Livan and On and On: Nationals 4, Phillies 2
by dajafi on Aug 12, 2011 11:36 PM EDT
Email
Print
How best to describe getting beaten by Livan Hernandez? Is it like rejection at the hands of a girl you went in thinking you're too good for? Drowning in a vat of room-temperature pudding? Trying to do a yo-yo trick and knocking yourself unconscious?
Whatever your preferred analogy, the Phillies lived it Friday night, enduring one inning after another without managing to hit the zaftig veteran's Moyeresque assortment of misnamed fastballs and breaking stuff. He particularly bedeviled Hunter Pence, twice striking out the Phils' new rightfielder before inducing a double play from him for the last two outs Hernadez recorded. Livan added injury to insult by driving in more runs (two) than he allowed in his 6 2/3 innings, on two singles.
The first was off Cole Hamels, who followed up his complete-game gem against the Giants last Saturday with something rather more forgettable: five innings, six hits, three runs, a season-high four walks, all on 88 pitches. His fastball velocity was notably down, with Todd Zolecki tweeting that Hamels' fastball on the night averaged almost three miles slower than his season average. (He later reported that Hamels is going through a dead-arm period.) The best that can be said for Hamels, and it's not nothing, is that he kept the team in the game anyway: facing a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth inning with the team already trailing 2-1, he got Jonny Gomes to fly out to shallow right, allowed one run on a Jayson Werth groundout that wasn't hit hard enough to start a double play, and struck out Wilson Ramos.
Yet that third run proved to be enough. Hernandez was ably relieved by Tyler Clippard through the eighth. Nationals closer Drew Storen came on for the last inning, and promptly found himself in trouble when Shane Victorino and Chase Utley started the inning with singles. Storen recovered to strike out Ryan Howard, got a flyout from Pence that scored Victorino, and popped up Raul Ibanez to end things.
The obvious lesson here is that the Phillies should play every single friggin' day. Record in pre-off day stretch of 20 games in 20 days: 16-4. Record since off day? 0-1. Is it too late to sell?
101 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Hunter Pence didn’t get a hit. The Phillies didn’t win. It’s just science.
"What's gonna happen is that you jerk off the ball. You almost want to let this guy here jam you, and if it comes, it comes." Gary 'Sarge' Matthews
What, it’s not enough that his protection caused RyHo to get 2 hits and to reach on an error?
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 13, 2011 12:02 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If Hunter Pence doesn’t get a hit, the Phillies don’t win. 12 games is a sufficiently large enough sample for me to say this confidently. /s
"What's gonna happen is that you jerk off the ball. You almost want to let this guy here jam you, and if it comes, it comes." Gary 'Sarge' Matthews
by Senor Octubre on Aug 13, 2011 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Man did he ever suck against Hernandez’ 60something curveball. Could not lay off and did not come close to it, time&time again.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions
What was excruciating to watch
Was the swings themselves. They looked like someone wielding a too heavy ax chopping down a tree, who really, really needs to use the bathroom.
The first AB is especially fun to rewash, if for nothing else than watching him on 0-2 take two curves outside, tongue out of mouth, drool, falling, Onky to fail miserably swinging at the same pitch on 2-2.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
sell, sell, sell!
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
Speaking of which, that sounds like what the stock market did for a while this week, followed by a bunch of buy, buy, buy. Crazy week all around.
by phillyinportland on Aug 13, 2011 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions
"Hamels Foundation Gala Hangover" Edition - Over-Hyped Prospects found in my Baseball Card Collection Mitch-o-meter: Bob Hamelin
In honor of Strasburg & Harper…here’s to hoping they someday join this esteemed list
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
by DirtyWaters on Aug 12, 2011 11:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
As someone who’s too young/new to baseball to know the history of these prospects, does the meter run from least-hyped to most-hyped, or from smallest bust to biggest bust?
"What's gonna happen is that you jerk off the ball. You almost want to let this guy here jam you, and if it comes, it comes." Gary 'Sarge' Matthews
by Senor Octubre on Aug 13, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
All over-hyped to varying degrees…I will give you my reasons for their placement, but you should look them up
1. Sidd Finch – (should have 2 d’s) only fictional character of the bunch and yet he still had his own 1986 Topps card
2. Generation K – 3 players vs 1 and the Met factor slotted them in 2nd
3. Brien Taylor – I actually think this guy would have been great if not for injuries
4. Todd Van Poppel – I had 8 of this Upper Deck card…crazy
5. Ben McDonald – over-hyped but made it to the bigs and had a career 78-70 record…perfect middle slot candidate
6. Ryan Anderson – never use Randy Johnson’s nickname in vain
7. Bob Hamelin – Carlos Zambrano just pulled a Bob Hamelin tonight in retiring mid game
8. Drew Henson – sucked for both hated teams
9. Greg Jeffries – for obvious reasons
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
by DirtyWaters on Aug 13, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Jefferies had the highest career WAR with 21.9, just barely beating out McDonald with 21.8. The three Mets have combined (so far!) for 21.2, although Isringhausen had his best years as a closer, and WAR is arguably misleading for high-leverage relief pitchers.
it cracks me up that you looked up their WAR
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
Thank you for your service.
I have a memory of the three future Met All Star pitchers – I think that was from the mid-1990’s? – and I remember Jason Isringhausen (sp?) was one of them. Another was named Paul Wilson, I believe. But for the life of me I can’t think of the third.
by phillyinportland on Aug 13, 2011 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Bill Pulsipher
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
Thanks. Fairly short career, ERA of 5.15 thanks to one average season followed by a bunch of bad ones.
by phillyinportland on Aug 13, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The Sidd Finch story was awesome. Perhaps the best article George Plimpton ever wrote, and that’s saying something.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 13, 2011 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions
speaking of which
here’s the link for those unfamiliar
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
The Brien Taylor Wikipedia page is the most depressing thing I’ve ever read.
After retiring, Taylor moved to Raleigh and worked as a UPS package handler and later a beer distributor. He had a brush with the law in January 2005, in Wake Forest where police charged Taylor with misdemeanor child abuse for allegedly leaving four of his children (ages from 2 to 11) alone for more than eight hours. He didn’t show up for his court date, and at one point there were four outstanding warrants for his arrest. By 2006, he had moved back home and was working as a bricklayer with his father. According to financial records filed in a child support application, he makes $909 per month. He is the father of five daughters. Taylor still lives with his parents, at the end of a street named after him, in a two-story brick and frame house that he built using his signing bonus.
My god. Former first overall pick, reduced to this.
by The Howling Fantods on Aug 13, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
The tragedy
is that he was never the same after the barfight. The only number one pick in history to never play a game at the major league level I believe.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
Second, actually. Mets picked Steve Chilcott in 1966, 1 pick before Reggie Jackson.
And Matt Bush might join them in that dubious distinction (he’s on the Rays’ AA team at 25).
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by alcatraz0109 on Aug 13, 2011 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely hits “Slightly Flustered” on the original meter. On the postgame radio show Manuel mentioned Hamels had shoulder stiffness. Uh oh.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Hamels, however, said he wasn’t concerned.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I was worried, but Zolecki reported that it’s just a little dead arm and no pain or discomfort involved…..phew! I was still a bit surprised by Charlie’s candid disgust in the post-game…hence the Hamels Foundation Gala Hangover edition…wonder if last night’s shindig had anything to do with their performance
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
by DirtyWaters on Aug 13, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
ah yes, “dead arm” = hung over. Certainly plausible.
There was also some warmup oddity, as the WOF ceremony pushed Hamels’ warmup to centerfield, which looked awkward.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Makes me think of J.R. Richard. If he’s healthy in 1980 there’s a good chance the Phillies don’t reach the World Series that year.
by phillyinportland on Aug 13, 2011 3:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I dunno If Day-Glo Dutch oughta be getting that close to Kruk with Kruk being a cancer survivor and all.
you know what they say, once you’ve kissed an alien….
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
by DirtyWaters on Aug 13, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
He looks like he wants to tongue-probe Kruk’s brain. Which is scary on too many levels.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, can't win 'em all.
They’ll get the gNats tomorrow. Oswalt’ll be looking to come up big.
I totally blame Daulton and Kruk for this loss. Those speeches were freaking weird, especially Daulton’s, which had me cringing from jump at what he might say. Clearly that brought a lot of bad energy into the building.
What about their speeches was weird? I mean, the story about Kruk is a little creepy in that it makes you picture Krukker watching Dutch sleep, but I thought Kruk’s speech was very run-of-the-mill. Philadelphia is awesome, the ’93 team was awesome, thanks for inducting me, etc.
"What's gonna happen is that you jerk off the ball. You almost want to let this guy here jam you, and if it comes, it comes." Gary 'Sarge' Matthews
by Senor Octubre on Aug 13, 2011 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Thought the brain cells line was an odd thing to say.
When he said ’93 was the best time of his life other than meeting his wife and having his kids, I thought he phrased that oddly (“besides the stuff with the kids” or words to that effect)
Obviously, Daulton’s was a lot worse. The main thing about that story is that, although it didn’t turn out to be as inappropriate as I’d initially feared, it ultimately had no point and no punch line. Also, Daulton generally speaking is a total burnout.
I was late arriving and missed Daulton’s speech, but I thought Kruk’s was pretty good. I liked the nod to his older brothers for letting him play. (My older son needed to hear that.) There was the obligatory nob-slobber to Phillies fans, but it was phrased in such a way that it twanged the grit and huslteitude string in a deep and abiding way (something like: “For all the guys who’ve said this is a tough place to play, they’re wrong, because they didn’t have the guts to succeed here”).
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
oswalt vs. nats lifetime
Ramos 1 for 2, 1 2B, 0 BB, 0 K, 1.500
Morse 1 for 6, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K, .708
Espinosa 2 for 7, 0 BB, 2 K, .661
Zimmerman 6 for 17, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K, 1.146
Desmond 0 for 13, 0 BB, 4 K, .000
Nix 10 for 20, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.724
Ankiel 6 for 24, 1 BB, 5 K, .530
Werth 6 for 21, 1 2B, 4 BB, 10 K, .733
Lance Nix
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
More likely to come out of retirement first: Carlos Zambrano, Carson Palmer, or Bernard Hopkins?
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
I’ll take Zambrano! Cubs fans would enjoy his retirement too much for it to last.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 13, 2011 10:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If it weren’t for his anger issues, he could be like the Pedro Martinez of 2011, and we could use him as a pinch hitter.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Some of that though is Cubs driven angst. Besides the Phillies clubhouse chemistry is due in part by Utley Stare of Stoicism which keeps tempers in check.
Hmmmm… I think Zambrano’s temper would be stronger than even the Utley stare could handle.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 13, 2011 4:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Julio Rodriguez
5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
20 BF, 3 GB, 2 LD, 6 FB
Jesse Biddle
6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
21 BF, 7 GB, 1 LD, 6 FB (1 pop)
Colin Kleven
4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP
19 BF, 2 GB, 3 LD, 5 FB, 1 SH
No win for J-Rod.
There goes his 20-win season.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I totally ignored home runs, d’oh.
Mental lapse.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Physically, he’s quite a specimen, and built very much like Hunter Pence. Having watched him on Tuesday, the one thing that bothers me is how light on his feet in the box he is. He seems to raise up on the balls of his feet to go after high pitches, giving off a kind of skittish deer vibe, so the stolen bases don’t surprise me. He is damn quick, and defensively, a gem. I am surprised at the home runs, and they’re really nothing to sneeze at. The Cutters have been home this week, and Historic Bowman Field is Citi Field-like in its cavernitity. (370 and 375 to the poles iirc). If he’s hitting them out there, step back and be all, whoa.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
phils vs. lannan
Rollins 9 for 34, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 K, .717
Victorino 10 for 30, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 0 K, .895
Utley 11 for 28, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 5 K, 1.143
Howard 7 for 33, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 13 K, .770
Pence 4 for 14, 2 BB, 1 K, .661
Ibanez 12 for 23, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.517
Ruiz 5 for 20, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 K, .704
Valdez 3 for 18, 1 BB, 1 K, .377
I’m sorry, but this is clearly missing an important feature.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
corrected version
Rollins 9 for 34, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HBP, .717
Victorino 10 for 30, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, .895
Utley 11 for 28, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 5 K, 3 HBP, 1.143
Howard 7 for 33, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 13 K, 3 HBP, .770
Pence 4 for 14, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HBP, .661
Ibanez 12 for 23, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1.517
Ruiz 5 for 20, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HBP, .704
Valdez 3 for 18, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HBP, .377
Lannan has more Ks vs. Howard (13) than he does vs. any other batter.
Second place is Paul Maholm with 8 in 9 PA, which is way worse as a rate stat. So Ryan’s got that going for him.
Third place: three tied with 6 (Werth in 28 PA, McCann in 34 PA, Maybin in 15 PA)
If it weren’t for those 3 singles and 2 doubles, he could be a 4 True Outcomes Guy.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The Phillies have really done well against Lannan in the past but he did win his first game ever last time out, beating Roy Oswalt, 2-1. Thanks to a solo homer by Laynce Nix. Victorino was out and Rollins didn’t start.
by phillyinportland on Aug 13, 2011 4:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Missed the game due a wedding, the 5th and final one this summer. Thank heaven that is over.
However in weirder news, I found out yesterday that Bryce Harper lives in the same condo development as me. He drives a black monster truck-ish looking vehicle.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
When I heard that Cole Hamels was going through a dead arm period...
I immediately thought of this.
by Delicious Cake on Aug 13, 2011 11:14 AM EDT reply actions
Do you guys think Hamels' arm is a concern?
Or are you more in the “it was an aberration” camp?
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 13, 2011 1:34 PM EDT reply actions
The dead arm explanation is more than satisfactory for me.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think it's probably safe to assume that's all it is.
I guess it’s good for you guys that this is happening when you guys have a giant lead. Shouldn’t be a big deal and I doubt it lasts long.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 13, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope it doesn’t last much longer, however. Don’t want him blowing his chances at the Cy with a couple lousy starts.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
A Phillie will get it either way, be it Doc or Hamels.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 13, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Barring a major collapse, anyway.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 13, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Kershaw is pretty good.
He’s pretty far away still, but it’s no sure thing.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s so filthy.
"And like lambs to the slaughter, the Braves take the field."- Skip Caray
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 13, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Coastal flight + Hamels Foundation Gala + Warmup routine off-kilter due to Wall of Fame Event + letdown after big showdown in SF. He’s not the type (like Utley) to sandbag his injuries, so if he says it’s no big deal, it’s probably not.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 13, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Makes sense.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 13, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Only in how it will affect his cy young chances. If anything it’s almost a blessing in disguise, because it will make Charlie more likely to be cautious with him down the stretch.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
He’s actually been fairly good with Cole recently. No 120+ pitch game since early April. And he even pulled him after 6 in Colorado.
by philsandthrills on Aug 13, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not so sure that has as much to do with resting him as it does with effectiveness, and the fact that he’s been bothered by this “Dead Arm” for a few starts. He pulled him in the Colorado game because he got out of two runner on jams two innings in a row, and it was 2-1 with a runner on 2B, 2 outs and they PH for him.
Since the All Star Break.
7/16 4.1 IP 83 P 4 BB 3K
7/22 8 IP 100 P 1 BB 10K
7/27 7.2 IP 109 P 1BB 5K
8/1 6 IP 86P 1 BB 5K
8/6 9 IP 114 P 0BB 5K
8/12 5 IP 88 P 4BB 5K
He’s also given up 3 HR in those 6 starts. He gave up 3 total in 12 starts from May 13th through the AS break.
Not saying its worry time, or anything else, but hes at 172 innings through 25 starts right now. which is 14 more than he was at last year this point, and 25 more than where he was in 2009. He hasn’t put this many innings or this much work in in three seasons.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
I forgot to mention!
My 82 year-old grandfather said that Michael Bourne “hustles!” And you all thought Philadelphians were racist.
"What's gonna happen is that you jerk off the ball. You almost want to let this guy here jam you, and if it comes, it comes." Gary 'Sarge' Matthews
yes but did he say Bourne plays the game right?
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 13, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn’t work that only keeps it from starting a new paragraph
by j reed on Aug 13, 2011 6:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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
Philadelphia Phillies
@
St. Louis Cardinals
Saturday, May 26, 2012, 7:15 PM EDT
Busch Stadium
Clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 95.
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
- Giancarlo Stanton misses cutoff man, and Logan Morrison is thankful he did (Video)
