Gameday: Nationals (75-79) at Phillies (98-57)
Posted by Michael Baumann, Thu, September 22, 2011 05:57 PM | Comments: 45
2011 Gameday, News, Posts
Washington Nationals (75-79) at Philadelphia Phillies (98-57)
Brad Peacock (1-0, 1.42) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-9, 3.66)
TIME: 7:05; Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Weather: Ungodly humid, 74
Media: Twitter and Facebook
I have a confession to make: despite possessing a fair bit of knowledge of the top minor league players of not only the Phillies but their National League rivals, and despite possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of major league journeymen and roster filler, I have no idea who Brad Peacock is. I know he’s starting for the Nationals tonight, and I know he’s right-handed and is listed at 6-foot-1, but I only know these things because I looked them up five minutes ago. I had never heard his name before listening to the latest FanGraphs podcast earlier this week. Brad Peacock could walk up to me on the street and stomp on my foot ten minutes from now, while wearing his Nationals jersey, and I wouldn’t know who he is.
Also, both Ross Gload and John Bowker are in the lineup….well, on the bright side, the season premiere of Community is on tonight, so I guess it’s not a total loss.
NEWS UPDATE: It looks like Dom Brown might not be on the playoff roster at all. Charlie Manuel said today that the Phillies’ top prospect will be headed to fall instructional league to learn how to play left field and would only make the playoff roster in case of injury. One might argue that Brown is not the man most in need of instruction as to how to play the outfield, but that’s a separate argument.
Second, if you’re as sick of seeing the third-stringers drop meaningless, but still frustrating, games to inferior opponents, take heart: Hunter Pence and Ryan Howard could make their respective returns to the lineup this weekend.
Finally, Vance Worley may have started for the last time this season; Uncle Cholly said he wants to get the bespectacled sneaker enthusiast some innings out of the bullpen to prepare him for his postseason role. Manuel speculated that Worley could be used as a back-end guy, which comes as welcome news to a fan base that has borne witness to the sudden and inexplicable return to earth of one Antonio Bastardo these past few weeks.
LINEUP: Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Utley 2B, Ibanez LF, Gload 1B, Ruiz C, Bowker RF, Orr 3B, Oswalt P
Your Gameday Beer – Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale
Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale is breathtakingly complex in much the same manner as some of the best works of the composer Gustav Holst, to say nothing of being a particularly tasty libation that comes in a bitchin’ bottle. But that’s not why I’m recommending it here. Tonight’s beer is Double Dead Guy because, after watching Ross Gload and John Bowker hit a combined seven or eight times tonight, that’s what you’ll want to be. Gan bei. -by Michael
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 1049 Manny
Lots of valuable info on this gameday post. I see Worley taking over Stutes’ set-up role. And Bastardo is Bastardo, regardless of how crappy he’s been lately.
So your back end of the pen will probably look like this come playoff time: 7th inning, Lidge, Stutes, Bastardo if there’s more than one lefty. 8th inning: Worley, Bastardo, maybe Lidge for one out… 9th inning: Madson.
Posted: 06:21 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 BART SHART
This guy Bowker stinks out loud…..Where is Mayberry? Why not Brown playing tonight?
Posted: 06:38 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
Someone is going around and using my name on here. Trust me its not me. I have not been to this site for over a month or so. I am the Jeff everyone loves to hate at times. LOL. My good friend lost his life. Been tough times and baseball has been on the back burners. I need a good Phillies run to get my mind off of things. Yes, I love the Phillies. My son is Chase and I live in South Jersey. Go Phillies…..
Posted: 06:57 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 BART SHART
Sorry to hear of your loss, Jeff. Identity theft is everywhere. I hope you feel better soon. Also, dozens of folks want to call themselves ” Bart Shart” but I sue them when I find them.
Best regards to you and your family and friends during this tough time. Remember :”Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
Posted: 07:42 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
Thanks Bart….Lets kick some A S S Phillies. Get a few runs and get this engine back and running. Let the other teams beat each other up to get in…
Posted: 07:48 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
Everything’s gone bad since Howled came on board. Worse since he’s gotten playing time. He’s a bum and a sorry a** excuse for a player. He’s gotta go.
Posted: 08:00 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
rollins and vic 0-25
Utleys shot i think
you know my feelings on howard
the sky is falling
Posted: 08:07 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 wxdavid
GUYS this is really REALLY bad. The Phillies of 2007 …2008 …2009… 2010 Phlilies played GREAT september baseball … and those teams went DEEP into the post season Losing 11 of last 15 is NOT the great baseball the Phillies in SEPT typically play.
the 2011 Phillies are going to get SWEPT in the NLDS probably by the Cardinals
Posted: 08:10 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Troutman
Couldn’t agree more. Hope I’m wrong (really wrong), but they are out in the first round this year. Then, that’s it. This run of excellence is over. We have at least 5-10 years of no WS to look forward to. Offensively, this team is shot. All of them got old at the same time. Oh well, it’s been a great run!
Posted: 07:27 AM on September 23, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
I almost wish the Phillies did not clinch so early. I hope to G-D they can turn it on in the playoffs. This looks so bad. Getting blown out by this aweful team.
Posted: 08:23 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Ok guys. We got a game with the Nationals tonight. And that only means one thing. Bad news for the Nationals!
Posted: 08:27 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Why did they give out rally towels tonight? They did not give them out when they could have clinched. I guess they ordered them too late. Way to have faith in the team.
Posted: 08:29 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
this is the last home game.
I’m thinking Jimmy strikes out, better than a DP?
Posted: 08:30 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
OK, 2 men on base, the only way the Phils have been able to do this lately, with free passes.
Now what? Big Opp for Shane
Posted: 08:31 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
I think Shane is thinking “Dont hit into a DP -” instead of hitting the ball
Posted: 08:32 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
Here it comes, right down the gullet!!
Posted: 08:34 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
Well congrats Shane, no DP! You are the man…
Posted: 08:36 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
I thought they would have had the rally towels for the Friday and Saturday night games when they could have clinched.
Shane with another pop-up. Let’s see if Barbaro can drive the runs in.
Posted: 08:37 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
It wasn’t too long ago when if you would see 2 men on and Chase at the plate you got excited. – Hey, a walk is nice.
Posted: 08:42 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
Fail – again.
Posted: 08:43 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Utley has often had a touch of the Abreu during big moments in a game. He always seems to get walked or hit by a pitch during a key situation, and then the next guy blows it.
Posted: 08:45 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Chase is a gamer. He plays hard. He plays right.
Reality is hes shot. He should not be hitting 3rd.
This team is very vulnerable considering they have the best SP ever.
Posted: 08:46 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
That has to be the ONLY comparison to Abreu with Chase. As struggling as he is, he still seems to go all out on his defense.
Posted: 08:46 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
The Utley that hit 5 homers in the 09 world series is a memory.
Posted: 08:47 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
how funny was it. everyone saying this team was unstoppable after beating the braves and the brewers. now cant win a game from the worst team in baseball. close to worst.
Posted: 08:48 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Chase Utley would have more range in the field if he got a Hover-round.
Posted: 08:52 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
OK people, bottom of the 7th with only 1 hit for the Phils.
Seriously?
Posted: 08:52 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
Oh boy, 2 hits now – and that power hitting Benny Francisco is up at bat, look out now!
Posted: 08:58 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Greg Gross deserves credit for teaching every single position player how to weakly fly out to the opposite field. It’s amazing that he has gotten each player to do it.
Posted: 09:01 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
Wow, Petey and Benny (both little leaguers) made quick work of those outs…
Posted: 09:01 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
@ Jeff they all made fun and yelled at me last year for saying you dont want to play the Giants.
At this point the Phillies dont want to play anyone. The pitching is great but will need to score runs. If this pitching staff doesnt make the series at least it ( the line up) will need to be blown way up.
I mean bye bye jimmy and chase and go from there
Posted: 09:03 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Debate jsut started
I predict 3 hits tonight for the phils
Posted: 09:07 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
by the way
the phils are trying tonight too
Posted: 09:10 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 BART SHART
We are witnessing the importance of enthusiasm and energy and what happens when it dissipates. The team will get the enthusiasm and energy back for the playoffs. Or, they will go three and out, which would be awful.
Posted: 09:16 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
leave him in old man
Posted: 09:16 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 bloodclotter
“There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best.” – joe dimaggio
Posted: 09:25 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
HUZZAH!
Posted: 09:45 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Another great at-bat by Ben “Sack of Useless” Francisco.
Also, Tom McCarthy. Something needs to be done about this idiot. Can’t stand the blind optimism anymore.
Posted: 09:49 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Troutman
MB, between Tom and Wheels, it is almost impossible to watch a Phillies game on TV. They are just brutal. Wheels never shuts the hell up…he really thinks the things he says are insightful and funny. He giggles at his own jokes. What an annoying tool.
Posted: 07:31 AM on September 23, 2011
Posts: 0 BART SHART
The Curse of 1964 is on the Phils right now. It must be broken or we will be going home early in the playoffs. It is here and it is real. Very poor performance. If I had paid to attend this game, and paid for parking and a hot dog and beer, I would want a refund.
Baseball Gods, please lift the Curse of 1964 off this team’s back. I see a vague image of Gene Mauch laughing in the background. THis may be a tough curse to erase.
Posted: 09:52 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
I wont even bet the phillies in round 1 now.
They may not score.
Posted: 10:04 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 1932 Brooks
I was just looking at Choochie’s performance this year. Hey, hitting .282 for this team should be doing well? He has 37 rbi now. 37 in 390 atbats. Amazing. He had 1 rbi in the month of May, 1. I have been down on Raul since he had 5 in all of June.
What can you possibly say? Do the Phils want us to believe that there is a switch going on for the playoffs? One that will get Utley, Jimmy, Shane and oh yes, Ryan Howard to start hitting? Surely –
Go Phils – good lord, am I looking at another $2300 blown for playoff tickets?? unreal.
Posted: 10:18 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 alan
Brad Peacock is the Minor League pitcher of the year. Add that to your encylcopedic knowledge.
Posted: 10:41 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 LOL
Know who brad peacock is now? He was awarded minor league pitcher of the year, do some research. and RUH ROH PHILLIES the tides seem to be turning in the NL East. You just got shutout by 3 minor league pitchers in a row who were called up within the past couple weeks. Prequel for next year….but as for now, good luck sleepwalking through the playoffs
Posted: 10:51 PM on September 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
Nationals fans talking smack on a team that is 21.5 games up on them in the standings… and sitting key players because we clinched early …. No Polly, Howard, Pence
we had Ibanez- Gload batting 4th and 5th …
as much as people want to say that we were trying to win last night… clearly we weren’t
Posted: 10:32 AM on September 23, 2011