Kyle Kendrick takes the ball for the Phillies as they open at home against Kyle Lohse and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Looks like the Phillies made the right move postponing the home opener by one day to Tuesday, as the forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-60s under sunny skies.
Chase Utley, however, is under the weather and won't be in the lineup. In fact, he's not even at the park — the second baseman is under quarantine as he battles the flu.
Cesar Hernandez will start in his place and bat seventh in the order. Carlos Ruiz will take Utley's spot in the order and bat third.
Kendrick hopes to build on a successful first start in which he limited the Rangers to one run on five hits over seven innings. His brilliant outing was, of course, wasted when Jonathan Papelbon blew the Phillies' two-run lead in the ninth inning and ultimately walked in the winning run.
Lohse, the former Phillie, is coming off a decent first start of his own in which he allowed three runs and five hits over seven frames while striking out eight Atlanta Braves. The right-hander is 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 13 career starts against the Phils.
Current Phillies are batting .231 against him, with Ryan Howard (11 for 24, 3 HR) leading the way. Jimmy Rollins falls at the other end of the spectrum and is only 7 for 40 with a homer in his career against Lohse.
If you're the Brewers, do you think this lead holds, given the starter's struggles thus far?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:09 PM
I could also imagine this pretty intense wind is having an effect on a lot of high-spin breaking balls. Could explain Lohse's problems as well.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:10 PM
It's Cadillac Time.
Posted by: Sarge Matthews | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:12 PM
Even if the Brewers have the lead late, there's the unpredictable KRod to look forward to.
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:12 PM
Now, see, you're supposed to get that 2nd K with the runners still on first and third, instead of the home run.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:13 PM
A shame Asche rushed the throw there after a great stop.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:14 PM
Asche again with the solid glove followed by terrible throw.
I wonder if Howard's achilles is screaming at Cody on every stretch.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:14 PM
Lousy defense. Asche needs to make a good throw there especially with a really slow runner.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:14 PM
This home opener could rapidly turn into a real downer in a moment here.
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:15 PM
Howard needs to make that catch too though...pretty weak effort on his part.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:15 PM
Can't blame Revere for that one, I've been wanting him to play deeper so he doesn't have to go back on as many balls.
Have to think Utley would have gone back for it and called him off anyway.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:15 PM
WTF. Why did Revere back up on that initially 2 steps and then break in? More excellent defense from Revere.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:16 PM
Game over, thanks for coming.
Posted by: nonamePHame (founder, Cody (SM)Asche fan club. No scout lovers or MAIKEL FRANCO allowed) | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:16 PM
Howard's "error" costs a run as well.
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:16 PM
NEPP: That ball landed a good 4 feet away from Howard, and wasn't on much an arc so it didn't bounce as high as it could have. Howard was being set up to fail on that one, and as MG said, there was no need to rush the throw that much.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:17 PM
"Can't blame Revere for that one, I've been wanting him to play deeper so he doesn't have to go back on as many balls.
Have to think Utley would have gone back for it and called him off anyway."
Revere got a horrible break on that ball and it cost the Phils can out. Vic wasn't good at judging balls either but man he was great at using his speed to close on balls. Revere just doesn't.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:17 PM
Mediocre teams find ways to lose - bullpen one day, lack of hitting another, bad defense, bad outing by starter ... ladies and gentlemen your 2014 Phillies
Posted by: Joe Blow | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:17 PM
I'm curious how one can grade Asche out as having made an error when he made the stop and bounced the ball off of Howard's midsection. At some point the 1B has to be responsible for their glovework, don't they?
Posted by: Juums | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:19 PM
A good 3B makes a better throw and a good 1B makes a better scoop.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:19 PM
MG: I agree he got a bad break, but he definitely used his speed there. No way he even has a chance at a catch with even Victorino's (current) speed, given that initial poor read.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:19 PM
Only way Phillies have a chance to win games this year is to limit the other team to 2 or less runs. That is the sad truth about this offensive offense.
Posted by: nonamePHame (founder, Cody (SM)Asche fan club. No scout lovers or MAIKEL FRANCO allowed) | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:19 PM
Good to see Lohse settle in. Any bets on him going 6-7 innings now?
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:20 PM
KK is pitching like cr@p and didn't help himself but the defense cost the Phils at least 2 runs that inning.
This team can't crawl itself back from 5-1 deficits anymore either especially on a day where Utley is out of the lineup.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:20 PM
And another strike out for Ryan. How comes it seems that all teams other than the phillies can get that Chris Wheeler "Shutdown inning". Oh it is because the Phillies' offense sucks.
Posted by: nonamePHame (founder, Cody (SM)Asche fan club. No scout lovers or MAIKEL FRANCO allowed) | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:20 PM
Juums: The ball rolled up his arm to hit Howard there after a cruddy bounce, no?
It was a great stop, but he had no reason to throw the ball such that it couldn't reach Howard's glove in the air.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:20 PM
Philibuster - It wasn't even a bad break where he froze initially. Broke the wrong way and took a few steps in the process.
Understand that playing CF is a completely different issue than a corner OF spot but Revere does that way too much & doesn't close well to make catches either.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:22 PM
brown really loves going oppo this year.
Posted by: nonamePHame (founder, Cody (SM)Asche fan club. No scout lovers or MAIKEL FRANCO allowed) | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:23 PM
MG: I agree about the bad reads, but he's looked a bit better with those this year (thus far - SSS, to be sure), and he's definitely managed some pretty great plays closing on things at the maximum range.
Nice to see Brown beat the shift too.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:23 PM
They don't call him Swingin'-For-The-Fences Cesar for nothing.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:24 PM
Howard could have helped out Asche too. His defense has been pitiful in the early going. He has no range and has already screwed up/didn't handle 3 potential throws so far.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:24 PM
Revere's defense: can't go back, can't come in, can't catch liners, can't take a direct angle, and can't throw.
The ultimate in defensive versatility.
If Revere is an everyday player, Mini-Mart is a HOFer.
Posted by: M. Martinez | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:25 PM
MG: He maybe could have anticipated how cruddy the bounce was going to be a little more, but I still have a hard time blaming the guy who's trying to catch a crap throw.
It's like complaining about Avant not being able to snag a McNabb pass to his shoelaces.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:27 PM
Haha. Nice swing.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:27 PM
Thanks for backing up the pop there, Jimmy.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:28 PM
Philibuster - If Howard was the mashing force of years past, you could live with the crappy defense.
It just his limited value even a bit more.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:28 PM
Don't I remember Gomez acting like a pric* last year in a game?
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:28 PM
If Gomez actually connected with that thing, we'd never see it again, due to the ball achieving escape velocity.
Posted by: Juums | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:28 PM
I wish I could walk out there and berate Kyle right about now.
Posted by: Rich Dubee | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:29 PM
MG: The primary difference in our evaluation of that play seems to be that you're trying to use it as a general evaluation of Howard as a complete (or incomplete) player, while I'm saying that you can't expect any fielder to handle a throw that bounces on a flat-ish trajectory over a yard away.
It's nice when you've got a glove that good, but that's never something you should expect.
Also: Again? Seriously?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:29 PM
Braun deeply bothered by the booing.
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:30 PM
This is going swimmingly.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:30 PM
MG: Nevertheless, NEPP's factual statement applies: Asche is a below average defensive player and so is Howard. Blame whoever you like, but facts are facts.
Posted by: clout | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:30 PM
Boo!!! Cheater!!!
Posted by: Urine Collector | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:30 PM
Guess Braun found a new masking agent.
Posted by: Kevin | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:30 PM
Mediocre teams find ways to lose - bullpen one day, lack of hitting another, bad defense, bad outing by starter ... ladies and gentlemen your 2014 Phillies
*********'
Heres an idea: Go f*ck yourself.
Posted by: real fans don't bail on a team after 3 innings | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:31 PM
Phillies have 8 LOB through 3 innings. Yipes!
Posted by: clout | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:32 PM
This is not going well.
Posted by: Stool Softener | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:32 PM
Isn't Ryan Braun supposed to have nerve damage in his right thumb that's sapping his power? As that's what MLBTR said. I'm getting the feeling it is perhaps not as reliable a source as I'd been led to believe.
Or Braun's found a miracle cure for nerve damage. That'd be a nice consolation prize, at least.
Posted by: Juums | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:32 PM
Kevin: Or he just hasn't been tested yet this year.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:33 PM
yeah braun found a miracle cure - it's called kyle kendrick.
Posted by: Whatever | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:33 PM
Asche doin' damage on O and D, I see.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:34 PM
Aw. Would have been some poetic justice if Kyle had managed to beat the wind on that one.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:35 PM
I love the anger about Braun being a cheater, coming from fans of a team currently employing Bastardo, Chooch, and Galvis, among others.
Posted by: Jack | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:37 PM
I like that 3-1 take by Jimmy. Nice to see him showing some more patience.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:38 PM
"He doesn't have his best stuff today. But he's still only allowed one run."
-- Will likely be said about most opposing pitchers this season
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:38 PM
Here it is. Last year vs. the Braves, Carlos Gomez homered and flipped his bat dramatically and watched the flight of his homerun, angering the Braves. Brian McCann never let him step on homeplate.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/benches-clear-atlanta-carlos-gomez-homers-argues-braves-235815900--mlb.html
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:38 PM
Hey "real fans don't bail on a team after 3 innings" gfymf and realize nobody is bailing just observing an old, mediocre team.
Posted by: Joe Blow | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:38 PM
Real fans should have bailed a long time ago...
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:39 PM
Also nice to see Jimmy destroy that full-count pitch.
Jack: Bastardo is a nice comp, except he's never been world-beater good like juicin' Braun was. Chooch was adderall, which was so bad that he's now allowed to take it without penalty. Galvis is, and will likely always be, bad.
However I think most of the ire towards Braun comes from the ridiculous way he responded to his positive test. Especially how he ruined the life of the lab tech whose only fault was, apparently, using the wrong shipping company.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:40 PM
I'm at work reading the comments and I'm thinking it's like 10-0. Turns out it's only a 4-run game in the 4th inning.
Also, the Braun issue is a bit more nuanced than 'he cheated.'
Posted by: Iceman | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:40 PM
Nice strike one to ruiz around his chin, be nice if KK got that call.
Posted by: Bobby Cocks | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:41 PM
Apparenly Braun thinks Kendrick is anti-semite.
Posted by: Shane Really | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:42 PM
If you're posting on BL, you're probably a "real fan".
Posted by: ramsey | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:43 PM
Looks like more work for Manship and Lincoln today.
Posted by: Bobby Cocks | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:46 PM
Ramsey: Or a "real masochist."
Or both.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:47 PM
It looks like Asche double-clutched on almost every throw today. Anybody remember if he was doing that last year too?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:48 PM
I don't recall him doing that last year.
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:49 PM
Another great play by Asche - is Franco ready?
Posted by: Shane Really | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:49 PM
And he does it again.
Posted by: Blofeld | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:49 PM
Or you could be a "real douchebag" who enjoys complaining and has no life.
Posted by: real fans don't bail on a 3-3 team with 156 games left to play | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:52 PM
Frankly I don't really care all that much Braun 'cheated.' A ton of other players did too.
It was how completely ridiculous the story unfolded and how Braun blamed everyone but the Freemasons while espousing his innocence.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:53 PM
Jeez, you can see a whole commercial in the space between Ryan Howard and the plate.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:54 PM
"real fans don't bail on a 3-3 team with 156 games left to play"
Nah they just listen on radio while they get other things done.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:55 PM
That was a pretty poor AB. Woulda been nice to see Howard take that pitch. I don't remember him swinging at tons of stuff above the zone.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:55 PM
Byrd now also chasing things outside the zone.
Admittedly, they're probably all pressing a bit because of the score, but it's painful when it looks like they'd be significantly more successful by not being so aggressive.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:57 PM
Would like to see more DOMONATION please
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:57 PM
How long has Domonic Brown been using "Sensual Seduction" for his AB music? Just noticed it.
Posted by: UBIK | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:58 PM
Especially how he ruined the life of the lab tech whose only fault was, apparently, using the wrong shipping company.
Posted by: Phillibuster
He smeared me like cream cheese and lox on a bagel.
Posted by: Urine Collector | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:59 PM
Does a walk count?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:59 PM
Loving Brown's approach.
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 05:59 PM
Steal second, Brown!
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:00 PM
Now would be a great time for that Asche HR....
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:00 PM
UBIK - It must be this year. I don't remember him using it last year.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:00 PM
Neither starter has been great today from a command/control but I fault Vanover for that.
He called a really small strike zone early on and hasn't given anything to either pitcher.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:01 PM
Last year, Brown's walk-up music was Pop That by French Montana.
And Asche popped that!
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:01 PM
Oh joy. Mayberry against a RHP.
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:02 PM
MG: He started small, but he's expanded (kind of randomly) since then. He's been more strict on the width of the zone than the height.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:02 PM
This would be a nice time to have a healthy Ruf on the bench.
Posted by: UBIK | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:02 PM
This is what happens when you don't have Utley around. Normally Cesar would be hitting here.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:03 PM
3rd time in 7 games the Phils have played with a man short according to Franske.
It baffles my mind how Amaro has been willing to play a man short/'day-to-day' so often and so willingly since he has become GM.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:04 PM
I take it back. The zone just got a little wider.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:04 PM
The 'Hold' sign for JMJ through out the entire AB.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:04 PM
MG: Weren't two of those games Rollins' paternity leave? Away from home?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:04 PM
Overmatched.
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:05 PM
Although I do agree Amaro seems to like playing short way, way too often.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:05 PM
JMJ strikes out a RHP who has a good slider/changeup? Shocking.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:05 PM
How many LOB is that so far already? 11?
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:06 PM
Would Utley have been capable of pinch-hitting there? He couldn't have been as overmatched as Mayberry.
Posted by: Alby | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:08 PM
Alby: Utley would have been in the lineup, and thus Cesar would have been the PH.
However, I think Utley would have had a better AB than Mayberry there. If only because Lohse has a very noticeable split in favor of LHBs.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:10 PM
Utley vomiting and shitting himself in the batter's box couldn't have been as overmatched as Mayberry there
Posted by: Cyclic | Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 06:10 PM