Phillies vs. Marlins: Series open thread

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[bay_area_phan]

"The decision to have him swing away on the second one was quite curious."

Agreed. You could either send him up there to keep his bat on his shoulders or try a safety squeeze. I would have done the latter. There's a slim chance of a DP, but the most likely result is either a strikeout or a force-out at the plate. And, with a decent runner (Byrd) on 3rd, you've also got a reasonable chance of getting him home if the bunt is up either baseline.

[NEPP]

Pretty tactless and Eatonesque comments there though by KK...you gotta wonder if the constant losing when he's on the mound (15 straight non-win appearances for him now IIRC), is affecting him.

[Phillibuster]

To be fair to KK, the full quote is as follows:

"I'm not a hitter," Kendrick said. "It's frustrating, but my job is to get outs. I'm not up there to get hits. But that's frustrating, too. You don't want to hit into a double play. But on the pitching side, that needs to be handled."

[Phillibuster]

Winless streak at 16 now.

[bay_area_phan]

"The guys put up two runs for me and I go out and [expletive] do that [expletive]. It's just bad," Kendrick said. "It needs to stop."

Alright, I guess he gets a pass. Many seemingly obnoxious statements from athletes are really just a matter of poor word choice. This is probably another example of that.

[NEPP]

Sounds far less bad in context.

I wonder which direction the WIP crowd will go with those comments?

[GBrettfan]

Hm, the always reasonable, never knee-jerk nor overly dramatic, WIP crowd? I wonder....

[Phillibuster]

I anticipate a reasoned and thoughtful dialogue on the subject.

[NEPP]

KK will almost certainly be loudly booed his next time out as a result.

[Willard Preacher]

WTF with TBag and Moyer in coats and ties???

[Phillibuster]

They alluded to this happening last game.

[NEPP]

They did the coat/tie thing last week at some point too. I remember seeing it when I was watching on my iPad and it threw me off.

[bay_area_phan]

It really sucks that Byrd and Nieves are doing so well. I hate to give RAJ credit for anything.

[Willard Preacher]

Nieves's one good game batting in the two hole clearly supercedes every other data point that suggests he should be much further down in the order, but what do I know?

And Revere in the 8-hole is going to be an abyss that he's unlikely to dig himself out of. I feel like he's playing for his job at this point.

[Willard Preacher]

STILL PLENTY OF GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE!

I'm setting the O/U on tonight's attendance at 13,000 and even that may be generous.

[WSJ]

I distinctly remember that when the Phillies resigned Kendrick this year, WIP callers almost unanimously disliked the deal with the most popular reason being the ever popular "Because he sucks".

It's a shame really. I was hoping for First Half of 2013 Good Kyle, not the Rushed Back From Concussion Second Half of 2013 Bad Kyle.

[bay_area_phan]

"Nieves's one good game batting in the two hole clearly supercedes every other data point that suggests he should be much further down in the order, but what do I know?"

In fairness, the 2-hole has traditionally been thought of as a place for high-average, low-power hitters, and Nieves has hit .304 since opening day 2012. That's a lot higher than guys like Polanco, Rollins, and even Victorino, who regularly saw time in the 2-hole over the last 5 or 6 years.

[Willard Preacher]

Just remember, each post that casts Kendrick in an unfavorable light only serves to give clout more strength and energy. He's already close to being immortal as it is.

[Willard Preacher]

BAP, I actually am fine with Nieves there. If nothing else, I was noting that when you employ the groupthink that Cholly has passed along to Sandberg, it only makes Revere's demotion in the order that much more significant. To most, it's a decent enough move. To those of us who have seen this lineup construction for years now, it's a damn revolution.

[bay_area_phan]

WP: Yep, I am fine with Nieves in the 2-hole as long as he's this hot. And I am certainly fine with Revere in the 8-hole, which is where he probably belongs. I am also hoping he has a 3-hit game today, and forces his way back into the starting lineup. I can't get used to the idea that Tony Gwynn, Jr. is in the starting lineup of a team which fancies itself a playoff contender.

[GBrettfan]

"Just remember, each post that casts Kendrick in an unfavorable light only serves to give clout more strength and energy. He's already close to being immortal as it is."

LOL,WP!

I think of Clout as a Charles Winchester.

[PJohn Mayberry]

So Revere was eating his spinach, hoping to be strong to the finish. Instead he got sick.

[GBrettfan]

Winchester would not forgive me for my omission of III.

[NEPP]

Nieves and Byrd have looked like pretty solid signings so far...especially Byrd. Good job by Rube to get both of them. MAG and Lincoln haven't worked out unfortunately and the bullpen really needed some more help than just Lincoln this off-season.

Overall though, Rube did very well on Nieves and Byrd.

[Curt]

The putrid base running continues.

[GBrettfan]

That was really dumb, Cole. Didn't do yourself any favors getting thrown out at 3B.

[GBrettfan]

This take on it made me laugh: You only live once. (Spelling it out in case someone is like me in forgetting what YOLO stands for.)

Chris Branch ‏@ChrisBranchTNJ 4m
Cole around the bases: "YOLO NOT EVEN GONNA LOOK AT 3B COACH." He was out at third.

[bay_area_phan]

The Phillies are like 2 for 8 zillion with RISP over these last 2 games.

[Curt]

This team specializes in starting an inning with a couple of hits, and ending the inning with no runs and one man LOB.

[bittel]

Fully expect Cole to dominate with the even more intense focus he'll have after that terrible baserunning gaffe.

[Cyclic]

Not one "Day Hamels" reference yet?

Come on, Beerleaguer. You're better than that.

[Michael Scott]

"Yep, I am fine with Nieves in the 2-hole as long as he's this hot."

That's what *she* said!

[bay_area_phan]

"Not one "Day Hamels" reference yet?"

According to Article VII, Section 3 of the Beerleaguer Bylaws, this is the responsibility of MG.

[Cyclic]

60-65 mph curveballs dropping in for strikes. Yeesh.

[Conway Twitty]

Cyclic: I've often wondered, when someone does better or worse in day games, is it the time of day, or daylight vs. lights? If it's the latter, this is like a nite game, with the roof closed and the lights on.

[bittel]

Next time through they'll get to this guy. Just missing by a hair as it is: first Byrd, then BRown.

[Conway Twitty]

Never the less, Cole seems to have gotten over the "day game" thing.

[bay_area_phan]

I would assume that stark day-night splits are because certain kinds of pitches are harder to pick up under the lights than in sunlight. I think quite a few pitchers who are heavily reliant on change-ups have similar splits. Tim Lincecum and Trevor Hoffman spring to mind.

[Cyclic]

But if I can't rely on Beerleaguer to even bring it up, what sense does the world make?

[Cyclic]

Bit of a reach, but for day games, pitchers are also probably working with a catcher that they aren't as used to

[bittel]

They won't get anything off of Cole today. Score two friggin runs and let's play the Dodgers already.

[GBrettfan]

bittel, Chase says "OK", Ryan says "Nah".

[Cyclic]

Yeah can't see them touching Hamels.

3-0 Marlins in 10.

[Five-4-One]

Yep can't seem them getting anything off Co...... oops.

[Curt]

Honestly, Sandberg might be dumber than Cholly. Seems impossible, but...

[Five-4-One]

What a waste.

[Five-4-One]

Brown is a joke.

[Five-4-One]

?????????????????

[Cyclic]

Yeah whoops. Okay CG loss for Hamels. 1-0

[bullit]

don't you IBB stanton there with a man on 2nd and 2 outs?

[bay_area_phan]

Seriously? With Darin Ruf on the bench, you let your starting pitcher bat with a runner on base and a 1-0 deficit in the 7th inning? Sandberg doesn't seem to be managing this game with much urgency.

[Five-4-One]

Having Hamels hit there is completely ridiculous.

Chollie, I mean Ryne, botches another one.

[Willard Preacher]

The Dom Brown story is crazy, when you think about it (and you probably haven't, since he's one of roughly 983 problems that the Phillies have now).

Ostensibly, he was a prospect who we were all clamoring to see get a chance at the big league level. Injuries, other options, etc. prevented him from initially getting that chance, so he toiled away in the minors, continuing to rake enough to keep us clamoring. He finally gets his chance, now that we don't really have those other options anymore, and he shows a glimmer of that potential we all wanted to see. Just enough to solidify himself as a starter/regular (and garner him an AS appearance, to boot!). Now that he's cemented as a starter, he's no better, if not worse, than those starters we were bemoaning that were blocking him, only now we don't have the "next Dom Brown" waiting in the wings, so we're all just patiently waiting for him to turn it around.

Each and every day that goes by, I feel more and more like GTown Dave may have seen something we didn't. He's proving to be somewhat of a bust. Thankfully he remains just one of 983 problems, so he can fly under the radar a bit.

[Five-4-One]

Yep, WILL NOT TOUCH HIM. Good call.

[bay_area_phan]

Good thing we let Hamels hit for himself.

[Five-4-One]

That's some inspiring managing Ryne. Two straight days with absolutely horrific managing blunders.

The org needs to clean house and start fresh with outside voices. Its quite stale up in here.

[bittel]

That was a horrible pitch. Still and all, I'd have had him out in the top of the seventh. Can't manage like it's day 30 of this 40-game stretch.

[GBrettfan]

Crap! Regarding the HR.

I think that since Cole's pitch count was so low, Ryne didn't PH. Probably not a good decision, although I can understand his reluctance to pull Cole with our BP.

Dom is one frustrating player!

I don't know why we didn't pitch around Stanton, either.

[Cyclic]

In Hamels defense, it should be the bullpen giving up these runs

[Curt]

WP - no reason to to platoon Brown and Ruf at this point. Brown has used up all the goodwill he earned last May.

[bittel]

While we're on Brown, that's two more balls hit back to the pitcher today.

[Curt]

Err, no reason not to platoon them...

[Five-4-One]

Brown has too many tools to sit in favor of a untoolsy guy like Ruf.

Brown has a lot power, when he's actually making contact which is not often. He's got a crazy good arm when he's actually accurate which is not often. He's very fast when he decides to steal bases and sprint to the ball and bust it down the line, which is not often.

[GBrettfan]

bittel, I think you're responsible for jinxing Cole with that 2:06 post. And Cyclic, too, at 2:18. Must not jinx the pitcher who's dominating!

[bittel]

Sandberg isn't good, no. But:

1. Charlie still was a terrible game manager.

2. I doubt we see the same resurgence from Rollins under UC.

[Willard Preacher]

Baseball, inherently, is a game with wild swings (slumps and hot streaks, if you will), so I get that consistency is a bit of a relative concept.

That said, I'd have to imagine that the standard deviation of runs scored by a total team offense over a course of games/innings, is significantly egregious for the Phillies versus most other teams. They're the macrocosm of Pat Burrell's career without the aid of a "slump buster" from Delaware County as assistance.

The runs/game metric for the Phils is essentially meaningless as they put up 10 runs games every so often to help offset sh8tshows like this. I could at least enjoy the last couple of games where they put up some runs in the first inning.

[Cyclic]

Sure glad Utley and Howard hit back to back no matter fucking what

[bay_area_phan]

Here comes the LOOGY. And I guarantee you that Howard hits for himself & strikes out haplessly, just as he did in a critical situation yesterday.

[bittel]

Let's get all the bad predictions out of the way: if Utley and Howard reach against the lefty, Phils win this game.

[clout]

Phillies 6th in NL in OPS+

Phillies 14th in NL in ERA+

Anyone who's read BL since the start of spring training knows this isn't possible. And yet, as often is the case, it is reality.

[Willard Preacher]

"if Utley and Howard reach against the lefty..."

Sorry, didn't finish reading your post, as clearly you've been drinking early and often today.

[Five-4-One]

WP, good post.

I wonder what Pat's numbers would have been like if he hadn't been able to Burrell his way through the local collection of dimepieces from the Delaware Valley.

[GBrettfan]

Rollins & Utley have done their part.

But I don't have high hopes (sorry, HK) for Howard. Or Byrd. It's one of those games.

[Cyclic]

How does that not become a triple? Or at least score a run? Damn

[bullit]

phils play at 7:05, 3:05, 1:35 and 5:05 over the next 4 games. i guess the schedulers have never heard of the biological clock.

[bittel]

Ahhhhhh

[bittel]

At least Byrd gets to the plate as tying run.

[Willard Preacher]

Utley is sixth in the league in OPS entering the day. Hard to believe that he hasn't hit a HR since April 13.

[bay_area_phan]

A sac fly was the best case scenario there. But letting Howard face a particularly tough LOOGY, when you've got Ruf & Mayberry on your bench, is in the 99.99th percentile of idiocy.

[bittel]

BANNNNNNNNNNNNG!

[bay_area_phan]

Wow. I'm kind of shocked they let Dunn face him.

[GBrettfan]

Yes! The reverse jinx worked!

[bittel]

How on earth do you give Byrd a fastball down the middle there?

I have to leave; someone else will have to bring the game home ;

[Willard Preacher]

It's gotten to the point where if I could select which batter to put in the box in a big spot, with the game on the line, Byrd may just be that guy. Crazy.

Oddly enough, I'd have Asche in the top 3 or 4 there, too.

[bay_area_phan]

Who would have ever imagined that putting a lefty-killing right-hander in between your left-handed hitters would pay off?

[Dickie Thong]

Byrd really needs to move up to #4 in the order.

[Cyclic]

Brown is utterly hopeless right now. Start Ruf on Friday

[clout]

Dickie: Certainly vs. LHP he does.

[bay_area_phan]

It's hard to believe that the guy who is so given to overmanaging that he had Chooch bunting in the early innings of yesterday's game is the same guy who just let Howard & Dom bat for themselves against a LOOGY, when he has Ruf, Chooch & Mayberry on the bench.

[clout]

BAP: He's saving them for later.

[GBrettfan]

Good job by Adams, especially striking out Stanton.

Does Byrd have more HRs than Howard?

[Willard Preacher]

LA was talking yesterday about how bullpen pitchers need appearances or they get rusty (Manship, Hollands, Garcia).

If IP's directly correlates to reliever pitching success, I'm excited to see which of Diekman or Adams wins the CY this year.

[Willard Preacher]

"Does Byrd have more HRs than Howard?"

Not just yet. 6 to 7, respectively, by my count.

[clout]

WP: Manship, Hollands and Garcia perform the same rusty as they do not rusty.

[bay_area_phan]

Are you f*cking kidding me? Tony Gwynn, Jr.?

[clout]

Revere needs to steal a base

[bay_area_phan]

How about just having Revere do a straight steal, which has around an 80% success rate, and then using Ruf?

[ColonelTom]

5-4-1, is it fair to say Dom is a high-functioning version of practically every Phils' position "prospect" in recent years?

[Iceman]

"Each and every day that goes by, I feel more and more like GTown Dave may have seen something we didn't."

The inside of a mental institution?

[bay_area_phan]

Pretty much every tactical decision which Sandberg has made today has backfired on him. Of course, that isn't terribly surprising since pretty much all of them were wrong from the get-go.