Comments on: Prado Wears Out Phillies http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/ More than a blog Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:27:50 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: j reed http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111511 j reed Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:06:21 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111511 mikeB.- i think Ruiz callled the game. In the case of Blanton, the braves did what we don't do, that is make adjustments at the plate. Blanton was throwing first pitch fastballs for strikes and they came out swinging first pitch in what the 2nd or 3rd inning. Ruiz should have realized this and called for some off speed stuff...Not that Blanton couldn't have done this, but I feel as though the responsiblity lies wih the catcher to call the game unless the pitcher is more the cerebral/crafty type. Ruiz also had Park throwing a first pitch two seamer to Francouer, a notorious low ball hitter...thankfully Frenchy didn't come up first swinging like he usually does. Also Ruiz called for a come-back fastball for a guy who obviously having trouble with the big league off speed stuff. Park's pitch broke a little early, but nonetheless had no business throwing it...and that was Ruiz's responsibility. mikeB.- i think Ruiz callled the game. In the case of Blanton, the braves did what we don’t do, that is make adjustments at the plate. Blanton was throwing first pitch fastballs for strikes and they came out swinging first pitch in what the 2nd or 3rd inning. Ruiz should have realized this and called for some off speed stuff…Not that Blanton couldn’t have done this, but I feel as though the responsiblity lies wih the catcher to call the game unless the pitcher is more the cerebral/crafty type. Ruiz also had Park throwing a first pitch two seamer to Francouer, a notorious low ball hitter…thankfully Frenchy didn’t come up first swinging like he usually does. Also Ruiz called for a come-back fastball for a guy who obviously having trouble with the big league off speed stuff. Park’s pitch broke a little early, but nonetheless had no business throwing it…and that was Ruiz’s responsibility.

]]> By: LH http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111491 LH Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:55:00 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111491 Maybe this will take the jinx off J-Roll... To the tune of: Oh Where Oh Where Can My Baby Be? He swaggered and talked in spring training like a czar But he hadn't driven the ball very far There in opening week he was doing misreads He'd swing and stalled, his technique was dead I couldn't watch, but I observed for some insight I'll never forget April, May, and June nights The downstream BA, running out of gas The painful dream who seems to be outclassed Oh, where oh where can my Jimmy be? His bat was taken away from me He's gone to hiatus, and he's got to get good So I can see my real Jimmy when I go to the park. Maybe this will take the jinx off J-Roll…

To the tune of: Oh Where Oh Where Can My Baby Be?

He swaggered and talked in spring training like a czar
But he hadn’t driven the ball very far
There in opening week he was doing misreads
He’d swing and stalled, his technique was dead
I couldn’t watch, but I observed for some insight
I’ll never forget April, May, and June nights
The downstream BA, running out of gas
The painful dream who seems to be outclassed

Oh, where oh where can my Jimmy be?
His bat was taken away from me
He’s gone to hiatus, and he’s got to get good
So I can see my real Jimmy when I go to the park.

]]> By: mikeB http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111466 mikeB Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:03 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111466 I agree with Mile's post in that the pitching cost us this last game. Prado and Blanco had 7 hits between them and Prado had the 4 RBIs. Blanco is hitting .219, had 3 of those hits and also a walk. Francoeur also had a couple of hits and an RBI hitting at .251. Prado is hitting pretty well at .299 but come on, he is not exactly Babe Ruth. Had a home run and triple last night. Just a total lack of concentration and poor pitch selection by mainly Blanton and Madsen. I agree with Mile’s post in that the pitching cost us this last game. Prado and Blanco had 7 hits between them and Prado had the 4 RBIs. Blanco is hitting .219, had 3 of those hits and also a walk. Francoeur also had a couple of hits and an RBI hitting at .251. Prado is hitting pretty well at .299 but come on, he is not exactly Babe Ruth. Had a home run and triple last night. Just a total lack of concentration and poor pitch selection by mainly Blanton and Madsen.

]]> By: Manny http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111465 Manny Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:11:13 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111465 I think that ESPN should do a story that runs every half-hour on Sportscenter basically BASHING Jimmy Rollins, and showing him miserably striking out/flying out/grounding out. See if that gets under his skin and gives him a boost or something... hope that some negative national press can get him back to normal. OR.. as Georgie said somewhere else, maybe he's depressed or has some type of anxiety... you know, that's the new *it* ..players going to the DL for that!! Should I just feel sorry for the guy? I don't know. But I still believe that a little booing might help. I think that ESPN should do a story that runs every half-hour on Sportscenter basically BASHING Jimmy Rollins, and showing him miserably striking out/flying out/grounding out. See if that gets under his skin and gives him a boost or something… hope that some negative national press can get him back to normal.

OR.. as Georgie said somewhere else, maybe he’s depressed or has some type of anxiety… you know, that’s the new *it* ..players going to the DL for that!! Should I just feel sorry for the guy? I don’t know. But I still believe that a little booing might help.

]]> By: Miles http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111455 Miles Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:21:35 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111455 While Jimmy's struggles are obvious, we all have to come to the realization that we are not losing games solely because Jimmy can't hit. As shag or someone mentioned earlier, this game is a W if Madson doesn't issue a 2 out walk, uncork a throwing error, and then give up a double down the line on a belt high fastball with a 1-2 count. JB also was throwing hangers for the most of the night. Ruiz grounded into the big DP. Larry Jones made a great play that could have easily cost us 2 runs. Bad Jimmy doesn't equal a loss. It was everything. Our staff gave up 5 runs to a Braves team that managed all of one run over the weekend against the Sox. If Martin freaking Prado has 4 RBIs I am putting this game on the pitching. While Jimmy’s struggles are obvious, we all have to come to the realization that we are not losing games solely because Jimmy can’t hit. As shag or someone mentioned earlier, this game is a W if Madson doesn’t issue a 2 out walk, uncork a throwing error, and then give up a double down the line on a belt high fastball with a 1-2 count. JB also was throwing hangers for the most of the night. Ruiz grounded into the big DP. Larry Jones made a great play that could have easily cost us 2 runs.

Bad Jimmy doesn’t equal a loss. It was everything. Our staff gave up 5 runs to a Braves team that managed all of one run over the weekend against the Sox. If Martin freaking Prado has 4 RBIs I am putting this game on the pitching.

]]> By: Chuck P http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111390 Chuck P Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:13:18 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111390 It's not like he's not seeing the ball... he's just not putting good swings on the ball and balls that have dropped for him in the past are being hit right at fielders. I think that this is interesting... take a look at his strikeout totals through 74 games for each of the past four seasons: '09: 34, 304 AB '08: 32, 301 AB '07: 43, 322 AB (MVP) '06: 31, 309 AB He's seeing the ball but he's hesitating and he's not getting his hips behind it. I think that this is a mental funk more than anything else. With each game that passes, Jimmy feels more pressure to get out of it. Unfortunately, his batting average isn't going to jump 50 points overnight. Big Papi has been able to turn his season around because he's not only seeing the pitches but he's also going with them. He's not trying to hit every pitch out of the ballpark anymore. If he gets a pitch high and away, he's dropping it into the gap in left field. If he gets a mistake pitch, he's unloading on it. Jimmy's still trying to do too much. He's not getting on top of the ball and he's taking weak swings. I think that it's time to give my alternative lineup a shot? Interesting stat... the leadoff batters for the phillies are hitting .237, collectively (Jimmy, Vic, Werth, etc... whoever is slotted 1). The 9 hole (pitchers and pinch hitters) is hitting .264. It’s not like he’s not seeing the ball… he’s just not putting good swings on the ball and balls that have dropped for him in the past are being hit right at fielders. I think that this is interesting… take a look at his strikeout totals through 74 games for each of the past four seasons:

‘09: 34, 304 AB
‘08: 32, 301 AB
‘07: 43, 322 AB (MVP)
‘06: 31, 309 AB

He’s seeing the ball but he’s hesitating and he’s not getting his hips behind it. I think that this is a mental funk more than anything else. With each game that passes, Jimmy feels more pressure to get out of it. Unfortunately, his batting average isn’t going to jump 50 points overnight. Big Papi has been able to turn his season around because he’s not only seeing the pitches but he’s also going with them. He’s not trying to hit every pitch out of the ballpark anymore. If he gets a pitch high and away, he’s dropping it into the gap in left field. If he gets a mistake pitch, he’s unloading on it. Jimmy’s still trying to do too much. He’s not getting on top of the ball and he’s taking weak swings. I think that it’s time to give my alternative lineup a shot?

Interesting stat… the leadoff batters for the phillies are hitting .237, collectively (Jimmy, Vic, Werth, etc… whoever is slotted 1). The 9 hole (pitchers and pinch hitters) is hitting .264.

]]> By: bull http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111377 bull Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:35:41 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111377 i am not sure we think all will be fine with him batting 6th or 7th but we obviously can see he is hurting the team by leading off. We are already starting the game with an out on the board with him leading off. He is 0 for his last 24 and L.A. gave another stat that he has not walked in over a month and has gotten on base once on this road trip and that was by an error. i am not sure we think all will be fine with him batting 6th or 7th but we obviously can see he is hurting the team by leading off. We are already starting the game with an out on the board with him leading off. He is 0 for his last 24 and L.A. gave another stat that he has not walked in over a month and has gotten on base once on this road trip and that was by an error.

]]> By: Chris Iafolla http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111373 Chris Iafolla Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:23:52 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111373 It's no secret that Rollins is lost at the plate. He continues to up to the dish without a plan of attack. That being said, I have no issue with him being in the lineup as there are no better options on the roster. Do you really want to see Bruntlett playing everyday? My problem is with Charlie Manuel's insistence that he needs to hit at the top of the lineup. Why not bury him in the 7-hole where his failure to get on base would not be quite as detrimental to the team? Manuel has talked about the need to give Rollins a mental break as the reason for sitting him for the last few games but then inserts him right back into the leadoff spot when he returns. I do understand the rationale that the Phillies do not have a prototypical leadoff hitter on the team--but at this point--Cole Hamels would be a better leadoff hitter than Rollins. One small correction on the original post (very small). While Blanco was in the lineup because of an injury to Nate McLouth, Prado was not inserted due to injury. Kelly Johnson has been struggling almost as bad as Rollins lately and has been given a seat on the bench. So Prado is getting a chance to win the everyday job. The Braves were missing Yunel Escobar because of injury. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that Prado killed the Phillies. It’s no secret that Rollins is lost at the plate. He continues to up to the dish without a plan of attack. That being said, I have no issue with him being in the lineup as there are no better options on the roster. Do you really want to see Bruntlett playing everyday? My problem is with Charlie Manuel’s insistence that he needs to hit at the top of the lineup. Why not bury him in the 7-hole where his failure to get on base would not be quite as detrimental to the team? Manuel has talked about the need to give Rollins a mental break as the reason for sitting him for the last few games but then inserts him right back into the leadoff spot when he returns. I do understand the rationale that the Phillies do not have a prototypical leadoff hitter on the team–but at this point–Cole Hamels would be a better leadoff hitter than Rollins.

One small correction on the original post (very small). While Blanco was in the lineup because of an injury to Nate McLouth, Prado was not inserted due to injury. Kelly Johnson has been struggling almost as bad as Rollins lately and has been given a seat on the bench. So Prado is getting a chance to win the everyday job. The Braves were missing Yunel Escobar because of injury. Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that Prado killed the Phillies.

]]> By: Papa Thompson http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111372 Papa Thompson Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:21:49 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111372 The whole idea that all would be fine if we just batted J-Roll sixth is pretty dumb. Sure, he went on a terror when he was dropped in the order a month ago, but he might have hit just as well during those games if he'd led off. And you're dealing with a minuscule number set when you try to use stats to back up the argument he should be hitting sixth. He has exactly 8 ABs in the 6-hole this year. That's 2 percent of his total ABs in 2009. In fact, for his career, Jimmy's hitting 16 points higher in the lead-off spot than he is in all other spots in the lineup --- .277 as a lead-off hitter vs. .261 not leading off. And that's a bigger number set since nearly 24 percent of his career ABs have come from spots other than lead-off. I'm not saying Jimmy should be leading off. But I also don't think all of his troubles magically would melt away if you put him in the 6-hole. And I agree with Steve-o that if you're going to bat him based on his performance, you'd be better off batting him 8th than you would be sticking him in the middle of the lineup. But the whole thing isn't really worth talking about to begin with because Charlie has made up his mind that Jimmy will hit lead-off, so we're going to be stuck with him there, at least up through the All-Star break. I can't see Charlie's patience extending much farther than that if Jimmy can't turn a corner in the next couple of weeks. The whole idea that all would be fine if we just batted J-Roll sixth is pretty dumb. Sure, he went on a terror when he was dropped in the order a month ago, but he might have hit just as well during those games if he’d led off. And you’re dealing with a minuscule number set when you try to use stats to back up the argument he should be hitting sixth. He has exactly 8 ABs in the 6-hole this year. That’s 2 percent of his total ABs in 2009. In fact, for his career, Jimmy’s hitting 16 points higher in the lead-off spot than he is in all other spots in the lineup — .277 as a lead-off hitter vs. .261 not leading off. And that’s a bigger number set since nearly 24 percent of his career ABs have come from spots other than lead-off.

I’m not saying Jimmy should be leading off. But I also don’t think all of his troubles magically would melt away if you put him in the 6-hole. And I agree with Steve-o that if you’re going to bat him based on his performance, you’d be better off batting him 8th than you would be sticking him in the middle of the lineup.

But the whole thing isn’t really worth talking about to begin with because Charlie has made up his mind that Jimmy will hit lead-off, so we’re going to be stuck with him there, at least up through the All-Star break. I can’t see Charlie’s patience extending much farther than that if Jimmy can’t turn a corner in the next couple of weeks.

]]> By: bull http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2009/06/prado-wears-out-phillies/comment-page-1/#comment-111364 bull Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:08:16 +0000 http://www.philliesnation.com/?p=5755#comment-111364 Brian of CO, I agree and thought that last year even when the won it all. Charlie can not manage a game. Rollins should be in the 6th spot and Vic should be leading off. Also, did not watch the game but saw the stats any reason Charlie pulled Blanton. He was only at about 93 pitches and wasnt he suppose to be the innings eater guy, it didnt seem like he was in trouble except for the one inning. This is what is killing the bullpen not letting some of our starters go that extra inning. Brian of CO, I agree and thought that last year even when the won it all. Charlie can not manage a game. Rollins should be in the 6th spot and Vic should be leading off. Also, did not watch the game but saw the stats any reason Charlie pulled Blanton. He was only at about 93 pitches and wasnt he suppose to be the innings eater guy, it didnt seem like he was in trouble except for the one inning. This is what is killing the bullpen not letting some of our starters go that extra inning.

]]>