Phillies Nation

It seems like every time we cover a Roy Halladay (4-1, 2.14) game, we talk a little about how the strike zone seemed pinched a bit.  Why is that?  Is it because we know how well Halladay can pitch and how well he can locate pitches?  Cruising through the first eight innings, he walked the first batter of the ninth of four straight pitches.  Probably nothing, just saying.

FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver has been making fans cringe with his idiotic sayings that make about as much sense as dressing up your pet for Halloween.  True story, he once said during a game ‘Pitching is such a vital part of the game, as far as winning is concerned.’  Pure gold.  He even went out on a limb to say that the blood on Curt Schilling‘s sock from the 2004 ALCS looked like Oklahoma.

During today’s game, McCarver made a statement about Halladay that was Chuck Norris-esk.  He said ‘Roy Halladay only throws balls when he wants to.’  And maybe just this once, it actually made sense.  McCarver said this after Halladay had thrown 10 consecutive strikes to start the game.

Continue reading Halladay goes distance, Phillies stay perfect in daytime

New York Mets (11-15) at Philadelphia Phillies (17-8)

Jonathon Niese, LHP (1-3, 5.10 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay, RHP (3-1, 2.41 ERA)

Time: 1:10 p.m, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN, Fox Regional
Weather: Sunny, 69
Twitter: @philliesnation

Heading into the series with the Mets there were some question marks about game one.  With Joe Blanton the most recent Phillie to head to the DL, the team called up Vance Worley for a spot start.  It is always a mystery as to how a young minor league guy will handle the surprise call up.

As we saw last season and again last night Worley did not miss a beat.  With Roy Halladay pitching today and Cliff Lee tomorrow, Worley gave the Phillies an excellent chance of sweeping the Mets this weekend.

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (17-8) vs Mets (11-15)

Oh where do I begin.

Vance Worley (1-0. 0.00) got the call, I’m guessing, sometime Wednesday or Thursday to grab what he needed for a couple starts in the Majors.  It wasn’t the first time the Phillies (17-8) called on their young spectacle wearing right hander.  Watching him on the mound tonight, you could tell he had been there before.

Aside from the four walks allowed by Worley, it really was an ideal start.  The four walks never did hurt the Phillies as Worley had the Mets (11-16)  looking at called third strikes most of the night.  He had five strikeouts all caught looking.

This was Worley’s sixth appearance in the bigs (three starts), and his ERA is 0.95 in 19 innings pitched.  He threw 102 pitches tonight and only allowed two hits in six innings.  Before the game Charlie Manuel said if he could get Worley to throw 5-7 innings it would be a perfect start.  Well Charlie, ask and you shall receive.

Continue reading Worley impresses, Howard smashes

New York Mets (11-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (16-8)

Mike Pelfrey, RHP (1-2, 7.23 ERA) vs. Vance Worley, RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Time: 7:05 p.m, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN
Weather: Cloudy, 67
Twitter: @philliesnation

The Mets are back in town for a three game series against a Phillies team who just keep adding names to the disabled list.  Latest resident is Joe Blanton.  He joins Chase Utley, Domonic Brown, Brad Lidge, Jose Contreras and J.C. Romero on the growing list of ailing Phils.  Carlos Ruiz is there too with some lower back pain.

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (16-8) vs Mets (11-14)

We’ve all been there, the state where sentimentality overrides rationality. Over time, we grow attached to things, and as a result, overvalue them. This sentimentality leads to irrational behavior and the inability to let go of something that’s outlived its useful lifespan. We’ve all been there with different items: the 30-year-old pickup truck that’s only running on five cylinders and doesn’t have room for your kid’s car seat but moved you cross-country in college. The ratty pair of jeans you won’t throw away because you’ve worn them three days a week for four years and are afraid of other pants. The girlfriend who calls you at all hours of the night because her life is meaningless without you and turns into a life-energy-consuming harpy when you only hang out with her six nights a week instead of seven and…no, I don’t know why the hot chick from my psych class posted on my Facebook wall–it’s probably something innocent like she actually wanted to study for the test…well maybe if you were capable of making friends on your own you’d have something to do while I go to my buddy’s bachelor party…no, you can’t come…just because I’m not sleeping over doesn’t mean I’m cheating on you–I’ve got class in six hours and you won’t let me sleep!

But I digress. Like I said, we’ve all been there, unable to do away with something that really ought to be replaced because of some emotional attachment. We may describe such a state of affairs as being pot committed, or throwing good money after bad, or as path dependence. Right now, Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro are all of those things.

Continue reading On Old, Terrible Players and the Importance of Letting Go

Former Phillie Jayson Werth will make his return to Citizens Bank Park Tuesday, May 3 at 7:05. As you’re well aware, Werth spent four solid seasons in Philadelphia before leaving for greener pastures in Washington D.C. (or a losing record and a lot of cash, depends on how you look at it).

Want to see him make his return? Want to be able to cheer him or boo him, whichever you prefer? Well Phillies Nation can help! With the help of our ticket partner, TiqIQ, we’re giving away two tickets to Phillies/Nationals on May 3rd for his return. All you have to do is register on facebook, and here’s how:

Continue reading Win Tickets to See Werth’s First Game Back!

Here is the first post by our new contributor, former All-Star commenter Donald McGettigan. You know him as Don M. on the commenting threads. Welcome him in with open arms, he’ll now be part of Phillies Nation as a writer, putting that journalism degree to good use!

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So today is an off day, a rainy one… and no Flyers either, damn!

Our Fightin Phils managed to escape Arizona with a win to avoid the series sweep, and pull off a trip to the West Coast with a 5-2 record.  Regardless of the opponent, I’ll take that every time!  The big news of the day was the departure of Roy Oswalt and Carlos Ruiz, and our Pat Gallen dove into that yesterday.  Oswalt’s departure turned out to be precautionary, family-related.  Ruiz’s exit was due to “back pain,” and said after the game that he expects it to be day-to-day, hopefully preventing a trip to Disabled List (as we all keep our fingers crossed).

Even with all that going on, what I found more interesting yesterday was that people were ready to get the trade talks going… ready to release and find replacements for Ibanez, Rollins, Francisco, etc… but then J-Roll (3 RBI) and Benny Fresh (2 RBI) had games that helped carry us to victory.  Their production was enough to quiet some critics for a few hours, but before it starts again, I wanted to just throw this out there: It’s just TOO EARLY to get carried away with stats!

Continue reading APRIL Showers Bring MAYbe too Much Doubt

Joe Blanton has been sent to the disabled list with a right elbow injury, according multiple sources. He has a medial impingement of the elbow. Vance Worley has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will make the start tomorrow against the Mets at 7:05.

Worley is 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in four starts for the Iron Pigs. Sad news for Blanton, who had finally come into his own over the past two games, throwing quality outings against both the Brewers in Padres. He went seven innings, allowing only two runs in each start.

He becomes the latest Phillie on the DL joining Chase Utley, Brad Lidge, Dom Brown, JC Romero, and Jose Contreras. No word yet on Carlos Ruiz, who felt back pain after his first at-bat in Arizona on Wednesday. Hopefully it’s better news and he won’t become the sixth player to hit the DL this year.

Jesse Biddle was a first round draft selection by his hometown Phillies in 2010. After signing with Philadelphia, Biddle made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Phillies and later moved up to the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. In 12 combined starts, Biddle posted a 4-1 record with a 3.92 ERA.

The left-handed 19-year-old has had a rough time getting into a groove this season with Class A Lakewood. Through 4 starts, Biddle is 0-3 with a 7.16 ERA in 2011. Despite the rough start, Biddle took time this week to share his pitching repertoire and show of the grips he uses, for Philadelphia baseball fans everywhere.

Check out the video player below for the exclusive footage of Biddle’s pitch menu.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can check out more great content from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

If Chooch is out, can the Phils keep winning? (Photo: Philly.com)

Some of you want to rip your hair out. As tantalizing as this Phillies team can be, they are equally as head scratching and mystifying.

Before you do rip the follicle from the root, understand that they are one win away from setting a franchise record for April. So as bad as you think it is right now with injuries to Chase Utley, Domonic Brown, Brad Lidge, Jose Contreras, and JC Romero, and the loss of Roy Oswalt and Carlos Ruiz on this past road trip, they are tearing up April in ways never before seen in these parts.

At 16-8, the Phillies tied the record on Wednesday with their series-finale win in Arizona. The 17^th win might come as a sour reminder that several players are missing and this month could have turned out to be even more fruitful had they not been. The 17^th win – if or when it comes – can also tell you just how resilient and talented this club is.

Continue reading Phillies Losing Parts but Still Winning