Oswalt Continues Tomahawk Choke
Posted by Michael Baumann, Tue, September 27, 2011 09:52 PM | Comments: 20
2011 Game Recaps, Posts
So there’s no need to be worried about Roy Oswalt anymore. The righty, who has either been injured or spotty all season, turned in six stellar innings, allowing no runs and only four baserunners in six innings of work as the Phillies piled on the Braves, who dropped to 9-17 in September with the Cardinals (now even with the Braves after a 13-6 win in Houston half a game back and tied with Houston as I post this UPDATE: St. Louis has taken the lead, coming from down 5-0 to up 9-6 in the 7th) staggering at a slightly faster clip toward the finish line.
The 7-1 win featured a little something for everyone: apart from Oswalt, the Phillies got perfect innings of relief from Joe Savery and (more importantly) the heretofore unraveling Antonio Bastardo. Not only did Oswalt seem to have his velocity, command, and good off-speed stuff back, but Bastardo, who had been enduring about as bad a month as you could have asked for, looked rather like the classic Tony No-Dad in his inning of work. Kyle Kendrick allowed a towering home run to Martin Prado to lead off the ninth and break up the shutout, but I guess you can’t have everything.
On the offensive side, three Phillies homered the top three hitters in the Phillies order homered, the last a towering blast by Jimmy Rollins off Julio Teheran that gave me the opportunity to make this joke. Rollins went 3-for-5 with the home run and a stolen base.
Somewhat lost in all the fireworks and playoff hysteria is a pair of milestones: the win, No. 101 on the Phillies’ season, ties the franchise record, set in 1976 and again in 1977. Charlie Manuel also registered his 645th win as Phillies skipper, tying him with Gene Mauch for the franchise record. Both records could fall in tomorrow’s season finale. Until then, pleasant dreams.
Posts: 0 Mike Chary
Baseball Reference has Mauch at 646 wins. Are they wrong?
Posted: 10:42 PM on September 27, 2011
Posts: 0 Derek Oswald
Mike, they have to be cause check this out: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_09_27_phimlb_atlmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi
Now the Phillies blog could be wrong, but I just cant see them making such a dumb mistake.
Posted: 11:01 PM on September 27, 2011
Posts: 442 Bruce
Wow! This is the best time of the year for fans of baseball regardless of what team you root for. Tomorrow is the last day of the season and still have TWO wild card teams (N.L & A.L.) yet to be decided, There is greater chance now for a one game playoff for both leagues.
Much reliefed to see the Phillies back on track and hopefully carry that momentum into the playoffs. And I hope no one mention that other team in Philly as someone on this site did. That “dream team” (and their fans) are GREEN with envy of the only winner in town..our Phillies (smiling).
I’m still concerned with Howard’s nagging foot problem. He could be a liability on the basepaths. Manuel again may need a pinchrunner on standby alert in crucial situations throughout the playoffs. Nevertheless, Howard’s productive bat (115 RBIs) is a necessity for the team. One other concern, is the bullpen. Bastardo as the only lefty reliever (Savery will not be on the playoff roster) has not convinced me that he will pitch effectively as before. Even in tonight’s game where he had a clean inning, i took notice of his breaking pitches UP in the zone and hittable. Fortunately for him, they were fouled off. If his sliders are hangers, that will spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
Posted: 12:29 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 442 Bruce
I need to proofread my previous comment…. RELIEVED not reliefed. Now I feel better (smiling).
Posted: 12:37 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 13 BrewTown PhilsPhan
I liked the word “reliefed.” I think it could have a place in baseball. A pitcher who is taken out of a game for a reliever is “relieved,” but what about a starter who is sent to the bullpen and transformed into a reliever? Could we say he is “reliefed”? As in, Vance Worley had a great season in the rotation, but he’s been reliefed for the post-season.
Posted: 05:22 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
I sure have mixed emotions about the NL Wild Card race. Ricky Bottalico said it best when he said “I just don’t see how the Braves can win anything”. LOL. Not to mention, one of the very few teams this season that has done well against the Phillies is the Cardinals. While I would find it rather amusing to see the Braves choke and not make it, I would agree, they will not win in the NLDS, considering their rotation is pretty screwed up going into it with their Ace going tomorrow to try to lock it up. I don’t really think I want to face the Cardinals again right now. That is a very dangerous team right now! If the Braves win, we play either the Diamonbacks or Brewers, and the Phillies had already shown, they can beat both teams. If the Cards win, the Phillies play the Cards. Not sure I like that match up in the NLDS. That and I don’t want to give my father the satisfaction of the Cards (his favorite team) beating my Phillies in the Post season. LOL.
Posted: 12:55 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 0 loupossehl
Hunter Pence is the kind of guy where I’d say, “Damn, I wish the Phillies had someone like him.”
Oh I forgot – the Phillies have someone like him.
Posted: 02:58 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 0 hank
ruining a perfectly good article about a perfectly good game with a senseles (and bad) joke about bombing an arab country…
classy!
Posted: 06:44 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Seriously, that’s all you gotta say? Nothing about Baseball? LOL. You do realize this is a BASEBALL blog? If you can’t take jokes, or they are not politically correct enough for ya, I suggest MSNBC.com.
Posted: 07:34 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 2541 Chuck A.
Brian, It was a pretty tasteless joke….and completely unnecessary to include in this article.
Posted: 08:58 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
it was blocked at work . . . . what was the joke ??
Posted: 09:34 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 22 jeff y
Good night for Chase. JRoll is heating up just in time.
Posted: 07:11 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Kendrick
Worley
Kendrick
Herndon
Stutes
Lidge
Bastardo
Madson
Worley working in the 7th-8th innings. Done. Wish we had another lefty.
The Dipsy
Posted: 08:08 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 0 Original Jeff
Stop saying you don’t want the cards. We Want the best. I am happy the cards kicked are ass. Pay back
Posted: 08:14 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 567 Brian Sr. of CO
Gee, thats pretty funny, after the Phillies lost the double header to the Marlins, you were the same guy who said the Phillies would get swept in the NLDS. Did you jump back on the band wagon?
Posted: 01:45 AM on September 29, 2011
Posts: 2541 Chuck A.
Dipsy,I wish we had another lefty, too. Where’s Scott Eyre when you need thim?
Posted: 08:18 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
about two weeks ago some people were calling for Lidge to be left off the playoff roster…. a few of us said that not only should he be on the roster, but that he’d play a very important role … . if the past few games are any indication, Lidge is our 8th innings guy.. Stutes//Worley would be the 7th inning … and Bastardo is the floater, pitching vs. Lefties in the 7th or 8th inning …
I can’t understand if they add Blanton to the postseason roster though…. unless he’s unhittable today
Posted: 09:41 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 79 branderson925
“On the offensive side, three Phillies homered the top three hitters in the Phillies order homered,”
What?? Haha. Could have guessed it was another Baumann article.
Let Pat write all the articles until someone can edit this guy.
Good win by the Phils. Glad to have Roy #2 pitching at his potential. Rollins looking good just at the right time. Love to get the sweep.
GO PHILS
Posted: 10:10 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 2541 Chuck A.
Lidge might give us all ulcers but I think he will play a big role in the playoffs.
I would also think that Blanton would have to absolutely amazing today in order for him to have a shot at the roster. Are they considering it because he’s making $8M and want to somehow justify that??
Posted: 10:32 AM on September 28, 2011
Posts: 442 Bruce
I think they are using Blanton as starter the same way as in his last outing. To pitch 2 or 3 innings and a few members of the bullpen filling in the rest of the game. This way it gives a few callups (Savery, etc) another look see for the future and allow the rotation to keep their assigned rest and start in the playoffs.
Posted: 01:15 PM on September 28, 2011