I hadn’t given much thought to the Cy Young this year as for much of it it seemed like Halladay would run away with it. But Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels have come on like freight trains and suddenly we have ourselves a race. Let’s take a quick look.
Here is how the contenders stack up…
And let’s the see the ranks (vs. each other) in each category, and how they stack up based on average rank…
So despite his struggles last night, and the emergence of Kershaw and Hamels, Halladay still holds the lead, albeit a narrow one, in the race. The only category that Kershaw bests him in is K and K/9, while Hamels only has him in WHIP. Lee jumps in 4th, giving the Phillies 3 of the top 4.
Kershaw’s rise to elite status can be explained by his new found control. His BB/9 rate has dropped dramatically over the last couple years, going from 4.8 to 3.6 to 2.3 this year. This is enabling him to keep his pitch count down and go later into games. His IP per start has gone up as his BB/9 go down, climbing from 5.6 to 6.4 to 7.0.
-lack of segue-
Some notes on the Giants series
2011: 71-39
2010: 61-49
2009: 62-48
2008: 60-50
2007: 57-53
We are demolishing our previous years’ pace
It would certainly be nice to win this series, no?
Since our spot in the playoffs in more or less guaranteed at this point (going .500 the rest of the way would still leave us at 97 wins) – it’s crazy to call anything a “must-win” series, but right now the Giants have our number, and it would be nice to get that idea out of our heads (our heads being the fans, not the players).
Furthermore, if you haven’t noticed, they are only ONE game up on the Diamondbacks in the NL West, and beating them might help keep them out of the playoffs altogether.
The Phillies offense is motoring along right now. As Matt Gelb pointed out on Twitter today, they actually average the most runs per game of any team that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. Ryan Howard is starting to heat up. Victorino has continued his career year. Hunter Pence looks great in red pinstripes and even Raul is on one of his tears.
Here are the pitching match-ups for the 4-game set:
Thursday (10:15): Lee vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner
Friday (10:15): Worley vs. LHP Jonathan Sanchez
Saturday (4:10): Hamels vs. RHP Matt Cain
Sunday (4:10): Oswalt vs. RHP Tim Lincecum
Once again the Giants avoid Halladay – but frankly, I don’t mind if the first time they see him all year is in October.
Questions for the series…
- How will Roy Oswalt look? More specifically – what will his fastball velo be?
- Is Ryan Howard on the verge of one of his late season tears?
- Who will have a bigger impact? Hunter Pence or Carlos Beltran?
Beating a prior pace is relative to what it was. For example, 50 years ago today, before 8k and change at the old Busch Stadium, on a Friday night, the Phillies got 4 hits from leadoff batter Johnny Callison, but lost their 6th of 23 in a row. That dropped the season’s mark to 30-70. That’d be 36 games behind this year’s record to date.
On the other hand, and a Yankee fan could probably have a ton of fun with this, while there’s much work to be done, to this point, despite the Fangraphs power poll for the week listing the Red Sox and Yanks as the 1/2 rated, the Phils have already at least built a lot of accolades that could be looked upon remarkably with the right ending. It prompted some remembering of recent years, and the realization of how close this core group has come to 5 straight World Series appearances. History is going to treat this bunch well. How well is the remaining question.
You have to wonder how much advantage Doc Halladay has as the defending champion in the CY vote. Sort of like to beat the champion, you can’t just tie. The WHIP is a good stat to look at because it’s encompassing, as opposed to H/9, K/9, BB/9 as examples, but it’s impressive that K’shaw’s BAA is .212. Doc, by nature of rarely walking anyone pulls about even on the WHIP, but that .212 is impressive.
If I voted for the CY, I’d look at game logs. Cole’s last start was something that if it showed up in pattern, I’d hold it against him. He turned in what was a good outing, like 2 runs in 7 innings, and no doubt the other usual good peripherals. But he gave up the 2 runs early. Put his team in a hole. I’d look at every start, and give points to a guy giving runs up after his team got the lead. Like if all 3 started 33, and Doc had leads to work with in 30, and Cole 27, depending on when the runs were given up (7th inning first runs of the game would be overdoing it), I’d give an edge in this creative category to Doc. I have no idea where that stands, but Hamels bottom line was less impressive to me by falling behind early his last game, and a pattern of that would be a negative. I think that’s more credible than his buckling down and keeping his team in the game.
I like the Giants. Always have. Have thought all along thry have done a good job of creating a favorable atmposphere to repeat. There’s only so much you can do to turn over a roster, and as this had a good amount of right place, right time world championship result, that was an important strategy to operate under. If they do repeat, it’s really quite a story, and down the road, memories will forget many of their weak points. I’d guess (semi-wildly) the Milwaukee Braves probably had a lot of weaknesses in 57 and 58, yet all that is remembered is consecutive WS trips when it wasn’t NL favorable unless you were from Brooklyn. And the Braves were close in 1959, too. But the fact is the Giants are a right place, right time team. Had their plans to acquire Michael Bourn worked out, and they had Beltran as well, they’d have been in even better shape to get as close to repeating as they might get. Fact is, they are closer to an above average team in a watered down league than this godforsaken image that their win last year earned them as scary. I wouldn’t rule out them winning 3 of 4, but frankly, I think they do well to split. The Phillies, as a team, are simply better.
Also on the anniversary beat, today is the 5th anniversary of the end of Chase Utley’s 35 game hitting streak. I’m rooting for Dan Uggla, currently at 25 to blitz through Chase, roll past Wee Willie at 44, speed by Pete at 45, and cruise past Where Have You Gone before an 0-4 kills him at 58. The buy high mentality showed it’s head today when David O’Brien replied to a query that he though Dan would finish the year at .240. I am of confidence that when it’s said and done, Dan, no doubt a good guy, will not carry this through, but rather revert to his early season troubles, albeit likely less so. A streak hitter is a streak hitter, and if by some quirk of fate, he does keep his streak going, to me, just on percentages, he’s more likely to slump when it counts more. Freddie Freeman may fall prey to the sophomore jinx that’s killing his teammate Heyward, but I think he’s twice the hitter Dan Uggla is.
Agreed – 2-2 seems about right. 97 was the vegas over/under number for the Phils. Only need to go 500 to match it. Looks like over is looking pretty sweet.
As a player, it has got to really suck to start a game like that. a blown call on a stolen base and then the line drive double play. Really couldn’t have done anything different, just got the shaft.
I didn’t like the call, but it was really so close that I couldn’t label it a blown call. The camera angle was from home plate to the front of the bag, and the ump was behind the bag so I didn’t see what he saw. Rollins looked like he had it, but that was a great tag by Sandoval.
Looked pretty clear to me that rollins had his hand on the bag before the tag even started to come down. Moot point now, except for in making a case for replay.
That was vintage Lee right there and the Hunter certainly brought his shotgun to SF!!
Lee just jumped up your Cy Rankings with that gem Pete.
Mayberry is turning out to be quite the bench player. He’s still only a pull hitter (albeit a very good one) but with time who knows he may even be able to start.
Tonight fielded probably our best defense with Mayberry replacing Raul and Valdez spelling Utley. Not surprisingly there were fine defensive plays everywhere, hehe even Howard was putting up highlights.
If we’re in AT&T park or Turner Field in the playoffs, I would definitely lean towards starting Mayberry in RF especially if it’s a lefty.
correction = LF
The Giants radio announcers made an emphatic point about how good the Phillies defense played tonight.
One thing that they added was that the Phillies pitchers are part of the reason for the excellent defense because of their exceptional control which allows the fielders to “cheat” a bit by positioning themselves close to the area where the ball will be hit. They added that the Braves also do the same thing very well.
We leave you for the night with a trip down Quotation Alley.
“I kicked Cliff Lee’s ass now, and I’ll kick it again next year.”
Cris Russo – October 2010
“I for one wouldn’t miss Cliff Lee if he left town.”
Phillyfan – May, 2011
And we are a day closer to the ultimate quote that shall overshadow all in Bartlett’s when it is verbalized.
“We are not the Philadelphia Phillies.”
Brian Cashman – Time to be determined
In the effective words of Art Angelo, we’re late, good night.
I think Pence’s awkward swings will work well at AT&T Park with the wind and cold weather and could work to his benefit of getting those rare HRs in that park.
I think the Giants will win the WS last year.
GOALS…
I. TEAM
Prior to yesterday’s game, I came up with another short term goal for the club. 38 over .500, meaning .500 the rest of the way would equate to 100 wins. Due date, conclusion of the Dback series. That’s pretty lofty, considering it would require a 10-3 mark (1-0 so far) and actually be 39 over, or 9-4 would total 37 over. That’s not impossible, but it’s a heckuva run to follow a 6 game win streak that was in place after the Rockie sweep.
Yet, when you consider the ridiculous potential of this road trip, it’s not real far fetched. The games aren’t played on paper, but on that sheet, there’s a huge chance of a 2 of 3 minimum take in LA, particularly from 1 angle. Doc, off a less than stellar start, and Cliff, possibly reacquainting with Roll City, pitch the first 2 in LA.
There’s a better chance of a strong Septemeber on the Down Jones Industrial Average than there is of Doc not throwing a Doc game in that pitcher friendly park. He’s pitched there 3 times, and has Docesque digits. Cliff pitched there once, and similarly pitched well. A homestand against the Nats and Dbacks certainly doesn’t do anything to promote pessimism, so chances do exsist. Especially with the way H@ always agrees with Charlie led Phillie clubs. Kershaw misses the Phils, but has a headliner of his own going against Ian Kennedy on Sunday, which lines Ian up to not miss the Phils at the end of the next homestand. Ian will get CY consideration, which is no small task in this top of the list skill set the pitching leaders are displaying.
2. INDIVIDUAL
My focus on individual stuff right now is on 1 guy above all. Roy Oswalt. The idea isn’t so much a good start Sunday, but progress. And trying to determine a realistic positioning after 4 starts, which would figure to be about as mid season form as he can be heading into the final month as he prepares for a good finish, and a place in the playoff rotation.
One “minor” concern I have, and this is real fanspeak, they went from 70 on a goal of 60 pitches to 90 plus on a goal of 90 in his 2 minor league rehabs. Let’s just say I’d like to see a conditioning base built, wondering if the 70-90 sprint was right. Not so much for the back, but for the arm. It was particularly alarming when Roy said he could have kept going after the 90 plus on Monday. Better to quit while you’re ahead, let the body recover longer term, but this is hopefully well strategized by knowledgable people. The extra day’s rest off Monday night can’t hurt.
Roy’s starts line up like this…
Sunday at SF
Friday, Nats at home
Wednesday Dbacks at home
Monday, Mets at home
Saturday, Marlins at home
Pre Mississippi, each outing for Roy, 4 games, were sub 1 H/9. Each game was 6 innings, K/9 a tad under 1. Walks were good, 1 plus per the 6 frames, velocity right in range with the last few years, up to 93-94. Steady, not spectacular. Even better if 6 inning starts excite you. From the Arizona start forward, don’t even think about it. But don’t fall for that 33 is old trap. A bad back is a killer, and that’s the issue. Suffice to say that his first 4 starts were a little below Roy’s prime times, but still a good standard from which to judge him the rest of the month when we’ll at least have a more detailed idea of what September might bring. With 4 out of 5 starts at home, the table is nicely set for him to show he can get back to 93-94 peak, show the stamina to go 7-8, get his WHIP down around 1.1, and around an average of 7K/9. If we see that, he’ll have a nice base for a good, fresh finish. When the Phils signed Petey Martin 2 years ago, he was on a similar chronology to what Roy is related to getting in shape to pitch. Pedro peaked at the end of August with a Sunday night performance against the Mets that will last in our minds forever. The aforementioned goals would pretty much enable Roy to throw a game not too terribly far below the standard Pedro touched that Sunday night. Below, but not too far. Pedro left his heart on the field that night, unable to duplicate it the rest of the way. The real objective is to get as close to he can by month’s end, and have something left. I don’t bet against highly skilled, tough country dudes. Go get em, Roy.
Can we please sweep these dudes out of the playoffs? That would be so amazing after last season.
Interesting Worley tidbit. Working partially on memory here, but before his last start, his ERA was right around 2, and his SIERA was just a tick or two over 4. Well, ERA now up to 2.33, but SIERA down to 3.85. Not really making any huge point here – I still think he has too few innings pitched to make too much out of any numbers. Just interesting that the latest and greatest predictive number came down while the ERA went up in the now.
Just got home to a 9-2 blowout in the 7th. Did just catch Worley work the side in order. RAJ’s greatest achievement this season? Keeping Vance off the table no matter what.
Did I just hear T-Mac mention a benches-clearing brawl? This is what I get for going out on a Friday night.
So I’ve caught the highlight a few times and I have a pretty strong opinion on this brawl situation. It’s complete bullshit. It’s cheap. It’s bush league. Victorino is one of the cleanest guys in the league and you’re going to drill him in the back because YOUR starting pitcher got hit around in his first start since late June. A pitcher whose got a bad habit of not getting out of fourth innings? And what the hell is Whiteside doing? The way he jumped up, the way he just tackled Polanco (who didn’t do anything but walk towards the mound just like the other 50 guys on the field) just puts a stamp of intent on the whole thing.
You want to throw at a guy because you feel like your guys are getting buzzed? Fine. You do it because Sanchez didn’t bring his A-game, that just makes you a feckless thug.
This is going to hang around with the Phillies, at least it should. It should piss them off. The Brewers/Cards deal is one thing, that involved the game’s best player getting brushed back and brushed back and then drilled in the hand. This involves a team that can’t take a bad loss throwing at guy because they can’t put a bat on a ball.
Yeah, I’m aware Giants fans are probably saying the same thing about our guys. Only difference is I’m right and they’re not.
Going after Polanco’s midsection that hard was pretty unnecessary, with the bad back and all.
What the hell was Whitesides pogo stick act? It’s as if he was itchin for a fight.
Does anyone else think Victorino was just trying to help his buddy, Dana White, promote tonight’s UFC 133 in Philadelphia?
[putting the Golden Sombreo back in the humiliating hat closet]
When was the last time Howard hit a ball on the ground to the right side of the infield and reached base safely?
Sunday goals for Oswalt…
General terms, 85 pitches, 6 innings, 63 strikes, 22 balls, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 hits
85 pitches would equate to 6 innings. The bullpen is fresh, and back on vacation, or close to it Monday and Tuesday. So that’s 15 pitch innings times 6. This is his 3rd start. Ballas and strikes are balls and strikes in the minors or majors, so the initial kinks during rehab are gone, and a reasonable strike ratio should be within reach. A hit per inning or less would stack up to his norm, not the injury riddled post Mississippi time. And the Giants current roster is middle of the pack offense at best. With Roy’s experience, there’s no such thing as a mediocore beginning, and the fallacy of it being his first start in a while.
Specifically, as always, pitch to win. Large, very large in winning the first 3 has been getting leads. The Giants are a challenging club to come back on. Hamels CY statement today got a lot easier with a lead. Worley had a lead last night. A check of the game logs would probably suggest Cliff is a lot better with a lead than when pitching from behind, but that’s a guess. Giving up an early run, and not regrouping would be disappointing.
Phils Alumi Weekend is coming soon to a Bank near you. Guess near depends where you hang out. Ah, details. Giants ran theirs today. Phils theme is players. Giants was style. Style as in bleeders. Oh, brother, as His Whiteness used to quip.
Before I dig further into Roy O apologist mode, and we’ll see what he says about his outing, clearly, there’s work to be done. No surprise. Command of the fastball seemed better than yuck, less than present. 93 on the gun was good. Grounders early was good. Lotta liners, and solid contact. 12 swings and misses, guess that’s encouraging. Jeff Keppinger was like Rogers Hornsby. One awesome K against Beltran on 3 pitches, but so little evidence of ability to get Ks. But the freaking bleeders. 93 pitches, 60 strikes. Not particularly good.
So we have an idea where we stand with 4 home starts coming up. C minus seems in order, maybe C.
Personally, not too concerned about post game back condition. Guessing it’s a non factor.
Average velocity up .8 mph from May/June, whiff pct was about 2.5 times higher than same time frame.
I wish we’d swept the Giants, I dislike them a lot. I hope the D-Backs take the NL West so that the Giants know what it feels like to lose to the underdog, but I don’t think Lincecum lets it happen. I feel a lot better though because of the wins by Hamels and Lee. If we can’t hit them then at least we can outpitch them.
I loved Lee’s performance last Thursday. I felt like we needed him to go out there and show that the Phillies have got what it takes to take down San Fran, and he came through for Philadelphia once again. I haven’t been the biggest fan of Lee but I am now. I say he starts the Game 1′s in the playoffs. Hamels was great, too; I thought maybe the Giants and Cain were in his head and I hope that showed that they’re not.
Something else that I’m enjoying is some murmuring about how the Giants should’ve traded for Hunter Pence instead of Beltran…
Turned out to be a pretty meaningless series. Throw out the first two games as the Phils won’t see those San Fran pitchers in the post-season.
So what we learned is A) we still can’t hit Cain or Lincecum even with a new face and a supposedly reinvigorated lineup and B) both of these offenses are anemic against quality pitching.
So we really didn’t learn anything, other that the Phils still don’t match up well with the Giants and it is a 50/50 proposition. Phils will have to beat Cain and Lincecum at least 2 of four of their starts to advance. Root very hard for Arizona and the Braves the last 7 weeks of the season. That is the best scenario.
Throw out the first two games as the Phils won’t see those San Fran pitchers in the post-season.>>
Sanchez and Baumgarner were the pitchers the pitchers the first 2 games. If they aren’t in the playoff rotation, it’s only because the Giants don’t make it.
It was also nice to see the Phils play good defense against the Giants. We gave them too many extra outs in the playoffs last year, which i still believe was a significant factor in the outcome.
course I forgot Vogelsong in that summation. One would assume Sanchez gets a game, but while Vogelsong makes a lot of sense, Baumgarner, being a lefty might get a nod.
Why would you assume Sanchez gets a game. I don’t think there is achance in heck he gets a start. He has done nothing this year.
It is Lincecum, Cain, and Vogelsong. The only way we see a fourth is of the Giants are up 2-1 or 3-0 after game 3. If they are down 2-1 then they will go back to Lincecum on short rest.
Phillie fans are largely bored with what’s in front of their noses as the dog days of August pick up in volume. Sadly, James Loney’s statement in the LA Times that the Dodgers are still in the race has not offered an attention grabber. Mr. Loney’s first half putting the Dodgers out of contention is quite the preface to that comment, but why let rock solid trends dissuade the delusional.
The other part of the lack of energy is the failure to plan ahead. Not guilty on this peep’s part. Case in point. I waited patiently for about 2,3,4, maybe 5 games, but over the weekend, with admitted embarrassment, looked to see who The Big U would face in quest of his in progress hitting streak in game 57. That’s Dan Uggla, if you be scoring at home. Big U is short for U Turn, as in aren’t we all excited to see a batting average rise from the ashes of .173 to around .220? We are if our name is Adam Dunn, but it’s a short list.
Turns out the Big U is on track to come smack up against the 57 barrier against your Philadelphia Philles. In September. At the Bank. Huuuuge game. Could spell the difference between an 11.5 and 12.5 game divisional lead.
But the possibilities are endless. Uggla, going for 57 straight against take your pick of aces. And if it’s Roy Halladay, a guy that Uggla beat earlier in the year with a home run during the bitterest part of his slump, against the game’s premiere pitcher, stock up on tape for the highlight reels. What a ridiculously intense theme that would make for. One of the worst first halves in game’s history going for the record against any greatness on the staff of the best team in baseball. And if the Phils wanted to escalate the value of Alumni Weekend, they could push it back until that September Wednesday, and activate Gene Garber to pitch. Gino Atonement might actually pitch to a hitter this time, and atone for his sin of 1978 when Pete Rose swung wildly at Garber offerings to at least try to push forward on his last at bat.
haha well put. the big U-turn is really catchy. Every season some dude makes a run at the streak and grabs headlines for a while till he flames out before 42. If he lasts til then, it will surely end with our streak-killing aces. That, and any designs ATL might have on a division title.
Why am I so confident now. It might be because I just watched what was almost 2 CG shutouts from our 2,3 starters. A near sweep of the Giants, and the resulting feeling of under-achievement. This might just be the Golden Age of the Phillies.
A “Golden Age” assignation implies a length of duration and stiff competition. While Phils are loaded with talent, NL is loaded with patsies. Wait’ll their spending brethren – ATL, SF, BOS, NY or TX - arrive in playoff form. If Phils end on top then, I’ll salute ‘em as an exceptional collection, not before. 1 Ring doesn’t fit the billing.
Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. ~ Horace Greeley
What exactly is the character of the 2011 Phillies? It hasn’t been fully tested yet.
Shane suspended 3 games, will appeal…http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AhSDAGabe8ULKBOXqrFhnU05nYcB?slug=ap-phillies-victorinosuspended
No Giants suspended…In the words of the RZA… “Fuckin’ Ree-dic-A-lous!”
Who faced and sidled towards the mound (not that I blame him after gettin hit’ square in the small of his back with a fastball), waiting shrewdly for reinforcements to prevent a mano-a-mano with Ramirez? If he drops his bat and goes to first (easier said than done) nothing else occurs. Victorino was indeed the precipitator of hostile extra-baseball action. Therefore he deserved the strongest measure of punishment. Ramirez, Whiteside & Polanco were suitably fined for their willing contributions to an infield block party melee.
Who jumped out of his crouch and start prancing a la Ron Artest and tackled Polanco squarely?
Who let a fastball fly out of his right hand to connect squarely in the mid-section of a 5’7″ player with particularly agile feet, on the left side of the plate?
IMO Whiteside should get 5 games. Ramirez maybe 1-2.
Whiteside’s ready to rumble, so what. He didn’t hurt Polanco. Ramirez pitch, a part of baseball – admittedly a tough part for “the deadener.” How ’bout Rollins stealin’ on a 6-run lead? Do you think his rubbin’ it in may have factored? How many games should he get?
So you think the Phils should be punished for playing the game? I’m not buying it. I don’t disagree with Vic getting suspended as he played his part, however Ramirez and Whiteside should be there with him
Stacy, Many agree with your version of ruling justice, particularly in Philadelphia.
Stealing with a 6-run cushion isn’t playing the game, it’s called piling on. Of course one could say, “there’s no such thing as a safe lead!” Depends on one’s pt. of view.
Bad blood building in PHL-SF encounters. Some of our Richie Riches get worked up to loose ends when properly challenged. Thankfully we have Hunter Pence, Roy Oswalt and Carlos Ruiz to root for (my favorites).
Look, the part about stealing with a six-run lead is tough to defend.BUT (clearly I’m going to try anyway) the Phillies have shown an ability to gift wrap games and present them a la secret santa to the Giants in the late innings. Regardless of that, and of any suspensions or fines, Ramirez threw at a guy because he was having a bad day. His starter got beat, then he came in and got beat similarly. Does Halladay do that? Mariano Rivera? Tim Lincecum? Does Jonathan Sanchez even do that? No, there’s a way to handle yourself with class in this league and then there what Ramirez did. I’d feel exactly the same way if, for example, Madson or Bastardo did it. I can understand coming in on a guy who showboats on a homerun or something but this makes Ramirez look like a punk.
Punk? Understand where you’re comin’ from. Depends on your code. If another team was diggin’ in, crowdin’ the plate, gettin’ too comfy, pourin’ it on, high-hattin’, gloatin’, creamin’ your pitches - hitting your breathing, uniformed bulls-eye used to be kosher. Today’s padded batting box cowboys assume that they are immune to such prairie justice. I haven’t seen enough of Ramirez to draw any conclusion about him or his nature.
I’ve haven’t seen enough either, I’m not making a categorical determination of his character, I’m saying that it’s a punk move. It made him look like a punk.
Gotcha. Respectfully disagree. A timely “rib-tickler” is a tool of the pitching trade. Ramirez used it, conveying a message of challenge to hothead Shane and all Phillies.
Can’t let opponents get too full of themselves at one’s expense. His “errancy” is now lodged in their heads.
Ramirez was channeling the spirit of Joaquin Andujar.
Why are Ramirez and Whiteside not getting any suspensions? I just don’t get it. Victorino, I understand for pushing a ref to get back into the scrum. Where is the justice?
I think the bottom line is what Victorino did stopped the game. Ramirez hitting Victorino, while obviously intentional, was not an “intent to injure”. He could have thrown at his head. Then I thik Ramirez would have been suspended. If Victorino just goes to first there is no incident. Then our pitcher could have plunked someone the next inning and all would have been “evened out”. I am a bit surprised the phils did not retaliate sometime during the course of the next two games, although the games were closely contested.
Finally, my two cents is that the steal by Rollins was OK, but the the Phils should not have been surprised by a retaliation. Victorino acted like he was surprised but I doubt he really was. He should have “been above” his reaction and let our pitchers handle it.
Why are Ramirez and Whiteside not getting any suspensions? >>
From Buster Olney…
Source explains: Pitchers only get suspended for throwing near somebody’s head or after a warning (Weaver, for example); Ramirez did neither
“A con-trolled aggression” … can you imagine Richie Ashburn getting excited about such a concept in conjunction with Pence’s hit? Shut up, Wheeler, already.
At this point, he’s just become a parody of himself.
It must really gaul the Giants that the baseball world still sees the Phils as the real deal and the Giants as a bit of a flukey champion. I think that is the main dynamic of the “bad blood” between the two teams.
Are you sure those are the baseball world’s eyes? “The baseball world” knows that there is talent, and there is execution. Nobody thinks much of the ’69 Orioles though they won 109 regular season games.
When the Phillies beat the Rays in ’08 in a series destroyed by weather and a ball park that felt like Ice Station Zebra all I heard from the baseball world was that the Phillies were fluke champs. That the caught a lucky draw in the NL playoffs and got even luckier when the upstart Rays slipped past the Red Sox. OF course that’s all bullshit, but it’s the way it goes. In a way they are both fluke champs, it was 28 years between rings for the Phills and something like 185 years for the Giants.
Love that Gigantic estimate and the Hollywood allusion.
The illusion of “fluke” WCs is the refuge of losing cities’ “magicians.”
That the caught a lucky draw in the NL playoffs and got even luckier when the upstart Rays slipped past the Red Sox. OF course that’s all bullshit,>>
Disagree. I felt like not playing the Cubs and Red Sox that year did work to their advantage. Not that I cared, or felt reduced in the accomplishment, but the Dodgers were right hand pitching driven, and stifled a right handed Cub club. We’ll never know if the Phils could have matched up as well against the Cubs, but I remember thinking it wasn’t a great matchup. Felt the Red Sox would have ben tougher than the Rays, but can’t recall why. Only thing that matters is winning, but I never saw anything shoirt sighted about drawing favorable matchups.
I’d say 75% of the teams that win the World Series had some sort of luck involved. Such are the baseball playoffs. You play 162 games and then it boils down to a 5 or 7 game sample.
“Luck is the point at which prpearation meets opportunity.”
– Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Revisionist history – If I recall, nobody at the start of the WS thought the Phils got a lucky draw after the Rays pasted the Sox with huge offensive output. I think the Phils were underdogs by the Vegas line.
like the poor cousins from down South versus the uppity yuppies from up North.
c’est la vie.
Phils are yet to show they are the real deal but I can’t argue with the Giants being flukey champions. As much credit as they deserve, aberrations were a plenty in that lineup that postseason.
The “funny” thing about the Friday night incident is that Torre and company no doubt fretted over videotape of the developments (in addition to the umpire reports) to arrive at the decision. Videotape. Hmmm. As in this here mechanism is good enough to review disruptive behavior, but not good enough to correct a Jerry Meals call that ends a 19 inning game. The tape makes Vic look like a horse’s ass. That anyone might look like a horse’s ass after having a fastball tossed at their hips is besides the point. If you cant’s have replay to get calls right, you can’t use it to call disruptions. Vic is what you call an emotional guy. No doubt this forthcoming appeal hearing will bring out his emotion. He’ll get fired up when he sits down with the judgement department, and feels like he’s coming across as believable in saying he just wanted to ask Ramirez why he was throwing at him. But when they move the tape forward, and he’s got a hand on the ump, and jumps back in the pile like a 6 year old at recess, that emotion is gonna reduce to utter silence. The Phils have a better chance of not making the playoffs than he does getting the suspension reduced. I’d guess the wife decides on the part of the month that’s good for a 3 day getaway, and he mysteriously frops the appeal as soon as the babysitter says yes to the gig. But, I did think he’d get 5 games, so it’s not like we’re foillowing up on a perfect prediction mark through this course of events.
I got a kick out of Victorino solemnly sayin’, “I was just going to ask him why he did that.” Shane, the resilient interrogator.
yeah. Maybe he practiced that pre presser after ejection in the clubhouse in front of the miror. Wonder how the eye contact was.
. I guess Pedro was just trying to protect Ortiz when he decked Zimmer, too. Ah, the beuty of baseball brawls.
Vic’s eye contact – presumably heavy-lidded.
And Zim had already been beaned twice in his playing career. One of the game’s great characters. A different kind of no-no for Pedro.
Ugly stuff, different sports: Schultz’ knockout-cold pummeling of Rangers’ D Dale Rolfe and pack of Gophers attackin’ Buckeyes’ C Luke Witte while he was on floor.
Tonya Harding vs. Paula Jones wasn’t pretty either.
The latest Bodog odds on winning the NL pennant are really slanted. So it seems, anyway.
You have to bet 11 dollars to win 10 on the Phils.
You could bet 10 to win 50 on The Crew.
You could bet 10 to win 60 on the Giants, or Braves.
You could bet 10 to win 120 on the Cards.
You could bet 10 to win 150 on the Dbacks.
You could bet 40 to win 90 on a Phillies World Series win. At least there’s some reward on that risk level, as opposed to the best on winning the pennant. Plunk down 10 on the Braves, and Giants, and Crew and you would lose 30, or win at least 50. Seems like yoiu’d be nuts to throw money at the Phils winning the pennant.
I’d throw money down on the Brew Crew
Vogelsong (149), Lincecum (137), Cain (123) rotation & a bullpen with no one under 129 ERA+. Gotta like that some at 10 to win 60. Now if their line-up could only scratch out 3 or 4 runs.
Braves at same odds, if they get some people back and on track, not a bad play either.
I really like the Giants odds, then the Crew, then the Braves. But don’t forget, factored into those odds are that the teams have to make the playoffs. Those are the odds at this time. That is why the odds are as long as they are. If the Giants and crew make the playoffs then I think you see the Giants odds drop to 2-1 and the crew to about 2.5-1, while the Phils stay the same. Over August and September you would see the odds gradually drop on each as they get closer to securing a playoff spot – or widen depending on their performance. The Braves will also drop, but less, since at this point they are the most assured of the 3 teams to make the playoffs. The real interesting bet is to take Arizona right now.
Hard to bank on a team with Kirk Gibson responsible for the finer points. Was undergrad at Lansing, attended Sparky Anderson Law School but has always looked like he just rolled out of bed. Image may belie the product but I’ll go with Bochy and his armory of arms in extra-innings.
While I think the Giants are a horrible matchup for the Phils, lets not forget they are a game (an inning?) away from not even being in the playoffs for many years. They had to SQUEAK in last year and weren’t that close the previous years. Bochy is a decent manager but it was truly a fluke season they had last year. My sens eis they had their run and I give it only 50/50 they even make the playoffs.
It is much harder to call the Phils fluke champs since they were int he playoffs before the year they won it. They cruised to the division title the year they won it, and have dominanted since. they have proved themselves a worthy champ. No so much the giants yet. If they flame out this year they will solidify their fluke status. If they get in an win a first-round series I would give them more credit.
Yeah, it looks like a horserace over in NL West. Don’t know much about D-backs. Starting pitching appears solid, not sterling. With 50 left, the developments will be interesting. Always thought a swimming pool in the bullpen was unnecessary.
Boil recent history down: Phils 1, Giants 1. More to come??
Yeah, I’d take those odds on Milwaukee. Why not?
I just could never bet against the Phillies; it just isn’t worth the fun and enjoyment of watching them play.
Yeah, I’d take those odds on Milwaukee. Why not?>>
I’ll give you one good reason not to do it. Turns out the Crew is a 10-1 dog to win the WS. So let’s say you’re limiting your wager, you could plunk the same money, and have double the payoff with home field, and if it’s worth anything, the momentum of a pennant at their backs. That club, at 5-1 is a pretty good risk, Phils juggernaut, or not. They aren’t so quality starting lefthanders that they would project as a great shot to beat the Red Sox, should they get there, but with home field, and double the payoff, that might be an even better play.
I am reading alot this morning about Lee as Mr. Clutch and performing at the highest level against the best teams, how his ERA is better against winning teams, how his ERA in the playoffs is miniscule. What nobody is saying is how he got lit up like a dark sky on July 4th in his two most recent playoff starts, when his team needed him most, on the grandest stage, by a weak hitting club. Just surprises me everyone is so ready to forget that. Great pitcher, but in my nind a huge question mark as to what we will get in the post-season based on his most recent performances. Is my logic somehow off here? Is there a reason I am not seeing why everyone is giving him a free pass on the WS last year?
Cliff Claven knows all about the ups and downs of Cliff Lee. As do other baseball fans. October’s pudding and proof – waiting game.
If he keeps throwing 120+ pitches/ start, we could see the dark side of Cliff in October. Last year, he wasn’t 100 % physically. Most teams, especially those who were willing to toss 100+ million for his services, knew that fact.
Lee, Halladay, Hamels – take a back seat. 2011 Phils’ best pitcher has been Mav Shocker:
18-2 wins-losses 169.1 innings 113 hits 45 earned runs 64 base on balls 156 strikeouts
Michael, Antonio & Vance - Cy Young winner.
nice one.
Nicely done.
On this day, 8/10, in the Bicentennial Summer of ’76, the Phillies were 13.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Pirates. They would go on to win 101 regular season games (53-28 at Veterans Stadium). The Philadelphia Misery Index rose in October when the ‘Big Red Machine’ starters Don Gullett, Pat Zachry and Gary Nolan (in that order) gave good accountings from the raised dirt at 60’6″, helping the Reds
accomplish a 3-0 sweep. The Reds then broomed the Yankees in the World Series; Series MVP, Johnny Bench.
One of the 2 years, either 76 or 77, the lead reached 14 or 15, and shrunk to 3 (Pirates) before things smoothed out. All I know is that was a helluva cross to bear after 1964.
I guess it was 76.
I see you chose to research what was going on 35 years ago today, rather than 50 years ago today. Can’t say I blame you.
In ’61 Phils had a day off, frolicking somewhere between Crosley Field and Forbes Field. Consecutive loss 13 in the books, 10 more on the menu. I drowned my sorrows in a root beer snow-cone and didn’t tip the server.
8 ex-Phillies were on the playing rosters of the two 1976 WS combatants. Name 6 without research and you’ve earned a ticket to the next concert of the Starland Vocal Band, sure to bring down the house with a jaunty rendition of ”Afternoon Delight.”
Don’t know much about D-backs.>>
There isn’t much to know. Cody Rasmus, journeyman, ex-Phil, lifelong utility guy is playing shortstop with Stephen Drew out. He took Kershaw deep Sunday, which might have been accompanied by a caption of “Go Figure.” They’ve been clammoring for a first baseman out there for a while. Their headed into the tretch run with Paul Goldschmit. Dan Uggla’d be the BA leader if the world were filled with Goldschmidts. They could still use a pen arm, JJ Putz’s health history makes him at least dubious as able to hold up all year, the starting pitching isn’t deep. Ian Kennedy, and Daniel Hudson are represntative in the conversations about 1-2 punches, but the likes of Joe Saunders and Jason Marquis rounding things out qualiy as nothing moire than knowledgable veterans who if we’re talking title teams are decent 5th starters.
They just aren’t real good. But, nor are the Giants. So they might get in, but a first round playoff win doesn’t follow logic. For whatever logic’s worth.
Enjoyed your briefing – thanks. Typo made me think of “trench run” which will probably become an apt heading in Arizona. The void of Travis Lee continues, huh?
What did Dan Uggla do to you? Career .821 OPS, 115 POPS+. Doesn’t hit for avg. but he’s productive; 102 R per 162 gms. Granted, he’s Edward Scissorhands in field but somebody’s gotta entertain. From what I’ve seen, seems to carry ‘clutch’ gene. Could be wrong about that though.
POPS+ = OPS+ in a perfect world.
8 ex-Phillies were on the playing rosters of the two 1976 WS combatants. Name 6 without research >>
Gee, I wonder who this was directed at, considering the without research, inferred to mean you had to be there to remember it…..
lets see
Bobby Tolan, Reds
now just from quick thinking, I can’t b elieve it was 8 ex Phils at that time, so I’m assuming you mean eventual ex Phils?
‘Eventual’, yes. Now get to work.
So as not to mislead, 2 Yanks were prior; all Reds, eventual.
ok, Doggie, Pete and Joe, obviously. So if Tolan’s correct, I got half. And it’s lunchtime. And honestly, I think I’m gonna get stuck at 4, but let me think it over, and see what I come up with, unless somebody else is 150 years old and answers sooner.
And I have zero problem with Uggla. I just find it highly entertaining the way he’s U turned his season, and now is already getting more pub than Ethier seemed to when he hit 30. I actually think it’d be really cool to see him keep going. But he’s a streak hitter, so I’m not too concerned about him in the playoffs. Chow time.
Rawlie. Sparky Lyle, but he was prior? More later. JayBird
Updated (correct) list: Tony Perez, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Rawley Eastwick, Sparky Lyle. Only 3 more. Hint: 2 Yanks, 1 Red.
Hint II: Yanks – LHP, OF; Reds – RHP
Yanks LHP eliminates Brian Doyle, who I had doubts about anyway. Not sure he ever played for Phils. Reds RHP. Man. Johnstone was a stupid guess, since he played for Phils then, or most of it. or some of it. And the Reds RHP would be eventual. Who the frig remembers Reds pi6tchers, they haven’t had any since Joey Jay. Don’t think kaat was on the yanks then. Coulda swore Tolan fit the bill. White, Blair and Reggue, and I should know the other guy in the OF. Guess I’ll know the names when I hear them, but gonna have to give up.
Grant Jackson, Oscar Gamble, Pat Zachry.
The contest expired at 2 p.m. EDT, however, you do get the home version of “Philtering Thru Phaded Phillies.” Thank you for playing. This has been a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production.
This has been a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production.>>
and I’m Johnny Olsen.
Well, obviously, should have gotten Oscar. I’d have never remembered Grant, tho I do remember him being on the yanks around then. I didn’t remember Zachary ever playing for the Phils, but I hadn’t thought of him anyway.
speaking of the reds from back then….
includes a rather UNDERRATED opinion of Tony Perez.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/14728/phillies-among-nls-greatest-ever
Worley having a Baumgartner moment.
wow – sending Rollins with Howard on deck and two on and down 5 runs. don’t know about that. Sammy been real shakey all year at 3rd in my opinion.
he sent himself. i have no proof but I am almost 100% positive that was all Jimmy.
Rough start for Worley, but it’s turned out to be a fun game to watch. I dint remember us being in one of these wild ones for a while.
Premature, speculative hypothetical: if lidge shows that he can still be at least effective, and he wants to come back for a discount, do you want him?
Well, that didn’t help his cause
Playoff Schedule Summary
NLDS – starts Saturday 10/1
Game days are all similar for both series. Sat, Sun then Tues, Wed, Fri.
NLCS – starts Sunday, 10/9 Tuesday and Saturday are the days off, running through Game 7 Mon 10/17. Game 1 LDS starter could go on full rest only off a sweep in the LDS. 5 game LDS would mean Game 3 LDS pitcher would be highest rotation guy available on full rest. Depending on opponent, it’d be an advantage for the Phils to face a team that won the LDS in 5, based on that.
World Series – starts Wed 10/19, only 1 day off if off a 7 game LCS win. Fri and Tues are scheduled days off, Game 7, Thurs 10/27.
Summary: Mike Scoscia should be happy. Deeper rotations have a serious advantage on paper.
having 3 interchangeable Cy Young candidates in that situation; priceless!
Watching these 3 games, it’s quite clear that we still could use some help in the bullpen. Is there any hope that Contreras will be returning before the end of the season? We also need another lefty for the post season.
at this point now it’s either waivers or farm call-ups.
I’d be very fine with Mike Zagurski. Contreras’ case doesnt sound good. Carpenter?
Finish line in sight to this game, series, and road tripas ina Ryan Madson save away from it, no doubt the bulk of focus will be on the 9-1 result of it. And of corse, quite deservedly so. Underlying that, will be the little paid atention to the wrap of 16 wins in 20 games in 20 days. That, among other things spells focus, depth, and strength. This, like staring the deficit today straight in the face and answering it is thee perfect positioning for a championship personality. This game might have been won as subtly as Jimmy running Chad 15 pitches deep in the first inning, and his inability to get right after getting a lead. Throw it all together, and it’s good stuff.
Less importantly, it numerically positions the club real nicely to hit the short term goal of 38 over after the next 6 games. That was a product of some ask why, others ask why not level thinking, and this club has positioned itself to do it. 37 over makes for a helluva plane ride home.
Brooklyn. Finally, and once again. IS DEAD.
just another clutch hit by the Big Piece. Borrowing from Missinelli’s recent column – now 132 of howard’s homers (nearly 50%) have come with the Phils down a run, tied, or up a run. Incredible stat by an incredible athlete.
but down a run, tied or down a run; isn’t that like 60% of baseball situations?
no I don’t think so.
and another fraction of WAR accumulated for Howard today.
I wanted to congratulate the Dodgers on today. On that 41K plus figure. As in what do they call in MLB these days? Do they actually say paid attendance? I’ve lost track of who uses paid anymore. But I know this. You wanna announce tickets distributed, and call that attendance, shame on you, not me. That 41K announced today included about 27K no shows. I don’t care about the who are we kidding. I’m just amazed by the why are we kidding.
Phils have 31 come from behind victories this year. Their largest prior deficit they overcame was 3 runs.
wrong again.
Dear Charlie,
Sorry to come across like the other millions of fans that think they know better how to run things than you, but I have some advice for you.
I’d rest Hunter Pence on Sunday.
I know Chien Ming Wang is pitching, and as he’s on the comeback trail, it still represents 4 potential juicy at bats against a comebacking pitcher, despite his 6 inning great stint against the Cubs, but it’s a chance to give him a day off after today’s day off. His rush to join the club from Houston has resulted in a move, and 12 straight playing days. This particular off day gives him a chance to settle into his Philly home, but Sunday would be a day off on top of a day off, which is always a real rest. Give the young man a chance to watch the Phils play, picking up new perspective, a chance to soak in Alumni Weekend and further enhance his clear appreciation of his new digs. He’ll be fresh for the meaningful Arizona series, and it gives young Mayberry a chance to stay fresh as he prepares for Operation Fill In for Vic “I Just Wanna Know Why” Torino.
Perhaps I’ll have a rare suggestion additionally the rest of the way, but in the meantime, in between time, you continue to come across like you know what the hell you’re doing. And I, for one, appreciate it.
Yours in championship spirit,
Ken
you realize the phils are off monday too, right? I think thursday and monday is plenty of off time. HE is what, 28? Geez…
I’d prefer to see Ibanez sit. Wasn’t shane’s suspension for manhandling the ump, not taking a few steps toward the mound then stopping?
Hey Ken, Stop by my office after tomorras game. If security gives ya any problems, tell em yer Charlies guest. I marvel at fans like you if ya wanna know the truth. That stuff about Pence is kinda good but at the same time it might backfire. 16-4 ain’t half-bad, is it. Pulled a couple out of our ass though; I’ll let you guess which ones. Like I said, stop by. Best, Charlie
Above, a parody by “56percent”/jjg.
37 gms over .500 with only 2 players, Victorino and just-acquired Pence, hitting above .280. Amazing.
Luck?? or further testament to the notion of “team”.
There’s definitely more than one way to do it.
If it’s luck, it’s Steve Wynn luck.
Notion of “team” … yes, that particular energy has proven to be evident, especially of late.
Of course a combo of factors have them perched unusually high, one of them being the kind number of NL teams that bark. Another: the convergence of surplus minor league talent, the market availability of “difference-makers” and Amaro’s aggressive snatchings. Too: “short, pleasantly plump” Citizens Bank Ballpark (41-18; .695).
Also, can’t forget Dave Montgomery and the silent partners’ driving and endorsement of the building of FKN Stadium (Ft. Knox North) or the correlative major spending for ”seasoned” player acquisition and retention that’s followed.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the continuity of chargin’-and-challengin’ Charlie Bubbles and his alert Sargeant-of-Arms Richard Dubee as being significant to Phils’ climb and continuance.