Offense Lethargic In 1-0 Loss
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, April 02, 2008 11:34 PM | Comments: 13
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This time the Phillies got great pitching, but the offense didn’t even show up in a 1-0 loss to the Nationals Wednesday night. The Phils are now 0-2, and are traveling down that same road they traveled down last season, and the season before, and the season before, etc., etc.
Cole Hamels had a great outing, striking out six in eight innings. He gave up five hits and walked one. The only mistake he made was a fastball that Ryan Zimmerman got a hold of and took with the right field wind. It barely cleared the fence.
The performance by the rest of the team, however, is downright inexcusable. An offense like this should never be shut out, let alone only get one hit. You could say Tim Redding threw a great game, but barely threw more than half his pitches for strikes. The offense was forcing the issue early, pulling off and popping up balls. When they finally started striking lines, the Nationals defense had the balls played to a T. Basically, Redding got away with steady pitching, never making mistakes. The Phils weren’t patient enough.
Pedro Feliz got the only hit, a single into left-center field.
There’s not much else to say — it was an absolute shutdown on all facets of the offensive game.
Chad Durbin surrendered a hit but got two outs in the eighth. JC Romero relieved him to pitch to Dmitri Young, and promptly got a one-pitch out.
I assume the Phils will find every way to lose before they get the first win — again.
Posts: 0 chris.I
I think its because the cold weather..I think its the reason we always have a bad april. I know it’s really no excuse, but its something we shouldn’t over look. Thats why alot of ball players choose to stay on the west coast. Anyway it’s only 2 games, no big deal. Hopefully Moyer can get us our first win tomorrow, and make my first trip to the park in 08′ a great one.
Posted: 11:45 PM on April 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
We can still take two from the Nats and split the series.
Here’s to hoping…
Posted: 06:52 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 rob
Teams always look lethargic when they don’t hit, almost by definition.
Is there any way to look energetic when you don’t get to run more than 90 feet, and sometimes not even that?
They’re fine…just had a tough night at the plate.
Posted: 07:51 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Gnom: Series ends today. We can go 1-2. The Reds series is a 4-gamer.
Posted: 08:43 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
You are right on Tim. Swinging way to much at the first pitch, no patience at the plate… I can see getting shutout every now and then, but to be one hit by Tim Redding?!
Posted: 09:55 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike
Paul, do some research – Tim Redding had a 3.1 era going into yesterdays game (even lower now). It’s really no surprise that he held us to one hit. You’d like to think the Phillies offense is out of that rut from last post season, but it appears they are not.
To me it looks like the Phillies will be 0-5 to start. I don’t see Moyer, Kendrick or Eaton getting a win this early.
Posted: 10:57 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 VonHayes
It’s cold in October too.
Posted: 10:58 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Lewisauce
Chris I.: The cold weather can’t even be considered a factor. The team that wins the games plays under the same weather conditions, so there is, literally, an even playing field concerning weather.
The cold didn’t seem to bother the pitchers last night, or the Nats’ offense the night before.
Go Phils.
Posted: 11:08 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 chris.I
I just said it’s something not to over look…But Like I said, I don’t see that being an excuse. I guess I’m just looking for excuses myself for why they lost. Is anyone else going to the game tonight?
Posted: 11:49 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
The cold is probably a small factor. Most guys got under pitches though, signaling the necessity to pull the ball — either that or they were having trouble with Redding’s velocity, which wasn’t really that high anyway.
Posted: 11:58 AM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Sean P.
Does anyone think that between the two games Charlie Manual is at fault for putting Myers #1, Hamels #2 in pitching. Theoretically if Cole was #1 we would have at least one win.
I understand that things may not have happened exactly the same way if Cole was #1, but i don’t care i’m saying it anyway because Cole is the ace on this staff.
Posted: 12:25 PM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Not that it may be a big deal, but Cole isn’t the best daytime pitcher, so he may have fared worse Monday. You can’t blame Manuel for his starting rotation setup. However, after seeing Myers’ head get the best of him, maybe it’s best to keep him out of the spotlight and let Cole carry the load.
Posted: 12:52 PM on April 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Rosco
It seems that there have been more pop ups so far this season then in our enitre playoff run last year…
Stop swinging for the fences boys. Jimmy Rollins season lead off double is the way we will get back to the post season.
Posted: 01:09 PM on April 3, 2008