Phils Drop 2nd Straight to G-Men
Posted by Amanda Orr, Sun, August 02, 2009 07:23 PM | Comments: 51
2009 Recaps, Posts
Cole Hamels is supposed to be the stopper. The Phillies offense is supposed to score many runs. It didn’t work out in the series finale with the San Francisco Giants.
In the bottom of the second, Aaron Rowand’s RBI triple gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Rollins tied the game with a solo home run down the left field line. Jayson Werth’s infield single led to a throwing error by second baseman Freddy Sanchez. On the play, Chase Utley scored to give the Phillies the lead. Carlos Ruiz’s RBI single made it 3-1 in the fifth inning.
It appeared that the Phillies were in good position to win, but the Giants fought back and scored six unanswered runs. Sanchez, who was making his first start since being traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates, doubled in a run which tied the game at three.
With two outs in the fifth, Hamels could see his way out of the inning. Pablo Sandoval placed the ball perfectly in between the mound, first, and second. Since Sandoval is a slow runner, Ryan Howard had a chance to throw him out because he fielded the ball cleanly. Instead, he threw the ball away and the go-ahead run scored. The Giants did not look back.
Hamels pitched five innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on ten hits and two walks. He struck out two, but it was not a pretty line for Hamels.
Hamels was not backed by his offense either. During the current road trip, the Phillies have had trouble hitting with runners in scoring position. Today, they could barely get runners into scoring position.
The Giants won, 7-3, taking three out of four games against the Phillies. The west coast is no joke, as they are surprisingly one of the stronger divisions in baseball.
Posts: 0 Winks Tidley
I wonder if the Blue jays would take Ryan Howard for Roy Halladay? Howard has been stinky of late.
Posted: 07:29 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Matthew
Haha. Probably not. They were trying to shed the big bills from the contracts. Howard will be fine once he gets home. We can’t win em’ all.
Posted: 07:43 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Ashley, Brian, Cory, Danielle, Eric, Frank, Greg, Henry, Ian, Jen, Kevin, Linda, Mike, Nick, Oscar, Paul, Quincy, Rachel, Susan, Tim, Ursula, Vince, Wesley, Xavier, Yelena, Zack
We agree with Matthew on this matter. A day off is needed for everyone.
Posted: 07:51 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Yelena
Florida won too
Posted: 07:56 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Danielle
yea yelena, so what? we’ll get the game back.
Posted: 07:56 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Yelena
I was just saying.
Posted: 07:57 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Ashley
I can’t believe you girls are fighting on a Phillies blog.
Posted: 07:58 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Yelena
We’re not fighing.
Posted: 07:58 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Eric
someone forgot the t
Posted: 07:58 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Yelena
shutup Eric
Posted: 07:59 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Eric
make me sis
Posted: 07:59 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Paul
Braves might win the Wild Card
Posted: 08:00 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Eric
you like their chances over Giants, Rockies, and Marlins?
Posted: 08:01 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Yelena
Braves won’t finish ahead of the Marlins.
Posted: 08:02 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Paul
The Braves are better than the Marlins. Their pitching was the best in the NL East before the Phillies got Cliff Lee.
Posted: 08:03 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 karen
I love that most are positive about the Phils :) It was a tough road trip…the first 2 in arizona and the friday san fran games were great…the rest were hopelessly awful. Howard needs some wakeup call…he either hits a homer or strikes out. That really isnt going to help. And our pitching is shaky again but this time it is Hamels that seems the most shaky
Posted: 08:05 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Paul
gotta be positive when the team is still gonna win
Posted: 08:07 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
I gotta ask . . . who is the oldest?
Posted: 08:15 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Az Mike
Any truth to the rumor that Cliff Lee has demanded to be traded after watching the last two horrible offensive performances????????????????????????
Posted: 08:18 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
no
Posted: 08:25 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Repeat!
A light cat fight after a frustrating weekend. Very nice! Please continue…….
Posted: 08:29 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
We will be fine but Ryan Howard is so overrated and I love him as a player. Pitchers are finding it very easy to strike him out. Raul and Chase have cooled off big time. Cole gets down after something happens like walking Zito.
Posted: 08:57 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Tim
any chance we can get a better backup catcher than Paul Bako?
Posted: 09:01 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian
forget about Bako Tim.
Posted: 09:02 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Tim
I liked Coste more…
Posted: 09:03 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian
Coste was a terrible defensive catcher. He seemed to have trouble with Lidge’s slider.
Posted: 09:05 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Tim
alright Brain alright. want to play Fifa?
Posted: 09:05 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian
nah. I’m watching the Braves-Dodgers game.
Posted: 09:07 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Tim
Brian* sorry lol
Posted: 09:10 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian
no big
Posted: 09:12 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Bigger problem: Cole can’t find it. The fastball is up, the change isn’t “changing”, and that lollipop curve just isn’t cuttin it.
Bigger problem #2 Howard can’t hit lefties. Period.
The Dipsy
Posted: 09:25 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff of NoVa.
First problem will figure itself out once he takes some pressure off himself.
The 2nd is a bigger one, cause Manual brags about being a hitting guy, but this team strikeouts so much and is not patient at ALL at the plate, a lot of that comes from the staff, getting them back to basics
Posted: 09:50 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 george
cole went down hill when he gave up the hit to zito it must of got in his head.
Posted: 10:02 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Ive never seen anyone fail to adjust over time and still put up numbers like Howard. Lefties throw him low and away sliders and he cant stop himself. Its maddening.
Hamels: needs a 4th pitch, or needs to make his curve better. Hes a 2 pitch pitcher and people have figured him out. He needs to mix in his curve more and develop a slider. They sit on his changeup and foul it off now. He has real issues. Thank goodness they got Cliff Lee. If the playoffs started this week, the Phillies would start Cliff Lee in game 1.
Posted: 11:11 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 JeffR
You beat me to it, funny spelling of Jeff. I don’t understand why Hamels doesn’t have a faster breaking ball, a slider or maybe Lee can teach him the cutter. He throws too much slow junk and his fastball is pretty straight.
Posted: 11:22 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Fatalotti
In what will probably prove to be a futile attempt to put everyone’s mind at ease, everyone’s favorite stud, Roy Halladay, had a season where he had an ERA over 10, in what was his 3rd season, basically putting him at the same baseball age as Cole Hamels (he also had a season not unsimilar to what Cole is having right now, where his ERA was 4.20 later in his career), but what Roy didn’t have and still doesn’t have is lots of playoff experience. Basically, even Cy Young winners have terrible years (In fact, Cliff Lee had a terrible year not too long ago). Oh yeah, and Cole basically carried the Phillies on his back last year through the playoffs and was the horse that every WS champion needs. Hamels may pick it up this year, or he may not. But if we went to the playoffs right now, Lee would be our number 1, Blanton, with the way he’s pitched, could start game two and Hamels would be a great third game starter because he has the ability to pitch a gem. It’s not the worst problem, since it would split up our lefties. I’m not worried about Hamels; I have faith he’ll figure it out, and have a long and succesful career.
Posted: 11:27 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 karen
I am just concerned that if Ruiz would get injured, who would we use? We lost Marson and I couldnt handle Bako in all the time
Posted: 11:38 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Kevin
Maybe if we let Bako use Antero Nittymaki’s goalie gear he would have more behind the plate to stop the ball……what do you all think?
Posted: 11:53 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Kevin
As far as Bakos offense goes? If i were Manuel i would tell him to lean in and take one for the team…..at least he gets on base LOL
Posted: 11:55 PM on August 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Baseballbriefs.com
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back Phils Drop 2nd Straight to G-Men…
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back Phils Drop 2nd Straight to G-Men…
Posted: 02:40 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 » Giants Batter Phillies’ Hamels to Win Series Final | Blogging-Baseball.com
[...] Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr provides the game recap: In the bottom of the second, Aaron Rowand’s RBI triple gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Rollins tied the game with a solo home run down the left field line. Jayson Werth’s infield single led to a throwing error by second baseman Freddy Sanchez. On the play, Chase Utley scored to give the Phillies the lead. Carlos Ruiz’s RBI single made it 3-1 in the fifth inning. [...]
Posted: 05:22 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Ok, so I didnt get a chance to watch the game, what did Ryan Howard do to “earn” the Steve Jeltz, instead of Cole Hamels only pitching 5 innings and 6 ER’s? Really? When Moyer gives up 5 runs in 7 innings he gets the jelts even in a win, Hamels does it, and no one is alarmed? No one is alarmed by the COMPLETE failure of the Offense? No one is alarmed that the 7 games is back down to 5 again? I know Lincecum is a very good pitcher, but shutout? not so sure. I know its great to have a 5 game lead, but 5 games leads to disappear just as fast as you saw it appear. Considering the Phils have had a winning record for 3 straight months, and that hasnt happened for several years, Im not so sure they can keep that up. We need to hope that the Marlins especially forget how to win, seeing how even with that GREAT July, they pretty much kept pace only ending up 7 games down, and quickly to 5. The team has put them selves on Lee’s shoulders and said carry us. Do I think the season is over? Hell no, but it is a little alarming the complete lack of offense, not for 2 games against the Giants, but 2 of the games against the D-Backs. What won it for us against the D-Backs? I really dont think it was our Offense, but more like the D-Backs HORRIBLE (worse then the Mets and thats sad LOL) Defense. Say it like it is.
Posted: 08:18 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 cas
Where Hamels is concerned, anyone remember what happened to Steve Carlton (yes, I’m that old!) after his fabulous 1972 season? He STUNK! I kind of hate it when one of our players wins an award of some sort because it takes them away from their regular off-season routine. Hamels has already said that he didn’t keep up his training regimen because of all the appearances he made over the winter. As far as a winning record for 3 straight months, Brian–what about June? And I don’t think we’ll have a winning record in August. The schedule is murderous till we get Pittsburgh at the end of the month. Thankfully, we have 6 games with the Nationals and 8 with Houston in September.
Posted: 08:37 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 SuperFan
check out the new design of SuperLogoz.com
Posted: 10:31 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Philly Texan
Cas,
I also think it’s the big increase in innings for Hamels last year.
The history of pitchers who see their innings jump that much is clear: they struggle the next season, and I think that’s part of what we’re seeing with Cole. He was straight dealing for 4.2 innings yesterday. That 5th inning was just fluky — a broken bat single by the pitcher, who had like four hits all year, a bloop single and an error. Hamles clearly fell apart after that. But I think the stuff is still there, and we’ve seen glimpses of the old Hamels a lot this month. I think he’s coming around.
Anyway, the Giants have the best home record in the league for a reason. They have a team tailored to that park. It’ll be different when they come to Philly…..
Hopefully we won’t face Lincecum again. he’s just sick. After watching the Phils against Haren and Lincecum, on this trip, there’s no doubt who’s the best pitcher in the NL.
Posted: 10:33 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 psujoe
Call me crazy, but letting Howard continue to play every game against lefties is looking futile. .181 with only 3 HRs in 155 AB’s is pathetic. the add Bruntlett and/or Ruiz in the lineup and you go from the best hitting team in the league to mediocre.
I know, we won the series. I’d still be looking for a RH utility player that can play SS/2B and 1B. someone that rips lefties. You could occassionally(eve more so) against lefties.
Posted: 10:46 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
The problem with Howard is you have to live with his struggles because you don’t know when he’s going to just explode. I can’t tell if (despite people thinking he came up to the bigs late) he was under-seasoned as a prospect, whether he has a poor study ethic when it comes to hitting or if he’s just poor at making adjustments. The reality is Howard’s never likely to look like a guy who’s swing doesn’t look like swiss cheese (the amount of holes) but he’s going to wrack up the sexy numbers just like last year.
It’s unfortunate if you like seeing strong fundamental baseball but this team is a case of Charlie just making the players feel good about themselves and expecting them to rip the cover off the ball.
Posted: 11:03 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 christopher
3 runs should be enough for hamels against that offense. with that line, for him not to get the jeltz is ridiculous.
Posted: 11:14 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 psujoe
I hear what you’re saying NJ. His lifetime splits against lefties are so much better than this year. .222 and 1 HR every 17 AB’s is livable. .181 and 1 HR every 55 Abs isn’t. I hope he snaps out of it.
Posted: 11:15 AM on August 3, 2009
Posts: 0 psujoe
NJ, fundamental baseball goes out the window with this team. Werth getting thrown out at 3rd for the 3rd out was terrible. When you have a chance to get to the starter you cna’t blow it like that.
Posted: 11:17 AM on August 3, 2009