This One Got Uggla Real Quick
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, June 12, 2008 09:37 AM | Comments: 21
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In what we can call the worst loss of the year, the Phils continued to lose their grip on first place with a 6-2 loss to the Marlins. The last four runs came at once, a 2-out, ninth inning grand slam by Dan Uggla, breaking the tie, winning the game, sending Tom Gordon’s ERA back over 5.00 and pushing the Fish closer to the Phils.
This one was a real shame, considering Cole Hamels’ spectacular performance. He struck out 13 in eight innings, giving up only three hits and two earned runs (both Jorge Cantu home runs). Hamels was fantastic, and yet again nothing helped him get the win.
The offense sputtered against a dealing Andrew Miller. Give credit to the youngster, who really pitched well. The Phils mustered two runs thanks to two Chase Utley RBIs (a single and a groundout Utley legged out to keep the game alive). Eric Bruntlett also became a key player, stealing third base after pinch running for Greg Dobbs.
In that ninth the bases became loaded, and in one of the most bonehead ideas I’ve ever seen, Jayson Werth laid down a squeeze attempt. Horrible. Werth is the most patient hitter on the team. He can hit for power and can be relied on for an extra-base hit. Moreover, Kevin Gregg wasn’t exactly throwing strikes — he actually hit Pat Burrell on one pitch right before Werth came up. And they go for a bunt?
The move cost them dearly. Instead of a run scoring and Brad Lidge coming in for the bottom, Gordon had to work against the Fish. He didn’t have it. At all. After walking Wes Helms it should’ve been inevitable. Uggla rocked it. And he rocked the Phils’ world in an absolutely horrible loss.
Associated Press photo
Posts: 0 Geoff
this is something ai noticed about the marlins…other than the haul they got from the willis-cabrera trade, many of these guys were like DFA’s or Rule 5′s (uggla) or flat out thrown out by other teams. thats a pretty impressive coaching/scouting job.
HOWEVER, it doesnt mean they should be able to do this to the phillies. the phillies need to humiliate this team today AND go out of their way to do it.
Posted: 09:40 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
this was the worst loss of the season BY FAR in my opinion. it was a close game, but they made some unforgiveable strategic and boneheaded mistakes that cost them the game. that was a playoff level of intensity last night and they came up lame in crunch time.
Posted: 09:42 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I agree Geoff. Most heart breaking loss of the season. If I was Hamels I’d be flipping out on them for all of the close games that get lost because they can’t fucking hit shit. We knocked that Miller guy around last time we faced him. Olsen is their ace…let’s see how we go up against him.
Posted: 09:46 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
The Florida scouts are brilliant. It’s another one of these cases where a franchise can’t afford to keep there guys around for much longer (exception, Hanley). Great scouts, little money. Who does this remind you of?
Posted: 09:46 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Re-posting this for the new thread:
I’m glad to note it’s only June. While we can’t get overconfident with a four-game lead, we can’t go bezerk with two straight losses. Yeah this loss was bad, but I think the team knows its problems (need one more starter, insurance for the ‘pen and more patient at bats). These aren’t huge holes to fill by any means, and for the love of God, THEY ARE A GOOD TEAM.
One thing that struck me listening to the Marlins broadcast was Charlie Manuel was asked how they got two nights off in S. Florida (Sunday, Monday). Manuel said they didn’t need it.
Now, the two nights off could’ve messed with their hot hitting; moreover, they likely partied it up in S. Florida. How much would that play into their game? Who knows, maybe a little.
Posted: 09:47 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
also, it really creeps me out how similar andrew miller is to cole hamels.
Posted: 09:54 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 griffin
This loss is definitely in the top 3 in terms of worst losses of the year. The extra inning loss at Shea with the Reyes play at the plate really hurt. The Pedro Feliz getting thrown out at the plate in Houston to end the game sucked (though the Phils got that one back against the Braves last Saturday) and the Sunday afternoon loss to the Blue Jays in the double rain delay where the Jays brought in Halladay and played the game as if it were game 7 of the world series.
But this one sucked. I have a terrible feeling we’re getting swept tonignt. At least the Cardinals don’t have Wainwright or Pujols this weekend. I hate Scott Olsen, so hopefully we’ll kick him around a bit.
Posted: 10:03 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Gordon sucks balls..
Posted: 10:05 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 nicculus
Tom Gordon should not have been pitching to Uggla after walking the 2 previous batters. I don’t think he even through a strike to Wes Helms. He couldn’t have thrown a worse pitch to Uggula… 3-1 and you throw a high fast ball – OF COURSE he’s gonna crush it!
Posted: 10:28 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Eric
The game was lost when Werth decided to bunt with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. Are you serious?! Gordon should have never been put in that situation, though he did implode. I agree with Charlie though, that the pen will have a bad game here and there. Its not the end of the world, only June. Either way, Werth should get beat for that bonehead move.
Posted: 10:30 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
No one can tell me they’re confident going into this St. Louis series.
Kendrick vs. Lohse (7-2, 3.92)
Eaton vs. Wellemeyer (7-1, 2.93)
Myers vs. Boggs (1-0, 3.86)
Time to start worrying about this division lead.
Posted: 10:54 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
We could lose the division lead and I still wouldn’t be worried.
Posted: 11:06 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Eric: Gordon was the right move in the ninth. You bring in your setup man in a tie game on the road. In the 10th you go to Romero if it’s tied. In the 11th you go to the long man if it’s tied. Lidge comes out when you get the lead and need the save.
Posted: 11:09 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 EastFallowfield
My nominee for worst loss of the year is still opening day.
Posted: 11:26 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 chris m
tim, im pretty sure it was only one out… in the article it says two
Posted: 11:41 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Robbi P
I still feel that Charlie shouldve taken out Gordon after he walked Hanley on four pitches. If not then, then after he started to not his the strike zone against Hermida. I had a feeling that Gordon didn’t have it today and I think Charlie should have realized this since he is getting paid to do these things and im just a bum on a couch. Take out Gordon bring in someone else who can throw strikes. I’d rather have gotten beaten by throwing strikes then by throwing balls. We need another bullpen arm badly and I hope this is the turning point for Gillick and Co. to start agressively going after someone. Knowing the Phillies we need to win as many games as possible cause the 100 Billion dollar Mets are goign to probably turn it around and the Braves are getting better so we need to win these games. Not to mention we need a cushion before interleague play and the LA Angles and BoSox come to town. It seems everytime the Phillies play the BoSox they get swept. Lets go Phillies!
Posted: 11:49 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Nicculus… it’s obvious that Gordon was not sharp and should have been pull before facing Uggla. You said …”He couldn’t have thrown a worse pitch to Uggula… 3-1 and you throw a high fast ball – OF COURSE he’s gonna crush it!”. Well, Gordon not having command of his breaking pitch and the bases loaded, had no choice BUT to attempt to overpower Uggla with a fastball. The rest is sad history.
Even though the game was tied at that moment, I wonder if Lidge was not used for another reason. Is it possible that Manuel wanted Lidge to have the night off after three consecutive relief appearances in Atlanta this past weekend?
Unfortunately, Hamels had no success against the hot Jorge “can-do” Cantu. Since last Wednesday, he was hitting .478 with 4 HRs & 9 RBIs before last night’s game. he has become the newest Phillies “killer” with a career .412 BA (14 for 34) and 5 HRs & 9 RBIs.
As a matter of fact, Florida as a team lead all of baseball with 101 HRs. They are among leaders in a number of offensive categories. So it’s no fluke that they are contenders. They will not go gently into that good night and are here to stay for the division race.
I had wondered if it was Manuel or Werth’s decision for that ill advised bunt attempt with two outs and bases loaded. It had to be a PERFECT bunt or the game is over. Tim’s latest blog answered that question.
Posted: 11:49 AM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Well the phillies seem to do better against other teams than florida does. so im not worried about them losing the division lead in june because of a littele skid. however, they really need to wake up. theres some people on this team who are SO full of themselves. ryan howard, jimmy, shane victorino, myers. theyll still win the division because there are so many bad teams in the nl and even the teams that give them trouble in the division are worse outside of the division.
they coast through bad teams but when they face good pitching, sans myers, they come up small. ruiz just looks feeble out there. i think almost anybody could do a better job than him at the plate.
the problem that prevents them from being dominant is a lack of consistent focus at the plate and a lack of pitching depth and quality ALL AROUND. sure, they are a good team. but thats not good enough for a city that demands a championship caliber approach night in and night out. in professional baseball, you have to be at your very best all the time or else you can go from being an MVP to being garbage overnight
Posted: 12:09 PM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
Exactly. You think Howard is in the batting cages right now? Doubt it.
Posted: 12:37 PM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
I get upset mainly because theres so many players with great talent, some who are really great players. this team has the potential to be on eof the great teams of the decade or the past 20 years, yet they do stupid things either as an organization from the front office or on the field that jeopardize taht possibility and have ALREADY cost us several playoff appearances in years past. this is probably the last year of this group of players. burrell, howard, and some others like moyer and gordon may or may not be here. so the organization will have to reload and secure themselves for the future in the offseason.
now is the time for this group to culminate their time together and make it worth remembering by winning a championship. there should be no styone left unturned and no effort not exerted by everyone in this organization to do what is needed to win a championship THIS year
Posted: 02:01 PM on June 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Affiliate
Affiliate Crunch…
Making money with this article is easier than I thought….
Posted: 02:31 PM on January 14, 2010