Phillies Nation

to put it as simply as I can, the bravos just don’t have enough firepower in their lineup. and their best hitter can never stay healthy. I don’t care how good their pitching is, even when they had smoltz, glavine, and maddux all in their prime, they still had david justice and chipper and andruw jones.

We won’t be facing Jurrjens (and his 2.XX ERA) or Derek Lowe… so we have a good chance of sweeping this series. My bet is that it will all come down to Hamels’ start tonight. He needs to set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

Btw, J-roll made a prediction (yes, another one)… A 2009 WS between the Yankees and Phillies… which is exactly what I predicted right before the season started –even though now it looks that the Yankees will have a very tough time in that AL East division.

No its time for Cole to step up and remain healthy. I dont need to see Jamie Moyer out there again, let JA Happ take his place. Carlos Carrasco is not ready as he has struggled mightily in AAA Lehigh (winless, bloated ERA). So given that Kendrick is the only other option down there whos ready unless Stutes gets a surprise call then I think they need to start looking outside the organization if there is a need to replace anyone other than one guy.

Manny,

Mr. Rollins speaks boldly, almost impetuously now because of his “prediction,” or mere guess in 2007. I’ll retract this statement if the Phillies actually do play the Yankees in the 2009 World Series. Even then, he is still liable for wishful thinking.

David

Well I agree there..Park hasnt shown me muich except one start. Even in Jamies weakened condition, he has shown me more than Park has. Whatever thats worth.

Cole HAS to have a good start tonight, he just has to. The starters have been beaten up too many times, and I think you’re beginning to see not only looks of frustration on their faces, but Myers in particular, was acting very weird in the dugout after he was done. I realize that’s not exactly out of character for him, but the way he was acting reminded me of last year when he lost himself. For some reason I’m feeling very nervous about the game tonight, I’m almost afraid to watch…

Lets be honest here. They will not go to a 6 man rotation, because god forbid Hamels gets more that 4 days rest.

Also, Huge series for the Phils right here. The weather getting warmer, they face the 3 worse pitchers on their staff, and quite frankly, the lineup is producing. If they can get a half decent showing from Blanton and Myers, should be capable of a sweep, and build some damn confidence.

i’d like to start with winning the game tonight before calling for a sweep. coming off getting swept by the mets, they just need to get this series started on the right foot.

I just looked up Carrasco’s stats. At AAA, he has a 5.46 ERA but has 34 K and 6 BB in 31.1 innings. With those peripherals, it’s only a matter of time.

Interesting note on the back end of the Braves rotation, Tommy Hanson has a 1.65 ERA and has 48 K in 32.2 innings at AAA. This could be the last go around in the rotation for Jo Jo Reyes or Kawakami.

You would rather have a pitcher out there who since 2002, has never pitched more than 145 innings, but managed to have a era over 5, every year gives up more hits than innings pitched, over a 100 homeruns surrender and three years since 2002 has given up over 20 homeruns. he ha4 4 good years if you consider two or three games over 500 good. but since 2002 has plain been bad. Moyer would be my choice, not on stuff but on guts and brains.

Classic Phils. Everyone was thinking sweep, at least 2 of 3 since Phils weren’t facing the Braves top 2 SPs and the offense goes into a shell at home against 2 righties.