Phillies Nation

I think Chan Ho should get the Ashburn award.

If it makes you feel any better, Amanda, TMac had no idea the ball hit Lidge’s leg until they showed about 4 replays. But he’s also an idiot so I guess I need to cut him a break.

Another great win for the Phightins. By the way, was it just me that had the very quiet crowd on the Phils TV feed tonight? The crowd was much louder on the Cubs feed for some reason… Excellent win. G’night Nation.

how sweet it is, 10 in a row and they really dont look stoppable if the pitching holds up.

Anyone see how the Rays won despite Pat?

I think Chan Ho should have gotten the Ashburn, sure it was Jayson first walk off, but come on 3 innings nine batters no hits 5 K’s and if I am not mistaken only one 3-2 count, with out that performance Wreth would never been up to hit the Walk off, and I really like Wreth, but Chopper was flat out dealing last night. And another great outing by Blanton which was nice to see after his rough two innings against the fish.
Great game Phils let do it again tonight,

You could have given the Ashburn to the bullpen.

Werth’s first walk-off seems fitting for the award. But when there’s tussling over who should get it, things are pretty damn good.

what a pitching duel…. reminds me of old school baseball

Werth’s first walk-off… gotta give him the Asburn BUT the bullpen was the story of the game.

During yesterday’s game thread (at 8:40 PM), I predicted that it would be a long one… the Cubs have a very good bullpen but those guys have been under a lot of stress lately (yesterday night was the fifth game in a row that their pen has had to pitch 4 innings or more). Our pen, while not nearly as dominant, has been well rested lately… knew that we would pull it out (as long as we didn’t make any mistakes). Today’s game could be huge… if we can get to Z early, he’ll implode. Further, if they’re forced into their pen early for a 6th straight game, the odds will be in our favor again. At some point, that’s going to be problematic for Piniella… I would love to see the Cubs not make the playoffs… they’re going to get hot at some point.

I’m really surprised that this site hasn’t mentioned Pedro’s simulated game… he threw 64 pitches, faced 20 batters and struck out 6. He should join Clearwater this weekend.

I had a conversation with Samardzija before the first game started about the Eagles draft picks and he insisted that Maclin will be hurt by the 4th week. I thought it was hilarious. He’s a really laid back guy and an absolute stud.

NJ – You being a proponent of “stay the course” “don’t get too high or too low” “its a long season” , I would think that you would recognize that Joe Blanton is pitching well and exceeding what he has done though out his career. As such, can’t count on that to keep happening. I don’t like him as a #2 or #3 starter in the WS. There are some people on here, and NJ and I’m not including you (necessarily, ha) that are of the mindset “hey, our pitching is good enough to get to the playoffs and when the playoffs come we’ll worry about it then because anything can happen”. Its a very “Eagle-esque” way to think. I’m in the “lets not just get to the playoffs, but lets add a pitcher that should make our playoff rotation immeasurably better”. Of course there is the matter of price. But I’m in the latter group. Halladay is THAT good. Its he and Santana and everybody else. I hope it happens.

The Dipsy

I think barring the Giants that we match-up fine IF the offense isn’t slumping. I would like Halladay, I’ve said that many times, I believe the Jays are asking too much and when it comes down to it if a deal doesn’t happen that’s not on Amaro because I don’t see Riccardi as a willing player.

I think if we do face the Giants we can win, there are good pitching team but still a very beat-able team and I don’t think Roy Halladay tips the scales greatly in that one, if we hit we win and if we don’t we loose no matter who’s sent to the mound. The Dodgers are said to have a greater need for a starter than us and every other NL team I think our pitching is as good if not better, the Braves may be an exception but I don’t think anyone sees them making the Championship game and if they do it’s the same principle as the Giants.

I do not agree the team do not have the tools to win, we seemingly had the tools last year and I don’t think any single addition makes a team win a world series like so many writers and fans suggest. I WHOLY think if this team is not in a slump or rusty in October then it’s capable of winning. Would I like Roy Halladay yes, would I pay a premium for him yes, would I hand-over all of our top farm talent and more no, I think Riccardi’s trying to take liberties with the one team willing to overpay with the intention of not dealing the guy.

I think Hamels, Blanton and Happ (plus the number 4 options the Championship and Series games) is fine, again would I like to see and addition yes but I don’t think that combination is as grossly incompetent at the top level as some of you make out. I think many all but drone on that we have a handful of lame ducks when that’s really not the case. I also think bullpens have an understated position to play in the post-season.

Geoff- the pricetag for Cliff Lee will likely still be Drabek and three others… he won the AL Cy Young award last year and his contract is more affordable. Plus, the Indians still think that they can win that division if their team is healthy. Unloading Lee gives them virtually no shot… the Blue Jays are more motivated to move Halladay than the Indians are to move Lee.

And let me just add….I DON’T think we should “overpay” as Geoff is suggesting that some fans are advocating. I was saying just a few days ago that I thought that four players would get us Halladay, Drabek being one of them. I think now that that is too much to give….if getting Halladay means giving up Drabek….then fine….but not with three other players. And…if Drabek IS the key to this as some have suggested, then I think that Taylor is off the table as well. Maybe that doesn’t get a deal done….so be it.

I just have to add I expect all three of Hamels, Blanton and Happ to be able to go 7 without giving up much more than 3 runs and hand the ball over to what I expect to be a lock-down bullpen. I don’t think many teams can exceed that with a good bullpen (not just the closer) and an offense anywhere near us.

All of these teams have to put up more runs than our offense takes off theirs, I trust ours to get more runs than we give up.

Dipsy,
I’m firmly in the “playoffs are a crapshoot” camp.

But, in this instance, I’ve come around to your way of thinking on Halladay.

I want Halladay because of the historic moment. (If the Phils hadn’t won last year, I probably wouldn’t feel this way.) But this team has a once-in-a-generation combination of talent and chemistry. The idea of getting HAlladay and having a shot at appearing in three-straight world series — and creating a team remembered for decades — is irresistible.

NJ, Blanton has been great since he made that alteration to his delivery out of the stretch…..still, I’d love to see him as the No. 3….behind Hamels and Halladay.

Original Chuck P….the Indians have NO chance of winning that division…with or without Cliff Lee. They’re in last place, 20 games under .500. NO CHANCE.

I’m not writing Hamels off…..but I’m not convinced he’s gonna be “lights out” either. Thinking that shouldn’t prevent us from trying to get another front-of-the-rotation pitcher.

Can I just say since I think people really have the wrong idea of me I’d like to see Halladay/ Hamels/ Blanton/ Happ as much as any one of you.

The only difference seems to be I’m not resigned to failure if we don’t land him by the deadline, I don’t think you can buy a championship and I think trying to do so is foolhardy and I see so many teams crippled as a consequence.

^I think were going to go as far without Halladay as we will with him. I see A LOT of other factors having to come into play and if they do I’d expect to see a victory parade and if they don’t it’s not going to matter, Halladay would just make me feel less nervous.

mlbtraderumors update

11:08am: Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Brewers appear to be a threat to acquire Halladay. He’s hearing Manny Parra’s name and suspects Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar would have to be involved, too.

11:06am: Ricciardi told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that talks are expected to intensify early next week. The Blue Jays haven’t exchanged names with interested teams yet, but Ricciardi expects to tell teams what he’s looking for by Monday.

That wouldn’t leave much time before Tuesday’s self-imposed deadline, but Ricciardi said it’s a soft deadline.

Ricciardi says four teams are “really, really serious” about Halladay. The Phillies are believed to be one of his top suitors and Ricciardi confirmed that the Jays will scout Kyle Drabek’s upcoming start.

Riccardi’s just not a respectable trade partner. His asking price DOES seems high based on what’s being said by the media….and now the guy is imposing his OWN deadline of the 28th for doing a deal. He’s either trying to effectively bully all the other GMs so one of them will cave into his demands or he’s a complete idiot.

We know what the offense looks like when they shut down. Just like last night, they grow colder than ice with men on base, even getting men on base seems a chore.
The great thing about this streak is that our pitching kept giving the offense the last chance they needed to secure the win and that will happen sooner or later. No way to keep this crew down and if the other team cannot touch our bull pen, we will score sooner or later.
Our stinker in the playoffs vs the Dodgers when 1,2 – it was done with. Victorino and Stairs with hrs and an improbable Phillies win.
This team looks unstoppable right now. Expect to see some fireworks today and likely win #11 in a row.