OK, Now Ryno Is Back: Phils Win 3-2
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, May 02, 2008 08:10 AM | Comments: 15
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In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan Howard stepped to the plate and absolutely hammered a Joe Thatcher pitch into the deep right field stands, giving a lucky Manhattanite a nice souvenir and the Phillies the lead, which they would hold. The win: 3-2.
Howard also struck an RBI double to left field in the third inning, scoring Shane Victorino, who also doubled. After Howard, Burrell doubled, scoring Howard.
Yes, now we can say Ryan Howard is back. He’s been striking the ball much better lately, and hasn’t struck out as frequently (he did strike out last night, but let’s be optimistic). His arrival is key – if Chase Utley can remain consistent and Burrell can remain warm, this lineup is potent as hell.
Howard’s homer gave Tom Gordon the victory. He pitched the eighth as the bullpen shut it down again. Brad Lidge had a masterful save. JC Romero finished a seventh inning started by Ryan Madson. Adam Eaton went six innings, surrendering a two-run Adrian Gonzalez homer in the first inning and trudging/skating through the others for a line of 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K. He didn’t quite match the start by former Phillie Randy Wolf, who struck out nine in six frames.
Oh yeah, with the win the Phils are 16-13 and, yup, are all alone in first place in the National League East. Last year it took them 160 games. This year: 29.
Associated Press photo
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Note: That Manhattanite I alluded to is a good friend of mine who informed me last night he caught Howard’s winning blast. Spread the joy.
Posted: 08:13 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Eaton needed a good bounce back start after the pirates got to him in the last start. i recall the phillies talking about signing randy wolf in the winter, and he wanted no part of this ballpark. the phillies do need to add more to the roatation or else they wont be over .500 for very long. moyer is what he is and its not what a world series team needs. the big problem, even more than moyer now that howard is back, is brett myers. a few more bad outings in a row and ill have seen enough and will be calling for him to be traded or (more likely) for him to be moved so he can close for some other team which is what he wants to do anyway. thered better be another starter coming back in return though.
Posted: 08:23 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Rick
I think the Phils will make a move to bolster the rotation before the trade deadline.
I suspect that Myers straightens things out the next few weeks and doubt he will be involved. Hopefully, he will start working with Rich Dubee’s coaching instead of disregarding it.
It is encouraging that the Phils have a good record so far considering the mediocre performances by 3/5 starters and Ryan’s struggles. Ryan is turning the corner though and Eaton has shown some serious perseverance after last year’s struggles. I think the way Adam has pitched better this year so far shows that he has strong character.
Posted: 09:47 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Clare
Haha yeah, I was like “Wow how did he know that!? I guess it was mentioned somewhere…”
But anyway…we’re in first!
Posted: 11:25 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
This first month has proved how a great bullpen can carry a team as much as great hitting or great SP.
We all said Flash was done. You gotta love his grit no matter what. He’s a tough embre. Lets hope we can put some stuff together and go on a roll.
Brett Myers has to get his head out of his ass.
Posted: 11:37 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Joe DiMaggio
We didn’t all say that Gordon was done but unbelievable how so many were ready to throw him out of the boat after one week of the season or so.
Our bullpen now appears to be one of our strengths with Romero/Gordon/Lidge plus others that have stepped up so far.
We need to have the same patience with Myers that we needed with Gordon as Myers is far from finished as a starting pitcher at his age.
I still don’t understand why Burrell is not hitting cleanup with Howard hitting behind him to give a lefty-righty-lefty lineup of Utley-Burrell-Howard.
Posted: 11:56 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
I will admit I was wrong about Gordon. He may be close to the end but hes definitely not done yet. He has rebounded well. Check out this: rudy seanez has an ERA of less than 1. Brad Lidge and JC Romero have ERA’s of ZERO!!!! nice job by the back end of that bullpen i hope they can keep it up. I think the phils will add another rotation arm by the deadline as well, and i think it will be a 2 or a 3 starter. i think they may try and plug the hole with a 5 starter if they have to, and theyre hoping benson can be the guy there but if not theyll bring somebody up to plug the gap i think. moving chad burdin to the rotation is also possible but i prefer him in his sort of utility bullpen role now, i think he excels in this role. fabio castro or JA Happ would probably be the first rotation arms to get called up. myers will be out of the rotation if he doesnt get his head right. i thought moyer or eaton or kendrick would be the first guy out of the rotation but it could be myers. hes only had one really dominating performance against houston.
Posted: 11:57 AM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett are both free agents in 2009. I think they could be two possibilities come tread-deadline time, although it’s way too early to call.
Posted: 12:09 PM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
derek lowe would be a nice addition. id shy away from burnett. lowe has been solid but he is 34. i agree that its still way too early. most teams need to make emergency acquisitions at this stage of the season to plug holes from injuries. joe blanton will move, javier vasquez may move. sabathia might even move if the yankees get desperate enough but thats insane. sabathia is way overvalued. sure, hes a cy young guy but hes getting absurd money in free agency. he also came up very small against the red sox in the ALCS.
Posted: 12:56 PM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Tim Malcolm
The key to the pen is Chad Durbin, who has been able to morph into any role, and successfully. Ryan Madson’s struggles are hidden under the table because of Durbin’s great work.
Posted: 01:08 PM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
I agree on those guys – they’ll all most likely be moved, even Sabathia. I was trying to throw some names out that haven’t really bean mentioned. Burnett is bound to get injured at some point – but I think he’d be a cheap snag near the deadline.
Posted: 01:12 PM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Burnett would be ok but his ability to get injured scares me. lowe would be good for a stretch run and a playoff run, but id only offer him 2-3 years in the offseason. chad durbin has done whatever theyve asked him to do for the betterment of the team and for the most part he has done a solid job, you have to appreciate someone like that and i want someone like that on my team at all times.
with sabathia..theres one thing guaranteed in any professional sport. if theres a guy people think will get moved, someone will get desperate enough and cough up the money to grab them at the trade deadline. it every season in every sport. someone gets desperate and gives up waaaaay too much for somebody. somebody is going to cough up enough to land chad johnson because theyre that desperate. somebody will cough up enough to land sabathia.
Posted: 01:38 PM on May 2, 2008
Posts: 0 ryan
i think victorino should be playin everyday in right field. and when they genkins is in the lineup he could get a blow or play center. but shane has one of the best right field arms in the game. he’s very valuable there. he can save many runs out there. werth could play left center and shane’s speed could cover right and right center easily allowing werth to help burrell cover left center. i think that could make one of the best defensive outfields in the game despite burrell’s slowness
Posted: 08:12 PM on May 2, 2008
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