It's Alive! Phillies 5, Dodgers 1
by David S. Cohen on Sep 1, 2010 8:29 PM EDT
Email
PrintFollowing the Dodgers one-hit shutout of the Phillies Monday night, things looked bleak. Even though the Phils had swept the NL-leading Padres over the weekend, they did so without much offensive prowess, scoring 3 runs on only 3 hits Saturday and 5 runs on only 5 hits Sunday. Monday night's disastrous loss (while the Braves easily beat the Mets) raised the same red flags that the Astros series the week before had raised.
Is this team's offense permanently crippled? Are the big guys too injured to power this team? Is what we think is just a prolonged slump really the new reality?
Well, if the last two games are any indication, the answer to all of those questions is a resounding no. Following last night's 8-4 win, the Phillies pounded out another 10 hits and 5 runs today. They did so on the strength of early solo homers from Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino followed by some clutch hitting later in the game from Chase Utley.
Yes, you read that correctly. Utley, who had been one of the chief culprits behind the prolonged slump, had a coming out party of sorts today. He had three doubles, two of which plated runs. Rollins also had two runs batted in to go along with his three runs scored. The big guys at the top of the lineup performed today in style. The 14 team strikeouts on the day? Well, we can forget about them when the team scores 5 . . .
And when the starting pitcher turns in another gem. Roy Oswalt walked six thanks to a tight strike zone, but he held the Dodgers to only one hit and no runs through six and a third innings. The bullpen finished the game out, as J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, and Brad Lidge combined for two and two-thirds innings of no earned runs. The only Dodger run scored thanks to a Jimmy Rollins error.
After Monday night's debacle, it's hard to believe that the Phillies could finish up their trip to California 5-1. They finish up their road trip tomorrow night with a 1 game makeup against Colorado. Resurgent Joe Blanton takes the mound against Jhoulys Chacin.
83 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Seriously, this rooting for the Mets thing is for the birds. Three days and I’m already sick of it. I think I’m just going to throw in the towel and root for the Mets to get crushed tomorrow. No that won’t help us at all, but if they’re going to lose anyway, they might as well go down in flames.
Anyone catch the ongoing hijinks of Nyjer Morgan? That was a pretty cool bench clearing fracas complete with Gaby Sanchez clotheslining Morgan. Wonder if MLB will now a) deny his appeal from the previous suspension and b) add a few more games to it.
He’s got a big height advantage but he looks slow and lumbering. You can exploit that with lateral movement.
Not really. Morgan clocked him the jaw and Volstad didn’t move. I kickboxed for several years. Weight differential is a big deal.
Naturally, Morgan would have to hit without getting hit back for an extended period of time. I think he could accomplish this with his speed under certain circumstances, but admittedly, a baseball brawl is not exactly the greatest setting in which to pull this off.
Sanchez isn’t a small guy himself. 6-1, 216 pounds.
here the best way to win twith the size and weight differential -
1) run
2) roundhouse to knee
3) dirt in the eye
4) punch to the throat
5) climb on back like a rabid marmoset and gouge the eyes
6) kick a field goal with the guys nuts
7) don’t drop the bat before charging mound
8) make sure Adam Dunn has your back
9) remember your a National, your stock can’t get much lower.
10) remember the alamo
11) run
I’m with you jreed. A short quick guy could potentially do some damage there, but he’s going to have a hard time getting anything behind it to slow down his opposition. He’d have to pull a ‘Melo girl punch and run maneuver, which ain’t working with the 4 other IFers instantly on the mound.
I don’t fault Morgan for stealing 2 bags after getting plunked, however, it essentially said “I don’t care if you hit me”, thereby begging to be hit again.
How can a Phillies phan leave 12) Taser off of this list?
by phatj on Sep 1, 2010 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
About number 8: Zimmerman also strikes me as a guy I wouldn’t mind having my back if the shit hit the fan. Big dude, big reach, plenty strong.
by ThinMountainAir on Sep 1, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you see the event that preceeded the throw behind? Morgan took out the catcher in a not so much barreling move as much as forearm shiver style the night before. Fish took exception to it, no doubt, so they threw behind Morgan. Morgan instead of taking it like a man, charged the mound straight away. He’s a punk, but if anyone knows the Fish and their ability to hold the grudges, it’s us.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
The thing you missed is that they had already hit Morgan with a pitch on his previous at bat in retribution for that. Throwing behind him was retribution for Morgan stealing two bases right after being hit by the pitch, showing that he was in no way sorry for what he did.
by dannijd on Sep 1, 2010 10:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I more meant that the Marlins expected him to take being hit by a pitch as a message that they did not approve of his behavior in the prior night’s game, not as an opportunity to see how many bases he could steal.
by dannijd on Sep 1, 2010 11:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes, but then he decided to steal a few bags and the Fish took exception to that right after he’d been hit. Whatever. The Fish overreact, always have, but Morgan’s a bit of a punk. Did you see the arms raised in the air as he came off of the field as if he’d just won a prize fight? Looooo-ser.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
I personally didn’t think the barrelling over of the catcher the previous night was a bad play. It was dumb, but that’s baseball. The catcher standing at the plate is a target.
The forearm shiv he gave while running past the catcher a while ago was totally uncalled for though.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that a force play?
if he slides, he’s probably safe. There’s no reason to barrel the catcher at that point.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 2, 2010 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Now that I think about it
even if it wasn’t a force, he probably could have beat a tag with a slide anyway, as the catcher was standing completely upright.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 2, 2010 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions
As do I. And I don’t particularly like Morgan.
Looking forward to the Kevin Kolb era.
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
chacin
Will be interesting to watch this guy. Baseball America rated him the #71 prospect coming into the season. “Best tool: Changeup” it said. Sickels had him ranked as the #11 pitching prospect. Throws 91. Apparently struggles with control sometimes.
So now Lidge has pitched 2 days straight, Romero 3 straight, and Madson 4 out of 5.
Charlie better hope we either win by blowout tomorrow or Blanton throws a CG.
Wasn’t it three in a row before being off for the day?
by dannijd on Sep 1, 2010 10:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Wasn’t it three in a row before being off for the day?
by dannijd on Sep 1, 2010 10:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Shades of September ‘07. But he seems to have some faith in Durbin as well, and so long as the Big Three keep turning in quality starts I won’t worry too much about the relievers burning out.
Still, I wouldn’t mind seeing Madson rest for a couple days.
by dajafi on Sep 1, 2010 10:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sad
We’re now lauding 5 runs as an offensive explosion. Still, I’ll take it.
You are so right. Have you seen how far behind the 29th team in runs scored the Mariners are?
by phillyinportland on Sep 2, 2010 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Really interesting matchup tomorrow in the Mets-Braves game. Santana vs. Hudson, two of the pitchers with the highest positive (xFIP-ERA) in MLB this year.
The braves seem to get matchups against a little easier pitches. Phillies seem to always face aces. Did all teams base their rotation to make sure we get the best guys.
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.
Just to add...
Brown’s double to left was a shot. Literally almost took the ball out to dead left. That’s some raw strength right there.
So it turns out that one game Monday night was just one game and not the entire season in a nutshell?
Whaddya know.
Brawl fallout
Is it possible that gaby sanchez might be suspended for his role in the brawl last night? If he is that definitely affects the marlins as they go to face the braves. Bummer, considering we need the braves to lose. I hope he can play in those games and misses the series against us. That would be just great.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Good Phight
Related FanShots on The Good Phight
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Next Game
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Josh Hamilton on public relapse: ‘It was just wrong. That’s all it comes down to.’
- Photo: The Marlins’ ridiculous-looking home run sculpture is almost complete
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman lures alleged stalker into police dragnet
- Report: Josh Hamilton had a relapse with alcohol
- Happy Birthday Boy! Wes Ferrell, the best-hitting pitcher of all-time, would be 104
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
