Gameday: Cubs (47-44) vs. Phillies (52-38)
Posted by Amanda Orr, Tue, July 21, 2009 06:14 PM | Comments: 147
Gameday 2009, Posts
Chicago Cubs (47-44) at Philadelphia Phillies (52-38)
Rich Harden (6-6, 5.06 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.44 ERA)
Time: 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Cloudy, 69
TV:Comcast Sportsnet
Twitter: Phillies Nation
The Phillies will attempt their tenth straight victory. They haven’t won ten in a row since 1991 when they won 13 straight.
The rain wiped out Joe Blanton’s last start after 1.1 innings. He gave up two runs on 24 pitches, but luckily for him, the game was postponed. The rescheduled game will not be until September, but Blanton will start today, three days after the washout. In his last nine starts, Blanton is 4-1 with a 2.44 earned run average.
After blowouts, the Phillies always seem to have trouble scoring in the following night. After a ten-run outburst, the Phillies need to keep up their offense against a struggling Rich Harden. Harden has a 5.06 ERA, but was better in his last start. Granted, he faced the Nationals, but on the road he is 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA.
Your Gameday Beer – Amstel
No, not Amstel Light…Amstel, it’s big brother. Named after the river that flows through Amsterdam, Amstel tastes like a mix between Heineken and Bud. It has the complexity of Heineken (not to mention it’s owned by them) without the bite – definitely a macrobrew. Around Holland you can pick up a can of Amstel in vending machines which is most convenient when you don’t know the language. I’d recommend a fancy hot dog with all your preferred toppings tonight. – By Brian
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 Keith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOw2zbJVAjE
^Jimmy Rollins gives tour of his house
Posted: 06:15 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 jeromy
I run a liquor store like 2 min from jimmys house. I’m still waiting for him to come in. Kevin kolb comes in. Come on jroll!
Posted: 06:23 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Dear Amanda. Please accept my public apology to you for my boorish behavior. I’m not always good at curbing my anti social tendencies but will try harder to do so in the future. Thanks and keep up the great work.
The Dipsy
Posted: 07:07 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Wheels just called Reed Johnson a “dirt ball player”, whom will do whatever do get on base. Hahaha wtf
Posted: 07:08 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
LG – Just flip on the radio.
The Dipsy
Posted: 07:13 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Whee! Leadoff hit for JRoll means good things for the Phillies.
Posted: 07:16 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Rollins is on fire
Posted: 07:17 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Ew, MLB online audio is about 6 seconds behind video tonight, but I’m just tired of Wheels.
Posted: 07:24 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Wheels makes every pitcher we face sound like Cy Young…I mean I understand that Harden has good stuff but his ERA is over 5. So just shut up and bring some new analysis to the table.
Posted: 07:25 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
I love Howard. I really do but its tough to love him. I just have no confidence when he comes up. He swings at garbage. When Albert comes up I get sick. I just know he will come up big. I dont get that feeling with Ryan. Yes he collects his homers like against the Pirates.
Posted: 07:27 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Andrew
Ruiz gets himself out.
Not good
Posted: 07:38 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Alright lets get on the board here
Posted: 07:47 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Oh baby JRoll! Green light! Charlie you are an idiot! Haha….
Posted: 07:49 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Rick Sutcliffe, Bruce Sutter, Greg Maddux and ???????
The Dipsy
Posted: 07:49 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Jimmmmmmy
Posted: 07:49 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
With that homer/hit J-Roll’s average is now 241. The highest its been all year since he went 1-4 (250 avg) on opening day.
Posted: 07:51 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Jeff, Howard hits homers against everyone. There are just a few guys that cause severe matchup problems for him because of the holes in his swing. It’s more a pitcher by pitcher thing than it is a team vs team thing.
Posted: 07:53 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Repeat!
Philles Nation. Ha! More like Bozo Nation if you ask me. It’s funny how you idiots pick and chose who you get on. Charlie Manuel should have been slammed for his stubborness or unwillingness to play “small ball in the 1st inn. J-roll:lead off single and advs to 2nd on wp. Shane swings away and pops it up. Either CM is an idiot for not calling for a bunt especially w/rp and Chase/Howard on deck or Shane’s Insubor for not follwing orders. That was a free run and we gave it away. How many times have the Phillies done that this season or the last 2-3. But u jump on Howard but not Chase. Some of u r bordey racists…. Sad
Posted: 08:03 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Mets dropped another ball
Posted: 08:08 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Dave
Gee… I wonder why we jump on Howard but not Chase. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Chase’s average is .050 higher, has an obp .080 pts and wasn’t a defensive liability before this season?
Nah… it’s racism. That’s why all Phillies fans hate Raul Ibanez, after all.
Posted: 08:13 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Pretty sure Moyer, Lidge, Werth and even Madson have been ripped on here from time to time. And they have more in common than just being Phillies. Get over yourself and go away.
Posted: 08:20 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Howard…. it took him less AB’s than anyone else in baseball history to get to 200 HR. Yeah, I would say that he’s pretty good and should be revered in this town. Albert Pujols is one of the greatest hitters in baseball history so it’s tough to compare anyone to him. He’s a member of a very select group of players that has amassed a career .300 average, .400 OBP and .600 SLG (the others… some guys that you might have heard of… Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg, Jimmy Foxx and Babe Ruth). It’s probably a little early to draw those types of comparisons but he’s the best hitter of this day by far.
Posted: 08:28 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Blanton has been good again tonight but the Cubs are making a lot of hard outs. Two by Derrek Lee come to mind, as well as that last line out by Reed Johnson. On the other end, I don’t think we have made any hard outs tonight. Hopefully we can scratch a few out here. I think 2 more runs can win this game for us.
Posted: 08:34 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
The Cubs bullpen is very good HOWEVER, they’ve been under a lot of stress lately (haven’t had many starters go deep over the past week). Our pen is well rested but hasn’t been great. I’ll take our pen well rested… but it could be a long one.
Posted: 08:40 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Man the big poppa really had a couple fastballs to hit 3-2, but I’m glad he laid off that garbage in the dirt to at least get on base. LETS GO RAUL!
Posted: 08:43 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
It is so frustrating seeing this team put up double digits one night and then finding it almost impossible to score anything the next night. Same team, same batters, I just don’t get it. Hopefully they can pull it out tonight and not waste Blanton’s solid effort.
Posted: 08:43 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
That’s just baseball Ed R, plain and simple. Lilly wasn’t very good last night and we made him pay. Harden has been good and we haven’t had good swings. The only frustration that I feel from this team is when they go on the extended losing streaks where they can’t do anything offensively. It’s one thing to have an off night but they have had stretches like this that last for weeks. Then they win 9 in a row. It’s a wild game.
Posted: 08:46 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of Nova
These are the nights when I wish the phillies would make the pitcher pitch and be patient
Posted: 08:53 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
gotta pull blanton if hill gets on
Posted: 08:54 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Blanton has been amazing
Posted: 08:55 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I don’t disagree that its a prime example of baseball but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
Posted: 08:56 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Franklin Gutierrez just crashed into a chain link fence in Detroit… it was a good one…
Posted: 09:01 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
OK: Time to wake up the bats.
Posted: 09:11 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Nice inning Mad Dog…
Posted: 09:12 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
8 pitches…3 outs. Way to go Mad Dog.
Posted: 09:14 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Nats beat the Mets 4-0. Lannan threw a CG 4H.
Posted: 09:15 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Nats beat the Mets 4-0. Lannan threw a CG 7H.
Posted: 09:15 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox and Brewers are in Toronto to scout Cliff Lee… and rub elbows with JP Riccardi.
LET’S GO PHILLIES!
Posted: 09:17 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Braves are kicking butt though. Their bats have come to life, or so it seems.
Posted: 09:19 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
It’s time to stop worrying about the Mets and start worrying about the Braves
Posted: 09:20 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
THAT WAS NOT A STRIKE…
Posted: 09:22 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
that was a little bit low…not a strike…
Posted: 09:22 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
Not a strike, folks. As I’ve said before on this site, you have to chalk about 10 Ks a year onto Howard’s count for pitches that umps call against the big guy. Their zone is massive against him.
Posted: 09:23 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
That was a Jamie Moyer strike – in other words: a phantom strike
Posted: 09:24 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Andrew
no no no
lidge in non save situation
wonder what his era is in non save situations
i am guessing 9 or higher
Posted: 09:25 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
The other 190 strikes you can attribute to him swinging at garbage. But I do agree with you Miles.
Posted: 09:25 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Not worried… but happy, nonetheless. With every loss, the Mets take one extra step towards rebuilding.
Posted: 09:26 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
sick DP
Posted: 09:30 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
WOW!!! That was AWESOME!
Posted: 09:30 PM on July 21, 2009
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Not sure why Charlie keeps putting in Lidge in non-save situations… especially with the score tied.
Posted: 09:30 PM on July 21, 2009