Stairs’ Homer Salvages Sorry Performance
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, April 23, 2009 03:51 PM | Comments: 42
2009 Recaps, Posts
The Phillies were about to be no-hit for the first time since 1978, but Matt Stairs came to the plate, then drew a 3-1 count. You know what happens when Stairs draws a 3-1 count.
The pudgy man’s eighth-inning pinch-hit home run broke up Dave Bush’s no-hit bid, giving the Phillies their line run in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers.
The Phillies collected one more hit in the game, a single by Shane Victorino in that same eighth inning. Otherwise, it was a anemic showing by the Phils offense, as hitters weakly grounded balls, popped out and looked downright lost. A low-ball pitcher, Bush capitalized off an offense that looked very one-dimensional – not unusual against these kinds of pitchers.
Bush’s near no-no usurped the bigger story, which was Cole Hamels being plunked in the left shoulder by a Prince Fielder line drive in the fourth inning. Though he left the game, reports are he’ll be okay. Official word will be relayed. The injury came after a more promising effort from the lefty. After striking out five of the first six outs recorded, Hamels allowed a two-run home run to Ryan Braun, who has handily beaten Phillies pitching throughout the series.
After Hamels exited, JA Happ surrendered a bases-clearing double from Fielder. He finished giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings.
Posts: 0 VA Steve
Sorry, wow you are being so generous.
Need to get our butts in gear, quick!
Posted: 03:54 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 BDphils
The next time Rollins pops up he should drop and give us 10, just like willie mays hayes. Get something through the middle, get on base, and steal a bag. We need him on to get runs going.
Posted: 03:54 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Chase Mutley
Pudgy?! Matt Stairs is made of Canadian maple. There is nothing Pudgy about the man.
Posted: 03:54 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Mitch Williams is ALL OVER Charlie for taking Cole out of the game!
Posted: 04:11 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Not like they would’ve won anyway.
Posted: 04:20 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Albert
I’m sure it was Cole’s decision to come out. Even though he may not be injured by it, that shoulder is going to be pretty sore for a few days.
Posted: 04:21 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
According to Charlie, Cole wanted to stay in the game, but Charlie insisted he come out because he was hit on his pitching arm.
Posted: 04:24 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Why was Mitch upset about it. In hindsight, the Phils didn’t score enough runs to win anyway. So better safe than sorry. Of course, that’s in hindsight – I could see disagreeing at the time, but to be still ripping Charlie for it? And I usually agree with Mitch.
Posted: 04:30 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Mark B
The Phillies have now made 2 mediocre pitchers look like Nolan Ryan in the past 2 days. But we will bounce back.
Posted: 04:32 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
I agree with Jeff no reason to push Cole if we were losing at that point anyway. I can see allowing him a few test pitches to assess how his arm looks but i wouldn’t agree with allowing him to continue your ace is your ace and you don’t want him missing a month because he tried to get 2 more innings in a losing effort.
Posted: 04:49 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
I accepted defeat by the 8th inning. I just wanted the no hitter broken up. Thankfully Matt Stairs broke up the no hitter and the shut out! A great moment in an otherwise lousy game.
Posted: 04:52 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
It’s still April, but our starting pitching stinks so far. We need to turn this ship around soon because the team with the best starting pitching is running away with the division … and that , my friends, is the Marlins. Not the Mets, but the Marlins. I hope Cole is ok.
Posted: 05:02 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Mr. A-Hole
“Salvage” shit, they f’n sucked all-around today.
Posted: 05:08 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Chase Mutley
The Marlins and their best starting pitching in the division just got swept by the Pirates. This entire division, with all of its off season hype, could just turn out to be last year’s NL West. Poor outings by all teams this week.
Posted: 05:54 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Canadian Wood
Stairs did his best and swung for those fences. Too bad it just wasn’t enough. Make sure to vote Mr. Stairs into the All-Star Game!
Posted: 06:00 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Shana
It is over. I think the Mets will get it started before us. What is going on?
Posted: 06:19 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 » Hamels Injured by Line Drive, Brewers Beat Phillies in No-Hit Bid | Blogging-Baseball.com
[...] Phillies Nation’s Tim Malcolm described the offense this way: …Hitters weakly grounded balls, popped out and looked downright lost. [...]
Posted: 06:22 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 moose
Stairs is a beast. 3 hits this year 2 of them home runs. I say bench J-Rod and let stairs lead off.
Posted: 06:23 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Gotta love that the no-hitter by not exactly the most impressive of pitchers was broken up with 5 outs to go by a pinch-hit homer. 14 straight games giving up a longball isn’t it…
Posted: 06:39 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Paul
Ugh… at least the Mets lost again.
Posted: 07:18 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
I’d like to this that there are some sirens going off in the clubhouse and no, that’s not Brad Lidge’s music your hearing boys!
Posted: 09:20 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug
trade jroll for john lester. oh baby that would be sweet. get rid of the garbage. maybe howard can start earning his billion dollar contract. matt stairs has more homers you big goon….
Posted: 10:34 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason B.
Matt Stairs has ice cold Canadian beer running through his veins! I disagree with Mitch. Not only was he probably hurtin after getting plunked, but, can you imagine the mental damage that did to Cole. He would have been skittish the rest of the game. That ball was 3 inches from his face. There is no way he would have been right in the head for the rest of the game.
Posted: 11:05 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 cm
All of this and Adam Eaton took a four hitter into the eigth inning with the Orioles.
Posted: 11:09 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt M
I’m really seeing a lot of hostility on this site, you’d think they didn’t win the World Series last year. We find ourselves acting like this every year when they start off slow, let’s wait a little bit deeper into the season, especially coming off of a championship. Yeah things aren’t going good but outside of Rollins, the offense is doing fine, and there are signs the pitching is getting better. this team has talent, and they will compete this year. And Doug unless Theo Epstien is asking to get fired he’d never make that trade.
Posted: 11:11 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 that one guy
Stairs’ tummy is full of canadian bacon
Posted: 11:46 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 That Guy
I said that earlier comment because Matt Stairs isn’t thin
Posted: 11:48 PM on April 23, 2009
Posts: 0 KevO
Doug, last time i checked, Stairs as 2 homers and so does Howard, keep your mouth shut next time, and know your stats
Posted: 12:08 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Baseballfan
whos J-Rod Doug? If you mean Jroll then Theo Epstein would def think about trading Lester for him. I dont think you mean him though because that would be retarded to trade him.
Posted: 12:21 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Baseballfan
Oh Moose, whos Jrod? But doug still thats retarded to mention something like that. He is the leader of this team.
Posted: 12:23 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
So far the biggest concerns I Had are unforuntally happing. Starting pitching, and hangover from winning last season. This team might feel they can turn it on any time they feel like. The two things so far that have suprise me are Ibanez hitting like he has, and the play of felix
Posted: 06:46 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/bushs-near-no-no
Interesting discussion on the near no hitter. I didn’t see the game, but it is odd that such a lefty heavy lineup couldn’t manage one hit against a pitcher like Bush all game.
Posted: 09:15 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 fanman
Oh geeez wonder how long the Cole is gonna nurse this one, did ya hear the crowd after Brad Lidge thru at Fielder like he meant to hit Cole….that was bush-league no body wants to see anyone get hurt, good thing it wasn’t any higher Brad Lidge would have made to the d/l next to boyfriend Cole….lol
Posted: 09:40 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
The Phillies have yet to score the first run of a game all season. That’s hard to do!
Posted: 10:33 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
That’s a nice link, Evan. It’s hard to believe Bush only induced 5 swing and misses all day.
Posted: 10:45 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 bob
“You lollygag the ball around the infield, you lollygag to the ball the plate, you lollygag at the plate. What does that makes us?”
“Lollygaggers!”
“What’s our record?”
“Six and eight”
” SIX AND EIGHT! How did we manage to win Six?”
“It’s a miracle”
I changed up the quote a bit, but most of you get it. Boys gotta pick it up!
Posted: 10:48 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 KevO
Griffin, im pretty much they they scored first last friday night against the padres? Utley hit a 3 run homer in the bot of the first, correct?
Posted: 10:57 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 KevO
im pretty sure they*, damn that was bad
Posted: 10:57 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 therookie300
Once again there is way too much negativity on this site. I like to come on here and read what fellow Phils fans have to say, but there are times where these comments are unreadable. Let these guys at least get through the first month of baseball. Every pitch in a game does not deserve a post or critique on this site. This is a really good website, but jeez people, LIGHTEN THE F UP!!!
Now let’s go out there cheer out team to victory.
GO PHILS!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 11:29 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 ljc102680
gotta love stairs
Posted: 11:30 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
oops, you’re right KevO, they scored 5 in the first before choking away that game. So that makes 1 game out of 14 that they scored first. Still awful.
Posted: 11:46 AM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Joel
Salvages sorry performance??? I’m sorry, but did we win this game????
Posted: 12:01 PM on April 24, 2009