Duh. Obvious Problems Hurt Phils Again
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, May 10, 2009 03:40 PM | Comments: 64
2009 Recaps, Posts
The reasons why the Phillies lost to the Braves, 4-2, were glaringly obvious:
- Jack Taschner was brought into a high-leverage situation, up one, in the seventh inning. Taschner is not a setup man. Scott Eyre, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey were all rested.
- Jimmy Rollins went 0-for-5, lowering his average to .195. At no time did he look like a threat to even get on base.
- To accompany that, Shane Victorino went 0-for-4.
- Brad Lidge was brought in while down a run. Again, poor, poor bullpen management.
It’s no secret these were the problems. Despite a solid (if battling) start by Brett Myers (6 IP, 1 ER), a great offensive and defensive showing by Ryan Howard (2-for-4, 2 2B) and inspired play by Matt Stairs (2-for-2, RBI), the Phillies didn’t look like winners. After dropping two of three against the Braves, the Phils are now 15-14.
Here’s the really sad thing about this recap: I wrote it after the bottom of the eighth.
Posts: 0 AmazinCiti
Aww shucks, what do you know, a little pecimism in Philly land today!
Posted: 03:45 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 mg52
The Braves hitters managed to make solid contact with good pitches and get extra bases out of many of them. The Phils did not do that. The popups and weak grounders indicate to me that they are not studying the pitchers enough. They have to be able to hit breaking pitches and not let fastballs go when the fastballs do come their way.
Myers deserved the win today. It is hard to understand why he brought Taschner in and left him in as he was struggling. As for Lidge, I really am scratching my head. Everyone says, “He hasn’t been in save situations; the adrenaline hasn’t been there.” I figure that a closer is also a relief ace – and no reliever should be giving up a run or more every time he enters into a game. There is no excuse for the lack of command.
I think that they will play a better series against the Dodgers, so we will look forward to that.
Posted: 03:46 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 AmazinCiti
Sorry, pessimism….
Posted: 03:48 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 MP
Let’s also recognize that Miguel Cairo of all people took base in the bottom of the 9th. I REALLY thought Werth was gonna get that run in.
Posted: 03:50 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
It was an absolute JOKE that this team can only score 2 runs against an AAA pitcher, top 3 of the order, what 0-15. It is early and I am not scared that this will be a trend, but Charlie, or someone better speak up to these guys and find a way to get the passion back, and get back to be being patient at the plate. That is how they won games last week. now down 2 they are all swinging at the first pitch every time. And get JRoll into the batting cage or something, sit him down for a day or two until he gets his head and bat out of his a**. What is up with not scoring against this team come on PHils, lets play at home like you play on the road(with exception of the Mets series) please wake up and play some baseball. Did they not have any hitters left on the bench, why Werth against a righty. And what is the love affair with Tashner
Posted: 03:55 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 mg52
I always say: swinging at the first pitch, especially if it is a cookie, can be the right thing. But you are right: they make the mistake of swinging at BAD first pitches too often. They need to know when to swing and when not to. It looks like they’re guessing now. Stairs was a pleasant surprise again today, and Howard was effective at the plate. Against LA, those guys should inspire the rest of the line-up to be assertive and wise at the plate.
Posted: 04:00 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
I miss Jimy Williams. Charlie needs a bench coach to help him mix this up. Lets start with the simple first step….Victorino bats first and Rollins bats 7th.
Posted: 04:12 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
yeah CX I mean, right now Rollins with 14 runs scored through 28 games is on pace to score only 81 runs all season and a lot of that has to do with the fact he ISN’T being patient, swinging at bad pitches (especially in close game/late inning situations). I know he’s workin on it, but it also just seems like he expects all the pitchers who have clearly adjusted to him to start throwing him beach balls up at the plate first pitch. Meanwhile (aside from his last few games) is clearly studying, being patient, hitting, running and scoring and I was always under the impression that Charlie was a guy who give the guys that are hot the most AB’s, (Werth taking Jenkins job last season) but at this point, it seems like Charlie thinks that because we’re defending World Effing Champs that the team that won it all needs no adjustment and “It’ll turn around”
Yeah it’s early but how long are we going to keep saying that? How long is Charlie going to keep giving the ball to Park and Blanton who seem to refuse to get off the fence? Or when we DO actually get a decent start how long are just going to expect Jimmy to suddenly “remember” how to hit lead-off? I mean is it just me or has Charlie taken a few steps backwards?
I know he’s got a rep as a veterans type of manager, but he’s also the guy that gave an unproven werth the everyday job when Jenkins wasn’t getting it done, gave a 33 year old rookie a shot when Barajas wasn’t getting it done. I dunno, it is only six weeks into the season, but then again, it’s six weeks into the season, you know? Give the ball to a guy who thinks every game is must win in the way of Happ and give ur hottest hitters more AB’s.
Posted: 04:35 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
I meant victorino haha studying, hitting, running, scoring.
Posted: 04:36 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
AmazinCiti, the bigger gloat you are in May, the bigger goat you’ll be in October (and you and i both know they WILL collapse again). Just make sure to man up and be back on this very same blog when it does happen.
Posted: 04:39 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
NYhater, I’ve just taken to completely ignoring their posts, especially when we’re not playing them, like who does that? haha how did the mets have anything to do with the braves winning today? Anyways, I just wish Charlie would try something different for more than just one game. At least move Jimmy down to sixth and let him get comfortable there at the plate before trying to move him back to lead-off.
Posted: 04:43 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
or maybe it was the extra paint on the pink bats slowing down their bat-speed. Sorry Moms.
Posted: 04:43 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
Gotta put this one on manuel. You’ve got no production from your starting pitching up until this point, and now, when you finally get it, you toss it out the window and go to the pen too early!?!
Posted: 04:45 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 kl
yesterday they left blanton in for eight innings and he kept giving up HR..yet then today they take brett out when he was pitching great..if he had been in during the seventh, the braves never would have gotten those 2 runs..and we probably would have won!!.. i dont even understand…
Posted: 04:56 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
totally, i mean last season Charlie was winning to make adjustments. When there were holes in the line-up, he plugged them. When guy weren’t throwing strikes, he replaced them and because of that, we won a WFC. Now he’s doing neither and it really isn’t unbelievable that the other teams in the division/league are picking up on it.
Posted: 04:56 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
totally, i mean last season Charlie was winning because he made adjustments. When there were holes in the line-up, he plugged them. When guy weren’t throwing strikes, he replaced them and because of that, we won a WFC. Now he’s doing neither and it really isn’t unbelievable that the other teams in the division/league are picking up on it. (sorry about the repost haha i slipped and the mouse just happened to be on submit comment.
Posted: 04:57 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 kl
and why did they leave taschner in when bases were loaded???…yeah..
Posted: 04:57 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
I know kl, no matter how bad Charlie wants Taschner to be JC, he really isn’t.
Posted: 04:58 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 betty
I am still a phillies fan-they should have gotten rid of the pitcher sooner than they did in the 7th. it is still early in the season!
Posted: 05:00 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Dhall
Charlie’s an idiot what can you say. Yes, he won us a World Series, but that’s because he’s good with the players. He’s not smart. Tachsner blows….and for goodness sake, move Rollins down in the order!!! Are the coaches and manager a bunch of morons???
Posted: 05:27 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
Calling Manuel an idiot is way out of line but I do very much agree that it is well past due to remove Rollins as the lead off hitter. He is basically an automatic out right now. As for Taschner, at best he is a mop up guy.
Posted: 05:45 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
All I have to say is even though I am slightly dissapointed in the Phillies performance this past week, and some things have to change. They have not been playing well and still only 1 game back in the loss colomn so lets hope they can start winning soon.
Posted: 06:20 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt M
Posted this in the wrong thread this is where I wanted to post it.
Honestly, the worst part about the Phillies losing is that Geoff will come on here and spew his bullshit and trash every Phillie who had a bad game. This game is on Manuel and the offense outside of Howard and Stairs. There is no way anybody can convince me that Taschner was the best option to pitch the 7th inning with the relievers Tim mentioned. And where do Mutts fans get the balls to start talking? What happened to that hole you’ve been in all season until Monday? If being in first on May 10th is the high point of your season then I honestly feel bad for you.
Yes the Phillies have problems, but so do the Mutts, Marlins and Braves. There are still 133 games left and the Phils are only one loss back. When you pop the corks in Septmeber and October, you can come back and run your tootheless little mouths. Until then enjoy being behind the Yankees, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Nicks, and Islanders in terms of importance in your own city.
Posted: 06:27 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 fanman
J Roll batting .195 west bound send him down in the order, or to AAA….. infact rent a bus and put Moyer J Rol and Lidge thats 26 million dollars going to waste let Dubee drive….charlie won’t make changes he’s afraid of the players now.nothing he can do we just goota ride it out….better hope the mets choke cause this team is a joke…..Utley Howard Raul…all come to the game on fire ….who would have thought Howard would be playing a good first base…..he is….The Utman being Utman….and Raul….wow what a pick ….the others like Werth Shane all doing good at times….but Charlie won’t change….I think he’s on the phone with Andy {how much time is left } Reid….
Posted: 06:49 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Scott E.
Going into the game I thought starting pitching was a problem, but not today, it was bullpen management.
If the bullpen was solid, after Romero got back, I thought maybe Madson could move into the rotation and it would look like this: Hamels, Myers, Happ/Madson, Blanton and Kendrick. Yep, I don’t know ’bout the future of Moyer, due to his year. He got squeezed last start and I would hate to think the umpires could end his career, but they might.
Taschner was gotten for stinkin’ Ronnie Polino. He has done well and the Phils have to find out if he has the stuff.
It is too early and I think the bullpen will be fine, but the starting pitching need another round of good starts for me not to think that is the team’s bigger problem.
There offense is too good not to stick around, but somethings got to improve with the pitching.
Another week or so, Rollins could be the big worry.
But it is early, guys. Calm down.
Posted: 06:57 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
Johnny S said it all on this thread. I may have have a little more patience than him on the spotty starting pitching.
We’ll all have to stew in our own juices until Tuesday. A Manny-less Dodgers team coming to town is a gift from heaven.
The Phils must win at least 2 of 3 to get some positive momentum.
Posted: 07:33 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
The maddening part is it feels like that when we have a good to great pitching performance (like Park at NYM or Myers today) the offense comes up small. I think they are 0 & 11 when they score 3 runs or less.
Nothing ever comes easy for this team….Go Phils!!
Posted: 07:38 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
Matt M, I’m with you, you are one hundred percent right. The mets are like that fat kid on your block who would always buy the newest most expensive nike sneakers, expecting that because he spend the most on his footwear, he would always dominate the local basketball pickup game
Posted: 07:42 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Daniel Murphy
And the Mesies win again!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 07:52 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Daniel Murphy
JOHAN TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 07:53 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
Fine job murph! The MESIES win again! Way to rip your own team!
Posted: 08:08 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Daniel Murphy
Metsies baby… the only one who is ripping on his own team is jimmy rollins…. why isnt anyone talkin bout him bein on the juice!!!!! wheres those power numbers he was puttin up????? oh and nice staff!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our lineup is better, our sp is better, and our relief is 10 times better, oh and our ball park is better, oh and our city is better… nyc is the GREATEST city in the world. wooooo hooooo JOHAN SANATANA TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 09:02 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 PhilthadelphiaSucksAss
The best thing about Philthadelphia is its only a couple hours from New York City.
Posted: 09:10 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
These Mets comments range from somewhere between crazy and idiotic. There too funny and lame to ignore.
I’m an Eagles fan and I know choking in the clutch and yakking when the pressure is highest. The Mets are terrible chokers and will be considered bums until they do something (anything?) in October.
I’ll even concede the Mets may be in first place by 9/15 but the season ends on 10/4 and they will be all choked up by then.
Posted: 09:12 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
woops…i meant “they’re” in the comment above…
…mets fans are very proud that they know the the difference between their….they’re…..and….there.
they just don’t know what a playoff team looks like.
Posted: 09:14 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Gavin
Can someone give me a legit reason why Taschner is on the 25 man, but Majewski is not? He cant get lefties out…..get him outta here.
JRoll is completly lost at the dish, what can you do, but keep sending him out there. Swung at the 1st pitch after the guy walks Myers. I broke a remote on that one my friends.
Posted: 09:23 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 PhilthadelphiaSucksAss
cxl72: Only a total douchebag would bother you about a dumb spelling or grammar mistake. We’re all casual here. IMO, anyone who’d resort to correcting spelling and grammar on a site like this is only displaying a lack of imagination and accepting defeat no matter how they justify it.
And… I am a Mets fan and I *LOVE* the trash talk. Its just fun. I talk trash with my friends all the time. Living in Central NJ, there’s a Yankee, a Rangers fan, a Devils fan, an Eagles fan, a Jets fan a Giants fan… we’re ripping each others’ teams all year long. My wife is a Yankee fan and that’s been a far greater difference between us than our ethnicities… as different as they are, we consider our basball teams the only reason to call it a “mixed marriage”.
If I met ANY of you in person, I would buy you a beer… and talk trash as you enjoyed it. You’d make fun of me for drinking soda (I hate beer!). I’d go watch the Mets and Phillies play, I’d root for my team, I’d poke at you if the Mets won, I’d take my lumps if they lost. We *ALL* love our teams and part of that love is HATING the other guys and LOVING that they hate you back – at least as far as their sports preference goes. If you were my friend in RL, your sports preference wouldn’t even be a factor. You’d just be “my friend”… not “my friend who likes the Phillies” or whatever.
BUT… so this doens’t become a Mickey Mous hugfest, I’d still like to wish you a happy stay in 3rd place… however brief it might be!
Posted: 09:28 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
Gavin, property damage for the Phils, I admire that.
Charlie seems to give guys like Tashner a long leash so that he can figure them out. The downside is today where it costs us a game. Needing 9 outs with a rested bullpen Tashner would be the last guy I would have gone too.
Jimmy is tough to figure out. His OPS is .499 which equates to a totally useless without value. Batting #1 he gets the most plate appearances and is killing us.
Bad starting pitching has kept Jimmy out of the spotlight. The fans and Charlie are giving him every opportunity to turn it around. I hope (rather than know) he can do it.
I have never seem him look this bad, ever.
Posted: 09:33 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 cxl72
PSA that was a good post.
If there were no Mets (or Mets fans) in the world, baseball in Philadelphia would be a pretty boring place. Having that arch rival (in any sport) is great. I am always frustrated how much we hate the Cowboys and how they didnt give a damn about us. With the Mets there is good give and take. I also love the unbalanced schedule and the 18 or so games.
Chasing the Mets (so to say) helped give the Phils the mental toughness to win it all last year. If the Mets make the playoffs their battle scars and Johan Santana would make them a post-season monster.
I’ll be rooting for the Braves tomorrow and all of the Mets opponents while counting the days until we go against the Mets again….
Posted: 09:40 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith E
@Gavin; what kind of remote? Someone here may have a spare.
Posted: 09:54 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
Oh I’m eagerly waiting for this mets starting rotation to come back down to earth…johan’s great, but after that pelfrey’s k/bb ratio is terrible, maine is inconsistent, livan is 60, niese was a disaster in AAA and ollie…well let’s just say I eagerly await the day when ollie returns to the rotation.
Posted: 09:59 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 phillyhater
because pelfreys k/bb ratio is bad means he is bad? thats funny he is 4-0…thats a terrible argument….maine is incosistent?…he had one bad start….another terrible argument…livan is 60?…thats funny he has better numbers than any of your starting pitching..and has been one of the best…another terrible argument…and niese being a disaster in AAA?..who cares..last time i checked he pitched a good game to give us the WIN…and his last outing in AAA was excellent…another bad argument…ill give you ollie…and i love philly fans trashing your ex.MVP only 30 games into the season?…man…and can anyone of the philly fans including the clown that makes this site give the team credit for winning?….my god…its always just the phillies fault…forget that the braves hit better than your team…and pitched better too…and i love how everyone on here talks about the mets choking…any smart philly fan has to figure…lidge wont be perfect again this year…pitching is terrible…oh and the mets have a bullpen…we dont beat you guys last year 1-0…but now having krod and putz…bring it on
Posted: 10:22 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
First, PhilthadelphiaSucksAss…Way to show your extreme amount of class (absolutely NO class) with your screen name. You trach talking sounds like like the last 2 septembers. Refresh my memory, what happened then? Who won the NL East 2 years in a row, and the WS? Forgot already huh? I have watched all of the games since I am in Colorado, but the ones I have seen, the games that Rollins isnt hitting first, the team does well. Rollins and Howard were junk in the field today. NO HUSTLE AT ALL! They looked like the Mutts Outfielders.
Posted: 10:23 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 phillyhater
you think the mets outfielders have no hustle?…at least have a good argument…considering we have beltran out there…gold glove winner right?…ryan church…and ill give you murphy…but its not that he doesnt hustle because he is a gamer…he just sucks in the outfield but hes working on it and you can see it
Posted: 10:27 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
i don’t ever want to see Jack Taschner on the mound in a phillies uni ever again.
Posted: 11:05 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
Phillyhater,
Let’s disintegrate your argument piece by piece:
“because pelfreys k/bb ratio is bad means he is bad? thats funny he is 4-0.” Phillyhater are you of the belief that you judge a pitcher by his wins and losses? Most experts in baseball would agree that a picher’s ERA is a much more telling stat. Pelfrey’s ERA is 5.46. ‘Nuff said.
“maine is incosistent?…he had one bad start.” Really? Against the Padres he went five innings and gave up six runs, and against the cardinals he went 5 and two-thirds giving up five earned runs. Granted, the man had a breakout ’07, but last year he went 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA throwing just 140 innings. 140 innings! He works batters into deep counts and walks too many hitters.
“livan is 60?…thats funny he has better numbers than any of your starting pitching.” Ah, so you’re basing your belief in Livan based on six starts this season (which btw he’s pitching to a 5.08 era with a bad whip), and throwing out last year where he had a 5.48 era and his ’07 debacle where he had an era over 8?
“niese being a disaster in AAA?..who cares..last time i checked he pitched a good game to give us the WIN.” Good argument phillyhater. Very logical. He pitched well in his last start so know you believe in him. Just like every other mets fan who has that what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude.
Posted: 11:10 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Daniel Murphy
hey nyhater…. bottom line is the Metsies are in first place. our rotation is solid. we have the games best by far as our ace, mike pelfrey and john maine who are CONSISTENT starters, who do more than their share of keeping us in the ball game. btw do you realize john maine is coming off shoulder surgery and thats why he started off start but has been lights out his last couple of starts???? livan hernandez knows how to pitch and he keeps us in all of the games hes pitched in. johnathon niese is an absolute stud… reminds me of a young barry zito…….and he showed that in his first start. as far as im concerned it doesnt matter what you do in the minors, but what does matter is how you fare in the majors. as far as oliver perez he will turn it around. NOONE thought louis castillo would turn it around and hes putting up allstar numbers. Your staff is horrible, your bullpen has come back to reality and will eb even worse later on bc of all the innings that fat pig manuel has to use them for bc your starters cant throw 3 innings a la jamie moyer. Let’s Go Metsies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! btw we have K-ROD AND PUTZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 11:36 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Bob
Give me the Mets Rotation over the Phillies rotation any day of the week. thanks.
Posted: 11:38 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 nyhater
Murph,
Bottom line: My staff has one me a ring.
Your staff has won absolutely nothing.
Posted: 11:42 PM on May 10, 2009
Posts: 0 phillyhater
pelfreys era is 5.46…ok..thats fine…is he getting the wins with how bad hes been pitching?…yes…5.46 era…hmm..makes you wonder what he can really do when he starts pitching better….ok..im sorry..TWO bad starts…and last year he pitched 140 innings because of an INJURY…just like cole hamels…again..getting wins right?…LIVAN IS THE 5TH GUY IN THE ROTATION….anything that he is doing is better than any of the guys in your rotation…and HES THE FIFTH STARTER…when did i ever say i believed in him?…i said exactly what you said.he pitched a good game to get the WIN…he struggles in AAA comes to the big leagues and gets a W his first time out.when he starts pitching with consistency then yes i will believe in him..and this last line you lay down is really comical :
Just like every other mets fan who has that what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude
hey…check your buddies up top…jimmy rollins an mvp..off to a slow start…and you guys are ready to KILL him…what has he done for you lately?…nothing..so lets blame him for losing..HAHAHAHAHA…wow…i would say good argument but..nahh…ohhhhh and by the way…zach greinke is 6-1 and we are basing him on his first 7…so why cant anyone base livans 6 starts so far..especially like i said being the 5th starter….come on now…i can tell you are not an intelligent philly fan…i dont mind arguing and losing…but you dont seem like much of a problem…i mean you are pretty much saying the same stuff as the other guy said
Posted: 11:47 PM on May 10, 2009