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Games two and three of the home series against the Brewers saw the Phillies score only two runs total as they fell to the Brew Crew by counts of 3 to 1 and 6 to 1.   Braden Looper tossed six innings of shutout ball on Wednesday to earn his second win of the season.   The Phillies could only muster 8 hits in the contest, two of which were by Jayson Werth including his second home run of the season.   Joe Blanton pitched relatively well for the Phillies in his start but was tagged for all three runs including a solo home run by J.J. Hardy.

On Thursday afternoon Philadelphia native Dave Bush took a no – hitter into the eighth inning for the Brewers before pinch hitter Matt Stairs broke it up with a solo home home.   Cole Hamels took the loss for the Phillies and was knocked out of the game early by a Prince Fielder line drive off his throwing arm.  Hamels gave up two runs on four hits in 3 and 1/3 innings.  J.A. Happ got tuned for three runs in 1 and 2/3 innings of work in relief of Hamels.   The Phillies only managed two hits in the ballgame.

The Phillies offensive woes continued as they faced the Florida Marlins in Miami on Friday night.  The Fish threw big Josh Johnson against the Fightins and he held them scoreless thru seven innings as he was dominant.   Brett Myers started for the Phillies and threw six innings but gave up a three run bomb to Dan Uggla in the first inning.   The count was 3 to 0 going into the Phillies top half of the ninth when the Fightin’s offense erupted to score 7 times!   Shane Victorino blasted a grand slam home run to plate four and Chase Utley smoked a solo blast in the frame.  Matt Stairs had a big pinch single in the  middle of the inning to start the scoring run.  Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard both belted doubles off the left field wall.  Matt Lindstrom got tuned up pretty well in the inning as he blew the save.    The Phillies brought 12 batters to the plate in the eruption.

Ryan Madson pitched the ninth to close the game in a non-save situation.  He struck out the side.  The Phillies won the game 7 to 3.  The season record now stands at 7 wins and 8 losses. 

With the death of Mr. Kalas earlier this week it has been hard to concentrate on baseball games for all in Philadelphia including me.  The mourning period continued prior to the game on Friday at Citizen’s Bank Park, ( the first home game post Harry), as there were ceremonies to honor Harry the K.  His three son’s each threw out first pitches, caught by Mike Schmidt, John Kruk and Jimmy Rollins respectively.  Kane Kalas then sang an opera version of our National Anthem that was very stirring and emotional.

Cole Hamels took the mound for the game and left with a  7 to 5 lead after seven but Ryan Madson got hit around in the eighth frame giving up three runs and the Phillies lost to San DIego 8 to 7.   Chase Utley homered in the first inning of the game and had two hits.  Shane Victorino, Chris Coste and Pedro Feliz each had two hits while Raul Ibanez had three.

On Saturday Harry Kalas’s body lay in repose at home plate of the stadium from 8 am to 3 pm as thousands of fan’s paid last respects.   A memorial service was held from 1:30 to 3.  RIP Harry, we finally must say good bye.

Saturday’s game started at 7 pm with Brett Myers taking the hill.  Raul Ibanez staked Myers to an early lead with a solo second inning home run.  The Padres scored the next three to go up 3 to 1 before Myers doubled in the fifth and eventually scored on a Shane Victorino sacrifice fly.  Ryan Howard tied the game in the sixth with a solo blast to left. 

Ryan Madson gave up the go ahead run to the Padres in the eighth as he struggled once again.  Chase Utley bailed Madson out with a solo homer in the home eighth to tie the game.  Raul Ibanez scored the go ahead run for the Phillies in the same inning as he singled, went to third on a Jayson Werth single and touched the plate on a Pedro Feliz sacrifice fly to right field. 

However, Brad Lidge could not hold the lead in the ninth, for the first time in his Phillie career, as the Padres initially scored the tieing run, LIdge’s streak of consecutive saves ended at 47 for regular season chances.  The Philly fans, albeit disappointed,  gave Lidge an ovation in acknowledging a remarkable run but were even more disappointed as Lidge then walked  two batters with two outs recorded and gave up a three run bomb to Kevin Kouzmanhoff to put the Fightin’s down by three !  Lidge was lifted at that point but did not hear any boo’s as he departed, one time courtesy I suspect.

 Heath Bell pitched the ninth in each game to earn saves.  He leads the league in the early going in that category.

Chatter

Jamie Moyer goes tommorrow afternoon against the Padres in game three of the series.  The four game stint concludes on Monday evening.  This series represents the only San Diego visit to Philly this season.    The Phillies team record is now 4 wins and 6 losses.

Five games into the season and the Phillies found themselves in desperate need of a starting pitcher to give them extended innings.  Brett Myers stepped up and did just that against the Colorado Rockies as he pitched seven innings giving up only four hits albeit they were all dingers!  Myers, who has never lost to the Rockies or at Coors Field,  was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth holding a 6 to 4 lead.   Good Job Brett!

Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz each had three hit games for the Phillies.  Ryan Howard delivered a key blow in the third inning as he belted a bases clearing double.  Jayson Werth slugged a two run triple in the fifth inning and Raul Ibanez smoked a solo home run in the seventh frame.  Chase Utley had two hits in the game including a RBI single in the eighth.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth inning and has been very impressive in the early going, Madson has faced six batters and retired them all!  He is throwing serious gas as the heater is rushing up there in the 95-96 range which makes his changeup a devastating pitch when he uses it.  Excellent job so far Mr. Madson!

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth even though it was a non save situation, ( Phillies led by 4), to close out the win.   Lidge also heated up the fastball in the 95-96 range and worked a perfect inning.  If Madson and Lidge continue to throw like that then the Fightin’s are gonna be tough to beat as long as the starter’s can get a lead to them!

Chatter

As reported after last evening’s game Carlos Ruiz was put on the fifteen day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle and Lou Marson was called up from Triple A to back up Chris Coste who will assume the starting catcher roll till Ruiz is healthy again.   The Phillies go at the Rockies again tommorrow with Chan Ho Park making his Phillies debut as a starter.

Ok so now I am starting to get annoyed a bit.  Joe Blanton started things well enough by striking out the first two hitters in the game but then got tagged for a double followed by a two run bomb by Bryan McCann.  For the third straight game in 2009 the FIghtins trailed in a home game before ever swinging a bat !   Is it a sign that our starting staff may be an achilles heel or do we stay with the standard theme that it is early and no worries yet, a bit of both but these games do count so it is time to wake up boys else we dig a hole too deep!

Raul Ibanez tied the game in the Phillies second with his own two run dinger scoring Ryan Howard in front of him but Blanton could not hold the score as Atlanta exploded for five runs in the third.  Blanton was done after four frames being tagged for seven runs on nine hits !  J.A. Happ got tagged for two runs in his stint, one a bomb by rookie Jordan Schafer, his second of the young season already!    Chad Durbin could not find the plate in the seventh and actually walked in a run before being replaced.   Not good indeed!  Down 10 to 3 after six and one half  of play not something to brag about !

And then…… we woke up, sort of.  Bobby Cox had to use four relievers in the home seventh including his normal fifth starter as the Fightins batted around plus four to score 8 runs while only collecting four hits!  The Atltanta pen walked in four runs with the bases juiced and collectively walked five batters and hit another!   Key singles were delivered by Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz. Phillie batters showed alot of patience in their at bats en route to gaining the team’s first lead of the season.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth to set up his bullpen buddy Brad Lidge.   Raul Ibanez led off the home eighth with yet another walk!  Pedro Feliz was giving himself up attempting to bunt Ibanez over but Jorge Campillo (Atlanta’s fifth starter) could not throw him a strike and the count went to 3-0 and Charlie gave Pedro a green light, he promptly doubled to left to knock Campillo out of the game !  Jeff Bennett came in for Atlanta and gave up a sacrifice fly RBI to pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett before working out of the inning. 

Lidge worked the ninth to earn his first save of the season, he was tagged by Mike Diaz for a solo bomb but struck out two to close it!  FInal Count :  Phillies 12 Braves 11……. my wife said in the sixth that alot of game was left and to not count our boys out!  She is quite the prophet eh!

Javier Vazquez pitched six effective innings for the Braves and should have earned the win.  The statement of the series still was that Atltanta starters did what was expected and ours did not,  the Phillies had many poor at bats in the series which were a combination of good Atlanta starting  pitching and poor approach by the Fightin’s.   The seventh inning comeback erased some of that especially the at bat by Ibanez who showed his hitting prowess by taking an outside pitch to left for a single rather than attempting to pull it.  Now the team goes on the road and must do more of what they showed in the later stages of this game.  The Atlanta pen could be their issue this year in light of what we saw in this series in games one and three.

Chatter

Pat Gillick was clearly overcome with emotion during the pre-game ring ceremony as he greeted each player, coach and clubhouse staff member to give them their rings.  Gillick’s tears symbolized heart felt emotions in conclusion of a great feat.  It was great to watch !  GIllick and team president David Montgomery will personally deliver the rings to each coach or player who could not attend the event, a real touch of class.  Speaking of a class act, So Taguchi did not attend the ceremony out of respect for his teammates this season on the Triple A Iowa Cubs, he felt that he should honor his committment to this year’s team instead, that is a team player truly defined ! 

Philly fans showed both sides of our colors by booing Adam Eaton and roundly cheering Pat Burrell.  Sometimes I just shake my head.   Cole Hamels takes the ball on Thursday in Colorado, perhaps the young ace can find our first starter’s win!  Stay tuned, still 159 to play.

Opening games always include alot of pre-game ceremony but especially when you are the defending champs.  The World Series Trophy was on prominent display as the team came onto the field from the stands amidst high fives from the fans!  Skipper Charlie Manuel helped raised the 2008 championship flag and player introductions were conducted for both teams.  It is time to play ball again and we as Phillies fans are more than ready!

Brett Myers toed the rubber for the opener for the Fightins vs Derek Lowe for the visiting Atlanta Braves.  Myers got juiced on a hanging changeup by Bryan McCann in the first inning for a two run homer scoring Chipper Jones in front of him.  Jeff Francour drilled a fastball over the left field wall to lead off the second and give Atlanta a three run lead, rookie Jordan Schafer then belted a solo home run as well in his first major league at bat!   Carlos Ruiz got the first 2009 Phillie hit as he doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the third.   At end of three though the count was 4-0 Braves.

Myers pitched six innings before being pulled for a pinch hitter.  He settled down after the second and held the Braves scoreless innings three thru six.   His curveball had that familiar bite in those innings as he went more to it and laid off the straight change which hurt him earlier.    Jack Taschner made his Phillies pitching debut in the 7th  and pitched a perfect inning striking out Chipper Jones to end the frame.    Scott Eyre and Chad Durbin combined to pitch a perfect eighth for the Fightins.  Lowe held the Phillies to only two hits thru eight frames as he excelled at being a ground ball machine by keeping the ball down in the zone whether it be sinkers or sliders.   He was excellent, would have looked nice in red pinstripes!   Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for the Phillies.  

 Mike Gonzales came on for the ninth for Atlanta and was greeted by an Eric Bruntlett pinch double, after a flyout  he then scored on a Jayson Werth single.  Gonzales then made it interesting by walking Chase Utley but struck out Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez to end the game.

  Final score Braves 4 Phillies 1, there goes the undefeated season !

Chatter

Jordan Schaffer became the 99th man in history to hit a home run in his first major league at bat.  Ryan Madson changed his uniform number to 46 instead of number 63 he has wore last season.  Jamie Moyer makes his 2009 debut on Tuesday night in game two going against Jair Jurrjens for the Braves. 

Tonight is opening night for the 2009 baseball season so it is time to make the old preseason picks as to how I expect the season to go.   It is great to be a fan of the defending champs but it will be just as great if the boys can do it again !   That being said here goes the picks for the season.

National League East

The Phillies have a tremendous nucleas, all of whom are in prime years of play.   The ability to run Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins out there everyday will result in alot of wins.  Supplement that with folks like Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz and you have a very strong starting eight.  I think Werth is going to have a big year and also believe that Feliz will hit much better this year.  Ibanez is a pro and I think will be the “professional hitter” in the lineup that we missed at times last season. 

The key is pitching.  The starters were very good during the stretch run last season but that will need to be replicated and the pen has to be strong once again.  Brad Lidge most likely will not be perfect this year but he and Ryan Madson have to anchor the back end of games again for the team to win.

The Mets will be in the mix again, they also have two top notch players in David Wright and Jose Reyes.  Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran are also very good hitters in the core of the lineup.  They beefed up the pen with J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriquez which was the achilles heal last season.  I don’t like their starting pitching so much and even with the addition of Gary Sheffield I don’t think the corner outfield spots are so strong.   In my opinion they are not as good as the Fightin’s and and I do not see them overtaking the Phillies.

Atlanta added Derek Lowe who I lobbied hard as a fan for the Phillies to pick up, he is a legit number one and will definitely help the Braves.  Beyond him I am not so sure they have alot of depth, the pen is anchored by Mike Gonzalez but I am not in love with the starting staff and middle pen, I think they could struggle there.  Brian McCann, Yunell Escobar and Chipper Jones present a very good offensive nucleas and Jeff Francour, Casey Kotchman and Kelly Johnson are all good players but I just don’t think this team is good enough to win the division.  Bobby Cox  is a very good manager so he will keep the team up and they will win games, just don’t think enough to make playoffs.

Florida is an interesting team and perhaps has the best starting pitching staff in the division.  Young arms like Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad and Josh Johnson are very formidable.  Matt Lindstrom throws bullets out of the pen but we will see if he can be consistent.  Hanley Ramirez is as good as anybody at shortstop and is capable of a MVP season.   I think they fall short in the outfield and not so sure that other than Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu that anyone else offensively scares me too much.  I think they will surprise early and will ride the pitching but just don’t see them strong enough to win the division.

The Nationals added Adam Dunn to the offense and he will hit alot of bombs for Washington, he will also strike out alot as well!  They too have some young arms that could shine starting with John Lannan and the addition of  Scott Olsen from Florida.  Ryan Zimmerman may be the best third sacker in the league and Christian Guzman, Ronnie Belliard are good hitters.  The key to this team may be young outfielders Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge, if they play to potential then this team could move up in the division.

That all being said here is how I think it plays out :

1.  Phillies  2. Braves  3.  Mets  4.  Nationals  5.  Marlins

I think the Fightins have too much for the others in comparison, the key will be staying healthy as to how far they stretch ahead of the rest and/or if the divsion race is close. 

GO FIGHTINS !!!!!

On one of the saddest days in Eagle fan’s history, the day our heart and soul, Mr. Brian Dawkins…..alias Weapon X decided to take the money and signed with the Denver Broncos another now former Philly hero made his first appearance against us.  Pat Burrell and the Tampa Bay Rays played against the Fightin’s in Clearwater for the first time this spring.   Burrell had two at bats as the DH and got one hit.  The Phillies hammered the Rays, however, as the posted five runs in the first inning led by dingers from Ryan Howard, John Mayberry Jr. and Miguel Cairo.  The final count in the game was 12 to 5.

Mayberry, Cairo and Howard had two hits apiece to lead a 13 hit Phillies attack and help earn the team’s first win of the spring.  On the hill Kyle Kendrick tossed two and two thirds innings in the start followed by five relievers.  Of the relievers philly native Mike Koplove, a non roster invitee and Clay Condrey were most impressive as they each threw a scoreless inning.

The defending champions, damn I like writing that!, are now 1 and 3 on the spring as they dropped a game on Friday against Cincinatti in which starter Drew Carpenter did not make it out of the first inning.   That game’s final count was a 10 to 3 loss but most of the Phillies lineup did not contain the regulars as it was a “road game” and in the spring many of the “starters” on each club do not go to the away games, only two are required per team to be in the lineup and Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez represented on the two hour trip south of Clearwater to Sarasota.  J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson had good outings on the hill for the Fightins in that one.

Chatter

Jayson Werth has yet to make his spring debut, he was taking a bit longer to get his legs in condition and was scheduled to play against the Rays but suffered a shoulder sprain pre-game.  He is day to day at this point.  John Mayberry Jr. has gotten the early notice as a standout early in the spring, he is swinging the bat well and has demonstrated he can play the outfield…….perhaps a darkhorse to make the club as a right handed bat option off the bench ?

I am down in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the week and no not for golf!  My son’s college team, Eastern University is here to play their spring schedule at Cal Ripken’s baseball facility.  Ripken built a state of the art baseball complex in Myrtle Beach that has seven fields within.   My son is a senior at Eastern, the previous three years the spring trip has been to Florida, this year is a bit different.  Only problem thus far with South Carolina is that when I arrived yesterday it was pouring rain and they are calling for snow tonite……….. not good baseball weather !   It is supposed to warm up as the week progresses though.

For those who are interested and in the area I will be doing book signings of my book “2008 Philadelphia Phillies – A Poetic Season” at the Neumann College Bookstore on March 31st from 10 to 2 and also at the Kennett Bookstore in Kennett Square, PA on 4/4/09 from 11 to 3.   I will have more book signings coming at the BC Sports stores in King of Prussia, Exton and Havertown but dates have yet to be determined.   Lastly the Lehigh Valley Iron PIgs are kicking off opening the stadium for the 2009 ticket drive this week and my book is also available for sale within their store!  Give it a read, a great recap of the championship glory game by game !   You can order online at www.authorpotter.com also.

One  more footnote :   My new buddy Jim Nelson, ex pro linebacker in the NFL is also carrying my book in his Big League Haircuts stores at Exton, Westtown and Chestnut Hill.   It is also available at Chester County Bookstore in West Goshen, Caln Pizza and Pasta in Thorndale , Giordano’s Sports Bar in Kennett Square and Brother’s Pizza in West Chester.  Please frequent these fine establishments and pick up a copy!

Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in less than 30 days as the Fightin’s prepare to defend the 2008 world series title!   The team announced a minor league signing of an additional utility player in Pablo Ozuna.  Ozuna will be a non-roster invitee to spring training, he has major league experience and can play both infield and outfield. 

The team avoided arbitration with Greg Dobbs as the super pinch hitter signed a two year deal worth $2.5 million plus incentives.  Ryan Madson, however, turned down a multi year offer from the team and seems intent on testing the free agent market after the upcoming season. 

The next couple of weeks should be interesting in regards to contract finalizations as the team will attempt to settle on deals with multiple players including Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels.

I get the chance to see the World Series trophy up close and personal tommorrow evening as I have tickets to attend a banquet where it will be displayed!  Mitch Williams will be the guest speaker at the event.

NFL Chatter

The Eagles travel to Arizona this sunday to tackle the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.  I pick the Eagles to win the game and advance to the Super Bowl!   I think the Baltimore Ravens will defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC title game setting up the “Turnpike Bowl” between the two defensive stalwarts!

GO EAGLES!!!!

Joe Blanton is a very unassuming young man. He stepped into a very assuming role however as he took the ball for game four of the 2008 World Series. Blanton stepped up big time by pitching six plus strong innings only allowing two runs and even belting a home run to earn his first world series win!

Jimmy Rollins got things started offensively for the Fightins as he usually does when they succeed with a lead off double in the first inning. Rollins advanced to third on a ground out and was actually out in a run down on a ball hit back to the mound by Ryan Howard but was called safe by the ump! Rollins scored on a bases loaded walk by Pat Burrell. The Phillies went up two to zero as Pedro Feliz stroked a two out single to plate a run. The Rays scored their first run on a Carl Crawford solo home run in the third inning.

Ryan Howard put the Phillies up by four with a three run home run in the fourth inning. The big man took a curve ball out to the left field seats! Pinch hitter Eric Hinske took a Blanton fastball out to center field in the fifth to make the score 5-2 but Joe Blanton the hitter got it back by turning a Edwin Jackson 95 mph fast ball into a left field tater in the Phillies fifth ! It was Blanton’s first ever major league home run!

The Rays threatened in the seventh putting two runners on but skipper Charlie Manuel played bullpen shuffle bringing in Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson in to get out of the inning with no damage. Madson pitched a perfect eighth striking out both Carlos Pena and Evan (Eva) Longoria in the midst.

Jimmy Rollins got his third hit of the game in the eighth as he doubled off the wall. He could have been credited with four but the official scorer gave the Rays second sacker an error on a ground ball in the hole earlier in the game. Pretty simple equation for the Fightins, J-Roll gets on they win!! Jayson Werth belted a home run to score Rollins and put the Fightins up by six! Ryan Howard belted another bomb after teammate Chase Utley reached to make it 10-2 Fightins. Howard ended up with five RBI’s in the game! J.C. Romero pitched the ninth to finish the game.

Chatter

Cole Hamels goes in game five in a rematch of game one as Scott Kazmir throws for the Rays. Jamie Moyer’s performance in game three was even more remarkable considering he was battling a three day stomach virus that had kept him up most of the prior night! The man is a real pro! One win away boys from being known as the best of 2008 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, kudos to the Phillies advance scouts in supplying the team with a great advance plan on these young Ray hitters. The game plan has been perfect thus far……….one more big one to go !

Jimmy Rollins started game three in a different way, he stroked a single to center! Rollins advanced to second on a walk to Jayson Werth, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Chase Utley to put the Fightins up by one. The Rays tied the score in the top of the second as Carl Crawford scored.

Carlos Ruiz hit a solo home run in the Phillies second to put the home team back ahead. That score held till the bottom of the sixth when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back to back home runs to make the count 4 to 1.

The Rays scored two in the seventh to chase Phililes starter Jamie Moyer. Moyer was outstanding and gave the young Rays a schooling by hitting spots consistently. He actually made a great play on a bunt by Carl Crawford in the seventh but the first base umpire blew the call. Crawford would score one of the runs.

Ryan Madson was touched for one run in the eighth as the speed of B.J. Upton scored the tieing run. Upton beat out an infield hit, stole second and third and scored on a errant throw to third by Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz.

The Phillies won the game in the bottom of the ninth as Eric Bruntlett was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Shane Victorino was attempting to bunt Bruntlett to second but a wild pitch did it for him as Bruntlett went to second and even advanced to third as the Rays catcher threw the ball into center field! Rays skipper Joe Maddon then elected to walk both Victorino and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs to load the bases. He brought his right fielder in behind second base and dared hitter Carlos Ruiz to be able to hit a fly ball! Ruiz hit a squibber down the third base line and Bruntlett scored the winning run!

Chatter

Jamie Moyer was outstanding in this game and showed how a true professional plays the game. The game did not start till after 10 pm EDT due to heavy rains in the Philadelphia area all day and early evening Saturday. The game concluded around 1:30 AM!! Philly fans stayed thru the whole thing though and showed their faith in the Fightins! Joe Blanton will go for the Fightins on the mound Sunday night. Give the Rays credit, they are a very good team and have alot of fight in them………sounds like our Phililes! All three games thus far could have went either way, these two teams are matched very well!