Phillies Nation

Let’s Jinx JRoll’s Streak by Writing About It

Posted by Brian Michael, Fri, September 16, 2005 11:26 AM

Much of the Phillies recent success in shoring up a winning homestand can certainly be attributed to Jimmy Rollins’ 21-game hitting streak.  Though, I remember last week when I kept hearing of the streak and was unimpressed because the Phils were losing, especially to Houston.  But now it seems to be helping the club win games.   Why is that? you might ask.  Well, it has to do with the number of hits Rolllins is getting each night.  Whereas the first 2 weeks of the streak were mostly 1-hit games, the past week has seen a series of multi-hit games.  In fact, in the past 8 games JRoll has had 3 hits in 5 games, including a handful of doubles. 

That is how you win ballgames, when your leadoff hitter gets on base.  He’s not going to score every time, but giving the cleanup hitters the chance to get some RBI’s is key.  Don’t get me wrong the Phils’ middle of the lineup has plenty of chances to drive runners in.  Last night for instance, 12 runners were left on base - 5 in the first 2 innings.  But of course they’re not gonna be crossing the plate unless they’re trotting to the sound of a giant lit-up bell.  The Phils hit two homers last night accounting for 3 of the 4 runs; one by Ryan Howard who continued to make his case for NL rookie of the year. 

So one other note from last night’s game, which also doubled as a end of the year party for PhilliesNation employees, was the attendance, or lack thereof.  This week has certainly had its share of small crowds which are attributable to the beginning of school, the Eagles, and the general dissatisfaction over the Phils’ inconsistency.  The Inky’s Phil Sheridan writes about this today saying that maybe the Phillies strech run is best played on the road away from the apathy of the fans.  I don’t think so, CBP is too much of an advantage for a team that relies so heavily on the long ball.  I may take this up with Phil during his live chat at Philly.com starting in a few minutes.

UPDATE: I did talk to Phil, here’s a snippit of the transcript:

Phillies_Nation: Phil - don’t you think CBP is too much of an advantage for a team that relies so heavily on the long ball to suggest that the Phils should play their strech run on the road?

Phil_Sheridan> The odd thing is that, like last year, the cheap homers seem to decline in frequency as the season goes on.  Have you noticed that?  The ones that have gone out on the last homestand look like they would have gone out anywhere…But you make a good point.  I was talking mainly about the lack of pressure playing away from those empty seats and booing fans.

Phillies Nation: Oh, I agree.  The empty seats and booing fans are tough.  But it’s not like it isnt deserved.

Phil Sheridan> What gets complicated, though, is this.  It is deserved, based on the history of the team and the way it has been run.  But if you’re Ryan Howard or Chase Utley — guys for whom Curt Schilling is some old Red Sox pitcher — it sours you on the fans here.  So we’re starting a new cycle of us-against-them.

That final quote is an interesting point.  I’m gonna think about it and whether we should be nicer to the new guys despite team name on their jersey….for a later post….

Finally, with all this talk of JRoll coupled with Jim’s correct answer, we shall reveal that the trivia answer was indeed Chuck Klein. Kleinie did in fact have 2 26-game hitting streak during the 1930 season.  Amazing!

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

This Is How You Do It

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, September 13, 2005 11:22 PM

So, I missed the game again tonight, being surrounded by depressed Cubs fans and all, but I from what I’ve read and seen, things are looking up.  Besides the wins in 4 out of 5 games, the bullpen tonight fully lived up to the high expectations set for it.  A little run support, as Jakesg asked for, did the trick as Aaron Fultz got the W and the backend troika didn’t self destruct. Ryan Howard hit another dinger which is great for the rookie.  I just hope the Phils don’t come to rely on the kid too heavily: a small strikeout-laced slump with heavy pressure to perform could really mess him up.  

Hmm, speaking of which, Gavin Floyd was less than stellar again tonight.  Something has to be done with that fella.  Maybe a workout with Pods would do the trick…or even a trade perhaps?  Because as Jim noted, Brito and Tejeda are ready and willing and have so far performed excellently despite their "as needed" status in the rotation. 

So going into Wednesday, as you all know, the Phils are 1 game behind the Marlins - who have been knocking the Astros around the past couple days.  Not to look past the Braves, but this weekend series will be huge.  HUGE!!!!!!!  Sure the Astros series last week was big, but the sweep was surprisingly not completely devastating (but let’s all collectively *sigh* as we recall another Phillies sweep in midst of a playoff race).  The history and rivalry that is growing between the Fish and the Phils will make this series interesting, if not nail-biting.  The Marlins are like a 1 ton monkey on the backs of the Phillies and we all know the current squad is not in the habit of bucking trends.  But this is a great opportunity to prove that they are indeed a playoff team - the team Ed Wade thinks it is and not the team everyone has watched in agony the past few years.  Please prove us wrong guys.

P.S. The ESPN article referenced above gives a clue to the trivia answer, but it is not the one we are looking for…

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Harry the K Going Away?

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, September 13, 2005 01:28 AM

Lately, as some comments have noted, Harry Kalas has seen reduced time behind the mike and there is talk that he is on his way out - and not by choice.  Apparently, the Phils were none too pleased with his fan-friendly calls of some crucial at bats last week.  Instead of conveying just the facts, Kalas occasionally likes to root his team on…is there anything wrong with that?  Remember when Harry and Whitey used to call extra inning games?  They were always liquored up just enough to make you watch the game to the final out.  Well, according to Phillies brass, fun in the broadcast booth is inappropriate.

While there has been no explicit statement of condemnation, since last week, two suspicious events have occurred.  First is of course the reduced air time.  The first instance was Saturday when he was relegated to doing color on the radio.  Then Sunday afternoon, we only had the pleasure of hearing Harry for a few innings.  I mean really, I nice relaxing Sunday with Harry’s soothing baritone in the background is what us Phillies fans live for!  It’s like a drug.  Today, I stuck in Wrigleyville trying to watch the Eagles and the occasionally Phils score so I was not able to track Harry’s PT.  I hear the Fightin’s are hanging in there with a win against the Braves but if anyone noticed anything awry, let us know.

The second harbinger is the recent hiring of sports broadcaster Scott Palmer as a media consultant.  While the move to bring the former Action News icon on board is certainly not a bad decision on the surface, the timing and motive is certainly suspect.  It is rumored he is in South Philly to improve the Phillies public face and media relations.  It sounds a little bit like in Office Space when the Bobs were brought in to help with the firings.

At a recent Phillies gathering, when a reporter asked Kalas’ new co-pilot, Larry Anderson, if Harry would be back next year, he simply replied “Yes.”  Details as to in what specific capacity remain undisclosed nor has an explicit vote of confidence been given.

So, like I said these are all just rumors, but when a series of them converge, we should take notice.  Harry turns 70 in March, and while some say he has been slipping as of late, I guarantee Phillies Nation would not stand for him being pushed aside.  Similar to Joe Paterno, this man is an institution and has consistently contributed positively to the lives of sports fans across the nation.  He deserves nothing less than a graceful retirement…one comes on his own time.

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Let’s Call It a Comeback

Posted by Brian Michael, Fri, September 09, 2005 11:12 AM

So the Phillies are in the dumps, no doubt about that.  What better way to turn this home-stand around than throwing your stopper out there to shut down the Marlins.  Horray for us! Cory Lidle is healthy and finally ready to pitch tonight after missing two starts.  Meanwhile Houston is starting Roger Clemens against the Brewers.  Sheesh!  Well, at least there was a day off yesterday.  It’s kinda like when a basketball team is on a run and the opposition calls timeout.  Of course the Phillies are the ones getting their tails kicked in.  But it could be worse.  Last year they were hovering around 5 games out of the Wild Card race.  I was reading some archived posts and there was no dagger like this last year.  The decline began in July and really didn’t leave much hope for the rest of the season.

Thus this year’s agony is a bit more intense coming late in the season, plus us fans have had the extra day to mull it over.  The Phils are certainly still in the race, they’re just not playing like they are, which lead to Charlie Manuel’s profound comments:

“I can’t figure whether we try too hard or we get too tight in situations. I can’t determine which one.”

First of all, there’s no such thing as trying too hard.  That about there sums up the difference between the Manuel and Bowa philosophies.  So, it must be that the Phils “get tight in situations” or in other words CHOKE!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Uncle Charlie, that is it, the Phillies are choke artists.  Did you know that coming into this job?  Did Ed Wade somehow forget to list ”Heimlich-training” as one of the qualifications in the job listing.

In other managerial news, Gary Varsho’s name has surfaced as a potential replacement for Pittsburgh’s Lloyd McClendon.  I’d have to say I wouldn’t miss him.  In fact, I believe Varsho’s departure would be the perfect opportunity for the Phils’ to hire Lenny Dykstra as a coach.  He gets so mad when he watches the Phillies at bat, but unlike the rest of us, has the experience to help.  I think he would be a big help if we can lure him out of the California car washing business.

Last night I hung out with a bunch of Mets fans who assured me that we are not alone.  Brandon Looper, their closer, blew Wednesday’s Mets game in a similar fashion to Billy Wagner.  So, thankfully the Phillies have not dropped below Met level; but what’s more interesting is that both the NY Times and NY Post report Met interest in the Phillies back-end of the bullpen.  Sure, Uggie and Wagner are much better closers than Looper, but not lately when it counts.  We’ll know more this series, especially if the Phils can get back in the rhythm of having six innings of halfway decent starting pitching followed by the Madson-Urbina-Wagner combo.  Lately games have strayed from this plan and have proved not as comfortably simple as Charlie Manuel would like.

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Trivia

Posted by Brian Michael, Wed, September 07, 2005 10:57 PM

Who holds the Phillies’ record for longest hitting streak?

(note: this answer may surface as JRoll pushes 20)

Posted in trivia | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Why?

Posted by Brian Michael, Wed, September 07, 2005 10:25 PM

Well I will be the first to say it.  I thought the 8th saved the season and after that ninth I think our season is over.  In fact I would not be surprised at all if the Phils free fall from here and plummet to last place in the NL East.  Someone explain to me how I could be wrong.  Someone explain to me why Bill Dancy sends David Bell in the 8th.  Since when is it not a good idea to try to score as many runs as possible?  I mean Bell had no chance.  Someone explain to me how David Bell gets eaten up by a ground ball in the 9th with Jose Vizcano running.  I mean he had ALL day to make that play.  Billy Wagner choked again by the way against his old team.  I don’t care if it was his third day pitching…this is a playoff race.  With the Marlins and Braves on deck….I believe the fat lady is doing her last minute warm up vocals and the priest is preparing the last rites. 

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

And It’s 1-2-3 Strikes You’re Out

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, September 06, 2005 07:39 PM

So I saw the comment on last night’s post by Jakesg regarding the Phillies and strikeouts, and it totally sums up how I feel about the Phillies lineup.  This is something I recall my dad saying last year and I often try to advance this point but usually people like to shoot it down.  It is the fact that the Phillies seem to look for too many walks.  They look and look and look.  The 3-4-5 guys in the Phillies lineup - who will remain nameless - are always looking for walks.  Well fellas, you don’t get paid to walk.  Oh, but you say, Brian, walks are good, they aren’t outs, they increase your OBP, it’s the Moneyball way.  Well you know what, that’s total crap.  Stop looking at pitches and start swing the bats.  You get paid to crush base hits and drive runners in and not saunter down to first by looking for walks.  I hate having to keep saying this because it leads to other things; namely, Jakesg’s comment that when you keep the bat on your shoulder, if you don’t walk you strikeout.

And that’s where we are this week as the Wild Card starts to slip away.  In the last 7 games, the Phillies have racked up 62 strikeouts.  This includes 14 strikeouts in the 12-inning game on Saturday and no less than 7 in any one game.  If that number wasn’t troubling enough, I can’t even count (well, I could, but I don’t want to) how many of those were in clutch situations - how many of those could have won the game.  It’s one thing for Jimmy Rollins to strikeout as the opening batter, but to do it as the final batter - as he did tonight - is unacceptable.  Tonight, every stater in the lineup recorded a strikeout.  Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, Kenny Lofton, not to mention ole reliables JRoll, Burrell and Howard have all caught the bug.  It’s borderline absurd and will surely cost the Phillies a playoff berth if it continues.

Hey, but that’s not all, I’m not done yet.  Another player that I have always respected has become a huge liability for the club and I contend he single-handedly cost the Phils two games this week…and he’s not even an everyday starter!  That man is Todd Pratt.  Let’s go back to the top of the ninth with a runner on first, 1 out I believe.  Everyone knows it is a steal situation.  Billy Wagner throws over a couple of times to keep Eric Bruntlett honest.  He of course runs, the pitch is high and wide - essentially a pitch out - and what does Todd Pratt do, he craps his pants, triple pumps then chucks a terribly wide throw down to second.  Two pitches later, the same thing, Pratt sees the runner go, clutches, craps down the other leg, then decides not to throw.  Of course the batter who was down 0-2 and has since battled back, knocks a base hit into left, scoring the game winning run.  A pinch runner comes in for that guy, who subsequently steals second but is thrown out at third to a chorus of Bronx cheers.  Whoopdee-friggin-do!

Pratt does try to redeem himself in the bottom of the ninth by knocking a single off Brandon Lidge - literally.  So Manuel finally takes the corn cob pipe from out of his ear and uses Endy Chavez in the role he was meant for: as a pinch runner for Tank.  Endy steals second as he should, but it doesn’t matter because JRoll strikes out, albeit swinging, to end the game.

For the third time in four days, the Phils lose a one-run game, each occasion leaving a game-tying run in scoring position.  So there you go, 3rd place in the Wild Card 1.5 games back.  Houston came to town and ripped the Wild Card lead right from the Phillies and kicking them in the pants on the way out the door.  Finally, the Fightins’ face someone other than the Astros’ big 3 for the first time this year and hopefully can avoid the sweep and a revival of the Marlins freakout of 2003.

You know what the worst part is?  It’s that every night, I have to share the MLB extra innings with my Red Sox fan of a roommate and usually the games seem to parallel each other - very tightly contested.  But of course, as they did tonight on a David Ortiz walk-off homer, the Red Sox find a way to win.  That’s the difference, the Phillies find a way to lose.  Go Phils.

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Endy Chavez is Worthless

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, September 05, 2005 10:15 PM

Only seconds have passed since Endy Chavez ended Monday’s nights game, so I should probably calm down before writing this, but I won’t.  What a terrible at-bat.  I mean what was going on there?  The first pitch is check swing foul ball, and Endy has this look of amazement that he made contact.  The next pitch he whiffs completely.  Then, he fouls off a ball that bounces in front of the plate.  Let me reiterate, he fouled off a ball that bounces in front of the plate.  Mind you, there are runners on second and third and like Lofton’s run earlier, that pitch easily could have gotten away from Astros catcher Brad Asumus and allowed the tying run to score.  What a joke, Endy.  But I guess the joke is on us, because really, should we expect anything more? 

I spent the entire weekend heckling Marlon Byrd and pointing out how the Nationals got the raw end of that July deal -  full well knowing that it wasn’t true.  Oh yea, and Byrd went 3-5 (a HR short of a cycle) with 3 insurance RBIs in the eighth for the Nats today.  And meanwhile with the game on the line in Philadelphia, the best Manuel could come up with was Endy Chavez.  Crap!  Not to mention, highly touted Shane Victorino’s chance at redemption falling short.  He is 0-2 in his big league career highlighted by wild swings and misses.  Clutch performances are missing from the playoff caliber team as they consistently come this close (I’m making a close sign with my thumb and forefinger) but fail to win the game.  So what you get is second place in the wild card. 

Stuff happened the rest of the game, but it doesn’t matter.  Brett Myers gave up 4 in the first inning, but that can be expected.  David Bell’s bobble let the first run on base and kinda set the stage for that inning.  And then Andy Pettitte was mysteriously lifted in the sixth, which was good news but the Phils failed to take full advantage of the move.

I just hope some of my fellow Phillies bloggers can prove statistically that Endy Chavez sucks, but I know its true cause I’m tired of watching him pinch hit and fall on his face with the game on the line.  This sucks, I’m pissed.  Go Phils.

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Phillies - Nationals Game 3: The Phils Seem Tired

Posted by Brian Michael, Sun, September 04, 2005 05:21 PM

There seemed to be many more Phillies fans in the crowd today, but it didn’t help much.  The Phillies’ bats were once again silenced by Nats’ starting pitching as Esteban Loaiza recorded 11 strikeouts - matching a career high set against the Phils earlier this year.  In fact, the Phils only managed 4 hits and Bobby Abreu continued his hitless weekend.  Loaiza did what the Gavin Floyd couldn’t - besides garnering a win - that is, save the bullpen.  The Phils thus end their 12-game road trip 6-6, but with losses by the Astros and Marlins thankfully retain the Wild Card lead.  The best part of the game was catching the final innings on UPN down here and afterwards they showed this movie, Brewsters Millions, a remake with Richard Pryor.  It’s about a minor league ballplayer who inherits $300 million but has to spend $30 million in a month before he can collect.  It really has nothing to do with this post, but it’s a real funny movie, so check it out.  Ok, back to the playoff race.

The Phils have a lot to think about on their ride back up I-95.  Not the least of which will be Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe whom they will face to kick off a 10 game home stand.  The Phils have dropped 9 straight to the ‘Stros dating back to last August. There will also have to be a certain bit of soul searching to decide if the club is mentally ready for this stretch run.  Houston, Florida, Atlanta are coming to our house and looking to push the Phils around.  I don’t imagine for a second any of these three teams think the Phillies should be contending for the playoff spots that were meant all season for them.  This is exactly the opportunity the Phillies should be looking for to show they are legit.  The beauty of loving the Phils is this when they either thrive or fail.  They will either roll over and die like so many a year or realize this is the m.o of the baseball club of Philadelphia, PA.  When a better team comes to town and think they can dispose of this hapless bunch, they hunker down do what it takes to win and smash these teams in the teeth.  Home sweet home, Go Phils!

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off

Phillies - Nationals Game 2: The Nationals Strike Back

Posted by Brian Michael, Sun, September 04, 2005 12:21 AM

Man, that was a tough loss, especially in front of all those Nats fans.  But I can’t say I wasn’t surprised.  Twice the Phils left the bases loaded (in the 8th and 11th) and Chase Utley and Bobby Abreu were 0-10 combined; not to mention Rollins and Lofton’s 2-10 night.  That was disgraceful.  So was Todd Pratt’s lazy passed ball that let the winning run advance to second.  And just as I feared, the Nats John Patterson pretty much shut down the Phils lineup recording 8 strikeouts.  His fastball topped out around 90-92 but seemed to confound the Phils’ bats.

On the somewhat positive side, the Phils continue to live and die by the long ball.  Burrell teed off in the second and Ryan Howard sparked a 9th inning rally which was capped off by another David Bell dinger.  I had a feeling Howard would finally catch up to one tonight, he was swinging the bat well.  One fella who wasn’t was Shane Victorino who came to the plate in the 9th for his first big league at bat.  After fouling a few off he finally wiffed on strike 3.  He actually entered the game an inning prior to pinch run for Pat Burrell, which after the lineup turned over twice didn’t seem quite as good an idea. 

But the Phils did mount a comeback in the ninth with which I was very impressed.  I didn’t think they had it in them; but this late in the season, wins are the only thing that count.  Fortunately, our boys are still a half a game up in the Wild Card.  Tomorrow they have a chance to take the series behind Annapolis-native Gavin Floyd (Severna Park to be precise).  After a game like tonight’s he needs to be effective and last at least 6 innings for the club.  The bullpen is taxed enough as it is and looking ahead to Houston the Fightins will need every advantage they can get.

Posted in Posts | Share This | Permalink | Comments Off