How sweep it is! Sweeping Beauty! How Sweep is my valley? Ok, that's enough. The Phillies managed something they hadn't done all year, take every game of a series, last night against the Giants. It was shaky behind the always interesting pitching of Jon Lieber, but they held on.
The Phils took a quick 4-0 lead in the second on an Utley double, a Lieberthal single and egregious throwing error by Jason Ellison, a near homer by Lieber off the 398 sign in right center, and a for-real homer by J-Roll just inside the right field foul pole. Lieber gave that lead right back with a two out rally including back-to-back homers by J.T. Snow and Moises "Urine Good Hands" Alou. The Phils then quickly regained the lead in the third with a two-run bases-loaded wounded duck into short right field by David Bell. The Giants added a late run in the seventh off Rheal Cormier, who still hasn't got the "improved bullpen" memo. Daddy Wags closed out the 6-5 win with a 1-2-3 ninth. Back to .500. And thanks to a late comeback by the Nats, the entire NL East is now within 2.5 games of the lead.
It's June 3rd, and it may be early, but we are in what is known in baseball circles as a "pennant race". It's an alien concept in these parts, but I've seen them before, and they can be quite exhilarating. This is a particularly good one, involving five nearly indistinguishable and variously flawed teams. The Braves bullpen is a mess, the Marlins just lost 7 of 8 and are getting no production from Mike Lowell (yet) and Al Leiter is terrible, the Mets have weak pitching after Pedro, and the Nats are playing way over their heads. Despite our problems, which have been excruciatingly documented here, we've won 10 of the last 15 and have the only thing resembling momentum in the division, plus a favorable schedule. Now, Rheal, did you get the memo? I'll just forward you another copy, mmm-kay? Thaaanks. (that was my Lumbergh impression, in case you weren't aware).
Try as they might to shelter him and his 7+ ERA from Major League hitters, the Phils are forced to send Vicente Padilla to the hill tonight against the D'Backs Javier Vazquez. On the surface it doesn't look promising, but we're on a roll, and this is as good a time as any to see if Padilla can get it together. The good news is, it's raining. Keep raining! And CBP grounds crew, whatever you do, don't do this!
Friday, June 03, 2005
Thursday, June 02, 2005
CHASE AND THE GIANT HIT, PART II
Damn! Why do all the good games happen on Wednesday? I have "a prior commitment" (which has nothing to do with the oft-injured Cubs pitcher) most Wednesdays, and I am usually unable to catch the entire game. I'm really sorry I missed most of last night's strange tilt with the Giants. Is there any better phrase in the English language than "pinch-hit Grand Slam"? There are probably a few, and of course, it really sucks when you're the slamee, but still, when you're a follower of the team that hits one, life is good.
I did catch Scott Graham and Chris Wheeler on WDEL for the first two innings while I was in the car. Wheels pulled a typical Wheels jinx move when he mentioned, not once but twice, that Cory Lidle has not given up a home run to a lefty this year. I thought, "Oh great. The ball will be flying out of the park in bunches tonight." Amazingly this didn't happen, but about everything else did. The Giants started things with a couple of cheap runs when pitcher Kirk Rueter slapped a two-out single up the middle with the bases loaded, and Jason Ellison followed with another single to left. Pat Burrell cut down Mike Matheny, who Marion Jones could outrun even after she stopped taking steroids and while pregnant, at the plate to end the threat. So far not too unusual, but the night was young. In the Phils half of the third, Jim Thome was ejected, for the first time as a Phillie, for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Paul Schrieber. I guess I was right when I said he wouldn't get cranking on a monster June last night, but that's not what I meant. Thome later had a run-in with a defenseless water cooler as he exited the premises, which seemed to fire up the Phillies.
The Phils took a 3-2 lead in the 4th on an RBI double by Lieberthal, an RBI triple by J-Roll, and an RBI single by Polanco. Tomas Perez, filling in for Thome, popped up with the bases loaded to end the inning, but his time would come. The Giants regained the lead in the 6th with a 2-run triple by Alfonzo followed by a double by Matheny to make it 5-3. Rollins led off the bottom of the 6th off new pitcher Jeff Fassero with a single, and advanced to second on a Polanco infield hit. Abreu then singled to left, and Pedro Feliz gunned down Rollins trying to score. Just when it looked like a promising inning was falling apart, Tomas took his cue and dribbled a bases-loaded single into center field to tie the game at 5-5.
The Phillies took the lead in the 7th on one of the bigger plays on a night of big plays. J-Mike and Lieberthal led off the inning with singles, and Endy Chavez came on to pinch-bunt, which he did successfully to advance the runners, With the Giants infield playing in and the outfield playing deep, Rollins hit a routine fly to short left that Feliz charged at full speed and reached for just as it neared the turf. The ball appeared to hit Feliz' glove and stick, but the second-base umpire Andy Fletcher immediately called it a trap, which allowed Michaels to score. This was the second time in two nights the Phils caught a break on an outfield play. In game 1, Lofton clearly trapped a ball that was called a catch, which saved at least one early Giants run. Giants manager Felipe Alou had seen more than he could stand, and carried on long enough to get tossed. The Giants immediately re-tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the 8th off Ryan Madson. Jason Ellison hit a one-out nubber to Perez with runners on first and third, which Perez tried to fire home. His throw was off-balance and the ball ended up short-hopping Lieby, several steps too late. Madson regrouped and got Vizquel to bounce into a 6-3 double play to end the inning and preserve the tie.
The Giants decided to go with newly acquired LaTroy Hawkins to start the 8th. As a Cub last month, Hawkins speared a liner and then hit Jose Offerman in the head as he tried to scamper back to first, allowing two runs to score for a 3-2 Phillies win. Until last night, that was by far the strangest game the Phillies had played all season. LaTroy got right to work outdoing himself, ceding a single to Burrell and a walk to Perez, followed by a sac bunt by Bell and another walk, this one intentional, to Michaels. Lieberthal hit a line drive to second for the second out, bringing up the pitcher's spot. Either by chance or by using a heretofore unwitnessed foresight, Charlie Manuel had one hitter left on his bench (other than backup catcher Todd Pratt): Chase Utley. The Giants had lefty Jason Christiansen in their pen, but he had pitched the previous night and presumably was unavailable. Possibly Alou might have brought him anyway, but Felipe wasn't around anymore, so they stuck with Hawkins. On a 1-1 count, Hawkins delivered a slider down and in, which was probably an even worse location than Jose Offerman's helmet. Utley hit what we would call in the engineering field a "quasi-linear parabola" into the third row, invoking that mellifluous phrase mentioned above. Billy Wagner cleaned up the 9th for his second straight non-save.
The Phils are now one game under .500. Naturally, the Braves won, so we're still 3.5 out, but it beats being 4.5 out. At the risk of pulling a Wheels, the Phillies look pretty good right now. The bullpen is improving without Adams and Worrell dragging it down, the starters are doing fine, especially since we keep skipping Padilla's turn, and you can't argue with last night's 19 hits. We're getting breaks, clutch hits, and Thome is 1-0 vs. water coolers in the month of June (Hey Baseball Prospectus, let's see the historical numbers on that).
Tonight it's Brad Hennessy vs. erstwhile ace Jon Lieber. I saw Hennessy first hand last month in Houston, and he didn't impress much. Craig Biggio took him deep twice, and it was only the Astros' otherwise complete lack of hitting ability and four fielding errors that kept the Giants in the game. Still, a series sweep has eluded the Phillies all year. Tonight would be as good a time as any for the first one.
I did catch Scott Graham and Chris Wheeler on WDEL for the first two innings while I was in the car. Wheels pulled a typical Wheels jinx move when he mentioned, not once but twice, that Cory Lidle has not given up a home run to a lefty this year. I thought, "Oh great. The ball will be flying out of the park in bunches tonight." Amazingly this didn't happen, but about everything else did. The Giants started things with a couple of cheap runs when pitcher Kirk Rueter slapped a two-out single up the middle with the bases loaded, and Jason Ellison followed with another single to left. Pat Burrell cut down Mike Matheny, who Marion Jones could outrun even after she stopped taking steroids and while pregnant, at the plate to end the threat. So far not too unusual, but the night was young. In the Phils half of the third, Jim Thome was ejected, for the first time as a Phillie, for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Paul Schrieber. I guess I was right when I said he wouldn't get cranking on a monster June last night, but that's not what I meant. Thome later had a run-in with a defenseless water cooler as he exited the premises, which seemed to fire up the Phillies.
The Phils took a 3-2 lead in the 4th on an RBI double by Lieberthal, an RBI triple by J-Roll, and an RBI single by Polanco. Tomas Perez, filling in for Thome, popped up with the bases loaded to end the inning, but his time would come. The Giants regained the lead in the 6th with a 2-run triple by Alfonzo followed by a double by Matheny to make it 5-3. Rollins led off the bottom of the 6th off new pitcher Jeff Fassero with a single, and advanced to second on a Polanco infield hit. Abreu then singled to left, and Pedro Feliz gunned down Rollins trying to score. Just when it looked like a promising inning was falling apart, Tomas took his cue and dribbled a bases-loaded single into center field to tie the game at 5-5.
The Phillies took the lead in the 7th on one of the bigger plays on a night of big plays. J-Mike and Lieberthal led off the inning with singles, and Endy Chavez came on to pinch-bunt, which he did successfully to advance the runners, With the Giants infield playing in and the outfield playing deep, Rollins hit a routine fly to short left that Feliz charged at full speed and reached for just as it neared the turf. The ball appeared to hit Feliz' glove and stick, but the second-base umpire Andy Fletcher immediately called it a trap, which allowed Michaels to score. This was the second time in two nights the Phils caught a break on an outfield play. In game 1, Lofton clearly trapped a ball that was called a catch, which saved at least one early Giants run. Giants manager Felipe Alou had seen more than he could stand, and carried on long enough to get tossed. The Giants immediately re-tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the 8th off Ryan Madson. Jason Ellison hit a one-out nubber to Perez with runners on first and third, which Perez tried to fire home. His throw was off-balance and the ball ended up short-hopping Lieby, several steps too late. Madson regrouped and got Vizquel to bounce into a 6-3 double play to end the inning and preserve the tie.
The Giants decided to go with newly acquired LaTroy Hawkins to start the 8th. As a Cub last month, Hawkins speared a liner and then hit Jose Offerman in the head as he tried to scamper back to first, allowing two runs to score for a 3-2 Phillies win. Until last night, that was by far the strangest game the Phillies had played all season. LaTroy got right to work outdoing himself, ceding a single to Burrell and a walk to Perez, followed by a sac bunt by Bell and another walk, this one intentional, to Michaels. Lieberthal hit a line drive to second for the second out, bringing up the pitcher's spot. Either by chance or by using a heretofore unwitnessed foresight, Charlie Manuel had one hitter left on his bench (other than backup catcher Todd Pratt): Chase Utley. The Giants had lefty Jason Christiansen in their pen, but he had pitched the previous night and presumably was unavailable. Possibly Alou might have brought him anyway, but Felipe wasn't around anymore, so they stuck with Hawkins. On a 1-1 count, Hawkins delivered a slider down and in, which was probably an even worse location than Jose Offerman's helmet. Utley hit what we would call in the engineering field a "quasi-linear parabola" into the third row, invoking that mellifluous phrase mentioned above. Billy Wagner cleaned up the 9th for his second straight non-save.
The Phils are now one game under .500. Naturally, the Braves won, so we're still 3.5 out, but it beats being 4.5 out. At the risk of pulling a Wheels, the Phillies look pretty good right now. The bullpen is improving without Adams and Worrell dragging it down, the starters are doing fine, especially since we keep skipping Padilla's turn, and you can't argue with last night's 19 hits. We're getting breaks, clutch hits, and Thome is 1-0 vs. water coolers in the month of June (Hey Baseball Prospectus, let's see the historical numbers on that).
Tonight it's Brad Hennessy vs. erstwhile ace Jon Lieber. I saw Hennessy first hand last month in Houston, and he didn't impress much. Craig Biggio took him deep twice, and it was only the Astros' otherwise complete lack of hitting ability and four fielding errors that kept the Giants in the game. Still, a series sweep has eluded the Phillies all year. Tonight would be as good a time as any for the first one.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
CHASE AND THE GIANT HIT
As Comcast Sportsnet pointed out last night, the Phillies are playing their NL West doppelgangers this week. The Giants stats and record are eerily similar to ours. The biggest difference is that the Padres are streaking right now and the Giants are several more games back than we are. The other major difference is that the Giants had played nine more home games than the Phils coming into last night.
Brett Tomko, who once pitched a 1-walk, 27-batter no-hitter for my Strat team, faced Randy Wolf in game 1 last night at the Park. Tomko struggled with his control from the outset, issuing walks in each of the first three innings. It wasn't until the 3rd that the Phils finally capitalized. Wolfie led off with a double off the scoreboard in right, and was sacrificed to third by J-Roll. Lofton, playing on his 38th birthday and defying pretty much everyone, including me, who said he was too old five years ago, drove in Wolf with a line single to center for a 1-0 lead. Abreu and Thome followed with walks, setting up a bases loaded situation for Burrell, who apparently no longer thrives under these conditions as he once did. Pat popped up to Lance Niekro at first base, seemingly deflating any chances for a big inning for the Phils. The next batter, Chase Utley, immediately got down 0-2, before fouling off a few high fastballs and basically looking lost. Then Tomko dropped a slider off the plate and down, and Utley, in what was last night's best hitting performance, somehow slapped it into center field to score Lofton and Abreu to make it 3-0. Tomko must have been royally pissed that he let that inning get away, and probably more than a little impressed with Utley, as was everyone who saw that hit.
Wolfie, meanwhile, was also struggling a bit, including a couple of early walks and a hit batsman, but he always managed to escape his self-made jams without allowing any runs. Manuel lifted him in favor of Ryan Madson in the 7th to face Moises Alou with a man on and two outs. I haven't read the full scoop on this, but I'm guessing it was a combination of pitch count, fatigue, and the fact that the Giants had their right-handed cleanup hitter up. In any event, Mad Dog did his job getting the game to Wagner in the ninth. Thankfully, the Phils tacked on a couple of runs in the 8th, because Wags gave up yet another home run, this one to rookie Jason Ellison. The Phils managed to hang on for a 5-2 win, and are now 3.5 games out following losses by Florida and Atlanta. The NL East is tighter than (insert Dan Ratherism here).
I'm getting really worried about Billy Wagner. I keep saying that, but this time I mean it. He once could spot his 99 MPH heater, but now it inevitably ends up right on the barrel of the hitter's bat. He's publicly disavowed using his slider, so unless he comes up with another off-speed pitch, unlikely from a guy who has mentioned retiring after the season, he has nowhere else to turn.
I'm letting up on the "Do Something, Ed" watch. Outrighting Terry "I Hear Scranton Has A Pretty Good School System" Adams and giving Robinson Tejeda a shot at some meaningful work has been enough so far to halt the precipitous slide of the bullpen. Still, it sure would be nice to unload Ryan Howard, who will never play as long as Thome is around, and break up the Utley/Polanco/Bell playing time mess in favor of a reliable young reliever and maybe some help for the farm system. I've heard some folks mention that the A's would love Howard and his potentially sweet OPS, and they have a young catcher, Daric Barton, who they might part with. They also have a deep bullpen we could poach from with the right combination of players. Then again, knowing Wade and having read "Moneyball", the chances Ed won't get fleeced by Billy Beane are pretty remote.
Soft-tossing lefty Kirk Rueter takes on Cory Lidle in the Park tonight. Thome has had some monster Junes in the past (9 and 15 HR's so far as a Phillie), but Rueter is very tough on lefties, so he probably won't get cranking tonight.
Brett Tomko, who once pitched a 1-walk, 27-batter no-hitter for my Strat team, faced Randy Wolf in game 1 last night at the Park. Tomko struggled with his control from the outset, issuing walks in each of the first three innings. It wasn't until the 3rd that the Phils finally capitalized. Wolfie led off with a double off the scoreboard in right, and was sacrificed to third by J-Roll. Lofton, playing on his 38th birthday and defying pretty much everyone, including me, who said he was too old five years ago, drove in Wolf with a line single to center for a 1-0 lead. Abreu and Thome followed with walks, setting up a bases loaded situation for Burrell, who apparently no longer thrives under these conditions as he once did. Pat popped up to Lance Niekro at first base, seemingly deflating any chances for a big inning for the Phils. The next batter, Chase Utley, immediately got down 0-2, before fouling off a few high fastballs and basically looking lost. Then Tomko dropped a slider off the plate and down, and Utley, in what was last night's best hitting performance, somehow slapped it into center field to score Lofton and Abreu to make it 3-0. Tomko must have been royally pissed that he let that inning get away, and probably more than a little impressed with Utley, as was everyone who saw that hit.
Wolfie, meanwhile, was also struggling a bit, including a couple of early walks and a hit batsman, but he always managed to escape his self-made jams without allowing any runs. Manuel lifted him in favor of Ryan Madson in the 7th to face Moises Alou with a man on and two outs. I haven't read the full scoop on this, but I'm guessing it was a combination of pitch count, fatigue, and the fact that the Giants had their right-handed cleanup hitter up. In any event, Mad Dog did his job getting the game to Wagner in the ninth. Thankfully, the Phils tacked on a couple of runs in the 8th, because Wags gave up yet another home run, this one to rookie Jason Ellison. The Phils managed to hang on for a 5-2 win, and are now 3.5 games out following losses by Florida and Atlanta. The NL East is tighter than (insert Dan Ratherism here).
I'm getting really worried about Billy Wagner. I keep saying that, but this time I mean it. He once could spot his 99 MPH heater, but now it inevitably ends up right on the barrel of the hitter's bat. He's publicly disavowed using his slider, so unless he comes up with another off-speed pitch, unlikely from a guy who has mentioned retiring after the season, he has nowhere else to turn.
I'm letting up on the "Do Something, Ed" watch. Outrighting Terry "I Hear Scranton Has A Pretty Good School System" Adams and giving Robinson Tejeda a shot at some meaningful work has been enough so far to halt the precipitous slide of the bullpen. Still, it sure would be nice to unload Ryan Howard, who will never play as long as Thome is around, and break up the Utley/Polanco/Bell playing time mess in favor of a reliable young reliever and maybe some help for the farm system. I've heard some folks mention that the A's would love Howard and his potentially sweet OPS, and they have a young catcher, Daric Barton, who they might part with. They also have a deep bullpen we could poach from with the right combination of players. Then again, knowing Wade and having read "Moneyball", the chances Ed won't get fleeced by Billy Beane are pretty remote.
Soft-tossing lefty Kirk Rueter takes on Cory Lidle in the Park tonight. Thome has had some monster Junes in the past (9 and 15 HR's so far as a Phillie), but Rueter is very tough on lefties, so he probably won't get cranking tonight.
Monday, May 30, 2005
SITH SENSE
Once again, we'll do a brief review, this time of the Phillies successful but not quite successful enough weekend series against the Braves. The Phils hung a 4-spot on John Smoltz in game 1, then coasted home for a 5-1 win behind Cory Lidle, Rheal Cormier, and Billy Wagner. That had to be the easiest win over the Braves I've ever seen. Atlanta scored a run in the first, and never really challenged after that.
Game 2 was a 12-5 laugher, but only after the Phils exploded for 5 runs in the ninth. Jason Michaels was the star, making a superb diving catch and hitting a 3-run homer to put the game away. Jon Lieber was shaky, but he managed to stay in long enough to get the victory. Just as I had written, Robinson Tejeda was brought into a still undecided game to relieve Lieber, and retired the side in order. So far, so good.
Until game 3. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead into the fifth, and appeared poised to get the sweep with ace Brett Myers firing darts. Then the Braves woke up. After two quick singles, Ryan "Islets of" Langerhans hit a two-run triple to give the Braves a lead they would never relinquish. Tejeda came in in the 7th and gave up his first three runs of the season in the 8th to give the Braves a 7-2 win.
The Phillies have managed to negotiate the last 12 games vs. first or second place teams with a 7-5 record. Now, if they could have played as well against the other teams, they would be in first place themselves, but it never seems to work out that way. We're still 5 games out, still in last place, but this stretch gives us a smidgen of hope. The Braves and Marlins are not great teams, and neither appear to be capable of winning 100 games. This division can be won with a sustained run of good baseball, and with the schedule turning in our favor, the time is now.
Elsewhere in my chronologically challenged life, we went to see Revenge Of The Sith. My one-phrase review: Eh. To expand on that, the second half of the film, where Palpatine has been exposed as Darth Sidious, was excellent. It was fascinating watching Anakin slowly turn into Darth Vader, and to see all the other plot elements fall into alignment for Episode IV. Prior to that, the movie was unrelentingly dull. I think the main problem with Eps I, II, and the first half of III is that there is no established villain, at least not one who is nearly as scary as Vader, who you already know is coming. Count Dooku? Are you kidding me? I mean, the name alone sounds like a waste product. General Grievous is a droid for crying out loud. Like a droid is going to defeat a Jedi. Oh, sorry, I went over-nerd there. And the casting of Natalie Portman has got to be the biggest movie mistake since John Travolta discovered Scientology. Still, I'm glad I saw it, as if my social abilities gave me any choice.
Hope you're having some cold ones with your Navy buddies, Dad.
Game 2 was a 12-5 laugher, but only after the Phils exploded for 5 runs in the ninth. Jason Michaels was the star, making a superb diving catch and hitting a 3-run homer to put the game away. Jon Lieber was shaky, but he managed to stay in long enough to get the victory. Just as I had written, Robinson Tejeda was brought into a still undecided game to relieve Lieber, and retired the side in order. So far, so good.
Until game 3. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead into the fifth, and appeared poised to get the sweep with ace Brett Myers firing darts. Then the Braves woke up. After two quick singles, Ryan "Islets of" Langerhans hit a two-run triple to give the Braves a lead they would never relinquish. Tejeda came in in the 7th and gave up his first three runs of the season in the 8th to give the Braves a 7-2 win.
The Phillies have managed to negotiate the last 12 games vs. first or second place teams with a 7-5 record. Now, if they could have played as well against the other teams, they would be in first place themselves, but it never seems to work out that way. We're still 5 games out, still in last place, but this stretch gives us a smidgen of hope. The Braves and Marlins are not great teams, and neither appear to be capable of winning 100 games. This division can be won with a sustained run of good baseball, and with the schedule turning in our favor, the time is now.
Elsewhere in my chronologically challenged life, we went to see Revenge Of The Sith. My one-phrase review: Eh. To expand on that, the second half of the film, where Palpatine has been exposed as Darth Sidious, was excellent. It was fascinating watching Anakin slowly turn into Darth Vader, and to see all the other plot elements fall into alignment for Episode IV. Prior to that, the movie was unrelentingly dull. I think the main problem with Eps I, II, and the first half of III is that there is no established villain, at least not one who is nearly as scary as Vader, who you already know is coming. Count Dooku? Are you kidding me? I mean, the name alone sounds like a waste product. General Grievous is a droid for crying out loud. Like a droid is going to defeat a Jedi. Oh, sorry, I went over-nerd there. And the casting of Natalie Portman has got to be the biggest movie mistake since John Travolta discovered Scientology. Still, I'm glad I saw it, as if my social abilities gave me any choice.
Hope you're having some cold ones with your Navy buddies, Dad.
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