The last time Matt Stairs hit a 2-run HR to give the Phillies a 7-5 lead, it meant a little more, but getting to .500 for the first time this season isn’t too bad. Chase Utley played the role of Shane Victorino, hitting a 2-run shot to tie the game at 5, as the Phillies overcame a horrid first start from Cole Hamels to beat the Rockies 2 out of 3 in Colorado.
2009: 3-3
2008: 2-4
2007: 1-5
Player of the Series: Chase Utley (6 for 10, 5 runs, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Goat of the Series: Cole Hamels (0-1, 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 11 H)
The Good News
- Jayson Werth has thus far stepped up in the pivotal role of replacing Pat Burrell as our 5-hole hitter and right handed power bat. He’s hitting .348 with a team-high 6 RBI through the first 6 games. Meanwhile, Burrell is hitting .200 with 0 RBI.
- Chase Utley hit the ball hard today. He’s been sporting a high batting average, but many of his hits have been floaters and seeing-eye singles. His home run was a welcome sight. The fact that he’s stealing bases leads me to believe that he’s really all the way the back.
- Another player coming back from injury, Pedro Feliz, has looked great offensively. What an impact it would be if his back really was hindering him last year and he could provide 70-75 RBI from the bottom of the line-up.
- It’s not good that Carlos Ruiz is on the DL, but it’s good that Lou Marson is going to get a shot to start a couple games. Marson is the catcher of the future, and if he’s ready, would improve the line-up by replacing Ruiz. He will likely get his first start tomorrow against the Nats. Hopefully he hits well enough that he’s tough to send back down to Lehigh Valley.
- I didn’t think it was possible for our bullpen to perform at the level it did last year, but so far it has. Through 6 games, the ‘pen has a 2.63 ERA in 24 IP. Take out Chad Durbin, and the ERA drops to 1.23. Today, the work of Durbin, Eyre and Condrey enabled us to overcome Park’s poor start and come back. Right now they are the only thing that is preventing the Phillies from a disastrous start, given the way the starters have pitched.
- Carlos Carrasco went 6 IP, giving up 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and 4 K’s in his first start at Lehigh Valley. If the starters don’t improve, we might need him sooner rather than later.
The Bad News
- You mean, aside from the fact that our starters have a 9.62 ERA, or more runs than innings pitched? Or that our starters have allowed 2 baserunners per inning pitched? The closest thing the Phillies have gotten to a quality start in their first 6 games was Brett Myers 7 IP, 4 ER start on Saturday. Apart from that, it’s been batting practice.
- Speaking of which, if Cole Hamels is throwing 86mph fastballs trying to get his arm strength back up, he should be doing it at Lehigh Valley or Reading, not in games that count. I don’t know how many starts it will take for him to get back to form, but right now I’m not really believing he and Charlie that there is nothing wrong with his arm.
- 3 more home runs for Myers in his 2nd start. On the bright side, he only gave up 1 hit aside from those home runs, but giving up home runs is the difference between him being an OK starter and a great starter.
- I’m going to give Chan Ho Park at least another start before I start that JA Happ train. Getting ready for your first start in a cold, foggy, mile high climate isn’t really a fair baseline
- Jimmy Rollins is cold. Rollins gets this offense going and aside from Howard, his hot streaks lead to more wins than any other player in this team. The good news is, he won’t hit .107 for the entire season.
Pre-Series Post: Phils, Hamels’ Left Arm Head to Colorado
Nothing says baseball like Denver in April.
The Phils head to Denver looking to find some offensive consistency and to see what kind of zip Cole Hamels has in his left arm.
It’s hard to call an April game a big game, but since our season lives and dies by Hamels left arm, I’d say tomorrow is pretty important, win or lose. I’ll be looking at his fastball velocity more than anything else. Anything above 90mph is good news. His change-up movement might be shaky given the air in Denver and his half-spring training. He might get hit around, but the most important thing is velocity. By the way, never trust the TV gun. The gun on Gameday at Phillies.com is the most accurate.
Also, we will see Chan Ho Park for the first time. Tough luck having his first start a mile above sea level. Hopefully his change-up will be as effective as it was in Spring Training.
Probables
Friday, 4:05pm : Hamels vs. RHP Jason Marquis
Saturday, 8:10pm : Myers vs. LHP Jorge De La Rosa
Sunday, 3:10pm: Park vs. RHP Aaron Cook
Prediction
Hamels is solid, not spectacular, but the Phils light up Marquis for the win. Myers gives up a couple more HR’s, De La Rosa frustrates our lefties and Rockies take game 2. Game 3 is in the bullpens’ hands, and the Phils pull out a close one and win 2 of 3.
Feel free to use this post to voice your opinions and (hopefully not) frustrations throughout the series.
Pete: understand that the TV gun is juiced up to make these guys seem like they’re throwing serious heat all the time but how do expect to follow a game otherwise?
Brett Myers in mile-high city?? seems like a match made in heaven. he’d better find a sinker somewhere in his arsenal cos those Rockies can hit ‘em high.
jkay -
free preview huh? wow pitcher and hitter tendencies, plus pitch details ehh…wonder how much you pay for the subscription once you fall in love with it. Thanks will definitely try it one day when i can watch a game at home.
the pitch details are on the free version. thats really all I pay attention to.
Hamels velocity not too great to start with a couple of 85mph guys. However, he’s loosened up a bit and is throwing 89.
About Hamels, I wanted to post something yesterday but I also wanted to stay away from negativity and pessimism, at least until there was actually something to be negative and/or pessimistic about. I just didn’t want to send out any negative vibes or bad mojo before the guy actually threw a pitch, you know?
Although, after what happened last Saturday against the Rays, I was not at all optimistic about what we would get from Hamels against the Rockies, nor was I buying into all this “the extra adrenaline from it being a regular season start will get his fastball where it needs to be” stuff.
Hamels’ health is my main concern. As long as he is healthy, which we are being assured of by everyone allowed to speak to the media, I’m sure he’ll get it together. Although I have to say that all this downplaying is a bit disconcerting.
The other big concern remains the offense, who couldn’t do squat against Marquis. Howard–3 GIDP, yikes! I only caught a couple innings on the radio as I was driving in for the Sixers game, but Larry Andersen was calling the hitters out. Granted, we were down 7-2 and not kicking up much dust against Marquis, but this was in the top of the 5th inning of the fourth game of the year, mind you. If you listen, you can hear the air escaping from the world championship baloon already.
Something else noteworthy is that Lou Marson has been called up to replace Carlos Ruiz, who suffered an oblique strain yesterday. Wally Pip anyone? Ruiz is on the 15-day DL for now. Gotta wonder what will happen if Marson really shows while he’s up, especially if Ruiz is out longer than 2 weeks, don’t you?
All good points by you, Pete. Great win today. After watching what has gone on this past week (wretched starting pitching, struggling offense) it is hard to believe we actually won 3 games and are at .500.
The team is showing a lot of heart in the face of these early difficulties. The silver lining in the starters getting knocked around is that although we are falling behind, we are falling behind early. Everyone is hanging tough, continuing to battle, and digging out of the hole together. I don’t see us winning 100 games like this, but it’s good to see them pick each other up and win some games that probably should have been losses. I’m taking it as a sign that once our starters straighten out (which had better be really soon) we should see some wins stacking up.
bski: ‘About Hamels, I wanted to post something yesterday but I also wanted to stay away from negativity and pessimism’ – good call. dont wanna jinx anything. avoid the I-word too. lets not panic shall we.
great game. I’ll give this Park a pass for having Myer-like jitters on his first game. better not mess up the 2nd. Phillies are showing why I never turn off a game even in the pth inning. this team!!! just awesome. seems Greg Dobbs has some new found respect with pitchers. they wont let him face anyone but their best lefty. he might not be getting as much hits as before. good thing Stairs is there to pick up the slack. Rollins is swinging badly now, initially it was just hitting it to the OFs unluckily, now he doesnt even seem to generate enough bat speed to catch up on inside pitches. With his track record,once he gets going, we will make some sweet music.
ok Blanton, take us out the nation’s capital. and …… don’t leave early meen. The Nationals always play us tough, their pitching is struggling but I highly doubt we will take advantage of that. At least Tim redding is gone. we should take 2 of 3. sweep will only happen if our pitchers can show up.
LETS GO PHILLIES!
bski: Howard–3 GIDP, yikes! -would you prefer that he strike out? cos he can do that too!
Lets get 2 if not 3 from the Nats and hopefully we have seen the last of sub .500 ball for the 2009 season.
2 series in and I would vote that Ibanez is better than Burrell right now.
I’ll give the starting rotation a mulligan for their first outing, but let’s turn things around starting now. I assume Park is under the microscope at this point as Happ is salivating out there in the bullpen. May actually work out if Park is demoted to the pen in lieu of Happ, as he had the chance to succeed and by his own merits, was put in the pen. He can’t be as pissed then b/c the team did what they said and let him compete for the starting role, won it, and pitched his way out of it. That as opposed to him starting the season in the bullpen where I don’t think he gives it the ’ole Philly 110%.
jkay…..maybe Howard striking out isn’t such a bad thing after all, huh?