Phillies Drop Heartbreaker, Fall To .500
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, May 14, 2009 04:53 PM | Comments: 133
2009 Recaps, Posts
In one of the worst losses in recent memory, the Phillies charged back in the ninth, but let it slip away again in the 10th, losing to the Dodgers, 5-3.
It was brutal, really, aside from two bright spots. The first: Cole Hamels was fantastic. He went seven innings, giving up one earned run (a seventh-inning home run by fire-hot James Loney) while striking out nine. The second: The two-out, ninth-inning rally that started with a Raul Ibanez single, carried over with a Greg Dobbs walk and capped with a Carlos Ruiz double. At the time, it was a godsend, truly a chance for the Phillies to redeem themselves.
However …
Chad Durbin quickly surrendered two runs in the 10th, putting the game officially out of reach for the home team. That added onto the already-harrowing points made throughout the game: Chase Utley is disgustingly slumping (now a .278 hitter), Ryan Howard can’t hit anymore (another 0-for-4), Shane Victorino has lost his swing (again, 0-for-4), Jimmy Rollins still can’t do it (1-for-5) and Brad Lidge cannot go an inning without surrendering a run (fifth-straight appearance giving up a run).
Is Utley injured? Is Lidge injured? What happened to Victorino? Will Rollins ever rebound? Can Charlie Manuel manage a game correctly? All these questions are impossible to answer right now; instead, one fact remains: The Phillies are suddenly a .500 team once again.
Posts: 0 Don M
Madson threw 19 pitches.. they have 4 games in the next 3 days.. and I don’t know about you but i’d like him to be available for them, instead of staying in a game we were already losing
Maybe Charlie should have thrown Durbin in the 9th instead of Lidge
But maybe Ibanez should have played that ball on a hop.. then Blake’s sac-fly to Center would have just been an out.. instead of making the game 3-1
I’m not a big fan of using your closer in non-save situations, but I fully understand not wanting to keep Madson out there..
I was down there yesterday, and it was awesome when they tied it, disappointing when we gave the lead back .. but to say its one of the worst losses in recent memory is a little dramatic
Posted: 09:54 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Utley and Victorino look lost at the plate the past few games.. but that’s baseball .. they’ll be fine
Posted: 09:54 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
Well I did the math and I found out that the mets are on track for 12,612 losses after 120 years…..thats more than us. Have fun!!!
Posted: 09:59 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
The part that bothers me is that it was a bad baseball move on top of a bad personnel move. We all see that Lidge is not built for non-save situations… we all see that… but wouldn’t the better move be to preserve Lidge for the best hitters? Charlie brought in Lidge against the 6,7 and 8 hitters. Granted, Loney’s on fire but the move essentially forced him to trot out Durbin against the top of the order. Loney’s also a lefty… Lidge is a righty… obviously, Matt Kemp’s AB was the one that killed us but the move just doesn’t make much sense, to me. Hindsight is always 20/20 but I didn’t get it when it happened and I don’t get it now.
Posted: 10:00 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
I have a question for all of yall. Are you all from Philly? Cause Im from upstate ny and I was wondering if people outside of Philly know a way to watch the game. Anywhere online? How does everyone watch their Phillies games?
Posted: 10:05 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
MLB Extra Innings, mostly.
Posted: 10:08 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
The problem is Ibanez making an error that got scored as a triple..
which Ruiz wiped away with his hit…
And Durbin got beat in the 10th.. its not as big a deal as everyone wants it to be.
Lidge pitched OK.. if we aren’t going to use him when we need a shut-down pitcher.. why is he on the roster? Phillies were playing to tie.. they thought their best chance to do that was Lidge to hold them scoreless in the 9th.. and for us to get a run..
well instead Lidge gave up 1 run (Ibanez more at fault than Lidge.. but Ibanez has been pretty good in LF all year so that doesn’t bother me).. Ruiz knocking them in makes all that pointless anyway. .
Why all our bats go silent in the same homestand is the issue.. Rollins was one the few Phillies to actually do anything yesterday, but people still hate him.
That ball he got charged an error on was one tough play… Caset Blake stutter-stepping right in front of Rollins, and then moved in front of Jimmy just at the right time for Rollins to lose the ball.. by the time he saw it again it was right on top of him
Posted: 10:10 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Vince
Since you’re getting tired of the mets fans, how bout a braves fan. We’re 4-2 against the Phils this year (would be 5-1 if it wasn’t for Blaine Boyer blowing a 7 run lead). Chipper hasn’t began to hit yet. Your rotation is a joke, much like ours last year after Hudson went down. How does 70 wins sound?
Posted: 10:25 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
“Rollins was one the few Phillies to actually do anything yesterday, but people still hate him.”
Again… defending good ol’ Rollins… the guy’s STILL hitting .200 for Christ’s sake! What do you expect?
Posted: 10:33 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
I usually spew positivity… but Charlie’s been making bad decisions (hindsight is always 20/20 but if you consistently make the wrong decisions, you have to start questioning things), the guys typically at the top of our order (Rollins, Victorino, Utley and Howard) had 4 hits for the entire series, a baserunning blunder (Hamels caught off of first leads to an out at home), relievers not getting it done, waayyyyyyyy too many errors in the field… sometimes you have to step up and make these guys hold themselves accountable. We have been DAMN lucky so far. We should not have been in first place at the end of April but we were. Now the bulls eyes are back and we’re playing bad baseball… it’s a double edged sword we have to play better as a team. But there is hope… it comes in the form of a four game series against the Natinals followed by a three game series against the Reds. In fact, the rest of this month is very manageable. Next month is the killer… we have to hope that Toronto cools off because we have them twice in June… we also have the Rays, Red Sox, Mets and Dodgers.
Posted: 10:35 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
I am not panicing, I am just frustrated with the inconsistency and people like
Jroll who run their mouth and he has absolutely been horrible at the plate. Then he runs his mouth again 400 in may and he is still having his ridiculous hit the first pitch thrown to him mentality. He is not seeing the ball at all well.
Utley has turned into the ice king at the plate and
Howard’s whole the size of mack truck is back in his swing.
Werth still cannot hit a fastball, and swings at times like something out of the bad news bears.
Feliz has settled in as a 275 hitter that he is and
Ibanez is showing why they signed him.
Victorino swings at some of the worst pitches I have ever seen.
Ruiz is well Ruiz
On paper this lineup is the best hitting lineup from top to bottom. ONe of the problems is something I posted right before the beginning of the season. We have nothing on our bench. We need some injection of youth on this team somewhere, since we are so streaky.
Cairo is a waste of space
Bruntlett is a good utlity fielder
Dobbs is starting show that maybe he was a one hit wonder last year
Stairs is our hired gun at the plate
Coste… well don’t get me started with him.
The only one there that is capable of filling in in a lineup day in and day out I think is “the beard”, maybe Dobbs.
Bench players should be able to play not just be one dimentional.
That is not panicing that is stating facts, that is stating frustration. What should they do? not sure but someone in the FO should wake up and make something work, or the coaching staff… get back to basics. Just cause you have played well in the past doesn’t mean pulling out the tee and working on fundamentals doesn’t hurt. I mean one huge bright spot is Howards fielding, you can see he worked hard to fix that, now fix that whole the size of my car in your swing.
Posted: 10:36 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Woodman
70 wins for the pathetic Braves sounds about right, Vince! Fourth place in the division.
Posted: 10:37 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Daniel Murphy
another win for the Metsies!!!!!
Posted: 10:44 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Woodman
Hey Daniel: Have you learned how to catch a fly ball yet?
Posted: 10:46 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
I understand why the mets fans are so bitter and annoying, I mean every year they are trumped in their own city by the over spending Yankees.
METS FANS
You are on the wrong site the Yankees site is not here, go whine to them.
I know it is sad when you can’t have top billing in your own town… you are certainly not top billing here.
Go bother teams you are on the same level as……
Posted: 11:00 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Batters hitting the first pitch have an average almost .100 points higher than at any other count..
Rollins went 3-for-12 in that series.. 3 Runs, 2 RBIs .. great, no.. good, yes
Victorino.. was 1-for-14… 0 Runs, 1 RBI
Utley.. was 0-for-11 … 0 Runs, 0 RBI .. walked twice
Howard.. was 1-for-11.. 1 Run, 1 RBI.. 7 strikeouts!
Werth.. was 3-for-10.. 2 Runs, 0 RBI.
Ibanez.. 4-for-9.. 2 Runs, 3 RBI
Feliz.. 0-for 7.. 1 Run, 0 RBI… Four Walks
Ruiz.. was 4-for-6.. 0 Runs, 2 RBIs… FIVE walks
Props to RUIZ for a hell of a series..
So Jimmy is one of the few players that did anything at all… People really just don’t like him for whatever reason.. and when he’s no longer playing here, we’re all going to wish he was..
He’s not going to get 10 hits in a game anytime soon, and I’m starting to think that even if he did, people would get mad if they weren’t all Triples or something..
Posted: 11:01 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Rich
What a ridiculously negative blog post. It’s one game, calm the hell down. And “Chase Utley is disgustingly slumping (now a .278 hitter)” Really? Yeah, I’m real worried since his OBP is .414 and his SLG is well over .500
Guess what? PLAYERS SLUMP SOMETIMES
Have you ever watched baseball before?
Posted: 11:02 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Rich is right… It’s been pretty damn negative all year.. if they lose a game (which happens over the course of a 162 game season) people act like we just eliminated ourselves from the playoffs..
We lost a series at home to the best team in baseball .. and that somehow caused people to jump off the bandwagon
I understand people being upset after Wednesday nights loss… but yesterday was a good game.. Billingsley is 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP..
Im really not all that concerned with this loss.. There is a ton more baseball to play this season
Posted: 11:16 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
Rich, they’re playing bad baseball… should we be happy about that?? I don’t think so. You can only cut them slack for so long… we were LUCKY to be in first place at the end of April. We need to play better baseball or we won’t be defending anything when September rolls around.
Don, Jimmy is the man… I’m a huge J-Roll supporter and I agree with you 100%. We don’t like guys that have pure talent… we like guys that have to bust their hump to get ahead because that’s what this city is about. Once a generation players like Chase Utley that give us both are idolized… literally, worshipped. Rollins is the best shortstop in franchise history and he is one of the most talented players that has ever played in this town but he doesn’t seem to be himself… he brushed off reporters for the second time this week. The careless attitude that brings out the pitchforks is creeping back. I love the guy… he’s definitely underappreciated but if expects us to stand behind him, he needs to let us know that he’s doing everything he can to make things right. He had a decent series…
Speaking of decent… Howard made a fine defensive play yesterday to double up Martin.
Posted: 11:19 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
You have to continue to shake up the lineup, juggle it a bit. Miguel Cairo needs replaced with a reliever or an ACTUAL RH power bench bat (which apparently are as rare as rhodium or palladium or something).
There are names being thrown around for starting ptiching now so thats something to look ouit for.
I cant see how you can justify sending moyer out there more than e or 4 more times ESPECIALLY if Happ mows em down on saturday night.
Posted: 11:23 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Rollins probably brushed off reporters because when he tells them how he honestly feels.. that he thinks he’s a leadoff hitter, not a #5 guy… because its speed, not power, that is his most important aspect..
They right stories about how pissed off he is that he’s not leading off..
So i can’t blame him for just saying nothing..
He is doing everything he can.. the day that he said how good he was feeling, and that he was ready to break out.. was after he spent 4 hours in the batting cages!! People just don’t like him, and Im really not sure..
anyone that tells me that Utley doesn’t get more a pass than Howard and Rollins is kidding themselves..
And nobody pays any attention to Rollins making great plays everyday at SS, but he makes an error on a tough play and of course its a big deal
Posted: 11:55 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Moyer is currently penciled-in as the starter on Tuesday vs. the Reds…
which is a hitter’s park even more than CBP I think??
Blanton tonight
Myers day tomrw
Happ night tomrw
Park Sunday
OFF MONDAY
Moyer Tuesday
So then
Hamels Wed
OFF THURSDAY
Blanton Friday vs. NYY
Myers Saturday vs. NYY
Park Sunday vs. NYY
Monday- Memorial Day is back against the Marlins (who Moyer has success against)… so Im guessing at least two more starts for Moyer … unless they use OFF DAYS as reasons to skip him, and throw Happ when the empty-spot comes around in the rotation?
Posted: 11:59 AM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
As a heavy person I can say this the mets coming on this blog and bragging, after the last two seasons , is like me calling someone fat. first look in the mirror at yourself before speaking.
Posted: 12:13 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
I just hope that before they do finally pull him (which will likely be by mid-June if he keeps this up) that he gets win 250 before that time.
Posted: 12:15 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
If he keeps having to be pulled in the 2nd, or 4th innings.. he’s done soon..
but I don’t honestly believe he’s anywhere near as bad as he’s shown his last few outings..
you don’t just all of a sudden forget how to pitch.. its just that sometimes your pitches may not be doing what they normally do.. it happens to every pitcher at some point.. lets hope Moyer bounces back on Tuesday
Posted: 12:30 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
It appears that most fans here have Moyer on a very short leash and while that’s understandable considering the team as a whole is struggling, I will look from what I think is the manager’s perspective.
Manual is allowing for patience with his rotation of starters. Fans here have a short memory regarding this same cast (with exception of Park) of starters and what they accomplished to get to the playoffs and eventual WS championship. That’s why Manual is confident that these same professionals can round into form and we are gradually seeing that happening from Hamels on down.
With Moyer, Manual have seen him in both leagues and knows that 23 years and 249 wins can’t be discounted for the crafty veteran’s early season’s struggles. He knows his mistakes and mistakes are correctible. It has nothing to do with age.
Moyer knows he needs to be consistent with command and location in getting a pitcher’s count. Once that is established, he can expand the strike zone and change speeds. Manual (and Dubee) knows that plus Moyer’s bible on hitter’s tendencies and weakness. Moyer deserves that respect and allowance for time to work out those issues he has. Oh.. I totally agreed with that thinking…;-)
Posted: 12:45 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Once Happ is in the rotation it also means there is basuically no more room for error without making a trade. So if, say moyer goes soon then when (unless hes really turned the corner) park goes or if blanton cant rebound consistently there are potentially two more gaping holes in the rotation.
I HAVE to think taht blanton is going to recover, of all three (moyer, blanton, park) blanton is the most likely to return to good form. anyways, so kendrick is kenrick, carrasco doesnt look ready and any of those “young guns” carry a high risk/reward attachment. so once they use happ as a permanent rotation guy theyd have to make a trade unless theyre going to throw two young guys out there. even so, Im figuring they wont trade for two guys and that theyll only have to trade for one even if they have two holes post-happ’s rotation insertion. maybe they will send up one of these young guns…but i gotta think blamnton will recover and theyll avoid it.
Posted: 12:56 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
Moyer isn’t hames, he doesn’t at 46 years old deserve any respect, he did a job and got paid big dollars. now he can’t do the job and needs to step back, go to the pen and prove he belongs in the rotation. If you are a great sales men or ad exec. and all of a sudden you can’t produce do they say well remember when you were good , don’t worry keep losing accounts for us you earned it. I don’t think so.
Posted: 01:00 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
Sorry so mad spelled hamels wrong, Can’t understand people logic on this guy. Everybody thinks well we can turn it on at any time. that was last year this is a new year.
Posted: 01:02 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
also last year they DID NOT turn it on at will. Charlie changed the lineup a billion times and they made a few trades in cluding blanton before they really started to get it going. People just think they flicked a switch last year and it came on. NO, Charlie managed brilliantly down the stretch last year in terms of manageing player ego and personality and getting them to perform well. thats what turned it around.
now its going to be up to the manager to do that task again. he didnt get enough credit last year for his managing job and thjis year he has to really step in and get these guys to play well again.
Posted: 01:06 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
Geoff that was on of my questions. Do people think Jimmy Williams was the reason charlie was so brilliant? Losing williams who help with the stragery could hurt.
Posted: 02:06 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 bob
Well my biggest gripe w/ Charlie is that uses Lidge when we are trailing. He did this last season with Jimy Williams on the bench, so no Charlie did not forget how to manage.
With the DH coming up, he couldn’t use Madson for an additional inning, that I understand. I believe the right move would have been to use Durbin in the top of the 9th. If we tie them, we can go to our closer in a tie game at home in the 10th.
With that said, hindsight is 20/20 and Charlie has a better read on the team that any of us.
Charlie needs to improve his bullpen management, players need to get out of their slumps. But this is baseball and it’s a long season.
This is a wonderful and frustratingly flawed team. Nothing comes easy!
Posted: 02:51 PM on May 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
Rich,
you are right to a point. I know Utley is slumping and I know all players slump, but besides Ibanez and Ruiz for one series the WHOLE LINEUP is slumping that is not normal, and they need to make some adjustments, Not really seeing the adjustsment from a fans point of view that I would like.
Just my 2 cents, but you are right, just my thoughts
Go Phillies
Posted: 02:53 PM on May 15, 2009