... And We're Back! Phillies 5, Astros 4
by dajafi on Apr 1, 2011 4:27 PM EDT
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The first eight innings of the 2011 opener featured pretty much every expected trigger for a Phillies fan's panic: a great starting pitching performance wasted by a lethargic offense, middle relief that was a notch below "shaky," indications that Jayson Werth's absence might weigh heavy on the team widely favored to take the National League pennant for the third time in four years. Making matters worse, on the other side of the diamond stood the Astros, proud owners of an infuriating and unfathomable 16-7 record at Citizens Bank Park since the place opened in 2004. With a 4-2 lead heading into the ninth, they looked well positioned to run that mark to 17-7--and drop the Phils' Opening Day record since 1969 to a baseball-worst 13-30.
Six singles later, the Bank was roaring and High Hopes blaring over the PA as the Phils celebrated a 5-4 comeback win. John Mayberry Jr. took his postgame interview through a face full of shaving cream, befitting the hero whose bases-loaded single over Michael Bourn plated Ben Francisco and made a loser of Astros closer Brandon Lyon.
The late rally took Roy Halladay off the hook for what would have been a truly undeserved loss. Doc was magnificent early, striking out five of the first eight Astros hitters and not allowing a base runner until opposite number and former Phillie Brett Myers singled with two outs in the third. With the game still scoreless, he worked out of trouble in the fifth when Francisco misjudged a two-out Humberto Quintero fly ball for a two-base error. Myers improbably followed with his second straight single, but Bourn flew out to the track in right to end the threat.
Houston finally dented Halladay an inning later. Angel Sanchez led off with an infield single that Wilson Valdez couldn't quite come up with, and moved to third on a Hunter Pence double off the wall in right-center. Halladay got Carlos Lee on a humpback liner, but Bill Hall's groundout scored Sanchez. With his pitch count over 100, Halladay watched from the dugout as the Astros stretched their advantage to 4-0 in the seventh. Brett Wallace singled off J.C. Romero, Quintero did the same against David Herndon, Myers sacrificed them to second and third, and former Phillie Bourn drove them both in with a triple before scoring on a Sanchez sac fly.
To that point, Myers had held the Phillies in a nightmare of soft contact. His pitch count was under 60 through six innings, he'd issued one walk (to Shane Victorino, who immediately proceeded to get thrown out trying to steal to end the sixth) and struck out nobody. The Phillies hadn't swung and missed; they hadn't fouled anything off; they also hadn't squared anything up, with Ryan Howard and Valdez accounting for their only two hits. But Myers lost it in the seventh, walking Polanco to start the inning and allowing a single to Jimmy Rollins. A passed ball moved both into scoring position, and sacrifices by Howard and Raul Ibanez cut the deficit to 4-2. But after walking Francisco, Myers got Carlos Ruiz on a flyout to deep center.
Ryan Madson and Danys Baez held Houston off the board in the eighth and ninth, and Rollins and Howard greeted Lyon with singles to start the ninth as the Bank began to buzz. Ibanez fell behind in the count and popped up, but with Francisco at the plate, Rollins took off for third and beat Quintero's throw. Howard, however, didn't follow, a lapse that almost loomed large as Francisco singled in Rollins to make it 4-3. Ruiz crushed a pitch to left just foul to fall behind 0-2 and battled back to rap the team's fourth single of the inning--but Howard advanced only to third, loading the bases for Valdez. With visions of game-ending double-play grounders dancing blackly in 42,000 heads, the fill-in second baseman flared another single into left, scoring Howard at last.
That brought up Mayberry, happy to be on his first Opening Day big-league roster. With Lyon nearing 30 pitches, he worked a deep count--then squared up a cutter that centerfielder Bourn leapt for and couldn't come down with. Francisco trotted home with the win, and the 2011 season was well underway.
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I’m on radio so I don’t know, but it sounded to me like the 7th-inning guys got a little unlucky. There was only one particularly hard-hit ball (Bourn’s triple) and that hit the right-field wall with a gale-force wind blowing left to right. With normal weather, maybe that isn’t a triple? Also, Howard probably should have gotten the lead runner on the bunt that immediately preceded the triple, in which case Herndon would have had a completely different approach, going for a grounder rather than a strikeout. Anyway, whatever.
So the Phils have yet to strike out in 2011! I doubt that will last much longer with Wandy pitching tomorrow, but still pretty neat. And the pitchers have yet to issue an unintentional walk.
Baez had to go and give up the only walk, so they aren’t perfect on that aspect, unfortunately.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I know. I was just bringing up something different, heh.
I was hoping they’d go at least a couple days without a walk.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Howard had time to get the lead guy at third, but I don’t think he got a good grip and after watching him for years it was all too easy to imagine him whipping it down the left field line.
I was actually out of the room for the Bourn triple, but thought as he came to the plate, “he’s going to triple.” So blame me maybe.
Franzke and Andersen were saying that Howard did the right thing by not double-stealing with Rollins. They thought Quintero would have just thrown him out as the trail runner.
Oh that was definitely true. Rollins got a nice jump but there was no reason for Howard to be going there with one out and a two-run deficit.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
The play at third was fairly close, so I think Quintero just fired it down there. Wouldn’t he have held it if waiting for Howard to take off?
Maybe, though if Howard had gone ahead and left as soon as Rollins had, it would’ve been close for sure.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Could Howard have waited that long to take off though? If he goes a split-second too soon, Quintero sees him out of the corner of his eye and throws to second. If he goes a split-second too late, he could be thrown out and second even on a relay.
Quintero has a hell of an arm. If Howard attempts to double steal and Quintero catches him…..that could have been trouble.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
it was all my positive energy.
"There's cool, and then there's Claude Giroux"
Resident GleeK
SUPER 8 BITCHES
by sophiejo on Apr 1, 2011 4:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Loved that line: “…With visions of game-ending double-play grounders dancing blackly in 42,000 heads…”
Exactly what I was thinking. Also, “Here we go, another stupid loss to a team that always seems to have our number!”
Took all I had not to scream and run up and down the hall at the office during that 9th inning.
Throw style points out the window.
Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.
CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCH!!!!1!111!!
I think I stole that line from Stephen King. (The Stand, to be specific.) But what the hell: he’s a big baseball fan.
by dajafi on Apr 1, 2011 7:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Great win.. offense definitely looked impatient early on but definitely stepped it up late to pull of another comeback. If they play with the same patience the whole game, this offense should be fine.
Unbelievable.
As a Braves fan, this sucks. It also sucks that you guys will win the World Series this year, and possibly next year.
"Sports is human life in microcosm."
Howard Cosell
Don’t jinx us! Also, aren’t you guys not allowed here? we won’t tell anyone its okay
by Daniel Solomon on Apr 1, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks.
I think it’s a stupid rule, really. The 1st Ammendment guarantees me the right to be an ass if I so choose(I’m not).
"Sports is human life in microcosm."
Howard Cosell
I believe mvhs rescinded it after all of the braves fans complained to him.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t most things suck when you’re a braves fan?
by SportingFanaticism on Apr 1, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I think he’s saying you should title your image so it can be minimized.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
Um, ok, wasn’t aware of the new rule
by SportingFanaticism on Apr 1, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not a rule, it just makes the threads cleaner and better to scroll through.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Not a rule, just a kindness to those with low bandwidth. By clicking on the title, you can minimize the comment thus hiding it, and as philsandthrills mentioned, it makes threads easier to scroll through. Images are by all means encouraged, but titles help keep it from being a distraction after it has been enjoyed.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
I’d like to resize that one biggererer.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
This is true too.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Looks like a
truffula on her head.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
That image showed up before Jinx from the exiles who i figured would be harder to find (and more obscure) :)
by SportingFanaticism on Apr 1, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Puffy
Amiyuni!
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Found it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkwkNUmEkE
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
See what happened was Miss BABIP felt like playing an April fools joke on the Phillies. So, for the first 6 innings, she made sure none of our balls in play went for hits. Then, she was all like “APRIL FOOLS MY PRETTIES!” and she turned around and started fucking with the Astros.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
by FuquaManuel on Apr 1, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
An equally acceptable recap of this game
by Daniel Solomon on Apr 1, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm. Looks like J.A. Happ will be able to pitch on Sunday after all. Unfortunately, this probably means that Charlie will have to play Brian Schneider against a lefty.
I’m disappointed about Herndon though, you know that this appearance is going to stick in everyone’s mind, even if he does pitch well over the next week or two.
Glen Macnow, who’s relatively reasonable, described him the other day as “cannon fodder,” which was terribly unfair. Herndon wasn’t even all that bad last year.
If you don’t understand the value of ground balls, you’d tend to view last season in a much more negative light.
Cannon fodder is probably his new nickname in the Philly media, at this point.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
If and when he shakes his BABIP curse, he’ll be okay.
He’s not likely to be a future star, but as a minimum salary reliever, he doesn’t have to be.
Hopefully, it happens sooner rather than later. Otherwise, it might ruin any chance for him to hang on.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Last season, .357 BABIP.
This season, .400 so far.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand the BABIP argument, but on the otherhand...
The guy had 5 K/9, 3 BB/9 and an unsustainably low HR/FB rate in 2010. To me, this is barely above fodder.
by Mace Chutney on Apr 1, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions
“If you don’t understand the value of ground balls, you’d tend to view last season in a much more negative light.”
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
And gee, it would be really nice if there were stats out there that aggregated things like K/9, BB/9, and HR/FB so you wouldn’t just have to eyeball each of the components and take wild guesses as to how good a pitcher was overall.
My Herndon post was made merely to point out that if we are speaking in terms of BABIP regression, we also should look at other possible regression, such as HR/FB regression to the mean, which if it occurs with Herndon, then it will negatively impact his numbers.
Although Herndon and other GBers give up less FBs, their FBs leave the yard at a similar clip to others.
by Mace Chutney on Apr 4, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Geez.
The commentators of the Boston-Texas game have mentioned the fact that the Rangers don’t have Cliff Lee a hundred times already.
This could have been easily avoided if we just didn’t trade Cliff Lee. =/
"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." - Wilt Chamberlain
Came up a bit...
…in the Yankees game too.
by EastFallowfield on Apr 1, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Well that’s easily avoided by not watching Yankees games ;)
by SportingFanaticism on Apr 1, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Your new Sunday Night Baseball announcers!
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
I suck
Deleted this game from my dvr after houston went up 4-0. It just did not look right. I never count this team out, but I guess since it was opening day I just gave up. I was also frustrated at how many times the announcers were saying myers had outpitched halladay. Oh well, I am sorry I missed the comeback.
You turned off the opening day game???
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
You can give up...
…but never stop DVRing.
I still have 1) Jimmy Rollins vs Broxton and 2) Last Giants/Eagles on my tivo.
by EastFallowfield on Apr 1, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe it was your deleting the game and giving up that caused the comeback. You should do this everytime the Phillies are behind.
Unfortunately this can not be the case seeing as I deleted it a half hour ago, the game was already over. I had to work till 3 today so I pretty much recorded the whole thing.
I do feel very ashamed though
As a die hard Phillies fan living in Indiana(moved here from PA) I hang my head. I don’t get to watch too many games out here and I am too poor for mlbtv. Oh well, only game 1 of 162. I am very pleased they came back even if I missed it.
Wow weird. I’m a transplant to Philly from Indiana. Small World.
by Veni Vidi Vici on Apr 1, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
what part of IN?
for both of you…I came to Indiana for academic purposes myself. Weird indeed.
by PhilsForever on Apr 2, 2011 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
So it's "PhilsForever"
or until they’re done 4 runs in the middle of a game.
by EastFallowfield on Apr 1, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Ok
to be fair it was the seventh inning. That is hardly the middle of the game and it was the astros. I am done explaining myself. I said I was ashamed:-) But, very clever. I give you props.
by PhilsForever on Apr 2, 2011 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I was scrolling through the box score and I was stunned that there were no K’s for the Phillies. I had only followed Innings 1-4, as I had to teach my final class and then drive the 40 minutes home. I only watched the Bottom of the 9th, and it gave me much hope for the offense.
Shoulda been an over/under/never.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
2009, I think per the announcers. It’ll be in the papers tomorrow.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, without Werth or Utley, the chances are probably a little bit higher.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
New Era in Phillies Ball
“The Phillies finally exhibited good situational hitting yesterday in a thrilling walk-off win against the Astros. Instead of swinging for the fences and hitting all those annoying home runs, they won by NOT STRIKING OUT. Not once.”
/Conlin’d
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
“When I am King of the World….the Phillies will always play small smart ball and never strike out and hit as many homers as Larry Bowa and Pete Rose did in their whole careers”
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s going to have a strikeout-free year, obviously.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
He had some good ABs today, I’ve got to say. Didn’t seem like he was just trying to put it in play like last year. He worked the count AND avoided Ks.
Yeah, I was very impressed from what I saw.
Now, keep it going.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
career
Werth: 727 K in 2939 PA
Utley: 669 K in 4324 PA
Francisco: 223 K in 1221 PA
Valdez: 96 K in 732 PA
Still slightly lower in both categories.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
And at least 250 of Werth’s K’s come on one knee.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Werth is a robot. They just replace the metal joints and all he needs is an oil can.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Werth struck out a lot last year. But, his obp has been one of the best for the team since he has been in the starting lineup. His high strikeouts seemed to be at its peak last year.
Actually, his strikeout rate has been about 26-30% or so his whole career.
He strikes out a lot, but still gets on base.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. I mean, I’m not saying the strikeouts are bad. I’m just saying they exist.
Werth’s K rate in 2010 was actually the lowest since he joined the Phillies.
Yeah, same. I don’t mind that either of them strikes out, they just… do.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
And here is the Fangraph
Why didn’t anyone post this one is beyond me….
by SeattlePhan on Apr 1, 2011 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Awesome. Note, whenever vertical lines are involved, Chooch is always involved.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I wonder if there’s a certain slope for the line on this graph that actually quantifies the excitement level felt by fans.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks. I’m guessing everyone was really excited and stuff. We need a checklist.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
my bad
It has been about six months since I’ve done one of these. Definitely an oversight, and not to be repeated.
And here I thought you were in the best shape of your blogging life this spring…
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sorry for the noobness, but what are these graphs explaining exactly?
by Daniel Solomon on Apr 1, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
What each team’s chances of winning are at any given point in a game. It will fluctuate with each play/event.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah ok, thats what I figured I just wasn’t sure
by Daniel Solomon on Apr 1, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Its the probability of a win for each team at a given moment in the game.
by EJL on Apr 1, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s kind of ironic that I literally just finished reading “Moneyball” yesterday and Mayberry is the guy to get the walkoff.
Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook
I have to give him some credit, however, for retweeting this on his tweeter.
http://twitter.com/JLannan31
I also have to give him some credit for taking Amtrak down to Florida for spring training. That’s actually kind of endearing.
Uh oh, is my animosity towards Lannan softening? Must stand firm…
Whenever that happens, think of Chase Utley’s hand, Cole Hamels falling off the mound, and Ryan Howard spraining his ankle at second base……
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s no fun reaching for a brand new can of animosity and finding only indifference in the pantry.
"Ninety percent of this game is half mental" - Yogi Berra (SI, May 14, 1979)
by bandwagonesque on Apr 1, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
recall all those posts in the past week about how Valdez
is nothing special…..?
the thing about valdez is that at important times be it fielding or hitting he seems to come through More often than he should…
Mr. Mayor, we're talking real wrath of God type stuff... Fire & brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers & seas boiling! 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. .The dead rising from the grave...Human sacrifice, dogs cats living together.... Mass Hysteria!
Wow, I forgot about you.
Yes, his fielding was so special today. Just fantastic.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
his fielding? you are actually going to jump on him
for THAT…on the 1st day?
are you really this dumb?
looks its simple… he got a big clutch hit.
in the game day thread there are a LOT of posts from certain he would GIDP.
he was EXPECTED to fail.
he didnt suck.
you cant even say that… how pathetic
Mr. Mayor, we're talking real wrath of God type stuff... Fire & brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers & seas boiling! 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. .The dead rising from the grave...Human sacrifice, dogs cats living together.... Mass Hysteria!
So he didn’t suck offensively, and that makes him special?
Or are you simply cheering that he didn’t suck, as if that was some kind of baseline for performance?
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Please !
2 for 4 with a double and an RBI?
That’s not just “not sucking”.
That’s a good day at the plate.
SFW
Valdez isn’t going to hit .500 this year. Trumpeting the good game of a crappy player after the first game of the season is silly.
Duh!
Of course Valdez isn’t going to hit .500.
He had a good day at the plate today.
Doesn’t mean he will have a good day every day.
Doesn’t mean he will have a good day most days.
Doesn’t even necessarily mean he will have a good day many days.
But give the man his due…he didn’t just “not suck” today.
He had a good day at the plate.
recall all those posts in the past week about how Valdez
is nothing special…..?
the thing about valdez is that at important times be it fielding or hitting he seems to come through More often than he should…
This is considerably more than giving the man his due; this is insinuating that he’s better than we’ve given him credit for. Which is what philsandthrills was originally responding to, and I was responding to the response to the response to the response etc.
Exactly.
I never responded to you woody, but I was basically saying to the idea that we somehow need to give more credit to Valdez. Obviously, that’s a ridiculous assumption to make after one game, which was obviously fairly good.
I pointed out the fielding more to contradict the idea that Valdez is somehow clutch or that his day was unbelievable on both sides of the ball or something.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Valdez is a career minor leaguer who is 6 months older than Rollins. He’s a younger, better version of Chris Coste, but at the moment he’s a good filler and he’s a contributor. He’s going to be a below average hitter and decent fielder, and that will do for now.
50-year winning record, 1962-2011
None of which changes anything about his ability, or the fan perspective when he is at the plate with the game on the line with 1 out and a runner on 1st base. If Charlie had another bat on the bench available he would have hit for him in that situation.
Remember, we were down a run at that point, and if he used martinez or Mayberry there, he has to use the other one for the pitchers spot next at bat. If the games tied after nine, he goes to extra innings with only Schneider on the bench at that point…. So he almost has to hit Valdez there, but I guarantee Charlie was worried about a DP just as much as we were.
by Joe Catanzariti on Apr 2, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
All I can say is....
When Valdez came up in the bottom opf the ninth I emailed my father “Why the hell isn’t Charlie hitting for him here? He’s gonna ground into a double play” by the time I hit send, he had singled and I replied “nevermind”.
That said, I STILL QUESTION why he didn’t hit for Valdez.
I think an overwhelming majority of fans were thinking the exact same thing. Clutch, Schmutz. Valdez is and always will be a double play machine on both ends of the spectrum.
Although I do find it ironic that his offense was better than his defense yesterday….
by Joe Catanzariti on Apr 2, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, I realized that after the fact. kind of makes me wonder whether another bat is more important than the 12th arm… it’s gonna be a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation all year.
More often than not though, the outcome is gonna be different with Valdez at the plate than what happened yesterday especially late in the game… time will tell…
by Joe Catanzariti on Apr 2, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Even last year, when his DP rate was twice what it had been previously, in about the same number of plate appearances, he was more likely to get a hit (.258 average), than GIDP (20 GIDPs in 83 opportunities, .241).
Chances are he will regress to the mean a bit this year, and hs DP rate will be somewhat lower.
50-year winning record, 1962-2011
Fun game.
I hate the Stros
Myers’ pitch count into the seventh inning was like 62 without a single effing K. He got 2 hits off of Halladay. Baseball is a strange game sometimes.
Baez’s fastball actually had some movement.
Francisco’s 9th inning AB was excellent. His fielding was a bit derpy, however his throw home on the sac fly that scored Bourne was decent, not nerf trebuchet-ish. His route to the ball was, to put a positive spin on it, “creative” – kinda overshot it and had to back track a step to catch it. Maybe the wind caught it and he had to adjust at the last second.
There’s actually a scouting report on Pete Orr.
Rollins, Howard, Ruiz and Mayberry also had excellent 9th inning ABs. Maryberry is looking less like he’s from Mayberry when it comes to off speed pitches.
Wilson Valdez translated means, “Luckiest Ferengi Ever”.
Roy Halladay is everything that is right in the world.
I’ve been trying to get a “Valdez/Ferengi” meme going for at least a year now. I’m glad to see some traction here.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I remember riffin’ about it with you on an old thread. I meant to give you props for it in a reply to EREX21 but got distracted by the Flyers game. But as Taco P and I were talking about a Deep Space 9 Sisko/Francisco meme in one of the stros preseason game threads, I can see Quark Valdez’s stock rising. And what’s doubley cool is Sisko was avid baseball fan.
This has potential...
…and I’ve been trying to find some way to work it with those two for a while, but haven’t been happy with the results thus far…
and this one just screams GIDP to me…
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Apr 2, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Great start to the season.
I would have liked a blow out but the excitement that is a comeback/walk off win is pretty intense.
Weather was terribly whorish but they can’t all be like last year.
Was nice to see Shane work some counts, same with Jimmy…post first AB when he predictably swung on the first pitch.
Francisco seems to have a better arm then I remember, could have been my vantage point though. Sec. 430 for anyone who cares.
His 9th inning Ab was awesome.
Valdez coming through for the Phillies was good to see, like dajafi said in the write up, as soon as he came to the plate I expected a GIDP.
A tad concerned with Raul, didn’t even get the ball out of the infield in his 4 AB’s, looked pretty pathetic. I thought he was decent in the spring based just on the box scores as I didn’t actually watch any of the games.
Halladay was Halladay.
I wonder what sucks more for the Astros, blowing a 4-0 lead, 4-2 game in the 9th? Being the Astors? Or being the previous two and having to face Cliff Lee tomorrow?
I’ll be back at CBP for the game tomorrow night, hopefully, they won’t be the only two games I make it to this year. I hate living 2.5 hours from Philly.
"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard
by EREX21 on Apr 1, 2011 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I wonder what sucks more for the Astros, blowing a 4-0 lead, 4-2 game in the 9th? Being the Astors? Or being the previous two and having to face Cliff Lee tomorrow?
Now I remember why it is that I keep coming back to this site, over and over.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
No Werth or Lidge or Utley...
and Chad Durbin is the Phillie that I have a feeling will be missed the most. I hope Baez and Cannon Fodder prove me wrong. Some other quick thoughts…this game hopefully is a lesson in patience for the hitters. The umpire had a fairly tight zone and yet they really didn’t start taking pitches until the later innings. Was anyone else screaming at the TV to walk Michael Bourn when you had 2nd and 3rd with 1 out…especially after he had tattooed the ball the previous 2 ABs…with Herndon throwing a sinker and Sanchez on deck, I would have taken my chances on a DP. I was overall impressed with Howard’s ABs…he took pitches he normally swings at and fouled off some others. He stayed back on the ball well (normally he is pulling off this time of year). I also was happy to see the one AB Jimmy had that actually ended up as an out. He slapped the ball the other way right at the 3B on a pitch we are used to seeing him try and drive and end up pooping out. Here’s hoping this game is a sign of things to come for both Ryan and Jimmy.
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
meh...
In three weeks Halladay goes out for the 7th inning in that situation, and throws 120 pitches.
In six weeks or so Lidge is back and Contreras throws the 7th inning, or Stutes has lit it up at LV and takes over.
By July we’ll have traded for a 7th inning arm if we need to.
If we can score runs EARLY it will be a moot point, imo.
by Joe Catanzariti on Apr 2, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, I had heard of him. Although I fail to understand what difference my knowledge of him prior to spring training would have on my comments.
by Joe Catanzariti on Apr 2, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m afraid that the overreaction that will be triggered by today’s events (especially since it’s so magnified by being Opening Day) will lead to Baez and Herndon being flipped in the leverage pecking order. I do not believe that Baez will necessarily be horrible this year – he could be serviceable. But Herndon is better.
I agree…I was really impressed by Herndon’s improved slider this Spring. I just hope as a young pitcher he doesn’t lose confidence with hard luck outings like that one last year against the Marlins where they seemingly had 5-6 infield hits in a row. I saw his BABIP posted above so hopefully it rights itself.
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
It seems like that was already the case, to be honest.
Herndon and Orr are the final guys, but they like Orr for some reason, so I imagine Herndon is basically the 25th man at this point. He’s the most at risk, even over a guy like Baez.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I think he was ahead of Baez going into opening day. That’s why he was there in a relatively high leverage situation in the seventh, while Baez was only used as a fallback after Madson had been used in preparation for a potential save situation that didn’t materialize. It had been reported earlier this week that Charlie planned to split the seventh between Herndon and Romero based on L/R matchups.
This is why the Lidge injury is worrisome. It messes up the whole bullpen order. Herndon projects as a slightly less than average run of the mill pitcher ( based on Bill James projections). His xFIP last year was close to ML average, and his James projected FIP is .4 higher than ML average. An average reliever is about what I think is reasonable to expect from him, but I don’t really like the average reliever (4.4ish ERA, 1.4ish WHIP) pitching in a one run game in the 7th inning. But that’s the reality we have to face right now with Lidge shelved. Contreras would probably be the 7th inning guy, but now we have to save him for the 9th. I’m just hoping the starters can go 7 most of the time to hopefully avoid this issue…
by FooFighter1124 on Apr 2, 2011 5:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
Although I am more concerned with Romero tyhan either of them. If he really is going to be used as a LOOGY in the 7th inning like that, he has to perform. I think it’s more likely you see him get another shot or two, before they flip him and Bastardo in the pecking order.
by Joe Catanzariti on Apr 2, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
CLIFF LEE!!!!
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE
WHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think I understood. I need a clarification, sir.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I am so stoked. I just can’t believe that the Phillies have Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt, and…CLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEECLIFFLEE!!!!!
I am so stoked about this, that you have no idea.
It’s like having Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. Swann and Stallworth. Lennon and McCartney. Ham and Lambert. Kim and Kourtney. Grant and Sherman. Ben and Jerry. Country and Western. Peanut butter and chocolate. IT’S AWESOME!
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
lol
Just checking.
My brother has both the 2009 (the ‘vintage’ Lee, as he calls it) and 2011 Lee jerseys. It will indeed be a joy to watch. All of those examples are ok, except for Swann and Stallworth. Overrated ;)
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I downloaded game 1 of the 2009 WS (behind the back catch; pop-up snag) from iTunes two weeks ago. I am so stoked.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Apr 1, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember that game very well….still have the tape – actually I have taped every single postseason game of the Phillies since 1993.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Opening day, Danys Baez is 1-0. I guess right now he has more wins than last year. Should we consider this a good or bad sign?
I care about Wins about as much as I care about Baez.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Bad Umpire update
Our old friend Scott Barry…remember him…he is now an official MLB umpire and not just a fill-in. He blew 2 calls already in the Orioles/Rays game tonight. Don’t they grade these guys?
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
Uh…
You know Joyce is actually one of the best umpires in MLB, right?
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Ugh. Yes.
Joyce is the best ump I’m aware of. All of the others (that I can name, at any rate) have such egregious failings that I can’t give them any grade other than F (note, I’m not saying I can do better).
Ergo, the possible grades are Jim Joyce, earned only by Jim Joyce; and various levels of F, earned by others.
Tangent/thought you might be interested in this article
A contributor at Beyond the Boxscore did developed this rather comprehensive list of pitcher/hitter friendly umps.
You should give Finnegans Wake a second chance.
"Ninety percent of this game is half mental" - Yogi Berra (SI, May 14, 1979)
by bandwagonesque on Apr 1, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
seriously…I snarfed when the MLB network guys said Scott Barry
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
I will now frantically check the umpires before the game, just to prepare myself for the one time we see him.
by philsandthrills on Apr 1, 2011 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you know a good place to find that info?
When I’m at games I can never find the ump assignments on the web. I feel like MLB purposely doesn’t publish them just so people at the game can’t easily google the home plate ump to give him shite.
To be fair, I’ve tried to do that on more than one occasion.
oh, and I was on the road for work so I wasn’t able to take part in the thread (much to the delight of many, I’m sure), but after an opening day walk-off… well… I’m sorry…
I MUST…
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Apr 1, 2011 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
MLB Gameday
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Oh, sorry, no I was listening to the game and freaking out right along with everyone else. I just couldn’t actively participate in the game thread.
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Apr 1, 2011 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I meant that is a place where MLB publishes the umpire assignments.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Oh, sweet!
I misunderstood you, thinking you’d misunderstood me.
In actuality, you were trying to help me and I was being a dick…
Not gonna lie, there’s a precedent…
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Apr 2, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I told PhillyFriar right at the beginning of the bottom of the 9th, “You know the Phillies are gonna win this game.” YAY GUYS
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Apr 1, 2011 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Wisdom... WC has it
That’s why you’re the lord of the blog lords.
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Apr 1, 2011 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, the Bob Ross mug and ‘fro is just pretty scary to behold, never mind imagining someone as morose as he shouting ’Yay Guys!’
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
“Brandon Lyon didn’t make any mistakes…he just had some happy accidents.”
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
Brandon Lyon painted many happy little meatballs across the plate.
I spent many a weekend watching The Joy of Painting with my grandmother as a kid. That and re-runs of Lawrence Welk. I shudder looking back now.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 1, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
And the Phillies beat the Devil out of the meatballs.
by WanderingMoses on Apr 2, 2011 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions
The best part about this game for me, was the fact that Halladay and Myers are on my fantasy team. They both tore it up, plus Lyon was on my opponents team. Great for my ERA and terrible for him!
I got an hour and a half of sleep the night before (homework, yay engineering)
First, I couldn’t figure out what channel it was on, thought it was espn, but espn news, finally found the hd channel. Saw the first half of an innning (Doc) fell asleep and woke up to Doc pitching in the 4th,
then woke up in the 6th when the astros scored.
saw the only 3 at bats for the phills in the 6th
fell asleep after the astros scored 3 in the 7th
woke up to ben francisco scoring the winning run from 3rd.
then slept until 7.. and started drinking
I've been waiting my whole life for an Eagles Championship
R2C2!
RIP JJ
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