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Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07

Meltingface_tiny by dajafi on in News

Lineups have been posted:

Colorado
2b Matsui
ss Tulowitzki
lf Holliday
1b Helton
3b Atkins
rf Hawpe
cf Spilborghs
c Torrealba
p Morales

PHILLIES
ss Rollines
2b Utley
lf Burrell
1b Howard
cf Rowand
rf Werth
3b Helms
c Ruiz
p Kendrick

Good news here, as noted, is that Werth is in and Burrell splits the lefties.

A bit about Colorado starter Franklin Morales: the 21 year-old lefty spent most of the season at AA and AAA, pitching well in hitter-friendly leagues; he made his major league debut Aug. 18 with 5 1/3 innings of no-decision ball versus the Dodgers. He went four, five, and three innings in his next three starts before notching his first win against the Phillies on Sept. 11. Morales finished 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 39.1 innings, allowing 34 hits and 14 walks and striking out 26. He surrendered just two homers. In the minors, he was a bit more wild, walking 13 in his 17.1 innings with Colorado Springs, but he's never been prone to the longball: Morales has allowed just 32 home runs in 428 minor-league innings.

Kyle Kendrick last pitched six days ago, against the Braves in a game almost as pressure-packed as this one promises to be: he  went six innings, blanking Atlanta for the first five to earn his 10th victory. Kendrick is the first Phils rookie to win 10 games since Pat Combs in 1990. The team's hopes ride in no small part on his becoming the first Phillies rookie to win in the playoffs since Charles Hudson in 1983.

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Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Francis had good command yesterday and for the most part, was able to bury the Phillies in bad counts. But today, the Phils patience should be an advantage: Morales doesn't get ahead of hitters very well (52% of first pitch strikes, league average is 58%), is average at throwing his fastball for a strike (64%), doesn't throw his offspeed pitches for strikes very well (54% to 61% league average), and hasn't been able to get hitters to chase his offspeed pitches (22% to league average 31%). His biggest plus so far has been that hitters haven't been squaring up on him well, but line drive rate isn't something pitchers have a lot of control over. Obviously anything can happen in one game, but if these trends hold true, the Phillies should be in pretty good shape today.

by enterpsmith on Oct 4, 2007 2:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
The Phillies need to score runs:
  • They won scoring 3 runs only 3 times this year.
  • The last time they won scoring 2 runs was August 23, 2006 (Myers starting at Chicago).
  • The last time they won scoring 1 run was April 16, 2006 (Myers starting at Colorado).

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 2:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Not going to win with only 2 runs today!

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 3:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Kendrick never looks nervous or overwhelmed. He is a tough guy.

He's got the same kind of glare that Pappelbon has.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:11 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
he just gave up a home run. this is not good.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:11 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Jesus Christ. take him out. this is bad.

I REALLY REALLY hate this ballpark.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:13 PM EDT   0 recs

these guys are good
Kendrick got two pitches up, and Tulowitzki and Holliday put them out. It should remind him he has absolutely no margin for error against a good lineup full of hot hitters.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 3:15 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
ouchhhh is this realllly happening alreadyy? I really would rather not have my heart ripped out..

by espo on Oct 4, 2007 3:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Jimmy hits a Rickey Henderson special - 2-1!

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 3:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
ROLLINS.

looks like Morales is not immune to the jitters.

Lots of runs today.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Way to answer, Jimmy!

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 3:19 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Chase Utley better not be our version of Alex Rodriguez.

5 ABs, 5 K's.

Platinum Sombrero so far.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:21 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
0-5 with 5 K's - who the hell is the guy wearing #26? It sure ain't Chase.

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 3:21 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Chase Utley AKA The Amazing Disappearing Ballplayer.

P.S. I bet 20 bucks that howard strikes out here.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:24 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
As Cholly probably would say, you go with the guys whut brung ya.

Utley and Howard are struggling with the lefties, but let's remember that without them we're all doing something else on this too-hot Thursday afternoon.

Morales has pretty good stuff, it's also worth noting. Electric stuff.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 3:27 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Utley needs to dislodge what ever it is that is stuck in his throat making him choke.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:32 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Seemingly easy DP that he couldn't turn.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:32 PM EDT   0 recs

cool Kyle
Leadoff walk, induces the DP ball, Utley flubs it, he comes back to get the last two guys with no more damage.

Now he needs a little help.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 3:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
they finally showed a stat about having the best stolen base percentage in mlb history.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:46 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Morales is going to be riled now after being called for a ball for licking his hand on the mound.

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 3:48 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
To dovetail off the automatic ball call, can anyone think of a good reason a pitcher would be touching his shirt? That just doesn't strike me as a common practice.

by enterpsmith on Oct 4, 2007 3:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
I can't believe we didn't score there. What the hell is Helms doing?

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Slower than molassas and it really didn't bounce high enough. I thought he would have been out.

by enterpsmith on Oct 4, 2007 3:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Rollins has 7 bases of the 10 needed for a cycle!

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 3:56 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Jimmy's supernatural.

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 3:58 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Well, Utley made contact. Thats a start!

Anyone have the stat on the last time the Phils had a cycle in the playoffs?

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 3:58 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Chase is choking plain and simply. This is going to be a hell of a series boys.

by espo on Oct 4, 2007 3:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
And Chase making contact!

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 3:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
I'm guessing never. He could easily do it today--but would he stop at second on the double?

Great inning there--excellent at-bats from Helms, Chooch, and Good Jimmy. Even Utley's out was very encouraging--he drove that pitch, just didn't get quite enough of it. Probably he gets better from here.

Nice to have a lead. Now let's hold it!

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 3:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
not this again. when we get a lead, we NEED to have a "shutdown inning" right after it but we don't ever seem to.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:03 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Spoke too soon. Kendrick gives up a leadoff double and retires the heart of the order 1-2-3 with a man on 2nd.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

beautiful
Kendrick gives up the leadoff double, then gets a strikeout, a one-pitch groundout, and a popup to strand Matsui.

He's thrown 45 pitches, Morales 52. The Phils need to keep the pressure on and not let the kid get into a groove.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 4:11 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Howard got picked off. That was mighty close to a balk though. He seemed to step towards home plate.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:18 PM EDT   0 recs

double ouch
First Howard gets hit on the hand. Then he kills the momentum with a beyond-stupid baserunning blunder.

Seven-pitch inning for Morales, and he's right back in the swing. Not good.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 4:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Fuck. You can't give up leadoff doubles every inning and expect not to give up runs.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
I don't know if I like taking Kendrick out there.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Kendrick out
I hope it works... but I HATE this decision. Unless Lohse has held Matsui to an 0-for-80 or something, this is potentially a terrible call. Kendrick's allowed a few rockets, but he gets out of jams.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 4:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Kendrick out
just unreal. really. Manuel should lose his job if for nothing else that one move. I am in shock.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Kendrick out
Goddammit.

I've been wrong so often this year. Why couldn't this have been one of those times?

Not only did that backfire as badly as possible, we now lose Lohse for Game Three. I hate Gramps in that park as much as I hated the move to pull Kendrick.

We'd better come back and win this one.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 4:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Kendrick out
We are finished. Finished. Plain and simple. I am so fucking furious right now. Guarantee the hitters start pressing again.

SERIES...OVER...

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
BRILLIANT MOVE CHARLIE!!!!! FUCK. GAME OVER. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR BOYS.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:36 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
kendrick had no business coming out that early.  

by char6587 on Oct 4, 2007 4:37 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
That was disgusting - thank you Kyle Lohse

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 4:38 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
but most of all - thank you Chollie you managerial genius

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 4:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
sooo.. there goes my heart. :(

by espo on Oct 4, 2007 4:38 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Well after 14 years, we lead a game for about an inning.  There's your highlight reel.  It's over.  This team sucks.  Maybe we'll learn our lesson and spend some money on pitching in the offseason.  Losers.

by foos05 on Oct 4, 2007 4:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
I wouldn't go that far.

It was a bonehead move by Manuel. But the team doesn't suck.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Right now they do.  Besides Rollins today, a good hit by Rowand, and a "thank god we're at CBP" shot laughs by Pat we haven't done shit.  And... Kaz Matsui, Kaz Matsui... just hit a grand slam.  Thank god Ryan Howard got hit by a pitch, because that's the only way he's gonna get on base today.  Oh, and let's not forget Chase...  he should get his postseason bonus right now for actually making contact.  Good job guys!  Way to be!  

by foos05 on Oct 4, 2007 4:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Who wants to bet that Kyle Loshe already has death threats on his answering machine?

by foos05 on Oct 4, 2007 4:40 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
I would bet that the blame goes 20% kendirck, 5% loshe, 20% helms, and 100% chollie

by char6587 on Oct 4, 2007 4:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Stay classy, Philadelphia...

You guys are all a little overwrought here. I'm upset too. But Utley, Manuel, Lohse... they've all done a hell of a lot more good than harm this season.

Besides, think of it this way: Lohse giving up that bomb probably cost him a couple million bucks, and ten percent of that was for Bora$s...

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 4:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
this is reallyyy a bummerr.. I can't go another year like this

by espo on Oct 4, 2007 4:47 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Yep, we come right back out and have a quick 1,2,3 inning. We are going out to Colorado down 0-2, thats a guarantee.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:47 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
I dunno. Obviously it didn't work out so it's easy to second guess, but Kendrick wasn't good today. He was up with everything and was in trouble every inning. That at least has to be factored in.

by enterpsmith on Oct 4, 2007 4:48 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Good inning by Lohse. 10-spot please. Pretty please.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
10?  The way this team is playing we might need about 5 more on top of that.

by foos05 on Oct 4, 2007 4:55 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Mesa? Mesa? Are you serious? They game is at least almost within reach right now. What are they trying to pull here?

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 4:58 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
can someone please tell me that I didn't just see joey table in the bullpen?

by char6587 on Oct 4, 2007 5:00 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Chase gets a hit. And in other news, hell has just frozen over.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:01 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Up until the 4th inning of this game I thought that Manuel should probably get some votes for manager of the year and should have certainly gotten a new deal. However, in the last 2 innings he has basically presented an excellent case against those 2 things happening.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:02 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
One move changes your entire opinion of Manuel? It has to be a really, really atrocious decision for that to make sense to me and frankly, I don't think taking Kendrick out was clearly the wrong move. Managers make moves that don't work out and I think you can only really evaluate them on the thinking behind their moves. If you're thinking correctly, things'll work out more than they don't.

by enterpsmith on Oct 4, 2007 5:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Well considering we were up 1 immediately before Kedrick came out and down 3 immediately after he came out i would say it was pretty damn atrocius.

I guess I still think he should get a new deal. That is just me venting out loud.

P.S. Mesa needs to be taken out before we end up down double digits.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

mesa
I had trouble seeing the scenario in which I turn off a playoff game and go do something else, but that walking POS could do it. Expect two runs minimum here.

Thinking about it a little more, the Kendrick decision wasn't indefensible. He'd left some pitches up and Matsui had gotten him last time. But Lohse isn't a reliever by trade and bringing him into a bad jam mid-inning just wasn't likely to work out well.

Then having him ignore the scouting report... 'nuff said.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 5:09 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: mesa
You sir, are correct.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: mesa
Gosh, who could have seen that coming?

I really effing hate Mesa. Hate everything about him. Garbage pitcher, garbage human being, and the fact that he walked the first two actually didn't even bother me because I knew what was coming as soon as Colorado put one in play.

It's tough to get out-managed by Clint Hurdle, but Manuel's done it in these two games.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 5:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: mesa
I think Manuel needs to be grilled in the post game press conference.

I would ask him something along the lines of: "Considering Mesa's complete ineffectiveness throughout the season, what was your thought process in bringing him into a must win game where your team was already down 3?"

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: mesa
How about putting him on the roster in the first place?

The only answer to that, the only semi-rational answer, is "experience." And that's crap. Kane Davis has no command but at least can throw it past someone. Fabio Castro, same deal. Hell, John freakin' Ennis has more stuff than Mesa.

Mesa was marginally effective even a few years ago because he still had enough velocity and movement on his fastball to retire bad hitters. Now he has a straight-as-string 90 mph fastball, and a flat slider that's the equivalent to batters of Paris Hilton on roofies. It's borderline-miraculous that he ever records an out.

As Dave Cohen noted, it's indefensible that he's on the roster, and much worse that he was in this must-win game.

by dajafi on Oct 4, 2007 5:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: mesa
"How about putting him on the roster in the first place?"

     I knew that Castro wasn't going to make the post-season roster cuz Chollie doesn't trust him. When Mesa walked the first two hitters, I was thinking, "Hell, Chuck, Fabio could do THAT" But at least Castro might throw the ball BY somebody. Which is more than you could say for Joe Table.

     Actually, before that, when they said that Mesa was coming in, all I could think of were white flags.  

by Dalton Bouchee on Oct 4, 2007 9:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: mesa
Normally thats what you associate Mesa with.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 5, 2007 1:17 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
How can Manuel use Mesa?  It's really unfathomable.  I didn't understand his being on the post-season roster and don't understand his being actually used.  I hope he proves me wrong, but this is a stupid move through and through, regardless.

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 5:09 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Yeah I've pretty much given up all hope here, unless you can quickly clone Jimmy Rollins 7 times and have him bat repeatedly.  At this point I hope we get swept.  They've just destroyed all my hope, I don't want them to win a game or two and destroy it again.

by foos05 on Oct 4, 2007 5:10 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
grady little got fired for one move, why can't manuel?

by char6587 on Oct 4, 2007 5:12 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
yeah...I guess.

I think we would have a down year next year if Manuel wasn't resigned. I don't see any manager they could bring in that the players would play as well under as they do Manuel.

The players seem unanimous in their support for Manuel.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Grady wasn't fired just because he left Pedro in too long. He was fired because the Sox front office told him repeatedly that Pedro wasn't to go more than 100 pitches. He was fired because he repeatedly did something he was told not to.

I didn't criticize Manuel for pulling kendrick, but bringing in Mesa is inexcusable. He really shouldn't have even been on the roster. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm progressing through the stages of grief pretty rapidly.  

by enterpsmith on Oct 4, 2007 5:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 5:14 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
haha

2 walks. Did anyone expect anything different?

We still have to see the grand finale: the 3-run bomb.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Not quite the finale you were looking for, but that was bad enough. Rocks in 3.

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 5:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
2 straight walks by Table - good God what was Manuel thinking?

by garyragel on Oct 4, 2007 5:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Ok, this is starting to make me just plain angry. I need to turn this off before I break something.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 4, 2007 5:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Game Two: Rockies at Phillies, 10/4/07
Bringing in Mesa is an absolutely indefensible move.  Having him on the post-season roster was also.  It's shocking.

by David S. Cohen on Oct 4, 2007 5:17 PM EDT   0 recs