Bottoms Up: Phillies 9, Brewers 4

by dajafi on Sep 24, 2009 11:33 PM EDT

It's rare that the Phillies score nine runs and register a relatively easy win when Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth go a combined 1 for 14. But so it went in Milwaukee Thursday night, as a tremendous performance by the bottom half of the order carried the visitors to a 9-4 win that brought them a step closer to locking up the NL East. Ben Francisco, Pedro Feliz, Paul Bako and J.A. Happ went a combined 8 for 11 through the first five innings, scoring four and driving in four.

Brewers starter Jeff Suppan brought a 6.13 career ERA against the Phillies into the game, and saw that rise after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. But Suppan actually kept his team close until the fifth inning, stranding seven Phillies through the first four. With the Phils ahead 2-1 and one out in the fifth, Werth reached on an Alcides Escobar error and went to second on a bloop single off the bat of Ben Francisco. Pedro Feliz followed with a single, scoring Werth on a close play; Francisco came around on a Paul Bako hit. Pitcher J.A. Happ singled in Feliz to make it 5-1. Jimmy Rollins put the cap on the six-run inning with a three-run homer to right field, his 20th of the season.

Happ showed no lingering effects from the side strain that has limited him through September, striking out five straight Brewers his first time through the lineup. He was sharp until the sixth inning, when he ran out of gas and left with two out and two on; in all, Happ worked 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven. Chad Durbin, Tyler Walker and Chad Condrey pieced together the last ten outs, with Condrey giving up two unearned runs in the ninth.

The Phils lowered their magic number to four and increased their division lead to seven games over the idle Braves.

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Manuel said #Phillies will discuss using J.A. Happ in 9th inning or back end of bullpen

by DeanH on Sep 24, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

This makes me very, erm, happy.

Much as it sucks for JA, I think he’s probably the odd man out on the playoff rotation — I think it comes down to him and Pedro and Martinez has struggled enough in the first innings of his starts that he looks like a bad fit for the bullpen, whereas Happ was quite good out of the pen early this year.

However, if the consolation prize for not being a starter in the playoffs is being the closer, well, that’s great for him. I hope it works out well.

by phatj on Sep 25, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

as a lefty we’ll have a better shot of 9th inning walks and singles staying on first.

I just can’t shake my suspicions that all of Pedro’s shortcomings were deliberately calculated to get him into the starting rotation— trouble getting the stretch move together, trouble in the first inning. I just feel like he is outfoxing us all.

by Wet Luzinski on Sep 25, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Interesting. Wouldn’t totally discount the possibility, as conspiracy-theorist as it sounds. He’s nothing if not cagey.

by Steve J on Sep 25, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly, this could be huge for Happ’s career. He’d likely see a lot of regression as a starter, but I could see him as a top notch closer. While not as useful for us, could be a money maker for his future.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Sep 25, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Idle Braves are the Devil's handiwork

Oh, and thank God that play at the plate didn’t cost the Phillies another catcher.

by Wet Luzinski on Sep 24, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

I had the same reaction. Hard to believe I’m saying this but Paul Bako must be protected at all costs!

by taco pal on Sep 25, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Boo to the 9th inning last night, dropping the run differential to +5 from +7.

by WanderingMoses on Sep 25, 2009 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

rollins

Jimmy’s season line is now .246/.292/.416, with 20 homers and 75 RBI.

Essentially, he’s become what we thought Pedro Feliz would be: a great glove man with 20-homer power who simply doesn’t get on base, with the additional virtue that he can steal bases. But this isn’t a leadoff hitter: this is a #6 or #7 hitter.

by dajafi on Sep 25, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

Splits

1st half: .229 .287 .355 .642
2nd half: .267 .298 .490 .788

Interesting that the patience went away with the resurgence of the average and power.

Not that it’s going to happen, but I think it’s time for Victorino to be the leadoff hitter.

by phatj on Sep 25, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I was talking with my roommate about this last night, and I proposed the possibility that Rollins is a good fit iat lead off nsofar as he has a better chance of knocking in a 7-9 guy who gets on base. Non statsitically, it seems that the Phillies often will have someone in the 7-9 spot get on base, and then the 1 spot comes up with 2 outs. Victorino probably has a better chance of getting on base in those situations, but a worse chance of getting those guys in. The 7-9 guys usually only get singles or a walk, and also tend to be a bit slow. Victorino’s singles probably wouldnt score most of them. As far as switching Victorino and Rollins, then, that might not make as much sense. Dropping Rollins to the 6 or 7 spot is sensible, but I am not sure who you would put in the 2nd spot (assuming Victorino is lead off).

Werth might be a possibility there, since he seems to be developing a good propsentiy to walk, has good power and also hits for decent average.

Vic, Werth, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Rollins, Feliz, Catcher, Pitcher seems like a logical line up. The top three guys also take a lot of pitches, which I heard helps the rest of the guys because they get a feel for what the pitcher is going to do. Maybe this year Manual is going with the no tinkering approach, but next year, a line up like this is something to consider.

by Whack8888 on Sep 25, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Flip Werth and Utley and I’m on board.

Utley’s OBP skills are better, and putting Werth third breaks up the lefties somewhat.

Utley’s the best player on the team when it comes to not making outs. He needs as many PAs as possible.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Sep 26, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

That makes sense. Utley seems like the perfect number two hitter when you have three more power guys in your lineup to bat 3-4-5. I doubt that his production is dependent on batting in front of Howard so I don’t see the downside. Wasn’t there a time last year or the year before where they had Utley batting second and Burrell at number three and the problem was Burrell went into one of his slumps? I may be misremembering that but I thought it made sense at the time.

by phillyinportland on Sep 26, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions