June 22: Weaver vs. Hamels

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 1:17 PM EDT

Los Angeles Angels at Philadelphia Phillies, Jun 22, 2008 1:35 PM EDT

This might not be panic, but it's at least squirmish discomfort: with the Marlins just a game back and the Mets and Braves looking renewed, the Phillies' run of six losses in their last seven games has pushed Charlie Manuel to shift his lineup for Sunday's series finale. Between the infusion of Greg Dobbs toward the top of the order and the presence of Cole Hamels on the mound, it's obvious this is a game the manager badly wants to take. Chase Utley returns to action today as well. It doesn't figure to be easy against Jered Weaver, however; the 25 year-old has 30 wins and a 3.67 ERA in 62 career starts.

Lineup

Los Angeles Angels @ Philadelphia Phillies

06/22/08 1:35 PM EDT

Los Angeles Angels	Philadelphia Phillies
Chone Figgins - 3B	Jimmy Rollins - SS
Erick Aybar - SS	Greg Dobbs - 3B
Howie Kendrick - 2B	Chase Utley - 2B
Vladimir Guerrero - RF	Ryan Howard - 1B
Torii Hunter - CF	Pat Burrell - LF
Gary Matthews - LF	Shane Victorino - CF
Casey Kotchman - 1B	Geoff Jenkins - RF
Mike Napoli - C	Carlos Ruiz - C
Jered Weaver - P	Cole Hamels - P

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Strong 1-2-3 inning from Hamels in the first. No strikeouts, but nothing was hit hard. On “Baseball Tonight” this afternoon (weird wording, that), someone talked about how Hamels needed to keep the ball out of the zone because the Angels aren’t a selective lineup. He did get a few swings and misses at the changeup by the first three hitters.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Wow. Rollins and Dobbs pull off the double steal—second and third, one out.

Problem is, Howard’s up.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

He strikes out, of course. But it took awhile.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

And Burrell strikes out.

I haven’t seen most of this homestand. I kind of get it now. Painful.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

Hamels keeps Guerrero in the park. Single.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Aaaand we’re losing. Matthews loops a single into CF, Vlad scores.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Two-run homer from Kotchman. This absolutely sucks.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

God I hate Jenkins. Victorino walks. They’ve already stolen three bases. He takes off on the first pitch. So of course asshead skies said pitch to left. One out.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

WHat’s up with the batting order switch?

by jemagee on Jun 22, 2008 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

They wanted to get Victorino down in the order where he could make things happen.

So of course he walks to lead off the inning. And then the retard Jenkins costs him the SB by swinging at the first pitch.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Ruiz picks Aybar off first to end the LAA of A 3rd.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Utley breaks the long 0-fer with a two-out double. Crowd roars.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

Howard follows with a single. Phlis on the board.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

They’re making Weaver throw a lot of pitches-close to 70 with one out in the 4th-but I think this is going to be a day where they have to get him, rather than count on rallying against an excellent bullpen.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta say that between the lousy performance and Tom McCarthy, this is really an unpleasant experience right now.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies seem to think now that they’ve scored their one run, game’s over. Awful ABs from Rollins, Dobbs and Utley in the 5th.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

Since the 20 run explosion every game has been a lousy performance, I swear to God it’s got me perplexed. How does a whole team with this talent slump at the same time?

by Steve-O- on Jun 22, 2008 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Randomness plus psychology. They’ve had a couple balls smoked foul, some bad swings, bad body language, and good pitching. I was able to keep perspective on it until I watched today’s game…

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Finally a little luck—Ruiz walks after two pitches I thought were strikes, advances to second on a Feliz groundout (too soft to be the usual GIDP), then Rollins doubles just inside the line at third to score him… and barely avoids getting thrown out at second when he should have slid.

by dajafi on Jun 22, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions