Phillies Now Trail By 3 After Bad Loss
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, September 04, 2008 09:09 AM
The strains of the Doors’ “The End” could be heard late last night, as Phillies fans across the country sighed and stored away their replica jerseys for another year.
It ain’t over yet, but it sure is going to be hard.
The Phils dropped maybe the worst loss of the year, a 9-7 drubbing to the Nationals. They were leading 5-4 in the seventh inning, then the wheels came off and the car skidded off the roadway.
Chad Durbin, who was brought into the game to limit damage, surrendered the tying run in the seventh. He remained in the game for the eighth, when he allowed the Nats to start their next rally. JC Romero couldn’t keep them down. In all the two gave up five runs on five hits and a walk. Eighth inning setup man? Hah.
You could blame the bullpen, but that’s part of the story.
Joe Blanton, acquired to eat innings and keep offenses at bay, did neither. He went just four innings, giving up four earned runs while throwing 84 pitches. He was ineffective.
The defense should’ve escaped the fifth without giving up runs, but Ryan Howard thought too long and muffed a potential double play. Pedro Feliz didn’t think about the lead run at the plate, instead gunning for a double play with one out, and got just one.
Howard was great offensively, knocking two home runs and driving in four. But the bottom of the starting lineup didn’t produce, going a combined 0-for-11. the Phils tried to rally late, but were shut down by Joel Hanrahan.
The loss dropped the Phils to three back of the Mets. And look what’s next: Three at the Mets. The most important games of the year? An understatement. Even if the Phils win two of three, they’d remain two behind. This all isn’t impossible, but it certainly won’t be easy. Winning is a necessity almost every time out now.
Or else, “this is the end … my only friend … the end.”
Associated Press photo
29 Responses to “Phillies Now Trail By 3 After Bad Loss”
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September 4th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Let me be the first to say that until this team gets their head out of their collective butts, I don’t see the playoffs happening for the Phils. Also too many b-listers on the team, just not gonna cut it in the post season if they would happen to get there.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:11 am
When are they going to realize that Eyre is the 8th inning guy?? Our problem right now is the bridge to get to Lidge. Eyre has been awesome. Why do managers out think themselves. Eyre has been great since he came over from the Cubs. He gets the 1st two outs in the 7th easily then Cholly lumbers out to remove him for a tired-armed Durbin. While RvsR against Zimmerman might look like the right move on paper … you have to have some feel for the game. If Eyre pitches to Zim the Phills win that game last night. MAKE EYRE the set-up guy NOW before it is too late.
With all that said, I still believe our guys will play well in NY. Must win at least 2 to cut into lead. Still in pretty good shape, much better than last year at this time. The Muts will crash and burn like always. And who knows, the Cubs and Brewers are coming back to the pack too.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:12 am
eyre is the only guy left to send ou tthere. they HAVE to get it now, right?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Again, what is manual thinking, bruntlett over golson, pulling blanton (yes he was struggling but they were not out of it and he threw only 84 pitches) he can not manage a team and the rest of the coaching staff is atrocious. We have suffered through this staff for what 3 years now and have wasted probably some of the best talented teams we have seen in years because of this front office!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Even if this team makes the playoffs, they just aren’t good enough to do anything but win a game or two.
They just don’t have that winning feel that a team like the ‘93 version did.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Let’s not jump of the wagon here my fellow “front-runners”. There is almost an entire month left and although we can’t rely on another Mets collaspe, it’s still in the back of their minds. Take two of three in NY this weekend and we have to win everygame possible from here on out. Far fetched? Probably. Impossible? Well my freind nothing is impossible. It’s been a rollar coaster ride this season no doubt, however we are due for one more up before the end. Last night sucked, Durbin is falling apart, Charlie changes players like it’s little league, and we lost 2 of 3 to the freakin Nationals. But it’s not over……So let’s act like it. Let’s go Phils!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:19 am
As a Mets fan let me remind everyone that the Mets were up 2 games going into Sept 1st and built a 7 game lead in Sept and then lost it. Anything is possible but will it happen again? I don’t know, this is why we play every game.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:19 am
theyre in trouble. they have one day to distract people by extending burrells contract (today – a good thing to do today right?) and then get their asses in gear. EVERY game is a must win now.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I must agree Charlie is back as a manager, but there is something about this team that gives me some hope.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:22 am
at least we know greg golson is really fast. thank you charlie for allowing us to see that.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:29 am
now that the phils are cooking in their own juices with the temperature on high, does anyone know if there are any special gifts for fantasy baseball winners? I mean, i need to stay positive about something right now… right?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am
They need to go 8-2 in the next 10 and of those 8 wins basically need to sweep 3 from the mets and take 3 of 4 from the brew crew…and 2 of 3 from the marlins. As much as we want the division the wildcard is not out of reach either.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:50 am
What they need to do is just continue to play good baseball.. you win some, you lose some… Hopefully they’ll beat the teams they should down the stretch, but for whatever reason this Nationals team gives them trouble. Because I sometimes think that they play-down to their opponents.
I can see them taking 2-of-3 in NY
September 4th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Man this was tuff … we get to play Washington for 3 games while the Mets had to play the Brewers, pitched 3 lefties (including a rookie) against a great right handed hitting lineup …. you would think we would at least take 2 of 3 from Washington and the Mets would drop 2 of 3 to the Brewers …. but yet we drop 2 out of 3 and the Mets sweep …. it is not looking good …. I don’t see why you would think we can take 2 out of 3 in NY this weekend. We need it but I just dont see it. I hate to say it but the Mets are rolling along and last year is not even in there mind they have proved that already by having just horriable loses and coming back the next night and winning.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Because Myers is pitching great… and I think he can outduel Pelfrey… Moyer is pitching great.. and I think he can outduel Pedro Martinez, who aint exactly Cy Young lately.
Sunday should be a good one..
2-of-3… I don’t expect Mets fans to agree with me.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Pelfrey is a much better pitcher than Myers are you kidding me!?!?! and Pedro really has been Cy Old lately. He does mediocre, pitches 6 innings with 3 ER or about there.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:24 am
For all the Phillie fans jumping ship thinking it’s all over despite a lot of season yet to be played, and for all the Met fans thinking their team is incapable of another collapse, I will love to see what this blog is like come Monday if the Phillies take 2 of 3 or sweep. I’m not saying it will happen, just if. I get the feeling the Phillie fans who are suicidal now will suddenly think that Philly is back as the team to beat, and that Met fans will continue to talk trash until they realize that anything is still possible with 3 weeks to play. We’ll all have plenty of time to declare the season over if the Phils lose the series…as for now, just relax and let the games be played. Don M is very wise to point out that Myers is pitching game 1, and that Pedro pitches game 2. Right off the bat, those are 2 very winnable games for the Phils. So to assume it’s all but assured that the Mets walk away with the series and the division now is completely premature.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Hey Rivlez, it’s time to come down off your high horse. I thought you were supposed to be the Met fan with the voice of reason. Myers was 4-1 in August with a 1.65 ERA over 43+ innings with 42 K’s. Pelfrey was also 4-1 but with a 2.93 ERA over 43 innings with just 21 K’s. It looks to me like Myers has the edge. Also, Pedro is dealing with some type of shoulder ailment, and at this stage of his career he is no guarentee for 6 IP/3 ER per start. Your bias is clearly clouding up your better judgment.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Myers IS PITCHING GREAT…. look how he’s done since he got back from AAA.. right now i’ll take Myers in a heartbeat.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I still don’t think so the Mets have gone 13-3 in the 16 games started by Pelfrey and all the loses have been to the Marlins. Myers is doing good, I’ll give you that. He has a ERA of 5.19 vs the Mets in his career. I am the voice of reason and never said that the Mets have this division locked down. This season is SO FAR from over. Pedro is pedro, he has not been good this year but has been better as of late and had a 3.50 ERA career vs the Phils. Also Pedro has less than a 3.75 ERA in his last 10 games. This is going to be a good series but I still don’t think it means as much as the Cubs series if the Phillies don’t sweep.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Good response.. and what we should expect from a Mets fan… you are probably expecting them to win the series.. just the way we think the Phillies will.
If either team manages a SWEEP.. that would be shocking!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
A sweep from either team would definitely be shocking to me but I think it’ll be tight and can go either way 2 out of 3. Also let me point out that Myers has been getting either lucky or pitching great with runners on base. In this August games he has had 11, 9 , 9 , 5 , 5 and 4 hits off of them. I do give him tons of credit for giving up those two 9 hit games and not letting up a single run. That is really good. I’ll say this again for the hundredth time, the Mets are far from a lock for winning the division and it’s going to be a close race to the finish I would believe. Again and again I’m criticized for saying that. Is there something I said that isn’t clear??!?!
Just to show even more that I am now biased:
RiVLez Says:
September 4th, 2008 at 10:19 am
As a Mets fan let me remind everyone that the Mets were up 2 games going into Sept 1st and built a 7 game lead in Sept and then lost it. Anything is possible but will it happen again? I don’t know, this is why we play every game.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
NOT biased*
September 4th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Most people are saying we need 2/3 from the Mets, but I think we need to sweep. We have to put the Mets on the ropes, and hope their bullpen completely collapses down the stretch.
I don’t think the Mets are going to let up, so I think we will have to go 18-7 or better in the last 25.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I think a sweep is really not needed but would really benefit the Phillies but 2 out of 3 would do the job. Anyway, Am I still biased as always?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Dude, if you really are a Mets fan.. you’re a knowledgable baseball fan first, and you just happen to root for the Mets. So Welcome… Phillies-Mets has all the makings of a good rivalry for years to come, but this fake sh!t about all the fans trying to start fights and drunken idiots on both sides needs to stop. For the most part, its quiet heading into this series, last time it was a joke with everyone calling each other pu$$ies and stuff going into each game…
September 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I love the Mets – Phillies series. It’s a lot of fun. I’m going to try and get tickets to Shea for Saturday. It’s both sides that act retarded, there is still a lot of Met fans living in 2006 and then you got the ones living in 2007. This is 2008! WAKE UP!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I think the Phillies need a sweep in the worst way. I have serious doubts they’ll get it… but that’s just conjecture. The facts behind the need for a sweep are in the games to follow.
I know “should” is a bad word when talking about baseball but look at the teams the Phillies and Mets face for the rest of the season. I think its going to be tough for the Phillies to pick up games on the Mets so if they can’t use this weekend’s series to gain some ground, they’re making an already daunting task just that much harder.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Durbin has been good for the Phils this year,but he’s just outta gas now…So much for Blanton being an inning eater he averages about 5 innings a game since he’s come here,just another one of Gillicks garbage pick ups were stuck with.