Some Phillies Links for You, August 24, 2010: Brett's Heart, Misty Mountain Happ, Ump Dump
by WholeCamels on Aug 24, 2010 8:20 AM EDT
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PrintMyers Enjoys Return to the Bank as Astros Edge Phils
Much to Myers’ surprise, he heard very little negativity from the fans as he warmed up before taking the mound and earning a 3-2 win over the Phils. "One guy yelled, ‘Hey, how’s your wife?’ " Myers recalled after the game.
Game, set, match.
Astros Notes: Happ in familiar territory
In many situations before a game, player movements involving the Astros and Phillies were described in language normally used for players being shuttled between the major leagues and the minors.
Wow. Ouch.
John Smallwood: Umpires should explain botched call
OK, WE'RE NOT going to revisit the ghost of Chico Ruiz. This isn't 1964 and there are no indications that these Phillies are the type of team to let one setback mushroom into a pennant-crushing collapse.
Well, that came out of nowhere.
Paul Hagen: With Astros, Myers found comfort zone
Mongo only pawn in game of life.
Oswalt settling in nicely with Phillies
Nice to hear good things about Phillies fans from an out-of-town paper.
Former Phillies prospect Kyle Drabek dominates Thunder to spoil Banuelos' debut
CLIFF LEE
Sutter's Role: Teach Mathieson the Splitter
Fascinating. +1,000 points for the Phillies for trying this.
R-Phils clip Squirrels
Again, enough with the cute minor league team names!
Todd Helton Delivers Victory As Rockies Win 5-4 Over Atlanta Braves - Purple Row
Nice to see Todd Helton helping the Phillies, rather than crushing them.
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oh man, the fans are going to ride him like a rented mule. I wish I was going to be there.
Smallwood, Sheridan, Gelb and Murphy all put out articles bashing Gipson as an unrepetant, inconsisent, arrogant jerk. That’s like pouring gasoline on some simmering embers and plays into this latent “the umps are against us” mentality that for some reason continues to resonate in this city. Tonight should be interesting to say the least.
by Boundforbeach on Aug 24, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually didn’t think the call was that horrible in real time. But when I saw on ESPN that Gibson had called a nearly identical play against us earlier this year, I got annoyed.
The first thing that I thought of when he made that call was the Victorino call- so much so that I turned to my mom and aunt (who I was eating dinner with at the time), and told them that about the Victorino call, saying that either Victorino should have been safe that day, or Bourn was out. Manuel got ejected both times, for arguing both calls.
As much as the call sucked, and I think he botched it twice, both on the tag and the established baseline crap, what frustrates me most is that he refused to ask for help and it seemed to me like the home plate umpire was 5 feet away just waiting to be asked for his opinion. I have a huge problem when someone who is supposed to be impartial makes it about himself and his ego over the game. As annoying as it may be when umpires get together to hash things out I would rather see that happen and the right call be the result of it than no umpire pow wow at all.
Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
What type of strike zone does he usually call??? I am trying to determine whether the riot will start in the top or bottom of the first (after the requisite hearty booing that will start the game- I was at the Phillies game Jim Joyce umpired 2 days after the Galaraga incident, and considering the level of boos he got from Philly phans for an incident that did not even involve one of their own, Gibson will be roundly booed when he is introduced tonight).
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 9:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
From a Hardball Times article
Smallest Strike Zone
Ump /SAA
Gerry Davis / -5.20
Paul Schrieber / -5.02
Dana DeMuth / -4.03
Randy Marsh / -3.57
Chuck Meriwether / -3.25
Sam Holbrook / -3.10
Chad Fairchild / -2.89
Larry Poncino / -2.79
Greg Gibson / -2.73
Larry Young / -2.69
SAA = Strike Above Average wihich is a +/- evaluation. A negative indicates the ump calls more balls that strikes.
Gibson is a hitter friendly ump.
from the sutter article
The splitter is not for everyone because it can put extra strain on a pitcher’s arm. In fact, Looper, in his second season in the Phillies’ front office, has frowned on the pitch being thrown in the Phillies’ minor-league system. Shortly after acquiring pitcher Phillippe Aumont from Seattle last winter, the Phils ordered him to stop throwing the pitch. Only after all attempts to add a secondary pitch have been exhausted will the Phillies approve a minor-leaguer throwing a splitter.
This worries me a little, since Mathieson seems like the last guy whose arm you want to put extra strain on. But I guess if they’ve exhausted all other secondary pitches they have no choice. This is also good news in that it shows they do want Mathieson to be a part of their future.
The mixed blessing olf Tommy John surgery is that the reconstructed tissue can be conditioned the proper way before a pitch is thrown. Conditioning connective tissue which should be done before any sports is played is very time consuming and invovles high repetition low load exercises. It is not something that can not be done effectively if the athlete has bben playing the sport for a good length of time because the damage is already done esp. with pitching because of the torque the elbow is exposed to. Plus it depends on the size of Matheisons fingers…If you have fingers like Jimi Hendrix who had a 7 or 8 frets finger span, the splitter grip will be easier to maintain. Look at Contreras hands…they are fricking huge and he throws a nasty split.
Thanks for this.
Agreed with TP that I’m a little wary about Mathieson learning the splitter, but if you’re right, j reed, about being able to properly condition his arm to take the strain, then it could wind up being a good thing. A usable splitter would be effective against both lefties and righties, and it should help boost Mathieson’s ground ball rate.
by PhillyFriar on Aug 24, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, lots of network weirdness this morning. They’re working on it.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Aug 24, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Neuromancer and Count Zero were purely prophetic novels.
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve had that for the last three or four days – both the preview and the post will give me error messages saying to try again in a few moments. They’ll usually eventually go through, but the network has definitely been funky for the last few days.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Nutter tracking for tax purposes is affecting network
by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 24, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Ejections
Charlie Manuel has been ejected 6 times this year. Coincidentally, five of those have been Blanton starts. The Phillies are 2-3 in those games. That being said, Blanton’s being on the mound for these ejections is probably coincidental, as four of the five argued calls were with the Phillies up to bat (Greg Dobbs getting “hit” by a pitch in Atlanta, an out of the baseline call against Blanton, the Victorino out of the baseline call, and arguing balls and strikes in the tenth inning of the Reds game).
Ryan Howard: “Yeah, Bourny knows I tagged him. I know that he knows that I tagged him. We’ll just say that.”
That’s right: baseline stuff doesn’t matter because he tagged him. I watched it 20 times. Ump gives benefit because Bourne is fast.
I believe Ryno.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
So do I- I just wish he would have said something during the game— let Manuel know to argue the tag not the baseline.
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 12:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He did: didn’t you see him yelling “I got him!” to the ump and any one who would look at him? But Howard knows he has to keep a cool head. It’s a pennant race—don’t want to be a bozo and get tossed from a game or get caught napping off of second base…oh wait.
Too soon?
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
Yeah, but...
The intro to the article is wrong. Carlton did not start the season 0-5, he started 3-0. He did lose five in a row, then reeled off 15 straight wins (5-6 to 20-6). That was awesome.
Right
You are correct. I remember he started well, 5-1, I think, then lost the five starts in a row to fall to 5-6. From that point on he was fantastic. And Rick Wise did not go ON to pitch a no-hitter and hit two home runs in the same game: he did that in 1971 for the Phillies. So, just in the intro to the BP article there are two major errors. Is this a reputable publication?
by phillyinportland on Aug 29, 2010 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions
related article
http://www.baseballjournal.com/news/2010/08/02_thebaseline.php
this piece outlines a few of the more extreme cases of ‘outside the baseline’ cases. this rule needs to be corrected. too many times this ‘rule’ (or lack thereof) has cost teams wins. theoretically, with the way the rule is worded now, a guy can literally run straight at the dugout, and that would be his established baseline. changes need to be made… that is all
Bud Norris since the ASB
7/17 @ PIT – 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
7/23 vs. CIN – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 5 K
7/28 vs. CHI – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 7 K
8/3 @ STL – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 6 K
8/9 vs. ATL – 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
8/14 vs. PIT – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 14 K (!)
8/19 vs. NY – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
Throwing out his first start vs Pittsburgh, he has given up 4 runs a game to teams with decent offenses in Cincy, St.L and ATL and shut down the offensive doormats that are Chicago, Pitt and NYM…4 runs should be enough to win the game with Cole on the mound. Problem is they seem to have an aversion to scoring 1 when Cole pitches.
Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Over/ Unders for tonight
Runs Scored Phillies (total):
Runs scored Phillies (Cole on the Mound):
Innings Cole Pitches:
Innings Norris Pitches:
Runs Allowed (Cole):
Runs Allowed (Total):
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 12:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What exactly does this mean?
In many situations before a game, player movements involving the Astros and Phillies were described in language normally used for players being shuttled between the major leagues and the minors.
I have read the article and am wondering what he’s talking about. What do you think is being implied here? Seriously, I need some help what this statement is pertaining to.
by Pedro45 on Aug 24, 2010 12:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
He is implying that the Astros are the Phillies minor league affiliate—at least that’s how I read it.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
Okay. I was suspecting that but wasn’t totally sure. Thanks.
by Pedro45 on Aug 24, 2010 2:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Love the Zeppelin reference btw
"The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants"
~Thomas Jefferson
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Aug 24, 2010 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
Man… that Wikipedia site is unbelievable. Someone already updated the Greg Gibson profile to include last nights events.
Also, on Monday, August 23, 2010, while serving as first-base umpire, Gibson was thought to have blown at least one key call in the 8th inning, enabling the Houston Astros, trailing at the time by one run, to score two runs and defeat the Phillies, who were locked in a tight pennant race. The first disputed call was a check swing call that helped to extend Jason Michaels’s at bat, resulting in his singling, rather than striking out. The second call, on the next batter, may have included two mistakes. Ryan Howard fielded a bunt by Michael Bourn and dove to tag Bourn. Bourn veered out of the base path to avoid the tag, then proceeded to first base where he was called safe. Howard was convinced he had applied the tag. But much more widely agreed to have been a “bad call” was Gibson’s ruling that Bourn had not gone outside the three-feet zone allowed him under MLB rule 7.08(a)(1)3. Gibson was also criticized for not asking for help in making the call from the home plate umpire, who had a good angle on the play.4
I’ll lay even money odds that the person who updated it is on this site, even if only lurking
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably, considering that it was mentioned in the gamethread last night.
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 3:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually, that original edit of Gibson’s Wikipedia entry was deleted within a few minutes of it being posted. It was obviously edited again based on what is copied above. The writing style was far more amateurish last night.
Hilarious… the first attempt notes, in part, that:
Greg Gibson was too much of prick to ask for help so the call stood
by Boundforbeach on Aug 24, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
True… Although I still think at least one of them came from here.
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 4:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
why don’t you just take credit for it already :)
by Boundforbeach on Aug 24, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Because while I wish I would have written it, it was not me.
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 5:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
does MLB really not care about this crap?
I totally understand making a mistake…that’s fine. It happens.
I don’t get not asking the home plate ump for his view. It’s just totally arrogant.
Umps have come a long way, as now you’ll occassionally see them reverse an obvious bad call (ie the balk last week that was missed), but I don’t see what’s so bad about continuing to move the line towards getting them all right (which would be asymptotical of course).
I don’t get not asking the home plate ump for his view. It’s just totally arrogant.
Agreed. One of my real umpiring pet peeves is when the home plate umpire decides whether a batter swung on a close call without appealing to the first/third base umpire, and the same principle applies here. You can’t always be in the perfect position, but in that case, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Don Denkinger, the man who blew one of the biggest calls in baseball history, supports expansion of the use of instant replay.
http://www.gamblingiq.com/forum/online-gambling-general-discussion/44268.htm
heard him give an interview and how he said getting the right call is the most important thing for an umpire. sadly not all of them feel this way. Many would rather be incorrect and not have their judgement or authority questioned than to show some humility and ask for help to get the play called correctly!
According to Todd Zolecki's Twitter:
Tonights starting 9:
Rollins (SS), Polly( 3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Victorino (CF), Ruiz ©, Hamels (P)
Been a while but it’s finally here. The real, everyday starting line up for only the 8th(?) time this season.
Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Call me crazy
But, its time to bring out the whoopin’ sticks and defend that nl title…starting tonight.
by PhilsForever on Aug 24, 2010 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds good— heck, the weather right now even feels like April- cool and damp.
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 4:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’d be happier if they moved Howard back in the order a few spots at least until he gets back in the “swing” of things….
by Boundforbeach on Aug 24, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Cole was also the starting pitcher the last time the starting 8 took the field together… 5/21/2010. Phillies beat Boston 5-1 either just before or just after the start of Slumpmas.
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 6:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Joe Blanton since July 1
8.2 K/9
2.0 BB/9
4.38 ERA
BABIP over .350
xFIP around 3.50
For the past two months, his performance has been comparable to Roy Oswalt’s.
If anything, Oswalt is pitching better this year than he has for some time. He’s on pace for his highest WAR since 2007 and his performance over the last two months has been consistent with his performance for this season as a whole. If the post-injury rehab Blanton has been as good as that Oswalt and can keep it up, then that means that Blanton is one of the better starting pitchers in the National League. That’s exactly what he has been for the last two months.
It’s actually pretty exciting. He has lately been pitching at the level of a #2 starter. We probably have the best 1-4 rotation in the National League, San Francisco and St. Louis included. Not sure about 1-5, but the fifth starter obviously matters less.
And I agree. His performance of late is very, very exciting. And it’s all we would have been talking about had we managed to win that game for him last night.
For some reason, nearly 24 hours later, I’m actually more upset about that Gibson bull^&% than I was last night. I really hope the crowd gives him an earful of nasty snark.
by Boundforbeach on Aug 24, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I am especially happy about his rebounding K-rate, which suggests that the gains he made last season are real. Still boggles my mind how people can view his contract as bad at this point. Wait until next season when his ERA matches up with his xFIP from the second half of this season. That contract will look pretty nice then.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
Because people apparently forget Adam Eaton and what he was paid/how he performed—I think they thought Blanton was a fluke, rather than a pitcher who’s improving. He’s a model of consistency.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
I think this is a good idea for a graphic creation to display whenever someone rattles off some WIP “logic” (or Joe Morgan wisdom, sorry, HoF 2nd baseman, Joe Morgan wisdom)
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
I’ve been a critic of how he’s pitched this year, but I’m happy to see that he’s done much better of late. The big bump in K’s yesterday was a good sign.
Unless he morphs into Eaton, Cupcakes has been a fine member of the rotation during his tenure in Philly. He’s not an ace, he’s not a scrub. He’s done what he’s supposed to most of the time….keep the Phils in the game and give them a chance to win.
We probably have the best 1-4 rotation in the National League, San Francisco and St. Louis included.
This is the lede buried within the Cookies love (which is wholly justified, I might add). The Phillies have the best pitcher in the league, the best 1-2-3 in the league, and the best 1-2-3-4 (i.e. playoff rotation) in the league.
Just make the postseason so we can see it in action, mmmmkay, Phils?
He’s a little skinny for my tastes
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I am not surprised
Blanton is a second half pitcher usually and he suffered his first dl stint this year. His failures have been way overblown. Oswalt has pitched better than those numbers with the Phillies though.
So...on DNL just now
Apparently, per Jim Salisbury, Brett Myers stuck his tongue out at Werth before delivering the 4th intentional walk pitch last night, which caused Werth to laugh (which is why he looked down at his feet) and then he got picked off. Myers confirmed according to Jim.
So I’m still annoyed at Werth, but F you, Brett. That’s bush, but congrats for getting away with it. Mind games. Who knew Myers had a brain?
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
Another thing to note is that another foot higher on the Werth double and we dont get the pickoff or the Bourn bunt in the 8th and most likely we win the game.
Also, if yet another idiot fan in that section hadn’t reached out and interfered with the ball, it might have richocheted away and been a triple. This is already like the third time this has happened this year.
They need to require fans who sit in that row to sit through a training seminar or something.
Cut off their hands like they do in some countries and no one will ever do it again.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
At the very least, somebody in that section has to take it upon themselves to mete out some verbal abuse.
Really??
I get being ticked at a fan you touches a ball in play going down the line that’s maybe gonna be a triple, or if a guy is on base, etc..
Any ball hit to a guy standing in the first row of the OF is going to try and catch the ball if at all possible. IMHO, there’s a better chance that if he catches it it’s ruled a dinger, than there is that if he lets it go, Werth gets a triple.
Nobody was on base, it didn’t prevent anybody from scoring, from first. No harm. Get over it.
Or how about just putting up some small signs in that front row.
by Boundforbeach on Aug 24, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Considering PSAs on the big screen featuring the Phillies ballgirls threatening ejection for messing with a ball in play have not worked, what chance do you think little signs have of working?
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 6:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Those PSAs happen once, before the game. And you can’t make out what the ballgirls are really saying (distracted rating them). Not to mention folks in left don’t have a view of the board. Small signs that are always there right in front of you will make you think before reaching over the railing.
by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 24, 2010 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe it’s just my perception, but when is the last time the phillies and braves didn’t either both win or both lose on the same day they both played.
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 6:18 PM EDT reply actions
Sat Aug 14th. Phils beat Mets 4-0 and Braves lost to Dodgers 2-1
by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 24, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
But the day before that, the Phils lost and the Braves won
by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 24, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Braves have needed 3 9th inning comebacks to keep their distance over the Phils. (Astros, Dodgers, Cubs) That’s not likely to be a trend that continues.
And how many 9th inning/ extra inning wins do we have in the 31 days since J-Roll pronounced us “not dead”? I can think of at least 4 without even trying (Cardinals, Nationals, Marlins, Dodgers).
by dannijd on Aug 24, 2010 6:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
how many 9th inning losses do the phillies have and how many do the braves have?
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I know it’s not but I was wondering how it all balanced out :)
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?year_game=2010&team_id=ATL
Braves have 6 wins when trailing in the 9th.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?year_game=2010&team_id=PHI
Phillies have 5.
6 wins while trailing in the 9th and 3 blown games leading in the 9th – net +3
Phillies 5 games won when trailing in the 9th – 2 blown games leading in the 9th – net +3
So it’s not like the braves are running away with things because of the 9th inning
by SportingFanaticism on Aug 24, 2010 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
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