Gameday: Pirates (54-51) vs. Phillies (67-39)
Posted by Pat Gallen, Sun, July 31, 2011 12:14 PM | Comments: 88
2011 Gameday, Analysis, News, Opinion, Posts
Pittsburgh Pirates (54-51) at Philadelphia Phillies (67-39)
Jeff Karstens (8-5, 2.41 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (7-1, 2.02 ERA)
Time: 1:35, Citizens Bank Park
TV: MyPHL 17
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 92
Media: Twitter and Facebook
The Phillies have a shot at sweeping the Pirates and holding on to a 5-game lead in the NL East over the Braves.
They’ll also look to continue their hot hitting. Ryan Howard was a monster on Saturday, going 4-for-4 with a homer and two doubles. Hunter Pence slipped into the background in his Phillies debut going 1-for-5 with an RBI batting in the 5-hole. Perhaps his inclusion in the lineup is already starting to pay off.
Or, perhaps this offense is just plugging along at its usual summer pace – they love to hit when the weather gets warm.
Today it’s Vance Worley on the mound seeking the sweep against a scrappy Pirates team that is fighting for its life in the NL Central. I think I speak for many when I say I’d love to see the Pirates make the playoffs again, but for this weekend, we want nothing less than three wins for the Fightins.
I didn’t get a chance to put my two cents in over the last few days, but I’m excited to see Pence flourish here. Was it the best move to make? In my opinion, no; but what’s done is done. I’m upset to see the Phillies continue to pick Raul over Domonic, but such is baseball life. Brown will get his.
For now, this is the lineup we’ll see. It is certainly a lineup that is strong enough to win the division, the league, and the World Series.
The Pirates will have a new face on the roster today after acquiring first baseman Derrek Lee from the Baltimore Orioles. No word on if he’ll make it in time for today’s 1:35 start.
Tonight’s Lineup: Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Pence RF, Ibanez LF, Schneider C, Martinez 3B, Worley P.
Your Gameday Beer – Coors Light
Tap the Rockies today on this very warm, slightly humid afternoon. I’ve grown to take Coors for what it is, the best of the Big 3. It’s not going to wow you, but it will cool you off and sort of refresh you. On taste alone, St. Bernardus 12, it ain’t. But if you’re at CBP and in need a refresher, you could do worse, I think. It’s Coors, and it won’t kill you. Enjoy the game. -By Pat
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 64 bacardi
maybe we can actually sweep a series for once…but something always happen…Looking at our lineup know with Pence we have four potential .300 hitters…Shane, Pence, Polly an Utley (though Utley more like .290 ish). If Howard can get back to his .275ish an Rollins up around .270 its looking pretty good.
Posted: 01:00 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 64 bacardi
Pirates “steamed” Derrek Lee is “taking his time getting here
Posted: 01:26 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
It’s time for a sweep. Time to correct Karstens ERA back to his normal levels.
Posted: 01:31 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 joey
Perhaps his inclusion in the lineup is already starting to pay off.
Or, perhaps this offense is just plugging along at its usual summer pace – they love to hit when the weather gets warm.
or perhaps it is BOTH ???
Posted: 01:38 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Mazinman
Welcome to the latest episode of the Vance Worley show. I really hope we can pull out a sweep at home because this upcoming West Coast swing is going to be really tough.
Posted: 01:40 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
Good job Jimmy!
Posted: 01:57 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
Worley is looking pretty good out there today.
Nice smash Raul!!!!
Posted: 02:16 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
The Pirates shot there load down there in Atlanta. Was a great time to catch them
Apparently Wheeler thinks Derek Lee doesnt care. At Least not like Bourne or Pence or Beltran who reported to their teams immediately.
Posted: 02:22 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
I had Worley in fantasy and let him go. Didnt expect someone else to grab him as they are generaly clueless. But someone did. This was like 6 starts ago but still.
Posted: 02:24 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
Verlander at it again. I guess I will be flipping between the Phils game and that.
Posted: 02:39 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 64 bacardi
Agreed Maziman
we need the sweep here.
Posted: 02:44 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
Lets go offense. We need to get those runs back.
Posted: 03:07 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
That’s how you get those runs back!
Posted: 03:13 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 bart shart
Has anyone heard if the Phils are in negotiations for Chone Figgins of the Mariners? Or is my son-in-law pulling my leg? I just cannot believe it.
Posted: 03:26 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
I haven’t heard anything about Chone Figgins.
Posted: 03:33 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 64 bacardi
Figgins no havent heard anything dude is hitting like .180 an is making like 9 Mil a year.
Posted: 03:52 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
No on Figgins lolol
What would you negotiate? Maybe you take him if the Mariners throw in Felix Hernandez.
The phillies jsut cant sweep anyone.
Posted: 03:58 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
Raul says, “Who cares about WAR!!!”
Hell yeah, RAAUUULLLLLLLLL!!!
Posted: 04:22 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
Hey Dip Sh i T and Gallen you still want Brown in Left.????????????????
YOU GUYS ARE JUST MORONS AND HAVE NO IDEA. I am sure Brown can hit two homers in the game to save us. MORONS
Posted: 04:27 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Wow, Raul REALLY SUCKS. We need to get rid of him, he is just horrible. If we dont bench him starting tomorrow, we have no chance of winning this division…(Yes that was Sarcasm). How Ironic, Dipsy isnt posting and Raul hits 2 Home Runs. If we win today, it will obviously be in VERY large part to Raul.
Posted: 04:29 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
I sure would like to have a win, combined with a Tomahawk Hack Loss. It would be great to be 6 games up again.
Posted: 04:33 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Great game.
Raul has earned ABs at home and in washington. Lets see how he does out west.
He hits out there and Ill buy Dipsy a jersey.
Speaking of which Jeff lay off a bit its getting tedious.
Dipsy is a good guy like you are.
Howard should be beaten with Shane Victorinos gold gloves for making that out on the Pence hit.
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep please
Posted: 04:34 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Poor Pirates
Derek Lee and Ryan Ludwick are your additions.
Kind of sad.
Posted: 04:35 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
I was waiting for a comment about Howard from you Andrew. LOL.
Posted: 04:37 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
I must say, depending on who Charlie puts in to pitch, we could be screwed. If Herndon or Carpenter enters the game, this could get REALLY MESSY.
Posted: 04:40 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
Isn’t it weird to see the Pirates actually acquiring players at the deadline? It’s also good to see though…
Posted: 04:42 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Pirates and the Indians.
I jsut dont think the 2 the peerates got are very valuable.
But maybe I am wrong
Posted: 04:44 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Tomohacks lost!
Posted: 04:44 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
And Gameday froze again. :(
Posted: 04:45 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Why do I have a feeling Utley will get hit by pitch, and Howard will strike out?
Posted: 04:46 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Utley made good contact.
Howard will have to wait till the 10th to strike out.
Great game
Posted: 04:55 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Too bad Charlie put Lidge in earlier. Maybe if he put Bastardo in, this game would be over. Oh well. Lets hope for a walkoff.
Posted: 05:01 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Wow, thats a surprise. Howard with a Strike out. Wierd. Is he leading the league in Strike outs?
Posted: 05:03 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
I see the future in regards to Hoawards K
Or maybe if Howard wouldnt have mad ethat out at 3rd
Madosn gets the save
Posted: 05:04 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Wow, I just looked it up. He is not leading the league. He has 113, and Stubbs has 138. DAMN!
Posted: 05:06 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Nice hit Hunter
Can Raul be the hero ?
3 times?
Posted: 05:06 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
than again, if Howard had just a little more wind, that ball that he hit right in front of the wall may have hit the top of the wall, or been outta here. Oh well.
Posted: 05:07 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 144 therookie300
How does Ibanez look now???
Posted: 05:08 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
RAUL SUCKS!
Posted: 05:08 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Ibanez is the best ever!!!!!!!!!
He deserves to play as of now.
Its good for the team.
If hes cold come sept oct id not hesitate to remove him though.
Good for Raul
And Hunter
Posted: 05:08 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
RAUUUUUUUL! I just had to log in for that.
Posted: 05:10 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 bart shart
HEAR YE ! HEAR YE! FROM THIS DAY FORTH, THE 31ST OF JULY WILL BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VIEWING AREA AS ——-
RAUL IBANEZ DAY !!!
TO COMMEMORATE THIS ANCIENT PLAYER’S INCREDIBLE DAY AT THE PLATE AGAINST
THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES AND HIS CLUTCH HIT IN THE 10TH INNING.
Posted: 05:11 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
This Pence trade reminds me alot of the Pete Rose acuisiton in 1980.
They had to have him. They needed him. They dont win without him and his spark.
This team needed Pence. If they take 3 of 4 from SF this week.
and 7 of 10 on this trip.
Look out.
The Pence deal may yet be the best trade of the last 3 years. And I consider doc the best Phillie ever to play a season for the team.
Posted: 05:12 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 WAIVEHOWARDNOW
GOOD TRADE FOR REG SEASON http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/y_/r/vE_oh0zqP1Z.gifBAD 4 PLAYOFFS
Posted: 05:31 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Ruben Amaro JR is the Worst GM in the history of the game. What a bumb, he goes out and gets a pointless RH bat we didnt need, and kept Raul, who is the worst in the league! Just HORRIBLE.
Posted: 05:14 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Phillies most runs in the NL in july
Ibanez most rbi in MLB last 3 weeks.
I have agreed with Dipsy all along.
But Raul has to play now. Hes earned it.
This is the best team in baseball now.
Period.
Everyone is all in now.
Howard I thnk will come around now too.
I am all in. This team is winning it all.
Posted: 05:19 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
I am still waiting for Dipsy and Michael Baumann to come on here to comment. I dont expect either to comment since Dipsy HATES Raul, and Michael HATES Pence. LOL.
Posted: 05:19 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Baumann should man up and admit he was wrong. I would really respect that.
I was wrong about Cole after 2009. Have been wrong many times in the past and will be in the future.
Dipsy I think will agree with me that Raul has earned a spot in the line up for now.
But he is always streaky.
If hes cold in sept and oct id bench him for Brown in a NY minute.
Posted: 05:24 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Andrew, the Cole of 2010, and ESPECIALLY 2011 is not the same Cole of 2009. in ’09, he was a drama queen! My father and I called him Dorothy Hamels, and he deserved. he is FAR MORE MATURE now. In the past, if he gave up a double or a home, it was over, because he would completely unwind. NOW? His demeanor does not change. He comes right back and gets em out. If you take away the two starts against the Mets, Hamels has been just as good, if not better at times than Halladay honestly. That is how good Hamels has been this season. Do I think Hamels will win the Cy Young? No, there are still way too many haters out there, but he should be mentioned.
Everyone admits Raul is streaky by month usually. He will probably suck in August, and be AWESOME again in September. If that continues, he might suck in October too. Which is not a good time to suck.
Posted: 05:30 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 3468 Lefty
LOL- I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.
Posted: 05:33 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Lefty, Not sure which part of the posts you are referring? If you are talking about Hamels winning the Cy Young, I sure as hell wont hold my breath. LOL. He has been great, but I dont see it happening.
Posted: 05:39 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves with them winning it all, 3 things have to happen. 1. The bats need to awake in October. Last season the offense was on fire heading into the playoffs, and completely fell asleep in the post season. If against the reds, we swept them, but it was mostly pitching, very little offensive production. 2. We also need to figure out how to win more than just 1 game against SF. 3. the Red Sox bats need to be tamed. If there is any team in the league with the pitching to do it, it would be the Phillies obviously, but that is still a freaking good offensive team.
Posted: 05:24 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 bart shart
Don’t be surprised if Raul Ibanez has an enormous two months during July and August and plays himself into another contract with the Phils for 2012. For many, that would be a nightmare. Nevertheless, I hope he stays hot. He was great today.
Posted: 05:28 PM on July 31, 2011
Posts: 0 WAIVEHOWARDNOW
RAUL SUCKS AND IS OLD
Posted: 05:32 PM on July 31, 2011