Gameday: Nationals (62-84) at Phillies (86-61)
Posted by Kieran Carobine, Fri, September 17, 2010 04:42 PM | Comments: 0
2010 Gameday, Posts
Washington Nationals (62-84) at Philadelphia Phillies 86-61)
Jason Marquis (2-8, 6.60 ERA) vs. Roy Oswalt (12-13, 2.94 ERA)
Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
Weather: 74 Mostly Sunny
TV: Comcast
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It’s September. The Phillies are in first place and on a tear. Tip your hats to the visiting Nationals coming into town after taking two of three from the Braves. The Phillies, on their current four game win streak, are now three games ahead of said Braves in the NL East.
The Phillies will look to stay hot against a pitcher who has yet to warm up this season. To say Jason Marquis (2-8, 6.60) hasn’t lived up to his role would be an understatement. He was brought in this past off-season to be an inning eater and lead a rotation of young pitchers. He has pitched just over 46 innings in 10 starts this year. And though he is Jewish, he decided to take his spot in the rotation and pitch tonight, the start of Yom Kipper.
The Phillies should be greatful as well. Against the Phils, Marquis’ ERA is over five in 91 innings pitched. This season, Marquis is 0-3 with a 8.78 ERA against the Phillies. Chase Utley has 12 hits in 25 at bats in his career against the righty. Along with Utley, Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth have all homered of Marquis.
Roy Oswalt (12-13, 2.94) will be on the hill for the Phillies one day earlier than his scheduled start for tomorrow. The bump will allow Oswalt to pitch against the Braves next week. This move also allow the Phillies to have their big three or H2O (Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt) go against Atlanta.
Since the beginning of August, Oswalt has been untouchable. He is 6-0 with a 1.56 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .177 batting average.
UPDATE, 5:50 : The word on Jimmy Rollins is he may be ready for the Atlanta series. He did take grounders in bp and looked to be moving pretty well. There is no timetable yet, but looks like within the next week, according to Charlie Manuel. -Pat Gallen
Today’s lineup: Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez SS, Oswalt P
Your gamenight beer: Today’s offering is from Harpoon, and it’s Harpoon Munich Type Dark Beer. It’s your typical brown ale: Hoppy, malty, roasted. Toffee-like. Coffee-like. A nice beer to have, and definitely fitting with some ribs. - By Tim
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
KK isnt making the post season roster.
Why? use that spot for a hitter.
I guess maybe for a mop up game.
Posted: 10:51 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
This team has that swagger again theyre gonna be tough to beat . We need to sweep nats and hope mets take at least one. KK and Chsbg are gonna have to be big and pitch well. I think Big Joe will be ok , can kk give us one of those (good) kk performances ?
Posted: 10:51 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Defense up the middle is a must. Carlos is excellent defensively, and think about it, this guy is handling three huge egos, and they TRUST him! Very impressive.
I don’t bash JRoll either, he has provided too many great big time plays over the years, I just don’t want to ruin the MOJO we have going with Vic leading off.
Posted: 10:57 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
andrew , everyone that played the game at a decent level (college for me) or just knows the game from others understands the “up the middle” importance of a baseball team. Its the heart of the defense , your catcher , cf , 2b and ss have to be great defensively to win alot of games. Thats all i’ve heard in 35 years of being around the game playing and coaching. When you get above avg offensive production from those spots you win WS rings.
Posted: 10:59 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
I think KK can be useful as a long reliever, I think we need him. We can’t expect H2O to be perfect every time out, and if JB spits up all over himself in the first cuple innings, KK would be a good asset.
Mike- The swagger is like a big ol train that can’t be stopped. You can slow it down now and then, but you can;t stop it.
This one is a bit obscure but see if you know it-
“Charlie stole the handle and the train it won’t stop going, no way to slow down”
Posted: 11:02 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
Tulowitzki has 12 homers so far in sept
We dont wanna play them.
At least we agree.
about strong up the middle. Alot of fans dont understand. Mccann and Piazza types are too easy to like. Jeff Kent comes to mind as a guy who is way over rated.
Id actually vlaue Mccann and Piazza more if they played 1b or LF. I might vote for Piazza for the HOF as a lf . No way he should make it as a C. He was a liability. Had to be on a team well above average to make up for his defense.
Remember when the Mets tried him at first? I mean he couldnt even play first. Adam Dunn is passabble at first.
Posted: 11:07 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
You are spot on guys, the people that don’t know the value of defense up the middle don’t know the game. I haven’t played in years, but I’ve been coaching and umpiring. The first thing I look for in my guys (young ones) is who’s going to be my catcher, SS,2B. and CF – Hitting is secondary in those positions.
Posted: 11:07 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
If you are needing long relievers in the playoffs your stay will be short
especially in round. I wish that was a 7 gamer and not 5
colprado scares me to death in a 5 gamer. Even if 3 of them are in philly.
Posted: 11:08 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
The Yankees just had to put a 3 spot up in the top of 9th to beat the orioles , theyre not goin back to series this year. I know theyre the Yankees but I dont think the last couple weeks are a fluke they have some real problems , starting pitching inconsistent and injuries are real issues for them right now.
Posted: 11:09 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
Dont know that one left
Posted: 11:11 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
They got lucky too
A roid was struck out and the umpire didnt call it even when he was walking away and he hit the next pitch for a 3 run bomb.
Ive been saying that for months too. Its Rangers (outside shot) probably the Rays in the series from the AL this year.
Minn is better than they usually are this year too.
Posted: 11:13 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Didn’t think you would. It’s the last song on the Aqualung album by Jethro Tull, it’s called “Locomotive Breath”. It’s actually the only song I like by him.
Posted: 11:15 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
@ Lefty
LOL
Its not a him its a band.
Colorado keeps coming and coming. Kinda hope they get the division so we can play them in NLCS.
I dont want them as WC and us best record and draw them in round 1.
The Phils are only 1 game behnd most wins in majors.
Posted: 11:17 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
It’s too easy for a good team to be taken out in a 5 game series. That format should be done away with.
I know the arguments against, cold weather etc. – but if they weren’t so greedy they could schedule double headers on mid-summer Sundays like the old days and then they could fit it all in.
Owners giving up gate revenue, LOL I guess that’s a longshot.
Posted: 11:19 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
LOL That was stupid! Ian Anderson-still don’t like the group
Posted: 11:20 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Stupidsticious- I can’t get into a discussion about possible playoff matchups yet. Just can’t do it.
I would like us to get best record and take the option of the better schedule with days off between the first three games.
Posted: 11:23 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
I obviously know who Jt is being 47 yrs old just didn’t recognise the lyric
everyone who was a teenager in the 70′s knows that song
Posted: 11:24 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
I have kuorda in fantasy too
The Rockies are killing him with singles
carnege today for my fantasy but i am still up 5-4 this week in semi finals somehow
SF is losing if thigs hold
colorado is 1.5 back
They have to make it. They are playing better than any team ive watched. Better than the Phillies are playing right now. Reminds me of that steam roller the phils ran into in 2007.
Scary
Posted: 11:24 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
Kuorda had a batting average against of .185 since the all star break comig in
This isnt in colorado its in LA
Scary
Posted: 11:26 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
A-roid hit the bomb right after the missed call huh ? Its all window dressing anyway , AL decided already yanks/rays/twins/rangers , I know sox fans are holding on to hope but its not gonna happen. I would love to see the twins make it , never know. On the other hand if we make it back nothing would be sweeter than beating the evil empire.
Posted: 11:29 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 miked63
Dont agree rockys are playing BETTER than Phils , maybe just as good but not better , knowones won more games than us since end of july.
Posted: 11:31 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
rockies are playing better last 15 or so
but are the 2 hottest teams in baseball
Posted: 11:36 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
You guys ever listen to Chris Russo- (mad dog radio) on satellite? He does a good show, it’s mostly NY based but he discusses all teams. He’s actually a SF giants fan, but he thinks that everyone better fear the Phillies right now, including A.L. teams. I don’t like the NY stuff, but around here it’s refreshing just to hear someone talk baseball on the radio.
Posted: 11:37 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
I would agree the phils are the team to beat
But the Rockies are up there and are so hot.
In a 5 gamer could be bad.
I used to listen to mike and the mad dog a little
Hes no Phil Wood
Its so much easier to talk NFL. thats why they dont talk baseball a lot.
Baseball is hard to understand. Its a strategy game.
You know people dont understand that the Mets were better with Pagan in center than the great beltran. You have to be high functioning to understand baseball. You have to invest time to understand it.
You can be feeble minded like Bravoman and enjoy and understand the NFL. I liek the informed fans here more than talking heads liek Kornheiser or eskin. They dont know anything about baseball especially.
Posted: 11:48 PM on September 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Phil Wood is the best. Seems I’m always in the car during afternoon drive time. Big business radio, and TV stations always “dumb down” their products to meet the needs of the masses. Never any baseball during drive time. Your right it’s just too much for the average sports fan.
But I wonder sometimes if the NFL is so popular because people really like it so much better, or because it’s what gets force fed to us whether we want it or not.
Posted: 12:03 AM on September 18, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
Force fed and its easy.
I think its a terrible boring league.
But I have watched the eagles with same guys since we went to bars in the mid nineties. I do enjoy hanging out with them and I do hope the Eagles win.
All that hype for a 16 game season. 16 hours of play is the whole year.
Its actually too simplistic and force fed for me.
Most americans are too lazy anymore. The NFL fits america in 2010.
Posted: 12:11 AM on September 18, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Agreed, I’m not a big football fan either. Baseball is what I was brought up on and remains the game I love most.
I do like Hockey and Basketball, it’s just as mindless as football, (no real strategy there either) But at least they don’t stop to huddle every 20 seconds while we’re shown 6 replays of the same play over and over.
Posted: 12:20 AM on September 18, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
I really don’t understand balks, that looked like one to me.
Posted: 12:21 AM on September 18, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
Oh well, I’m out of here Andrew. Tomorrow night is poker night, so I’ll DVR and watch late. Take it easy.
Posted: 12:23 AM on September 18, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
Poker? We should play sometime
Still trying to get a poker room at rosecroft.
Have a good few days
Posted: 12:35 AM on September 18, 2010