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Around SBN: Knicks Beat Lakers With Familiar Strategy

House Call: Phillies 9, Blue Jays 0


In what turned out to be a bizarre night on many levels, Jimmy Rollins tied a career high with four walks, Ross Gload struck the big blow -- a bases clearing "double" in the fifth inning that glanced off centerfielder Vernon Wells' glove, making the score 8-0 and blowing the game open -- Placido Polanco grounded into a career worst three double plays (erasing three Rollins walks in the process) and Roy Halladay won a baseball game despite not having his best stuff/command.  These are the games that those pennant winning squads of 2008 and 2009 seemed to win in bushels, right?

Despite running many deep counts, and only striking out four on the evening, Halladay kept his old teammates off the board for seven innings, allowing six hits and walking one.  The power hitting Blue Jays lineup just wasn't able to make solid contact on many of Halladay's offerings.

Much of the offensive credit goes to the bottom half of the order.  With Rollins' walk-a-riffic-ness mooted by Polanco's GIDPs, your fifth through ninth hitters drove in six of the team's nine runs, including a solo homer from Shane Victorino, and with a resurgent Jayson Werth scoring three himself.  First baseman Ross Gload, playing the field while Ryan Howard played designated hitter, was 3-for-4.

Call me bold but I think this team has busted out of Slumpmas.

20100625_phillies_bluejays_0_medium

via www.fangraphs.com


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I thought I was going to have to write a game recap

Nobody wants that.

I still don’t understand how Gload’s ball was scored a hit. I would have called it an error in real-time and even if the official scorer saw it differently the first time, replays showed clearly that Wells, though he did have to go a long way to get there, was in position and didn’t even have to stretch out much for the ball. In fact, the ball hit the heel of his glove indicating that he overreached for it. That’s an error. Whatever, doesn’t matter to the Phillies and only really matters to Jesse Litsch I suppose.

Going to go roast in the sun this afternoon.

by phatj on Jun 26, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions  

I think I commented a 2 weeks ago about giving Gload more Playing time.

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 Jun 26, 2010 1:36 PM EDT reply actions  

DH

Is a perfict time to do it, I don’t think the Phillz loose anything with Gload playing first base. Also If he comes in and starts tearing shit up like he did yesterday it may be possable to give Howard a day off or two.

by sowhatifitisasportste on Jun 26, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

What about putting Utley at 1B, Howard as the DH, and Valdez/Castro at 2B?

Otherwise, yeah. Good use of the DH to give the guys some down time.

by Phrozen on Jun 26, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

I wouldn’t want to move a Gold Glove 2nd baseman. Hopefully Gload keeps tearin shit up to the point that Chuck tells Howard to go take a day off and go fishing.

by sowhatifitisasportste on Jun 26, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

While I like Utley as much as the next guy, he’s not exactly a “Gold Glove 2nd baseman.”

Whether or not he should be is another story, but he has not won that award. And it wouldn’t be bad for him to get some downtime—1B is a little easier than 2B, and he’s played there before.

by Phrozen on Jun 26, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes he is a Glove Glove second baseman. In fact, there was a legitimate argument at one point in recent years that Utley was the best fielder in major league baseball at any position.

Moving Utley to first base makes him much less valuable. The Phillies should never do it at any point in his career.

by taco pal on Jun 26, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

He is an excellent fielder, sure.

But, check here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawlings_Gold_Glove_Award

Utley has never been awarded a gold glove.

What am I missing?

by Phrozen on Jun 26, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Just re-read your comment. If all you’re saying is that Utley has never actually won the award, that’s probably right. But he has been deserving.

by taco pal on Jun 26, 2010 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ah.

I absolutely agree.

However, I think moving him to 1B for a game or two would be a good way to give him a break without losing his bat.

by Phrozen on Jun 26, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe, but you would lose a lot by having to see Valdez/Castro hit four times. I’d rather play Gload/Howard (interchangeable 1B/DH) vs. righties, and Francisco/Ibanez (interchangeable LF/DH) vs. lefties.

by taco pal on Jun 26, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

We are missing the obvious solution if we want to give Utley a fielding day at First Base to rest him— send the actual Gold Glove Second Baseman (Polanco) to cover Second and find someone to cover third— Castro did not look bad there… However, doing this is still replacing Howard’s bat with Castro’s, something I am loath to do unless it is interleague (Howard as DH), or Howard is unable to play.

by dannijd on Jun 26, 2010 11:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

I don’t ever want to see Castro playing baseball for the Phillies.

by phatj on Jun 27, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

True… But given my choices, if I must deal with him, better at third than second.

by dannijd on Jun 27, 2010 12:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Mets lost

Carl Pavano 3-hit shutout.

by essman on Jun 26, 2010 4:15 PM EDT reply actions  

good

Urge to kill Pavano, fading.

by taco pal on Jun 26, 2010 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maby not, I’m over at the J’s apparntly toronto is in shambels

by sowhatifitisasportste on Jun 26, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Sorry, just posted one. It will show up in about 7 minutes.

by taco pal on Jun 26, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

It’s ok we’ll wait on you

by sowhatifitisasportste on Jun 26, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

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