Gameday: Braves (13-18) at Phillies (18-12)
Posted by Pat Gallen, Sun, May 09, 2010 12:59 PM | Comments: 98
2010 Gameday, Posts
Atlanta Braves (13-17) at Philadelphia Phillies (18-12)
Kenshin Kawakami (0-5, 5.47 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (2-2, 4.42 ERA)
Time: 1:35 p.m at Citizens Bank Park
TV: MyPhl 17 / TBS
Weather: Overcast/Cool/Windy, 55
Twitter: @philliesnation
First things first, the DL is getting another member. Brian Schneider joined it today with a left achillies injury, Paul Hoover was brought up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to be the backup to Carlos Ruiz.
Another very winnable game went by the wayside yesterday as the Braves took Game 2 of the set, 4-1. The Phils left nine men on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They couldn’t even muster one extra base hit, although they did manage 13 base runners on the day.
Cole Hamels will look to build on his last two starts which have been very good. Two weeks ago in San Francisco, Hamels went six and struck out 10. He followed that up with an 8-inning, 1-earned run performance against the St.Louis Cardinals this past Wednesday. A third solid outing could mean he’s very much back as one of the best in the National League. If it’s a dud, more questions will arise about the maturity and focus of their young lefty. A good deal is riding on today’s start.
On the other side it’s Kenshin Kawakami. His stats don’t look pleasing to the eye, but Bobby Cox and his staff have all said he’s pitching better than those numbers indicate, and he’s not getting much run support to back it up. He did fairly well against the Phils last season, going 1-0 in two starts, with an ERA in the mid-three’s. Let’s hope he isn’t “due” for a win just yet.
Lineup:Victorino (CF), Polanco (3B),Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Ruiz (C), Valdez (SS), Hamels (P)
Your gameday beer: Pacifico
Cerveza Pacifico Clara is the real name for this beer which was brewed by three German men in Mexico in 1900. In 1954 it was purchased by Modelo (you’ve heard of them, yes), which is now owned by Anheuser Busch. Seems like they own every beer. So I guess Pacifico is like the Bud of our neighbors to the south. Oh, well. Happy Mothers Day!
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 Jim
no* baserunners
Posted: 03:41 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
In two innings, Durbin has struck out one less than Hamels did in five. Just sayin’.
Posted: 03:43 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NYphilsfan
Lidge? Let us pray….
Posted: 03:46 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ Phils Fan
What is up with this teams pinch hitters?
Posted: 03:46 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
NJ…there is no good situation for Baez except Double A.
Posted: 03:47 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Keith E
VIC!!!
GO PHILS!!!
Posted: 03:47 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
SHANE!!!!!
Posted: 03:48 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Georgie
haha, I was just thinking we could use an insurance run…yeah Vic!!!
Posted: 03:48 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ Phils Fan
Huge and I mean HUGE tape delay on radio. BTW the game is being streamed online free at 610 wip. Just click on listen live.
Posted: 03:49 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Jim
Gotta give props to Kawakami, hes given up runs but is keeping his team in the game and is going 7 innings…. id dare say he looked better than cole did
Posted: 03:50 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Jim
NJ Phils fan… your also listening to the game online which has the huge delay… the radio usually has a shorter delay than the tv
Posted: 03:52 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
It would really be quite nice if we could hit some of those home runs with guys on base.
Posted: 03:53 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Bob Myers
Hamels and Blanton are at least interchangeable at this point, split the difference. We need a number 2 starter, even a great number two who we can only sign for one year if we’re going to be serious about the playoffs.
Posted: 03:53 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Georgie
Agree about Kawakami, Jim, didn’t look early on like he’d be in longer than Cole.
Posted: 03:55 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Georgie
Bob, you mean someone like Cliff Lee? There, I said it!
Posted: 03:56 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Ed.R I see why you were so apprehensive with Baez, MAJOR disappointment. Don’t know if he’s being misused and wasn’t him to be more than a solid 4+ ERA any situation middle reliever but he’s just looked horrible more outings than he’s looked solid…
Gotta say for a guy with a pretty poor average Vic is having a pretty damn good season so far.
Posted: 03:56 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
wasn’t expecting him^…
Mow ‘em down Jose!
Posted: 03:59 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
Who’re we going to use for the 9th? Lidge?
I can’t say I feel particularly good about that, but he’s looked all right when I’ve seen him this season.
Posted: 04:03 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
NJ…I live in Harrisburg, there are a ton of Orioles fans here, I used to live in York for 6 years prior to being here, even more Orioles fans there. I used to watch and go to a lot of O’s games, so I have a had many chances to watch and witness Baez prior to him becoming a Phillie. I didn’t like him in Baltimore and like him even less here. Baez has a ton of talent no doubt but he is unbelievably inconsistent. He used to close somewhat effectively, and he has been a set up man. He has been in different roles in the pen and I can’t say he has been amazing in any particular spot.
I honestly have no idea what his role should be here for the Phillies but based on what he has done, I would only use him in garbage innings. I wouldn’t let him any where near the mound in a tight spot.
Posted: 04:07 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I want to see Lidge in the 9th. Either he can close or he can’t. We aren’t going to know that without seeing him in action.
NJ…Vic is batting 241…not sure if I consider that a good season. Maybe it seems more painful than it is because he is leading off and he is not a lead off hitter. Hopefully he can settle in back in the 7th hole when JRoll gets back, which can not come soon enough. (Which is amazing considering I am not exactly enamored with J-Roll as a lead off either)
Posted: 04:10 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
I didn’t think there would be anyone else we could put in for the ninth, and I know we’ve got to see him, but I’m still nervous.
Posted: 04:12 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Bobby D
That was scary. Come on Lidge, two more outs.
Posted: 04:14 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Georgie
Thank you, Mother Nature!
Posted: 04:14 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Bobby D
That was scary. Come on Lidge, one more out.
Posted: 04:15 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
I would be happier if either of those outs had been one that was not dependent on the skill of our outfielders.
Posted: 04:16 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I hear you 47…I am absolutely nervous, especially after those first two batters crushed balls off of Lidge but thankfully the wind helped us out.
His pitches are all high in the zone which is usually never good.
But his slider was filthy.
A save is a save.
Phillies win.
Posted: 04:16 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Ed- I remember you saying about your O’s links and how skeptical you were on Baez and I think despite my liking for him on paper you had it spot on. He looks a shell of the pitcher he was, I don’t care so much about the numbers but I was expecting him to look half way decent on a game to game basis, not just once in a while…
Vic’s average is ugly as I said but he’s really come up with timely hitting, would like to see him run more though given the chance.
Posted: 04:16 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
Now that one was better.
And that’s the game!
Posted: 04:16 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Georgie
Nice work, BP!
Posted: 04:17 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Aron
Lights Out Lidge!!! (…well almost)
Posted: 04:18 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
Lidge saves! Hamels wins! It’s ’08 all over again baby!
Posted: 04:18 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Bobby D
I wasn’t scared! Haha. 2 series wins within the division on the homestand. Toss in that handling of the feared Cards and we’re looking pretty good. Bullpen was great today.
Posted: 04:19 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I agree NJ…Vic has had some clutch hits and I also agree that I would like to see him running more. This team really has not been running like I was hoping they would…but I guess that makes sense with J-Roll being out. But still, Utley could get 20 steals a year, same with Werth and Vic could get 30 if not more, no reason those guys don’t run more.
Posted: 04:20 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Aron
Bottom line, amazing home stand – 7 and 3. Anyone know if Ubaldo Jimanez (forgive me if i don’t know how to spell his name) will pitch against the phillies?
Posted: 04:22 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
No, we won’t see Jiminez (I think that’s how it’s spelled).
He’s pitching today.
Posted: 04:25 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Aron
And could we pleeeeeease get rid if wilson valdez? He’s our one man rally killer. He grounded into like 50 double plays.
Posted: 04:25 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Aron
Thanks # 47
Posted: 04:26 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Lidge’s slider is going to be outright dirty no-what, question is can he throw it for a strike without putting it in the hitters wheelhouse, can he locate the fastball and can he make his outs with runners on…?
Posted: 04:27 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
Ed R: they’re not running cause all they get is doubles and home runs. The guys that run are Werth, Vic and Jimmy (who’s injured)… and Werth and Victorino are hitting HRs and doubles every freaking game… not too many singles.
Posted: 04:28 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
Not Jimanez, not Jiminez… but Jimenez
Posted: 04:29 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
who has to be nicknamed U-Jiz…
Posted: 04:33 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Aron
Just for the record Valdez is 2 for 15 at the plate and he’s ground into 4! double plays in as many games. Absurd.
Posted: 04:42 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 George
Who do you propose to replace Valdez, Aron? He’s a backup to a backup; what do you expect, Derek Jeter?
He will be replaced as soon as Castro can play, and will be DFA’ed when Rollins is ready. You can’t waste a trade chip for a shortstop you won’t even need in a month.
Victorino’s average may be down, but he’s got more RBIs than anyone on the team besides Werth. And he probably hasn’t run much because Polanco isn’t seeing many pitches, and also hits a lot of them. Not too many stealing opportunities, in other words.
Kawakami pitched better than Hamels? Give me a break. Hamels’ 5 innings with 3 runs beats 6 and 2/3 with 5 runs. Do the ERA math.
Remember, too, that this was another day game, which Hamels rarely pitches well in. He certainly kept the Phils in the game, though, despite the umpire’s portable strike zone.
Posted: 04:49 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Number 47
Thanks, Manny.
Posted: 05:01 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Where’s Jason Donald when you need him?
Valdez does blow but like George said, he is the back up to the back up.
Posted: 05:03 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Six on the road – 4-2 would be terrific, 3-3 would be alright too. The Big Man needs to start connecting!
Then 7 back home including ending the home stand vs the Red Sox. It will be tough.
Go Phils, Hamels will be OK, I really thought a larger melt down was going to happen but it didn’t. What a job by the BP today!
Go Phils!
Posted: 05:06 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
By the way, Pacifico is a great beer… I think it’s Chase’s favorite beer, too haha
Posted: 05:11 PM on May 9, 2010
Posts: 0 glutenous
Hamels is fine. You can’t expect him to come out and pitch 8 innings of one-run ball every time out. You can’t expect that from any pitcher, even lincecum, halladay, jimenez, sabathia, etc. Don’t throw the guy under the bus just because he gives up a couple of runs. Still a decent outing without his best command and great work by durbin and contreras. Lidge may have been helped by the wind but still got it done. Good win and good homestand. Bring on the rockies.
Posted: 05:21 PM on May 9, 2010