After pounding the Rays in game one of the series in Tampa the Fightins proceeded to get smoked in the next two by counts of 7-1 and 10-4.   Tempers also started to flare a bit as reliever J.C. Romero allegedly had a physical altercation with a fan after the series finale on Thursday.  Word is that the fan was taunting Romero about his “banned substance” suspension and that Romero grabbed the 25 year old fan by the neck and shoved him.  The incident is now being investigated by the Tampa police department!   So…..not only is the team scuffling on the field but also off it as well!

The Phillies squandered a very effective pitching performance by Joe Blanton in the Tampa series as he struck out 10 Rays in seven innings on Wednesday night.  The Phillies could not solve Matt Garza of the Rays however and the bullpen got tagged for five runs in the eighth inning to make the game a blowout.   In Thursday’s game  the Fightins spotted rookie Antonio Bastardo with a four run first inning lead but the young lefty could not hold it and ended up departing after only 3 and 2/3 innings after giving up six runs.  He actually left with a shoulder strain as well and will miss at least his next start, another injured warrior to add perhaps to the D.L. list. 

On Friday night the Fightins invaded Canada to take on the Jays in hopes that a letter change in the first character of the opposition’s name would make a difference!  Cole Hamels toed the rubber for the Phillies but did not pitch very effectively,  Hamels was bounced after four and 2/3rds giving up four runs enroute to a 6-1 loss.  Hamels was also tossed by the home plate umpire as he argued called balls and strikes on his way to the dugout, he became the first Phillie player to earn ejection this season.   

After the game the skipper held a 20 minute closed door team meeting and refused to speak to the press afterwards, seems Ol’ Charlie had finally reached the break point.  No one likes to get reamed but doing it in private and not in front of those outside the team is indeed the proper way, I watched an amatuer coach at a local game  try to motivate his team in front of all in attendance on Friday night and indeed it was amatuerish in how it came off and in it’s effect………Charlie Manuel is a very good manager and knows how to get to his players, I am sure that his words were not pointed at individual failure but more at getting the collective heads out of the collective tails and playing smart and good baseball, that is how this team has succeeded the past two years.   Recent struggles have been due to poor defense, bad baserunning, swinging at pitcher’s pitches and our pitchers not making said type pitches!  Those things are correctable if heads are screwed on straight and the team has talent.  This team has talent and will move forward, I still don’t believe anyone in the division is good enough to beat them, in fact even with all the recent struggles they were still in first place by 1/2 game !

Saturday perhaps was the game that shed some light at the end of the tunnell.  Jayson Werth had a huge offensive game going four for four with two home runs.  J.A. Happ threw a complete game shutout as the Fightins rebounded to win 10-0 over the Jays in the afternoon contest.  Ryan Howard had three hits also and a couple were bloops in front of outfielders which may be a gift from the baseball gods for all the “hits” he outs on by hitting hard shots into the right side shift that most teams put on him!  In any regards when the Fightins wake up on Sunday Morning they will still be in first and perhaps the meeting has restored the proper approach, we will see.

Chatter

Jimmy Rollins has sat out three consecutive games and in fact late inning defensive moves saw third sacker Pedro Feliz play shortstop for the last two innings on Saturday.  Skipper Manual is hell bent to rest Rollins until he gets that swagger back and becomes the J-Roll we have come to love.  It will happen but it may not take place till the Atlanta series as the skipper has indicated he may sit J-Roll again tommorrow.     Outfielder Raul Ibanez is eligible to come off the D.L. this coming week as is lefty reliever Scott Eyre.  Both would be welcomed additions back to the roster albeit John Mayberry Jr. has done a nice job filling in for Raul when he has played.  Mayberry is a very athletic player who is much better defensively than one might expect in the outfield.   He could be used as a trade chip perhaps as the July 31st trade deadline looms.   The Phillies have two young very gifted outfielders in the minors behind Mayberry in Dominick Browne and Michael Taylor.   Rumblings are that Browne is considered untouchable but Taylor or Mayberry could be had for the right return. 

if Bastardo has to be disabled the call to the minors this time may go to 21 year old top prospect Carlos Carrasco.  Carrasco started the season struggling but has won four of his last five decisions and appears to be back on track.  Andrew Carpenter is also apparently throwing the ball very well and could be the choice………… fans like me are salivating over when we get to see Kyle Drabek in the red pinstripes as word is he is the next real deal, a right handed stud offset to our young ace Cole Hamels.  Drabek has been clocked in the 95 to 97 range and couples it with a nasty change and curve ball apparently of the 12 to 6 variety.  He is tearing up double A ball so hopes are he is not far away!

Apparently not many teams willing to talk trade just yet but that will change as the deadline gets nearer.  The Cardinals are rumored to be in hot pursuit of Matt Holliday again which would give them bat protection for Mr. Albert P.     The Indians are apparently unwilling to trade starter Cliff Lee but this is the same franchise that traded C.C. Sabbathia last season and most feel a good package of prospects will wedge Mr. Lee loose, the Phillies are one of the teams that are deep in minor league talent and some sort of combination offer of the likes of Jason Donald, Michael Taylor, J.A. Happ, John Mayberry, Andrew Carpenter, Sergio Escalona, etc.  may indeed get it done.  Time will indeed tell.

A matchup of the world champions of baseball vs a last place club with said champions being on the home turf would seem to equate to a series sweep correct ?   Well indeed it was a series sweep but it was the Baltimore Orioles who did the sweeping of the defending champion Phillies and not vice versa.   The Phillies closed the most recent homestand with a not so stellar record of 1 and 9 and headed off for a three city road tour with a losing streak in tow of six games.   Rather than detail the agony of the three losses to the Orioles I chose to focus on where the team is at this stage of the season.  This is inclusive of the first game of the team’s newest road journey which was a 10 to 1 clubbing of the Tampa Rays…….. road life indeed has been the key to the season thus far !

Standing

Despite a record of 13-22 at home the Fightins are still in first place in National League East leading the Mets by two and one half games.  That is due to a stellar road record of 24-9 and the fact that no one else in the division has played well enough to overtake them.  The Mets are tremendously banged up, three key position players, Reyes, Beltran and Delgado are out……. to the New Yorkers’ credit they have remained above .500 with a patchwork lineup and rebuilt and reengineered pitching staff but even the most optimistic Mets fan cannott expect that to continue.    Florida is riding a current three game winning streak and does indeed have very good young starting pitching but they cannott catch a cold in the field and I do not see them overcoming that achilles heel, they do have chips to play for trade so watch the young Fish!   Atlanta can’t hit thier way out of a paper bag so no one should really worry about them at this point, they went out and got a really good young center fielder in Nate Mclouth but there are still major holes in the lineup.  Washington just flat out sucks so nothing more to say.   

Wounded

The Phillies also have thier share of injuries, Raul Ibanez carried the team early and is presently on the disabled list,  key pitchers Brad Lidge, Brett Myers and Clay Condrey are all presently on the same DL.   Starting pitching has been erratic all season and I do believe that GM Ruben Amaro is actively looking at trades but most clubs still feel that they are still in the playoff hunt so deals are not readily available unless you are interested in Zach Duke ?

Home Woes

I cannott believe that the team will continue to struggle with winning at home.  CBP is constantly sold out and the fans have been very patient, only recently did they bring out the boo chorus!  I think the team is more focused on the road, perhaps too many personal appearances are scheduled when they are at home ?   In any regards they are too talented to not find a way to begin winning at home  consistently soon.

J-Roll

Jimmy Rollins is the catalyst for this crew,  has been for the past few years and nothing has changed, folks gripe that Charlie should move him out of the lead off hole, the same folks who said to move Lidge out of the closer role I suspect…………. just plain stupid to think that way.   J-Roll will find it, Charlie is very patient, we fans have to get behind our lead off hitter rather than get negative.  This team will go the way he does, plain and simple.   He has had spurts where he has shown evidence of getting on a roll, I think that perhaps that daggone extended spring training due to that silly little tournament has had more impact on Mr. Rollins than we know, that is my suspicion at least…..never know what nagging little injuries these guys play with.

Chatter

Rumblings were that the Fightins were actually close to a deal with Colorado that would have brought Jason Marquis here along with Ryan Spillbourgh.   The cost would have been J.A. Happ and minor league prospects, apparently Colorado backed off when they started to win games after ditching skipper Clint Hurdle.   While Marquis is not a number two starter he does win games and eat innings and Spillbourgh would have been a right hand bat off the bench so let’s see if perhaps the deal might resurface before the July 31 trade deadline.    Don’t be shocked to see Ruben make a play for a combo of Cliff Lee and Mark DeRosa out of Cleveland either, I have nothing to go on with that statement, only a fan’s view of what could help our club and who might be available.   Watch that young Kyle Drabek’s progress in Double A Reading also, the answer to starting pitching may indeed be in house!

The Phitin Phils home woes continued as they lost a three game series earlier this week to the might Toronto Blue Jays!  Poor pitching, bad defense and inconsistent offense are the bottom lines to the losses, that coupled with a key player once again succumbing to injury are cause for concern for us Phans!   Despite all of that the team still finds itself in first place by three games as the second place Mets also lost thier most recent series, this one to the Orioles.  Here is a recap of the three Phillie-Jays games :

Tuesday, June 16th – Toronto 8 Phillies 3

Young Toronto Lefty Ricky Romero tossed seven stellar innings against the Phillies as he struck out nine.  Cole Hamels gave the Phillies a good outing going six innings and limiting the Jays to 2 runs.  This one turned into a battle of the bullpens as it became yet another extra inning contest as Ryan Madson could not hold the one run lead for Hamels in the ninth and blew his second save of the season.   Toronto exploded for five runs off of Clay Condrey in the top of the tenth to salt the game away, rumblings are that Condrey is nursing an injury of his own and is trying to pitch thru it.   The Phillies could only muster 8 hits in the game, three by Chase Utley and two by Jimmy Rollins.  Jayson Werth hit his tenth home run of the game in the sixth inning.

Wednesday, June 17th – Toronto 7 Phillies 1

Jamie Moyer was hit around a bit again as he gave up six runs on ten hits in six innings of work.  Youngster Scott Richmond tossed eight very effective innings for Toronto limiting the Phillies to only five hits while striking out eleven!   The Phillies only run was a solo home run by Jayson Werth.  Shane Victorino had two hits but the team could only muster six in total. 

Thursday, July 18th – Toronto 8 Phillies 7

Joe Blanton could only go five and one thirds innings before exiting in this one albeit he did leave with a 5-4 lead at the time.   An overused bullpen once again could not hold onto the lead as the two teams went back and forth before Toronto scored the game winner in the top of the ninth off of game loser Ryan Madson.  New Phillie hurler Tyler Walker pitched out of an inherited jam in the eighth inning to keep the game within reach at 7-5, the Phillies tied it at seven but Madson was tagged for a homer by Rod Barajas in the visitor’s ninth.    The Phillies offense was much better in this one as they collected twelve hits, three by Jimmy Rollins, and two each by Shane Victorino and John Mayberry Jr.  Mayberry was recalled from Triple A prior to the game to replace injured Raul Ibanez who was placed on the 15 day disabled list prior to the game with a strained groin.  Mayberry belted a home run in the game.

Chatter

Raul Ibanez was further evaluated with an MRI and diagnosed to have no additional groin damage, with rest it is expected that he will be able to rejoin the active roster for the next Mets series.  Brad Lidge has had two successful bullpen outing and will do a rehab start at Reading over the weekend, he is expected to be activated for next Tuesday’s game if all goes well.   Two of the Phillies hot minor league prospects are on the disabled list, Lou Marson and Jason Donald are both deactivated with injuries.   Speculation of the Phillies dangling either for potential pitching help is thus on the backburner.  Rumors are that the Phillies have scouted Red Sox hurler Brad Penny but it is unclear what it would take to get him, it was thought that Donald was the chip they wanted.   Former top draft choice Lefty Joe Savery was recently promoted to Reading where he joins super prospect Kyle Drabek in the rotation, watch both those boys, one could be in the show before the end of the 2009 season!  

Home cooking has not been so great for the Fightins this year and this weekend’s series against the Boston Red Sox and their nation provided yet another home series loss for the 2009 season.  The Phillies battled back to win the series finale on Sunday but lost an extra innings game in the opener and a lop sided one in game two.    Here is the recap.

Friday, June 12th – Red Sox 5 Phillies 2

Joe Blanton had yet another strong outing in this start as he pitched seven innings giving up five hits and two runs.  Blanton struck out seven in the outing, unfortunately his opponent was super lefty Jon Lester who struck out 11 Phillies in seven innings allowing only two hits and one run.   Ryan Howard belted a solo home run in the home ninth to knot the game at two and send it to extra innings.   The teams battled for 13 frames before the Sox broke thru in the top of the thirteenth to score three off of recently recalled pitcher Kyle Kendrick to put the game away.    The two teams combined to strike out 34 times in the contest !   The Phillies could only manage five hits in the game, two by Raul Ibanez.   Boston kept bringing studs out of the pen, all of whom seemed to toss in the mid to high nineties !  They are indeed loaded.

Saturday, June 13th – Red Sox 11 Phillies 6

Rookie Antonio Bastardo could only last one inning in this start, mostly due to an hour and one half rain delay at the end of inning one but also due to giving up a five spot in frame one.   The usually reliable fielding Phils made three first inning errors behind Bastardo but he also did not have good command and Jason Bay tagged him for a two run bomb in the first.  The Phillies did battle back to within one after four but Boston put the game away with three in the fifth and two more in the seventh.  Chase Utley and Jayson Werth had three hit games for the Phillies and Raul Ibanez, Werth and Pedro Feliz went yard but this was the Sox night and they won going away.

Sunday, June 14th – Phillies 11 Red Sox 6

J.A. Happ vs Josh Beckett would sure seem like a mismatch but someone forgot to tell the young Phillie lefthander as he battled thru five and two thirds innings and kept his club in the game. Meanwhile the FIghtins tagged Beckett for seven runs on eleven hits thru six innings to tag him with his third loss of the season.   Chan Ho Park earned the win in relief by tossing two and one third innings and Ryan Madson closed the game out.  Pedro Feliz had three hits for the Phillies while two hit games were turned in by Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley.  Jimmy Rollins belted the sole home run for the home team.

Chatter

Kyle Kendrick’s stay in the big leagues this time lasted only one game as he was optioned back to Triple A after Friday’s game and Sergio Escalona was recalled.  Escalona stayed for one game as well as he was optioned by to triple A on Sunday and veteran Tyler Walker was recalled by the Phillies.  The Phillies needed fresh arms after using the bullpen alot in games one and two of the series.  Walker was 5 and 8 last season with San Francisco and has six years of big league experience.  He was in the Mariners camp this spring but failed to make the team out of spring training and signed a minor league deal with the Phillies, Walker has made 15 appearances this season at Triple A Lehigh Valley.

The Fightins entered New York’s CIti Field with a three game lead on the second place Mets in the NL Eastern Division, a three game series ensued after which the Phillies would be four games up on the New Yorkers.  Here is how the series played out.

Game 1 – Tuesday, June 9th – Mets 6 Phillies 5

J.A. Happ had his worst start of the season on the hill for the Phillies as his pitches were up in the zone and the Mets made him pay for it.  Happ pitched five and one third innings giving up four runs on six hits and four walks.  Happ gave up home runs to David Wright and Carlos Beltran.   Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley hit home runs for the Phillies as Rollins had three hits and Jayson Werth collected two.  In the end though Johan Santana was credited with his eighth win of the season and K-Rod earned his 16th save of the season for the Mets.

Game 2 – Wednesday, June 10th – Phillies 5 Mets 4 (11 innings)

Cole Hamels got roughed up a bit in this one as the Phillies ace only pitched five innings giving up eleven hits and four runs while only striking out one batter.  The Phillies perservered however and staged yet another comeback to win!  Chase Utley blasted two home runs in the game, almost to the identical spot, in right field.   Utley had three hits in the game.   The Phillies bullpen was excellent in relief of Hamels as they pitched six scoreless innings allowing only five Met hits.   Chan Ho Park earned his second win of the season by throwing scoreless innings in the ninth and tenth and temporary closer Ryan Madson earned his third save by tossing a perfect eleventh inning.

Game Three – Thursday, June 11th – Phillies 6 Mets 3 ( Ten Innings)

Jamie Moyer had another strong outing as a starter tossing six innings allowing eight hits and three runs.  Raul Ibanez blasted the key blow, a three run home run in the top of the tenth inning to seal the victory.  Scott Eyre earned the mound win and Ryan Madson collected his fourth save of the season by finishing out the game.   Pedro Feliz had three hits in the game and Chris Coste collected two.  Jayson Werth in right field, made a game saving catch in the home ninth else the game would not have made it to extra innings.

Chatter

Brad Lidge was put on the disabled list prior to the beginning of the Mets series with a sore knee.  The knee has been bothering Lidge all season and he had hoped to pitch thru it, the team hopes a 15 day stint of pure rest will reduce the swelling and enable “Lights Out” to get back to form.  Catcher Paul Bako was recalled from Double A Reading to take Lidge’s roster spot, Bako will enable the Phillies to use Chris Coste as a right handed pinch hitter more since the team is now carrying three catchers.   Scott Eyre was also placed on the 15 day disabled list after Thursday night’s game with a strained calf,  righthander Kyle Kendrick was recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley to take Eyre’s spot.  Kendrick will be used as a long reliever and lefty Jack Taschner will be asked to fill in Eyre’s spot as the lefty specialist out of the pen.  

The Phillies drafted a local young man I know and my son had the opportunity to play with in high school and legion ball.  David Hissey, an outfielder from Emory University was taken in the 50th round by the FIghtins,  Hiss played his high school ball at Unionville High School and Legion baseball for Kennett.  Congrats David and good luck embarking on a pro baseball career!

What perhaps could have been a series sweep turned into a series split as the Fightins won 2 of 4 in Tinseltown.  Closer Brad Lidge had his difficulties in finishing two of the games albeit hindered by an error committed by usually reliable third sacker Pedro Feliz in one of them.   The starting pitching continued to excel, both young arms and old which is a positive from early season woes.  Mr. Lidge will come around, have faith Phillie fans, not time to panic just yet!   Did I mention we are in first place in NL East ?  Here is a recap of the Dodger series.

Thursday, June 4 – Phillies 3 Dodgers 0

Cole Hamels was the story as he threw a complete game shutout limiting LA to only five hits while striking out five and issueing zero free passes!   Hamels had excellent command, great velocity and super movement……all those ingredients equate to a shutout!  Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez each had an RBI and Carlos Ruiz and Werth had two hits in the game.  Hamels was the bottom line to the win though.

Friday, June 5 – Dodgers 4 Phillies 3

The Phillies were within one out of the win when Russell Martin hit a ground ball to third basemen Pedro Feliz in what would normally be a routine out but Pedro kicked it allowing Andre Ethier to come to the plate with the bases juiced and the Dodgers trailing by one.  Ethier smoked Brad Lidge’s first offering to him for a double over right fielder Eric Bruntlett’s head to plate two mates and produce the walk off Dodger win.  What was lost in the equation was a tremendous performance by Phillies starter Jamie Moyer who went seven strong innings giving up only four hits and two runs.  J.C. Romero pitched a scoreless eighth to earn his first 2009 hold but in the end Mr. Lidge got blown save number 5 on the season.  Bruntlett, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley and Feliz had two hits each to lead the Phillie offense.

Saturday, June 6 – Dodgers 3 Phillies 2

Once again the FIghtins took a one run lead into the ninth with closer Brad Lidge on the hill and once again the Dodgers tagged Mr. Lidge with a blown save.  Rafael Furcal hit a solo pinch hit home run to send the game to extra innings where Andre Ethier would eventually win it with a home run off of Chad Durbin in the 12th inning.   Joe Blanton gave the Phillies another strong start by going five innings limiting the Dodgers to one run on five hits.  Clay Condrey, J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson all earned holds in setting it up for closer Brad Lidge but Mr. Lights Out was lit up instead for his sixth blown save of the year.  The Phillies only had six hits in the whole 12 innings led by Pedro Feliz with two.

Sunday, June 7th – Phillies 7 Dodgers 2

The Fightins exacted revenge in the Sunday Night nationally televised contest on Fox Sports.  Rookie Antonio Bastardo pitched five innings in his second big league start to earn win number 2.  Bastardo struck out four while giving up two runs on seven hits.   Chan Ho Park was booed by the Dodger faithful when he came onto the field in relief of Bastardo but Chan Ho pitched three scoreless innings to earn his first hold of the season, Ryan Madson finished the contest in the ninth.  Home runs were hit by Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz and Shane Victorino.   Victorino, Ruiz and Jimmy Rollins, ( hitting out of the six hole for first time since 2006), had two hits each to account for two thirds of the Phillies total of nine for the game. 

Chatter

After an off day on Monday J.A. Happ will take the mound in New York against the Mets on Tuesday to kick off a 3 game series and end the 10 game road swing.  The Phillies are 5 and 2 thus far on the trip, the three game series may mean more for the Mets than the Phillies as the New Yorkers are severely banged up but to their credit are still only 3 games out of first place behind the Philies.  A series win by the Phillies could be a demoralizer to the New Yorkers but it is far too early in the season I think.  Should at the least be an entertaining series, usually is when these two teams get it on.

The Phillies have been absolute road warriors so far in 2009 and that trend continued as the Fightins took San Diego by storm and swept a three game series from them.  The sweep extended the team winning streak to six games and positioned them with a three and 1/2 game lead in National League East.

Monday, June 1st – Phillies 5 Padres 3

Joe Blanton tossed seven strong innings allowing only six hits to earn his fourth win of the season. Scott Eyre tossed the eigth inning to earn his 10th hold of the season and closer Brad Lidge finished the game to gain save number 13.   Ryan Howard and Chase Utley hit back to back home runs to power the Philly offense.  Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each had two hits in the contest.    Adrian Gonzalez hit his league leading 21st home run for San Diego.

Tuesday, June 2nd – Phillies 10 Padres 5

Antonio Bastardo made his major league debut a successful one as he threw six innings allowing only four hits and one run while striking out 5 batters.  Bastardo basically featured a fast ball albeit a very good as he consistently hit 94-95 on the radar gun.  It was indeed a very impressive debut for the young 22 year old lefthander!   Jake Peavey only lasted one inning on the mound for San Diego as the Phillies tuned him up for four runs, Peavey is fighting an uppper respiratory infection and it definitely effected him.  Raul Ibanez continued his hot hitting by belting 2 home runs on this, his 37th birthday.   Ibanez now has 19 bombs on the season!   Greg Dobbs, getting a start at third base, belted his second home run of the season.    Ibanez had three hits in the game while Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard each had two hits.   The Phillies were riding a comfortable nine run lead going into the home seventh but Chan Ho Park got lit up for four runs to make the score 10-5.  Chad Durbin pitched one and 2/3 innings after Park but loaded the bases in the ninth which brought the tieing run in the on deck circle and Ryan Madson into the game, Madson recorded the last out to earn his second save of the season.

Wednesday, June 3rd – Phillies 5 Padres 1

J.A. Happ threw a gem for the Fightins going seven innings allowing no runs and only four hits!  Happ earned his fourth win of the season and has pitched thus far like a second ace in the rotation!  J.C. Romero made his 2009 debut by pitching 1 and 1/3 innings, Ryan Madson finished the game.

Ryan Howard belted his 16th home run of the season in the sixth inning to plate two runs.  Greg Dobbs started in right field and collected two hits in the game.  He also made a very good defensive play in the second inning running down a ball in the gap to record the third out of the inning.  Shane Victorino left the game early with a strained hip.  No word on the severity, Jayson Werth finished the game in center field.

Chatter

The Phillies now move on to L.A. for a four game set, Cole Hamels gets the first start of the series, the Dodgers will be throwing three lefties at the Phillies in the series rotation.   Tom Glavine was released by the Braves, rumblings were the Phillies might be interested but I hope not, the young guys have stepped up thus far so I think they should ride it out for a bit to see how it goes.    Kyle Drabek was promoted to Double A Reading and threw very well in his debut there, GM Ruben Amaro was on hand in Reading to see the young right hander throw, word is that he hit 99 on the radar gun!  Stay tuned on that front,  could Drabek be in the bigs this season ?

Seems like the Phillies are always playing the Nationals this season!  In fact the two teams have met for four series already and 11 games, considering that the Phillies have played 47 games overall the Nationals have been the opponent for a little under one quarter of the contests!   It has been good for the Phillies thus far as they won nine of the contests!  Here is a recap of the two most recent games.

Friday, May 29th :  Phillies 5 Nationals 4

J.A. Happ had another good outing as a starter as he went five and one thirds innings to gain his third win of the season.   Happ goes right at the hitters and has above average stuff in his reportiore of fastball, changeup and curve.  Phillies post game analyst Ricky Bottalico actually stated after the game that he thinks Happ could eventually be a number one type starter!  Pretty high praise but if true that would be sweet indeed.    Shane Victorino led the Fightin’s offense with four hits while Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz, Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz each had two hit games.  The Phillies collected sixteen hits in the game but left 13 runners on base and did not score after the fourth inning.   Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson all earned holds out of the bullpen and Brad Lidge earned his 10th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning in which he struck out two hitters.  

Saturday, May 30th :  Phillies 9 Nationals 6

Ryan Howard had a big game offensively beliting two home runs including a 475 foot grand slam!  Howard was all over Nationals starter Shairon Martis as he tagged him for both blasts.  The Nationals defense was as shaky as usual as errors led to two unearned runs in the mix.  Cole Hamels was the benefactor of the offensive explosion as he went six innings to earn the win.  Clay Condrey was again excellent as he pitched out of a seventh inning jam by striking out two batters.  Condrey is super steady and is a key cog to the bullpen’s success.  Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth striking out two hitters.  Brad Lidge earned his 11th save by finishing the game aided by a spectacular double play pulled off the J-Roll and Chase Utley.  Lidge faced only three hitters to get it done.

Chatter

Brett Myers will have surgery on his hip this coming week to repair what could be season ending damage.  Myers is a warrior and most certainly pitched thru the pain last season as well, we always were in a quandry why he had velocity some games and not others, now we know the reason.  It is why I don’t like when fans boo ballplayers, we never truly know if their performance is hindered by injury and perception of what we see as failure is skewed due to that reason, I don’t know alot of folks who would work thru injury but these guys do, yes they make alot of money but I still admire the effort given by most.

Sergio Escalona was recalled from Lehigh Valley and added to the bullpen to temporarily take Myers roster spot, the Phillies will need a starter to take Myers spot on Tuesday so Escalona’s stint could be short.   Candidates to replace Myers at least on an interim basis include Kyle Kendrick, Andrew Carpenter, Vance Worley or Antonio Bastardo.  The safe bet would be Kendrick but I have a feeling that it could be either Bastardo or Worley who gets the call.  Both are up and coming studs and have thrown very well thus far this season.   If it is Bastardo the Phillies would have four lefties in the rotation, since I am a southpaw myself I see nothing wrong with that at all!  

Keep in mind that J.C. Romero comes off the inactive list on Thursday so another roster move is pending.   Reports are that the Phillies are in the market to trade for a starter, even before Myers got hurt that was the rumblings.   Jake Peavey of the Padres is now being bandied about as a name they would at least inquire about but my opinion is that they will target either Jason Marquies of the Rockies or Roy Oswalt of the Astros.   Erik Bedard is another name being bandied about but the Mariners might wait it out till the end of July to see if they can drive up the price to get him.   All of those guys will require a bounty of talent to be given back, don’t be shocked if teams target Kyle Drabek in any return package as the young righthander is tossing very well at Clearwater this year.   If you could get Peavey or Oswalt giving up Drabek might indeed be worth it!   I think that Jason Donald or Lou Marson would also have to be included in any deal to get that type of pitcher back.  I don’t know if they would be willing to give up Michael Taylor who is tearing it up at Reading though but young outfielder Dominick Brown from the Clearwater roster might offer some intrique.

The Phillies are also still in the market for a right handed bat off the bench, how about that Marlon Byrd returning to the FIghtin’s ?  Could happen and he might be a good fit.

Baseball is indeed a team sport but it also avails opportunity for individuals to shine in the things that they do.  In Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees the Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz indeed shined! Ruiz doubled in the 11th inning to score Chase Utley with the game winning run as the Fightin’s outlasted the Bronx Bombers 4-3 to take the series two game to one.

Cole Hamels matched super expensive Yankees ace C.C. Sabbathia thru six frames, in fact left leading the contest 3-2.    Hamels struck out five and walked none in a very impressive outing.  The Fightin’s had jumped to an early two run lead in the first inning and added another run in the sixth. Shane Victorino had a three hit game against Sabbathia and Ryan Howard and Superman Raul Ibanez each had two hits………..but the offensive and defensive story and star of the game was Carlos Ruiz.  

Ruiz had a three hit game as he battled thru each at bat and produced the game winner.  He also had a stellar game catching as he threw out two Yankee attempted base stealers at second base with laser perfect tosses !   Ruiz also made a huge play at the plate as left fielder Jayson Werth threw out Johny Damon at the plate,  Ruiz set up a roadblock and actually knocked Damon back a bit to record the out!  Excellent performance by the Phillies catcher!

Now the bad news, Brad Lidge could not hold the 3-2 lead in the ninth and recorded his fourth blown save of the season.  He did persevere to keep the game tied and turn it to extra innings.  Lidge gave up two singles up the middle in the game and then the Yankees stole bases on him like nobody’s business, he does not hold runners well at all, like old closer Billy Wagner!  Guess those boys don’t have to hold ‘em if they can strike out the hitters.   Lidge seems to be suffering from very informed scouting reports, hitters are attacking him early in the count as he pitches to get ahead so he can use his devastator, the slider in the dirt…….that approach has worked in the last few games, Charlie will stick with him I believe and I also believe that he will come back to form.

Now the good news out of the pen, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey all pitched very very well…….. Condrey picked up the win with two scoreless extra innings of work, he wiggled out of a two on nobody out jam by getting super expensive Mark Texeria to ground into a double play and then coaxing a fly ball to end the inning.  Condrey is often unnoticed on this club but he is an invaluable commodity as he eats up alot of bullpen innings and does it very well!

Chatter

Kudo’s to the Phillies defense thus far this season, while pitching and offense has struggled at time the gloves have been super consistent.  Pedro Feliz is a gold glover at third base and the big man at first Ryan Howard is surely playing like one, it is night and day from last season when he had little or no confidence.    A team that can throw leather out there consistently will definitely keep itself in games and these boys sure can “pick it”.  

The Phillies ended this road trip with and 8 and 2 record by winning all three series, they are now at home for the next six against the Marlins and Nationals before heading out to the west coast.  They need to improve on the 8 and 12 home record and now is as good a time as any!   The Fightin’s are now 24 and 18 on the season and lead the National League East by a game and a half over second place Atlanta.

How ’bout that Trevor Hoffman of the Brewers, perfect in save chances so far this year, is he the 2009 version of 2008 Brad Lidge ?

Been away in Clearwater, FLA for a week celebrating my daughter’s wedding and have not updated the old blog since I left……….thanks Bernalda for the nice comment, see us Phillie and Mets fans can get along!  In any regards here is a summary of the week I missed while down in rainy florida……yes rained everday I was there!  The one week I show up happens to be the week they get a steady stream of much needed agua across the whole bloody state, oh well……. at least the Fighthin’s didn’t play soggy for the week.  Here is the recap.

Saturday, May 16th – Day/Night Double Header in Washington

Game 1 : Phillies 8 Nationals 5

Brett Myers had a really nice game going seven innings allowing only three hits and two runs to earn his third win of the season.  Ryan Madson got hit around a bit in the eighth giving up three runs which created a save situation in the ninth which Brad Lidge converted for his sixth of the year.  Raul Ibanez continued his all-star pace by blasting two home runs in the game and Jayson Werth also hit a dinger.  The Phillies pounded 14 hits in total including three from Ibanez and Werth and two each from Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Chris Coste.

Game 2 : Phillies 7 Nationals 5

Rookie Drew Carpenter was recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley and made his major league starting debut in this one which was shortened by rain.  The game was stopped in the top of the sixth inning and play never resumed.  Carpenter only pitched 4 and 1/3 innings but was credited with the win due to the shortened game.   Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez each blasted home runs in the game to lead the Phillie offense.  The Phillies accumulated nine hits in the five full innings of play,  Chase Utley was 3 for 3 and Jimmy Rollins, Ibanez and Howard each had two hit games.  No coincedence that when J-Roll gets multi hit games the Fightins’ score alot of runs!

Sunday May 17th : Phillies 8 Nationals 6 – Washington, D.C.

Chan Ho Park pitched himself out of the rotation in this one as he only lasted 1 and 1/3 innings giving up 5 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks.  Park was terrible in this one and dug the Phillies a early hole after they had even spotted him a three run lead in the first inning!  Five Phillies relievers limited the Nationals to only one run and four hits the rest of the way and rookie Sergio Escalona picked up his first major league win, he replaced Drew Carpenter on the roster who was optioned back to Lehigh Valley prior to the game.   Scott Eyre earned his sixth hold of the season and Brad Lidge pitched in the ninth to gain his 7th save.   Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth led the offense with two hits each as the Fightin’s swept the four game series from Washington.

Tuesday, May 19th : Phillies 4 Reds 3 – Cincinatti, Ohio

Cole Hamels pitched six strong innings to earn his second win of the season and Ryan Howard belted his ninth home run of the year as the Phillies defeated the Reds in the series opener.  Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson each earned holds and Brad Lidge notched his eighth save of the season.

Wednesday, May 20th :  Reds 5 Phillies 1 – Cincinatti, Ohio

Jamie Moyer pitched better in this one but still suffered his fourth loss of the year.  Moyer went six innnings giving up three runs on nine hits.  It was all Reds starter Aaron Harrang needed as he tossed seven frames striking out nine while stopping a hot Phillie offense.  Raul Ibanez did hit his major league leading 14th home run in the game to account for the Phillies lone run.  Ibanez is making Phillie faithful state “Pat who ?”

Thursday, May 21st :  Phillies 12 Reds 5 – still in Ohio!

Joe Blanton was the happy recipient of the strong Phillie offensive showing as he went only five innings to earn his second win of the season.  Blanton gave up five runs in the fifth frame as he had shut the Reds out to that point.  Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park and Sergio Escalona finished the game and held the Reds scoreless.   Chase Utley, Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard and superman Raul Ibanez each belted home runs in the game for the Phillies.  Jimmy Rollins had a four hit game and continues to raise his average.

Friday, May 22 : Phillies 7 Yankees 3 – Yankee Stadium, NYC

Brett Myers threw his best game of the season going eight strong innings against the Bronx Bombers limiting them to three runs on eight hits.  Ryan Madson tossed a scoreless ninth to finish the game.  Jimmy Rollins belted a home run in his first at bat in the new Yankee stadium to get things started for the Phillies.  Jayson Werth also homered and Raul Ibanez hit his 16th home run of the season as well.  Carlos Ruiz had a three hit game batting out of the nine hole for the Phillies. Matt Stairs served as the DH in the first interleague game of the season for the FIghtins.

Saturday, May 23rd :  Yankees 5 Phillies 4 – NYC

J.A. Happ pitched really well in his first start of the season since replacing Chan Ho Park in the rotation but came up with a no decision as the Yankees mounted a ninth inning comeback to win.  Happ threw six innings only giving up 2 runs and 4 hits.  Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson each earned holds but Brad Lidge could not hold the Yankees in the ninth and was credited with both his second loss of the season and third blown save.   John Mayberry, Jr. belted a three run home run in his first major league at bat !  Mayberry was recalled from Triple A to add a right handed bat for interleague play, Sergio Escalona was optioned back to Lehigh.  Raul Ibanez blasted his 17th home run of the season in this one as well………… the man is on fire!

Chatter

While in Florida we took in a Rays game as they played Oakland in an afternoon game on Thursday, the 21st.   We got soaked trying to get into the stadium as it was raining like crazy, so soaked that I had to buy a Ray’s T-shirt to wear and take off my World Champion Phillies T-shirt I had worn to the game!    Only a security guard politely chided me about the Phillies shirt,   they announced 13,000 as the attendance but I think it was far more sparse than that.  The stadium is not horrible but is still a  far cry  from the newer parks like CBP in Philly.   The fans jumped on reliever Troy Percival in earnst and booed the hell out of him when he could not throw strikes, turns out he was hurt and was put on the DL the next day……… never will understand what booing does for folks!  The Rays bid for a new stadium by the waterfront in St. Pete was rejected so I am not sure what the next move is for the franchise, the core Rays fans seem loyal but I don’t know if there are enough of them!   In any regards the Rays have a good young team and should be supported, if not in Tampa then I am sure some other city will welcome them.  By the by the Rays won the game 5-4 with a ninth inning rally sparked by a Carl Crawford single, like him as a player but his buddy in center, B.J. Upton is a dawg in my opinion, doesn’t run out ground balls and half assed a fly ball to center field that he could of caught with a bit of effort,  Charlie would have eaten him alive if he were one of his players and did that!