Signs and Wonders: Phillies 3, Braves 2 (10)
by dajafi on Jul 9, 2011 12:46 AM EDT
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After a rain delay of nearly two hours, the Phillies and Braves turned in a game fully worth the wait: low scoring, great pitching, and improbable late heroics for the home team. The upshot was a dramatic extra-innings win that assured the Phils would hit the all-star break two days hence with their NL East lead intact.
Roy Halladay waited out the rain with no immediate ill effects, mowing the Braves down 1-2-3 in the first. But he looked positively un-Doc-like to start the second, surrendering back to back hits to Larry Jones Jr. and Freddie Freeman around a Carlos Ruiz passed ball that gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead. But after firing a wild pitch that moved Freeman to second, Halladay avoided further damage. The Phillies quickly tied it in the bottom of the second against Brandon Beachy as Raul Ibanez and Ruiz singled and, after a Domonic Brown strikeout, Wilson Valdez brought in Ibanez with a sacrifice fly. The teams traded runs again in the fourth, as the Braves cashed in one from a second-and-third, no out threat before Halladay escaped and Ruiz lined a solo homer to left.
There it stayed, as Halladay locked in and the Phillies threatened a couple more times against Beachy, to no avail. The Braves unleashed their Deadly Bullpen of Death--seriously, these guys are good, but I'm sick of hearing about them--in the seventh, as Eric O'Flaherty tossed a scoreless frame and fellow lefty Jonny Venters worked around a hit and a walk in the eighth. The Phillies turned to their last remaining reliable relievers, and Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo each tossed clean innings. But when the Phils couldn't score in the ninth against the sounds-like-a-'70s-lounge-act veteran combo of Scott Linebrink and George Sherrill, it looked like the Braves had the edge going into extras.
Then... HE appeared. I refer of course to lefty assassin Juan Perez, who did something no Phillie pitcher had accomplished in twenty years: strike out the side on nine pitches. Lefties Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth took some of the ass-ugliest no-contact swings you'll ever see, and righty pinch-hitter WIlkin Ramirez looked less sad but reached the same result. (The last Phillie to do this? Andy Ashby, against the Reds on June 15, 1991, in his second big-league start. The Phillies lost the game. Perez already has assured himself a greater Phillies career, though admittedly that's a low freakin' bar.)
Ibanez got Perez his first major-league win in the bottom of the inning, when he slammed a no-doubter home run--his first walkoff shot since April 2009--to right off Atlanta reliever Scott Proctor, whom the Phillies surely were happier to see than closer Craig Kimbrel. Gotta love "The Book."
This one lived up to its billing. Tomorrow features another fine mound matchup as Cliff Lee goes for the Phillies against the Braves' Tommy Hanson.
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That was Ibanez’s last walkoff since April ’09?
I thought there was one against the Mets later in the year.
by philsandthrills on Jul 9, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions
No. It was a GW @ the Mets. (If that’s the one we are both thinking of).
The Good Phight, Big Black Kids, and now NotGraphs. Fun!
In an odd twist, all three RBI-makers accompanied their achievement with a braincramp defensive play. The Chooch passed ball led to the Braves first run, but then he homered. Valdez eschewed the expected GIDP with an SF, but then double-clutched on a throw to first, letting in a run. Raul misplayed a ball that Mayberry missed, and ensured that a double would become a triple (happily, that runner was stranded on third). Then Raul homered to win the game.
Given the above, the pitching overall was awesome.
In preparation for NHL free agency, thinking of changing my screen name to Bhudde in 10OC.
Yes, it was
Given that the first seven innings were completed by Halladay, that should be no surprise. But it is more and more obvious that Messrs. Stutes and Bastardo are the alpha and omega of any two-inning efforts needed by the bullpen these days. Their results have been outstanding; throw in a dominant performance by Juan Perez, the Dominican Dandy who became the first winning pitcher ever to strike out the side on nine pitches in extra innings, and you can certainly say the pitching overall was awesome.
by phillyinportland on Jul 9, 2011 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions
If Wilson has ten more blown saves it’ll match the amount of endorsement deals he has.
We are the Phightin' Irish
by Veni Vidi Vici on Jul 9, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha received on the ass ugly swings
Good game. Tip of the cap. Can’t wait till tomorrow. Maybe Proctor will finally get DFA’d before then.
A lot of room in right center, if he hits one there we can dance in the streets, the 2-1....
Twitter: @taymccracken
Rec'd not received. Damn phone
A lot of room in right center, if he hits one there we can dance in the streets, the 2-1....
Twitter: @taymccracken
I was at the game and the last full inning was BAD ASS.
JUAN PEREZ!!! Every strike he thew was electrifying. It was insane how much Perez energized the crowd. Everyone was standing right after strike # 8.
And then everyone knew Ibanez’s homer was gone just from the sound of it.
WORD.
GO PHILS!!
I’ve always wanted to see the nine-pitch triple K. After he got the first four or five, you could see it coming.
Seriously, his stuff is filth. But he’s 32 I think and this was his first big-league win. Doesn’t really compute.
by dajafi on Jul 9, 2011 1:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’ve been trying to figure out if I misjudged Perez. His control has been decidedly subpar in his minor league career, but his raw stuff obviously isn’t bad. Strikes me as sort of a lesser control and more balls in the air version of J.C. Romero, and I’m honestly not sure if that’s complimenting Perez or damning him with faint praise.
He threw at least several at 94, which surprised me.
I didn’t know he could throw that hard. With that kind of stuff AND being a lefty, it’s surprising he’s only pitched a handful of major league innings.
For comparison (from Baseball Cube):
JC ROMERO (Jun 4, 1976; 35 yrs):
MLB: 641 IP = 5.18 BB/9; 7.18 K/9
MiLB: 344 IP = 4.34 BB/9; 8.24 K/9
JUAN PEREZ (Feb 10, 1981; 31 yrs):
MLB: 18 IP = 5.50 BB/9; 8.50 K/9
MiLB: 565 IP = 4.16 BB/9; 9.20 K/9
I would bet on Perez being at least as good as JC Romero and probably better.
I love how the Dodgers put him at age 31 (birthdate shown as 9/3/78) into two games last fall in the Arizona League for rookies. Facing kids, he threw two innings and struck out five batters. For whatever reason, the Dodgers granted him free agency in November and the Phillies signed him two weeks later. And now, at age 32, he’s in the record books. All of his previous major league experience was for the Pirates, 2006-07. He never pitched against the Phillies.
by phillyinportland on Jul 9, 2011 2:50 AM EDT up reply actions
What’s totally fitting in Perez’ evening his career record at 1-1 is that he spent all of 2009 on the Braves AAA team, where his numbers were not that different from those he put up this season at Lehigh Valley.
by phillyinportland on Jul 9, 2011 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions
No, have you?
"I remember being three and I wanted to be a baseball player, that's all I ever really wanted to be. That and Spider Man." -Raul Ibanez
by Jose and the Contrarians on Jul 9, 2011 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Made me think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhJ04vcBbOg
2:08
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Jul 9, 2011 1:12 AM EDT reply actions
Fascinating thing about that list: it’s happened 6 times in the past 3-and-a-half seasons, and 3 of those times, the Marlins have been the hitters. Nine different Marlins, though, interestingly enough.
can’t figure out if he’s the nicest guy or a super genius whose just using baseball to get funds for death laser or some shit.
"I remember being three and I wanted to be a baseball player, that's all I ever really wanted to be. That and Spider Man." -Raul Ibanez
by Jose and the Contrarians on Jul 9, 2011 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
One of the things I love about baseball is almost every game there’s an event that happens which leaves you wondering “has that ever happened?” Then you can look it up and see that yes, it has happened.
We are the Phightin' Irish
by Veni Vidi Vici on Jul 9, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Please, God....NO!!!
"A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish."
by DirtyWaters on Jul 9, 2011 1:36 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I missed Perez’s outing against the Cardinals. Was there any hint that day that he was capable of something like his performance tonight?
Not against the cards.
He basically walked 2 with 1 K and didn’t have the command. But go check out his lehigh game logs in June. He pretty much averaged 2 k’s per inning in s last 7 appearances, (13 k’s in 7.1) To 4 bb’s.
But looking at his overall periphs I have a feeling he’s capable of having dominating innings, and innings where he walks 3 and k’s 0.
Consistency looks to be his downfall. Would love your take.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
Also
kind of interesting breakdown
in 30.2 innings at Lehigh, he had 41 K’s and 21 BB, for a 6.2 BB/9 and a 12.2 K/9
HOWEVER
32 of those K’s came in just 18 IP, to just 11 BB in THOSE innings. in 3 of those 18 innings, he threw 2K/2BB twice, and 3K/3BB once.
of the 21 BB, 12 of them came in just 5 innings, spread out over 5 bad appearances.
So basically, he’s very up and down with his command. When he has it hes pretty lights out. When he doesn’t hes pretty ugly.
The good news is he’s not consistently inconsistent, if that makes any sense. He seems to have a bad control outing here and there every 3rd or 4th game, where he walks more than one batter in an inning, but the really interesting part is in those 5 multiple walk appearances, he facved 29 batters and only gave up 3 hits.
only one hit resulted in multiple runs scored, meaning that he cleans up his messes.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
He’s actually a guy whose numbers are fascinating to look at on a percentage of plate appearances level.
According to Stat Corner’s database of qualifying International League relievers, Perez checks in third with Ks in 31.3% of his plate appearances, and second with BBs in 16.0% of his plate appearances. He’s almost a “two true outcomes” pitcher, if you will (that combined percentage is higher than anyone in the IL except for White Sox minor leaguer Shane Lindsay.
He’s also a definite LOOGY: every season on record in the (Drive Line Baseball) Minor League Splits database has him with a lower xFIP against LHB than RHB. I’ll go ahead and stick by my assessment above — “a lesser control and more balls in the air version of J.C. Romero” — which of course means that he could have a bit of value as a LOOGY, but will ultimately be deployed by Manuel in an entirely incorrect manner.
by PhillyFriar on Jul 9, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
…will ultimately be deployed by Manuel in an entirely incorrect manner.
Odd of me to quote myself, but typing this made me think… I want to point out how we’re overlooking an important aspect of this whole thing: Charlie used Perez in the perfect spot. Heyward and McLouth are, of course, LHB with significant platoon splits, and while Ramirez is a RHB, he’s not proven to be anything approaching a true lefty masher during his pro career, and it’s a much better idea to face him with a LHP in order to prevetn Fredi Gonzalez from using Brooks Conrad there.
So — and I don’t say this often with regard to in-game tactics — well done, Charlie.
I was
Just about to post that.
There was no way to know if it would be Ramirez or Lugo there, but I’ll take my chances with either of them vs. the lefty than Conrad against Mathieson or Carpenter.
Perez made all the sense in the world. the top of the Braves order was L, R, L, S, L, so the only righties would be the pinch hitter for Sherril and Gonzalez. Charlie said he was gonna stick with him in the 11th as well.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
The biggest difference I see, looking at that link, and checking his Lehigh numbers, between him and Romero, in terms of how you know Charlie will use them is that He’s pretty damn dominant against Lefties (like Romero used to be) but still STRIKES OUT more RHB than he Walks. His ratios are much better against lefties, but Romero was AWFUL in that regard.
26BB to 10K against RHB over the past two years for Romero
15BB to 28K against LHB over the same span.
Perez also threw the same number of high leverage K’s LAST NIGHT as Romero did in all of 2010 and 2011.
I guess my point is that even if Charlie decides to bring him in against righties (and I don’t think thats gonna happen often) he’s passable. Romero was down right horrible. But with Bastardo locked in as either the closer or set up guy, and no real LH option out there, I have a feeling Perez might be around for a while, and might actually be used properly.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
I thought Perez was coming in, and it had nothing to do with LOOGY options. He was just the best option Cholly had out there. No known record is better than known bad record. I’m guessing he was coming in for at least 2 innings, and it had NOTHING to do with who was batting. Remember, I’ve contended that Cholly likes his pitchers to come in for an inning at a time. For those of you who think Cholly is getting smarter in this regard, I’d counter that this outing will confirm his tendencies otherwise.
In preparation for NHL free agency, thinking of changing my screen name to Bhudde in 10OC.
This was an all right game for the first ever game I’ve attended in Philadelphia, I suppose.
I have absolutely no voice left, and still have lingering tendrils of adrenaline shooting through my spine. Holy crap, that was great.
Beat ’em again tomorrow, without all the rain preferably. :)
Hopefully you are going again tomorrow…the crowd was okay, but the weather seemed to sap the electricity out of the crowd a bit…It will be palpable there tomorrow and Sunday. If you go to all 3 games and they sweep, then we are going to have to figure out a way to get you to more of them.
"A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish."
Stinking Lizaveta - Phiily underground metal.
Maybe you’ve heard of this 3 piece instrumental band but they are not, generally speaking, well known even among people into underground metal, punk and HC. I was just fortunate at the time to have lived in DC where they first starting playing and have followed them ever since. They are genreless really, but if pressed, I say they’d fall into the math rock/metal category. The riffs are just to damn good to deny. The trio moved to Philly in the mid 90’s and they’ve been here for long enough that I’m claiming them as our own. I used to go to all their shows in DC and if you ever get the chance to see them live, do so wherever you may roam. They tour but I don’t know how far out West they get. Anyway, here’s 2 versions of the song, Indomitable Wiil, from their album Screams of the Iron Iconoclast and a 3rd song from the album III called The Hanged Man.
- Live Performance Version – It’s a shorter version, and a well shot live performance.
- Video Version – This is an actual home made video and the entire song. I believe the title “Stop Laughing” that you’ll see, refers to the video itself.
- The Hanged Man – I wouldn’t have included this song if I had my way but I am limited by what I can find on youtube that isn’t a poorly recorded live performance. It’s still good but more experimental and groove oriented. The guitarist and bassist are brothers of Greek descent which, as this particular song demonstrates, has a significant influence on therir music.
\m/ Enjoy. They just flat out rock. Enjoy the rest of your stay. \m/
Yeah, there were a few in section 425. I think they were as surprised as we were when they played the Tomahawk Chop music over the PA shortly before the Phanatic destroyed a Braves helmet, but they went with it and laughed.
I think I laughed more at the video highlight package for Wilson Valdez they played between innings near the start of the game.
The Switch was On
The Phillies Mojo Rotary Switch was turned on mid-game. This is the first Switch-influenced win of the season. I don’t like to use it before the All-Star break, but the thought that the Braves could actually end up in first before the ASB was too horrible to contemplate.
I felt like I thought it hit me - Chase Utley
Somewhere in his sleep Pedro Cerrano is having horrific nightmares about those curveballs. Straight pitch he hit very much, curveball Bat is afraid.
Time to get some rum for Jabu.
Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"
by Ed Van Chimp on Jul 9, 2011 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Great game!
Was a very fun game to watch even with a dissapointing loss for my Braves at the end :(
Hanson vs. Lee tommorow should be another tight game!
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 28, 2011 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
by ChopMaster on Jul 3, 2011 3:52 PM EDT reply actions
by oVecKid on Jul 8, 2011 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
.
Now I have to watch SportsCenter
Do they show the replay of the 9 pitch 3 K inning?
I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jul 9, 2011 11:19 AM EDT reply actions
yeah I’m hoping they do it on top plays
I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jul 9, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
they could…they should -it’s pretty damn rare but you know it’s all about 3000 on ESPN. Every stinklin’ AB is a replay.
if you have DVR, or a shit ton of time today, TCN replays the game starting at 1230
I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jul 9, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
true
I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jul 9, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
they don’t lol
I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jul 9, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
that was damn impressive
I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jul 9, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
rewatching that
whats really impressive is he threw three called 1st strikes, and every pitch that they swung at was a ball, but a perfectly set up ball, designed to be chased ahead in the count with nobody on base.
75% of that inning was Chooch, BTW.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
He definitely fits the Wheeler lefty archtype – goofy and crafty.
Man that last slider to Heyward. Whoa. So his arm slot…I aasuming it’s 3/4’s with that slider. I couldn’t tell, could you?
The angles on the replay are all from behind so its a little hard to tell, but it certainly looks like either a 3/4 or a modified 3/4 slot. The way he lands is what I think throws people off a bit, as well. It’s definitely a deceptive delivery.
It also looks like he reaches his arm forward a bit more than a normal delivery, which would cut down distance to the plate, and make his velocity feel a few ticks harder to the batter.
I don’t see anything different on his fastball, though, which is good.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
There’s something weird about his stride.
Now I remember being irritated that T-Mac didn’t notice it was on 9 pitches until, like, 5 minutes later.
After rewatching the 9th and 10th
I can’t for the life of me figure out why Freddie Gonzalez brought Sherril in to face Utley.
-there were 2 outs and a runner on 1st
-Utley doesnt have splits against Lefties
- Sherril was due up 3rd the next inning
- He was using THE BOOK, meaning that if they failed to score with the bottom of the order in the 10th, he was saving Kimbrel,
-the game was tied 2-2, and he was running out of pitchers.
If he’s gonna use Sherril there, why not double switch Lugo in for Uggla, and let Sherril go back out against Howard and Ibanez if they don’t score?
To me, that was the blunder of the game for the Braves, even IF Proctor gets through the 10th.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
my exact thoughts
but then again, Fredi is a fucking retard
out of the last 5 games the braves have lost, Proctor has been the losing pitcher in 3 of them, to give perspective, he is like the Braves Baez, just 100 times worse
Chopmaster: my link is my dad who has watched the braves since I don’t know. he’s 56.
just 100 times worse
100 times worse than Baez? This is unfathomable to Phils fans. Lidge in 2009 wasn’t that bad.
In preparation for NHL free agency, thinking of changing my screen name to Bhudde in 10OC.
He’s using hyperbole obviously, but Proctor is significantly worse than Baez.
Baez 2010 xFIP = 4.80, 2011 xFIP = 4.35
Proctor 2010 AAA FIP = 5.18, 2011 xFIP = 5.10
Baez is actually a passable front-of-the-bullpen reliever. His problem is how much he’s getting paid. If he had a six-figure salary, he would be acceptable.
Proctor isn’t a passable anything. He’s terrible.
I'll be honest,
and to be fair, its kind of like us with kendrick or Herndon, or Baez to an extent, but I was really a little surprised that everyone over at TC was calling for Proctors head, and no one was really commenting on the decision to throw Sherrill for one batter.
Honestly, You can’t blame Proctor, so much as you can Freddie
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
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