Period. 7/13/08

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 12:56 PM EDT

Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies, Jul 13, 2008 1:35 PM EDT

The "first half," really the first 60 percent of the season, ends today at OFJOAB with a pitching matchup to dream on: Brandon Webb versus Cole Hamels. Webb leads the NL in wins with 13; Hamels, though I haven't checked this definitely, probably leads the NL in non-win quality starts, with five (three losses, two no-decisions) as well as two other blown quality starts which he lost. He's gone at least seven innings in seven straight starts; with Webb on the mound, coming off a complete-game win over the Phils the last time he faced them, and a bullpen depleted from Adam Eaton's latest Fecal Adventure, the Phils probably need an eighth straight deep start from their ace to have any hope of finishing the "first half" in first place and on a winning note. Both Florida and the Mets now trail by just a half-game.

One fresh arm in the bullpen today is Joe Bisenius, called up to replace R.J. Swindle. The TGP favorite struggled in LOOGY duties in each of the first two games against Arizona. Here's hoping he makes it back and thrives.

Lineup

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Philadelphia Phillies

07/13/08 1:35 PM EDT

Arizona Diamondbacks	Philadelphia Phillies
Stephen Drew - SS	Jimmy Rollins - SS
Conor Jackson - LF	Shane Victorino - CF
Orlando Hudson - 2B	Chase Utley - 2B
Mark Reynolds - 3B	Ryan Howard - 1B
Chad Tracy - 1B	Pat Burrell - LF
Chris Young - CF	Geoff Jenkins - RF
Chris Burke - RF	Pedro Feliz - 3B
Robby Hammock - C	Chris Coste - C
Brandon Webb - P	Cole Hamels - P

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Comments

Could this make it 8-21 in weekend games? Lets hope not.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Howard drops a foul popup for error #11. Fortunately, Hamels strikes out Jackson on the next pitch.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

The difference between Eaton and Hamels is like the difference between a mule and a racehorse.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

Actually, make that a crippled mule. Even mules are useful to some extent, something Eaton is certainly not.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Crippled Ass

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Hamels smiling and laughing as he gets away with a pitch scorched by O-Dog—right at Jenkins. 1-2-3 in the first.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

After these ABs, I’m not particularly confident the Phils are going to do much of anything against Webb today…

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

Me neither. Probably another tough luck loss for Hamels. Ho hum.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I am always of the hope that the second time around they improve, but I have to agree here that Webb is definitely an exception and the Phils will have a hard time based on how foolish they were made to look. I foresee a lot of first pitch outs today.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

Well, there is the homer. Chances that it holds up? Confucius say very good.

1-0 Arizona.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Damn it!

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Game over.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

Let’s at least work Webb over some…

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Guess today won’t be that day

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

Phils are 5-9 on Sundays (which I guess means they’re an even worse 3-11 on Saturdays). But of the 9 Sunday losses, five have been by one run, four have been extra-inning (including last week’s 4-2 loss to the Mets).

This is probably why I hate this team so effin much right now. The days I set aside to watch them tend to feature the most excruciating losses.

Jenkins up now. Still not real fond of him either. He’s about to strike out as Webb throws it at his feet.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

I feel you there. Sundays are my only real can’t miss days, and I have put up with some miserable, miserable games so far. If this is how it is looking by the 4th or 5th I think I am going to change it up and go do something different.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Sundays are usually the days I miss, since I play softball from before Memorial day to Labor day from 1-5, but I was excited since this was our bye week that I could catch Hamels pitch

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

and the wheels keep on turning for Coste….0-22

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Utley is pretty bad with RISP.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

It’s just all out of whack right now. It kinda hurts to watch.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

fucking hell.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Why did Feliz even bother to look at 2nd? T-Mac compliments Feliz ‘getting to the ball’

Big Farkin Whoop

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe it’ll be better once they’re out of first place. This team only seems to get it together when they’re out of first place.

Really, though, fuck this.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Defense causes shit to hit fan

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Vs. the yankees:

IP      H      ER    R      BB    K       HR

A.J. Burnett 5.0 2 0 0 1 5 0

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

Hamels will start next Sunday. Which means that he won’t face the Mets in the series at Shea.

Just gets better and better, doesn’t it?

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

I was under the assumption (until McCarthy gave that rotation info) that Hamels would start Friday on normal rest and then pitch the finale against the Mets. Stupid foolish me.

Let the good times roll

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I have one foot out the door as of right now. If Hamels has a good inning I will stay around for the bottom of the 5th, but this is just like watching a family member die slowly.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Five pitches, three outs for our vaunted middle of the lineup.

One more innings and I’m dunzo.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Good inning from Cole after Drew singled to lead off.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Those outs were pretty well hit. He got lucky. Though admittedly he was due for some luck.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

GIDP for Coste coming right up…

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

hahaha. The rest of this lineup should be ashamed of themselves. Cole Hamels does the job.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

Hamels probably should be hitting 6th today. Maybe higher.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Threat ends with a pathetic Victorino strikeout and a weak Utley grounder to first. Chase is something like 1 for his last 19 with RISP.

So glad he’s going to be in the dumbassed HR Derby.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Hamels has been really hittable today and he is already into trouble in the 6th. I don’t like the looks of this.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

He’s not at his best today by any means.

I just saw on BSG that Tracy-who’s 3 for 3 today with a homer-has a .606 career OPS vs. lefties. Wtf.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Cole got his head out of his ass and mowed down the next two, thankfully. Inning over.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

It’s only 2-1, but doesnt it feel more like 7-1?

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

Now that they’ve scored-albeit on a blow from the pitcher-it doesn’t feel quite as impossible.

But watching our “big hitters” again is bringing me back down.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Let it be decreed that Ryan Howard shalt be forbidden from making a play on any ball more than one step to his right.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

Competitive portion of this game might be about to end, though Feliz gets the force at third on a too-hard bunt try and nearly turns two.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

Huge break there for the Phils. They’ve gotten two outs this inning basically on Arizona mistakes.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

Lucky Phillies, even with the keystone kops play.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Great last batter for Hamels, finishing with his 8th K.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

Good Lord…Hamels been playing with fire for the past couple of innings and has come unscathed. He is channeling his inner Eaton a tad, but the difference is that Hamels has the stuff to get out of the bind.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Be nice for Coste to actually hit.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

Works for me.

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Rollins delivers the game-tying hit. He’s looked slightly better lately—it would be great if the rest helps him rediscover his power stroke.

Wonder if this is it for Webb.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

Webb looking a tad shaky here

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Two quick outs for Madson, waiting for the inevitable. Pardon the cynicism

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

Pretty damn nasty change from Madson

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

SUCK IT CLINT HURDLE!!!!1

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

PAT!!!!

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

Wa wa wee wah!!

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

That was a pretty good pitch Pat hit out off Qualls. Borderline strike.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Happy Pete makes it a non-save situation

by Cluttered_JML on Jul 13, 2008 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Lidge has to just fire here. He’s been walking the leadoff guy a lot recently. Hasn’t come back to bite him, but that’s never a good thing…

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

he’s about to do it again.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

First batter to face Lidge has reached in his last five appearances.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, kinda bothersome.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh, I think it’s probably a fluke.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

That was wild.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

Nothing is easy anymore, jeez.

by FuquaManuel on Jul 13, 2008 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Good win. And it’s especially nice since the goddamn Marlins are winning again already. Hopefully the break will cool them off, and then we’ll ice them next weekend.

by dajafi on Jul 13, 2008 4:18 PM EDT reply actions