Phillies Nation

Erik Kratz must improve defensively. (Photo via AP)

If their recent offensive surge is a sign of things to come for the Phillies, the team won’t need Carlos Ruiz to duplicate the other-worldly .934 OPS he posted in 2012 when he returns to the lineup.

That is the good news.

The bad news is that Ruiz’s absence has exposed the defensive shortcomings of catcher Erik Kratz.  Despite undeniable pop at the plate, Kratz was essentially a minor league lifer until netting 141 at bats as Chooch’s 31-year-old backup last year.  It took him a decade to reach the big leagues for a reason.  Through his first seven starts, we may just be seeing it.

Easiest to identify are the communication difficulties between Kratz and Roy Halladay that landed him on the bench for Doc’s second start in favor of Humberto Quintero.  All parties involved, except Kratz himself, downplayed the catcher’s role in the early-season struggles of the pitching staff.  But if reading between the lines, Halladay’s words were hard to ignore.  Here is what Kratz had to say on Monday, courtesy of Matt Gelb at the Inquirer:

“There’s one thing that’s consistent back there, and that’s me.  So I have to look at myself and look at how we’re doing back there. If I can’t help the team improve, they put [Quintero] in there. I have to do a better job, for sure.”

Continue reading Kratz Shaky Behind the Plate in Early Going

New York Mets (5-3) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3-5)

Jeremy Hefner (RHP) vs. Kyle Kendrick (RHP)

Time: 7:05 PM, Citizens Bank Park
TV: TCN, Home of Phillies Nation TV
Weather: Chance of Storms, 72
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Can they put together two in a row? Will they get the game in?! These are the questions facing the Kyle Kendrick-led Phillies tonight as they do battle with Jeremy Hefner and the Mets in what might be a thunder-storm filled night. Current Phillies have a combined 14 PA against Hefner but they are hitting .462/.500/.538 in the small sample.

LINEUP: Revere, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Young, Brown (LF), Mayberry (RF), Kratz, Kendrick.

Gameday Beer: Rolling Rock Light.
If you thought Rolling Rock goes down smooth, try a Rolling Rock Light. Grab a few cold ones, your transistor radio (or smartphone) and go sit outside to enjoy the game on this warm weekday night.

GO PHILLIES!

Reinvented is the chic term in Philadelphia. It’s being used to describe what people believe will be the saving grace in the career of Roy Halladay: reinvention. Can Doc learn to pitch with decreased velocity, honing his off-speed pitches when his fastball lacks the same pop it did during a decade-long run as the best pitcher in the world?

No one knows. And quitting and failure aren’t in Halladay’s vernacular, so we’ll be left to take a wait and see approach. Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro are doing the same, they said so themselves on Tuesday. Amaro told reporters that they would give Halladay as long as he would need to become the pitcher they all believe he can still be.

But what kind of pitcher is that, exactly?

Father Time’s win streak will stay intact, but in the case of Halladay, he hopes to push him off just a little longer. Some in the business were able to do it (with or without PED’s) better than others.

Continue reading Who Will Halladay Become?

I’ll never forget Cliff Lee‘s first start with the Phillies.

He was just acquired from the Indians amidst a flurry of rumors that had the Phillies close to getting Roy Halladay. While his arrival carried excitement, many fans couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed for missing out on Doc. I was one of those fans, having only seen Lee from afar, and having considered him more of a good pitcher with a great season rather than a great pitcher.

His July 31, 2009 start against the Giants quieted all nerves. Lee ran out to the mound in his own patented fashion, did that bizarre fake pitch to the outfield that we learned was part of his routine, and prepared to face leadoff man Randy Winn.

First pitch was right over for a called strike. Winn then swung and missed at Lee’s second offering. In what felt like rapid fire succession, Lee then caught Winn looking with a fastball perfectly placed on the inside corner. It wasn’t a debatable pitch or one an ump usually calls a ball on an 0-2 count. It was just a flat out perfect pitch. My friend and I turned to each other with wide eyes. We had never seen anything like this before.

Lee rules so hard.

Sure, Cole Hamels was the World Series MVP the year before, but his ace-ness seemed built more on finesse. Lee was aggressive, worked quickly, and after three pitches had me convinced he was going to be the best pitcher I ever watched on a routine basis. Keep in mind I wasn’t alive when Steve Carlton pitched and I was too young to appreciate Curt Schilling during his heyday here.

Lee tossed a complete game that night and even settled for a double after coming close to a home run. He was dominant then, he remains dominant today, and over the last five seasons he has proven himself to be one of the very best pitchers in baseball. Watching him over these first two starts of 2013 has reminded me of what it was like watching him in his first outing with the Phils.

Yet, even with a Cy Young award and a lucrative contract under his belt, I can’t help but feel that Lee is underrated, even in this city. To help shake that feeling, let’s take a look at his brilliant time with the Phillies to put things in perspective.

Continue reading Lee Continues To Cement His Awesomeness

New York Mets (5-2) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2-5)

Dillon Gee (0-1, 1.42) vs. Cliff Lee (1-0, 0.00)

Time: 7:05 PM, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 69
Media: Twitter and Facebook

After last night’s debacle, it all falls on the reliable arm of Cliff Lee to stop the bleeding. Lee will do his best to give the bullpen a break, one that comes into tonight’s game with an ERA of 6.04, 24th in baseball. Their starting pitchers ERA is an MLB worst 7.68.

The good news, Lee is 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA in eight career starts, striking out 56 in 56 innings. The Phillies could use the spark of yet another shutdown performance. And the fans can’t stomach another terrible outing.

On the other end, Dillon Gee has been rocked by the Phillies in six career starts. He’s 3-3 with a 6.46 ERA.

Both Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro addressed Roy Halladay and said they will give him as long a leash as he needs to correct himself. They’re showing confidence in their struggling former-ace, as they believe he’s earned that right. Plus, both Manuel and Amaro pushed the fact that we’re just two starts into what they hope is a successful 33 start run for Halladay. It’s early, still.

LINEUP: Revere, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Young, Brown (LF), Mayberry (RF), Kratz, Lee

Gameday Beer: Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot
From what I gathered, Lagunitas tried to name this “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” but weren’t allowed to use “whiskey” on the label, for some reason. So they changed it to match Wilco’s “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”.
GO PHILLIES!

Last night, Roy Oswalt posted some interesting tweets in the midst of a terrible showing by Roy Halladay during the Phillies 7-2 loss to the Mets:

Just a update , I haven’t felt this good since 2010 ,

— Roy Oswalt’s Website (@royoswalt44net) April 9, 2013

I would love to come back to Philly , loved my time there , amazing fans

— Roy Oswalt’s Website (@royoswalt44net) April 9, 2013

Lets clear the air ,I was asked by a Philly fan if I would come back to Philly , I answered that question, it had nothing to do with doc

— Roy Oswalt’s Website (@royoswalt44net) April 9, 2013

As a friend and fan of Halladay , and with a track record as long as his , don’t count him out after 2 starts

— Roy Oswalt’s Website (@royoswalt44net) April 9, 2013

Interesting comments from the former Phillie, and especially interesting timing. For almost a year, the twitter account went without a tweet. That changed in a big way.

I spoke with his agent Bob Garber through email today, and he said that the tweets were true. So this sounds like a pitcher who wants back in.

New York Mets (4-2) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2-4)

Matt Harvey (RHP) vs. Roy Halladay (RHP)

Time: 7:05 PM, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN, ESPN
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 72
Media: Twitter and Facebook

A day after coming up just short of a second-consecutive thrilling comeback, the Phillies, behind Roy Halladay, look to defeat Matt Harvey and the Mets. Harvey, just 24, comes into Monday’s game riding high off of a victory over the Padres where he struck out 10 and walked only two while surrendering just one hit against the Padres. Harvey is a much-respected prospect after being drafted seventh overall in 2010 and was ranked as Baseball America’s 54th prospect before making his MLB debut last season.

Minor controversy headed into tonight’s game involving Erik Kratz. Kratz took responsibility for any missteps early today with the media in regards for the early struggles of the pitching staff. However, this does not align with last year, as Halladay posted a lower ERA with Kratz than he did with Chooch as his battery mate. Tonight? Kratz gets a rest and Humberto Quintero will catch Doc.

LINEUP: Revere, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Young, Brown (LF), Nix (RF), Quintero, Halladay.

Gameday Beer:  Molson Canadian Light

GO PHILLIES!

Carlos Ruiz has guided Roy Halladay through many memorable games. Is his absence hurting the Good Doctor? (AP)

Everyone’s got a theory for what’s wrong with Roy Halladay.

The prevailing argument is Halladay is a victim of the unrelenting perpetual forward motion of time, and the effect it has on the body. That, physically, he is no longer the person he once was.

Rich Dubee and Halladay himself have come up with a bevy of excuses as to why Doc has not been himself. Everything from a wet mound to a stomach virus has been thrown out there as a reason for the lack in results. Just yesterday, Dubee pinned Halladay’s shaky start on Wednesday on a lower arm slot.

Whatever ails the once preeminent pitcher, one thing is clear: He is struggling mightily to adapt to his new-found deficiencies. What once was considered a strength for Halladay–the ability to think ahead of hitters–is now something he is lacking.

Everyone can see that Halladay has lost a few ticks on his velocity, yet he continues to pitch with the same strategy as the guy who once could touch 94 on the radar gun. Maybe it’s sheer stubbornness. But without his dominant fastball, he seems lost.

Continue reading How Much Does Doc Miss Chooch?

The Phillies will not finish the season 0-162!  The Phillies avoided the sweep with their 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Cliff Lee pitched extremely well in his first appearance of the season.  Lee fanned eight batters in as many innings.  Lee only surrendered two hits and did not walk a batter.  After poor outings by Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay to start the season, the rotation needed a strong outing from a starter.

Run support for Lee was an issue in 2012, but the offense was able to produce just enough runs for Lee tonight.  The Phillies scored both runs via small ball.  Ben Revere grounded out to drive in a run in the second inning.  A few batters later, Chase Utley brought home another run on a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.  The Phillies did have a couple hard-hit balls, but Thursday’s weather benefited hitters and kept the ball in the yard.  It would have been nice to score some more runs, but Lee did dominate.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first save of the season, and to secure Lee’s victory.  Lee’s first win in 2012 wasn’t until July. It only took one game for him to get his first win in 2013.

The Phillies get their first win and return to Philadelphia on a positive note.  The Phillies will take on the Kansas City Royals for the home opener tomorrow.  The home crowd will be excited to have the Phillies back in town.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

Cliff Lee vs. Kris Medlen

Time: 7:10 PM, Turner Field
TV: TCN, MLBN
Weather: Chance of rain, 47
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (0-2) at Braves (2-0)