Rubber: 8/7/08

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 12:41 PM EDT

Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies, Aug 7, 2008 1:05 PM EDT

Cole Hamels looks to break his career-worst five-start winless streak against the Marlins this afternoon. After taking hard-luck no-decisions in the first three of those outings--Hamels pitched seven innings twice, eight once (against the Marlins on July 20), and allowed two runs in each--he's gotten knocked around in his last two, combining for just 9 2/3 innings while allowing 14 runs (8 earned). The Phillies insist that he's healthy, even as Hamels approaches his career high in innings pitched.

Amazingly, the Phils have scored two runs or fewer in nine of the 23 starts Hamels has made this season. They'll hope to avoid hitting double digits against Florida rookie Chris Volstad, who makes his fifth major-league start and first against the Phillies. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.25 ERA in his short big-league career.

Marlins lineup: Ramirez, Hermida, Cantu, Willingham, Uggla, Helms, Ross, Treanor, Volstad.

Phils lineup: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Jenkins, Bruntlett, Ruiz, Hamels.

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Double, strikeout to start the game for Hamels.

It looks quite dark there. Wonder if they’re going to have a delay.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

Strands Ramirez with a flyout and a Willingham popup, swinging on 3-0.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

From the first two pitches Volstad’s thrown, you can tell he has nasty stuff. Hopefully he loses command or concentration.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Your daily Victorino popup

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

I hope Uggla loses one in the sun while wearing the shades on his hat

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

Volstad doesn’t really have the numbers - major or minor league - to back up his 3.25 ERA. Let’s hope the Phillies aid his regression to the mean.

by christonabike on Aug 7, 2008 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

Bah Bruntlett!!

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Hamels continuing to suck at inopportune times. Double to the 7-hole hitter, meatball to the 8 hitter with two strikes, and we’re losing 1-0.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

Good AB by Burrell

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

Bruntlett can atone for his bad fielding here

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

Guess it ain’t happening today

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m pretty pissed he’s in the game, honestly. Not that Dobbs is such a superstar, but I’d rather have him against the rookie righty.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Was a bit surprised myself, unless Charlie has the positions confused about the day game after the night game.

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Offense doing its usual garbage work with Hamels on the mound.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

Phils being no-hit through 4.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Hamels with a very strong inning in the 5th. He’s actually been great except for that two-batter stretch in the 2nd. Shame the team evidently can’t get so much as one f——ing hit for him.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

T-Mac said Hamels would ‘get a chance to take care of [the no-hitter[ as a hitter’.....heh, although Hamels would be the guy to do so, but I am not holding my breath yet.

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Bruntlett is an embarrassment to the team.

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

Well, T-Mac was right, even an unplugged clock is right twice a day

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Bench Victorino or get him a strait-jacket so he will stop DIPPING HIS FARKING SHOULDER!!!!

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

I guess Hamels is still too young to be allowed the frightening clubhouse freakout to which his lack of support rightfully entitles him.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

More offensive phutility in the 6th.

What I don’t get is why the hell they haven’t even attempted a steal today. They’ve had guys on first a few times, and Volstad is 6’7, righty, and throws breaking stuff. If Utley had been on second, he might have scored on that bullshit Jenkins hit.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

This might be the most infuriating game of the year.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Woke up in time to see ‘Hands of Stone’ make his 14th error, methinks that’s gonna put him out of the running for a Golden Glove. Anyway sad to see Cole pitch his guts out and yet once again probably lose because of the ineptitude of our offensive offense.

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Jenkins

2 on for Geoff. Josh I have goosebumps.

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

Grrrrrrrr.

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, well…

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

You know the goal is to at least make the playoffs and hopefully the WS. The Phillies have shown me they just can’t get to good pitching. I really feel they’ll win the division but won’t get far. Maybe I overrate offense I dunno. I’m pissed now. Sorry, don’t want to sound like FM.

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You’ve just inspired me to post the numbers I ran about the Phils versus the top 20 ERA qualifiers in the NL. Probably I’ll put that up tonight.

Sneak preview: the news ain’t good.

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Just to let you know

I appreciate al the time you and others put in to educating the rest of us. I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies

Now 2 for 26 with RISP in the series. Oops Rollins makes it 2/27. Oh God…......

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

It’s kinda been either hit the home run, or starve.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 7, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, was that vile. Feel like I need to bathe…

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

I see it’s the 11th straight sell out at OJOABP with the 3rd largest crowd in it’s brief history, 45,521. What’s my point you ask? I don’t know but I’m working on it.

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

OFJOAB, though I’d love to know what yours stands for ;)

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Our Joke Of A Ball Park. I left the F out in good taste. LOL

by Steve-O- on Aug 7, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

2 shutouts this series if you don’t count Victorino’s faux home run. This offense still doesn’t have it together.

Here is a classic FMer for you all: I don’t care if this team doesn’t make the playoffs, because even if we do we will not score enough runs to make a dent.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 7, 2008 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

This seems hard to argue against right now. It’s pretty striking how much of their damage has come against lousy pitchers. I’m sure that’s true for every team-that’s why those pitchers are lousy-but the good arms just seem to throttle them.

What’s irksome is that against the best guys, they usually don’t even do the “wear them down and get the bullpen” thing. (They actually did do this today, with Volstad over 100 through 6 IP, but couldn’t come through against the bullpen.)

by dajafi on Aug 7, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasting good starts from your ace is a great way to piss away a division lead

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Aug 7, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

I left after the 5th because I had to drive my brother to downtown Baltimore, and when I came back – nothing….I went into the MLB.TV archive and watched from the 6th on. Just wow…what a goddamn waste. It almost seems as if they don’t even try when Cole is on the mound, like he is going to be some magic elixir that can pitch a shutout and hit a homerun while the rest wait for their late afternoon tee times to start. Very frustrating indeed.

by Cluttered_JML on Aug 7, 2008 8:07 PM EDT reply actions