Good Trips: Phillies 10, Rockies 2
by dajafi on Jul 24, 2010 7:50 PM EDT
40 comments
Consider it another entry in the "why they play the games" file: on a witheringly hot afternoon at Citizens Bank Ballpark, Ubaldo Jimenez, the National League's starter in the all-star game less than two weeks ago and Cy Young Award front-runner, was decisively outpitched by Kyle Kendrick of the Phillies--who, in the words of this guy, wasn't even supposed to be here today. It will take a bit more time to fully gauge whether we're seeing the return of the offense to its pre-Slumpmas form--and if so, whether this was occasioned by the firing of hitting coach Milt Thompson, the probably inevitable return to form of Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth, or a bunch of smaller, not necessarily repeatable factors--like, today, the very hitter-friendly strike zone of home plate ump Derryl Cousins.
Certainly Jimenez would suggest that the last was a factor in sustaining only his second loss against fifteen wins this season: of the 68 pitches Jimenez threw in his two-plus innings, only 28 were called for strikes, and he walked six. After escaping a bases-loaded threat in the second by striking out Kendrick, he immediately got into trouble in the third: Jimmy Rollins singled and advanced to third on a steal and errant throw from catcher Chris Ianetta, then Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez both worked walks to load the bases for Ryan Howard. The scorching slugger cleared then with a triple to the right-field corner, his fifth of the season. In the course of walking Werth, Jimenez fired a wild pitch that let Howard score; after his sixth walk, to Shane Victorino, his day was done. Greg Dobbs greeted Matt Belisle with a run-scoring single; after two outs, Rollins came up for the second time in the inning and hit the Phillies' second triple of the inning, stretching the lead to 7-0.
This turned out to be more than Kendrick needed. Granted a reprieve from the minors, Kendrick did what he always does when he's effective: not beat himself and generate groundball outs. All he allowed was a solo home run to Ian Stewart in the course of seven strong innings. Raul Ibanez, coming off his three-hit performance Friday night, hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Taylor Buchholz to make it 9-1. A late highlight was the successful major-league debut of Vance Worley, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning and recorded a strikeout. He's likely to return to the minors tomorrow to make room for J.A. Happ.
Happ makes his first start since April on Sunday as the Phils seek their fourth straight win. Between the relatively easy win and the quality work of the Phillies radio crew--it's hard to overstate how much better Scott Franzke and Jim Jackson are than TV play by play man Tom McCarthy--this was a relaxing and pleasant a game to follow as the graph below suggests.
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Not gonna lie...
I expected this game to go the other way with Jimenez starting, but the roller-coaster he’s been on (I looked at his game log after today’s game was over) was telling, to say the least. That, and our offense SEEMS to be waking up (I want to see more consistency before I declare them alive and well again), plus a quality outing by Kendrick gave us the win.
Speaking of Kendrick, how much bigger of a chip can someone have on their shoulder? Were in not for an injury to Moyer, he’d be still in the minors. But, he gets called back and does what? Just goes out and gives up six hits and one run in seven innings. Kudos to K2 on that.
"If chaos drives, let suffering hold the reins!"
I didn’t see the game but the highlights made it look like Jimenez was melting. When good pitchers start the game that sweaty I have noticed they have bad games. Even Halladay has done this. But it did look in the Highlights that we just whooped the Rockies.
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.
Also today was my daughters 2nd birthday and she loves to watch baseball( when her cartoons aren’t on) and told us Phillies will win.
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 Jul 24, 2010 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I had to follow on Gamecast, but an outstanding game all around. Krazy K looked efficient and precise until the last inning he pitched (7th). I don’t want to say that they have busted out just yet, but these last two games have been encouraging and the past three from the starting pitching have been extremely encouraging. Hopefully these next few games get momentum rolling, and with them playing some of the weaker teams (Arizona and Washington) – the gap with Atlanta and the WC is substantially shrunk.
At least, I can hope, anyway.
Vance Worley probably does need to go back…but for a few more hours can’t I dream that we DFA Baez ?
Yes I am old. I remember the Phils good old days and their bad old days. Course, the good old days I'm thinking of were in 2009.
Homer's Epics: An Odyssey for the Salary Cap, The Quest For the Goalie Grail
No because you wake up with that feeling – for just a few moments – that what happened in your dream really happened: Holmgren got fired, or Howard never got that contract, or you bought RAJ’s Ferrari after you took his job.
And you feel kinda of annoyed for the rest of the day once that tiny moment is gone as your brain hits the refresh page tab and you awake to the reality you never left.
And doing their best to give it back. Taylor Tankersley just allowed the tying run to come to the plate with 0 outs.
by WanderingMoses on Jul 24, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
and just hit McCann to put tying run on 1st.
by Wet Luzinski on Jul 24, 2010 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
We may be within 5 games of the division after tonight. Exciting. Also, as good as Jimenez has been, it’s a shame that people put so much weight on W/L record and he’s getting all the Cy Young talk, which should be all over Josh Johnson. Josh Johnson has been pitching in ANOTHER WORLD this year. 1.61 ERA, 259 ERA+ (!!), 0.97 WHIP. Since his second start of the season, he’s averaged 7 IP a game. In those 19 starts, he’s given up 3 runs twice, 2 runs thrice, 1 run 8 times, and 0 runs 6 times. That’s 14 times he’s toed the rubber and left after giving up 1 run or less! If he keeps up this pace, and doesn’t implode, and doesn’t win the Cy Young Award, I’ll be very disappointed. Frankly, I don’t think there’s too much the Phillies could give up if they had a chance to get this guy. As he gets older and becomes more economical with his pitches, he’ll be the best pitcher in baseball. It’s too bad that what could possibly be the two best pitchers in baseball over the next few years in Johnson and Strasburg pitch in the Phillies division.
Also, the Phillies scratched JC Ramirez from his start Sunday, and there’re no signs he’s injured. Could be a portend that there is a trade in the works.
I agree JJ has been the beat pitcher in the league this year.
by dajafi on Jul 24, 2010 11:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t see why everyone is fussing over the Braves wins and losses. Make no mistake, I would be perfectly content to see that team come down in a crashing heap, but let’s be realistic about it, the chances are not likely that it will happen.
If we’re going to advance into October I see the only route in the Wild Card, and it’s an awfully crowded field there. Let’s just hope the D-backs do us a favor over the next few games and waste all their strength on the Giants.
"I remember being three and I wanted to be a baseball player, that's all I ever really wanted to be. That and Spider Man." -Raul Ibanez
by Jose and the Contrarians on Jul 24, 2010 9:44 PM EDT reply actions
I have an irrational hatred of the Braves, that’s all….and the 8th inning has been an exercise in Murphy’s Law for the Marlins.
by WanderingMoses on Jul 24, 2010 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
especially if you watched and saw it started with a bloop hit followed by a sure double play turned into an error.
Watched it in all its glory…two errors by Jorge Cantu, bloop hits, needless walks, Eric Hinske (!) getting 2 RBI’s, and Burke Badenhop hanging a 2 seamer to Brooks Conrad.
by WanderingMoses on Jul 24, 2010 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
The "only route?"
Let me just say that if the Braves give up a 6 game lead with 66 games to play, it will NOT go down in history as one of baseball’s worst meltdowns.
Hell it won’t qualify as the worst meltdown of the past 5 years lol
by WanderingMoses on Jul 24, 2010 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
That and they play the Braves six times in the final 2 weeks as well.
by WanderingMoses on Jul 24, 2010 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Obviously if the Braves give it up it won’t be the only route, but my comment is predicated on a strong Braves team not giving up such a strong lead. Yeah, it could happen, but short of Glaus and McCann breaking their pelvic bones in a fortunate spooning accident I’m really not seeing it.
With that route presumably blocked off, the WC becomes the big objective and a far more reasonable one considering that the Phillies lurk 3 games out at this point even after slumpmas and the awful recent roadtrip.
"I remember being three and I wanted to be a baseball player, that's all I ever really wanted to be. That and Spider Man." -Raul Ibanez
by Jose and the Contrarians on Jul 24, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
"Your comment is predicated" on it?
Well, my comment is predicated on the fact that with 66 games to go, it is ludicrous to suggest that a six-game deficit is impossible to overcome.
Is it more likely that we erase the 3-game WC deficit? Probably. That doesn’t change the fact that we’re the equivalent of three minutes back in a marathon, and at this point it is still too early to begin writing off the division title. Especially to Atlanta.
I’m going to quote myself, because you can’t read:
I would be perfectly content to see that team come down in a crashing heap, but let’s be realistic about it, the chances are not likely that it will happen.
I never said it was impossible, it was a basic if/then statement. If Atlanta continues playing the way they have since late April, unless the Phillies go on the king of all 2nd half tears I just don’t think it’s happening. I mean we’re talking 80+% chances for the Braves taking the division at this point while we’re at something like -30%. Anyways, so the odds are heavilly against a division run, ergo the WC looks to be the obvious route of focus.
“Especially to Atlanta”
I hate the Braves just as much as any of you, but don’t let contempt cloud your vision that they’re playing solidly this year. Just as much as we rightly despise idiot Braves fans, to use two synonoyms back to back, saying 2008 & 2009 was about luck and omgomgomg high school field we should give it up to the Braves, they’ve been playing hard and it shows.
"I remember being three and I wanted to be a baseball player, that's all I ever really wanted to be. That and Spider Man." -Raul Ibanez
by Jose and the Contrarians on Jul 25, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Too late everyone, I already guaranteed that the Braves will win the East this year.
I fed a fish to a pelican and Frisco bay and he tried to eat my cell phone he ran away
by TradeAndruw on Jul 25, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Was at the game and had seats right on right field line. If there is Werth hate going on you could have fooled me. There were a bunch of women who definitely would have his baby and just about everyone about orgasmed when he hit the cut off man in the gun down at 3rd. I mean it was a good sound play but sheesh people just went a little overboard with the atta boy’s and we love you’s. When he came to bat it was to Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam”’ Interesting choice Mr. Werth.
Roamer, Wanderer, Nomad, Vagabond…
Call me what you will…
by WanderingMoses on Jul 24, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Today at least, he kept his inner Spicoli in check which is impressive for him in a day game and a scorcher at that.
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