Blasts Plague Myers; Offense Rusty In Opening Loss
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, April 05, 2009 10:43 PM | Comments: 76
2009 Recaps, Posts
They trotted onto the field via red carpet, ensconced in crisp pinstripes with a tint of gold. The crowd serenaded them as they lined up on the field. Yes, the 2009 Phillies arrived at Citizens Bank Park in style — they just didn’t bring the whole game with them.
The Phillies lost, 4-1, to the Braves, as Derek Lowe mastered the lineup with his dazzling slider. He went eight innings, giving up just two hits and a slew of groundouts. On the other side, Brett Myers didn’t match Lowe. The opening night starter allowed three home runs en route to a six-inning, four-run shellacking. The homers were bad pitches — a 2-0 changeup (his worst pitch), a turnpike fastball to a first-pitch swinger (Jeff Francoeur) and a softball to rookie Jordan Schafer. Myers struck out six.
A slight rally in the ninth ended with strikeouts by Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez. Eric Bruntlett — the hottest hitter since the spring started — doubled off Mike Gonzalez. Jayson Werth singled him home for the lone run.
The Phillies lost their last two season openers, so that’s nice consolation.
Posts: 0 Travis
Today’s slate of MLB opening games:
Mets at Reds 1:10pm ET, Espn: Santana vs Harang
Rays at Red Sox 2:05pm ET, Espn2: Shields vs Beckett
Indians at Rangers 2:05pm ET: Lee vs Millwood
Rockies at Diamondbacks 3:40pm ET: Cook vs Webb
Yankees at Orioles 4:05pm ET, Espn: Sabathia vs Guthrie
Nationals at Marlins 4:10pm ET: Lannan vs Nolasco
Pirates at Cardinals 4:15pm ET: Maholm vs Wainwright
Cubs at Astros 7:05pm ET, Espn2: Zambrano vs Oswalt
Dodgers at Padres 7:05pm ET: Kuroda vs Peavy
Tigers at Blue Jays 7:15pm ET: Verlander vs Halladay
Mariners at Twins 8:10pm ET: Hernandez vs Liriano
Athletics at Angels 9:05pm ET, Espn: Braden vs Saunders
Royals at White Sox: THIS GAME WAS POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER REPORTS IN THE CHICAGO AREA FOR MONDAY. THE GAME WILL BE PLAYED ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7 AT 2:05 PM ET
In total today there was supposed to be 13 games played, but 12 will be played and 1 postponed. But other games could be postponed or delayed because there is lots of rain, some snow and bad weather in alot places mostly east coast. One place that has a chance to be delayed or postponed is rays at sox. Anyways enjoy today’s games. Espn Network doing alot of MLB games today. Phils play tomorrow and 11 games scheduled tomorrow. Series that wil start playing tomorrow are Royals at White Sox 2:05pm ET Meche vs Buehrle and Brewers at Giants 4:25pm ET Suppan vs Lincecum.
Posted: 10:29 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I reeeeeeallly like Werth in the No.2 spot… He’s fast, great against lefties, and he is swinging the bat well… he should be at the top of the order, especially against lefties. Victorino should be batting 6th for now just because he isn’t completely ready. Yesterday the 3 lefties didn’t work, but we have to keep giving it a shot for several more games. Ibañez is supposed to be an RBI machine and he should bat 5th for now to show what he’s capable of doing.
Posted: 10:33 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Travis
I knew it. It’s official. The Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 2:05pm ET, Espn2: James Shields vs Josh Beckett has been postponed due to heavy rain expected throughout the afternoon and evening. The game is rescheduled for Tuesday, April 7, at 4:05 p.m. to better accommodate fans who must reschedule. The Red Sox and Rays are scheduled to play the second game of the series on Wednesday at 7:10 pm at Fenway Park. Also the mets and reds game could also be postponed due to snow. 2 games already postponed. Many more could be postponed or delayed. What a way to to start the year. We know there be atleast one game no matter what cause mariners and twins play in metroDOME. Unless the roof crashes. so phils aren’t only team off today. Well 1 game is cancelled for Espn network’s slate of games today.
Posted: 10:41 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
Werth is good in the #2 spot because he sees a lot of pitches against lefties and righties alike. He’s good at fouling off stuff that he doesn’t like. Still strikes out a lot, but its nice to have a guy at the top of the order who is going to make the starter throw a lot of pitches.
I really wish the Phils had more patience with Lowe.
Posted: 10:41 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Does everyone still not want Derek Lowe since we “handled him” in the playoffs?
The worst thing about yesterday’s game for me is that Manuel is batting Ibanez 5th, making him the 3rd lefty in a row and enabling opponent’s LOOGYs to pitch entire innnings. I blame Amaro for getting Ibanez and Manuel for not hitting him 6th (after Werth).
Posted: 10:51 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Exactly, Evan. And since he usually has these long ABs, that gives J-Roll more time and more chances to steal second. Vic, on the other hand, sometimes swings at the first pitch he sees. Our No.2 should be able to have long ABs… that’s also why I sometimes like Utley in the No.2 spot… he can foul off pitches like a madman.
Posted: 10:52 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Hitting Howard and Ibanez back to back is stupid, hitting Utley, Howard and Ibanez back to back to back is really, really stupid. I don’t mind Werth in the 2 spot, but I like him breaking up those lefties, since he kills lefties.
Posted: 10:56 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 dan
Jusitn, I saw that too from the third base line. I was laughing myself
Posted: 11:10 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Theres nothing wrong with Ibanez other than that he needs to be batting 6th because hes left-handed. If Werth is batting second, then you need to go out and get a RH 5th hole hitter, otherwise move werth to that spot where he belongs. Charlie Manuel OPENLY said in the press conference after the game that they need to go and get a RH hitter to breakup howard and ibanez. Apparently that means Werth is a 2-hitter to charlier and victorino is the 7th hitter? who knows. But Manuel said he wants another good RH hitter…
Posted: 11:23 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Gavin
Off topic..
Whats up with the Phils new jerseys with the gold around the emblem and #’s? Just for this opening weekend, or thats their home jersey now? I dont know if I like them or not…..I’m not a big fan of changing your jersey b/c you won the WS. Seems like a jinx to me.
Posted: 11:45 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
The gold jerseys were just for last night. The Red Sox did the same thing last year.
Posted: 11:56 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Dennis
The gold trim was just for opening night and to make more money on jersey sales….
Posted: 11:57 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 KevO
Do you people really believe they lost the game yesterday because it was Utley, Howard, and Ibanez in a row? Utley and Ibanez are fully capable of hitting against Leftys, just as good as a right handed hitter, Howard is the only liablity, but he produces big time anyway. It wouldnt of mattered what order Manuel put out last night cause Lowe was hitting the corners. Stop clammering about the 3 lefties, against a LH starter, the lineup is going to look extremely different, but with all the LH hitters in our lineup last night, we theoretically had the advantage right, against a RH pitcher? yeahhhhhh… didn’t matter..
Posted: 11:58 AM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Can we stop pretending that Ibanez hits better against lefties than he does against righties? He’s a career .298 hitter against RHP and a .263 hitter against LHP
Throw in the fact that Howard is much worse against LHP and you’re making it easy for other teams to put a lefty pitcher out there who can face multiple hitters.
Posted: 12:09 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I’m with you KevO… Because Lowe is a righty who pitched EIGHT innings, one would’ve thought that at least one of the 3 lefties (Utley, Howard, Ibanez) could’ve hit him…and they didn’t… So let’s not jump into conclusions saying that the 3 lefties in a row is a stupid idea… We need to test it out and then we can make adjustments.
Posted: 12:17 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Tim Malcolm
If you go back to game one of the NLCS, the Phils beat him through patience and luck. Remember, Victorino got that infield single to start the sixth. Then Utley got one bad pitch and tied the game. Last night Lowe kept it … well … low. And he was painting.
I’m sorry, but you can all complain about the offense. Truth is Lowe was masterful. One of the best-pitched games against the Phillies in years.
Posted: 12:22 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Phillies are wearing those Gold-Trimmed jerseys on Wed for the Ring Ceremony too, I think
Cardinals and RedSox have both done it before
Posted: 12:27 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
I see the Philly boobirds are in midseason form. (chuckles)
I agree KevO that that the Phillies’ LH dominant lineup didn’t mannered against a crafty RH veteran in Lowe. A sinkerball pitcher with excellent control will often have the upperhand against any kind of lineup.
It also didn’t helped to have LH hitters, Howard and Ibanez, go back to back against LH closer, Gonzaez in the 9th inning as he got both outs on K’s. I’m sure as the season progress, Manual will need to adust the order of the lineup according to the opposition’s scheduled pitcher each day. The need for a RH bat is still there as Manual reportedly acknowledged.
Let’s go Phillies!
Posted: 12:34 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
The three lefties in a row isn’t the reason the Phillies couldn’t hit Lowe, it just makes it easy for an opposing manager to bring in a lefty reliever and pitch to 3 batters. Every single team has a lefty in the pen and when facing the Phillies, that lefty will get to pitch to 3 straight batters-you can’t tell me that’s not a disadvantage to the Phillies.
Lowe was dominant and the Phillies were fortunate to get to him last year in Game 1 (Victorino reached on an error, Utley HR, Burrell HR).
Let’s beat up Jurrjens on Tuesday
Posted: 12:40 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Jurrgens owns them too…they have to be patient at the plate. their biggest problem last year was a lack of patience, which was visibly evident last night – despite lowes performance.
Posted: 12:57 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
Griffin, the three lefties in a row thing COULD be an issue at some point but was NOT last night. I think that everyone is overreacting about the lineup and I’m sure that we’ll see many variations. We know why it leaves the Phillies at a disadvantage but I would argue that I think that the Phillies are better off getting the starter out of the game… the best odds to do that: putting those lefties together against righthanded starters.
Posted: 02:08 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Chuck P, why not put bat Utley/Howard/Werth/Ibanez?
That way, the Phillies would still have all those lefties against the starting RHP and it would prevent a LOOGY from pitching against 3 lefties in a row.
Posted: 02:19 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Richie Allen
Lowe might have been good last night ,but will he be good for 4 years at $60 million?…So far,giving long term contracts to aging pitchers has been very risky..
You cant just go by last night alone and say the Phils should have signed him.
And if we still need a right handed hitter ,as per Charlie,why the heck did we sign Ibanez?That doesnt make any sense.That was the spot to sign a right handed hitter.Dont you think?
Posted: 02:22 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
i honestly can’t believe all the crying people are doing over GAME 1!!! It’s game 1 of 162, this isn’t the NFL where you only get 17 games to make the postseason, how many times does it have to be spelled out, this is a marathon not a sprint, just because they have 1 loss on the first game of the season doesn’t mean the season’s down the tube. If everyone remembers correctly we lost game 1 of the season last year too and the year before that, did that seem to bother the team? I believe they went to the playoffs 2 years ago and won the world series last season so seriously relax and let them play a few games before you jump down their backs about their play. Yes the offense didn’t do much, yes Myers had a bad opening, but you know what? Lowe was basically unhittable yesterday and if it wasn’t for that then the outcome may have been different but seriously this is game 1 of 162 cut the team some slack.
Posted: 04:36 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 Desiree
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Posted: 04:51 PM on April 6, 2009
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
ok, have to put my two cents in, I was at the game last night, and drove back to vermont today, shiltty day to drive by the way. That is why this post is so late. Myers throw some bad pitches, but the Larry Jones, single in the first was a good pitch just better hitting. After two innings he pitched well, gave up a double and got out of the inning with no runs. How many real good closers are left handed? So wouldn’t the three lefties in a row make it a tougher decision before you go to your closer, so you can bring the lefty to face one or two before you bring in your closer. Saying that I do not see why you cant put Raul 6th especially with Jason batting second, and Vic batting fifth. I don’t ;mind them sticking with one lineup for a couple of weeks just to see what is up. And aren’t there any supperstious people in here that are glad we lost game one, It is a tradition. And the PHilliles seemed to do ok the last two openers they lost. Two division titles and a world championship. I am all about superstition. That is why I did not get the same seats for opening day as I have for the rest of my season ticket package.
Posted: 06:39 PM on April 6, 2009