Phillies Nation

The Phillies beat the Dodgers, 3-2, on Monday night for their third straight win. It’s the Phillies’ first three-game winning streak since May 23-26, when they won four in a row.

The Big Piece had his first Big Fly of the season (AP)

-Joe Blanton pitched eight strong innings, allowing two runs. He struck out seven batters without a walk, improving his gaudy K/BB numbers to 102 and 16, respectively.

-Blanton broke a personal streak of 11 straight starts surrendering a home run. He was one away from tying Randy Wolf (2000) for the longest stretch in Phillies history.

-Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the season, an opposite-field solo shot after he narrowly missed hitting one out to the same spot an at-bat earlier. It was the 287th homer of Howard’s career.

-Jimmy Rollins went deep for the ninth time.

-Carlos Ruiz continues his torrid season. Chooch doubled in the second inning and scored on a single by Juan Pierre, who is also somewhat-quietly having a really nice year.

-Shane Victorino tripled for the third straight game. He had two in his previous 87 games. Victorino is the first player to triple in three straight games since… Shane Victorino, in 2011.

-It was great to see “The Big Piece” trot back after a long layoff, and the swing also looked pretty decent. Howard held the hands back and went to the opposite field. When he’s on, that’s the direction he goes in. In the second inning, he narrowly missed one, too.

Continue reading A Streak! A Real, Legitimate Winning Streak!

Philadelphia Phillies (39-51) at Los Angeles Dodgers (48-41)

Joe Blanton (7-8, 4.98) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (1-5, 4.21)

Time: 10:10 PM ET, Dodger Stadium
TV: CSN
Weather: Sunny, 71
Media: Twitter and Facebook

The Phillies won a series!  They need to carry the momentum into Los Angeles, and take a series from the Dodgers.

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (39-51) at Dodgers (48-41)

Tonight, the Phillies downed the Colorado Rockies 8-5. For the Phils, who had lost five straight, and 11-of-12, coming into the contest, it was a much-needed victory. It took all-around effort, as only the middle relief didn’t contribute to the win.

Chooch's hot start to the second half has only fueled the rumors that he's super-human (AP)

VANIMAL DOES IT ALL

- Before tonight, Vance Worley had never made a start at Coors Field. Evidently, he enjoys playing there. Aside from throwing 6.2 innings of two-run baseball, Worley would also collect two hits, including an improbable two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning that would make it  6-2 Phillies. The hit was especially energizing because it came after the Rockies intentionally walked Mike Fontenot–who was 0-for-2 at the time–to get to Worley. The double would be Worley’s first extra base hit of 2012, and just the second of his career. The 2 RBI were also his first of the season.

- On the mound, Worley gutted out his 6.2 innings. He wasn’t dazzling, and he wasn’t efficient, but he held the Rockies to just two runs on eight hits. It was exactly what the team needed from him, and, even though he didn’t have his best stuff, he gave it to them.

- The defining moment for Worley came in the fifth, when Carlos Gonzalez came up with runners on second and third and two out. With first base open, the Phils opted to walk Gonzalez and face the right-handed Michael Cuddyer with the bases loaded. Worley would work a full count, but end up striking out Cuddyer with a fastball to slam the door. Worley pumped his fist after Cuddyer swung through the pitch, clearly feeling the adrenaline of a high-tension moment in the game.

Continue reading Phils Down Rockies, Snap Losing Streak

Schwimer has been a bright spot for the bullpen in the first half of 2012. Photo: AP

Today we continue with our All-Star Break Grades. Including Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton, 15 Phillies pitchers have pitched out of the bullpen in 2012. For the purposes of these grades, we will lump them in with the starters and focus on the 13 others. As my newest colleague Eric Seidman indicated yesterday, there is plenty of time and room for these fellas to turn it around.

The Surprises

Michael Schwimer – The giant righty from Alexandria, VA has been a pleasant anchor in the Phillies ‘pen. Schwimer trails only Papelbon, Qualls, and Bastardo in appearances for the Phils despite not starting the year with the team and trails only Papelbon in ERA. Schwimer’s 6.75 K/9 IP indicates he is pitching more to contact and should only improve as his BB/9 IP has dropped. Not many expected much from Schwimer, but as he told us on Phillies Nation TV, he was working hard with Rich Dubee to improve his approach, pitch selection, and placement. Grade: B

Jake Diekman – Like Schwimer, Diekman did not make the Phillies out of Spring Training. Also like Schwimer, Diekman has become one of the Phillies most reliable relievers. Diekman burst on to the scene on May 15, bailing Qualls out of a jam, striking out 3 in 1.1 IP to earn the win against Houston. After giving up 4 ER in his next outing against Chicago, Diekman has not looked back. In that time frame, Diekman has 23 Ks in 15.2 IP with a 1.72 ERA and a .220 BAA. Diekman, the only MLB’er ever from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, KS, is a powerful strikeout artist who will continue to improve. Grade: B+

Continue reading All-Star Break Grades: The ‘Pen

Another night, another loss. It’s a familiar story in Philadelphia these days. This time, the Phillies lost 6-3 in front of a lifeless home crowd that had mostly retreated by the time the final out was recorded. Looking back at the Phillies’ history since moving to Citizens Bank Park, this final series before the All Star Break has to be absolute rock bottom. They’ve now lost 9-of-10.

The Phillies wanted to get back in the win column tonight. Tommy Hanson had other plans. (AP)

HANSON DAZZLES THE OFFENSE

- Earlier this season, the Phillies knocked around Tommy Hanson in Atlanta, chasing him from the game before he could finish the fourth inning. Following a three-run second tonight–an outburst that included a Joe Blanton one-out, one-run single to give the Phillies the lead–it looked as though the Phils might be able to touch up Hanson again. It was a mirage, however, as the right-hander would retire thirteen straight batters, and 15-of-17 following that second inning. He struck out six and walked just one, and allowed just two hits outside of that second inning. He flat out dominated during his eight innings of work. Craig Kimbrel came on in the ninth and put the Phils away 1-2-3.

PROTOTYPICAL JOE BLANTON

- Tonight’s start was typical of Joe Blanton, who has been the epitome of hit-or-miss this season. He’d go 6.1 innings, alloweing five earned runs. In nine of his eighteen starts this season, Blanton’s allowed four runs or more. In seven of those starts, he’s allowed at least five earned runs. Seeing that he had a decent outing in his last start, he could be expected to turn in a less than stellar effort. Considering how dominant Hanson was, Blanton needed to come close to replicating his complete game shutout of the Braves on May 3 to give his team a chance to win. He stood no chance.

Continue reading Losses Keep Piling Up

Philadelphia Phillies (37-48) vs. Atlanta Braves (44-39)

Joe Blanton (7-7, 4.85) vs. Tommy Hanson (9-5, 3.70)

Time: 7:15 PM, Citizens Bank Park
TV: FOX
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 101
Media: Twitter and Facebook

The Phillies suffered another tough loss on Friday night.  Tonight’s another scorcher, but hopefully it will be a different outcome for the Phillies.

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (37-48) vs. Braves (44-39)

The Phillies fell to the Miami Marlins, 5-2, and in the process were swept by a team they continue to chase in the bottom of the NL East. Their losing streak is now at five. The team that won 102 games last year is now 36-45, their worst record halfway through a season since 1997. During that season, the Phillies lost 94 games.

BLANTON GIVES ‘EM A CHANCE

-Joe Blanton gave up three runs over six innings and gave his offense a chance to win it. But as they’ve done for most of this season, they fell short. Blanton fanned seven, but made one big mistake on a home run by Giancarlo Stanton that put the Marlins ahead for good.

-The bullpen continues to struggle. Antonio Bastardo allowed an 8th inning homer to Hanley Ramirez that sealed the deal for the Marlins. Michael Schwimer was able to put up a zero in his one inning, but Bastardo, who has been all over the place this year, couldn’t keep it close.

ABSENT OFFENSE

-Although Carlos Ruiz was named an NL All Star today, he, and the rest of the boys came up short as they have too often. Ricky Nolasco looked like an all-star himself today, holding the Phillies to two runs over seven innings.

-Hunter Pence knocked in a run, but also struck out twice, as did Jimmy Rollins. Just not a great day overall.

Philadelphia Phillies (36-44) at Miami Marlins (37-40)

Joe Blanton (7-6, 4.87) vs. Ricky Nolasco (6-6, 4.78)

TIME: 1:10, Marlins Park
TV: PHL 17
Weather: Indoors
Media: Twitter and Facebook

It’s becoming harder and harder to root for this team as the slide continues well into the dog days of summer. Not that you shouldn’t root for your Phillies – it would make you a terrible fan if you didn’t – but you catch my drift.

Now, Jim Thome has been traded and the one true leader they had in the clubhouse is gone. Also, one of the guys you root for no matter the circumstance is an Oriole. We wish him the best.

We also wish the Phillies the best as they try to avoid a sweep. Doesn’t it seem like it’s all just gone so incredibly wrong? They lose 3-2 yesterday and again just couldn’t get that run when they needed to. Hamels didn’t pitch terribly, but it seems like a perfect storm at all times. When the pitchers pitch well, the offense doesn’t show. When the offense does show, the bullpen lets them down.

Just no sweep, please.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Pierre LF, Pence RF, Ruiz C, Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Wigginton 1B, Fontenot 2B, Blanton P

Your Gameday Beer – Twisted Tea Half and Half

It’s an Arnold Palmer, but with alcohol. Normally, I don’t get into the teas and lemonades and all that stuff, but when it’s pushing 100 degrees and you’re outside by a grill or pool, baking in the sun, these come in handy. Get a glass with some ice, pour it on, and let it flow. Please, drink responsibly. And enjoy the celebrations! – Pat Gallen

GO PHILLIES!

Blanton is having a bizarre year. Photo (AP)

Pop quiz: which pitcher leads the National League in BB/9 IP (1.194)? Would you believe this pitcher also leads the National League in K/BB (6.308)? It would make sense, then, that a pitcher this successful this season would rank second in the NL in batters faced (419).

What if the same pitcher lead the NL in home runs allowed, has a 4.87 ERA, and a 7-6 record?

Welcome to Joe Blanton’s 2012 pitching odyssey.

On the surface, Joe Blanton won his seventh game of 2012 by nearly dominating the other team (8 Ks/1 BB) with one misstep (a Jose Tabata home run). Strangely, a lot of Blanton’s games have fallen into this category, all while pitching to nearly his career averages.

Take for instance Blanton’s BABIP for 2012 .299, just one point lower than his .300 career mark. Or his BAA which is exactly the same for 2012 as his career number (.270). His WHIP, even with splitting BB/9 IP in half for 2012 (1.2 on 2012 v. 2.4 for career), remains similar as well (1.24 for 2012, 1.34 career).

Blanton has the opportunity to have a tremendous 2012 season should he be able to reduce his HRs, perhaps his best since 2009 or even best as a Phillie. He is on pace to match or beat his strike out season highs and has improved his K/9 IP by 1.5 2012 v. Career.

Where Blanton’s crossroads takes place is at the intersection of home runs and strikeouts. Is Blanton’s agressive strike-throwing allowing for more home run opportunities? Possibly, although it is then odd that his standard stats remain so close to his career norms while his peripherals improved so greatly. If Blanton can avoid the long ball in the second half, he will enter his free agency is a valuable, middle-of-the-rotation option, vital to the Phillies reaching their sixth straight postseason.

After an ugly Sunday doubleheader, the Phillies righted the ship, at least for one day. After getting good news that one of their leaders, Chase Utley, would return to the lineup this week, the Phillies opened up a four-game series with the Pirates with an 8-3 victory.

BLANTON SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

Jimmy is swinging a hot stick and Chase could be back soon. (AP).

-It wasn’t awful Joe Blanton, but it wasn’t great Joe Blanton, either. He did his best to piss off 43,000+ by keeping the Pirates well within striking distance, even with the Phillies scoring seven runs in the first four innings. It was that Blanton we will most certainly accept, the Blanton somewhere in between those two, but more toward the good end.

-Blanton again threw a ton of strikes. It’s been his M.O. this year, almost to a fault. He threw 114 pitches, 72 strikes on the evening, and walked just one batter. His line: Seven innings, seven hits, three runs (two earned), one walk, eight strikeouts.

-Jake Diekman came on and allowed a four-pitch walk, then settled in for a double play and strikeout in the eighth. They NEED Diekman to step up, someone in that pen has to.

-Chad Qualls came on in the ninth holding a five-run lead and did not relinquish it.

J-ROLL ON FIRE

-It’s unlikely we’ll ever see Jimmy Rollins approach the MVP season of 2007. Even still, he’s done a damn good impression of it since June. And really, he stepped it up before that. Go back to when Rollins and wife Johari had their baby. Since retuning from paternity leave on May 24 (as Kevin Cooney pointed out on twitter) he’s hitting .321 with seven homers and 19 RBIs (after his homer). He doubled in the first and tacked on a monster home run in the fourth inning, even showing a little Jimmy swagger in the process as he admired the shot.

Continue reading Phillies Jump on Pirates Miscues in 8-3 Win