Hopefully you’re enjoying Memorial Day weekend and not still seething over last night’s excruciating ninth-inning, which really should’ve ended in runs that won the game and not a borderline third-strike and a groundout, but you know, this is the Phillies so I guess I’ll be drinking all that bleach now.
Sorry. Hopefully you’re enjoying Memorial Day weekend!
It’s Nola Day.
Gametime: 4:05 p.m.
The lineup:
- Hernandez – 2B
- Hoskins – LF
- Herrera – CF
- Santana – 1B
- Altherr – RF
- Franco – 3B
- Kingery – SS
- Alfaro – C
- Nola – P
Pitchers: Aaron Nola (6-2, 2.37 ERA) vs. Jaime Garcia (2-3, 6.28 ERA)
I pushed for the Phillies to pick up Garcia. Hasn’t worked yet for the Jays (I’m sure now I’ve jinxed it and he’ll pitch seven shutout innings today). Shows what I know.
Rhys Hoskins has been scuffling badly, hitting .141/.253/.271 since April 28, and he’s still in the 2-hole. So I get it – maybe he should move down to the 6 or something, but at the same time, there’s something to be said about letting a smart player work things out on his own. I believe in that. I believe in the strategy here.
I don’t believe as much in the constant shuffling of players from 5 to 8. I’d like to see Alfaro in one spot for a little while (say the 5 hole) and be surrounded by guys who don’t strike out as much (say Santana and Franco).
Anyway, at least we’re not dealing with what the Jays are dealing with: they have Russell Martin starting at shortstop today. Yes, that’s right, Russell Martin, the catcher, is starting at shortstop. Now, he does have experience this year (and just this year, and just once) at shortstop, and he has played quite a bit of third base in the past. But wow, this is gonna be fun. Dear Phillies: Everything to the left side.
Your Gameday Beer: For this Nola Day we’ll head up to the French-speaking city of Montreal, one of my favorite cities in the world. There is a brewery called Dieu du Ciel!, which if you haven’t been, go. Awesome place. And awesome beer. Try Peche Mortel, an imperial stout brewed with coffee. Maybe have it in a heavily air-conditioned room – man it’s a hot one.
Go Phillies!
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