Gameday: Phillies (72-71) at Astros (45-98)
Posted by Amanda Orr, Thu, September 13, 2012 07:56 PM | Comments: 42
2012 Gameday, Posts
Philadelphia Phillies (72-71) at Houston Astros (45-98)
Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 4.24) vs. Lucas Harrell (10-9, 3.83)
Time: 8:05 p.m at Minute Maid Park
Weather: Cloudy, 82
TV:Comcast Sportsnet
Media: Twitter and Facebook
The Phillies are back above .500! The goal is to stay above .500, and improve on that seven game winning streak. The Phillies are back in the headlines with their recent surge, but they need to continue this momentum through September.
The odds are in favor of the Phillies in Houston, as the Astros have the worst record in baseball. The Phillies have faced a string of last place teams recently, and so far they’ve capitalized. They need to do the same in Houston, but it’s never automatic. As Eric Seidman pointed out, the Astros have spoiled several seasons for the Phillies over the past decade. Let’s hope the trend of the Astros beating up on the Phillies has ended.
Your Gameday Beer – Miller Genuine Draft
Good ole MGD, it always surprises when you can get this beer cheaper than Miller Lite, though it’s definitely not Miller’s best offering. It is heavily carbonated and has simple grain and corn flavoring. You know what you’re getting with this one – it’s an easy drinker. I like it with cheese (wiz) fries – By Brian
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 Craig
The only thing I can say.
Ryan break a leg
I mean it.. You are terrible.
Posted: 08:27 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 DCmikey
@Craig, that’s incredibly insensitive.
Posted: 08:29 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 861 The Original Chuck P
Project Howard’s numbers out over a full season and you’re looking at a guy who is top 5 in RBI and HR… I don’t get how anyone with a set of eyes and a brain… How anyone who watching this team struggle to score runs early in season
Posted: 09:19 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 861 The Original Chuck P
Project Howard’s numbers out over a full season and you’re looking at a guy who is top 5 in RBI and HR… I don’t get how anyone with a set of eyes and a brain… How anyone who painfully watched this team struggle to score runs early in the season could possibly bash Howard.
Posted: 09:20 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Argh.
Posted: 09:24 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
OCP imagine if Howard were hitting with for average too. Take that .225 average and put 10 to 12 singles on top – and he would be not only hitting his career average but probably have another 10 rbi as well if not more.
Looks like it did not take the Astros long to figure out Cloyd.
Posted: 09:28 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Look at this pathetic Astro lineup – who do you recognize?
Posted: 09:30 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Big Mike
Doesn’t look like Cloyd has what it takes to be a major league pitcher – at least not yet. He has been very unimpressive in his 3 starts to say it nicely. He nearly took them out of the last game but our BP kept us in it. Tonight, lets them right back in. Tough part is that I don’t know of any other options.
We’ll get some more runs back. Here’s to hoping the BP can keep work their magic tonight.
GO PHILS!
Posted: 09:34 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Boy, that’s touchy stuff. Pull a (reasonably) young guy after a couple starts for the pennant race, or be patient for his development. Tough call. Might be able to pull a waiver deal for someone they think they could eke 3 starts, or 4 (whatever). Not like they’d need anyone for the post season. Just have to help get the club there.
Good job by BJ to keep things in control.
Posted: 09:49 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 DavidE
Let’s see what he can do. In giving up a homerun to Dominguez, he is in good company. Dominguez had homeruns off of Cueto and Chapman in Cincinnatti. Maybe its the letter C in the pitcher’s names that gets Dominguez going. Anyway, he had a good effort against the Mets (6IP, 3ER) and a great effort against the Reds on the day after the Chipper Jones walkoff homerun. A not so good effort against Colorado and on 3 days rest, not such a good effort against the Astros.
Look, the Phillies have gotten great production out of Triple A callups this year. Emergency callups like Kratz and Frandsen have provided much more than can be expected. Aumont has looked great.
After the Mets game, a lot of us had given up on Rosenberg. This week he has been good. Don’t give up on Cloyd. And veteran pitchers. What has Joe Blanton done for the Dodgers?
Posted: 10:56 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
“What has Joe Blanton done for the Dodgers?”
Helped put the Phils back in the race!
Posted: 10:59 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Howard just looks so bad out there. I’m sure he’s feeling it too
Posted: 09:39 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Glutenous
Bullpen game…eek. They’ve been getting it done but this makes me nervous. Fingers crossed.
Posted: 09:46 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 BART SHART
Big Mike — You are absolutely correct. Cloyd has less than stellar stuff. Low velocity, not real good breaking stuff. He looks like a strict minor league pitcher to me. Easy to hit. Nothing special. He needs a big slow curve and a good slider/sinker. His fastball is very
hittable. For the most part, he has good control and keeps the ball down. AT LEAST another year in the minors.
Posted: 09:49 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
That, without a doubt is the first time in my life that a team I wanted to win had a reliever give up a leadoff walk, and still got out scoreless.
I can die happy now.
Posted: 10:18 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Is it time for a meaningless base hit? Nobody on base
Posted: 10:19 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Oh well, not even a meaningless single – this man is having a bad time
Posted: 10:21 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 psujoe
Is Howard worth $25 million a year? No, but he’s worth a lot. All he does is produce runs. he’s just basically getting out of Spring training and his injury is an 18 month injury
Posted: 10:21 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
I’m feeling bad for the man – you know he’s trying his arse off but maybe its just too soon. He is not a .224 hitter
Posted: 10:29 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Dodgers have an early 1-0 lead.
Re Howard, I guess my question is can he get hot for a while as he has in the past. Too many eyes with quick mouths watching him now. How it effects him, I don’t know, but I know it’s such an old subject. Ya either like him, or ya don’t.
Posted: 10:35 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
This will be Paps 4th straight game, lead assumedly holding. Time of the year. So a long one out of Cole tomorrow would be sweet.
Posted: 10:38 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
I’ve been to a number of games and seen him play , just the night before last. He does not look the same on the base paths and on the field.
He just seems off his game.
Posted: 10:41 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
One thing for sure, we need some more damn runs in this game
Posted: 10:41 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 psujoe
Not even worried about Cards vs Dodgers. Just win baby!
Posted: 10:43 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Whose next? Horst, Deikman.. who closes tonight? DeFratus?
Posted: 10:48 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Geez, I’d guess Papelbon, and not only that, Charlie’d use him in the 8th. I THINK he had reasonable pitch counts the last 3, but not sure.
Posted: 10:55 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 glutenous
Howards achilles definitely isn’t 100%. It takes a long time to fully recover from that injury. He said himself that he probably wouldn’t return to full strength at any point this season.
Posted: 10:59 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Unfortunately, the Phils have stranded RISP 3 straight innings now. Chase has left 5 on his last 2 at bats. I’m not complaining, it’s just the way it is. Keep plugging away, and it’ll happen the next time.
And I know RyHo’s struggling, but had Chase come through, it would have given him a chance to really do some damage.
Gotta just keep at it, and have the pen pick the offense up. So far, so good tonight, but every inning it starts all over again.
Posted: 11:05 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 psujoe
Kratz is just friggin ridiculous!
Posted: 11:11 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Wesley Wright?
Posted: 11:12 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
I can hear it now, “Son, get back in this dugout..”
Posted: 11:13 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
F*in Astros, F*in Cholly
Posted: 11:22 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
What happened to that very short leash
Posted: 11:24 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
Charlie is a f’in c nt. horrible manager.
Lose to this crap team. Bring back maddog and
Get rid of these piece of shit pitchers.
Posted: 11:31 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Chris
Is that comment really necessary?
Posted: 08:15 AM on September 14, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
OLD
AFW thought maybe,
Posted: 11:36 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Just to clarify for everyone
This team won games and contends despite Ryan Howard
Not because of.
Posted: 11:46 PM on September 13, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Agreed Andrew – and the point is if he was hitting his weight (OK, a little bit more than that) the Phils would likely have 4 or 5 more wins right now and either defending the #2 WC spot, chasing the first WC slot. How would a 77-67 record look right about now?
Something is wrong with Ryan Howard, he has never been in this deep a funk with his hitting, especially as fall approaches.
Posted: 12:50 AM on September 14, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Yes but these are the same numbers he had in 2011 before the excuse (injury)
This is what he is Brooks.
He is fine vs righties but I think the left handed ABs vs lefties are rubbing off.
Posted: 01:15 AM on September 14, 2012
Posts: 0 Dave
Being a major league player is all about making adjustments. The great ones do it and the not so great ones do not. Granted, for some it comes easier than others, but the bottome line is that Howard has not made adjustments since he broked into the league. Sarge commented last night that Howard needs to walk more. Well, as long as he swings at pitches out of the strike zone, that will not happen. He cannot stand up there and guess. He needs to recognize the pitch and lay off of it. He has not been able to effectively do that for years. Another thing he doesn’t do much of anymore is hit the other way. Howard hits right into the mouth of the shift constantly.
Posted: 09:55 AM on September 14, 2012
Posts: 0 schmenkman
Dave, it’s fair to say that he hasn’t adjusted to the shift (and apparently he’s made the decision that he’s better off not altering his approach), but he appears to be hitting balls the other way as much as he ever has:
% of balls in play going the other way, 2005-2012:
14%, 20%, 13%, 16%, 12%, 12%, 16%, 16%
Stats from baseball-reference.com.
Also, Howard has always walked more than average, but I would agree that he needs to walk more.
Posted: 12:39 PM on September 14, 2012
Posts: 0 schmenkman
(with the exception of 2006, of course, which is the outlier in many ways)
Posted: 12:50 PM on September 14, 2012