Gameday: Marlins (1-3) vs. Phillies (1-2)
Posted by Don M, Mon, April 09, 2012 01:10 PM | Comments: 33
2012 Gameday, Posts
Philadelphia Phillies (1-2) vs. Miami Marlins (1-3)
Cole Hamels vs. Anibal Sanchez
Time: 1:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN, MLBN
Weather: Partly Sunny, Chance of Rain, high 63
Thanksgiving is cool, Christmas is awesome (hell, we even have “Cliffmas” in the city of brother love), but the Phillies home opener is something that, to me, rivals the greatest days of the year. A holiday spent with more than 50,000 of your closest friends, some with less than no intention of actually watching the game, but all of whom contribute to one of the greatest home atmospheres in baseball.
Today, the newly named Miami Marlins bring their new skipper, Ozzie Guillen, and the beneficiaries of their offseason spending spree, Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, and Mark Buehrle to Philadelphia for the first time in 2012. A 72-win team just a season ago, this new look team from Miami has quickly become the media favorite to dethrone the Fightin Phils as NL East champions. And while none of us are ready to give up the title, we acknowledge that season shapes up to be more of a grind than in years past.
Cole Hamels was skipped in yesterday’s game three vs. Pittsburgh- a move some said was to split up the lefties (Cliff Lee and Hamels), but we all know that Cole was passed over to give him the distinction of taking the hill in the season’s home opener. That decision was an easy one. With a juiced-up (aka drunk and rowdy) crowd behind him, Hamels should no doubt be reminded why he does not want to leave Philadelphia. The hometown fans, starved for a winner, desperate for a parade, finally got what we so desired thanks in large part to this homegrown lefty, then a star in the making, now one of the most desired players in recent memory.
Hamels, a two-time All Star with career marks of 74-54, with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, is in his final year under contract (bet you didn’t know that yet…) will be very difficult to afford should he reach the Free Agent market after this season, as many baseball “experts” have said the Phillies don’t have a great chance to retain his services should a bidding war ensue.
And so today starts a new chapter in Cole Hamels’ Philadelphia story, perhaps the last chapter – but regardless of how that story ends, the bigger issue is the season at hand. The head-to-head battle for the 2012 NL East crown begins today!
Posts: 79 branderson925
Real pessimistic but it sucks to think that one run Cole gave could be all it takes to lose this one.
Stumbling out of the gate
Posted: 01:56 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1429 Pat Gallen
At this point you might be right.
Posted: 02:02 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
Let’s Go Phils! Let’s Go Phils!
No, seriously Phils, let’s GO ALREADY!!! sheesh…
Posted: 02:21 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
oh good grief….
Posted: 02:24 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
This team is a AAA team with a couple great pitchers. Our run is over
Posted: 02:25 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1077 EricL
Lol they won 102 games last season, they’ll be fine
Posted: 04:48 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Chris
So, after we lose to Josh Johnson tomorrow, we’ll be 1-4. This lineup is pathetic.
Posted: 02:27 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 79 branderson925
Don’t overdo it with the pessimism. Jesus. Must be fans only from the 2008 and after period. What a privileged group you are.
Posted: 02:31 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
Actually, I’ve been a partial season ticket holder since 2000, one of the worst seasons in Phillies history. I’ve been a fan since the early ’70s. So I think I’ve earned the right to bitch a little when they play like crap, which is what they’re doing right now.
Posted: 02:51 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
No but when your offense has declined and you don’t do anything
That’s not good gming. Our pen is a disaster.
Freddy gal is go away u greenie
Posted: 02:37 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Dave
I knew the offense would be poor, but I have to say even I am surprised at how lifeless it is. We haven’t even faced a good pitcher yet! The laws of averages say that we can’t continue on this pace.
Posted: 02:43 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 861 The Original Chuck P
The Phillies have played sneaky good pitchers… Anibal Sanchez is a decent pitcher. Karstens is underrated. Plus, the Phils are historically bad in Pittsburgh. Panic meter is fairly low but there are things I’m not happy about… Bullpen roles are still undefined, we don’t have a bona fide RBI guy and a 1B platoon is brutal. We need an identity…
Posted: 09:57 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 79 branderson925
Alright relax Tracey. I’m just saying don’t be so rough during game 4 of a long season. They can’t keep up this pace, it’s just law of averages…
Plus we’ve done terrible in April for the past decade now so I’m not surprised really. I do expect a move to be made though before June. I don’t know how RAJ will make it without pulling all of his hair out
Posted: 02:57 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
The division is better. Mets are young. Miami is much better
Be worried
Posted: 03:06 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1051 Manny
RALLY TIME MOTHERTRUCKAS!
Posted: 03:12 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
@Branderson: Don’t worry, I’m not one of those people who say the season is over during the first week. But I’m beginning to think this game is over. :)
Posted: 03:13 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
… or maybe not! Two hits in a row with no outs, and Chooch is up! Whee!
Posted: 03:14 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1051 Manny
FREDDYYYYYY WOOT!
Posted: 03:15 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Dave P
Talk about a time to get your first hit. Freddy, good job.
Posted: 03:16 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 275 Jeff of Nova
Freddy G with his 1st hit oh yeah!!
Posted: 03:17 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
Woo hoo!!! Galvis picked the right time to finally get a hit!!!
Posted: 03:18 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 275 Jeff of Nova
They should have kept Savery in, probably a better hitter than Nix:)
Posted: 03:18 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1051 Manny
I laughed but then sadly realized you’re probably right.
Posted: 03:21 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 275 Jeff of Nova
There goes the rally way to go “much improved bench”
Posted: 03:21 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
LA said, “one swing of the bat makes this a one-run game.” Seriously? You think that’s coming from Nix?
Posted: 03:22 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Dave P
It was wigginton up when he said that.
Posted: 03:23 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
(sorry, I’m listening on At Bat 12, and it’s about 5 minutes behind the actual game!!!)
Posted: 03:24 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1051 Manny
Should’ve kept Raul… at least he can hit one out of the park. (half-serious, half-joking)
Posted: 03:30 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1051 Manny
So now we use Papelbon??? #explainthatdubee
Posted: 03:39 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1051 Manny
Anddddd that blows. They can score a run so easily… it’s a struggle to get even one from our guys.
Posted: 03:41 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 Dave
Omar Infante has 2 home runs and 3 already for the year. He hit 7 all of last year…ridiculous.
Posted: 03:52 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 1982 Tracey
bleh.
Posted: 03:56 PM on April 9, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
Can Cliff Lee play first? Can Worley play the OF? Savery in the OF.. Let Hamels pitch and we have a better hitting lineup than what’s been trying to hit.
Posted: 09:46 PM on April 9, 2012