Howard, Stern: Phillies 4, Pirates 1 (10)

by WholeCamels on Aug 26, 2009 10:59 PM EDT

Take note: Brad Lidge is our closer. Always was, always will be.

On a night with some notable positives -- an apparent return-to-form for Cole Hamels, and a titanic three run bomb in the 10th inning for Ryan Howard -- the most obvious topic of discussion after tonight's game was another blown save by another Phillies reliever.

Tonight, Ryan Madson inherited a 1-0 lead, thanks to Chase Utley's solo home run in the top of the first inning. It looked like that'd be enough. But, well, you know how the story goes. Madson surrendered a solo home run to Brandon Moss with one out in the 10th inning to tie the game 1-1. The Pirates didn't score again, and the game went into the 10th, with the top of the Phillies order coming up. Jimmy Rollins led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to third on a Victorino single. After Chase Utley popped out to center, Ryan Howard ripped the first pitch he saw from lefty reliever Ryan Dumatrait into the right field seats, giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead, which Madson protected in the bottom of the 10th.

As mentioned above, Cole Hamels quietly had a nice game. He was not particularly economical with his pitches in the early going, but settled down in the later innings, ultimately allowing seven hits and one unintentional walk in eight innings pitched, striking out seven.

In other news, Brett Myers pitched two innings in Reading tonight -- no runs, struck out five. Ahmmmm...

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Flaws and all, Howard seems to win more games pretty much on his own than any Phillie I can remember in three decades watching the team.

by dajafi on Aug 26, 2009 11:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I <3 Ryno.

by FuquaManuel on Aug 26, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

It appears he’s at the start of one of those torrid stretches that will probably end up putting his name in the MVP talk.

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by JasonB on Aug 27, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions

If Howard were on another team, I would loathe him when he straightens up and pauses to admire his home runs. As it is, I delight in the intellectual and moral hypocrisy of being a sports fan. I friggin’ LOVE IT when he does that!

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I must say I was thinking that last night.It is cool how he drops the bat behind him softly afterwards.

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Aug 27, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Regarding Myers, MLBTradeRumors said in June that he was “on the border” between being a Type B free agent and nothing. If that’s the case, it would be nice to get him a few garbage-time saves to ensure he gets over that line.

by taco pal on Aug 26, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

The beard.

Everyone on our team plays better when they grow a beard. Cole Hamels is no exception.

by RoboticParadox on Aug 26, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

WAIVE MATT STAIRS!

by Bilzo on Aug 26, 2009 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

No, that would be stupid.

by taco pal on Aug 26, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

stupid is swinging at ball four with bases loaded.

by Bilzo on Aug 26, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

If you want to cut every guy who’s done that this year, your hit list must be pretty long.

by taco pal on Aug 26, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m just a little angry at Stairsy at the moment.

And no…I don’t wanna cut Werth for making an error. Werth adds value to the team as a batter.

by Bilzo on Aug 26, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it’s a good idea to keep the concept of sample size in mind.

by taco pal on Aug 26, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

^This.

I don’t care if we have to eat his contract. Stairs is done.

by RoboticParadox on Aug 26, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha, yes and cut Jasyon Werth for his error last night, oh and dont forget to cut Utley for his two errors.

Those dudes are done.

by Whack8888 on Aug 26, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would anyone put matt stairs in the same sentence as chase utley and jayson werth.

Stairs is a pretty useless bat and horribel fielder who has cache with phillies fans because of one at bat.

at the peak of his career (whenever it was) he wasn’t close to utley or werth.

In terms of ‘cutability’ stairs and bruntlett have to be two of the favorites with the bullpen being a mess as it is – but bruntlett can back up short and second (sadly) and no one else on the team can.

Is matt stairs really useful to keep around for that one left handed bat they need every once in a while?

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

by jemagee on Aug 27, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s called a reductio ad absurdum.

The peak of Stairs’ career, incidentally, was 1997-1999, when he posted a 137 OPS+ and 91 HRs over 1626 PA while playing full-time for the A’s.

by taco pal on Aug 27, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

My comment is over the top, but I think Stairs is useful with his bat. Who else would you rather have besides Stairs?

by Whack8888 on Aug 27, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s not really the quesiton so much as if myers return means someone has to be cut – who is most easily lost…the bull pen is kind of a mess now so unless you know an arm is totally useless you don’t dump it

so then you look bench bats

Stairs is a bat, and francisco plays better defense so all stairs is is a bat
Bruntlett backs up two positions the phillies unfrotunately have no one else that can play them

So if you have to cut someone – and you choose not to be a pitcher – why wouldn’t stairs be first?

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

by jemagee on Aug 27, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmmm, I didnt think about that. I think a pitcher would probably get cut in that case, but it is definitely true that Stairs is the least valuable guy on the bench.

by Whack8888 on Aug 27, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

When you have bullpen uncertainty do you really want to risk losing a pitcher from either side? I mean who knows how this shakes out

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

by jemagee on Aug 27, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

W/L

This game is also Example #559 of “Why ‘wins’ are worthless stats.”

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 26, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

any statistics out there on teams’ success/fail rates with bases loaded, no out? My fan myopia (like jonk’s stat post-Lidge BS that the Phils are 14th in blown saves) makes it hard to believe that we aren’t first in aggravating situational fails like these.

by Wet Luzinski on Aug 27, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Btw, I HATED Charlie’s move to let Cole hit with two on and 2 outs in the top of the 7th. I thought he just had 1 more inning left in him, but with 2, it’s not as big of a deal.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Aug 27, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions