Comments on: Oswalt, Bourn Beat Punchless Phillies

By: Gavin

Gavin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:00:31 +0000

I agree with Julie…..defense is easy to fix…..fix it.

I also agree with Joe Dimaggio…..big time.

The Phils offense will improve….over the long haul with Burrell b/n Howard and Utley. He was moved before when he struggled. Now that he’s back to playing well, put him inbetwen them. His walks by themselves should produce an extar oppurtunity or 3 for Howard every game, plus teams MIGHT think twice about bringing in their LOOGY to face Utley-Burrell-Howard. Seems like common sense.

By: Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:15:04 +0000

Phils need to place Burrell in front of Howard in the lineup. First reason is that Burrell gets on base and Howard will hit home runs behind him in the lineup. Burrell’s walks do less good as you approach the bottom of the lineup and Burrell will get more hits hitting in front of Howard as he will get more pitches to hit.

Second reason is to insert a right handed hitter between the two lefties in Utley and Howard to make it tougher for opposing teams to bring in a lefty to face back to back lefties.

This seems like a no-brainer to me and don’t understand why Charlie would be hung up on Howard hitting fourth vs fifth. Howard chases bad pitches and Burrell doesn’t which would force pitchers to pitch to Burrell or risk putting him on base in front of Howard. With Feliz now hitting sixth or Werth, it won’t be easy for pitchers to walk Howard either.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:55:24 +0000

Agreed 100 percent. It is likely that if this team loses rollins for two months for reaggravating something that shouldve been healed by a stint on the 15 day DL, they will fail to make the playoffs. And taht would be totally inexcuseable. They would HAVE to trade for someone to fill that hole in the infield for his absence then like they did with iguchi last year and it would create a big mess. Better to let him heal up and eat a few games now then have to go into panic mode in a month.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:33:10 +0000

I think a good point was made. The Phils should have put Rollins on the DL. In fact… I still don’t think it’s a bad idea to put him on the 15 day now and really let him heal up.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:27:53 +0000

Yes it would be. Establihing themselves over the mets early is of paramount importance. Because I am a stickler for pitching, perhaps to the point of obsession, its really irritates me to see good starts wasted. I dont think they have enough pitching, so when you see the back of the rotation guys perform well and not get the win its bothersome. When this offense cant score more than one run thats a serious problem. Charlie needs to settle them down, he is a hitting coach after all.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:42:25 +0000

The Phillies aren’t the only ones that need to be patient. They’ll get it together soon enough so that the pitching and hitting is in sync. All things considered, this hasn’t been the worst start they’ve had – especially in the last couple years.

However, if we want to complain, let’s complain about the defense. Hits will come, but all the errors are unacceptable. Hopefully, they’re working out all the kinks from spring training. With the Mets and Rockies coming up, this week would be a great time to start turning things around…

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:30:19 +0000

Theyll wake up for one of the mets games at least. ryan howard needs to wake up and stop jawing at the umpire, im starting to want him to be moved as soon as he returns to form. As soon as his value reaches the point you need it to be at, bam, pull the trigger and get him outta here. will they please get somebody in that lineup who waits on the ball night in and night out, i mean a real patient hitter.

By: Mike T

Mike T — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:34:01 +0000

We’re going to get swept this weekend – I can smell it.

By: » Oswalt Outduels Kendrick, Astros Edge Phillies | Blogging-Baseball.com

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:46:23 +0000

[...] Phillies Nation’s Tim Malcolm sums up Kendrick’s fine performance; They wasted a great outing by Kyle Kendrick, who finally looked like his 2007 self. He threw 96 pitches, getting 10 ground outs and five strikeouts. He surrendered two runs and four hits, lowering his ERA to a respectable 4.40. [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:15:07 +0000

When do we see some sustained, hitterish offense rather than on-again, off-again Finnegan?

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:12:27 +0000

Ed Wade Has a Grin Like a Cheshire Cat. ;-)

Houston’s GM Wade must be quite please with tonight’s performance of
Michael Bourn as he tormented his former team scoring all two runs (in
a 2-1 win); had 2 hits including a HR (his 2nd) and adding another
stolen base to his league leading total of NINE.

The Phillies without Victorino must be feeling a bit wistful about
Bourn. ;-)

As stated in TM’s blog, the one silver lining in the ominous dark clouds hovering over the team is the pitching performance of Kyle Kendrick tonight. There’s hope for him after all.

On hindsight, Rollins probably should have been on the DL. Ankle injury can be “tricky” as Rollins said. Recovery is hard to predict for each individual. His lateral movement (right to left) is not 100%. Let’s hope he is ready to play against the Mets in the upcoming series.

You’re right about a need for another bench player considering what had transpired this past week. When Manuel had used Hamels as pinch hitter and runner in a recent game and exposing his best pitcher to possible injury… well, you get the picture.

I’m not so sure So Taguchi would be better than Jenkins in the line-up?
I get the impression Taguchi is a free swinger without patience. I still like the line-up someone suggested here earlier until Rollins returns…..
Werth, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Jenkins, Felix, Ruiz, Bruntlett and pitcher.