Phillies Nation

Gameday: Phillies (21-17) At Giants (15-22)

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, May 11, 2008 02:16 PM

D-Day: Adam Eaton.

When you look at Eaton’s 2008 numbers, you don’t see anything completely horrible. You see four starts of at least six innings and at the most, three runs. You see one five inning, four run start. And you see two starts that weren’t favorable at all. His last was a three inning, six earned gem against Arizona, his first loss (and decision) of the season.

His ERA, however, is close to 6.00 again, which means we have to start thinking about Eaton for a potential hook from the rotation. If Eaton continues to revert to his 2007 self today, the thoughts should become surefire motions. James Happ has been tearing it up in AAA and Kris Benson is setting down that road back. Eaton can’t afford to be clumsy today.

The Phils will try to win their seven-game western swing. Currently they’re at 3-3.

Phillies: Adam Eaton (0-1) 5.63 ERA
Giants: Jonathan Sanchez (2-2) 4.74 ERA

Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EST
Weather: 58 degrees, mostly sunny
Lineup: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Werth, Feliz, Ruiz, Eaton

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Your gameday beer: We featured Anchor Steam’s main ale yesterday; today we go with Anchor Steam’s Old Foghorn. I picture Eaton dressed up as Foghorn Leghorn, about to get barbecued by a fireball or something. Remember that look Foghorn would carry after getting burnt? I hope I don’t see that look today. Old Foghorn is the first barleywine in the United States. Drink it with some Indian red curry and chicken.

Go Phillies!

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Spotting Giants A Bunch, Phils Have No Answer

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, May 11, 2008 09:13 AM

The Giants scored six runs off Jamie Moyer by producing nine hits off the elder. Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn struck home runs to back San Francisco, as Moyer was pulled after just four innings. Rudy Seanez surrendered another two runs as the Giants won easily, 8-2.

It was a very, very poor outing for Moyer, but one that’ll happen from time to time. For every start that punches Moyer’s ERA closer to 3.00 there’s another start that brings it up, somewhere between the former number and 7.00. Lincecum, 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA, has been way too hot and the Phils would’ve never been able to catch up to the Giants with him on the hill.

What did they do? Ryan Howard hit his seventh homer of the season in the first inning. He says his swing is coming back — let’s hope so. Geoff Jenkins, Greg Dobbs and Chris Coste (a homer) provided the other hits in the game. Four hits won’t cut it.

Pat Burrell’s average has finally dipped under .300, as it’s now at .295. Chase Utley also has seen a little drag in his average, as he stands at .327.

Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson pitched scoreless innings to close the game.

Associated Press photo

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He’s Back: Rollins Leads Phils Past Giants

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, May 10, 2008 10:55 AM

First game back — home run, double, single. All in a day’s work for Jimmy Rollins.

The MVP went 3-for-5, driving in three, in a 7-4 win over the Giants. The effort backed Cole Hamels, who had a rough third inning (three runs) before settling in and pitching well. He went seven, striking out seven while walking three and giving up six hits. The difference between Hamels rebounding from a bad inning and Myerstwo nights ago is easily evident.

Pedro Feliz added a key RBI double to tie the game in the sixth. The Phils went ahead thanks to Carlos Ruiz and — yup — Rollins in the eighth. As usual, Tom Gordon and Brad Lidge slammed the door shut for the Phils. Lidge earned his ninth save and totes an 0.00 ERA. He struck out all three batters he got out.

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Gamenight: Phillies (20-16) At Giants (14-21)

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, May 09, 2008 10:07 PM

He’s back.

Jimmy Rollins returns to the starting lineup after a practical month off nursing an ankle injury. Pedro Feliz returns to the place he played his entire career. Cole Hamels is on the hill, looking to rebound from a mediocre start last time out, against the Giants.

Phillies: Cole Hamels (3-3) 3.10 ERA
Giants: Pat Misch (0-0) 5.40 ERA

Gametime: 10:15 p.m.
Weather: 50 degrees, fair
Lineup: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Werth, Feliz, Ruiz, Hamels

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Your gamenight beer: Since San Francisco is close enough, grab a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It’s an awesome beer that you can drink at any time with anything. But tonight, have it with some Pad Thai.

Go Phillies!

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Rollins Will Start Tonight, Bat Leadoff

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, May 09, 2008 07:32 PM

Ken Mandel of MLB.com is reporting National League MVP Jimmy Rollins will start and bat leadoff for the Phillies tonight against the San Francisco Giants. Game time is at 10:15 p.m.

Rollins was activated from the disabled list today. Brad Harman was sent back down to AA Reading.

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How Bruntlett Stacks Up With Former Utilities

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, May 09, 2008 12:48 PM

After committing a slew of errors and looking lost at hte plate the first couple times he started, Eric Bruntlett has settled nicely into his own as a lite-hitting, mud-cleating termite taking over for the injured Jimmy Rollins at shortstop. While he’ll never match the NL MVP’s output — both offensively and defensively — he at least has been a very productive utility player.

Comparing Bruntlett to former Phillies utility players, how good is he?

Abraham Nunez, 2007: .234 AVG, .318 OBP, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 24 R
Abraham Nunez, 2006: .211 AVG, .303 OBP, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 42 R
Tomas Perez, 2005: .233 AVG, .289 OBP, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 17 R
Tomas Perez, 2004: .216 AVG, .257 OBP, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 22 R
Tomas Perez, 2003: .265 AVG, .316 OBP, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 39 R
Tomas Perez, 2002: .250 AVG, .319 OBP, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 22 R
Tomas Perez, 2001: .304 AVG, .347 OBP, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 11 R
Kevin Jordan, 2000: .220 AVG, .257 OBP, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 30 R

As it stands, Bruntlett: .250 AVG, .308 OBP, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R.

With 108 at bats, he has about half the ABs as most of these utility men through one season. So, let’s double up those numbers:

Bruntlett, 2008: .250 AVG, .308 OBP, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 28 R

So, while Bruntlett’s numbers seem overly good right now, one has to remember he’s been subsituting for Rollins, and one also has to remember Abraham Nunez wasn’t really good offensively. Perez seemed to be a nice offensive player; Bruntlett’s 2008 should fit somewhere in the middle of Perez’s numbers.

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Myers’ Poor Start Dooms Phils Against Webb

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, May 09, 2008 09:55 AM

When you’re an “ace,” you’re supposed to be able to match another team’s “ace” tit for tat, keeping your team in game contention and bridging the contest  for your bullpen to step in.

It’s becoming increasingly painful to admit that Brett Myers is not an ace. Not even close.

Myers struggled through five innings, giving up six earned runs (seven total) on nine hits and three walks. The game quickly got away from him in the fourth inning, when the D-Backs put up a four-spot with the bottom of their order.

With seven runs, the D-Backs were more than comfortable  with Brandon Webb on the hill. The now 8-0 stud hurled a complete game for Arizona, throwing only 104 pitches. The Phillies had no answer for Webb — they were grounding into outs left and right (18 total).

Shane Victorino and Eric Bruntlett continued to stay hot at the top of the order, each getting two hits with Vic manufacturing a run on his own in the first inning. Chase Utley (0-for-2) and Ryan Howard (1-for-4) each had an RBI.

You couldn’t think the Phils would get much out of Webb, who has been all-universe this season. A first inning run is tremendous. Myers surrendered a home run to Chris Young in the bottom of the first. If that was all he gave up, it’s a different story. Instead, Mr. Self Destruct failed to even give his offense a chance.

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Gameday: Phillies (20-15) At Diamondbacks (22-12)

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, May 08, 2008 02:00 PM

If you went to bed last night before the eighth inning, shame on you. The Phillies did what they do best by beating the D-Backs with a late flurry. They’re at 20 wins now, and are only the third National League team to reach that mark.

It’ll be difficult to reach 21 today. The boys will face all-universe starter Brandon Webb, who is 7-0 and is your early favorite for NL Cy Young. The Phillies counter with their “ace,” Brett Myers, who pitched relatively well his late time out, a no decision against the Giants. If the Phils win, they would take the weeklong series, 3-1. Pat Burrell gets the day off after two straight 0-for games. Greg Dobbs gets the start at third base.

Phillies: Brett Myers (2-2), 4.70 ERA
Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb (7-0) 2.49 ERA

Gametime: 3:40 p.m.
Weather: 90 degrees, sunny
Lineup: Victorino, Bruntlett, Utley, Howard, Jenkins, Dobbs, Taguchi, Coste, Myers

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Your gameday beer: Hopefully Brandon Webb doesn’t put a spell on the Phils, but I’m prepared. Today we go with Hocus Pocus by Magic Hat. Kind of a second-rate Sam Adams Summer Ale, it’s light and refreshing and goes well with a burrito.

Go Phillies!

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Phils Acquire Lefty Randolph

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, May 08, 2008 11:33 AM

The Phillies today traded a player-to-be-named-later for Astros left-handed reliever Stephen Randolph.The 34-year-old Randolph — born in Okinawa, Japan — is a journeyman who this season with AAA Round Rock, has gone 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 innings. He has struck out 21 and walked 11.

In 2007 with Houston, Randolph went 0-1 with a 12.15 ERA in 13.1 innings.

It sure looks like Randolph could come right up to Philadelphia, as the organization may not be ready to bring up lefties RJ Swindle or Fabio Castro, and Steve Kline doesn’t look like the right fit in the big-league bullpen. Pat Gillick said he was openly looking for left-handed help, so don’t be shocked if Randolph comes up and the team lets go of long-man Clay Condrey, moving the struggling Ryan Madson to a long-relief spot.

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Phils ‘Ambush’ D-Backs For 5-4 Win

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, May 08, 2008 07:40 AM

Whoever said “ambush” in the Phillies’ dugout after Chase Utley plated Eric Bruntlett to give the good guys a 5-4 lead was right on — they pounced on the Diamondbacks in the eighth and held on tight for the big road win.

Utley’s RBI single came after an RBI hit by Eric Bruntlett, who scored Shane Victorino. Vic had a nasty collision with Conor Jackson to reach base on a passed ball, taking Jackson out of the game. Once the Phils had the lead, Tom Gordon eased past a leadoff double to hold the eighth and Brad Lidge was dominant once again to save the ninth.

The win went to JC Romero, who bailed out another Phillie reliever — this time Ryan Madson, who gave up a run in the seventh, giving the D-Backs a short 4-3 lead. Before him Kyle Kendrick pitched an OK six innings, giving up three earned runs and 10 hits while striking out two and walking one (a very Kendrickian effort).

Early offense came from a Victorino single and a Pedro Feliz two-run homer.

Pat Burrell was again hitless, going 0-for-3. Ryan Howard went 0-for-4.

Huge win. Vic and Bruntlett really did their jobs, and Utley proved yet again why he’s the early season MVP. The bullpen locked it down again as well — Gordon was clutch and Lidge was flat-out nasty. It’s a big, big win considering the Phils have to face Brandon Webb today. Getting a split at Chase Field is a nice feeling.

Associated Press photo

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