Deep Breath Before the Plunge: Phils at Cubs, Aug. 31

Sunday, Aug 31, 2008, 2:20 PM EDT
Wrigley Field

Clear. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Nearly a quarter-century after he was drafted by the Cubs, Jamie Moyer tries to thwart his old club at Wrigley Field today in the finale of a four-game series. He's opposed not by Cubs co-ace Carlos Zambrano, who is suffering through a "tired arm," but by fellow lefty Sean Marshall, who turned 26 yesterday. At the least, facing Marshall rather than Zambrano should make the pitching part of Moyer's day a little easier.

To my considerable surprise, the Phillies will finish August with a winning record in the month--this despite not hitting a lick for its first two-thirds, and then seeing the bullpen buckle in its last third. Of course, the 25 games the team will play in September ultimately will determine how meaningful any of that proves to be.

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Burrell really off right now. He’s something like 3 for his last 29. Marshall’s a guy he has hit well in the past.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

Howard with the aggressive first-pitch hack—and it works, knocking in Chase with a single to right.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies score in the first inning…which means they will probably lose this game…

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry, that was unnecessarily negative.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

SuperWerth has landed in Chicago!

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

Jayson Werth is on one of those streaks. Jeez, this guy is murder to lefties.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

christonabike

I’m one of the admins. I deleted the whoring post, also taking out the responses to it.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Pat

3 BB then 3 called strikes….Is he losing his confidence? We need the big guy.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

That was the worst AB’s I have seen him have all season. Something better change soon, we can’t have him performing like this down the stretch.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m pretty sure Jamie Moyer leads the league in Called Third Strikes Vehemently Argued By The Opposition.

by christonabike on Aug 31, 2008 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

This is becoming a mess really quickly.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

Bad luck—or Wrigley Forces—and subpar defense doing in the Phils in the 2nd.

Also, I f*cked it up in the intro by demeaning Marshall’s hitting—he just drove in a run with a single to center.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder if Moyer is turning into a pumpkin. Granted the Mets and Cubs are tough lineups, but this hasn’t been pretty of late.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

This inning really has very little to do with him. If Victorino catches that flyball the inning is over with only a run in at worst.

OR, if Howard makes even a decent throw down to second, the inning is probably over without any damage.

Not like he is getting rocked this game.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough. The defense wasn’t his friend there.

Then again, I was almost satisfied with Howard getting even one out on that play…

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Moyer’s been good this year — better than last, for sure — but not 3.50 ERA good. He’s a 4.50 ERA pitcher that’s had some luck.

by christonabike on Aug 31, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Ryan and Shane

Make Marshall pay for his single.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are we in Ruiz here with 1 out and the bases loaded?

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

Zero, zero is the frickin answer. Thanks Carlos!

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Well… against a lefty, zero.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate the the word Hate

I HATE Ruiz hate, hate, hate. There I said it.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha. I hate watching him play. I guess he is an alright fellow though.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Well.............

At least Happy Pete can’t hit into a DP, oops int walk, up to Ruiz (biting nails).

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

That sucked the big one.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

Burrells inability to hit with RISP might bite us in the butt bigtime.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotta figure Stairs will get a start against a righty in DC.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I kinda had a feeling that the first inning would be the extent of our scoring.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:54 PM EDT reply actions

HAHAHA, Thanks Jayson for making me look stupid. He is just mashing at an ungodly pace right now.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

He had 25 family members and friends at the game yesterday. The Phils oughta hire them and get ’em a private jet for road games. My fear is he is done with the Phillies for cheap money after having the numbers that suggest he can play everyday.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I Hate Happy Pete too

HATE HATE HATE. I need to go outside for a smoke. I’ll feel better.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

You probably at least could make an argument that Werth is the MVP of the 2008 Phillies.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

For what it’s Werth I think Gillick did an outstanding for getting the not quite healed Werth and Dobbs as well on the cheap. They both have been pleasant surprizes and so important. Gotta root for them for sure.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we’re going to have some interesting discussions this winter evaluating the totality of Gillick’s record. Really a mix of moves that turned out superbly, and others that just stunk with prejudice.

Ideally, of course, this would follow a championship parade, but I don’t think many of us have huge faith in that outcome.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Meanwhile, great situational hitting from Moyer and Rollins to plate that fifth run in the 6th after the very surprising Ruiz double.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Durbin in, and the indigestion begins.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Hey FM who you want in there Madson? LOL

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Durbin with a little redemption on the last day of his crap month.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

Role Reversal

Howard 3 for 4, Burrell 0 for 4 with 3 K’s…who’d a thunk it eh?

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

What do you think about this

Gavin Floyd now 15 and 6. Wow. Good for the kid.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Durbin evidently thinks it’s time to walk some guys.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

And by “walk,” I mean “retire with extreme prejudice.”

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s coming back out for the 8th.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Soto singles with one out in the 8th, after Durbin had him struck out on a non-call.

The umpiring this series has just flat-out sucked. Some ball/strike calls have gone our way, but that doesn’t make them good…

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

Romero gives up a two-out hit to Henry Blanco, the backup catcher, and it’s 5-3.

Madson coming in. Yikes.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

Chances Ward takes Madson deep here?

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

Come on Madson, one frickin’ out.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t care how good he does he’ll always remind me of Geoff Geary…I just don’t trust them in crunch time.

by Steve-O- on Aug 31, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Phils leave two in the 8th when Eff-You-Do-Me catches a bloop near the RF line.

Lidge to face 2-3-4 ftw.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

Two popups and a strikeout.

Man, he’s been money.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Somehow a split feels like a sweep here. Really we could have swept this team if our 8th inning was under control.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 31, 2008 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

True, and we should have had that Thursday game for sure.

But this is probably the best team in the league, we saw three of their four best pitchers (and would have seen all four), and they’re well-nigh unbeatable at home.

So, the split is pretty good, and I know that if we happen to see them in the playoffs, I’ll feel at least a little better about our chances.

by dajafi on Aug 31, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions