Gamenight: Braves (69-88) At Phillies (89-68)
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, September 23, 2008 06:00 PM | Comments: 112
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Headline: King Cole attempts to push the Phils closer to the promised land
The Major Players: Cole Hamels, JC Romero, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Mike Hampton, Brian McCann
The Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Number: 2.5 games ahead NL East
There are five games to go in the 2008 season, and the Phillies can pull very, very close to a playoff spot with a win tonight. Cole Hamels toes the rubber; the staff ace pitched just six innings last time out against the Braves, but is above the 220-inning level, a clear career high.
Variety Of Coles: Hamels has run the gamut against the Braves this season. His first start against them with his first career complete-game shutout. Then he was one out from the same deed his second time out. Later that month (July 26) he had his shortest start of the year against Atlanta. Then he had his six-inning win against the Braves last week. Altogether he has a 2.30 ERA and a 3-0 record against the Braves.
Lonely Lou: Lou Marson is the only rostered position player without a plate appearance.
Good Company: Chase Utley — after recording his 100th RBI last night — is one of just three second basemen to acheive such a feat four years in a row. The other two — Jeff Kent and Charlie Gehringer.
Cann Cann: Brian McCann is hitting .400 against Cole Hamels this season, and .421 for his career (19 at bats).
Ninety: With a win tonight, the Phillies would hit the 90-win mark for just the 12th time in franchise history.
Phillies: Cole Hamels (14-9) 3.10 ERA
Braves: Mike Hampton (2-3) 5.05 ERA
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EST
Weather: 65, sunny
Lineup: Rollins/Utley/Werth/Howard/Burrell/Victorino/Feliz/Ruiz/Hamels
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Your gamenight beer: Flying Dog presents Dogtoberfest, a caramel-flavored, intense journey into October. It’s not bad. I’d go with a couple others before this one, but it’s a good solo sipper. Which is what you want tonight — something to sit and enjoy as you watch the best at his craft go to work. Big start for the ace. Eat some beef ravioli with it.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
For my fantasy team,I hope Hamels pitches the game of his life….however Johan,thats on the mound vs a team that can go 0 and 6 and have nothing to lose may spell success vs the Amazins.I do hope the Cubs bring their A game this week so we can see once and for all if the Mets deserve to go to the playoffs.
Posted: 06:06 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
Oh…and by the way,LETS GO PIRATES!
Posted: 06:11 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
no Aramis Ramirez or Soto for the Cubs tonight. They have to do what’s best for them, can’t get mad at them.
Let’s go Hamels!
Posted: 06:15 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
Bad move Lou…..bring your A game vs the Mets….anything less eventho it may be a win for the Amazins,it will feel like a hollow victory to me.
Posted: 06:20 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Brian
Cubs have no motivations to win games against the Mets. If I were the Cubs, I’d want the Mets in the Wild Card to play them in the first round. Their bullpen is horrendous.
On an unrelated note, can someone please post a blog entry about sitting in a seat, or close to a seat, where you have the ability to catch a fair/foul ball that is close to being “in play”? I have seen on too many occasions recently at CBP “fans” acting like Steve Bartman going out of their way to catch opposing foul balls and home run balls that are “on the fence”. Leave them alone! Don’t reach over for them. Heck, try to make them appear to never leave the park by subtly batting them down. Give your team any advantage possible, especially this time of year.
….Especially if you are just going to throw it back into the park!
Posted: 06:32 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike W.
BREAKING NEWS: Minaya gets 4 year extension
Posted: 06:47 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob Cowie
He’s leaving everything up
Posted: 07:06 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
a nicely place bloop
Posted: 07:06 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
Cmon Hamels! Whats wrong
Posted: 07:08 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
ok, could’ve been worse. He did throw a lot of pitches though.
Posted: 07:11 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 dan
wouldn’t the cubs play the nl west winner first round since they have a worse record than whoever wins the wild card
Posted: 07:19 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Wilson
The wild card is automatically the “4th” seed and will play the top division winner unless their in the same division, then they play the “second” best division winner
Posted: 07:20 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Wilson
“they’re” instead of “their” in that post. Bad grammar still haunts me
Posted: 07:21 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
1-0 Cubs
Posted: 07:27 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 R.Mac
damn it shane
Posted: 07:38 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
yeah Pete!
Posted: 07:38 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Big 2 out hit there by Pete.
Posted: 07:38 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 R.Mac
PETE HAPPY!
Posted: 07:39 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob Cowie
That’s why I’d like to see the brewers win the wildcard
Posted: 07:42 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
i don’t care, if he took more ground balls that wouldn’t happen. saying that was a bad bounce is nonsense – he missed it by at least 3 feet. all infield hoppers have top spin, that’s why there hopping around in the infield.
Posted: 07:44 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
Jesus, Cole is not ON tonight
Posted: 07:48 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Karch
Okay, is anyone else concerned that Cole has 60 pitches by the third inning? Looks like he’s cooked.
Posted: 07:49 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T.
geoff said hamels wasn’t a big game pitcher a few times this year.
boy is he ever right.
Posted: 07:49 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Hamels just isn’t good with pick offs it seems.
Posted: 07:49 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Evan
Oh man, I thought he had that, WTF hamels
Posted: 07:51 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
I’m getting this negative vibe from Hamels today
Posted: 07:55 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Damn the Wilpons thinking with their hearts and not their brains!Signing Minaya just gave him the green light to walk around without a clue and sit with his thumb up his ass.Unless Minaya can TOTALLY revamp the pen,build a solid bench,and bring in a couple of #2 starters,than maybe i’d reconsider.Until that day,the Wilpon’s have disappointed me as a fan.
Posted: 07:56 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
Utley’s pretty much back to his old self…. Good timing!
Posted: 07:58 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Hamels gets too emotional. If something doesn’t go his way he shows it. Hitters seem to be able to catch those vibes and take advantage of a rattled pitcher, whether it be anger or upset.
Posted: 08:00 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Kelly Johnson is a truly horrific fielder, or does he only do this vs. the Phils?
Posted: 08:01 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Howard has been conisderably better as of late at not chasing pitches. He’s generally only swinging and missing now when a pitcher blows it by him now.
Big opportunity for Pat to step up here.
Posted: 08:02 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Come on Pat, gotta make them pay for that mistake.
Posted: 08:04 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Anbody hearing the random Mets fans chanting “Let’s Go Mets” at the game?
Posted: 08:05 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Devil wears Prado
Posted: 08:05 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
2 runs in 3 innings? Nothing to panic about.If it were 8-0 Atlanta after 2,than i’d worry.Hamels will settle down,relax.
Posted: 08:06 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Does anyone else think the food in Harry the K’s is pretty bad? I’ve been there twice and disliked the food both times.
Posted: 08:10 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Never ate at Harry The Ks. I usually get just a basic hot dog at games, although got a big kibassi at Bull’s BBQ and it was great.
Posted: 08:11 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Evan
1-2-3 for cole, maybe he’s found his rythmn
Posted: 08:12 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
However, I have avoided the Schmidter….my friend got it one time and did not feel too well after that….
Posted: 08:13 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
What’s a kibassi?
Posted: 08:15 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Haha, I think kielbasa.
Posted: 08:16 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Brian
Bulls has the best food in the Stadium. Never any line there either like there is at the overrate steak joints in the outfield.
Posted: 08:16 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
hahahahahahaha thanks NEPA
Posted: 08:17 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Sorry, spelled it wrong. Kielbasi (or sometimes spelled kielbasa). Sausage.
Posted: 08:18 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Evan
Wow, anyone just see Santana’s ridiculous broken bat single? The ball rolls into the bat right in front of second base and takes a hop off it to make sure he’s safe at first. That’s like some kinda double hit.
Posted: 08:19 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Wonder if Minaya’s extension includes those extra years no-one would be prepared to pay… Those Mets sure do like to tie their hands with bad deals.
Posted: 08:23 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
WRIGHT ONNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Posted: 08:25 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
Hamels finally settled in… Now it’s time to get those runs in!
Posted: 08:27 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Pirates up 3-2.
Posted: 08:36 PM on September 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Evan
Kotchman really has Cole’s number
Posted: 08:44 PM on September 23, 2008