Better? Phillies 9, Diamondbacks 2
by dajafi on Aug 17, 2011 10:22 PM EDT
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The Phillies are now playing at a level of excellence almost sufficient to stay ahead of their most neurotic fans' worst anxieties. One night after a loss to the suddenly-plausible playoff opponent DIamondbacks that featured a grab-bag of possible downfall scenarios--inexplicably cold bats, a bad break or two and an ill-timed flash of mortality from ace of aces Roy Halladay--they regrouped behind another strong Cliff Lee start and a late offensive explosion to pummel Arizona and even this series at a game apiece.
This didn't seem certain early on. After Jimmy Rollins gave the Phils a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer, the D'backs went ahead 2-1 in the second as Lee walked Chris Young and surrendered a two-run shot to rookie slugger Paul Goldschmidt. But after surrendering an infield single to pitcher Joe Saunders to start the third inning, Lee set down the next ten Arizona hitters he faced. He allowed two more base runners in the sixth and seventh, then promptly erased each with inning-ending double plays.
Meanwhile, the Phils tied it up at 2 off Saunders in the second on a Hunter Pence double and an RBI single from John Mayberry Jr. But the lefty then matched Lee zero for zero through the middle innings, until the Phillies finally took control in the home seventh. Pence led it off with a walk and went to third on a Mayberry single. Wilson Valdez scored them both with a deep fly to straightaway center that kept carrying for a double that chased Saunders, and came in two batters later on Ben Francisco's sac fly. The Phils scored four more in the eighth, and Antonio Bastardo and Ryan Madson finished things up without incident as the team improved to 79-42 for the season. If you're keeping track, that leaves the 2011 club one game behind their 1976 forebears in the race for the franchise's single season win record.
Vance Worley opposes 15-game winner Ian Kennedy in the series finale tomorrow night. Happy happy Fangraph:
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Yay for bounce-back wins.
Might as well just hand them over.
by All ur Aces R Belong to Us on Aug 17, 2011 10:28 PM EDT reply actions
FTFY
Phillies clinch a better record than the Astros. 1 down,14 to go29 to go.
"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 18, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Math fail.
"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 18, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
On my part, obviously.
"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 18, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
/stays away from Cody Ransom joke
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Trade that bum Cliff Lee, he can't even go 9 innings
"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." - Wilt Chamberlain
by soman319 on Aug 17, 2011 10:38 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don’t know why but I can’t stop laughing at the picture caption.
by TwistyWristy on Aug 17, 2011 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Sooooo…how about someone teaches Mayberry how to play third base. Can’t be all that hard.
Let's go eat...a triceratops. /velociraptor'd
So, at first they were saying it was just a hand cramp for Howard, but he was just interviewed on Sportsnite and there’s discomfort in the right hand. He’s not sure if there will be and MRI or whatnot. Ryan likes to use that word. A lot.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Howard is 0-6 with 3 Ks against Kennedy
"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 17, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
over the last 3 years…47 total ABs for the Phils against Kennedy and only 2 extra base hits… .106/.125/.191 line
"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 17, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
However…he has not faced Martinez, Mayberry, or Schneider during that stretch…he’ll never know what hit him
"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 17, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
some light reading
"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 17, 2011 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Ha. Rec’d.
Let's go eat...a triceratops. /velociraptor'd
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 17, 2011 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Michael Schwimmer was upset that he hasn’t gotten to the chapter about what to do when leading by 7 runs…but hey, it’s a start
"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 17, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
He was stuck on the chapter about how valuable members of the ’pen need to be used often lest they forget how to locate their fast… Oh well too bad Charlie could not get to that chapter a little sooner.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 18, 2011 12:16 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
To be honest, I was hoping for Bullpunnery. It would explain so much.
Bob.
by The Dark on Aug 18, 2011 1:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Pence says he just wanted to get dirty so he slid into third.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Pence – nice kid, but not too bright
by taco pal on Aug 17, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He and Vic are like the same person…
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Could you imagine the two of them and LoMo as the starting outfield??
Paging Jeffery Loria to the red courtesy phone…
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 18, 2011 12:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hehehe…
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 18, 2011 12:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He has the best non-homerun pose/bat flip in baseball history
"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 17, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m so glad Madson and Bastardo were able to finally get some work in. I mean, what else can you do when there are so many games in a row when their services aren’t needed?
Start wearing pink feathered boas, and it goes downhill from there.
"We are the Borg. Resistance is futile."
I wish my picture of Stutes with that boa had turned out- seeing it was a pretty good antidote for the loss.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 18, 2011 12:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What surprised me was that he used both of them. I didn’t think even Charlie was that dumb. I was actually ok with bastardo in the eight. But once it was a seven run lead…. Yuck.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
I think the logic with Madson was that he needed to get some work in- in Charlie’s defense, Madson had not pitched in a week.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 18, 2011 1:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thats a cop out answer. Worley is going tonight, Oswalt tomorrow, and Kendrick Saturday. If you’re ok using him with a 7 run lead LAST NIGHT, what are the chances he wouldn’t get used tonight? Its plain stupidity. Pure and simple. You save your closer last night with that lead 10 out of 10 times.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
Why do you have to use the word stupid? It’s not your way of doing it, it’s the way Charlie Manuel did it. It didn’t work out. Doesn’t mean it was stupid – or that you’re smarter than Charlie Manuel.
by phillyinportland on Aug 18, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Dangit
I thought we had a deal, Phillies! You help us win out the rest of the season, and we made Braves and Giants fans panic! And then you start getting hits and scoring runs? What’s with that?
"Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy, in which case always ignore a coincidence."
You made us mad when you so ungraciously declined the two-spot we offered you while we were in San Francisco.
That's fair
It’s been a while since we’ve had any reason to pay attention to baseball past the end of June. We forget how it’s supposed to work this late in the season.
"Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy, in which case always ignore a coincidence."
Trevor May
6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 1 HR
25 BF, 6 GB, 0 LD, 7 FB
Ervis Manzanillo
2.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
14 BF, 3 GB, 1 LD, 0 FB, 2 SH
Lino Martinez
6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
23 BF, 8 GB, 5 LD, 5 FB, 1 SH
Okay, I think Trevor May has A+ figured out.
by philsandthrills on Aug 17, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I think after the last two starts he deserves this
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 18, 2011 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
You know, sunglasses guy works well as an appreciative prospect scout. I think it’s the binoculars.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 18, 2011 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Could also be stealing yer signs.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
I thought it was Shawn Micheels? Of course I guess that could be just his stage name and Mick Billmeyer is his real name.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 18, 2011 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions
He’s been terrible lately. My wild speculation here is that he’s out of gas. First year in full season ball + 19 years old + 6’2", 160 pounds + over 100 innings = too much.
keep in mind…they are preparing him for Charlie Manuel’s Phillies
"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 17, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the seven walks may have been a problem…
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 18, 2011 12:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yuurrrrrppp
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Aug 18, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tomorrow's Game Thread
Join us for our Third Annual TGP Yiddish-Fueled Game Thread in honor of Jewish Heritage Night.
(You never know, you might meet a nice Jewish boy. I hear there are lots of lawyers on the site, bubbeleh. Not so many doctors, though, but meh, you could do worse.)
I’ve made sure to bring my neurosis.
"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 Aug 18, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, no. I wish you hadn’t showed me that comparison.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
I don't think it would even apply anymore...the kid got really skinny.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Wo-n-ah Pill
Was someone exploring a small canyon outside San Bernadino and just happened upon Dr. Cody’s tin shed?
I’m 25% Jewish. I’ll bake challah rolls for everybody!
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
As an Irish Catholic I just hope I’ll have some sort of idea what everyone is talking about :)
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 18, 2011 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Set the leprechaun down for a night. On the Internet, no one knows if you’re a goy or a mohel.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 18, 2011 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
this’ll be interesting
Senior in HS, in love with Philly sports (Sixers don't count). Follow @bgoldenberg94
by phillies0100 on Aug 18, 2011 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Moyer is complaining about guys not using two hands. LOL.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
So apparently there’s already beginning to be groaning that the pennant races this year are bland:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Zzzz-8230-The-majority-of-playoff-races-have-;_ylt=AjtdxdrcJRHPKYuGzCt02JARvLYF?urn=mlb-wp16215
And they they think the cure for this is to make the regular season more meaningless and add more teams to the playoffs. Really?
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
And as we all know, seven game leads in September have never been known to fail.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 18, 2011 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Has to be sarcasm...
Never call a Phillies, Eagles, Flyers or Sixers fans, a band-wagoner. It is disrespectful. We have suffered agony through the years. Philadelphians should be jovial for their teams' success.
by chillyphilly on Aug 18, 2011 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Because of the WC, it’s more like 15 with 41 to go. Cake=baked. Also, this team is not folding.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Aug 18, 2011 6:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Changes on WIP
- taking over 94 FM
- Eskin loses 1-6 slot
- Gargano/Macnow now 1-6
- Barkann/Reese 10-1
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
Makes sense. Simulcasting on 94.1 solves two problems for CBS: WIP is falling behind The Fanatic and WYSP has been adrift since they lost Howard Stern. I’m curious how the moron morning team will do; presumably, they’ll crush Mike and Mike In the Morning, but I assume CBS is hoping they’ll be able to compete against Preston and Steve on MMR (which nobody’s been able to do since Howard Stern went to satellite).
by RedImperator on Aug 18, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the assumption is that there’s a whole (younger) demographic that avoids AM, and that you can catch them as they’re flipping between music stations (or music and 97.5).
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
I also think reception is an issue. Where I live in the ’burbs, 610 and 950 rarely come in at certain places. Being on FM, a stronger signal, will provide for fewer interruptions.
Also, for the younger demo, iPods have radio signals now, but only FM.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Actually, given comparable strength of signal and repeater location, AM signals should travel much farther than FM signals.
/engineer’d
While that may be true, I don’t get the signal as strong here as I do with the FM stations, for whatever reason.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Hence why I said, “comparable…” They seldom are. The FM transmitter is probably a 250,000 watt radiator, and on a several hundred foot tower (or the roof of a building). The AM transmitter is probably powered by a AA battery.
In any case, I’m not trying to argue.
Also, FM signals are generally clearer, and can be in stereo, for whatever that’s worth in this instance, as the signal has substantially more bandwidth.
That’s exactly the assumption, and I’m pretty sure it’s borne out by the ratings. 97.5 is killing WIP in the 18-35 demo, and FM is a big component of that. My guess is that WIP is still leading against The Fanatic’s AM feed (I actually think Caltaldi is beating Mike and Mike even accounting for the FM audience), but The Fanatic is running away with the game on FM. Going to FM puts WIP back on the same playing field, and they’ll have a big advantage because their morning drive-time is Philly-focused (97.5 is contractually obligated to carry ESPN’s national feed during drive time).
Incidentally, one thing this virtually guarantees is that the Phillies will be on FM full time starting next season. Their contract with CBS radio is up for re-negotiation, so either they’ll move over to 97.5, or CBS will offer 94.1. I would imagine CBS would also run a simulcast on 1210 AM, since that’s a clear channel station with a long reach after sunset (I drove home from the Outer Banks the other night and listened to the whole game starting right from the beach condo parking lot). Then again, I don’t know if CBS is all that concerned that people in North Carolina can listen to Phillies games, so maybe they replace the Phillies with the Tea Party Power Hour or whatever on 1210.
by RedImperator on Aug 18, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions
That would make me a little sad if they took them off 1210. They’ve been on that station for forever.
I know what you mean — I felt the same way when they took them off KYW. To be honest having the Phillies on “The Big Talker” with Rush Limbaugh for the past few years has been something of an embarrassment, but he’s gone of course.
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
does that mean no more music on 94.1?
Senior in HS, in love with Philly sports (Sixers don't count). Follow @bgoldenberg94
by phillies0100 on Aug 18, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
that sucks, that was my 2nd favorite station up there
Senior in HS, in love with Philly sports (Sixers don't count). Follow @bgoldenberg94
by phillies0100 on Aug 18, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
After this, I’m now just hoping the Phils get the wild card
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
Greg Dobbs saw that and reminds everyone that Greg Dobbs will make the Phillies a winner again.
by phillyinportland on Aug 18, 2011 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d like to take the credit for last night’s win. It was totally all me.Went downstairs after getting my daughter to fall asleep and turned on the game, and 2 seconds later it was a 4-2 game after Exxon’s double.
Since this gives me a WAR of 1.0, how much does the team owe me?
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
I would request the Ibanez $/WAR scale in negotiations
"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 18, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Playberry
Yeah, I know, low sample size…
2011 vs LHP
Mayberry 79 PA, 257/304/541
Ibanez 116 PA, 207/233/378
2011 vs RHP
Mayberry 111 PA, 267/333/455
Ibanez 343 PA, 245/298/417
Continuous improvement through procrastination since 1973.
add in defensive metrics FTW
"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 18, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Howard on Valdez’s bat flip:
“It’s funny watching Wilson hit,” Ryan Howard said. “It’s a show even when he gets a single. To see him go to center, the grown-up part of the field, it was funny. You never know what he’s going to do when he gets a hit.”
I think this further cements Exxon as the team MVP
What do you think Howard calls left field? Maybe he can’t remember.
by FanSince1993 on Aug 18, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m making a mental note. This will be meme-ified if I have anything to do with it.
"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 18, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
For what it's worth..
Dom Brown’s line since being optioned back to AAA:
.193/.423/.263 16 BB/14 K; 1 HR; 3 RBI; 5 for 6 SB
(the obp could be slightly off – I couldn’t find sac flies – but it would still be over .400)
Of course this is an extremely SSS and ultimately means very little. The last ten games or so have been especially tough but the walk rate is still extremely encouraging. For all I know Sandberg has him working on an altered stance or something. Still, I was really hoping he would rake in AAA and make a strong push for the playoff roster. There’s still time.
He’s apparently getting nothing to hit down there.
"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 Aug 18, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s a very reasonable explanation as well
by FanSince1993 on Aug 18, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Not to restart a debate...
especially with in light of the August each is having, but I thought this was an interesting coincidence:
Pence’s July OPS (106 pa’s): .764
Brown’s July OPS (83 pa’s): .764
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
They traded four players, three with huge upside, for a guy who was basically the equal of the guy they already had.
The equal of the guy? Domonic Brown’s July included a lot of regular playing, 21 for 74, with four extra base hits, 3 2B 1 3B. In 20 games, all with 2 or more at bats, he had 6 RBI. I think very highly of him but except for the week of July 4-10 when he was a red-hot 10-22 (all singles) he was not that productive. Hunter Pence’s July was the only month this year he was below .300, 26 for 94. Even in this down month he had 5 2B, 1 3B, and 2 HR with 10 RBI. Next year these two will probably share the same outfield, so we can root for both of them to do well. Whether Pence is worth what they gave up is one thing, but I look at the team today and see an upgrade in right field.
by phillyinportland on Aug 19, 2011 5:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not concerned with Brown’s hitting, never have been really except for his plate discipline which improved. For me, it’s his defense that needs the work . His time up here – well, I was suprised to see how rough he was out there. I thought he was further along. Definitely has the ability to improve.
He's not Clumsy, He's our Hunter
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
I really wish today was a day game. I’d rather not have the Phillies and Eagles playing at the same time.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
Eagles starters won’t be in that long. Plus, it’s preseason football, which is only slightly better than preseason hockey, but worse than ST baseball (IMO).
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Oh I know that preseason games suck. I’d just rather be able to watch both.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 18, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Ibanez Update
12 Games, 49 PA
.133/.184/.178 YES, his SLG is lower than his OBP for a whopping .361 OPS.
6 hits (2 doubles) 5 RBI 0 HR 3BB 7K’s
The only positives are his ridiculous .184 BABIP and a slightly better BB/K ratio than his season numbers, and significantly lower than previous cold spells.
I’m still predicting one of the last two games of the cincinnattii series at this point, but if Myaberry starts to get more time, that could change. If it extends into the next series against Florida, Should that be the case, I would bet it coincides with Vasques on the 3rd or Volstad on the 4th on the hill.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
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