Gameday: Pirates (53-63) at Phillies (63-53)
Posted by Brian Michael, Sun, August 10, 2008 12:53 PM | Comments: 381
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This Sunday afternoon rubber match between Philly and the ‘Burgh has the Pirates looking to win their first series in Citizens Bank since it opened in 2004. JRoll is coming off a 4-for-4 night as the Phils got it done last night without need for the long ball. A homer or two today wouldn’t hurt as the Buccos have scored 2 runs or less in their last four games.
Where’s the Beef?: Speaking of which, Pat Burrell has just two hits in his last 24 at-bats (.083), Ryan Howard is 1-for-11 (.091) since Thursday, and Chase Utley is hitless in his last 10 at-bats (.000 for those that flunked decimals).
Double Dip: The Pirates have turned 17 double plays in their last 8 games and rank first in the league by turning-two 129 times.
Off to a Good Start: In the Phillies last 15 games (9-6) the starters have posted a 2.52 ERA with 11 quality starts while holding opposing batters to a .224 average.
Phillies: Jamie Moyer (10-7) 3.78 ERA
Pirates: Jason Davis (4-8) 2.57 ERA
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EST
Weather: 69, cloudy with chance of t-storms
Lineup: Rollins/Victorino/Utley/Howard/Werth/Jenkins/Bruntlett/Moyer
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Your gamenight beer: Today we’re looking for something easy – easy like a Sunday morning – so we’re going with Sunset Wheat from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in Wisconsin. This summery brew is Belgian Wit in style, but brewed with a lager yeast strain and a top-note of blueberry added. It’s a little on the sweet-side, so you can’t drink too many. Have it with some leftover pizza.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 Ben
is durbin available? cause madson and walrond is frightening
Posted: 05:52 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Oh shit. “Two-Run” Madson is warming up for the 9th.
Posted: 05:53 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I hope Bruntlett hits an RBI single right here to shove it back in your face.
Posted: 05:53 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
ha, jenkins found a way to pull a ball to 2nd base on the ground on a pitch at his eyes, good thing werth was running
Posted: 05:54 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Keith
well thank god they ran werth cuz that would have been a double play
Posted: 05:54 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Ben, frightening is an understatement. AT least it’s a 2 run lead. Lidge is out with a “sluggish” shoulder that needs a couple days rest, and Durbin has pitched a lot this last week so I imagine they want to give him a day off as well.
Posted: 05:55 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
i will give bruntlett one thing, his blonde beard is pretty sweet
Posted: 05:56 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
At least he can’t hit into a DP here again. Oh, and Ben, if you want more details on the Lidge situation, you’ll have to sift through the “Bruntlett is a better starter than Dobbs” horseshit that Phil and Geoff have been spewing all day.
Posted: 05:56 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
haha, i’m staying out of that conversation
Posted: 05:57 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
SWEET!
Posted: 05:57 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 R.Mac
GD i wish he could hit
Posted: 05:57 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Nice job, Eric. Way to bring ‘em home. You were saying, Phil? :)
Posted: 05:57 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Bruntlett is a better starter than Dobbs because Dobbs is a pinch hitter not a starter.
Posted: 05:58 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
And Ruiz continues his .1000 OBP!!!
Posted: 05:59 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Bruntlett isn’t a flippin starter either! He’s worse than Dobbs…he’s just a pinch runner – not even a pinch hitter! However, when he starts, he has this mystical power than elevates his game to the point that the prick should be leading off, or hitting out of the 3 hole.
Posted: 05:59 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
OK, boys, let’s compromise-let Dobbs start the next series and go from there??
Posted: 06:00 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Where’s Abe Nunez when you need him? Tomas Perez was here yesterday, maybe he should shed some light here.
Posted: 06:01 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
I’m okay with Bruntlett starting some games against LHP, but Dobbs has to be in there against RHP. Period.
Posted: 06:02 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Bruntlett isn’t a pinch hitter, he’s a utility player/defensive replacement. He’s there if there’s an injury, that’s about it. He can play any defensive position.
Posted: 06:02 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Keith
this hansen guy is such a cocky douche bag
Posted: 06:03 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
Since when is Burrell the one who needs a mental break?
Posted: 06:03 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
the arrogant ump isnt much better
Posted: 06:03 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Burrell hasn’t been hitting lately and his avg has dropped significantly lately.
Posted: 06:04 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Keith
yea i know but this guys demeanor on the mound he thinks he is like roger clemens or something and he has never done anything yet
Posted: 06:05 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
its so frustrating when someone doesnt understand something thats SO SIMPLE.
if greg dobbs was a good hitter as starter he would ALREADY have been a starter for years!!! he is 30 years old. a career bench player. when he becomes a starter his numbers go down, and when bruntlett starts his numbers go up, slightly. he is not the same hitter as a starter than when he is a pinch hitter.
weve been through this argument before. hes a backup, bench/utility/role player. hes really shaky as a fielder so hes only really a pinch hitter. bruntlett is WAY better in the field than dobbs.
Posted: 06:05 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Damn, we could have used 3 more runs for Madson. Oh well, let’s see what happens. At least I feel a little more confident in him than Aaron Heilman or any of the Mets relievers.
Posted: 06:06 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Geoff, I’ll tell you what’s frustrating…someone who argues with people saying they don’t understand something when they themselves don’t even understand what the argument is about. Who’s a better hitter? Dobbs or Bruntlett. Simple. Dobbs. You are basing your senseless bullshit off of 81 at bats this season, not career. If you read the posts above, you’ll see that I never said he is a *starter*, I said when your starter is down, he makes a better starter than Bruntlett. When you say he’s a “really shaky” fielder, throw me some stats to suggest it. I’ve already looked his numbers up as compared to Bruntlett, and I didn’t see that. I just want to know where you’re getting your stuff from.
Posted: 06:10 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Geoff, I sometimes wonder if these people watch the same game us.
Posted: 06:11 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 CT
Let’s give the Ashburn to Ruiz!
Posted: 06:11 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Eli
Great Game!
Posted: 06:12 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Keith
lets lead ruiz off next game (joking of course)
Posted: 06:12 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I hope Ruiz turns it around now the rest of the season. He was good last year. If he can hit .260 he’d be a good bench catcher for Marson next year.
Posted: 06:14 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
but dobbs is not a better hitter WHEN HE GETS MORE AT BATS. i know, phil. its insane. hes a TERRIBLE hitter when he plays everyday, TERRIBLE
Posted: 06:14 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
lol…you guys are too much. But it sure is fun debating the obvious with you!
Posted: 06:20 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Yeah, it’s pretty much been that way all year. I love how noone will accept it though because they can’t tell the difference between his pinch hits and the hits he gets when he starts.
Posted: 06:21 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
It’s not obvious at all or even debatable Jamie. Are you calling the guy who runs this board a moron too? He wrote an article about it. I guess he’s dumb. Since he’s dumb stop posting here asshole.
Posted: 06:22 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
what a sorry series. this team is in trouble against any team above 500 and any team with decent LH pitching.
Posted: 06:27 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
I like our matchups for the LA series:
Game 1: Kendrick (10-5, 4.37) v. Lowe (8-10, 4.10)
Game 2: Hamels (9-8, 3.35) v. Kershaw (2-3, 3.71)
Game 3: Blanton (6-12, 4.71; 1-0, 3.27 w/PHI) v. Penny (6-9, 5.66)
Game 4: Myers (5-9, 5.09) v. Kuroda (6-8, 4.02)
Posted: 06:29 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Mickey D
Blunt-let and Ruiz need to get it going. Against the NL West is a good place to start.
Posted: 06:31 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
When does Feliz come back? Any word? He would be good to have against the NL West since he knows those pitchers so well.
Posted: 06:32 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Phil, my my my what harsh words. “Stop posting here asshole.” Those are intelligent grown-up words designed for Mets fans. And just because Tim posted it and runs the board, it doesn’t mean it’s gospel. It means that’s his opinion. Just like his opinion (or maybe it was Brian, I’m not sure) that said that Blanton wasn’t a good pickup. Maybe it won’t be, but he’s looked good the last two outings so we’ll see. Point is, this is America, and opinions are like assholes – everybody’s got one. Just because someone expresses theirs doesn’t mean they are one – acting like your voice is the only one that matters makes you the asshole here, my friend.
Posted: 06:34 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyFriar
Nice to have a little discussion going on this, and sorry I stepped out for awhile.
Phil: to claim this is not even debatable is ludicrous. We all know Dobbs’ numbers aren’t as good when he starts, but Geoff is basing his argument off of a ridiculously small sample size. Dobbs is quite simply a better hitter than Bruntlett, and has been over the course of his career, so when the offense is struggling to score runs, don’t you think it’s better to have the better hitter in the lineup? Isn’t that (slightly simplified) view of things not even debatable? And there’s really no need for that kind of language; we’re all on the same side here.
And Geoff: please respond to Jamie’s point about the sample size if we’re all going to continue to debate here. If not, then no big deal, but you haven’t addressed that point yet in any of your follow-ups.
Posted: 06:35 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Jamie: I’m backing this up with factual information, so it’s not an opinion anymore. I disagree with things Tim says, but not something he backs up with facts. It’s not even worth arguing anymore.
Phillyfriar: asshole. Like my language? We live in the Philadelphia region of this country. If you can’t take the language then you should move to the mid west or some shit.
Posted: 06:38 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
Its a valid arguement for both sides…..can we all agree that we all need Feliz back ASAP?
Posted: 06:39 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
phillyfriar and jamie: geoff is right. no need to continue the argument. you’re both just confused or overly tired – take a nap or something.
Posted: 06:40 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Mickey D
We need Feliz back on 3rd, no argument here! Not only is Bluntless hit and miss at the plate, his glove is over-rated.
Posted: 06:41 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I knew Mike T. would agree with Geoff and I too.
Gavin: Agreed.
Posted: 06:41 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyFriar
Gavin: haha who’d have ever thought we’d say that? But completely agreed; Feliz back would solve this entire dilemna.
Phil: take it easy there, champ. I was just pointing out that “Stop posting here asshole” isn’t really the nicest thing you can say to someone. Obviously you’re not above that sort of thing, but many of us try to be, so please consider that. Like I said: we’re all on the same side here, so let’s agree to disagree.
Posted: 06:43 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
me*
Posted: 06:43 PM on August 10, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
i mean, we’ve discussed this several times before, backtrack the blog if you have to. i’m done with these recurring topics.
Posted: 06:43 PM on August 10, 2008