Gameday: Phillies (2-3) At Reds (3-2)
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, April 06, 2008 11:00 AM | Comments: 4
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Chad Durbin was the goat in a 4-3 loss to the Reds yesterday, but that wasn’t the big story. No, the big story: Adam Eaton has arrived! Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but his 7.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 4 BB performance was one to be optimistic about.
Still, they lost, which means the Phils need to bounce back and mash the Reds today. It’ll be hard — making his first 2008 start is Edinson Volquez, the 24-year-old right-hander who was acquired by Cincinnati from Texas in the Josh Hamilton trade. Volquez, who is nicknamed “Voltron,” brings a mid-90s fastball and devastating changeup, and has been compared to Pedro Martinez. He had a fine 2007 after a rough ’06, and the Reds are very high on him.
It’ll be up to Brett Myers to beat Volquez. Myers had a bad fifth inning on Opening Day, so he needs to get past that and then some. Offensively, Chase Utley has been a first-week star, and Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard are starting to come around.
Phillies: Brett Myers (0-1), 5.40 ERA
Reds: Edinson Volquez (0-0), 0.00 ERA
Gametime: 1:15 p.m.
Weather: 63 degrees, sunny
Lineup: Rollins/Victorino/Utley/Howard/Burrell/Jenkins/Feliz/Ruiz/Myers
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Your gameday beer: In keeping with the “red” theme this weekend, we’re going north — to Lion Brewery — for a real treat: Pocono Lager. Much like Yuengling, its strong, caramel and malt flavor makes for a nice standard lager. You can almost picture being up in the mountains while sipping this one, which I’d suggest with a juicy roast beef and horseradish sandwich.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 Geoff
Brett Myers needs to make the game move at his pace, not at the hitters pace. Although aside form the 2 homers hes been ok so far. Volquez is a good pitcher, what were the rangers thinking?
Posted: 02:21 PM on April 6, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
now its getting ugly. missed assignments, errors, striking out to jerramy affeldt, clay condrey.
Posted: 03:17 PM on April 6, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
Ouch… Condrey can’t get an out.
Why do I get the feeling it’s going to be another BAD April?
Posted: 03:25 PM on April 6, 2008
Posts: 0 OZ
Good news: Lidge looked dead-on and comfortable against the heart of Cincy’s lineup.
Good news II: Utley continues to swing the bat well.
Now, before I switch gears, let’s remember that the REds’ young pithcer, whose names I’ve convenienty forgotten already, looked great thru 6 innings, owned the inside corner (great pitches) and threw strikes…
Bad news: Mental mistake – Victorino gettting called out for running INSIDE the basepath. With his speed, he should just concentrate on running it out. Got in the way of the throw, correctly called out and cost us a run if things follwed suit (Utley would have knocked him in with that double)
Bad news II: More head not in the game crap – Ruiz nearly forgetting to get to third base on that bunt AND neither Utley nor Rollins covering 2nd allowing a single to turn into a stand-up double as Victorino had no one to throw to…
Bad news III: Howard’s glove – almost cost us a hit in the infield today.
Bad news IV: Condrey is back to his old self and like his teammates had a mental lapse, hesitating on that first-base line bunt, then failing to get a good toss to Howard.
Other thoughts (cause that list could keep going):
I’m not concerned about Myers, but he better wake the f*** up. He’s our ace and has revereted (mentally) to his 24 yr. old version. Only April, but he’s cost us two games out of the gate.
Spring training once again proves nothing – see Myers, Ruiz, Condrey.
Not much upside left award – Ruiz and Victorino will hit better, but I see them both being significantly less productive than our 4 big bats. With Jenkins and Feliz untested in Philly, the offense gets “tabled” on judgment for another two weeks or so.
Lastly, (and thanks fellas – I’m clearly venting): why Manuel didn’t do the intentional walk on Sat., Reds on 2nd & 3rd with 1 out is inexpicable. I dont’ care what “good, young hitter” was on deck. You have to give yourself the option of the force out at home…
Grrrrr. It’s ONLY April, It’s ONLY April, etc. etc.
Posted: 05:18 PM on April 6, 2008