Fish Story: Marlins at Phillies, 9/8/08

by WholeCamels on Sep 8, 2008 7:00 PM EDT

Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies, Sep 8, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Next Game

Monday, Sep 8, 2008, 7:05 PM EDT
Citizens Bank Park

Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

The Phillies come home after completing a spun-their-wheels series in New York that saw them gain just a game in the standings very, very late in the season. They start a seven-game homestand with three games against the Florida Marlins, who managed to hang in the divisional race for most of the season, only to fall well out of contention within the last month, now sitting 8 games back of the division-leading Mets, and 6 games behind the Phillies.

The Phillies send Joe Blanton to the mound, who is coming off a rather poor showing against the Nationals last week, that saw him give up four runs, six hits, and three walks in just four innings pitched. Waistline notwithstanding, Blanton hasn't been the "innings eater" he's been promised to be.

Anibal Sanchez, who for the most part has struggled this season, starts for Florida.

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

I have just been informed by Sean Forman of Baseball-Reference.com that this story’s “innings eater” joke is the 250,000th “Joe Blanton is fat” joke in the history of the blogosphere.

I want to thank all of the readers of this blog for making this hacky moment possible.

by WholeCamels on Sep 8, 2008 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

haha.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Fat, skinny, whatever. Just win, tubby.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Fat sack o’ crap walks the leadoff man after the hitters give him a 2-0 lead.

Then McCarthy with a “special report” on some guy who schleps equipment at the park. There’s a game on, jerks.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

Remember how Blanton’s strength was his command and control?

Good times, those.

by WholeCamels on Sep 8, 2008 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

“groundball pitcher” who pitches to contact, strikes out nary a batter, but has poor command. Sounds a lot like Kyle Kendrick. Wait, we didn’t trade one of our top prospects for Kyle Kendrick…say it ain’t so.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah remember when they said he never walked anybody?

by WholeCamels on Sep 8, 2008 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

This inning has been like someone really fat stepping on your bare foot repeatedly, then mumbling sorry, then doing it again.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

2 run lead? You’re too kind…but really, I couldn’t. Here, keep your runs.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions

Got those two runs right back—walk, double, sac fly (by Blanton!), RBI single.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

We’ll see if cookie monster decide to regurgitate these two(+) also.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

On his way.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Sanchez out of the game with two on, two out in the 2nd and the Phils up 4-2.

Will the Phils have as quick a hook on Fatty if need be?

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Lucky hit for Howard (went off Hendrickson’s leg) scores Rollins with a fifth run before Werth pops up to end it.

Shutdown inning pls.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

He really is a useless pile of feces.

Terrible pitch to a hitter you can get every time doing the exact same thing, and now it’s 5-4.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 8:13 PM EDT reply actions

I second that. He really does suck doesn’t he? What a waste.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Let’s hear it for the infield. It’s never easy against Florida.

by phillyinportland on Sep 8, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

97 pitches for Blanton through 5.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Durbin in for the 6th; Feliz in as part of a double-switch, batting 9th.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 8:59 PM EDT reply actions

Durbin HBPs a guy with one out.

Five days later, he still stinks.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

Howard follows that with a beautiful 3-6-1 DP—fielded it cleanly, made a perfect throw.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Tell me you didn’t just make that up!

by phillyinportland on Sep 8, 2008 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope, really happened.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Jayson Werth has pretty much cemented the Phillies not resigning Pat Burrel.

by christonabike on Sep 8, 2008 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

As much as it hurts at times to see it happen, sometimes the first pitch you see is the one to swing at. That’s what I’d call a big home run.

by phillyinportland on Sep 8, 2008 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

And that Werth generally never hacks first pitch is a great long-term strategy to induce a meatball in that situation.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Jayson Werth is a pretty good ballplayer, I’d say.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Motherf——-r.

Walk, homer, 8-6, and Romero bites it.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

This is ridiculous. Really friggin’ annoying. It is almost like the pitchers tonight are trying to give this game away.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

But I guess this is more like what we expected out of the bullpen.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

What has happened to our 8th inning success? How many times has the 8th inning sucked for the bullpen lately? Ouch.

by phillyinportland on Sep 8, 2008 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

It’s painful that they can’t finish these games.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

Especially since it looks like there will be lots of innings for the bullpen this week.

by phillyinportland on Sep 8, 2008 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The Phillies bullpen, despite some recent failures, is still one of the best in baseball. If the bullpen is going to give up runs, isn’t it a lot better if they do it in a game like this?

by christonabike on Sep 8, 2008 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Preparing for horror.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

Two on.

Helms coming up.

Seems about right, no?

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions

HORROR AVERTED

Lidge strikes out Helms and Cantu to end it.

Whew.

by dajafi on Sep 8, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Nothing is easy anymore. Win’s a win though.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 8, 2008 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

Isn’t it nice that we had Lidge vs. Helms with no baggage from last year – like, gee, Wes was such a nice guy – and no chance that Helms would have studied our pitcher for an entire season.

by phillyinportland on Sep 8, 2008 10:16 PM EDT reply actions