Hamels Can’t Get Help, Phils Fall 1-0
Posted by Michael Baumann, Sat, August 14, 2010 01:29 AM | Comments: 19
2010 Game Recaps, Posts
For the second straight weekend, Cole Hamels found himself on the wrong end of a 1-0 game against the Mets. This time, instead of Johan Santana, it was R.A. Dickey who threw the gem for New York, facing only 29 batters and throwing only 105 pitches in a complete game, one-hit shutout. Hamels pitched extremely well, going the distance himself, but a sixth-inning double by Carlos Beltran plated David Wright, and that was all the offense Dickey needed.
The Phillies were never even close to threatening. Wilson Valdez walked with one out in the third, but Hamels popped out trying to sacrifice him to second. Hamels himself managed the night’s only hit with a single to right with one out the sixth inning, but a fielder’s choice and a fly out negated the threat, if you can call it that. A true pitcher’s duel, this game was over in just 2 hours, 9 minutes, including an eight-minute delay to determine if a Mike Hessman fly ball was interfered with by a fan. Bizarrely, the umpires awarded Hessman third base–if the fan interfered, it would be ruled a double. If not, it would be a home run. Apparently he sorta-kinda-touched the ball. At any rate, Hamels managed to stay loose while the umpires iced him in the video room and shut down the Mets in the fifth inning.
Dickey’s outing earned a 91 on ESPN’s game score, developed by Sabermetric guru Bill James. That ties it for the ninth-best pitching performance on the year, behind the no-hitters by Dallas Braden, Roy Halladay, and Matt Garza, along with four one-hit shutouts, most recently Brandon Morrow’s 17-strikeout seal-clubbing on Sunday, and Travis Wood’s near-perfect game against the Phillies in July.
The loss, coupled with another 1-0 game between the Braves and Dodgers in Atlanta, leaves the Phillies three games back with 47 to play. La Furia Roja looks to bounce back tomorrow against newly-recalled Pat Misch, who will be opposed by Halladay.
Posts: 0 NateB
Cole Hamels is on fire! Can’t believe his luck for lack of run support this season, but I’m excited for him to have another postseason like 2008. Still plenty of time to take over the division lead.
Posted: 02:45 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Hope the site stays up awhile.
Tough loss. need to start winning games. Keep waiting for the Braves to falter and they arent going too. Too much SP.
People I think take for granted the phils will make the playoffs. Its not a given. Need to win some games and thank god for 2 nights ago big comeback or things would be looking alot bleaker.
Posted: 05:46 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 BrewTown PhilsPhan
I have no statistics to back this up, and it’s purely anecdotal, but it seems to me as though Cole has consistently gotten bad run support over the last three years. I would love to see a simple analysis of this: average runs per game in which Cole starts compared to average runs per game in which anyone other than Cole starts. I suspect that in 2008, 2009, and 2010 his run support is significantly below the average for all other pitchers. Either that or I’m perceiving things all wrong. The truth is, I no longer look at the prospective pitchers and think, “Oh, great, Cole’s pitching!” but rather, “Uh-oh – no runs tonight.”
Posted: 07:55 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Cole is pitching great and IF -Andrew’s right, it’s not a given- if we make the playoffs, he will be really tough to beat. This recent lack of offensive support will end, probably on his next start. But keep in mind he won a couple games earlier in the year where he didn’t pitch so well too. I feel bad for Cole right now, but at least he’s not “flying off the handle” about it. As long as he stays calm and keeps working, good things will come.
Posted: 10:33 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
PS What’s the deal with all these knuckleballers?
We can beat the flamethrowers ( *See- Broxton,Jonathan – Kershaw,Clayton etc., etc) but can’t touch the junk.
Oh well, neither could I when I played.
Posted: 10:39 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Adam
I love what Cole is doing right now BUT….the Braves seem to be a team of destiny. I feel like they play literally almost every game at home (where they are a ridiculous 38-15) and win so many one run games. Brooks Conrad just needs to stop hitting clutch homeruns. I think our best chance is the wild card.
Posted: 10:53 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 George
I see things the same way as BrewTown. The Phils just don’t score when Hamels pitches. He should have had a better W/L record in 2008, although I’m not sure on 2009.
Knuckleballs are not exactly the usual “junk.” There’s some predictability to slow curves, and there’s also some predictability to 97 mph heat. A knuckler is totally unpredictable; catchers and pitchers don’t even know for sure when or how or where it will break, so if it’s over the plate at all, the results can be devastating. Dickey was on last night. It’s not often a knuckleball pitcher allows only one walk.
Hamels will possibly get some run support next time out, but it’s also possible he’ll have an off night. He’s been pitching so well of late, that he’s probably due for a dud outing. I hope not, though.
Posted: 11:00 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 George
It’s pretty stupid when you can’t even use the Mets’ starter’s name without your comment “awaiting moderation.” At least I think that’s why my comment was flagged. There was nothing else even close to being a no-no word. This kind of thing needs to be corrected.
Posted: 11:05 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 sportsphan
I think it’s time for everyone to stop talking post-season. There is no way we are going to catch Atlanta. They aren’t faltering and losing Chipper isn’t going to hurt them like losing Chipper would have 10 years ago. We got into too deep a hole and we won’t dig out of it at the rate we’re going. The injuries finally caught up with us. How many one run games have we lost that Utley or Howard might have made the difference in? How many games has Joe Blanton lost that he might have won last season or in 2008 when he was healthy? It’s “wait till next year” time again–and I really hope I’m wrong!!!
Posted: 11:34 AM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
Cole Hamels kept the Mets from having their first no-hitter in history.
HERO.
Posted: 12:05 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Bart Shart
For Cole Hamels. that game last night was a strong pitching performance. He deserved a win. The offense went into a major funk the last time Dickey did this to us. Hopefully, we will come out swinging effectively tonight.
Posted: 12:10 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 JAY-AKA-PHILLYBOY
Good 1 manny!!!!!!
Posted: 12:11 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Bruce
As a baseball fan one can appreciate a special game as last night’s near no-hitter even though our team was on the wrong end of it including the final score. I love pitching duels anyway. I don’t give a damn about ESPN’s sabermetric rating of Dickey’s performance. Statistics does not take away a rare gem given by a knuckleball pitcher (102 out of 105 pitches were knuckleballs!). He hardly worked up a sweat in one of the easiest and quickest 1-hit performance. Let’s not blame the Phillies offense for lack of support to Hamels last night. It was just one of those nights where the opposing pitcher gave a completely dominating performance and a season’s best for him. As a Phillies fan, I tip my hat to him.
It’s amazing that the Mets have now shutout the Phillies FOUR straight times at Citi Field! Altogether, FIVE shutouts recorded by the Mets against the Phillies this season! It truly is “the year of the pitcher”.
Posted: 12:32 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Bruce
As a baseball fan one can appreciate a special game as last night’s near no-hitter even though our team was on the wrong end of it including the final score. I love pitching duels anyway. I don’t give a darn about ESPN’s sabermetric rating of Dickey’s performance. Statistics does not take away a rare gem given by a knuckleball pitcher (102 out of 105 pitches were knuckleballs!). He hardly worked up a sweat in one of the easiest and quickest 1-hit performance. Let’s not blame the Phillies offense for lack of support to Hamels last night. It was just one of those nights where the opposing pitcher gave a completely dominating performance and a season’s best for him. As a Phillies fan, I tip my hat to him.
It’s amazing that the Mets have now shutout the Phillies FOUR straight times at Citi Field! Altogether, FIVE shutouts recorded by the Mets against the Phillies this season! It truly is “the year of the pitcher”.
P.S. I used “darn ” for moderation (chuckles)
Posted: 12:37 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
George the site needs a lot of work. Probably costing us a great deal of the community here.
Sportsphan I am sure the phils are still favored to make the playoffs. It roy Halladay today vs Pat Misch. Dickey can deal sometimes. Phils showing alot of heart. Just need to win games. The braves WILL falter. Not collapse like the gutless spineless Mets but they will falter. they play us 6 more times including a season ending 3 game series AT Atl that will probably prove to be pivitol. The big guy and Utley will be back by then etc etc. Id say the phils are a slight favorite to win the division.
Posted: 12:57 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Philly Texan
Hey sportsfan,
let’s not be so negative. Three games back with 47 to play ain’t impossible, especially with our two big boppers due back this week.
Let’s just see what happens. We still have 6 games with the Braves in Sept.
But I do think the Phils will make the playoffs if they simply keep playing well. 92-93 wins is reachable for this team if they get hot down the stretch and that ought to be enough. We just need one out of three teams—Atlanta, San Diego, and S.F.—to falter. Just one of em. And the Padres and Giants play each other a bunch of times down the stretch. One of them will fall back. The Phils fate is in their hands. If they get hot, they’ll be in the playoffs.
Then watchout.
Posted: 01:31 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 biz
Chasing the Braves is different than chasing the Mets. The Braves have a ton of pitching. I’ve never seen a team win so many games when they only score 2, 3 or 4 runs like the Braves do.
Posted: 03:38 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
I agree with Biz and Adam comments. I know Atlanta is a good team but i expected them to falter just enough so we can take them. Im not talking about a collapse more of a slight stumble. It doesnt looke it will happen they find ways to win. I still think we have a chance to win the Pennant but it is going to be real real tough this year. Though the Phils have prevailed with all the injuries our Spotty Bullpen and out lack to get men to score might cost us down the line.
Posted: 11:52 PM on August 14, 2010
Posts: 0 bostonkate
I always feel so bad for cole. He is ON FIRE this season; really on top of his game. But his offense cannot back him up like they do for halladay. He should have what, at least 15 wins by now?
Posted: 11:48 PM on August 15, 2010