Winning the Homestand Opener Important
Posted by Pat Gallen, Sat, June 05, 2010 12:28 PM | Comments: 16
2010 Game Recaps, Posts
I have no basis for this statement. There are no stats to back it up. But with the way things have been going for the Phillies, winning last night in that fashion, is important. Every win is important, you say. Lately, they just haven’t been coming.
Finally off the road and comfortably in their own ballpark, the Phillies have to expand on last night’s 3-2 victory over the Padres. A few things stood out:
They won without Roy Halladay at his very best. The perfect game was a week ago and Doc won’t be untouchable every outing. He did enough for the Phillies to win and they took advantage of that, something that was foreign to them for about two weeks. Halladay went seven frames while striking out seven and walking one. His 10 hits were problematic only in number; eight of them went for singles and none were very damaging.
Three runs may not seem like an explosion offensively, but it’s a step in the right direction. You’ve undoubtedly heard the futile stats: 14 runs in the last 11 games leading up to last night. Nine losses in their last 11. Two wins on a nine game road trip. Five shutouts in two weeks. It’s all ugly but at least last night gives them a glimmer of hope.
The real issues at this point seem to be Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth. Injuries aside, the big three are struggling. Utley is down to an unheard of .267 with questions about his health. He’s been known to hide an ailment or five. Could that be the reason for his slump? Ryan Howard’s average was above .300 for the better part of two months, but that since has slipped to .280 with no power. Ryno has one home run in the midst of this team-wide break down. Jayson Werth is 2-for-his-last-25 after last night’s 0′fer.
As soon as the middle of the order begins to produce even slightly, you’ll see this offense explode. And by explode, I really mean scoring five or six runs in a game. Baby steps.
As for the homestand, they are 1-0. And figure this: they are just 2.5 games off the pace for the best record in the National League after their nosedive in the standings recently. Baby steps is what it takes.
Posts: 0 Scotch Man
No Ashburn for anyone last night? Surely, Lidge deserves it!
Posted: 01:04 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
This pitching staff is doing an incredible job.
2009 ERA 4.16 (staff ERA)
2008 ERA 3.88
2007 ERA 4.73
Right now the pitching staff has a 3.67 ERA including injuries to both middle of the rotation starters, closer and two primary set-up guys… The entire staff is quietly doing nothing short of an incredible job.
Posted: 01:27 PM on June 5, 2010
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Posted: 01:31 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 George
Lidge did a fine job, but Victorino also deserves some credit. He was 2/3 of the offense last night. Halladay wasn’t bad either. Two runs through seven inning certainly ranks as an excellent performance.
I’m hoping the middle of the lineup turns it around REAL soon. Utley is by far the biggest concern, because he has that whole “macho” persona and doesn’t like to sit even when he needs to. This is one area where the coaching/medical staff needs to be more forceful and just MAKE him sit.
Posted: 02:44 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Will
Anyone know why the Phillies game is not on MLB Extra Innings tonight?
Posted: 03:32 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 ray
What NJ says only goes to show that if this team had any kind of offense they’d be running away with everything.
Sure it’s nice to get these wins, 3-2, and the 2 games against the marlins that were low scoring wins but we need that explosion from the offense. A real blowout. I’d be even satisfied with a 10-8 win right now. Let the pitching not be at it’s best for a game or 2 and still win for a change.
Posted: 04:14 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 MikeB.
Thinking about Utley and Werth’s recent struggles at the plate, it makes you wonder how pitchers have been handling these guys lately and what kind of pitching pattern and pitches are getting these guys out. It is no secret that Howard has trouble with breaking pitches but the other two guys…why are they being fooled so much at the plate?
Posted: 04:22 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 teejvee
They aren’t being ‘fooled’. They are getting fastbals blown right by them.
That first AB by Werth last night, with 2nd and 3rd was a prime example. Fastball RIGHT down the middle, belt high. Catcher had the ball rolled half way back to the time Werth got around.
Posted: 04:39 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
Will, I don’t know why it isn’t on MLB extra innings, but it might be on the MLB network instead. My TV Guide says it will either show Cubs v. Astros or the Phils game. Fingers crossed.
Posted: 04:46 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Keenan
Has anyone wondered if Amaro Jr is getting kickbacks from some of these big contracts, like Howard’s ? Howard’s contract makes no sense, since it was signed with two years left on his current one and a big free agent market for first baseman when his current contract is up ?
Am I the only one who has been curious about this? Happens all the time in business, politics and government.
Posted: 04:50 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Keenan
Hey NJ….. real interesting post. Shows that our strong suit may not be in the batters box at all, but on the mound.
Posted: 04:55 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
Keenan, I’m not dismissing your post out of hand, but I am having extreme trouble figuring out how such a kickback system will work. I think the Howard contract has more to do with what the Phillies organization thinks the fans want than what will actually help the team win. I think they think Howard = sell outs (yes, I simplified this a bit, but you get the basic point.)
Posted: 05:09 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Keenan
Heather, the agent gets a percentage of the contract to Howard. On
$25 million a year, that would probably be $2.5 million per year. Each year , Amaro gets an extra $250,000 for five years . Total 1.25 million over five years tax free. Howard does not have to know anything. And the agent’s take would be taxed, but he could pad that with expenses to recruit other clients, etc. Nobody would know but the agent, and Amaro, Jr.
Posted: 05:50 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Lets go Padres
Phillies only can score cheap homerun in their small ballpark.
Posted: 08:45 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Adrian
I must say it was so nice seeing a fallen angel take flight again last night. Those wicked sliders from Brad Lidge reminded me of the gem he struck out Eric Hinske with to win the World Series, and the hundreds before that which led to his perfect season in ’08. If that’s not a huge baby step, I don’t know what is. As long as it’s not followed by five steps backwards like last year.
Posted: 10:13 PM on June 5, 2010
Posts: 0 Weltweit telefonieren mit SiteTalk Mobil | Blog and Earn
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Posted: 09:08 AM on June 12, 2010