Gamenight: Marlins (30-23) At Phillies (32-24)
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, May 31, 2008 05:57 PM | Comments: 20
Posts
The Phillies breezed into first place in the NL East with a 12-3 clubbing of the Marlins yesterday. Chase Utley nailed his world-leading 18th home run, Ryan Howard added his 15th, and Chris Coste socked his fifth. But hogging the spotlight was Brett Myers, who pitched a splendid eight-inning, 11 strikeout performance.
Now Cole Hamels gets the ball and will try to subdue the Marlins offense. He’ll have to face Hanley Ramirez, who is in the lineup despite a bruised thumb after being struck by a Shane Victorino rope.
The scorching offense will go up against Ricky Nolasco, the 25-year-old righty who has a 6.04 ERA against left-handed hitters. I’m hoping we get a good night from Geoff Jenkins, who has been heating up as of late.
Storms are occurring all day in Philadelphia.
Phillies: Cole Hamels (5-3) 3.18 ERA
Marlins: Ricky Nolasco (4-3) 4.70 ERA
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EST
Weather: 76 degrees, possible storms
Lineup: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Jenkins, Feliz, Ruiz, Hamels
MLB TV
MLB Gameday Audio
MLB Gameday
Your gamenight beer: Pick up a Stoudt’s American Pale Ale tonight. Easy to drink, it has a light, crisp taste, like most pale ales. I have to say, after the Belgian white, the pale ale might be my favorite style of beer. While I’m inclined to India pales, Americans are also very refreshing. Have a pulled pork sandwich with it, another good American taste.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Watching the Mets/Dodgers game. I love it when Mets fans are screaming along with “Jose-Jose-Jose-Jose” and on a 2-0 count with RISP, Reyes pops one up in foul territory.
Posted: 06:03 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike W.
So, the day after Coste delivers a momentum shifting 3-R HR and coaxes Myers into pitching a gem, Ruiz plays. F U Manuel, F U.
Posted: 06:12 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 NC Jason
Manuel has shit for brains. No can justify not playing Coste – I do not get it. And sooner or later from alck of playing time both catchers (and Dobbs for that matter) will go cold and Manuel will really look stupid.
Posted: 06:21 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Man, the crowd is hot tonight. Utley and Burrell had them going. Vic continues to play awesome baseball.
Posted: 07:55 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 Matt
Even in the starts where Cole has been lights out, he’s got to learn how to get outs throwing fewer pitches. It’s going to catch up to him later in the year. His stuff is too good that he doesn’t need to paint every pitch.
Posted: 08:26 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 Alan
Ouch Cole!
Posted: 08:44 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 big c
why is coste not in the linup this is bullshit
Posted: 09:10 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 Chris L
For the same reason Dobbs isn’t apparently…
Posted: 09:17 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 Scott
why doest the “stoudt’s” link take me to MLB.com?
Posted: 10:23 PM on May 31, 2008
Posts: 0 Lewisauce
On the bright side, Coste will start Sunday.
Hamels gets a pass. I’d rather he hit a rough patch now than in August or September.
I’m loathe to say it, but the offense gets a pass as well. Their ridiculously wonderful production had to cool sometime.
Sunday is a must win. Must. Cross your fingers for Moyer’s sake.
Posted: 05:42 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Matt
Lewisauce – You’re nuts. Sunday is not a must win game.
Posted: 07:08 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Mark
I agree about the “Must” game on Sunday. The Phils MUST take 2 of 3 from the Marlins!
Posted: 08:36 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike W.
Ha, there is absolutely no circumstance under which today’s game is a must win. Moyer has never lost to the Marlins. National TV too! dont have to watch on the laptop.
Posted: 10:05 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Lewisauce
It’s a “must” because, as Mark says, we MUST take two of three from the Marlins. Losing this series to the first-place team is not acceptable at any point in the season.
Posted: 10:17 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 rob
Mark – Are you aware that the Marlins are going to finish in 4th place?
Posted: 10:19 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Matt
Look I agree that the Phillies should win this game, it’s important for them to make a statement that they are in control of this division.
But to say this is a must win game in May, when at worst, they’ll be 1.5 games out of first place tomorrow morning, is an over-reaction.
Posted: 10:20 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Doug
Saturday night’s loss to the fish hard to watch. Ricky Nolasco?! Come on! His ERA is well over 4. I know Hamels didn’t pitch one of his better games, but the fightin’s should have feasted on that junk-balling Nolasco, even though the Phils hitters thrive on fast balls. And Luis Gonzalez (is he still in baseball??) taking what looked like a half swing and homering off Hamels? Maybe he’s still on the “juice”. Enough on last night. Let’s put the hammer down Sunday and reclaim 1st place.
Posted: 10:32 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I do think it’s a must win. You need to show the Marlins who the team to beat is. You have to destroy their confidence. They’ve been on a tear the 1st 2 months of baseball, if the Phillies(and the Mets did it too their last series) can show the Marlins that they are pieces of trash in the east and have just been getting lucky, then maybe they’ll cool down. I think they have a lot of potential and you can’t rule them out to be contenders.
Posted: 10:57 AM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Matt, you took the words right out of my mouth. I agree with everything you said . It’s just the wrong choice of word(s) for Lewisauce in evaluating today’s game. Important to win today but a “must” in May??
The Phillies will have TWELVE more games with Florida after today. If, and that’s a big IF, the marlins are still in contention come August and September, there will be three home games against Florida in each of those two remaining months. Then you can freely use the word “must” if you so desire. Personally, I look at it as MORE important than the previous series as the season winds down. I think there will be a greater concern with teams like the Mets and Braves come September.
Posted: 01:23 PM on June 1, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
cole hamels doesnt get a pass. the last start you can give him a pass but not saturday night. two bad ones in a row.
Posted: 03:28 PM on June 1, 2008