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Blastoff! Howard’s Two Bombs Fuel Phils In Rout
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, May 21, 2008 11:38 PM
Open letters seem to work.
Ryan Howard responded to a day of criticism across the blogosphere with three hits — two home runs and a double — and four RBI to lead a 12-2 win over the Nationals. Howard went 3-for-5, also scoring a walk and a strikeout. His performance was balanced nicely by a slew of others. Shane Victorino went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, one coming on a single that Dmitri Young failed to close out. When the ball fell into the Nationals’ dugout, two more scored.
The error was part of an eight-run sixth that saw the Phils bring 13 batters to the plate, capped off by Howard’s second homer, an absolute bomb to center field. His first was an even bigger bomb into right.
It’s great to see Howard put up three big hits, including the opposite-field double to score the evening’s first run. His average is now at .195 and his HR and RBI totals are at good levels (12 and 29). Here’s hoping the strong effort continues.
Meanwhile, Pedro Feliz had three hits including a homer off Matt Chico, showing yet again he can kill lefties. Chico, by the way, surrendered four runs in five innings. Six of the Phils’ eight runs in the sixth were charged to Jesus Colome. For the Phils, Jamie Moyer pitched a good six innings, letting nothing home despite scattering a bunch of hits. Clay Condrey finished the game and, of course, gave up two runs in the process. Under bogus Major League Baseball rules, Condrey collected his first save of the year.
Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley collected two hits, each with a double, and Chris Coste had two singles. Jayson Werth and Pat Burrell brought up the rear with 0-for nights. No big deal — when Howard hits, the offense is light years better than the version we’ve been seeing lately. Another great statistic: seven walks — when this team watches pitches they become infinitely more dangerous. And against lefties this team is now raking. At this point it doesn’t matter whether a manager throws a lefty at the Phils; more often they’ll find a way to beat him. Especially if the big man is on his game.
I won’t say Howard is back or any of that junk — Howard said in the post-game he’s taking things one at bat at a time. That’s the best way to go about things, and we should do so, too. Howard’s swing looked fantastic tonight, but we can’t forget how horrendous it looked yesterday. Time will definitely tell where he’s at. Meanwhile it was good to see the Phils tee off on a suspect Nationals’ pitching staff after being dominated by the same guys. It was high time the Phils had to put the Nats in their place — hopefully this sets off a run against bottom-feeding teams. Next up: the overachieving Astros.
Associated Press photo
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:06 am
Its feast or famine with the Phillies offense. Good to see Howard bang a couple of dingers out. Hopefully Moyer’s performance is sign of consistency to come.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 am
I don’t see Burrell heating up again for a month or two at least. Howard needs to do so, because one of those two needs to provide power at any given time.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
Winning a great pitched 1-run game and blowing out the Nationals the next day.
“We are just not a good team right now.”
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 am
Let’s just remember that we are still in May and only 1.5 games out. This is an improvement over the past decade plus! This recent team heats up during summer. So as long as that trend continues we should see 90+ wins and another post season. The phils are working towards the level of team we are expecting to see everyday. As Howard is taking it one at bat at a time, we should take it one game at a time with this team. Two wins in DC and off to Houston to face Oswalt. Time to step it up against a very good pitcher!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
Well one thing Burrell never was is consistant. It seems like after that 10th inning homer against the Giants, nothing has really lived up to that and he has been kind of weak at the plate. That being said, I think he’ll come around. There is a whole new strategy of pitching to him now it seems and he has to adjust to it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
I can’t believe everyone is going crazy over last nights win. We’re lucky we even won that series. This four game series in Houston will determine whether or now we have improved as a team. Need to take 3 of 4.
Being the terrible and negative fan that I am, I will be down in Houston for this series. Anyone else going?
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Burrell always seems to hit better after the all-star break anyway. As long as Howard continues on an upward trend, our offense should be solid. Lets just hope that Myers finds his velocity, Kendrick does the same thing he did last year, and we can find a way to control the damage that is Adam Eaton.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
The fact that we are ahead of or tied with the Mets and Braves at this point is encouraging. I think the Braves deserve to be more feared than the Mutts. Tex hasnt even hit much yet.
We need a new 5th starter. Give Carrasco a shot!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Mike T… don’t we need to win like 6 out of the 4 games in Houston to be considered a good team??? The Astros are 27-21, have the hottest hitter in baseball with Berkmann… if we split that series, thats a good thing… same scenario as when we went to Arizona… if you split on the road, against a good team, that is a successful road trip
Howard has 5 HR in his last 8 games.. 9 RBIs… and has seen his average jump almost .025 …still crappy, but at least he’s getting better.
He’s getting better by attempting to go the opposite way… same thing Burrell was doing in the beginning of the year, but isn’t doing much of anymore.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
one quick point on ryan howard. jason werth got enormous amounts of credit for his 8 rbis on friday as it was well deserved. if you look at the average of men on base for those rbi, werth had a possible 5 of 9. Howard had a possible 1 0f 6. Imagine the rbis howard would have had last night, with more men on base. OH and somewhere I read he was only 3 for his last 12 and something about dont say anything good about him yet. umm .250 is a lot better than the .180 he has been sporting all year and that seems like a step in the right direction to me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 am
“Hopefully Moyer’s performance is sign of consistency to come.” … says Mark.
Here’s something for you to mull over Mark. Moyer (4.37 ERA) has allowed 3 earned runs or less in seven out of ten starts.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuce
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
“…Next up: the overachieving Astros.”…. says Tim Malcolm
Overachieving?? With that line-up? Berkman is a genuine All-Star who may be having the best year of his illustrious career. Tejada who hit over .300 three of four years with Baltimore is now doing the same for the Astros (.340 BA). Bourn (league leading 20 SBs) and Matsui (11 SBs and .294 BA) complement each other at the top of the line-up. Matsui who was an integral part of Colorado’s line-up last year is not a surprise or overachieving. Pence who some felt should have won the Rookie of the Year award last year is coming around after a slow start and hitting .288. Lee as usual is the big RBI producer (10 HRs, 35 RBIs).
If there is a weakness, it’s probably in the rotation. However, keep in mind, Oswalt is their premier ace. And having Valverde as closer (14 saves) waiting in the wings to bail out a starter is a hugh plus. The Astros (27-21) are indeed a serious contender in their division.
The baseball axiom is to at least achieve a split on the road (against good teams like the Astros) and of course win the series at home.
Let’s go Phillies!
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
What have you to say Mike T? Anything besides “we are not a good team”?
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
F the Asstros. Take it to them! I’m not scared. Well, still scared of Eaton and Myers. Pleeeeeeaaaaase, Howard, plleeeeeeeeaaaaasee say that you’ve left your slump behind.
If the offense comes out to play we’ll get 3. If not… well, this team ain’t built on pitching.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
why am I hearing some1 say as long as howard stay on the upswing charlie said? its one game…he needs to do this for a week before we should start putting in an upswing category…its 1 game! lets not get excited yet
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Yes, Bruce, I said overachieving. Yes they have Berkman, Lee and Tejada, but they also start Geoff Blum, Kaz Matsui (who I refuse to call a top-15 2B), JR Towles and Michael Bourn. They have a pretty bad pitching staff — worse than the Phils. at 27-21 they are overachieving.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Here is what I see; a team that played at least 15 games without last years MVP; without the services of a rising start in Shane Victorino for almost the same amount of time and without the full services of one of the premier players in this francise’s history in Ryan Howard - and they are playing good ball. Keep mentioning Myers, Eaton, Condrey - whoa, how about Romero, Lidge, Seanez. Durbin & what Gordon has done for us all in but 1 game (the opening day disaster):
Combined ERA for these 5 pitchers is 1.90 topped off by the hottest closer in the NL today in Brad Lidge. Lidge has given up 1 run in 20 innings!
Realisticaly speaking, Seanez has been around a while (he’s 39) and his lifetime ERA is over 4; Gordon will be taking some time off unfortunately soon as he is quite older; Durbin currently has more innings off the bench than anyone with 29 and a third, his ERA is at 2.15 - point being, our pitching staff woes pale in comparison to this splendid wave we have been riding with the middle relief and closing power..
Can I just say, saddle up gents - it’s time to get back on the Ryno express and enjoy the ride
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hell, Burrell gets walked so much it doesn’t matter if he’s hitting. He’s still getting on base!
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
victorino continues to tear it up since returning from injury. like i said the other day- charlie better have put to rest any ideas about platooning him. i’d like to see burrell get a game or two off this series, but knowing manuel he probably won’t sit him until he slumps even harder.
the astros have one of the best offenses in baseball but aside from oswalt they don’t have much in the way of pitching. that goes for starters and their pen. kendrick will have a tough matchup tonight, if they can get a win in that one i’ll feel much better about the series. i think the phils could realistically take 3 but i’d be happy with a split.