Homers Back Blanton’s First Phils Win
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, August 03, 2008 08:12 AM | Comments: 17
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The longball came in handy Saturday night against the Cardinals, pacing the Phillies to a 2-1 win at Busch Stadium II. A Marlins win keeps them within 1.5 games back; a late Mets loss puts them two back.
Greg Dobbs and Ryan Howard homered for the Phils, giving Joe Blanton the offense he needed to grab a victory. The new Phillie ate seven innings, striking out five and giving up just four hits. He benefited from a wider strike zone by home plate umpire Marty Foster, but also pitched pretty well as is. He contained Albert Pujols and Troy Glaus, giving up just a homer by Ryan Ludwick, who’s been on a tear lately.
The bullpen nailed it down yet again. The dynamic duo of JC Romero and Chad Durbin did it in the eighth, with the latter inducing a double play ball to end the inning. Brad Lidge shook off the ridiculous Pujols talk and got him out, then defused the Cards quickly for his 27th save in as many chances.
Offensively it wasn’t a dream game. The Phils didn’t hit Braden Looper much at all. Howard continued his ridiculous success off the right-hander (4-for-5, 4 HR), while Dobbs improved his lefty-righty splits even more. Everything else — wasn’t much else. Two other hits in the game total. Not a good day for the offense.
But this is how you draw it up with pitching. Your starter goes seven. Your setup men (a lefty and righty) take turns holding the lead in the eighth. Your shutdown closer gets it done in the ninth. And for this night, the Blanton acquisition looked freakin’ brilliant. One hopes this formula continues down the stretch.
Associated Press photo
Posts: 0 Bear Mike
Great performance by Joe Blanton last night. I was skeptical of him prior to the game based on his first two starts as a Phillie. Other than reviewing his stats, I have only seen him pitch 3X…….once in person at that long Sunday afternoon game with the rain delay. He certainly was effective last night, but my main concern was that he had 3 ball counts in many of the at bats last night. I did not keep score, so I do not know the details. Anyway, a pitcher friendly strike zone helped him tremendously. Any good pitcher will immediately determine the umps K-zone, and exploit it to their favor. Great job Joe! Hope this is the first of a long string of good outings.
I’ll be at the game on Thursday vs. The Fish (#17 this season). This time at Harry the K’s: Section 243
GO PHILLIES!!!!
Posted: 08:59 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Bear Mike
Hey guys. Kind of a sidebar here. Has anyone heard any talk of the Phillie’s TV broadcasts getting a strike zone analyzer? You know, the digital superimposible strike zone box that shows the track of the pitch and where the ball breaks the plain of the strike zone. ESPN or MASN (Orioles & Nats) networks have it. I think they are called Strike Zone or Ball Track – not sure. This would be a great addition to the Phillies broadcasts. Just curious?
Posted: 09:07 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
I would think a strike zone analyzer wouldn’t come until next year, and it’s probably a Comcast SportsNet addition overall, meaning every CSN affiliate would get it (Chicago, New York, etc.). I think Fox SportsNet has one, but I could be wrong. NESN in Boston has one.
Posted: 09:59 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg V.
I think this was definately an outing that explains why we aquired Blanton. He did his job and he did it well. I’m not convinced he is the answer to our pitching woes, but I give him a thumbs up for this outing and hope to see more like it (and hope the offense gives him a bit more support).
Posted: 10:07 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Well said Greg, he’s not the answer but he can contribute massively used in the right way. The answer to our woes is a healthy, focused, matured, prepared with increased velocity and movement on his fastball to make his breaking pitches effective Brett Myers and good luck to him. A lights out performance would be nice but if he can continue to build on his last start and turn in effective starts with control of the zone and command of his fastball while keeping his pitch count down then this is a better rotation than a lot of teams will account for.
As for Blanton if the bats can give him some runs support he’ll be there for the 7th and 8th inning as he’s accustom to going past 100 pitches routinely.
Posted: 10:49 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I had a dream last night that Myers had a complete game shut out. Last time I had a dream it was the the Marlins beat us 3-2 and they did the next day. It’s weird that I have dreams about baseball.
Posted: 10:53 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg V.
You must have enjoyed a diet of wings and beer before hitting the sac last night Phil.
But if indeed your dream becomes reality, good stuff!
Posted: 11:16 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Actually I was at a bbq and was eating burgers and I did get trashed last night, so yeah…you’re probably right.
Posted: 11:32 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Hey Tim have you ever had Dock Street beer?
Posted: 11:40 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Well lets home Brett hasn’t followed suit and is getting ready for the game after a meal of tofu after a session of meditation/yoga to get mind and body ready to take the mound.
Posted: 11:41 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Phil – Maybe, but I don’t think so. I’ve heard good things. I’ll make it a point to check out their brewery.
By the way, spoiler: Tonight’s beer is Sierra Nevada Brown Ale. I’m sorry, but if you want the best nationally distributed American company, you gotta go with Sierra Nevada. Perfect night for a summer BBQ and some brown ale.
Posted: 11:44 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I live 2 blocks from the brewery. If you ever go let me know. Maybe we can grab a beer together. Best beer of all time, hands down. You can get cases of their stuff around this area of the country. They have a pilsner that is phenomenal called Royal Bohemian. I’ve seen it at all over Jersey, and I know it’s not bottled at the brewery, so it might be other places outside of the Philly region. Their pilsner is ranked top 50 beers in the world.
Posted: 11:53 AM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Mark
Great analysis!
Posted: 12:26 PM on August 3, 2008
Posts: 0 Bear Mike
That’s it boyz…beer or baseball, beer and baseball……..soulmates either or is a good conversation.
Hey, I just returned from the Red Eyes Dock Bar at Kent Narrows, MD, It’s about an hour drive from my home in DE http://www.redeyedockbar.com . Of course I was wearing my classic Phillies hat, my Phillies alternative (off white) Utley 26 jersey and my Phillies Phlip Phlops………I was barraged by Phillies Phans….in Orioles country no less. PHillies PHreaks everywhere I have found this summer! And believe it or not, they talk nitty gritty Phillies baseball.
GO PHILLIES!!!!
Posted: 05:21 PM on August 3, 2008
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