Phils Squeak Past Padres to Open up West Coast Swing
Posted by Pat Gallen, Fri, April 22, 2011 10:02 AM | Comments: 8
2011 Game Recaps, Analysis, News, Opinion, Posts
HIGHLIGHTS
-Ben Francisco hitting his third home run of the season: The Phillies really need some sort of sustained power and while it’s not all about home runs, it certainly does help the cause. Ben Fran rocked one to dead center that just got out of the park. He also added an RBI on a sac fly.
-Roy Oswalt looked fine. Nothing lingering from the back issue a week ago. He took advantage of a weak Padres lineup to get through six innings, giving up only one hit to go with two walks and seven strikeouts.
-Always nice to see Brian Schnieder do big things when he takes over for Carlos Ruiz. He hit a monster homer to right center field off of Mat Latos in the second inning after Ben Fran did it.
-Holding Mat Latos to only 4 1/3 inning, making him throw 107 pitches was patience at it’s finest. However, they could not capitalize…
LOWLIGHTS
-12 LOB, 1-for-9 with RISP. That is not going to win you games. For all those hitters occupying bases, only one of them reached home? This is clearly a facet of the Phillies offense that needs work.
-Ryan Howard is slumping. With an 0-for-5, 4 strikeout performance, he not only brought home the Golden Sombrero, but he looked foolish the entire night (although I will say that strike three on strikeout #3 against Latos was probably not a strike).
-The bullpen: Ugh. Will someone take over a role? David Herndon struggled again and Antonio Bastardo had to help clean up the mess. Jose Contreras had a shaky ninth inning, but got through it for his 5th save. Someone has to define roles in the pen. It’s gotta be Bastardo in the 7th, Madson in the 8th, Contreras in the 9th. And then pray you don’t have to anyone else.
Posts: 0 Larry Heard
I agree with everything. Well said. Some one needs to step up and clear the bases and the bullpen? i close my eyes when Herdon is used.
Posted: 10:23 AM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 1374 Pat Gallen
Unfortunately, once in a while they have to use Herndon (unless theyve seen enough and demote him). They can’t just use Madson 162 times.
Posted: 10:39 AM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 793 Manny
April 22… Brian Schneider, the backup catcher, has just 1 HR less than Ryan Howard. Howard needs to start hitting bombs again!! C’mon big guy!
Oswalt has been fantastic to start the season. Our best, most consistent pitcher so far.
Posted: 10:41 AM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 684 betasigmadeltashag
let me see how can you say the bull pen is a low lite, outside one bad outing Baez has looked ok, Bastardo and Controus have not given up an ER, and Madson has been given up; what 1 earned run. Jose pitched well last night with a very small strike zone, consistant at least but small. Even the hit Jose gave up, one is was with two outs, two it was a good pitch that got hit in the right spot. Bastardo the same thing the first inning he pitched was squeezed a little bit, even the Padres anouncers mentioned it. With the exception of the 9-0 and KK blow up when he was brought in with guys on base the pen has been solid. With 3 guys haveing a opponents BA around .200 what more do you want.
Howard did look silly last night, and I would like to see Mayberry start in RF against left handed starters. Cole pitching in his home town will dominate
Posted: 11:47 AM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 793 Manny
Unrelated: I was just reading an article on ESPN saying that they should trade Jason Bay now that he’s back from the DL. I couldn’t help but think… hmmm, what if the Phillies go after him?
Bay is a very good player who had a disastrous 2010 at Citi Field.. now he looks healthy, he’s extremely undervalued, is a righty, hits 5th, in his prime… the Mets, if they trade him, would probably have to eat at least half his salary… And Bay was an outstanding player with the Red Sox in ’09 (hitting at Fenway should be a better example of what he could do at CBP); small sample size: but in his last 3 years he’s hit .360 at CBP..
This team will need a power boost. Low-medium risk / extremely high reward? Just throwing it out there….
Posted: 12:13 PM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 1374 Pat Gallen
I like the thinking outside of the box Manny, but there’s really no reason why they’d trade him to the Phillies. If they wanted to deal him, he’d probably go out of the division, especially if the Mets are paying half, which I don’t think they would. His contract isn’t an albatross (it’s half of Werth’s!!) so they can afford to keep him around, at least until the offseason when they try to resign Reyes.
Interesting next few months for the Mets.
Posted: 12:20 PM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 193 bfo_33
The dreaded risp discussion. The Phils haven’t been very good with RISP in a while, and it hasn’t hurt them much. The difference this year is they lack power, but they also have much better starting pitching. It may even out (but I’d like to see it higher)..
I’m not too worried about the bullpen. I feel good about Madson, Bastardo, and Contreras, relatively good about Baez (not easy to state that). I’d like to see one more arm step up, since we can’t use those guys every night (Contreras probably shouldn’t pitch more than back to back nights, Madson and Bastardo, no more than 3 in a row). I also think that Bastardo is effectively wild – would prefer elevated walks as long as he keeps striking guys out, not giving up xbh.
I don’t like Bay – may have more power than Ben Fran, but much worse defense, can’t run, and an injury risk. I’d prefer to stay put. While we see the holes, we’re 12-6, no need to pay anything for an aging bat living off reputation. If the Mets start to dismantle (which they should), I’d take a shot at Beltran first, but don’t think the Mets are all that interested in dealing with the Phils.
Posted: 12:47 PM on April 22, 2011
Posts: 44 Dr. Dave
Roy Oswalt since the trade:
16 GS Record 10-1 106.2-68-24-21-27-94 1.77 ERA
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 12:53 PM on April 22, 2011