Phils Blank D-backs Behind Vintage Halladay
Posted by Corey Seidman, Sat, August 04, 2012 11:50 PM | Comments: 15
2012 Game Recaps
Roy Halladay began the season 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA, then went 1-6 with a 5.43 ERA over his next 12 starts, pitching more like Luke Hochevar than the two-time Cy Young winner he is.
On Saturday, Doc finally looked like Doc again, allowing just four baserunners in seven shutout innings as the Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-0.
Only two D-backs reached scoring position off Halladay, who worked out of a one-out jam by striking out Jason Kubel and inducing a Paul Goldschmidt groundout with a man on third in the sixth inning. Four of Halladay’s seven innings went 1-2-3.
Erik Kratz was the offensive hero of the night for the Phils. He hit a 360-foot solo homer to left field off of Joe Saunders to lead off the third inning, and in the fourth followed a Domonic Brown walk with a base on balls of his own to bring in the Phils’ second run. The Phillies added another run in the eighth when Brown singled in Kevin Frandsen with two outs.
Josh Lindblom worked a solid eighth inning, striking out two Diamondbacks. Aside from Kubel’s bomb Friday night, Lindblom has looked very good in three outings for the Phillies. Jonathan Papelbon followed with a 15-pitch ninth for his 24th save of the season.
The Phillies are 48-59, a half-game behind the Marlins for fourth place in the NL East. But records don’t matter much over these final two months — only positive signs do. And the Phillies saw several of them on Saturday night, as Halladay returned to form, Brown was both patient and effective at the plate and Kratz continued to show that he is a legitimate backup catcher in this league. He’ll need to continue to produce at the plate with Carlos Ruiz out 4-6 weeks with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Solid idea to shut Roy Halladay down for the year.
As they say in twitterland, #Rocketscientist
Posted: 12:35 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 1932 Brooks
Not a good idea at all, I’m sure Doc does not want to be coddled.
In case it was missed by some, I witnessed first hand a good game by D Brown. He knocked in a run! With 2 outs and a man in scoring position, D Brown got a hit which scored the 3rd run of the game.
When he walked to load the bases, that was a great at bat too – I will give all the credit where do guys – I have watched him very closely for the past few years. He seemed like a sure fit, all the tools but the only thing we did not see was heart. This was a good game for D Brown.
Posted: 07:55 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 George
Part of recovering from an injury for a pitcher is adjusting his mechanics. This can’t be done while sitting on the bench. Regaining muscle strength can only be accomplished somewhat, because pitching is different than stretching or weight lifting. While it might seem a good idea to shut down Halladay, it could just cause him to be ineffective for a longer period of time at the beginning of next season.
I think a better plan would be to limit his pitch count. He didn’t go real high last night, even though normally when pitching a shutout, he would have been allowed to try to continue. To me, that seemed to work pretty well. I think the coaches and medical personnel are probably smarter than most people in “twitterland.”
Posted: 08:19 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
From Conclusive George…
“I think the coaches and medical personnel are probably smarter than most people in “twitterland.”
I don’t know that coaches and medical personnel are smarter than the peeps in twitterland. Skip Bayless, if my feeble memory is correct, has over a million followers. And Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins have both tweeted more times than Pete Rose had hits
Course neither Vic nor Rollins is a coach, so maybe it’s true. Sort of disspells the theory that large followings and high twit totals = knowledge, but what do I know.
Posted: 09:45 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 2521 Chuck A.
I think Ken Bland was joking.
Posted: 08:29 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Chuck,
You have proven it’s wise to wake up before responding to a sarcastic version of “and just what the hell areYOUR qualifications for putting done in the same sentence as Roy Halladay to nobody in particular.”
It’s always the same fans that bitch about different stuff that keeps overreaction as the catch phrase in sports, although” decline” is sprinting toward the top every time Albert Pujols adds to his MLB leading OPS since May 15. Even the stars get no slack. When Mike Trout goes 0-10, well, if, “fluke” is sure to rear it’s ugly head.
Posted: 09:34 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 506 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
I also think Ken was being facetious. I’m all for limiting Doc’s pitch count, but he has to find his grove and what feels good again. Solid game by the Phils. Especially the bullpen.
Posted: 08:35 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 506 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
Almost forgot…Katz is infinitely better than Schneider and worlds cheaper. Plus, he’s a righty and we desperately need those.
Posted: 08:37 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
The same should be said of the Fontenot/Martinez fiasco. Keep Fontenot, ditch the mart.
Posted: 09:29 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Time for some useless historic jibberish on playoff chases and races since the Phils will be saving paper and ink on this year’s playoff ticket printout budget.
If respect is you collective team goal, for the 786,232 time this year, today is your cup of tea. Less than 2 weeks ago, the Phils 7-6′d the Brew Crew to death, pulling even in the wasn’t a playoff race even then standings. Nice move, boys, even though northward bound fans like moi wasted energy when reality surfaced, and the equally inept Milwaukee club straightened out, and passed the Phils again. Today’s blue light special is if the Phils win, and the Crewless and woebegone Fish lose, you will be looking live at 5 teams ahead of the Phils in the NL wildcard standings, instead of the 7 they need to pass now.
Somewhat unfortunately, time swallows history. Well, mostly. Tampa ran a great comeback last year (or Boston ran a great collapse, take your pick), but it was the Cardinal comeback that resulted in a baseball gods had to be there World Championship that because they won their last post season game will be thee comeback definition for the ages. But there was a time when the 1914 Boston Braves were on every toungue tip of where there’s life, there’s hope thinking. In 1951, the New York Baseball Giants crowded the glory line with a spectacular second half. Neither club gets referred to much anymore, thanks to things like last year, the 1978 Effin Dent Yanks, the Ott 7 and Ott 8 Mets, and the like.
So how’d those 2 ancient clubs look on 8/5, in the respective years? The Bravos, 98 years ago today moved to 3 over .500, a season high watermark to date, 7.5 out of a non wildcard race, in 4th place.
The Giants were 9.5 out, but with only the Dodgers to catch.
Perhaps it seems hallucagenic to even be writing about this like there’s a better chance than a water ice’s ability to survive in a Texas August. That’s not the case, it’s merely curiousity on where those clubs were relative to reacquainting with the Phils long standing tradition of the season being over so early. But having gone this far with it, and clarifying the lack of hallucanation, I’ll take it a step further and wonder if any club was a seller at the deadline, and still qualified for the post season. That would be one fine accomplishment. Especially when you had to real good to even make the post season.
Posted: 10:42 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 Psujoe
Kratz is superior to Schneider, but this idiotic idea that were better off with a lefty reserve at catcher drives me nuts. He threw out another runner last night.
Dom showed great plate discipline. I’m liking the pieces except Minny mart the automatic out.
Any news on who RAJ claimed and if the Phil’s got the claim?
Posted: 10:44 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 2521 Chuck A.
Kratz, Schierholtz, Frandsen and Brown all look good…..certainly good enough to play out the year. Luna could also contribute. They have a lot to prove and this is a GOLDEN opportunity for them.
MiniMart, however…I just don’t get it…
When Polanco’s activated would it be worth putting him on waivers? I would imagine that some team might claim him by the 31st??
Phils could get out of the basement today…only a half game behind the Marlins.
Posted: 11:05 AM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
No Rollins today.
It had been 62 straight games.
I guess they will just leave SS as an open hole.
There is no other possible SS.
Thats why you bid against yourself.
To over pay for a player no one else wants.
Winning
Where would they be without Jimmy pop up?
I guess to some of you can be worse than last.
At least hes here for 3 years.
You are happy.
Posted: 01:22 PM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 2521 Chuck A.
“Where would they be without Jimmy pop up?”
Probably 21 games under .500 instead of 11. Will the hatred for J-Roll EVER cease???
Posted: 01:31 PM on August 5, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Hatred for a $176,000,000.00 payroll?
Second only behind the Yankees.
To be in last and 20 games out.
Hate speach from AFW
I do hate alot of them
But they are here for you long term Chuck.
I dont hate Blanton,Moyer and Valdez and middle relievers though.
You guys do that.
I hate the guys that make the team suck.
And those are for the most part your over paid Primma Donalds.
Posted: 01:44 PM on August 5, 2012