Clutch Hitting Must Improve
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, October 23, 2008 10:24 AM | Comments: 54
Posts
Despite the win, the Phillies went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position last night. Shane Victorino had this response:
“OK, we were 0-fer, but we still scored a damn run. So take that 0-fer and shove it up your ass. … So we still manufactured a run. We don’t have to get a hit to score a run. That’s what I meant.”
Yeah, you don’t have to get a hit, Shane, but it helps. It really, really helps.
Look, they won. The pitching was spectacular. But to win consistently, you have to drive in runs in key spots. Ryan Howard struck out three times; Jimmy Rollins was 0-for-5; Pat Burrell couldn’t buy a bucket.
To us, it seemed pretty logical — Howard swung freely at low-and-away breaking pitches. These are the same pitches the Dodgers used to disable his bat, and still, Howard fell victim. He has to — repeat after me — take every pitch. Seriously, Ryan, take every pitch. Walk. At some point they’ll have to throw you something in the zone.
Then there’s Rollins, who looked too excited. He was waving at high fastballs as if he was 250 pounds. I’m thinking he’ll calm down and start hitting against James Shields, but if not, that’s more trouble than Howard being erased.
Burrell, meanwhile, was fooled repeatedly by pitches low in the zone. He swung over top of everything, especially inside stuff. Kazmir, a great locator, had Burrell wrong the whole night. Again, this is something I think will turn around, but Burrell needs to be more patient, as he was in his final at bat.
One more point: Chris Coste was overmatched out there. I do think a veteran like So Taguchi would’ve been the smarter play at DH last night. I would assume tonight Greg Dobbs gets the start, canceling out any controversy. But Coste didn’t work at all.
Clutch hitting is deftly important in the postseason. Yes, the Phillies could’ve won 6-2, or 8-2, or whatever. This time they didn’t. Next time they’ll have to put them across when given opportunities, or else the opportunities will shrink pretty quickly.
Posts: 0 Mark T
I have been saying I believe Howard should be the DH. He is a defensive liability comparable, although not to the same extent, as David Ortiz on the Red Sox. Let Greg Dobbs play 1st since he is at least as capable a defensive player as Howard and you still have both of them in your lineup against the right handed pitchers.
Posted: 10:33 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
Shields tonight, Garza in game 3-it only gets tougher. We need some big hits. Howard looks absolutely lost and I expect nothing from him. So we need Rollins and Burrell to pick it up.
Posted: 10:34 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I think that Dobbs should play 3rd and let Matt Stairs DH. Matt Stairs is already a DH.
Posted: 10:40 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Brian
I’d put Stairs at DH…..I agree Tim about the Taquchi thing. If we need another right handed dh I think hat;s where we go.
Posted: 10:50 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
I agree. Dobbs at 3rd tonight and Stairs at DH. Howard and JRoll were both thinking at the dish all night. Taking good picthes and swinging at bad pitches. Lets hope it was just them trying too hard, but at some point they have to relax.
I’m going to throw this out there. Of course evryone is an expert so take it with a grain of salt. I played college baseball and I currently coach baseball and give hitting lessons. IMO, when Howard struggled all year it was b/c he was standing too upright and not bending at the waist as the pitch came in. It causes hitters to pull off and not see the ball as well.
I actually noticed that he had fixed it in mid-Aug or so, ironically he started killing the ball. If you notice, he’s back to standing upright all the way through his swing. IMO, I dont see him fixing that in a week. Thats why……even when he hits it hard, he’s hooking it to right in stead of driving it.
Again, everone is an expert, but thats my take and I’m not optimistic he’ll have a good series b/c of it.
Go Phils!
Posted: 10:58 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
the key word here – patience. patience by Howard, Rollins and Burrell. If i was allowed another word – it would be concentraton.
See http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20081023_Phillies_Notes__Chris_Coste_gets_his_shot.html
for Manuals thought process behind starting Coste at DH. Manaul got us to the WS, and we still second guess his moves? I guess thats the Philly way..
3 more wins – Go Phillies!
Posted: 11:02 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Matt S
Thats funny you say that Gavin, I have heard a similar theory, from a friend who knows nothing about machanics of hitting but just noticed it from watching him struggle.
Posted: 11:06 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 bull
howard’s power is unlike any other power hitter it is to the opposite field and CF. When he is stroking the ball well it is line drives to lf and lc. Same with his hrs, he is pressing and getting ahead of everything and topping the ball and grounding out to the infield. Even his hits have been to RF in the series which tells me the pitcher hit his bat. He needs to let the ball get deeper into the zone and keep his hands back. I disagree Gavin i think it is something he can fix with a tape session today and some bp, and the mental block he has right now. I think shields is a pitcher he can take advantage of because the limited breaking stuff he throws the changeup and fastball which can force you to sit back longer.
Posted: 11:06 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
Sorry Gavin but we are taking that with a grain of salt…You think you can teach him new things that Thompson or Manuel haven’t tried?
Taguchi? Are we kidding ourselves here? If Taguchi wouldn’t been in the lineup last night we would’ve killed Manuel but since Coste didn’t work out all of a sudden we needed freakin Taguchi? Come on guys…
It’s also amazing how fast people turn on Howard and forget that he was the reason we caught fire in September…As soon as he hits a homerun in this series everyone will be back on ‘Big Browns’ bandwagon….Like Griffin.
Anyway stop complaining, we are 3 wins away from being world champions…Sit back and enjoy it! Go PHILS!
Posted: 11:07 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
It was frustrating. That game didn’t have to be the nail biter it was if they would have gotten a couple of key hits, or even a couple of deep fly balls.
But heck, a win in game one is huge, so I’ll stop complaining.
Come on Phillies head home up 2-0!
Posted: 11:11 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Bonezy
I agree that Coste was overmatched… However, he did have one good at bat and had a tough swing to get the runners to third. Dobbs is the better DH. Another thing, I’m not all that convinced that J-Roll needs to play the percentages as a switch hitter. He is a much better batter when he is lefty. I think he should stay Lefty for the entire series regardless of a left handed pitcher or not.
Posted: 11:13 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Oh guys, btw…I have some GREAT news. My roommates co-worker just moved to Philly 6 months ago. In 04 he had just moved to Boston, in 05 he moved to Chicago, in 06 he moved to St. Louis, and in 07 he moved back to Boston…now he’s living in Philly…catch my drift?
Posted: 11:14 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
I absolutely prefer Taguchi’s bat to Coste’s, and I have for some time. Bottom line is Coste has been struggling mightily for the past two months, likely because he’s not used to hitting once every five days or so. Taguchi has been in these situations before, and yes, lately he’s been stroking the ball much better.
But that’s a moot point tonight, and hopefully for the rest of the series. I say Howard gets the DH with Dobbs playing 1B. OR Stairs is DH and Dobbs is 3B. But I wouldn’t automatically do that — I don’t want my only pinch hitting lefty being Jenkins.
Posted: 11:15 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Tim, when would you need to pinch hit a lefty if there is a DH?
Posted: 11:17 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
Hey guys. No complaining from me. Just stating what I feel like could be his issue with struggling during the postseason. I have a hunch that Manuel and Milt both have addressed it, thats why it got fixed during the season. Just like anything its a bad habit. Thats why he’s back doing it again. You ever here Manuel or Howard say “He’s not seeing the ball real well.” Thats basically what I’m talking about.
The reason I doubt he’ll be able to fix it DURING THE WS is because of the situation. High stress…..a hitter will go back to what feels comfortable and that means maybe falling back into some old habits.
BTW, I hope thats not construed with me bashing Howard. Hitting is hard and hitting big league pitching is even harder. :)
Posted: 11:20 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Well you’re not just necessarily pinch hitting for the lefty DH. You can pinch hit for Ruiz, or Feliz, or whatever.
Posted: 11:20 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I would never pinch hit for Ruiz in the WS. His defense is superb and you need him to catch Lidge. If Dobbs is starting at 3B then you wouldn’t have to pinch hit for Feliz. I’m pretty sure that Werth won’t be pinch hit for either. Neither will Burrell. The rest of your batters are all lefties or switch hitters.
Posted: 11:25 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 BJ
Can someone explain to me why Charlie Manual did not pinch hit for Brunlett in the 9th? He had Dobbs/Stairs on the bench and either Taguchi/Jenkins to play defense.
It makes no sense to me.
Posted: 11:26 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Cole Hamels
Btw.. last night was a great win but the media love fest for the rays continues.
Headline on yahoo sports. Phils “steal” Game. Madden Upset over blown call.
Posted: 11:28 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Cole Hamels
Btw.. last night was a great win but the media love fest for the rays continues.
Headline on yahoo sports. Phils “steal” Game. Madden Upset over blown call that cost rays the game.
Posted: 11:28 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I thought that too BJ.. I guess they think that he is THAT much better on defense instead of shifting Werth to LF and playing Jenkins in RF….. I agree with them there though.. at that point defense is more important than offense..
Burrell as the DH last night would have still had him at the plate.. and Bruntlett would have done no worse batting than Coste did last night..
Hindsight is 20/20 though.. we won.. they know more than we do in the dugout
Posted: 11:30 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
I completely agree that Dobbs should start tonight with Stairs as DH. We can let Dobbs have some ABs and bring in Feliz for defense towards the end.
Cole Hamels… did you really think the National sports media would actually admit that the Phils outplayed the amazing Rays? I found if hysterical how they all sucked up to Cole and started talking us up towards the end.
Posted: 11:36 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Brian
It wasn’t a balk it’s the same move he’s been using all year. Obviously the national media hasn’t seen it and it is borderline so they have a field day.
I was more impressed Howard made the throw to 2nd.
Also, how many of these so called experts would be able to identify a balk? My guess less than 20%. They need to stop whining about it
Posted: 11:41 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
Stop worrying about the attention the national media gives the Rays. Who Cares? 3 more wins people! That’s all that matters at this point…
And Tim, please give me a break with the Taguchi stuff. He stinks, no way you wanted him in there last night….
Posted: 11:50 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I umpire baseball… and we have clinics every year… THE hardest thing to determine in baseball is the balk.. because there are so many ways you can interpret the rule
The main thing is, Did the pitcher attempt to deceive the runner…. in this case, NO.. the runner was already breaking for second… You are supposed to step towards the base you are throwing to, If you step towards HOME PLATE, but throw to first base, its is a BALK..
Hamels stepped closer to 1st than his foot was previously, and of course its going to be closer to home too (since his feet were previously shoulder-width apart)… but his step was more towards 1st base… which is why no balk was called.
SttteeeeeeeeRiiiiiiiKE one..
Posted: 11:52 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
my only fear with throwing dobbs at third is that the ball is much faster on the turf. feliz made that huge double play yesterday, and i’m wary of just gearing up for offense and losing too much defense.
i like putting Howard at the DH and putting dobbs at first. however, has dobbs played first before? i don’t remember if he had or not.
Posted: 11:53 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 JimC
Last night I was thinking how good our lineup would look with dobbs at third and stairs at DH. But after seeing Feliz turn the double play I realized that there is no way a little more power at the plate can replace his glove. Good win last night and rollins is just waiting for the game clincher to knock a lead off homerun
Posted: 11:59 AM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
They’ve already said that they aren’t DH-ing Howard or Burrell because it takes both players out of the normal flow-of-the-game…
Dobbs played 1st base twice this year I think.. so that isn’t really an option.
I think they’ll go with Dobbs out there because on the road.. you play to win.. you have to outscore the other team to do that, so I fully expect that lineup to be loaded with Lefties.. I think they put Jenkins in the DH spot tonight with Dobbs at 3b.
Leaving Stairs as a pinch-hitter instead of Jenkins.. I personally would either go Feliz-Dobbs, or Dobbs-Stairs.. but I don’t think that Charlie will rock that
Posted: 12:00 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
if those are the options, i go feliz-dobbs and keep stairs ready for a pinch hit spot.
Posted: 12:18 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg F.
Don M. has it exactly right on the non-balk. The rules say intent to deceive runner. The runner broke prior to Hamels lifting his front leg. No deception – no balk. I only wish that Fox would take the time to read the rules of baseball before they try to manufacture controversy where none exists. And Maddon ought to know better too. What he was doing is setting Hamels and the umpires up in Game 5.
Posted: 12:26 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
Dennis, I’m not hopping on or off his bandwagon. He is what he is-a terrible fielding platoon player. He hits righties extremely well, but when he’s in a funk (like….right now) he is lost against lefties. The idea of Howard being the MVP of the league is laughable, he’s the second most valuable player on the right side of the Phillies infield!
I’m rooting for him, but I’m not counting on much. I don’t think that’s “hopping off the bandwagon.”
Posted: 12:46 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Jeff
I think you have to leave Feliz at third. His defense is too important. DH Stairs or Dobbs, take your pick.
Posted: 12:55 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Howard will get some hits tonight against a RHP… did he face a RHP at all last night…
I think it was 3 off of Kazmir.. one time off of Howell.. I can’t remember who else he faced though..
anyway… I think with the next 3 starts against RHP.. Howard gets in a zone.
Posted: 12:57 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
The more I think about it the more I want:
Rollins
Victorino/Werth
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Werth/Vic
Dobbs
Feliz
Ruiz
Should it be more balanced with RH-LH at the top.. or since the top gets more at-bats, do you put Victorino since he would get more chances than Werth, who doesn’t hit RHP that well??
Posted: 12:59 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
hey don m,
maybe we should take pat and howard ‘off their game’, maybe then they’d get a hit hah
Posted: 01:00 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
Griffin – Laughable? The guy carried this team in September, something like .350 BA, 11 HRs, and 30 RBIs. Don’t get me wrong I love Utley but he struggled from early June until the Dodgers series and nobody says a word about it. Howard strikes out and it’s like he is the worse 1st baseman in Phillies history. MVP’s are not won in the playoffs, voting is already over….
Posted: 01:25 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
I know the voting is already over, but why do stats in September count more than stats in April/May? I just don’t get that. Did those games early on not really matter?
Also, Utley is the best defensive 2nd basemen in baseball and Howard is terrible in the field. I’m not trying to bash Howard here, I’m being realistic. He’s not as valuable as Utley. I don’t care about the strikeouts as much as other people, but Howard is so frustrating to watch when he’s lost because he’s just guessing up there. Also, he’s pathetic against lefties
Posted: 01:32 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
I see what you’re saying, that’s fine, everyone has their own opinions. Bottom line we are Phillies fans and we are 3 wins away from something unexplainable… We will love and never forget everyone of these players from this season for what they are on the brink of accomplishing. We should not be agruing at a time like this, Go PHILS!
Posted: 01:46 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
I’m not mad at Howard, just frustrated. I’m still rooting for him, of course. But I agree, let’s Go Phils!
Posted: 02:07 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Yeah, Dennis. I agree. All this back and forth arguing about this play or that. Who to DH or not. Who’s better at 3rd or LF or what Howard needs to do to snap out of it. Whatever this issue. We are all just SO hungry for this to be a reality and I think we’re on edge magnified like 10X. And I’m just as guilty as anyone. I screamed so loud last night at some of the stuff I was observing that I think everyone in my house (animals included) thinks I’m NUTS!!!! I may have to be in a padded room tonight to watch this.
All that said……..I need to weigh in on the Howard thing…..
Howard is NOT the worst first baseman in history! It’s just that when he struggles at the plate people jump all over his defense too. Yeah, he bungled that one play last night and because of his hitting (or lack thereof) you all are saying he is terrible first baseman. What about all the good plays he makes? This may seem small……but it’s HUGE……the play where he catches Upton’s pop-up near the rail was not that easy. He doesn’t make that and who knows what Upton does next. Keeping that guy quiet alone last night probably is the difference in the outcome.
Posted: 02:08 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I’m actually MAD at Howard… stop swining at sh!t in the dirt.. and then watching the strikes.. TWO HORRIBLE AT-BATS with 1 out and a runner on 3rd..
MVP??
Posted: 02:10 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
That last AB where he actually questioned the umpire was ridiculous for sure. The pitch was RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE for God’s sake. TReally don’t know what he was seeing.
Posted: 02:17 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
GO PHILLIES!!!!!!
(Just had to blurt that out to relieve the tension)
Posted: 02:23 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
I’m not mad at Howard but I definitely wasn’t expecting us to go this far without a single Ryan – bomb. He looks so bad at the plate sometimes… but other times he’s just UNBELIEVABLE.
Posted: 02:24 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
Howard is facing 3 straight righty starters, let’s get it going big fella. Also, Howard’s defense IS terrible, but you can live with it when he’s hitting.
Posted: 02:30 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phils2611
Griffin, referring specifically to last night… What was so terrible about Howard’s defense? Now, before you jump on me, let me recap the two plays I remember going wrong:
The first inning where Howard and Hamels didn’t get the runner, which I believe was Hamel’s fault, primarily because he fell more towards 3rd base following through on his pitch and was off balance, therefore being late to the bag.
Forget the inning, but a pretty hard hit ground ball hit to Howard that he should have handled, but bobbled.
Now the only reason I guess you could say I’m “calling you out” on this, is because I’ve seen Howard make some pretty nice plays this postseason, for example, that grab from in the stands.
I know Howard isn’t the best, trust me, but is he really that big of a liability at 1st?
Posted: 02:36 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
well, the fact that he has no range, makes errors on the balls he does get to and has trouble throwing the ball, he’s perfect. Seriously, every statistical measure has him way below average. I’m not making this stuff up, it’s not like I have a vendetta against him or anything, but you can be sure that when his arbitration case comes up again this winter, the major argument against him will be the fact that he’s really a DH.
Posted: 02:38 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Howard will obviously never win a gold glove.. but how many of his league leading errors were on “defensive plays” I think at least 5 of his E’s were on throws… to Pat Burrell, in LF…
Hamels didn’t get off the mound quickly.. and Iwamura is a quick runner, from the left side .. so he’s already got a 2-3 step head start to 1st base over a Righty… more blame to Hamels than Howard there.. but sometimes guys just get infield hits, no big deal..
He should have made that play on the hard-hit ball, but that wasn’t as bad as Pena not catching the throw and getting Burrell out at 1st.. Howard made a very nice catch on the ball in the stands, a good throw to Rollins to get Pena on the pickoff, he’s no Texiera, but he’s not as bad as people want to believe
Posted: 02:41 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
The thing about Howard is that he makes some great plays sometimes, he just botches too many simple plays. If he could cut down on f*cking up the simple plays he could become a pretty good defensive 1B.
Posted: 02:45 PM on October 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Phils26, Thats’s what I was saying…..Howard makes some bad plays, but he makes some really good ones too…..such as that grab from the stands. As I said, he doesn’t make that and Upton’s AB continues…and we all know about that guyin the postseason.
Posted: 02:47 PM on October 23, 2008