Gameday: Padres (9-3) At Phillies (4-6)
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, April 19, 2009 12:00 PM | Comments: 39
Gameday 2009, Posts
San Diego Padres (9-3) at Philadelphia Phillies (4-6)
Josh Geer vs. Chan Ho Park (0-0, 10.38 ERA)
Time: 1:35 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia.
Weather: Cloudy, 64
TV: MyPhl 17
Twitter: Phillies Nation
How else can the Phillies lose?
In 2009, the Phils have lost a blowout, a blown save by Ryan Madson and a blown save by Brad Lidge. These are things that we cannot recall from 2008. Yes, it’s a different team, but it’s alarming.
Today the Phils will try to rectify these past mistakes by sending out Chan Ho Park, who didn’t accomplish much in his first start as a Phillie. Against Colorado, Park lasted just 3.1 innings, giving up five runs. He has experience against these Padres hitters, and only David Eckstein has clubbed him well (.385, RBI).
Meanwhile, the Padres are throwing out Josh Geer, a rookie right-hander who struggled in the Catcus League, finishing out of the Padres opening day rotation. Geer is a sinkerball pitcher, so if he’s on his game, it might a long afternoon for the Phillies offense. That offense, meanwhile, is seeing good things from two hitters: Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez, who lead the team with three and four home runs, respectively.
Your gamenight beer: Is it me, or are the Phillies suffering through their darkest days? I waxed on the Twitter that this might be the worst week in Phillies history, but is it? Surely we can’t be this gloom and doom. It is early, right? Anyway, to celebrate these dark days, tear open a Negra Modelo. Simply put, it’s a dark beer. It’s not really heavy, though, like a porter; instead, it’s sugary sweet, which makes it a good pairing with Mexican food. Have an enchillada today. Or something.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 Griffin
I’m trying to remember how many times the ’08 Phils were swept. Off the top of my head, I recall the Angels sweeping 3 in Philly, the Dodgers sweeping 4 in LA and I think the Mets swept a 2 game series as well. Am I missing any?
Posted: 12:03 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
In recent memory, this is the worst week I can recall for the Phillies. I think we’ll be alright in the long term, but this is just the reflection of a really bad week. Aside from some sort of injury to a key player, things couldn’t get much worse right now so I think that’s somewhat of an advantage. This is a great team and it will bounce back. Not so sure about today. But the wins will come and they will be good ones. The game has not seemed fun this week. But it will get there. I’m sure it will.
Posted: 12:14 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult. We could just attribute all this bad play to the fact that their first weeks of regular season ball have been anything but regular-WS stuff going on, WBC players not ready, then Harry. I don’t know, last season was SO magical, we can’t really expect things to fall in place like that again, it would be too good to be true, especially in Philly. I’m not going into this season with extremely high expectations, that way my heart won’t get broken. This has become routine for the older, more jaded Phila fan, the Flyers, Phillies and Eagles have been the cause of many tears, temper tantrums, and heartbreak, so you just go with the flow and hope for the best!
Posted: 12:42 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Joel
For these dark times, I prefer Stoudt’s excellent Smooth Hoperator. Smooth Hoperatoooooorrrrr, Smoooooth Hoperatorrrr!
Posted: 12:50 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Rob Cowie
this has definitly been a steel reserve week.
Posted: 12:59 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
Ask someone who remembers the Phil’s collapse in 1964. This week doesn’t come close, albeit it was a wretched week. Hopefully all the vinegar will be out of the blood starting today.
Posted: 01:01 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
I’d say this has been a Leeds straight from the bottle week.
Posted: 01:45 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Good start!
Posted: 01:47 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
They are not going to have a good year. Park, Moyer, Coste, should not have been on this team. Lowe would of been the man. They are getting swept by the Padres. My god. Anyone want to buy some great tickets to May 9th vs. braves. 2 isle seats in outfield second row????
Posted: 02:24 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
I see that Howard’s looking for a gold glove this season.
Posted: 02:24 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Run 1: Good Padre baserunning.
Run 2: Tough ball to get for Ibanez. Probably should’ve slowed up.
Run 3: Same.
Park is pitching well enough. The offense has to get going here. They don’t create any opportunities.
Posted: 02:24 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Hey Tim,
Do you know anyone that needs tickets?
Posted: 02:28 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Park is aweful. JA should be pitching
Posted: 02:36 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
The Phils might eventually have a game where they don’t give up the longball.
Posted: 02:55 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 It's April
Jeff you need to freaking calm down. IT’S APRIL. We were 4-6 last year too. How many times do the Phillies need to struggle in April and then get hot during the summer for people to finally learn that THIS is what they are?? 2-3 months from now you’ll be wanting to buy tickets off people not sell them.
Posted: 03:02 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike
excuse me jerk, i need to sell them because i have a family function. i have season tickets. second stop saying its early. are you going to say that everytime they lose. the marlins, mets and braves are better. you cant keep giving these games away. our pitching is not as good as last year. moyer and park and aweful. cole is hurt. myers is up and down. when we are ten games back, its still early.
Posted: 03:06 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jim
idiots
Posted: 03:08 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Outside of good starts by Blanton and Myers recently, they have gotten NO starting pitching at all. Cole Hamels is getting lit up, Chan Ho Park sucks, Moyer is getting lit up. The bullpen has totally blown up and melted down: Madson has blown two holds, Lidge has a fat ERA and blew his first save.
If this goes on for another week then you have to make changes to the rotation (Happ in) and bring up (or in) bullpen help (seya Taschner, Condrey) and FINALLY get a RH bench bat that is absolutely a glaring weakness. No RH power off the bench. They have good LH bench bats in Stairs and Dobbs but no RH power there. Cairo has to be DFA and a RH power bench bat has to come in, period.
Then the players they do have need to start playing up to their potential – and then theyll be fine. Not until then though.
The two gaping holes in this rotation have to be filled (Moyer and Park are huge holes right now – and they need to be plugged up with Happ and Carrasco).
Posted: 03:16 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
Chase rocked that ball. His long fly to right earlier gave me a feeling he’d get one out of the park. More than that it shows how much he’s gotten his power back this year.
Cuts the Pad’s lead in half, lets win one this time! I’m amazed that Geer hasn’t been torn up by the Phils so far.
Posted: 03:18 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
Oh and Park looked good today, I don’t know what you guys are talking about. The homerun shot was a terrible pitch, but aside from that the 3 run third was the result of Ibanez misplaying a ball and a lucky grounder that found a hole in the infield. Park still pitched a decent game, his pitches had good movement and he walked what, one batter?
Posted: 03:21 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
Evan you’re right. Park didn’t pitch nearly as bad as his line suggested. Geoff is back to his “DFA or trade everyone” rants, and the fairweather fans are being their normal selves. I don’t know who or what Jeff/Mike is, they seem to change their name from yesterday to today, and then back again. Don’t know if they’re a troll in disguise, or what.
It’s April hit the nail on the head.
Posted: 03:34 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Joshua
it’s early.
Posted: 03:40 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
I was just on mlb trade rumors. and wonder if anyone else heard that the mets were given a open checkbook.The article says that they will persue Peavy or Holliday if needed and named other outfielders as well to strengthing the team. Hope its a false rumor.
Posted: 03:50 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Charlie has managed this game really well…. Let’s win it in the ninth!
Posted: 03:58 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Lefty power
Posted: 04:04 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 04:05 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
Love it…when he was coming up, I’m thinking…Ibanez walk-off. Oh yeah baby…all day long…
Posted: 04:06 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
HOLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
LETS GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!
RAULLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!
Posted: 04:06 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Craig
Raul well on his way to 100 + RBIs :o)
Posted: 04:07 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 It's April
That’s exactly why you don’t freak out mid-game or at any point in April (barring disaster)… We have the best lineup offensively and defensively in the majors, let’s give them time to get in a rhythm.
Posted: 04:08 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
This great walkoff win will help us so much. Exactly what we needed.
Posted: 04:09 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
How bout that! Nice ending there Raul.
Posted: 04:10 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Pogson
NICE.
RAUL.
Posted: 04:15 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Phil
Pat who?
Posted: 04:18 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Radio
The walk-off win is nice, but hitting has not been the problem so far (with the exception of Rollins and Victorino). Another bad starting performance today is still not hopeful. Until the starters can start striking guys out and at least keep those fly balls to the warning track as opposed to the seats, I’m pessimistic. You simply can’t expect to slug out every win and walk-off often. I’m enjoying today, but foresee another 3.2 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 HR starting performance tomorrow — I will not think otherwise until ANYONE has a quality start.
Posted: 04:19 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
Radio, Park did not have a “bad starting performance today”. You must not have been watching the game, or at least the one I was watching. And Myers had a quality start last night, but you must have missed that too.
Posted: 04:23 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Radio
I stand corrected on Myers, I thought he surrendered one more run than he did last night. As for Park today, 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER and 1 HR is not a good line. It’s not as awful as it could have been, but it’s a far cry from solid. And last night aside from Myers the pitching was poor and blew the game. I don’t like that every game the Phils have won this season has been a come from behind win. The pitching just needs to improve overall.
Posted: 04:37 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I think Blanton also had a QS last time… Hey at least they’re improving and not going backwards!
Posted: 04:42 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
I think Blanton did as well. And Radio, 3 of Park’s runs given up weren’t bad. His solo HR he gave up was bad. The first was a manufactured run based on two infield singles and bad luck. The second two were as a result of Ibanez’s fielding problem. So again, it’s not as bad as it looks.
Posted: 05:05 PM on April 19, 2009