Howard makes us forget, comes through in extras
Posted by Kieran Carobine, Sun, April 24, 2011 12:09 AM | Comments: 13
2011 Game Recaps, Posts
When MLB surveyed all 29 managers not named Charlie Manuel who would intentionally walk a batter to get to Ryan Howard, they all answered No. All but Bud Black.
Black issued a free pass to Jimmy Rollins in the 11th inning tonight to get to Howard. He attempted to counter the power hitting lefty with left handed reliever Cory Luebke. This did not work out so well. Howard laced a double off the wall in left to score Placido Polanco and Rollins to break a 2-2 tie.
Howard’s two RBI double made everyone forget about his four strikeouts leading up to this at bat. He, then, was then thrown out at home trying to score on a Ben Francisco single. I still don’t remember the strikeouts.
Joe Blanton is determined to prove he is not just another fifth starter. For the second start in a row Blanton went seven innings and allowed only two runs. He battled all night and did a really nice job escaping jams in the first and the fifth innings; the two innings the Padres managed to score.
The bullpen once again was called on to keep the Phillies in it. Danys Baez, Antonio Bastardo and Kyle Kendrick each pitched a perfect inning in relief. Bastardo struck out the side in the ninth to send the game into extras. This season Bastardo has pitched nine innings and struck out 14 batters. He has yet to allow a run.
The Phillies continued to struggle at the plate managing only seven hits on the day. Howard had two and Polanco came off the bench in the eleventh to lead off the inning with a hit. He leads the team with a .367 average. Jimmy Rollins picked up an RBI in the sixth inning on an infield single. It was just his second RBI this season in 79 at bats.
I am not fully on the ‘throw Ibanez under the bus’ bandwagon yet but the Phillies left fielder had another 0-fer night at the plate and hasn’t had a hit since Monday (0-18). His batting average is a miniscule .187.
Polanco’s lead off single is what really set this sequence of events into play. If he doesn’t get a hit, Rollins may never come to the plate only to get intentionally walked and Howard doesn’t get his shot in the 11th.
Kyle Kendrick picked up the win and Ryan Madson was asked to convert his second save of the season. To reiterate, Blanton was impressive today and tomorrow is a Halladay as the Phillies go for the sweep.
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
nice work an some nice plays need to see one more start from Blanton before i can say he back on track
Posted: 12:45 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 680 The Original Chuck P
Nice series win… Our BP is filthy. I don’t think that anyone will be intentionally walking anyone to get to Howard. Great work- Happy Easter PN.
Posted: 08:24 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 0 Adrian
Lefyt or no, you should know the way to get the big man out is a steady diet of breaking balls. To Howard’s credit, he hit a ball tailing away from him. It’s just like 2008 all over again. The guy strikes out eight times in 14 at-bats and still manages to drive in four runs. Take the hint Raul….
Posted: 08:40 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 212 The Dipsy
I’m officially going on a hunger strike until Charlie takes Ibanez out of the lineup.
The Dipsy
Posted: 09:37 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 2118 Lefty
I’ll join you, except at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Posted: 09:52 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 0 Rabbi
I was delighted to see Howard just do what comes naturally for him, i.e., drive the ball the other way. It is my understanding that the coaching staff has been wanting him to “let the ball travel in the zone” more. I firmly believe that this philosophy should be applied by everyone struggling Phil in the line-up!!! Look how successful Polly and Chooch are by taking what the pitcher gives them. But our #3, #4, #5, and #6 hitters all suffer from pull-itis. This is why the Phils have soooo much against finesse pitchers. You would think that after watching Jamie Moyer, this line-up would realize that the teams who gave him the most problems were the teams that didn’t try to pull him. Hopefully, last night’s double off the leftfield wall acts as a wake-up call for our struggling offense.
Posted: 09:43 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 0 Rabbi
In this same vein, Ben Fran’s triple last night and his homer on Thursday came on balls that were NOT PULLED. Like Howard, he definitely has good opposite field power.
Posted: 09:49 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 44 Dr. Dave
This would be great day to start Mayberry in LF and to give Valdez a rest by starting Martinez at 2B.
Cholly needs to wake up and start platooning Ibanez! PLUS, we’ll get better defense with Jr.
Posted: 10:49 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 212 The Dipsy
The only question I have about Ibanez now is whether he is worse offensively, or defensively. Its very close. We all love Raul. He’s the kind of guy we’d like to date our daughters (if we were spanish). When I think of Raul’s situation, it brings to mind Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” as a theme that applies to all this. We all keep thinking, and hoping in fact, that, miraculously, he’ll rip off a month of 10/25/.330, and that its a reason to stay with him. But really its nothing more than a mind tra cause our good sense says it just won’t happen. We’ll keep waiting and the next thing you know the season will be over. I don’t wan’t this to turn into “Old Yeller”. Lets just gently reduce his role and let him try to contribute from the bench or whatever quasi platoon role Charlie puts him in. Bring JMJr and lets see what he can do.
The Dipsy
Posted: 11:24 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 0 ray
Only if you were spanish you’d want raul to date your daughter?
Posted: 11:43 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 212 The Dipsy
*mind trap
The Dipsy
Posted: 11:31 AM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 212 The Dipsy
Well, you know, Raul’s spanish.
The Dipsy
Posted: 12:19 PM on April 24, 2011
Posts: 0 Brian Michael
The intial report is that Mayberry, Jr. will start today for Ibanez.
Posted: 01:06 PM on April 24, 2011