Electric Slide: Phillies 3, Padres 2 (12)
by dajafi on Aug 28, 2010 2:15 AM EDT
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PrintAfter yet another night of offensive futility, after Brad Lidge crapped all over Roy Oswalt's gem, after it looked for all the world like the Phillies would yet again blow a chance to gain ground in the playoff race, the team scratched out a run in the top of the 12th inning on a great individual effort by Jimmy Rollins, then held on behind the relief pitching of Chad Durbin to claim a desperately needed 3-2 win over the NL West-leading Padres.
Though he was long gone by the end of it, Oswalt was the star of the night. Working off a crackling fastball, he held San Diego to a run and five hits over eight innings, getting hurt only on a solo homer by old Phillies nemesis Yorvit Torrealba in the third. Oswalt struck out six, walked none, and threw only 102 pitches, more than matching the excellent work of Padres ace Mat Latos, who held the Phils to one run over seven innings.
But with the Phillies ahead 2-1 after 8, he was lifted for pinch-hitter Domonic Brown and had to watch as Lidge blew his lead. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs led off the Padres ninth, hitting one of those grounders to the right side Phillies fans remember well from his 2009 season--but this one slipped through. Stairs exited for pinch-runner Jerry Hairston Jr., who advanced to second on a David Eckstein bunt that Lidge nearly failed to pick up. He induced a groundout from Miguel Tejada, then intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez and got ahead of Ryan Ludwick 0-2... before hitting him with a pitch to load the bases. Chase Headley came up next, got ahead of Lidge 2-0, saw the count work back to even... and watched in disbelief as Lidge started his windup, then stepped off the mound for a balk. Hairston scored, tying the game at 2.
The teams traded zeroes through the 10th and 11th before Rollins led off the 12th with his third hit of the night, a double to right off rookie reliever Ernesto Frieri. Placido Polanco followed with a single up the middle. As Rollins raced around third, center fielder Luis Durango fired a strike that beat Rollins home, but he slid around Torrealba's tag and slapped the plate as he passed to score the go-ahead run. Durbin, who had worked a scoreless inning in the 11th, stayed in for the 12th and retired the Padres 1-2-3, getting Will Venable on a called third strike to end the game.
With the Braves and Giants having lost earlier, the Phils pulled back within two games of the NL East lead and moved a half-game ahead of San Francisco for the wild-card lead. Joe Blanton opposes Jon Garland as the series continues tomorrow.
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I’ll confess that I went to the liquor store after the 10th as it was going to close in a half hour and came back to see Rollins on second. The addition of beer made the rest of the game most enjoyable.
Totally enjoyable being part of the chatter tonight. I was reading a Victorian account of proper diction/sentence construction, and that, coupled with Lidge acts, would have sent me over the edge without some company.
By-the-by, Gaslamp Ball continues on it’s Jayson Werth hate parade w/ some pretty spectacular violent imagery. He’s like Chipper Jones or Martin Prado times a million to those guys.
What did he do to them to inspire the hate?
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 3:06 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
When Werth was still on the Dodgers, they heckled him and he gave a little back.
This is clearly so offensive as to hate him forever.
Read this (from Gaslamp Ball before their move to SBN) for the full story. If you’re anything like me, you’ll like Werth even more after this.
Not only did I laugh my @$$ off about it, but I love how Jayson handled it. Humorous and entertaining! Take that Nyger!
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 1:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What- Nyger could take a lesson from the way that Werth handled the fans— Werth let his opinion be known without hitting anyone on the head or being obscene or offensive. I admire the creativity.
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 2:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Jesus H. Christ
If Brad Lidge can’t throw strikes anymore, that’s one thing.
But a balk? With the bases loaded in an important 1-run game? He’s been in the bigs since 2002. What the fuck is that?
He can still throw strikes...
How long had it been since he last pitched? Just because he has been in the bigs that long does not mean he won’t make mistakes. Also, he recovered to keep the game tied, so that was good.
by PhilsForever on Aug 28, 2010 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions
What does that mean? Pitchers can’t make mistakes?
by phillyinportland on Aug 28, 2010 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
That’s my position. Pitchers can’t make mistakes. Next time Cole Hamels lets up a home run, I say we trade him.
No, my point was that Brad Lidge, with intermittent periods of goodness, has been terrible since the start of the 2009 season.
I’ll grant your point that Lidge has been better at times, terrible at times, since 2009 started. But I don’t think last night was terrible – disappointing, yes, that he didn’t nail down the save, but think what he did accomplish. After the frustration of the balk he bore down and got Headley to hit a grounder and then hustled his butt over to first to get the out to end the inning. I also think there was something going on during the pitches leading up to the balk – Headley was upset with the third base ump over the check swing call and then he was talking with the home plate ump about the next pitch. Next thing we see is Lidge called for a balk. Not an excuse but balk rules are notoriously complicated and a slight distraction could have been enough to cause the hesitation.
by phillyinportland on Aug 28, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Looks like now that the astros have left Philly they are back to their ineptitude losing to the mets last night. Good to see them suck again AFTER they leave. blahhh.
They lost a close game… Pelfrey is a decent pitcher. It happens
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 3:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
They blew scoring chances, played shaky defense, got no breaks.
If it wasn’t for the Mets offensive incompetence, they would have been blown away.
by EastFallowfield on Aug 28, 2010 6:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I did not say they did not face decent pitching- but they managed to get a 2 run homer off of Hamels, and two separate home runs against Halladay… Harder to do that in pitcher friendly Citi field.
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 11:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My take on the game & the state of the team (today), I worked hard on it so please don't be too mean. O and it’s been spellchecked =)
1 Oswalt – I’m becoming a bigger and bigger fan every day. He is a bonafide Ace and, just looked terrific I’m not sure what his PC was but, I’m sure if Chuck had the chance to leave him in he would have (& sitting down 13 in a row to leave the game is just so impressive, once again GREAT pickup by RAJ).
2. Lidge – Matt Stairs I loved and hated him as a Philly extra bases or Strike out. Just so happens that he hit one through the gap (I’m not sure why Chuck brought Lidge in to start the inning Stairs is a low ball hitter from what I remember and Lidge being a Fastball / Slider pitcher it just seemed to be a recipe for disaster). The small ball played by the Padres looked like it was going to be a problem with Lidge’s record of holding runners on. Lidge damn near miss plays the bunt (I think he was thinking about the runner at 2nd) that moves the runner to 2nd he gets the ground out from Tajada than with the open base walk Adrian Gonzales .524 SLG VS .411 SLG in Headly (I think was the right move). Than everything looks good with the count 0-2, everyone is thinking Slider / Slider / Fastball some combo of the 3 and, he nails him to load the bases. On comes Venable gets the count to 2-2 and with 2 outs bases loaded he gives the slightest balk but, a balk none the less. It brought in the tying run (which was Stairs if you remember). Add in a hard hit ball that Howard stopped and, got to Lidge to record the out at first was your blown save. Not the worst outing I’ve seen from him but, he screwed himself with this one (Not the BABIP monster rearing his ugly head).
3. The Pen for the most part was fantastic. It has gone from the weak point of the team to one of the main strengths in Lidge / Maddog / Contreras are 3 really solid guys when you add in Durbin who I’ve seen go 3+ scoreless innings, It’s no longer the "Oh no" that it was last year. Just a side note they out dueled the best BP in the NL maybe the league (I’m not sure but, I know they are good).
4. AT THE PLATE – Howard / Utley / Werth (I can almost excuse you Werth today cause you got robbed of a HR today) / Victorino / I don’t know what’s wrong but, these guys need find their swing, see the ball and, get comfortable at the plate they come up and, just look like easy outs now I’m no baseball guru but, at this point in the season that’s not good. Howard has just looked terrible since coming back from the DL. Same thing with Utley (However, he WAS down for 3 months great idea RAJ giving him 2 rehab starts) Victorino, hasn’t looked the same since coming back from the DL (If you remember he was on pace to break his personal HR best may still be I’m not sure) take the extra BP to get that foot stomp down that you had earlier in the season. Werth how do you go from what was almost assonantly an NL MVP spot to this man? He’s shown flashes of his old self but damn man this is getting painful, if these guys could get it together that this team would be unstoppable.
Hey Dez, it's 2am do you know where your mother is?
by sowhatifitisasportste on Aug 28, 2010 3:18 AM EDT reply actions
I forgot to mention, Rollins slide was just fantastic.
Hey Dez, it's 2am do you know where your mother is?
by sowhatifitisasportste on Aug 28, 2010 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions
He’s such a good baserunner and has such a high baseball IQ. Is there anyone else on the team that could have evaded that tag? I’m not sure even Utley could have done it, since Rollins is faster.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
Werth is fast so are Brown, Vic and, Utley (who knows how to elude a tag) but, I think you’re right If Rollins isn’t on the base path than I think it’s the first out of the inning or he’s held at 3rd.
Hey Dez, it's 2am do you know where your mother is?
by sowhatifitisasportste on Aug 28, 2010 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I wish that high baseball IQ could carriy over at the dish…Einstein with the leather, Newton on he basepaths, Elmer Fudd at the plate. As infuriating as he can be, he is still a great SS – I’ll happily take the good with the bad.
And considering that he had three hits (including the only extra base hit) AND WALKED (difficult for him, so he gets big props, I am not so willing to complain about his evening at the dish.
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 10:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Tomorrow's game
We’re getting the Twins vs. Mariners on Fox. Looks like most of the country will get the Padres-Phillies game, so that should be nice. Hoping that good Joe Blanton will appear.
by phillyinportland on Aug 28, 2010 3:41 AM EDT reply actions
Lidge quote
Lidge called his balk "a bizarre thing."
He said he was moving the ball into his glove to get his grip when the ball hit his glove and started coming out. He looked down while his momentum was taking him forward.
"Basically I had to step off or I would have fallen on my face," he said. "It’s kind of hard to explain. It happened pretty quick. Suffice it say I wasn’t thrilled about that, and probably in a million more windups, something like that wouldn’t happen. Fortunately, we won the game."
Not a "Truth-Teller"
I’m not calling Lidge a “liar” per se, since that implies deceit or evil intent or at least fabrication. In Lidge’s case, I actually think he believes what he is saying. Thus, while perhaps technically lying, he is frequently lying to himself as well as the rest of us. Alternatively, it may be his perceptions are wildly inaccurate (social scientists call this “multiple realities” while physical scientists call this “bunk” or worse). In any case, I don’t think it is appropriate for TGP participants to rely on Lidge’s analysis of the situation nor his evaluation of his pitching effectiveness.
Raul Ibanez: since Moyer is on the DL, he is fast becoming our favorite old guy.
Rooting against a certain LW for the Tampa Bay Lightning will be impossible.
So what are the thoughts on why Charlie took out Oswalt for Lidge. Was he worried Roy’s arm was tired after all that LF time??
I’m sure this was covered in angered detail but I wasn’t around
by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 28, 2010 10:47 AM EDT reply actions
I think 102 pitches in 8 is enough. We don’t need him pushing for 9 and throwing 120-125 or more. Plus you are up 1, it’s a good move to pinch hit for him in the top of the 9th to try to get an insurance run.
I think he should have started the 9th inning. If the 9th were anything like the previous 3-4 innings, he would have gotten out of it with ~ 10 pitches and not overworked him in the process. If he runs into trouble – bring in the fireman.
by WanderingMoses on Aug 28, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. Granted Oswalt may have lost the game, but at his pitch count, I would have let him try.
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 11:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He’s not going to have an extra day off for a few weeks and, with as well as Lidge had been throwing I would have done the same thing Chuck did.
Hey Dez, it's 2am do you know where your mother is?
by sowhatifitisasportste on Aug 28, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
You have a point… I just like complete games, particularly when the pitch count is not obscene and the game is close. Plus Lidge is bad for my blood pressure- he is either sharp or waaaay off, and in a one run game I don’t necessarily want to find out which one he is that day.
by dannijd on Aug 28, 2010 2:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yea, rather than bringing in the Arsonist….
I was more pissed at Victorino for swinging 1st pitch like a goddamned HS softball player and essentially killing that rally. I had a feeling he was going to do exactly that.
by Sept.28.Oct.27.Dec.28.2008 on Aug 28, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. As I said in the game thread last night, there are some really mixed up signals – they aren’t swinging when they should, and when they are swinging, it has been so piss-poor as to defy logic. Pitch recognition has been terrible, and Vic probably just shouldn’t bat left handed at all, not that his RH batting has been anything to write home about though.
by WanderingMoses on Aug 28, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
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