Categories: Gameday 2009Posts

Gamenight: Phillies (1-3) At Rockies (3-1)

Philadelphia Phillies (1-2) at Colorado Rockies (2-1)
Brett Myers (0-1, 6.00 ERA) vs. Jorge De La Rosa

Time: 8:10 p.m. at Coors Field, Denver
Weather: Rain, 46
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Twitter: Phillies Nation

So far in 2009, the Phillies have barely showed the makings of a repeat champion. In fact, they’ve proved to likely play the worst baseball in the league. But the Phils are slow starters, and a Saturday night contest in Denver has the potential for good things. Brett Myers takes the hill against Jorge De La Rosa at Coors Field. That’s if they get the game going.

Rain is in the forecast at Coors, and the temperature will only be in the low 40s at its highest, which doesn’t bode well for the Phillies bats. Still, they hit De La Rosa well, as evidenced last season (3.1 IP, 6 ER — the 20-run game). The key to beating him is getting runners on base. Patience, patience, patience.

Myers, meanwhile, is coming off a first start where he was plagued by the longball. Atlanta hitters crushed him three times, and as his second start is in Denver, it doesn’t seem particularly promising that he can reverse the trend. The Phillies bullpen has pitched, well, however, except for Chad Durbin, who surrendered a few more runs Friday afternoon against the Rockies.

Jayson Werth had the hot bat Friday, going 4-for-4 and missing a triple for the cycle. Instead he hit two doubles, homered and singled. Hopefully his skills can rub off to other Phils.

Your gamenight beer: Pauwel Kwak is a Belgian strong pale ale, which is exactly what you think it is: A bitter, dry but complex beer that you shouldn’t have in large quantities. It tastes of raisins, toffee, caramel. Kind of like a country candy of a beer, if you so choose. I recommend a pulled pork sandwich tonight.

Extra!: At 7 p.m., ESPN is airing the NCAA Men’s Hockey National Championship Game. It pits the Red Hawks of Miami (Ohio) and the Terriers of Boston University. My alma mater, Boston University, is gunning for its fifth national title, led by Hobey Baker award winner Matt Gilroy and finalist Colin Wilson. The Terriers are the top-ranked team in the country heading into the game. Tune in before the Phils game, and if things get hairy in Denver, tune back in.

Go Terriers!

Go Phillies!

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.