Phillies Nation

We’ve reached the mid-season point on the Major League schedule, as the Phillies played their 81st game of the season last night. Since the minor league regular season schedules typically only go through Labor Day, we’re slightly past that halfway point for developmental levels. That doesn’t mean we can’t take a midpoint glance around the farm to get familiar with the status of each full season team and the progress of some key contributors for each club, through games played on Wednesday.

In the Triple A International League, Ryne Sandberg’s Lehigh Valley IronPigs lead the North division with a 46-33 record. All season long, the ‘Pigs roster has served as the on deck circle for the Major League Phillies, but somehow the team has managed to hold things together and stand out as a strong club in the tough division that includes the Yankees and Red Sox affiliates.

Second baseman Josh Barfield, who has Major League experience with the Indians, has posted solid numbers throughout the season with Lehigh Valley. In 69 games, Barfield has a .287 batting average with a .743 OPS.

John Mayberry Jr., who joined the club after a lackluster April and May with the Phillies, is hitting .287 overall in 23 games with the IronPigs. Lately, the 27-year-old is making a solid case for a return to the big club, having posted a .381 average over his past 10 contests. Continue reading Mid-season Developmental Report

Cole Hamels is just fine. At least it looks that way. He exited the game after the 4th inning when an Adrian Gonzalez line drive struck him on his non-pitching hand. He showed some discomfort, but went on to get the final out of the inning. He went into the clubhouse and never came back. The entire city of Philadelphia held it’s breath. Shortly thereafter, news came out that X-rays on Hamels’ hand had come back negative, and he will not miss his next start. Whew.

BUT…Shortly after the game, Ruben Amaro Jr. addressed reporters to say it is not a given that Hamels make his next start, going the opposite way that the team went earlier in the day.

As for the game itself? Ugh. David Herndon came in to replace Hamels and immediately gave up two runs in the 5th inning and one in the 6th. Andrew Carpenter made his first appearance in 2011, giving up back-to-back home runs to Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek (his 2nd of the day) in the 8th.

Continue reading Hamels Exits Early As Red Sox Defeat Phillies

Boston Red Sox (45-34) at Philadelphia Phillies (51-30)

Jon Lester (9-4, 3.66 ERA) vs  Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.49 ERA)

Time: 1:05 PM, Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Sunny, 83^o
TV: CSN, MLBN
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Coming off last night’s 2-1 win, the Phillies look to complete the sweep today at Citizens Bank Park. They’ll have one of the best pitchers in the league on the mound in Cole Hamels. His 2.49 ERA ranks 8th in the MLB (3rd in the NL), just behind fellow teammate Roy Halladay.

Continue reading Gameday: Red Sox (45-34) vs. Phillies (51-30)

Vance Worley has been playing with a chip on his shoulder all year since being called up the first time.  And why not?  He has everything to gain from this experience toeing the rubber after guys like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.  All he can do from here on out is get better.

Worley has continued to fall in line with what Charlie Manuel has been telling him to do.  He says ‘go out pitch John Lackey and the most potent offense in the Majors’ and Worley does it.  The 23-year old pitched a career high seven innings tonight allowing only one run on five hits.

The Boston Red Sox lead the American League in hitting (.275) and are second in runs scored (409).  For the past two games Phillies pitchers, mainly Worley and Cliff Lee, have stifled Red Sox hitters to the tune of seven hits and one run.  Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz were a combined 1 for 8 off the right hander tonight.  It was the first hit of the series for Gonzalez.

Continue reading Vanimal Earns His Stripes In 2-1 Win

Boston Red Sox (45-33) at Philadelphia Phillies (50-30)

John Lackey (5-6, 7.36 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (2-1, 2.83 ERA)

Time: 7:05 pm, Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Sunny, 77
TV: CSN/ESPN
Media: Twitter and Facebook

This one has considerably less hype than Game 1 of the series, although you wouldn’t know it from all the media here at the stadium. John Lackey and his 7.36 ERA comes in to face Vance Worley, who’d better watch himself tonight.

Continue reading Gameday: Red Sox (45-33) vs. Phillies (50-30)

CSNPhilly.com invited me to take part in their daily show, Lunch Break. Today, I joined Meredith Marakovits from CSN (amongst many other places) as she filled in for Rhea Hughes.

Of course, we went over Cliff Lee’s ridiculous month, some of the issues in the bullpen, and how the Cy Young is shaping up in the National League. Hint: it’s shaping up well for the Phillies.

We also got a tan. Enjoy, thanks!

Monday night, Joe Savery pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief for the Double A Reading Phillies. A year ago, this information may not have surprised too many people. However, this season, since Savery was converted from pitcher to full-time hitter, it caught plenty of folks by surprise.

With Reading in the midst of a stretch of their schedule when they have no days off for more than three weeks and the organization promoting players upward, as injuries command, the R-Phils have been in need of some extra pitching. The 25-year-old Savery, who was drafted in the 1st round by the Phillies in 2007 and pitched four professional seasons, fits the bill to supplement the club’s needs.

Reading manager Mark Parent addressed the matter today, stating that at the time of Savery’s mid-June promotion from Class A Advanced Clearwater, it was known that the left-hander could slide into a relief role at some point.

“When he was sent here to DH and to get at bats, to see how he was able handle pitching at this level, he also began to throw bullpen sessions and be available to use in the ‘pen at an undetermined time,” Parent said in an exclusive interview. Continue reading Savery Back on Mound, Future Unclear

Lee was dominant, but look at the numbers below if you want to be wowed. (PHOTO: CSNPhilly.com)

Here is a rundown of the incredible night Cliff Lee had, from first pitch to the last words spoken in the clubhouse.

Cliff Lee by inning:

1st inning: Five pitches, really? The Red Sox are notorious for working counts, but they came out of the gate with what seemed to be a plan to swing early in the count. It didn’t work as Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, and Adrian Gonzalez were set down in the blink of an eye.

2nd inning: The Sawx worked counts to the tune of 13 pitches, but still without any luck. Kevin Youkilis drew a leadoff walk, which seemed like an unintentional-intentional walk. Lee then struck out two for another fast frame.

3rd inning: Now they’re working it! Boston managed to see 14 pitches that inning, mostly due to Marco Scutaro’s lengthy at-bat. Ryan Howard made a great stab on a late-swinging line drive off the bat of Josh Beckett. Hardest hit ball of the night to that point.

4th inning: Pedroia began the inning with a lazy fly out to Dom Brown. Gonzalez then worked a full count before popping up to Chase Utley. Lee looked to have him struck out on a nasty curveball on the inside corner, but it was called a ball by Derryl Cousins. No worries there against the guy I called the best player in baseball on Tuesday. Youkilis then K’d on a perfectly placed inside fastball, giving Lee 27 consecutive scoreless innings.

Continue reading Lee-thal Weapon Shoots Down Red Sox, 5-0

Boston Red Sox (45-32) at Philadelphia Phillies (49-30)

Josh Beckett (6-2, 1.86 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (8-5, 2.87 ERA)

Time: 7:05 pm, Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Partly Cloudy/Chc of Storms, 83
TV: PHL 17/MLB Network
Media: Twitter and Facebook

INJURY UPDATES:

Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke today and said that there is no timetable on Ryan Madson just yet, and that Monday was not a certainty. Madson is eligible to come off the DL on July 4. Amaro added that they would “pitch him when he’s ready.”

Amaro also talked about Roy Oswalt and said there is a chance he could return to the Phillies before August. While they have no concrete timetable on Oswalt, sometime in mid-August has been tossed around as a date.

When it came to talk of adding a bat, Amaro continued to reiterate that if their pitchers get healthy (Contreras, Lidge, Oswalt, Blanton, and now Madson) that they’ll be OK. He said he values pitching over adding a bat.

TONIGHT’S GAME:

This one has all the makings of a fantastic matchup. And although the Phillies won’t admit it, this will be a proving ground for championship aspirations. Not only will one of the hottest pitchers in the American League be on the mound for Boston, but they come with a run and gun offense led by David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Adrian Gonzalez.

The Phillies have the best record in baseball, but they have not seen a team of this caliber yet.

Continue reading Gameday: Red Sox (45-32) vs. Phillies (49-30)

PHOTO: ESPN

UPDATE, 4:30 pm: Charlie Manuel said they will play wait and see when it comes to who the closer will be tonight and for the near future while Ryan Madson is out. He gave Antonio Bastardo a slight edge over Mike Stutes, but said it could ultimately come down to matchups.

If Stutes is called upon, he said he will relish the opportunity. “It’s what you play for. You play to pitch against guys like David Ortiz…those are the guys you want to be facing.”

Originally posted 12:23 pm, Tuesday:

In a press release from the Phillies:

Phillies right-hander Ryan Madson was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a right hand contusion, retroactive to June 19, Senior Vice President and General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced.  To fill his spot on the 25-man roster, right-hander Andrew Carpenter had his contract selected from triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Madson, 30, is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 31 games for the Phillies this season.  He has converted 15 of his 16 save opportunities while striking out 34 batters over 31.0 innings (9.87 SO/9.0 IP).  Madson is holding opposing hitters to a .230 average (26-113), including a .167 average with runners in scoring position (4-24), while 26 of his 31 appearances have been scoreless (84%).

Continue reading Ryan Madson to DL, Andrew Carpenter Up