Oh Guys This Season is Going So Well!: Pirates 8, Phillies 5

by WholeCamels on Jul 4, 2010 8:36 PM EDT

For a game that was as close to a "must-win" against a non-division opponent who won't be competing for a Wild Card spot as one can get, the Phillies truly lost this game in splendid, horrific fashion.

Starter Joe Blanton again ran out of gas in the mid-late innings, cruising after a two run first to shut down the Pirates through the sixth, and with a patch-work Phillies lineup doing yeoman's work against Pirates' starter Jeff Karstens, things looked pretty good as the Phils took a 5-2 lead into the seventh on 19th string catcher Dane Sardinha's third homer of the season.

Oh, the seventh.

Pittsburgh plattered six runs in the bottom of the seventh, starting with a solo bomb from Pedro Alvarez - his second in two games - and chased Blanton with one out and two runners on. Reliever Jose Contreras, "struggling" of late (i.e., regressing to the mean), allowed three runs to score on hits by Delwyn Young and Jose Tabata. Mike Zagurski, relieving Contreras, allowed the final two runs on a Garrett Jones single, making the score 8-5 and putting the cap on a horrendous meltdown.

And, being the 2010 Phillies, the offense did zilch in the late innings, with Sardinha's home run leading off the seventh constituting the team's final baserunner of the afternoon.

I hope you did something more fun than watch this game this afternoon. Like a nice game of "Getting Kicked in the Taint with a Steel-Toed Boot."

The Phillies travel home to Citizens Bank Park tomorrow, where a three game series with the Atlanta Braves, who have an opportunity to put a stake in the heart of this undead Philadelphia squad, awaits.

Crappiest Fangraphs WE Chart Ever.

via www.fangraphs.com

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Comments

I didn't.

Actually, I was there in the 92 degree weather getting my arms burnt. The only thing keeping my face safe from burning was a hat — and no, it wasn’t a Phillies hat, so Philadelphia couldn’t even protect my nose, much less the lead today.

BUT HEY, at least Halladay’s an all-star.

by Foxlrose on Jul 4, 2010 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

I was there last year for the game that Happ lost by giving up a 2 run shot to G. Jones in the late innings. God I hate that park.

by j reed on Jul 4, 2010 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Haliday a true Phillie through and through.

by Putnan Prince on Jul 5, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I had the pleasure of getting into the car to drive home from a nice day with family and friends right when the 7th began. Boy was that an awful way to end a fun day.

by David S. Cohen on Jul 4, 2010 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

ha, up 4-2 and with JoeB cruising, I took the 6-year-old to the pool for July 4 games. We got back in time so I could listen to “Star of the Game” as I was putting the bikes away before turning around to go to another picnic.

It occurred to me that like many local fans on the board, I’m able to “thin slice” Jim Jackson’s voice, independent of content, so that I’m able to tell whether I’m gonna listen to a win or a loss recap.

by Wet Luzinski on Jul 5, 2010 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions

The panic button is somewhere in the garage in some non- descript box. I’m not near to rooting around for it yet but at this point I’m trying to remember what part of the garage I put in. One positive note was that the offense manufactured some runs which is really something they have to do more effectively to make it thru this injury plagued rough patch.

by j reed on Jul 4, 2010 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Don’t bother… Panic time has come and gone… The evil baseball groundhog sentenced us to 8 more weeks minimum of exxon.

by dannijd on Jul 4, 2010 10:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It’s high on the shelf with the rest of the injured starters, dear.

by Wet Luzinski on Jul 5, 2010 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Under all the god damn christmas tree lights.

by j reed on Jul 5, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the FanGraph following the Phillies bullpen blowup v. The Twins was worse… Except that it was at least emotionally agreeable… Any chances of torrential downpours canceling the Atlanta series?

by dannijd on Jul 4, 2010 10:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Injuries and lackadaisical effort have sucked the life

and confidence out of this team.Right now they would have trouble beating the Somoli pirates.

by Putnan Prince on Jul 5, 2010 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

Say what now?

by FuquaManuel on Jul 5, 2010 1:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Somoli pirates are purveyors of fine lunch meats, from what I know. I’m just as confused as you are.

by Wet Luzinski on Jul 5, 2010 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions

No WL

That’s SALAMI LOL YUM

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jul 5, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Officiers, hypodetically speakin' what if i told yous dat it musta fell off da backada some somoli pirate boat.

by j reed on Jul 5, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

The team needs some leadership now, but Jimmy Rollins, who normally would be the team leader, definitely didn’t do much to help in the 7th inning. Having seen the replays only and not the live game it certainly seemed like a bad play that let Tabata’s ground ball get past him into left field. Then on Tabata’s steal of secdond a few moments later it sure looked like the veteran got beat by a rookie who should have been tagged out for oversliding the base. When the team is going bad these little things take on more importance. You can say all you want about how the players on the field aren’t as capable as the ones who are injured, but every team has the opportunity to avoid giving up extra outs. That has been a disappointment with this team all season.

by phillyinportland on Jul 5, 2010 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

Meanwhile, The Cliff Lee Story: Don't Insult a Proud Man.

by Derekcarstairs on Jul 5, 2010 6:20 AM EDT reply actions

More Blanton

He looked very good yesterday from the second inning through the sixth. His pitch count wasn’t high and he hadn’t walked anyone. I imagine Charlie Manuel was lulled into thinking this was a game that Blanton had under control and would finish 7 innings in fine style, maybe go into the 8th as he had the previous two times out. I thought at the time it would have been wiser to start the inning with a fresh arm – it’s in the mid-80’s on a Sunday afternoon, that’s got to take something out of you. But if you decide to leave Blanton in I think you’ve got to be ready to yank him at the first sign of trouble, not after the first three batters get hits.
Why? Because this is the story of Blanton just in the 7th inning this season: Seven times he’s pitched into the 7th inning. He’s recorded a total of 15 outs – three times removed in the 7th, two times finished after 7, and twice removed in the 8th. 15 outs recorded and 13 runs, all earned, allowed. That’s your 23.40 ERA for that inning. St.Louis: 3 runs; Mil: 3 runs; Cubs: 2 runs; Twins: 2 runs; and Pirates: 3 runs. The two times he got through unscored on were against the Indians, when he had a 12-2 lead (the tornado game, when he allowed a third run in the 8th), and the Reds (after allowing two runs in the 6th, he avoided trouble with a DP in the 7th).
I’m no expert on bullpen mechanics but the bullpen is there to be used to help win games, not as a place for extra pitchers to sit during the games. Blanton is not Halladay. You know he’s not going to finish the game. So, get the pitchers lined up and ready and don’t worry that they’re being overused. In game situations, the bullpen had logged three innings in the previous four games. Unless you’ve got a 12-2 lead, the bullpen should be part of the game, Moyer or Halladay being the exceptions.

by phillyinportland on Jul 5, 2010 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

Considering Contreras’s performance in his last several outings, who would you send in? I don’t trust the bullpen to hold down a three run lead, any more than I trust Blanton beyond about the fourth inning. It is easy to look back and say he was in one inning too long, but I think they did what they could as far as getting someone up— and with the way that the bullpen finished the inning, I am not sure that they don’t blow the lead even if they were brought in to begin with.

by dannijd on Jul 5, 2010 3:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Maybe

But from what those able to see the game said, Contreras was more unlucky than anything and being unlucky with the tying runs aboard will cost you more than if you come in to start an inning – at least I would expect it to. Contreras gave up what was described as a bloop double driving in two runs, a ground ball that Rollins failed to knock down, a stolen base where the runner should have been tagged out, a walk, and a ground out. Then you have Zagurski grooving one to Garrett Jones on the first pitch. To me, the crucial damage was done by the first three batters setting up the big inning.

by phillyinportland on Jul 5, 2010 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Point taken. Thanks!

by dannijd on Jul 5, 2010 4:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Kyle Drabek

Apparently he tossed a no hitter in Double A the other night.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Jul 5, 2010 4:51 PM EDT reply actions

I know that it is AA (and he started the year in AAA if I’m right), but that is still a cool accomplishment.

by dannijd on Jul 5, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

As far as I know Drabek has been in AA all year. His numbers on the season have been pretty respectable. 8-8 3.20 ERA. His K/9 is pretty good, BB/9 however is a tad under 4. Thus his K/BB ratio is less than desirable. If he can get the walks under control he would be putting up some really solid numbers. No word yet on if he may get called up to AAA.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Jul 5, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

J.A. Happ

Another not so good night in AAA for the pitcher we are hoping to save us from Kendrick/ Blanton…

J.A. Happ: 5.1 ip, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 0 HR

In good news, there was also a Mathieson sighting as he earned his 15th save:

Scott Mathieson: 2.0 ip, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

by dannijd on Jul 5, 2010 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Utley hopes to be back in 6 weeks

Per Todd Zolecki: http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/07/utley_hopes_to_be_back_earlier_1.html

Chase Utley hopes to be back playing baseball in six weeks. His thumb will be immobile for 5 weeks, but he thinks it will only take a week to get his mobility back and be back to playing. I know he is not a doctor (and I doubt that the injury gremlins are going to play nicely… But I hope he is back sooner rather than later!

by dannijd on Jul 5, 2010 5:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Well that is certainly welcomed news. I figured Utley might be back a little sooner than the original timeline given his history of coming back early from injuries. That being said, depending on where this team is in 5 weeks, it might not be worth it for Utley to rush his return. I would rather he not risk him re-injuring himself or having it become something that lingers.

Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on Jul 5, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel the same way, and I am pretty skeptical that he will be back any time soon (I think my projection was April— this projection being based on the current behavior of the injury gremlin— which says that everything will take twice the projections to heal). I want him back on the field, but not at the cost of his longterm health.

by dannijd on Jul 5, 2010 6:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions