Stargell
Trammell
Yasztremski
Yount
Is Craig Nettles in? I wouldn't put him in but, could have. Would be 28.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:02 PM
This Fish team was arguably the worst team the Phils have played in a long, long time.
Hard to see them not losing 100 games before Sept and chasing the '03 Tigers and '62 Mets as the worst teams in modern MLB history.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:02 PM
I agree MG. The only thing missing from teh '62 Mets on teh '13 Marlins is Casey Stengel to explain their ineptitude.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:05 PM
Takeaways: Doc looked better than in his last start against a minor league lineup; I guess that's good.
--Howard is hitting RHP again; several hard-hit balls this series;
--Nix should almost never start; his LH pop late in games is valuable when plugged in at the right spot; plus he's a liability in right.
Galvis has to play more (assuming his hand isn't broken); how about the outfield, and trade Mayberry for anything at all?
--Revere needs to bat 8th
--Papelbon isn't going to have a great year. His stuff looks hittable.
Posted by: bittel | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:05 PM
Revere should bat 9th
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:07 PM
Hugh - I looked back on the '03 Tigers. Their best record was against the White Sox (8-11). Went 4-15 vs Twins who also won the AL Central that year by 4 GB over the White Sox.
Mets suck too. They are 7-4 but have played the Padres, Fish, Phils, and Twins. Fish and Twins are respectively the worst teams in their leagues and the Padres are bad team right now hit by a ton of injuries.
Phils absolutely have to keep winning series vs Fish/Mets if they have any shot at making the playoffs.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:08 PM
I really wish the Phils managed to turn Victorino or Pence into Starling Marte last July. I recognize that they weren't worth it but, I still wish they did. Unfortunately, Pirates ownership would rather contemplate winning than actually experience it.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:08 PM
I hope Halladay follows through on what LA said today in the 6th inning - trust his sinker more and stop driving with his legs so much which looked like it was screwing up his release point command.
Halladay isn't a good starter anymore but can be a serviceable starter if he goes sinker/curve/changeup with the occasional 4-seamer/cutter and lets the ball get put into play.
LA was spot on today with several great comments/observations. He also wasn't overly gloomy LA which can be kind of a drag to listen to.
Posted by: MG | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:13 PM
I'm very happy for Doc. It felt like climbing a mountain to get to win #200, but he did it. I hope he feels happy about it. May he win many more games this year.
May of us predicted a series loss. We barely squeaked out 2 wins, but at least we didn't drop 2. We did what we needed to do, even if we should have dominated the Fish.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:14 PM
Good for Doc and good for the Phillies to win a series they should have swept.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:20 PM
i'm happy for doc too. he REALLY needed this. maybe the media will back off for awhile.
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:20 PM
Reading that Lidge piece:
"I think the greatest challenge, which is also the most frustrating part, is the length of time it takes to figure out what to do and how to get hitters out when you're not using Plan A anymore," Lidge said.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:28 PM
I'm glad Doc had a nice outing for a solid win for #200. When does hitting season start?
Posted by: Lake Fred | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 04:51 PM
The Braves can score in 1 inning than the Phils scored in 3 games against the worst teams in baseball. Anyone still think the Braves aren't improved over last year? Think again.
Posted by: DPatrone | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 05:22 PM
Revere should bat 10th.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 07:06 PM