Phillies Breakfast Links: July 3, 2009 - Michael Taylor Mash, Hamels Hopeless?, Mets in the Cradle of Liberty, Prospect-a-palooza

by WholeCamels on Jul 3, 2009 8:13 AM EDT Comment 7 comments

Mets travel to Philadelphia in hot pursuit of first place in the NL East
Weren't the Phillies in first place for the better part of last season? I know they'd love to push the "HA! NOW THE PHILLIEZ ARE TEH CHOKERZ!" storyline in New York, but it's only July right now...

Paul Hagen: It's still early: Mets-Phillies interesting, but not critical

As bleak as things look for the crew from Queens at the moment, they're far from out of it. That makes these next three games just as important to the home team as the visitors. It would be a mistake for the Phillies to overlook the Mets. Heck, the way they've played lately, it would be a mistake for the Phillies to overlook anybody.

I honestly wasn't aware that anyone was "overlooking" the Mets...

Prospect Q/A with Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus
Lots of good stuff here. And encouraging, especially in light of how miserable the big club has been recently.

Bill Conlin: If Michael Taylor isn't a 'Futures' star, who is?
Ol' One Chair has a deep, gooey mancrush on Michael Taylor.

Phillies Notes: Manuel: Hamels may be affected by innings jump
Where Tom Verducci farts in all of our faces.

Hamels’ struggles are stumping Phillies

"Maybe he hasn’t focused like he did (in the past), who knows?" Dubee said. "It’s the whole team. The mistakes we’re making, I think we seem distracted at times. "In the second half last year we played very well. We didn’t make mental mistakes or sloppy-mistake pitches. We haven’t been as sharp as we’ve needed to be."

Madson's slide reaches new low
He just stinks right now. It's depressing.

Bypassed again, Carrasco just keeps 'doing my job'
Another strong outing last night.

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Comments

Electric and Nasty

Is how Carrasco’s stuff has been described lately. Definitely don’t want any of that kinda stuff on our staff. It’d make all our pitchers feel inadequate or something.

by EastFallowfield on Jul 3, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why isn't he going? Deference to Rodrigo Lopez doesn't seem very bright.

I’d be much more worried about Carrasco than I am Lopez.

He was good…5 years ago.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 3, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, Lopez was also pretty good in 2007 before he went down with an injury. That was the last time he pitched in the big leagues and the recovery rate for Tommy John is fairly high, so the odds that he can still pitch are not that remote.

by taco pal on Jul 3, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just a wild guess, but maybe it’s because he’s only had three good starts in a row, which immediately followed two mediocre-to-bad starts, and has been inconsistent all season, and has a season ERA that’s nearly a point higher than Lopez’s. These facts suggest that (1) he’s still developing certain aspects of his game and therefore you ideally want him to continue to pitch, for now, in an environment where game results are less important than mastering certain skills, for the sake of his long-term development, and (2) he’s no more likely than Lopez to pitch well at the major league level in the very short term, which would be the purpose of a July 3 call-up.

by taco pal on Jul 3, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It would be a mistake for the Phillies to overlook the Mets

Honestly, I think its the other way around. The Mets are probably the ones overlooking us right now with the way were playing.
All we need to do to turn it around is 1) not strikeout EVERY time at the plate, 2) have a starter besides JA Happ throw a quality start, 3) have the bullpen (cough*cough*RomeroandMadson*cough*cough) stop blowing games, and 4)start playing defense again
So basically, relearn how to play baseball, shouldnt be too hard…

by philiafan14364 on Jul 3, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and an Ibanez return wouldnt hurt either

by philiafan14364 on Jul 3, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The phillies aren’t ‘overlooking’ the Mets – writers gotta write something to make people want to read their dying medium.

I liked the interview over at PP – interesting to read about guys I’ve never heard of who most likely won’t ever make the phils roster (many of em) but for now we can be hopeful

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 3, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs