Gameday: Phillies (51-38) vs. Cubs (47-43)
Posted by Amanda Orr, Mon, July 20, 2009 06:00 PM | Comments: 132
Gameday 2009, Posts
Chicago Cubs (47-43) at Philadelphia Phillies (51-38)
Ted Lilly (9-6, 3.18 ERA) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.18 ERA)
Time: 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
TV: MYPHL 17
Twitter: Phillies Nation
The Phillies had an incredible 9-1 homestand the last time they were home. This homestand will be tougher, but the Phillies have been unstoppable for the past couple weeks, winning eight straight.
Both teams will keep a close eye on both their starters. Ted Lilly was pushed back from Saturday’s start with inflammation in his left knee. Rogrido Lopez hasn’t pitched in 11 days and he left his last start with right-shoulder inflammation.
Lopez’s spot in the rotation is in jeopardy as Pedro Martinez takes steps closer to the big leagues. Lopez allowed eight runs in 4.2 innings in his only career start against the Cubs.
Lilly is coming off his 100th career win. Most of his success has come at home. At Wrigley Field, Lilly has a 1.18 ERA; on the road it is 4.66. Against the Phillies in his career, Lilly is 1-3 with a 4.88 earned run average (4.66 at Citizens Bank Park).
Your Gameday Beer- Sweaty Betty Blonde
This beer is bananas. No, it’s not a banana beer, but it has hints of musty banana bread which believe it or not is a good thing. It’s another good summer beer, an American Pale Wheat Ale that will remind you of a Belgian White. It finishes a little rough, so drink it fast but take some time to enjoy fried chicken with it. – By Brian
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 304 Corey Seidman
Peter Gammons just wrote a really good article on why the Phillies need to trade for Halladay. I know you’ve all seen 1,000 of these already, but here’s another from Gammons, one of the world’s best baseball analysts.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4341612&name=gammons_peter
Posted: 09:07 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Corey – In regards to what Halladay said, I agree with you: that’s a public relations coached statement. Hasn’t Halladay given the Jays enough…they simply have failed to build a team around him…That organization has seemed to have mirco-managed themselves into mediocrity and Hallady isn’t getting any younger….I mean its difficult to build a team in that division so I critize them with a grain of salt.
Posted: 09:08 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 304 Corey Seidman
Exactly right. The Phillies are in the best position for Halladay, hands down.
The Dodgers won’t give up Billingsley OR Kershaw, and the Blue Jays are requesting one of the two as the centerpiece of a potential trade.
The Angels don’t have a front-end pitching prospect (a Drabek or Happ type) so those talks appear to be dying.
Brian Cashman stated earlier this week that he “will not mortgage the future for a starting pitcher,” an indirect reference to the Halladay talks.
The Phillies are the only team. If anything, this little Mets rumor may have only come out to put more pressure on the Phillies, because the Blue Jays are realizing their options are dwindling by the day.
Posted: 09:12 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
quick inning for Durbin, nice
Posted: 09:12 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
if their is an organization in need of a full time sports psychoclogist it’s the cubbies
Posted: 09:13 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 1372 Pat Gallen
Has any one player been talked about as much as Roy Halladay in professional sports? I’ve never seen anything like it.
Posted: 09:16 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
No Pat, I’m pretty sure NO player has ever been talked about this much, good lord.
Posted: 09:19 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 304 Corey Seidman
Well CC Sabathia was talked about this much last year. As was Manny Ramirez…
That’s baseball in mid-July.
Posted: 09:21 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Bruntlett looks like a chode since trimming that beard down. SHouldve stuck with the beard.
Posted: 09:21 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Corey – the Chi-Sox scare me…the jumped on Peavy so fast and it was a generous offer I thought esp. so early in the season. That GM is not gun shy in the least. Would be suprised if he was in Gamblers Anonymous. Also, i wonder if the Braves have made any offers for Matt Holiday…their pitching staff seems built to our weaknesses at the plate. Sinkerballers and off speed guys are our kyrptonite…They concern me as well
Posted: 09:22 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 1372 Pat Gallen
Corey, I dont recall CC getting this much attention. Though I could be wrong, I can barely remember what I ate for lunch, let alone last summer.
Posted: 09:23 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Geoff, you’re going to have to publish a dictionary for old people-wtf is a chode?
Posted: 09:24 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 PhilsPhilsPhils
Corey, I am glad you are so confident we are his only proper suitors lol….Wish I shared your confidence…For all we know he could be wearin a rival’s uniform tomorrow…will be happy when this is over with, and hopefully we’ll have em
Posted: 09:25 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Corey- that’s “Wouldn’t be surprised….”
Posted: 09:26 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
google it missy…lol
Posted: 09:26 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I agree Corey… and the more we wait, the more their options will dwindle. It’s happening as we speak….
I think there’s a relatively decent chance (not betting on it, but still decent) we could land Halladay by only giving up one of our current big 3 prospects: Drabek, Taylor, or Brown (plus several other prospects).
Posted: 09:29 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
HOWARD!
Posted: 09:29 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 304 Corey Seidman
The Braves have inquired about Holliday. It was reported two weeks ago that Billy Beane was offering Holliday and Orlando Cabrera for a package built around Yunel Escobar, and Frank Wren turned it down.
Given Escobar’s recent hot streak, they’ll be even less hesitant to include him.
My take on Holliday? Let the Braves have him. He’s never been a superstar outside of Coors Field, and is on pace for 16 HR this season. His slugging percentage is 35 points lower than Victorino’s!
The Braves play in a pitchers park, and, while Holliday would immediately become their cleanup hitter, you’d have to wonder how much of an upgrade he really is over an underrated guy like Matt Diaz. Although I guess he could replace Garret Anderson, too.
Posted: 09:31 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
hahahaha, either definition is funny!
Posted: 09:32 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
this current hot streak couldn’t come at a better time with the trade deadline coming up….coming to the table with less despiration is always a good place to be.
Posted: 09:32 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Corey- Some good poinst about M. Holliday I don’t know what his stats are away from that park but suspect it’s one of the reasons that Todd Helton stays. Do you know of other available bats that might interest the Braves?
Posted: 09:38 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Durbin is throwing some pretty nasty stuff in the 9th
Posted: 09:42 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
DP! WE WIN!
Posted: 09:43 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Phillies win :D
Posted: 09:43 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
who gets the Ashburn tonight? So many canidates to choose from
Posted: 09:46 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
manny- now if he could just start throwing like this when he’s already gotten 2 outs.
Posted: 09:48 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Ruiz for Ashburn?
Posted: 09:53 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of Nova
Durbin gets te 3 inning save
Posted: 09:56 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I’d say Ruiz or Rodrigo Lopez for the Ashburn… both were amazing today.
Posted: 10:01 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 304 Corey Seidman
J Reed – Honestly, there aren’t many BIG bats being talked about right now.
Freddy Sanchez has been linked to the Braves to come over and play second base, but he’s not a difference maker. He’s a gaps hitter, and the Braves need a bopper. You actually gave me a good idea for an article…
Posted: 10:03 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
corey – sorry it took some time to get back….i’m in the process of polishing some aluminium, a task if your lucky you will never have to undertake, and lost track of time…what do you write for, i’d like to check it out. Though we don’t need him, esp. with Rollins finally swinging for contact, I always thought the Phillies a perfect fit for the likes of the scrappy Sanchez. Off the top of my head, if he goes anywhere, I’m thinking the Tigers, a long ball club that for the last few years struggled to manufacture runs or the Chi-Sox who at least earlier this year suffered anemic RISP numbers. Although I believe the Tigers have Polanco at 2nd and I don’t know who mans 2nd for the Chi-Sox.
What about the Indians…headscratcher this year…thought they would be front runners….
Posted: 11:38 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Baseballbriefs.com
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back Gameday: Phillies (51-38) vs. Cubs (47-43)…
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back Gameday: Phillies (51-38) vs. Cubs (47-43)…
Posted: 10:54 AM on July 21, 2009