Oatmeal Cookies: Phillies 6, Marlins 4

by FuquaManuel on May 10, 2011 12:38 AM EDT

In his first start since being placed on the DL a few weeks ago with elbow trouble, Joe Blanton was clearly a bit rusty against the Marlins tonight. He allowed eight hits--a number of them well struck--and three earned runs in just five innings of work and recorded an underwhelming two strikeouts along with two walks. It wasn't all bad though. One encouraging sign from this performance was his stellar 10:3 GB:FB ratio. Four of those groundballs turned into double plays, which helped keep his pitch count at a manageable 66.

It was a very oatmeal cookies performance; an adequate snack, but as Blanton continues to shake off the rust and returns to full health, we can expect him to return to his usual, superior chocolate chip self.

Against the horrendous Javier Vazquez, though (it's amazing to think that just two years ago, this guy was one of the best pitchers in the league), oatmeal cookies were just fine. From the very first batter, the Phillies pounced on Vazquez. Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run that (with some help from Mike Stanton) just cleared the wall in right. The Phillies followed with three runs in the third and two more in the fifth to chase Vazquez after just 4 and 1/3 innings.

They were unable to muster anything more against the Marlins' solid bullpen, but six runs would prove to be enough. Vance Worley came on and three strong innings in relief of Joe Blanton. He allowed just one run on an eight inning homer by Gaby Sanchez and recorded two strikeouts with two walks. The kid continues to impress.

Despite lacking the ability to pitch in the ninth inning, Ryan Madson came on and lucked his way through another scoreless ninth for his fourth save. That the Phillies only needed to use two relievers when their starter logged just five innings is a win. That the game was somewhat close and they hung on to win given these circumstances is a double win.

Roy Halladay vs. Josh Johnson tomorrow. First team to one run wins.

via www.fangraphs.com

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Comments

Hey I like oatmeal cookies. I think you should have gone with ginger snaps as the adequate cookie.

by taco pal on May 10, 2011 12:51 AM EDT reply actions

I prefer ginger snaps to oatmeal cookies. Oatmeal cookies with raisins are even worse. I like raisins on their own, but I hate when they are in my pastries.

The Good Phight, Big Black Kids, fun!

by FuquaManuel on May 10, 2011 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I can agree that raisins aren’t good in combination and detract from the overall quality of the cookie. A top-quality plain oatmeal cookie, however, can be quite delicious.

by taco pal on May 10, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I can’t think of a cookie I don’t like.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Me either… Which may explain the shape I’m in :(

by dannijd on May 10, 2011 3:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

So bad you posted it twice? :)

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

According to tonight’s weigh in, yes.

by dannijd on May 10, 2011 11:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Me either… Which may explain the shape I’m in :(

by dannijd on May 10, 2011 3:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I second the awesomeness of Oatmeal cookies. They are my favorite.

"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard

by EREX21 on May 10, 2011 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I have an aversion to the texture of oatmeal in all of it’s uses. I also despise shredded coconut with the passion of 1000 burning Cody Rosses.

by Cormican on May 10, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah, I forgot about coconut. The only thing a Mounds was ever good for on Halloween was throwing it at the houses of people who gave out boxes of raisins.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, toothbrushes. Look it’s Halloween, and I want candy. quit trying to teach me life and hygiene lessons with a friggin’ toothbrush you self-righteous prick.

by Cormican on May 11, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I was never a big fan of candy corn. That was the worst.

by taco pal on May 11, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

How about the apple? Whose parents let them eat the apple, anyway?

"Ninety percent of this game is half mental" - Yogi Berra (SI, May 14, 1979)

by bandwagonesque on May 11, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you kidding? Compressed flavorless sugar packed into the shape of something utterly unrelated to candy?

by Phrozen on May 11, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I got matzah once from a Korean lady.

by j reed on May 11, 2011 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you mispelled Vazquez.

The Phillies followed with three runs in the third and two more in the fifth to chase Vazaquez after just 4 and 1/3 innings.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 1:04 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks. Fixed.

The Good Phight, Big Black Kids, fun!

by FuquaManuel on May 10, 2011 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

So, Fuqua, you duped me by dangling the once-great Javier Vazquez on the waiver wire, enticing me to pick him up in time for tonight’s game, knowing full well he was merely garbage.

Nicely done.

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 1:14 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah. He’s done.

; )

The Good Phight, Big Black Kids, fun!

by FuquaManuel on May 10, 2011 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you sure you don’t want him back?

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, throw in a burger, some pommes frites, and a nice Belgian beer and I’ll take him.

The Good Phight, Big Black Kids, fun!

by FuquaManuel on May 10, 2011 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Deal. If you ever make it up here, lunch and a beer is on me. The Pump House (that’s a restaurant, not a porn studio) makes an excellent burger, and the Silver Gulch brewery has some awesome beers.

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions

The porn studio would be the Love Pump House in hommage to the great Nigel Tufnel.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions

aluminum wrap

inter arma enim silent leges

by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on May 10, 2011 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Speaking of Belgian beer…Raging Bitch anyone?

Picked up a sixer at Wegmans this weekend, love the stuff.

"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard

by EREX21 on May 10, 2011 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Wegmans is awesome

The convenience of being able to create your own 6-pack at the store you can buy sushi or toiletries is great.

1st post BTW

by Adamnb87 on May 10, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Welcome

Stick around.

I love Wegman’s too but the closest one is an hour from me. Boo.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on May 10, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m glad Wegmans isn’t close to where I live – their cheeses would bankrupt me in a few months.

by phatj on May 10, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome.

And I agree with you. If I believed in reincarnation I would truly hope that I get to come back as someone who gets to troll around Wegmans all day, everyday, for free.

"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard

by EREX21 on May 10, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You need to read Rotographs over at Fangraphs. The writing has been on the wall. I think the only reason he has stayed around is his reputation for Jekyll/Hyde-ness. Clubs were willing to take a chance knowing that he had such a great upside if they could weather a handful of his bad outings. This is why the Marlins signing him made no sense to me, they can’t absorb this kinda cost to gamble like that.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions

When I picked him up, it was over Chris Tillman, he of the 7.16 ERA, so Vazquez is still somewhat of an upgrade—or, at least, not much of a downgrade.

In any case, I’ll look up Rotographs. Never heard of it before.

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah given there’s nothin’ but shit snacks out there now I don’t blame you. If you have a bench spot he might be worth saving – like I said he’s maddening like this but the rope that has been afforded him just gets shorter with age. He’s one of those pitchers who lends credence to notion that pitching is as much as an art as it is a science.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, either he sits on the bench or I pick up Livian Hernandez or USDA Choice Ohlenbeef. Three of a kind.

So for now he rides the pine. In any case, my FIP’s so godawful bad between him and Hochevar and Stutes’ little adventure last night that I’ll probably keep trotting him out for Ks.

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Or I might drop him and find another OF. Right now The Bat’s getting benched more and more often, and I need another starting OF…

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m am the proud owner of the worst FIP in the league. None of my guys are strikeout pitchers but they don’t walk alot and supposedly keep the ball in the yard. HRs wil kill your FIP. I suspect those will go down but the damage is done. There’s not any depth out there to really to change it.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeez, I can catch typos and shit in other people’s writing but when it comes to my own, I’m helpless. Talk about selective perception.

by j reed on May 10, 2011 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I remember when Vazquez used to OWN us when he was with the Expos. Was so happy when he was out of the division.

by youaretheman26 on May 10, 2011 3:46 AM EDT reply actions

Good Game

I think the results so far for a team suffering injuries to numerous key players have been as good as anyone could expect, even if we might hope for more. You can look at the stats and say the offense is weaker, the starting pitching isn’t the best in baseball, the bullpen has weak spots, etc. But at the end of any discussion you have to look at the results, and the team has a record of 23-11. And that weak offense may not be putting up the power numbers as in days of old, but the team batting average and OBP are still number four in the league. One of tonight’s stars was Placido Polanco, who is currently on pace to drive in 114 runs this season. And Shane Victorino is on pace to hit over 20 triples. So, there’s some bright spots there.

by phillyinportland on May 10, 2011 4:04 AM EDT reply actions

It’s almost scary to think of how good this team will be once everyone is back and healthy

I came, I saw, I conquered

by Veni Vidi Vici on May 10, 2011 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Worley’s performance was even better considering that he was getting hazed by HPU Eric Cooper. In the 6th and 7th, Cooper wouldn’t give him what looked like consistently thrown strikes on the inside corner. After Sanchez homered to start the 8th, he started getting that call.

by Wet Luzinski on May 10, 2011 6:24 AM EDT reply actions

Im just glad Orr got the start over valdez

I dont mind when valdez starts but not when were playing teams like the braves. If charlie wants to start him vs teams like the Nationals or Mets im fine with it.

You only think were front runners because our team is winning.

by andyb on May 10, 2011 7:34 AM EDT reply actions

Waitwhat? He was 0-4 on a night where he played against one of the worst pitchers in MLB. I guess to be fair, his two strikeouts came against Mujica and Sanches.

by Wet Luzinski on May 10, 2011 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions

seriously

Valdez is excruciating to watch, but Orr is pretty much the same thing.

by perfectdepth on May 10, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Do we know who the starters for the Braves’ series this weekend are?

by Eaglesadvocate on May 10, 2011 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

10 random Musings from the Game last night....

I have a slight hangover and lost at the injun poker tables last night to some really fishy locals, so bear with me, but here are my thoughts from the stands last night:

1) Everytime I go to a marlins game I remind myself that I’m never going back, cause its such a crappy place to watch a baseball game. (that said I’ll be back tonight…)

2) The only crappier place to watch a game is Tampa.

3) There were MAYBE 5,000 fans there, and about 4,322 of them were Phillies fans. I can’t imagine from breif conversations with the few Marlins fans I talked to that a new stadium, increased payroll, or putting a consistent winning team on the field will change that.

4) People LOVE Worley. The consensus among casual fans at the game was that he should have started in place of Blanton, and that he is an ace in the making… Ugh…

5) As much as we love NIGHT OWL as a nickname, it is going to be tough to get it to stick. I tried to get a “lets go Night owl” chant going and no one got it, (except for one dude ten rows back who said “goodphight, right”? ad nodded back to my wink.

6) I paid 12 bucks each for two tickets about 3 rows up over the third base dugout. Unfortunately, I missed most of the first inning trying to find the best deal on the best seats.

7) Live chatting on an iphone at the ballpark is both entertaining and annoying at the same time.

8) Pete Orr looks much bigger in person than he does on TV.

9) Land shark beer is overpriced at Land Shark stadium.

10) The Eagles chants, while annoying, were probably the most exciting part of the game last night at the stadium. it’s SOOO damn non chalant there. Few cheers, few boos, just pure apathy. Hopefully tonight will be better.

by Joecatz on May 10, 2011 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

I'd argue Sun Life is crappier than Tampa.

And for what it’s worth, they’ve already sold out most of the club seats for 2012. The new stadium will definitely bring a short term bump in attendance. As long as ownership/front office puts out a contender and buys out more of the young core, they should be fine. If they have a showing like the Nats’ 1st year post-RFK, it could be disastrous.

by dgriot on May 10, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

The chances that the Marlins will be bad next year are close to zero.

by taco pal on May 10, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

selling club seats and selling the other seats are two different animals, but as someone who lives 2 hours away and hates watching a game at sun life more than getting a root canal, I hope your optomism is right.

But there is no crappier stadium than the THUNDERDOME for baseball. I had season tickets for 4 years when I lived in Tampa, and its just a horrible, horrible place to watch a game. The difference is Tampa fans are Rays fans, when they show up, and the atmosphere is a little better than in Miami, but not by much.

Just my opinion.

by Joecatz on May 10, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

you going wednesday?

by phillies0100 on May 10, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Is it a day game? otherwise probably not. I don’t like to drive back home 2 hours and have to be at work by 8 the next morning…

by Joecatz on May 10, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

heh, I think the dome is what pushes it slightly above Sun Life for me, but could see myself hating Tropicana more if I had season tickets. I’ve been to games in Tampa sporadically from early 00s to last year, and I get the feel you’re talking about since the WS appearance, but not so much in the early-mid ’00s. FWIW, I got a similar feeling from Marlins games I attended in ’04 and ’05 (after WS, before Delgado/Beckett trades).

I’m hoping the club seats + not losing all the parking/concessions/etc. income due to the current lease structure will lead to more young talent buyouts/FA signings, which in turn will get more casuals. Sort of like the Phillies when moving from the Vet to CBP – enter the new park as fringe contenders, and have the cashflow to lock up the cornerstones and add complimentary pieces.

by dgriot on May 10, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

See, for me its the opposite. I’ve been to 100 games at the dome, and it never really feels like a baseball game inside to me. course, I’m spoiled having had Yankee season tickets at one time, and I spent three weeks one summer visitng wrigley, Fenway, etc… with my dad.

To me, the problem with Baseball in Miami, going back to the mid 80’s, is that 25 years of existense they’ve still never been able to command a hometown base with the casual, or local fan. I don’t ever remember going to a Marlins game in 25 years, where there were more MARLINS fans than OPPOSING fans in the stands…

Not sure how a new stadium is gonna fix that. I think the location of the new stadium will help, but I’m not convinced….yet.

by Joecatz on May 10, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t ever remember going to a Marlins game in 25 years of existense…

That’s a good thing, ‘cause the Marlins haven’t been around for 25 years. The franchise began playing ball in 1993.

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

And I obviously misquoted you there… Lemme fix that.

I don’t ever remember going to a Marlins game in 25 years ~~in existense~~…

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

See what I did there? hit the 8 in stead of the 9, took a sip, counted on my fingers and came up with 25… Time to stop posting, finish this beer, Put on the Halladay Maroon retro T, and pull my wife away from the slot machines.

I am predicting 8 runs scored tonight. It’s been that kind of wierd week.

by Joecatz on May 10, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

With Valdez going 5 for 5 with 3HRs and a double and 8 RBIs?

Like I said in the other thread: enjoy your beer. ;)

by Phrozen on May 10, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I can understand the skepticism. I’d like to think that the ‘94 strike (~10K per game attendance drop the season after), ’97 fire sale (~8K), and ’05 “market correction” (aka Fire Sale II, Electric Boogaloo – another ~8K) nullified any gains the World Series titles gained and then some, and decimated the ability to attract casuals or transplants with previous ties. Who wants to willingly convert to a team that’s always a national punchline, ya know? The stadium in place implicitly promises that a casual fan doesn’t have to say goodbye to Stanton, LoMo, etc. when they hit their 2nd or 3rd arbitration year, and I think that’s huge. Anyway, guess we’ll see how it shakes out.

by dgriot on May 11, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions