Gameday: Phillies (88-63) at Brewers (75-77)
Posted by Pat Gallen, Thu, September 24, 2009 07:20 PM | Comments: 177
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Philadelphia Phillies (88-63) at Milwaukee Brewers (75-77)
J.A. Happ (10-4, 2.77) vs. Jeff Suppan, RHP (7-10, 4.76)
Time: 8:05 p.m. at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI
Weather: Cloudy, 67
TV: MyPHL 17
Twitter: Phillies Nation
What happened again yesterday? It’s important we all forget about that one.
To help us do that, J.A. Happ takes another stab at a comeback from his strained oblique muscle tonight in Milwaukee. In his last outing (Sept. 18), Happ lasted just three innings against Atlanta, throwing 51 pitches. Charlie Manuel took him out of the game early for “precautionary reasons,” although it appeared that Happ had been favoring his sore side. The Brewers are an unfamiliar team to Happ, as he’s seen them just once in a relief appearance. In that game, he allowed three earned over 1 1/3 innings. The injury is certainly something to keep an eye on.
Jeff Suppan faces the Phils for the 13th time in his long major league career. The results haven’t been pretty, either. Suppan is 3-6 with a 6.13 ERA against the Fightin’s, which currently includes a five-game losing streak that goes back to April 2005 when he was a Cardinal. The 2006 NLCS MVP gets killed by a bevy of Phils. Chase Utley is hitting .474 in his career against Suppan. Jimmy Rollins; .300 with a homer. Ryan Howard has hit two homers in just 10 at bats.
So the starting pitching and offense look good for tonight. The bullpen? Not so sure. The main question is; should a save situation occur, who gets the ball? Only Charlie Manuel knows, and this burning question is rattling fans from Wildwood to West Chester. See the beer below? Drink a few during the game, just in case.
Your Gameday Beer – Milwaukee Premium Brewing Company Classic Ice
Some might consider this a step up from Natty Light, and you might even be able to find it at cheaper price ($10 30-pack!). That should tell you all you need to know about this brew. It tastes like beer and it’s 6% ABV. Eat as many wings as you can alongside this one. – By Brian
Posts: 0 Jeff
Ryan might have improved but he is still shaky. That play. The ball down the line last night. He bobbles alot. Thank god that was not a granny.
Posted: 11:13 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 mikeB
An error on the big hamburger.
Posted: 11:14 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
ok so for this team, who is the leadoff hitter? remember victorino already failed when he was given the oppurtunity.
Posted: 11:14 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Sorry about your pops. That is rough. I a had a similar experience in 93 with my grandfather who passed during the NLCS. Whenever I see a replay of the 93 team, I remember my grandfather fondly. I hope you have similar fellings about your dad.
Posted: 11:16 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 mikeB
Michael Bourne, who was traded away to Houston for our favorite relief pitcher.
Posted: 11:18 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
This bullpen is pathetic.
Posted: 11:18 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Scott Galupo
It wouldn’t be the ’09 Phils if they weren’t giving up runs in the ninth!
Posted: 11:19 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Utley would be a great leadoff hitter.
Posted: 11:19 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
ray, Jimmy is the leadoff hitter. No way will they change that now. He is not the best leadoff hitter but he is clutch in the field and as a hitter.
Posted: 11:19 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
4
Posted: 11:19 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 558 Brian Michael
Who gets the Ashburn…Feliz, Rollins or Happ?
Posted: 11:22 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 rtbamam
glad to see us win 4 looks good maybe by the weekend I hope
Posted: 11:23 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
how are the ponies tonight Andrew?
Posted: 11:24 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
i agree joedad, jeff doesn’t think he is. i agree that he should take more pitches and he does swing for the fences too much, but for this team, he’s their only option….the only other option would’ve been victorino but he had his chance and he didn’t make the cut, the same way we though madsen would be a good closer, certain people are cut out for certain roles that’s all……. chase utley as a leadoff hitter? nah..lol
Posted: 11:24 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 bob
Those of you morons that continue to bash Lidge, if your hero Michael Bourn (NO “E”) was a Phillie, we probably do not have a 2008 Championship.
I get it, he has sucked this season. He’s not the first nor last closer to do that.
Get over it and appreciate that this team will be in it and has a chance to do what no Phillies team has EVER done. They will find the answer. The starters are solid and the bats are getting hot.
Posted: 11:29 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 bob
If you dont like it go be a Nats, Pirates or Royals fan. They may win a title by 2097
Posted: 11:30 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
feliz. it won’t be long before we’re nailing his hands to the cross. but with our bull pen woes though perhaps j-roll since he put the game away
Posted: 11:31 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
that is for the ashburn
Posted: 11:34 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 karen
I do not think that anyone here is complaining about Lidge last year……he was amazing and he will forever be our guy but this is not last year. Unfortunately he is just not dependable. Each blown save is harsher and harsher. I would rather not have our season end like that when the questions about his ability to close games was questioned most of the season
Posted: 11:35 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 karen
I think Jimmy is a good leadoff hitter…he has speed and just seems to be at his best in that spot
Posted: 11:36 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 mikeB
I am a Royals fan; second after the Phillies. I live about 190 miles N-NW of KC. I have nothing against Rollins or Lidge and do not bash any Phillies players. Just stating a fact that if Bourn would not gotten traded, he might have eventually wound up being the Phillies leadoff hitter sometime down the road. You read too much into things, bob, and over-react. If Bourn were still a Phillie, I would not replace Rollins with him but I do agree with those that post that Rollins is more suited for hitting somewhere else in the batting order but I realize that there is nobody to replace Rollins with as the leadoff hitter. You are the one that is calling Bourn a hero, monkey.
Posted: 11:48 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 jt
nice way for the offense to bounce back we got cliff lee gone tomorrow hopefully he can do good and keep away from that awful bullpen,they did everything they could to even try and blow it tonight.
Posted: 11:58 PM on September 24, 2009
Posts: 0 jt
for you guys saying giving up bourne for lidge,i didn’t mind giving up bourne and still don’t lidge brought us a championship and all we gave up in return was a guy who was blocked from seeing playing time here anytime soon anyways…rollins isn’t a bad lead off hitter his problem is he swings at alot of first pitches and makes out on em,when he get on he gets the offense goin.
Posted: 12:01 AM on September 25, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
mikeB – ask georgre brett if we can borrow soria just for a few months….please
Posted: 12:02 AM on September 25, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Slap my crap! El Backo’s gonna be on sport center’s top ten
Posted: 12:05 AM on September 25, 2009
Posts: 0 mikeB
j reed; wished that I could. Soria is a decent reliever and of course, not going anywheres but home after the end of the regular season.
I just hope that Phils can control Bourn when he plays against them in Philly next week. Got to keep him off base. Houston might be fired up with an interim manager and wanting to finish the season strong.
Have to be proud of the way the Phils bounced back tonight after the disappointing loss to Florida. Says alot about the character of this team. Kudos to Rollins, Feliz and Bako for having good offensive games. Have to be a little concerned though about Utley and Werth going a combined 0 for 9 with 10 runners stranded. Maybe a day off is needed.
Posted: 12:34 AM on September 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Baseballbriefs.com
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Posted: 04:15 AM on September 25, 2009