Gameday: Braves (13-16) At Phillies (15-12)
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, May 09, 2009 02:20 PM | Comments: 66
Gameday 2009, Posts
Atlanta Braves (13-16) at Philadelphia Phillies (15-12)
Javier Vazquez (2-3, 4.19 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (1-2, 6.48 ERA)
Time: 3:40 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Weather: Partly cloudy, 81
TV: FOX
Twitter: Phillies Nation
After Cole Hamels came back with a vengeance, Joe Blanton takes the hill to prove he ain’t no fluke.
Blanton pitched very well against Saint Louis Monday night, so he’ll hope to carry that today on national television against a team that has already bloodied him in 2009. Back on April 8, Atlanta tagged Blanton for seven runs on nine hits in four innings. That night was highlighted by a monster home run by Brian McCann, who has returned from injury and carries a career 1.000 average against Blanton.
Facing Blanton that day was Javier Vazquez, and he’s back again today for this contest. The Phils got to him a little that day, tagging him for three runs on five hits in six innings. Raul Ibanez homered off him that day, part of a .375, 3 HR clip against Vazquez for his career.
Brad Lidge, who surrendered a home run last night, has already given up three more home runs this season than in all of 2008. To be fair, in just two of his appearances he’s given up runs have the Phils had an advantage of two runs or fewer. One of those two? That April 8 game against Atlanta — he got the save.
Your gameday beer: The Duvel made me do it. At happy hour last night, I spotted the local haunt carried Duvel. The barkeep poured one, then alleged that it exploded. Sure. Whatever the case, I was drinking two Duvels for one, a large price to pay for balance. Today I bring Duvel to you. This crisp, blonde strong ale. Fruity, biting, but overall smooth and refreshing, this Belgian treat is one to hold high. You’d better have a fresh serving of fries and clams with you, my friend.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 Lets Go Mets
How about those mets?
Posted: 03:34 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Craig
Duvel Excellent choice! Very, very strong beer. It’s about 9%.
About the only thing that the Belgians do right
Posted: 03:39 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
I hate Fox. I never get the Phillies games
Posted: 03:52 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
go Phillies!
Posted: 03:52 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Whose are the commentators?? Their not that bad.
Blanton’s pitching well, keeping the ball low and throwing hard.
Posted: 03:59 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Mickey
Excellent choice Tim, but today Im going with “Exit 4″ from Flying Fish brewery. Local to South Jersey, its an American Trippel at about 9%. Crisp and fruity and highly recommended if you can find it.
Posted: 04:00 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Mark Grace
Posted: 04:02 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Hes knows his stuff
Posted: 04:14 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
if u say so
Posted: 04:19 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Came home and saw Fox would rather show Sox game here in NY. I hate the Sox.
Posted: 04:19 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Braves fan
McCann owns Blanton
Posted: 04:20 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Can’t stand Youkilis
Posted: 04:21 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Kobe isn’t from Philly? lol Lower Merion
Posted: 04:24 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Caleb
Joe “Flyout” Blanton this inning.
Posted: 04:34 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
UTLEY!!!
Utley: 10
Ibanez: 8
Howard: 6
Werth: 6
Posted: 04:41 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Caleb
No foot problem here!
Posted: 04:41 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Craig
McCann’s career batting average against Blaton?
1.00
Posted: 04:46 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
that was just a pretty play by howard.
Posted: 04:49 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
the pitcher just got a double though
Posted: 04:50 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
ugh
Posted: 04:54 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
make that three straight extra base hits
Posted: 04:54 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 AGH
Charlie should go to a 6-man rotation. Have Hamels and Happ go every fifth day and the rest of that motley crew can split up the rest of the assignments. None of the starters can manage consecutive quality starts. That wouldn’t be so bad, if their nonquality starts weren’t so disastrous.
Posted: 04:59 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Blanton did pitch well.
Posted: 05:21 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 ha
2nd place
Posted: 05:26 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 PhillyGameday.com
They’re really making Vazquez into a better pitcher than he really is.
Posted: 05:27 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Blanton in the 8th inning
Posted: 05:30 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Just a random thought: Blanton should’ve never been facing McCann again. Never.
Posted: 05:32 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I knew it… Why leave Blanton against McCann when you could put in a guy like Eyre to get him out!
Posted: 05:32 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Braves
Blanton should just walk McCann every time he comes to the plate
Posted: 05:32 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Blanton had a good game though
Posted: 05:33 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 AGH
Did it seem to anyone else that Charlie wasn’t particularly interested in winning this game? Letting Blanton lead off the 6th was an odd decision to me. Letting him pitch into the 8th was pretty pointless, too. Glad to see Joe get his work in–at least his ERA didn’t take too much of a hit. Pretty typical performance.
Posted: 05:34 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
He threw some good pitches, but he also left plenty right on the middle of the plate… A decent start, but definitely not good.
Posted: 05:35 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Mickey
Umm keith, its 6 to 1….Please tell me how Blanton had a good game
Posted: 05:36 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Bob
I think he means a decent start for a phillies starting pitcher….. not a typical major league starting pitching
Posted: 05:38 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
RAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLL
Posted: 05:39 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Johnny Snowden
RAAAAUUUUUUUL
Posted: 05:39 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
nice Ibanez
Utley: 10
Ibanez: 8
Howard: 6
Werth: 6
Posted: 05:40 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
9* for Ibanez
cuz he actually went 8 innings and like the announcers said pitched a lot better than what the score says
Posted: 05:41 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
What? I missed the first few innings, but didn’t Joe give up 6 runs in 8 innings? How is that even a decent start? Since when is an ERA of over 5 acceptable for a 3 or 4 starter? There’s no way they can repeat as WFC if these starters keep getting smacked around, holy cow, am I the only one freaking out about all these HRs? YIKES!!!!
Posted: 05:42 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 AGH
Blanton gave up 2 home runs and 4 extra base hits (including 1 to the pitcher). There were no errors behind him. It what universe is that considered a good outing?
Posted: 05:43 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I guess the right way to put it is: he was “decent” till the 8th inning, before giving up the homer to McCann. The homer to Yunel Escobar was a actually a good pitch.
Posted: 05:43 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
well at least the announcers agree with me . . .
Posted: 05:44 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
our hitting has been terrible though
Posted: 05:45 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Mickey
Keith, first of all, he never should have been allowed to go 8 innings. And i dont give an F what the announcers say, the score is what it is. There were no runs scored because of errors, those were all Blanton’s ERs. 6 runs in 8 innings is NOT a good start!!!!
I think we need to go to a 6 man rotation. I cant stand this nonsense with the starting pitchers any longer.
Posted: 05:46 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
oh well, I don’t agree.
Posted: 05:48 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Did Charlie Manuel fall asleep? I really don’t understand why he let Blanton pitch the 8th when it was a close game… especially against McCann!
Posted: 05:49 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
well I thought he was gonna get pinch hit in the 6th
Posted: 05:50 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
but it’s nice to see one of our starters going 8 innings for a change
Posted: 05:52 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Mickey, I agree, I’m almost afraid to turn the freakin game on now, it’s just BAM,BAM outta here almost every day. I gave them a pass for April but you can’t keep up like this, the Mets are starting to win games now.
Posted: 05:53 PM on May 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Cmon Eyreeeeee throw some strikes!!
Posted: 05:58 PM on May 9, 2009