Phillies Nation

Gameday: Phillies (73-57) at Dodgers (67-64)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Mon, August 30, 2010 09:10 PM

Philadelphia Phillies (73-57) at Los Angeles Dodgers (67-64)

Roy Halladay (16-10, 2.22 ERA) vs. 
Hiroki Kuroda (9-11, 3.56)

Time: 10:10 p.m at Dodger Stadium
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 67
Twitter: @philliesnation

This is what sets 2010 apart for the Phillies.

Faced with a similar position the past two seasons – heading into a big road series in need of wins, the Phillies would have had one hot starting pitcher (Cole Hamels in 2008, Cliff Lee in 2009) and a grab bag (Brett Myers and Joe Blanton ’08, Hamels and Pedro Martinez in ’09) for the rest of the series.

But not this year. This is why they got Roy Halladay and then added Roy Oswalt. Not to slight Kyle Kendrick, a serviceable fifth starter, but with the ability to hand the ball to Halladay and Oswalt heading into a key series – whether it’s at Dodger Stadium or Yankee Stadium – you have to like the Phillies’ chances.

Tonight it’s Halladay’s turn, and if anyone can maintain the staff’s momentum after an overpowering series against the first-place Padres, it’s Halladay. He’s been so dominant since his Sunday night clunker against at Wrigley Field in mid-July, until last week it seemed he might not lose the rest of the season. But then a bloop single and the Phillies’ inability to score in the Astros series ended that bid (Amazing bonus stat: Halladay has failed to pitched at least seven innings only four times this season).

But no matter how well Halladay pitches, the offense has to score runs. And before their five-run “explosion” yesterday, the Phillies hadn’t scored that many runs in a week. The struggles of Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino from the left side of the plate – and from Ryan Howard and Chase Utley in general – are a major threat to the Phillies’ playoff hopes with each day they continue.

Your Gameday Beer – Philadelphia Original Lager

Brewed by Red Bell Brewery out of the Brewerytown neighborhood of Philadelphia, this beer is a classic microbrew lager. It’s a bit heavier than Yuengling, with more of a roasted malt flavor and some sweet coffee and caramel hints. Its supreme drinkability coupled with a pour that looks like iced tea means you can sneakily house several of these bad boys. Have your favorite pasta with some marinara sauce and a few Philly Lagers. – By Brian

GO PHILLIES!

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Oswalt Teams With Lidge Again to Get 1st Win as Phillie

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Thu, August 12, 2010 08:23 AM

In a couple of ways, it was just like old times Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Brad Lidge saved a game for Roy Oswalt–something he used to do regularly. But after a turn of events no one, no matter how crazy, would have foreseen the last time it had happened– July 28, 2007–both were wearing Phillies uniforms this time.

And the other familiar sight Wednesday was reminiscent not of the 2007 season but of the next one, when Ryan Madson teamed with Lidge as the most dominant setup-closer combo in baseball.

Oswalt held the Dodgers to five hits in seven innings, and Madson and Lidge combined to retire the last six L.A. batters – four by strikeout – to lead the Phillies to a 2-0 victory.

Sure, the win was important because it kept the Phillies 2 ½ games behind the Braves, who have pulled out two late-inning wins the past two days in Houston. But maybe even more importantly, the win made a statement a night after the Dodgers bombed Kyle Kendrick, and seemingly half the bullpen, for 15 runs.

If you want to get picky, the Phillies did leave a couple of runs on the bases, and their failure to score Wilson Valdez after his leadoff triple in the fifth inning was glaring. But the pitching took care of that. Oswalt wasn’t dominant, but he displayed steely focus when he encountered jams and got outs when he needed them most.

Raul Ibanez, meanwhile, stayed red-hot, driving in an insurance run with a sixth-inning double that extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Domonic Brown got the Phils on the board in the fourth with his legs, beating out a ground ball that would be a double play with most other major leaguers running. But with Dom gliding to first? Forget it.

As with a lot of Phillies games this season, however, there is a “but.” While hustling to second on a double that led to the Phillies’ second run, Ross Gload pulled up lame halfway between first base and second base, and he immediately left the game. Don’t be shocked tomorrow if he becomes the latest to pass through the DL turnstile, likely with a groin strain.

On the plus side, Shane Victorino homered, tripled and had three RBIs in a rehab game tonight with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was expected to rejoin the Phillies on Friday, but it sure looks like he’s ready now.

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Gameday: Dodgers (59-54) at Phillies (62-50)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, August 11, 2010 05:52 PM

Los Angeles Dodgers (59-54) at Philadelphia Phillies (62-50)

Chad Billingsley, RHP (9-6, 3.82 ERA) vs. Roy Oswalt, RHP (6-13, 3.50 ERA)

Time: 7:05 p.m at Citizens Bank Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Weather: Partly cloudy, 89

Twitter: @philliesnation

When the Dodgers hang a 15-spot on the Phillies, there isn’t a whole lot to feel too good about. But the way the Phillies allowed most of those runs is even more troubling.

Forget that Kyle Kendrick didn’t make it out of the fourth inning. KK had put together three very good starts in a row, and last night was an example of what common folk call “the law of averages” and math majors refer to as “regression to the mean.” Plain and simple, he was due to get hit around, and did he ever against the Dodgers.

Over the course of a 162-game season, any team’s fifth starter is going to give up plenty of runs and have more than a few bad nights. After all, that’s why he’s the fifth starter. Injuries notwithstanding, the Phillies’ real problem was encapsulated by what happened after Kendrick was out of the game. The offense mounted a rally, but the bullpen couldn’t keep the Dodgers at bay, allowing nine – nine! – earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. David Herndon, Danys Baez and, sadly, even J.C. Romero … do you trust these guys to consistently get batters out when called upon? (I won’t lump Antonio Bastardo with them because he’s only recently returned to the Phillies, but his ERA is 5.54, so maybe he should be grouped there too.) After Tuesday’s blowup, the Phillies’ bullpen ERA is 4.26, which ranks 10th in the NL and 19th in the major leagues. The Braves, by comparison, were almost a full run better (3.22) entering Wednesday – good enough to rank third in the league and fifth in the bigs.

Ruben Amaro has apparently hitched his star to starting pitching, and the Phillies are going to need an extra-strength dose of it tonight from Roy Oswalt. As for the team the Phillies are chasing, the Braves won again today – despite another blown save by Billy Wagner and the absence of Larry Wayne Jones, who reportedly was feeling much better after spraining his left knee in last night’s comeback win over the Astros. Jones is scheduled to have an MRI Thursday, and it appears the outlook is much better than when he was writhing in pain on the field.

Also, don’t forget – you can reach us on our new hotline to rant and rave about all things Phillies. The number is (801)-TRADE ME. That’s (801) 872-3363.

LINEUP: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Gload 1B, Ibanez LF, Werth CF, Brown RF, Ruiz C, Valdez 2B, Oswalt P

Your Gameday Beer – Melanie Brewing Company Beer 30 Light

My roommate got this once in college. The name stuck out, as did the fact that you could get a 30-pack for the same price as a case of Natty Light. That’s right. This beer is cheaper than Natty Light. I was too scared to try any, but according to my roommate, it’s the pisswater to end all pisswater. And this is coming from the guy who drank heavy Busch for four years. Enjoy.– By Michael

GO PHILLIES!

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Gameday: Phillies (48-45) at Cardinals (53-41)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, July 21, 2010 08:22 PM

Philadelphia Phillies (48-45) at St. Louis Cardinals (53-41)

Joe Blanton, RHP (3-5, 6.21 ERA) vs. Jamie Garcia, RHP (8-4, 2.27 ERA)

Time: 8:15 p.m., Busch Stadium
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 90
TV: WPHL
Twitter: @PhilliesNation

Seven.

Not a lucky number – not for the 2010 Phillies. Seven is an unforgiving number gauging how frustrating, disappointing and utterly befuddling this season has been. It is how many games the team that was heavily favored to return to the World Series has fallen behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.

Ten years ago – even five years ago – being seven games back of the Braves might have been regarded as an achievement. Now it is merely cause for fear, loathing and macabre jokes about enduring 25 more years without a title.

So as GM Ruben Amaro works the phones and rumors swirl about Roy Oswalt coming to Philadelphia in another megadeal (it’s worth noting that Oswalt is a year older than Cliff Lee), the only certainty around the 2010 Phillies is injuries. The seemingly indestructible Jamie Moyer suffered an elbow strain Tuesday night, meaning Amaro is going to be at high risk of developing that rare condition known as BlackBerry Ear as he tries to swing a trade for an arm or two.

In the meantime, the Phillies still have ballgames to play, and lately they haven’t been playing them very well. They easily could have lost all six games since the All-Star break, but even their one win Saturday wasn’t much consolation. The task doesn’t get any easier tonight, with Joe Blanton going up against rookie Jamie Garcia. After getting into a handful of games last season, the 24-year-old Garcia has been an outstanding addition to an already loaded Cardinals staff; his 2.27 ERA ranks third in the NL. Blanton has been inconsistent after missing the first month of the season, though his last start, against the Cubs, was one of his sharpest.

Bottom line: Phillies need a win almost as much as they need another starting pitcher.

LINEUP: Polanco 3B, Victorino CF, Francisco LF, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Rollins SS, Ransom 2B, Ruiz C, Blanton P.

Your gamnight beer: I sessioned this Friday night and it wasn’t bad: Steamworks Brewery’s Steam Engine Lager. It calls itself “arguably the best American amber lager in the world.” Heavy words, but it is a good lager. It pours with a golden-to-amber look, like Yuengling, but tastes much sweeter, with hints of yeast and even some fruit: I noted banana, but it might be more citrus. For me it was a session – can’t pound lagers usually – but for those who prefer Yuenglings and the like, seek this out to try. Goes good with pizza.

Go Phillies!

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Braves Again Obey Doc’s Orders as Phils Win 3-1

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Mon, July 05, 2010 10:15 PM

For anyone who thought that Roy Halladay might be slumping, his performance Monday night against the Braves, in the first game of probably the biggest series of the season so far for the Phillies, showed that any imperfection was in the eye of the beholder.

OK, that might be a small dose of hyperbole, but here’s the point: Halladay is just fine, thank you. Doc threw his seventh complete game of the season, holding the potent Braves lineup to five hits and needing to fling his right arm forward a measly 93 times to do so. The only blemish on Halladay’s stat line was a cheap home run to left-center by Chipper Jones that likely was a product of the furnacelike conditions at Citizens Bank Park and almost certainly would not have sailed over the fence at any other stadium in the major leagues.

Also in the category of amazing from the game was the source of the Phillies’ first two runs: the bat of Greg Dobbs, who homered to left-center off Derek Lowe in the sixth inning after the Phils’ offense had managed only four singles in the first five innings. The homer was Dobbs’ second of the season and first since being called up after he was designated for assignment, seemingly eliminating his spot on the Phillies’ big league roster.

But back to the Man of the Night. In two starts against the Braves this season, Halladay has pitched a complete game and allowed five hits both times. Take away Jones’ cheapie, and he’d have two shutouts. The only major league TEAM with more CGs than Doc’s seven is the Mariners, who have eight (mostly thanks to a relative unknown; I think his name is Lee).

The Phillies couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the series (OK, more offense would have been nice). Now it’s up to Cole Hamels to keep it going, and no offense to Hamels, but the Phillies are probably not going to be able to scrape by with three runs in the heat of the night Tuesday.

Nick “The Beerman” discusses the heat with last night on KYW

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Gameday: Braves (48-34) at Phillies (42-38)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Mon, July 05, 2010 05:58 PM

Atlanta Braves (48-34) at Philadelphia Phillies (42-38)

Derek Lowe (5-3, 4.53) vs. Roy Halladay (9-7, 2.42)

Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 94

TV: Comcast SportsNet/ESPN

Twitter: @philliesnation

There haven’t been a lot of reasons to feel optimistic about the Phillies recently. From bullpen implosions to losing Chase Utley and Placido Polanco for the indefinite future to dropping three of four to the perennially meek Pirates (and I’m not talking about their lone All-Star representative), the Phillies have suffered the kind of body blows that normally put a contender on the mat.

But though they are staggering like Rocky Balboa in his first bout with Apollo Creed, the Phils still have their feet under them. And starting tonight, with a three-game series at the Bank against the resurgent Braves, they have a chance to quickly regain their balance and make up lost ground in the NL East. And not only that, but to kick off this all-important series, the Phillies have the man who is unquestionably their ace, Roy Halladay.

But as good as he is, Halladay is not immune to failure. And just like his teammates (and in large part because of them), Doc has fallen on hard times recently, losing four of his last five starts, most recently on a two-run, eighth-inning homer by Jay Bruce on Wednesday in a 4-3 loss after having been staked to a 3-0 lead. Following a dazzling 6-1 start to the season, Halladay has sunk to a confounding, and in many ways stunning, 9-7. But there are always other considerations, and in this case a major one is that in those four most recent losses, Halladay received a grand total of seven runs of support. Not exactly a lot to work with, even for a pitcher with a 2.42 ERA.

I don’t have any hard numbers, but since mid-May the Phillies have seemed to play more nervously when Halladay is on the mound. In that span, the offense has scored more than three runs just once (the 9-0 blowout against the Blue Jays in the “road” series at CBP) and the defense even has seemed to play with less efficiency (and with so many starters out, that likely will be the norm for a while).

So, yes, it is still early July and the All-Star Game has yet to be played, but plain and simple, these next three games are the most important of the season so far.

Phillies Lineup: Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Dobbs 3B, Valdez 2B, Sardinha C, Halladay P

Your gameday beer: Ayinger Brau-Weisse

Ayinger Brau-Weisse pours a very light, golden color, and has a standard citrus and floral taste. The beer is slightly bland and is very dry, almost like champagne. It’s not hard to drink by any means. Ayinger, however, rarely disappoints. And it comes in a cool bottle, so there’s that.

Go Phillies!

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Padres (32-21) at Phillies (28-24)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Fri, June 04, 2010 05:36 PM

San Diego Padres (32-21) at Philadelphia Phillies (28-24)

Mat Latos (5-3, 3.08 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (7-3, 1.99 ERA)

Time: 7:05 p.m at Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Partly cloudy, 86
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Twitter: @philliesnation
Lineup: Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Castro SS, Ruiz C, Halladay P

Boy, do the Phillies ever need Roy.

Games such as this one are exactly why the Phillies shuttled a couple of their top prospects to Toronto to pry “Doc” away from the Blue Jays.

You do that to get a pitcher for which there are many nicknames – “horse,” “ace,” “stopper” – in essence, a guy who is his best when the chips are down.

The Phillies need Halladay because they need a win, having fallen three games behind the white-hot Braves in the NL East, and Halladay far and away gives them their best chance at getting one.

It’s probable that Halladay won’t be as good as he was the last time out, when he breezed through the Florida Marlins’ lineup three times as easily as he knocks out a 7 a.m. workout. It’s quite likely that Johnny Vander Meer’s record of consecutive no-hitters will still be standing come Saturday. But the amazing thing about Halladay is that you believe that indeed he could do it again.

In reality, this game is no more about Halladay, though, than it is about the Phillies’ offense. For the past 11 games, the offense has been a shell of its former self because of a combination of slumps and injuries that has turned the clock back on the lineup – as in back to February and March, when you would actually expect to see two or three reserves playing every day. In the Charlie Manuel era, the Phillies’ fate has usually been tied to the offense, and this season is no different.

Your Gameday Beer – Great Divide Wild Raspberry Ale

The arrival of hot weather means raspberries are almost in season – an excuse to try one of these 5.6 percent brews. As expected it’s sweet, tart and fruity but not exactly an authentic framboise. It has a dark amber appearance, which gives the beer a base for the flavors of red and black raspberries. It has a lot of carbonation, so be prepared. Pair it with spicy Mexican food. – By Brian

GO PHILLIES!

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Phillies’ Lineup Still MIA as Skid Hits Four

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, May 26, 2010 11:22 PM

The NBA in late May: Where Amazing Happens.

The Phillies’ offense in late May: Where Nothing Happens.

After the Phillies’ 5-0 loss to the Mets at Citi Field tonight, what else is there left to say about the offense’s slump? (Other than that word “slump” doesn’t come close to quantifying whatever has sapped the offense the past four games.)

When a team gets shut out, that’s normal. Back-to-back nights, well, that happens, too. But three times (nearly four) in four games, and being held scoreless in 37 of 38 innings? That’s no accident. It’s a sign that something isn’t right. The pitchers the Phillies have faced the past four games are Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi. That’s not in the same class as the starting rotation of the 1971 Orioles. If the Phillies faced Tim Lincecum four straight times, they’d probably score more than three runs, which is what they’ve managed against those four … shall we say lesser-caliber pitchers.

The truth is that every offense goes through slumps, some worse than others (and some really, really bad). While the Phillies haven’t had a dry spell quite like this the past few seasons, the combination of a couple of slow starts (Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez) and having two starters either on the DL or severely banged up (Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz) has caused a perfect storm.

I’ll spare the highlights of tonight’s game because, frankly, there aren’t any. But for the Phillies, one moment stood out above the rest. With Victorino on second base in the sixth inning and one out, Chase Utley lined a solid single to right field. We’re used to seeing the fleet Victorino zip around third on plays like that, but he was held at third. With the offense needing a spark, Victorino had to score on that play, but the fact that he didn’t served only to illustrate how the offense has lost its way. Third base coach Sam Perlozzo thought he was playing it safe by holding Victorino, but it was the wrong decision – especially considering Ryan Howard’s propensity to strike out against left-handed pitchers (Howard entered Wednesday with a .308 career OBP against lefties and a nearly 40 percent strikeout rate).

If there’s any positive news from tonight, it’s that Charlie Manuel held a short team meeting after the game. When Manuel gets mad, good things often follow.

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Gameday: Phillies (26-18) at Mets (23-23)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, May 26, 2010 06:15 PM

Philadelphia Phillies (26-18) at New York Mets (23-23)

Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.06 ERA) at Hisanori Takahashi (3-1, 2.53 ERA)

Time: 7:10, Citi Field

Weather: Partly cloudy, 86

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Twitter: @philliesnation

The conventional wisdom said the Phillies would be comfortably in first place in late May. It also said the Flyers would be on the golf course.

But in sports, the conventional wisdom is all too often wrong. Don’t believe me? Grab a copy of “The Wages of Wins” by David Berri, Martin Schmidt and Stacey Brook. The authors are all sports fans who happen to be economists, and they make compelling cases as to why many of the beliefs regarded as canon in sports aren’t borne out by the numbers. Their research is thorough, and as a bonus, the book is an enjoyable read, too.

While the last three games have been anything but enjoyable for Phils fans, with the team having been shut out twice and held scoreless in 28 of 29 innings, an economist would say that it simply can’t hold up. The silent Phillies offense (which has batted a mind-numbing .203 and scored 15 runs in the past seven games) will crackle back to life – it’s just a matter of when and where.

What’s not helping with that are ever-present injuries. In addition to Jimmy Rollins being back on the DL, Carlos Ruiz acknowledged today that his right shoulder has been bothering him for, oh, about five weeks. He’s not in the lineup tonight but hopes to return tomorrow. The question remains of when – or if – his shoulder will be right.

Joe Blanton takes the ball for the Phillies tonight, and if anyone has the credentials to pitch a gem in Flushing, it’s Big Joe, who is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts against the Mets in his career.

Tonight’s Lineup: Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Francisco LF, Valdez SS, Schneider C, Blanton P

Your Gameday Beer – Golden Cap Saison Ale

Lately, runs for the Phillies have been slightly rarer than flying monkeys. So while you wait for the offense to come around, grab one (or more) of these – it has a huge winged monkey on the label. It’s a farmhouse ale with faint lemon and yeast flavors which go down smooth – a definite summer ale. I’m drinking one right now and recommend a savory crepe with it. – By Brian

GO PHILLIES!

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Gameday: Cubs (19-22) at Phillies (24-15)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Thu, May 20, 2010 12:10 PM

Chicago Cubs (19-22) at Philadelphia Phillies (24-15)

Tom Gorzelanny, RHP (2-4, 3.49 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (1-2, 5.49 ERA)

Time: 1:05, Citizens Bank Park

Weather: Sunny, 76

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Twitter: @philliesnation

In their matinee matchup with the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies have a couple of things going for them. One is that today’s starter for the Cubs, Ryan Dempster, pitches with the appendage on the right side of his torso, not the left. After being held to one run combined the past two nights by Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny, the last thing the Phillies want to see is another lefty.

Dempster is having a strange season. He’s pitched at least six innings in each of his eight starts and his ERA is a respectable 3.49, but he’s just 2-4 to show for it. In fact, he’s gone seven innings in each of his last four starts – and lost all of them. The problem is a lack of run support; the Cubs scored a total of 10 runs in those four games, dropping three of them by one run.

During his career, Dempster has been smacked around by the Phillies. He hasn’t beaten them as a starter since 2001, with a 1.62 WHIP, 4.99 ERA and .272 BAA. The only area where his numbers are OK is wins and losses (4-4).

After all the talk of the Phillies finally getting their lineup fully back with the return of Jimmy Rollins on Monday, it hasn’t resulted in much success – mainly because the lineup still wasn’t really together until Wednesday (Chase Utley sat out Monday and Tuesday with flulike symptoms). And today Werth and Ruiz will get a rest. So the wait for the varsity Phillies lineup to put it all together will have to wait for the Red Sox series this weekend.

Today’s Lineup: Victorino (CF), Polanco (3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Rollins (SS), Ibanez (LF), Gload (RF), Hoover (C), Blanton (P)

Your Gameday Beer – Hop Explosion

The Phils are in dire need of an offensive explosion, so let’s drink to that. Brewed in Bethlehem, Hop Explosion is not too widely available outside of the Lehigh Valley but as the name hints, it’s an IPA. There are some citrus flavors but they’re completely overpowered by the intensely bitter hops. This beer is certainly an acquired taste, but so is curried goat, so have the two together and pray for better meals and games ahead. – By Brian

GO PHILLIES!

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Phillies’ Offense Left Behind for Second Straight Night

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, May 19, 2010 10:07 PM

As I watched the Phillies’ offense do next to nothing for the second straight night in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park, all I could think of was Domonic Brown.

No, not because I think they should call him up in order to light a spark under a flagging lineup (c’mon, people, that’s a terrible idea). No, I thought of Brown because of what the two starting pitchers who have iced the Phillies the past two nights have in common: they’re both left-handers (OK, mediocre left-handers, to be specific).

If the Phillies can’t afford to give Jayson Werth the massive payday that surely is coming his way, his logical replacement in right field would be Brown, who was hitting .327 with seven homers and 23 RBIs heading into Wednesday night. Problem is, Brown bats left-handed. So if you assume that Raul Ibanez will be back next season – he is due $11.5 million in the final year of the three-year, $30 million deal he signed in December 2008 – (and while he’s off to a slow start, that’s a pretty safe assumption at this point) the Phillies’ lineup goes from lefty-heavy to lefty-morbidly obese.

As it is, the lineup’s orientation sets it up to be tamed by southpaws such as Tom Gorzelanny and Zach Duke – pitchers who don’t have dominant stuff but who can move the ball around and change speeds. And that’s what happened the past two nights. In 12 2/3 innings against Duke and Gorzelanny, the Phillies mustered one run on nine hits – amazingly, all singles.

In addition to their weakness against lefties, the Phillies’ bats often go quiet right after a game in which they score double-digit runs. Call it a statistical correction, the law of averages or whatever you want, but it’s been an undeniable pattern for the past few seasons – and evident once again, following the Phils’ 12-run outburst against the Pirates on Monday.

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Gameday: Phillies (19-12) at Rockies (15-16)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Mon, May 10, 2010 06:29 PM

Philadelphia Phillies (19-12) at Colorado Rockies (15-16)

Kyle Kendrick, RHP (1-1, 5.87 ERA) vs. Greg Smith, LHP (1-2, 6.35 ERA)

Time: 8:40 p.m at Coors Field

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 53

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Twitter: @philliesnation

What a difference a homestand makes. After April closed with plenty of questions about the Phillies’ starting rotation and bullpen, May has provided some welcome answers. Since losing the first game of a 10-game stay at Citizens Bank Park on April 30, the Phillies have won seven of their past nine games, a charge led by steady arms in the bullpen and consistent performances from the entire rotation.

Perhaps the best result from the homestand was that every pitcher had at least some success – including today’s starter, Kyle Kendrick, who shut out the potent Cardinals for seven innings on Wednesday after a shaky five innings in a loss to the Mets that started the 10-game stretch. With J.A. Happ still a ways off from returning, Joe Blanton needing a few starts to get up to speed after coming off the disabled list and Cole Hamels a toss-up from one start to the next, Kendrick’s importance to the rotation cannot be underestimated.

As for the lineup, what happened to Ryan Howard’s power? After homering in the first two games of the season, the Big Piece or Big N’ Tasty or whatever they’re calling him these days has only three blasts in the 29 games since. No matter how you look at it, Howard’s power is lagging, as is his run production overall, with only three RBIs this month. If there’s one thing that could help it’s a trip into the thin air of Coors Field – though Howard (and the lineup as a whole) historically hits better in hotter weather, and the game-time temperature for today’s and tomorrow’s games will be in the 50s, with Wednesday’s in the 40s and snow in the forecast. Certainly not what Charlie Manuel calls “hittin’ weather.”

Tonight’s Lineup: Victorino (CF), Polanco (3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Ruiz (C), Valdez (SS), Kendrick (P)

Your Gameday Beer – Coors Original

In the spirit of this chilly, mile-high series, sip on a can of original Coors as you witness the Phillies hit the road. The “Banquet Beer,” as it’s known, is 5 percent ABV and is the oldest of the Coors beers. Buy a six-pack, eat some steak and potatoes with it, and be sure to dispose of the cans by stepping on them, just as the Phils will do to the Rockies tonight. – By Pat

GO PHILLIES!

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Gameday: Cardinals (18-10) at Phillies (16-11)

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Thu, May 06, 2010 10:12 AM

St. Louis Cardinals (18-10) at Philadelphia Phillies (16-11)

Kyle Lohse (0-1, 5.28 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (5-1, 1.47 ERA)

Time: 1:05 p.m at Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80
Twitter: @philliesnation

UPDATE: 12:00pm, Sad news today that former Phillies great Robin Roberts passed away today at the age of 83.  Our thoughts and condolences go out to his and the entire Phillies family.

In his first six starts wearing red and white, Roy Halladay has been everything Phillies fans could have hoped for, with three complete games, two shutouts and a 1.47 ERA. But as spine-tingling as those performances were, they were just a prelude of things to come.

Not to diminish what Halladay has done this season, but he hasn’t faced the kind of lineup that inspires fear – until today. The three most talented teams he has faced so far have been the Mets, Giants and Braves – teams that have their share of hitters but that aren’t loaded the way the Cardinals are from one to eight (or one to seven and nine, in Tony La Russa’s wacky mind).

Today, Halladay receives his most intriguing test of the season so far. It’s too early to call it an October preview or anything along those lines, but the result will give fans to consider as the early season unfurls itself.

After Juan Castro tweaked his hamstring Wednesday night, Wilson Valdez starts at shortstop today. Injuries have hit the Phils hard this season, whether through bad luck (Jimmy Rollins) or stupidity (Ryan Madson). While it still is in first place, if this team is really going to take off, it is going to have to get its best talent on the field at the same time. The bad news is that is certainly not going to happen for a while, at the very least.

Your gameday beer:
It’s the King of Beers, Budweiser.
Beechwood-aged, it’s your all-American lager, a little bitter and a lot of simple. We’ll drink a few on this beautiful afternoon in honor of our guest from St. Louis.
Enjoy the beer with a hamburger.

Go Phillies!

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Phillies Put It All Together in 4-0 Win Over Cardinals

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, May 05, 2010 10:26 PM

On Wednesday against the Cardinals, the Phillies received something they haven’t gotten much of this season. No, not a night without a fan getting Tasered (though it was nice that the fans ended their two-game streak of cavorting on the Citizens Bank Park turf).

The rarity responsible for the Phillies’ 4-0 win over the Cardinals was a stellar performance from both the starting pitcher and the bullpen on the same night, in the same stadium. Kyle Kendrick knows exactly how uncommon these two elements have come together this season for the Phils. In his only quality start of the season entering Wednesday, Kendrick baffled the Braves for eight innings April 20, only to see Ryan Madson blow a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning.

Entering the game, the matchup of starting pitchers seemed tilted in St. Louis’ favor. Kendrick, with an ERA north of seven, was coming off a pair of choppy outings. His counterpart, Brad Penny, had put together five straight quality starts to begin the season and had looked a lot like the Penny who went 16-4 with the Dodgers in 2007.

The first three innings were a wash, with the bend-but-don’t-break Kendrick mixing his sinkerball in well and keeping the ball down. Penny, working with primarily just two pitches – a four-seamer and a split-fingered fastball – buzzed through the Phillies’ lineup without allowing a runner to reach base.

Now, it’s important to point out here that the Phillies have eight steals all season, the lowest total in the National League and second-lowest in the majors (only the Orioles have fewer); it’s a perplexingly low figure given their success on the basepaths the past few years and the relative speed of their lineup.

So, back to the game. When Shane Victorino led off the fourth inning with a single to center, he immediately made plans for taking up residency at second base. On the first pitch to Placido Polanco, Victorino took off. He might have had the base stolen, but we’ll never know, because Polanco golfed the low fastball just over the fence in right-center. It’s been that kind of year for the Phils’ offense.

Here’s how untouchable Penny – and the rest of the Cardinals’ starting rotation – have been this season: Polanco’s blast was the first home run allowed this year by Penny and the first given up by a Cardinals starting pitcher in the past 21 games – a truly brain-melting streak in any era. So, for good measure, Victorino ripped his own home run to right on a low inside fastball in the sixth inning for a 3-0 lead.

On a night in which the Phillies’ performance was as spotless as the early-May weather, there was one blemish. Shortstop Juan Castro, who has been dealing with hamstring issues constantly this season, came up lame after busting it down the first-base line for an infield single in the seventh. Castro was immediately removed from the game, and his injury was diagnosed as a left hamstring strain. Wilson Valdez will play short as long as Castro is sidelined (which, best-case scenario, will be a few games).

Danys Baez and Jose Contreras picked up right where Kendrick left off, holding the Cardinals hitless in the eighth and ninth. Baez’s outing was especially encouraging, not only because the hard-throwing righty entered the night with an 8.10 ERA, but also because he has generally been inconsistent from one pitch to the next. But on this night, Baez looked the best he has all season – a promising sign for a beleaguered bullpen.

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Phillies Escape the Bay with a Win on Wacky Afternoon

Posted by Jonathan Fogg, Wed, April 28, 2010 08:04 PM

The Phillies’ 7-6, 11-inning win over the Giants today is a perfect example of why you can’t ever write off the Phillies – and why you can’t draw any solid conclusions from early-season results.

What do you learn from a game like this? Very little that you didn’t know already. The Phillies’ bullpen is still riddled with questions, and Ryan Madson still can’t consistently close out games. The offense has yet to shake its recent hiccups (though maybe the adrenaline-igniting ninth-inning rally against Giants ace Tim Lincecum and closer Brian Wilson will be the catalyst).

In the end, it’s just too early in the season to etch anything in stone based on a few April series. If there is one thing clear, it’s that the Phillies need to see if Brad Lidge can reassume the closer role, because Madson has proved time and again that he can’t handle it.

Though it ended up as a struggle of endurance, the game began as a matchup of Lincecum and Cole Hamels. Using primarily two pitches – a four-seam fastball and a split-fingered fastball – Lincecum buzzed through the Phillies’ lineup without much difficulty, just as teammates Jonathan Sanchez and Todd Wellemeyer had done the previous two days.

Even though Lincecum allowed a fifth-inning opposite-field home run to Ryan Howard, for 8 1/3 innings he avoided putting multiple runners on base – something his counterpart, Cole Hamels, couldn’t do. Hamels, who to his credit had 10 strikeouts and at times showed faint signs of being a dominant pitcher, loaded the bases in the sixth inning with score tied at 1. Then he did something dominant pitchers don’t do: He walked in the go-ahead run. After Phils manager Charlie Manuel left a clearly struggling Hamels out on the mound, Edgar Renteria followed with a two-run single.

The Phillies were quiet until the ninth, when Giants manager Bruce Bochy removed Lincecum after a one-out walk to Shane Victorino. After Chase Utley singled and Ryan Howard walked, Jayson Werth fouled off several pitches before dropping a bloop millimeters inside the right-field line, clearing the bases and tying the score. A fan dressed in Phillies garb nearly committed a monstrous mental error by reaching out to grab the ball (which would have turned the hit into a two-run ground-rule double), but luckily for the Phillies – and for him – the ball eluded his grasp.

In the 10^th, the Phils took the lead when backup catcher Brian Schneider motored home on a wild pitch, but Madson allowed a leadoff double and promptly blew the save, No. 2 of the season.

But the Phils, as they have done so many times under Manuel, punched right back. Wilson Valdez ripped a ball into the left-field corner that barely cleared the glove of Eugenio Velez, scoring Raul Ibanez. Velez had an easier play seconds later on a fly ball by Victorino, but the ball hit the heel of Velez’s glove and bounded away as Valdez raced home for a 7-5 lead.

On a wild afternoon, the Phils wouldn’t walk away with a win that easily. The clouds opened, and showers started to fall at AT&T Park. Then Nelson Figueroa took the mound, and hits – and more weird bounces – began to drop as well. Only Schneider’s whirling catch-and-tag after an errant throw by Howard saved Figueroa from the Phillies’ second blown save of the afternoon – and helped Figueroa secure his first career save.

If one certainty emerged from the wild afternoon by the bay, it was this: Heading home for a challenging 10-game stretch against the Mets, Cardinals and Braves, the Phillies needed a win – any kind of win – and they got it.

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