No, Really: Orioles 6, Phillies 5

by dajafi on Jun 20, 2009 10:44 PM EDT

Most of this game followed the now-established script: anemic hitting, just-good-enough-to-lose pitching, and the characteristic lethargy of the Phils at home, in June, against an AL opponent. Some Baltimore pitcher called Brad Bergesen held them to two hits through six innings as J.A. Happ allowed two runs and Chad Durbin walked Brian Roberts with the bases loaded to surrender a third. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, the Phils woke up: two doubles and two singles made it 3-2, and Ryan Howard--out of the starting lineup with the aftereffects of a 104-degree fever--came off the bench to slam a three-run homer against Danys Baez. Chan Ho Park followed the five-run frame with a scoreless eighth inning, and it looked like the Phillies might secure that rarest of achievements: a win at home in interleague play.

Nope. Ryan Madson allowed a solo home run with one out in the ninth sandwiched between two outs, then a seeing-eye single to pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar. He got ahead of Brian Roberts 1-2... and then threw the single worst pitch I can remember seeing to a good hitter when ahead in the count, a fastball in the dead middle of the plate. Roberts did with it what you'd expect him to do with it, and George Sherrill closed out a truly sad Chris Coste/Pedro Feliz/Eric Bruntlett troika in the bottom of the ninth to wrap things up. The loss was the Phillies' sixth when leading after eight innings, which is six more than they had in 2008.

Right now this team is about as fun as a steel-booted kick to the taint.

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Not. Fun. At. All.

by FuquaManuel on Jun 20, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

This sucks, but...

… remember we hit a similar prolonged snag against the American League last year at this time. At the end of it, along came Joe Blanton, and things began to pick up from there.

Maybe history will repeat itself; maybe not. We sure could use another starter, and another arm in the bullpen wouldn’t be a bad thing either. At this rate, the ‘pen will be toast by August. That really only happened to Durbin last year, but now they’re being forced to overuse everyone.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Jun 21, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

more to the point...

along came a revitalized Brett Myers. Blanton was so-so, but Myers was unhittable over a stretch of about ten starts.

by dajafi on Jun 21, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions

True.

And look at this right here. Things are looking pretty identical to last June so far.

No revitalized Myers this year, barring a miracle. And while Blanton didn’t really dominate last year, the Phils didn’t lose any of his starts, did they?

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Jun 21, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Then wouldn’t that be more on the Phils than Blanton?

by FuquaManuel on Jun 21, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Sure, but by the same token he pitched well enough to keep them in games.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Jun 21, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Which of course is a lot more than we could have said than for Adam Eaton.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Jun 21, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably the big difference between this year and last year is that we’re going to need significant improvement from the bullpen as well as the rotation, and avoid the sort of offensive brownout that started, well, right around now.

by dajafi on Jun 21, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions

This week has proved that Madson cannot be our closer, he is so inconsistent while he is in this role. Hopefully a healthy Lidge comes back and pitches better than he did before the time on the DL. If not, I guess we are screwed.

Yes, the Phils were horrible against the AL last year. We actually didn’t really get out of that funk until we got into September. Just as stated above, they went into a offensive struggle all the way until they hit September. I believe that the bullpen improvements are on the DL with Lidge and Eyre. While Lidge hadn’t pitch like he had last year, Eyre had been lights out. The only bad outing he had was against the Nationals in April. While I believe that the bullpen will stabilize with those 2 coming back, I don’t know about the starters. They just confuse me. I mean the only one I can trust is Hamels. Blanton is streaky and the rest is a crapshot everytime they pitch.

by phillyphan9208 on Jun 21, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions

Brad Bergesen, 'Some Baltimore pitcher'?

Some Baltimore pitcher called Brad Bergesen held them to two hits through six innings

This Baltimore pitcher happens to be one of the best rookie starting pitchers in the majors right now. You wouldn’t like me to be calling J.A. Happ just ‘some pitcher.’ Happ is solid, Bergesen is solid too. Not like you care though…

by BKsportstake on Jun 21, 2009 2:20 AM EDT reply actions

+1

"I wouldn't root for the Yankees for any amount of money."
-Matt Albers

by ryuu on Jun 21, 2009 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions

You can call Happ whatever the hell you like. We won’t get offended. We have more important things to worry about, like winning the world series for the second year in a row, or winning our DIVISION for the third year in a row.

But you are right, I am sure Dajafi meant to slight your awesome pitching prospect as opposed to just venting his frustration that we got shut down by another no-name (because he is a no-name as of right now) rookie pitcher.

Now run along, back to jacking off to pictures of Matt Wieters.

by FuquaManuel on Jun 21, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

calm down

Keep it civil.

O’s fans, we’re frustrated, and we’re entitled. Reading another team’s blog when they’re in the middle of a horrendous run is just asking to be offended.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jun 21, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

As an O's fan, I must say

THAT was an excellent comeback. That’s a level of discourse you just don’t get with Nationals fans – they aren’t creative enough. Honestly, I thought that was pretty funny, and you spelled The Deity’s name right, to boot.

Just don’t be surprised when Brad Bergesen is in the top 5 of AL RoY voting. You heard it here first.

"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver

by duck on Jun 21, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

This was true of Kyle Kendrick two years ago. Enjoy it now, because it’s not likely to last; on the other hand, you guys have a bunch of actual pitching prospects, so you should be fine.

I can’t hate on the city that gave us “The Wire.”

by dajafi on Jun 21, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure you can if you think about why the city was able to give us the wire :()

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 21, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Even the O's could be division champs in a division as easy as the NL East...

We seam to have no problem beating your division, but you seam to be having some trouble beating ours. :-)

"I wouldn't root for the Yankees for any amount of money."
-Matt Albers

by ryuu on Jun 21, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

GOOD POINT

your team’s future is very, very, very bleak. you got us there.

by Matt Swartz on Jun 21, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Until they get new ownership they’re doomed for ever

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 21, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah...

I’m just saying teams in your division are so bad even a t-ball team could beat them. :-)

"I wouldn't root for the Yankees for any amount of money."
-Matt Albers

by ryuu on Jun 21, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess not having a winning season in a 7th grader’s lifetime makes you a little desperate for anything to brag about.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jun 21, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Good luck playing the Rays.

"I wouldn't root for the Yankees for any amount of money."
-Matt Albers

by ryuu on Jun 22, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I seem to remember beating them in a little Interleague series last fall…

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jun 22, 2009 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions

re: Happ

Oh, and say whatever the hell you want about J.A. Happ, he is what he is: a #4/#5 starter in the big leagues, which is what Bergesen is going to be (35 K/77.2 IP = sexy). A righthander who can’t miss bats. Kyle Kendrick Part 2.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jun 21, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Bergeson is not that good

I’m sorry but every major projection system had him even close 5.00 for a whole year. Pitching is a funny thing to predict, but there’s no one who had him even finishing the year average. There isn’t a single pitcher who has ever been successful more than once or twice through the league striking out so few people, and there almost no pitchers have seen their strikeout rate go up from that. He doesn’t have what it takes. You have actually talented young players on your team, try to get juiced up about those guys. This guy won’t be around the next time the Phils face the O’s.

by Matt Swartz on Jun 21, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

yikes

You guys are pretty touchy, even hostile. Maybe it’s the decade of fourth and fifth places finishes; we’ve been there, and we can sympathize.

As others noted, I meant by this only that I wasn’t very familiar with the guy. I’ve heard of Matusz, Arriata and Tillman; Guthrie is a known quantity as a solid big-league pitcher. If Bergesen goes on to enjoy a good big-league career, that’s terrific for him and for you; he certainly wouldn’t be the first guy to do so despite going largely unregarded as a prospect.

And, also as noted below, say whatever you want about Happ; we won’t be offended. If we’re lucky, he’ll prove to be “solid”; the general sense is that his upside is decent #4 starter for a few years.

by dajafi on Jun 21, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

hello

Your Ad Here

by thewaywardO on Jun 21, 2009 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

Is this writer serious?

I am an O’s fan. But, I am aware of everything else that goes on in MLB. I know who is who.
“Some Baltimore Pitcher..”
Brad Bergeson leads every other rookie in baseball in just about every category. He had only allowed 2 runs in his previous 25 innings. He had not lost a decision in his last 6 and had won 3 straight.
The AL East is the best division in baseball.
Every team in the division had a winning record last year except the O’s, that is the same as this year, but…..The O’s have a winning record against everyone outside of the division. The O’s WILL have the ROY in either Weiters, Reimold, or Bergeson, and they have the best outfield in the MLB.

by rarmacost on Jun 21, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

Everybody calm down.

Dajafi’s point was that the Phillies’ bats weren’t held in check by Roy Halladay, C.C. Sabathia, or even someone like David Price. Sure, Bergesen’s been impressive so far, but if you’re really going to get your back up about someone on another blog calling Bergesen “some pitcher,” you’re missing the point. This isn’t Jake Arrieta, this isn’t Brian Matusz, this isn’t Chris Tillman — hell, it’s not even David Hernandez.

And before you start spouting the stats from Bergesen’s amazing run, just stop for a minute to understand what you’re dealing with: a sinkerball pitcher who doesn’t strike anyone out (career minor league K/9 of 5.6). In a perfect world, he turns into Aaron Cook; with less luck, you’ve got Kyle Kendrick Part II on your hands, as WholeCamels says above.

by PhillyFriar on Jun 21, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

seriously, listen to what other people are saying. it was earl weaver who said young pitchers will break your heart. the numbers back that up. guys like bergeson never succeed more than once or twice through the league.

by Matt Swartz on Jun 21, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions