Vanimal in the Mist: Phillies 6, Braves 3
by dajafi on Sep 7, 2011 12:29 AM EDT
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PrintAs the Braves and Phillies got underway Tuesday night following a rain delay of about two hours, television spectators saw something far out of the ordinary at Citizens Bank Park: empty seats. The combination of miserable conditions and a September game between playoff-bound teams about as devoid of consequence as possible limited the Bank to something less than half capacity; the organization itself acknowledged as much by announcing during the game that tickets for tonight's contest could be exchanged for a seat at selected games in 2012--whether or not you used them tonight. But with negative off-days on the schedule, the teams were determined to get this one in, and despite the rain never really letting up, they wound up playing nine.
Fortunately, Vance Worley evidently is as much at home in the cold and rain of a September evening in Philadelphia as on a sweltering afternoon in Chicago, or most anywhere else. Facing potential early trouble with two on and one out in the first, Worley struck out Dan Uggla swinging and Chipper Jones looking, the first two of his six Ks on the night. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Chase Utley put the Phils up 1-0 with his tenth home run of the season, and just his second since the start of August; the team tacked on a second run when Raul Ibanez notched the first of his three hits on the night to score Ryan Howard.
Uggla cut the lead to 2-1 with a solo homer off Worley in the fourth, and the Braves tied it on an Alex Gonzalez sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth after Worley loaded the bases with none out. But the rookie right-hander escaped without further damage, and found himself in line for the win when the Phils added a pair of runs off Tim Hudson, the second coming on an Ibanez double. The Braves pulled within a run again off Michael Stutes in the seventh, thanks mostly to the speed of Michael Bourn; the former Phillie doubled to lead off, stole third with one out and scored on an Uggla fielder's choice. But Stutes induced a flyout from Jones to escape further trouble, and the Phils plated two more in the bottom of the inning to create some comfort. Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson closed things out.
The win was the Phillies' 90th of the season, marking the first time in club history they've won at least 90 in four straight seasons. Good times. Good Fangraph:
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90-49. If from here on out the Phillies finish the season 2-20, they will have equaled the record of the 2008 team.
Unreal. This team is unreal. This season is unreal.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
by Justin F. on Sep 7, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I added the extra loss because the team is secretly a bunch of bums who will inevitably lose another
game this season.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
It is getting to the point where I am running out of postitive adjectives to describe this team.
I am okay with this.
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own."
- Harmon Killebrew
Me likey.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Sep 7, 2011 6:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ha, okay, I figured there was no way even you were that fast.
by philsandthrills on Sep 7, 2011 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions
No. During hot streaks it does get s slight boost from “horribly inadequate” to “below average”.
I’m officially calling hot about 15 PA and 3 games short if he plays tonight and hits.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
Only if Charlie plays him every day.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
by Joecatz on Sep 7, 2011 10:15 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah. It’s like his body needed rest and he came back stronger in all areas.
25.8/106 "Winter is coming" -Eddard Stark
by Joecatz on Sep 7, 2011 10:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Well, we got the first half- he is playing tonight.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Sep 7, 2011 6:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m totally loving the mock chop the fans have been doing the last couple of nights. Best taunt since “Eva Eva”
Best thing Philly fans have done since Flyers fans mocked the Montreal Canadiens’ “Ole Ole Ole!” chant in the 2010 NHL Eastern Conference Finals.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Couldn't Agree More.
I was at the last home series blow out a couple months ago when it started. Yesterday at the ballpark, I was psyched with the initial 4 runs but actually said to my buddy, “I really hope we get another 4 or 5 so we can start the Mock Chop.” Needless to say, I left the ballpark very satisfied, smug, and just a little nauseous from dollar dogs.
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Sep 7, 2011 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Correction
Should have said "When it started this season. I realize this was not uncharted territory.
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Sep 7, 2011 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions
But as much as it might irk prescriptivists, the writing is on the wall: nauseous has decidedly joined up with nauseated rather than nauseating in popular usage. For some, the very idea is just plain sickening.
-------
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
yeah, while I think much criticism of prescriptivism is warranted, much decriptivism is a little too loose… I mean, a language has to have agreed upon rules, so they need to be in some sense prescribed (that is, in that they are taught), though many prescriptions are silly and unsupportable nonsense (e.g., those against split infinitives in English, or ending a sentence with a preposition). But just because countless people use it is no reason to accept “irregardless”.
by yolacrary on Sep 7, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve participated in both. I also enjoyed the whistles for Timmay, however juvenile they may have been.
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 seem to recall it was around in 1993 during the NLCS as well.
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.
With one out, Hollins drilled his second home run of the NLCS, a no-doubt- about-it shot to dead centerfield. That ignited a wave of mock tomahawk chops throughout the sellout crowd. The Phillies were on their way.
by EastFallowfield on Sep 7, 2011 6:31 AM EDT up reply actions
r-phils playoff pitching matchups announced
http://twitter.com/#!/RPhils/status/111149928453115905
Game 1: Tyler Cloyd vs. Chad Jenkins
Game 2: J.C. Ramirez vs. Nestor Molina
Game 3: Austin Hyatt vs. Drew Hutchison
Facing New Hampshire, whose lineup features Anthony Gose and Travis D’Arnaud.
I’m surprised they’re starting Ramirez in the playoffs. He hasn’t exactly had the best year.
by philsandthrills on Sep 7, 2011 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions
He hasn’t been great, but he’s still a prospect, and the alternatives aren’t. Even in the playoffs, the minor leagues are for player development, not for winning.
Not that it’s a bad decision from a winning standpoint either. Neither of the other guys has been significantly better than Ramirez. And honestly, Ramirez hasn’t been that bad. He’s horribly inconsistent, but does show flashes, which is better than being consistently mediocre. Got better as the year went on too. 7.5 K/9 from July-end of season.
He’s just going to go to Houston. He already knows all the players.
by philsandthrills on Sep 7, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Depends on why he was fired. Could be good, could be bad. My money is on letting Santana be the PTBNL.
"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 Sep 7, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Talking Chop:
Why do teams roll over for the Phillies?
Easier to say when someone else is playing them.
by GeoffreyR on Sep 7, 2011 12:58 AM EDT
^This
The Phillies are simply an elite team.
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 7, 2011 12:59 AM EDT
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Sep 7, 2011 1:12 AM EDT reply actions
Acceptance is the final step.
Might as well just hand them over.
by All ur Aces R Belong to Us on Sep 7, 2011 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
?!
Phillies do everything right
by wpf3211 on Sep 6, 2011 11:23 PM EDT
0-10 w RISP. Fredi is incompetent. Phillies are better
by wpf3211 on Sep 7, 2011 12:03 AM EDT
Generally, Philly fans are not too bad unless you instigate something. Their ushers bounce people with a quickness. I’d wear Braves gear to a Phillies game before wearing Yankees gear at a Red Sox game.
by cashew on Sep 6, 2011 8:20 PM EDT
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Sep 7, 2011 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions
From a personal perspective
I only go to a few games a year, but the tickets I get are always behind the visitor’s dug out where there are many fans from the visiting team, and I have never had or seen any problems with Phillies fans and fans from other teams interacting. But over the years, I’ve seen them all. Braves, Mets, Giants (this season), Red Sox, Reds during the playoffs, Nationals, etc.
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Oh, I know.
My season tix are in Section 302. It’s like the dorm where they still all the exchange students, financial aid scholarships and alcoholics. It’s ALWAYS the spot that ends up having at least a row’s worth of people sell their tickets to visiting fans.
There is ball busting and good-natured ribbing, but never any problems. My shock was simply a reaction to the TC crew’s sudden – if ephemeral – naked admissions of the Phils’ talent and the momentary dropping of the “Everyone rolls over for the Phils…” & “Phils fans are classless” memes.
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Sep 7, 2011 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I had a good moment at a Braves/Philly game this year where a group from Atlanta was behind me. There was good natured ribbing… then later one of the Braves Fans said he liked A-rod… not only as a baseball player but as a human being. To which I turned around and asked “How could you like A-rod as a person” and then his friends ripped on him for the stupidity of that statement… I guess what I’m saying is that shared hatred can bring us all together.
by Cole_Hamels_Can on Sep 7, 2011 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
Very well. We’ll follow your lead, sir, and adopt Grant’s magnanimity for now….
But I’m still holding on to this badass in my back pocket for the time being…
We may need him ‘for long, I’spect….
by Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed on Sep 7, 2011 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I got into an argument tonight
with a Phillies fan about whether or not the Giants were a better team than us last year. I explained to him how the playoffs are a crapshoot and that the Phillies actually scored more runs (which he didn’t believe), but he was dead set on the idea that the Phillies needed Cliff Lee in order to beat them.
I hate Philly fans.
Might as well just hand them over.
by All ur Aces R Belong to Us on Sep 7, 2011 1:13 AM EDT reply actions
Analogously, if one were to call pre-flop with 3-8 off suit and ended up winning the pot against pocket kings we should conclude that the 3-8 was a “better hand”.
by Cole_Hamels_Can on Sep 7, 2011 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Well herein lies the issue. In a contest so determined by luck when is it a sport and when is it simply poker with a stick?
The “stick” part makes a big difference though. Your athletic ability and skill determine the range of possible outcomes – luck just chooses from that range. Right?
by taco pal on Sep 7, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tonight
Ended up being a nice game in the suite. We stayed dry, even if when the doors were open there was a wicked chill. but thankfully we were under cover and not playing in New York! That game just started at 11pm.
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.
Worley 11-1
Not that his won-lost record is the important thing here, but I’ve followed the Phillies for decades and I can’t remember any Phillies pitcher having an 11-1 record. Looking back over his season it is remarkable that there have been only two games he has appeared in that have ended as Phillies’ losses. That’s 20 games, 18 starts, one loss, one no decision in a loss.
by phillyinportland on Sep 7, 2011 2:53 AM EDT reply actions
What’s amazing is he’s done it with rather wack delivery and a two seamer. I’m still a skeptic. Need a shit-ton more data before I’m satisfied.
Could the wack delivery be a part of his success? He has only had multiple starts this season against two teams (Mets and Reds). Could some of his performance so far come from them seeing a delivery they just aren’t used to (meaning it will be lost the more they see it)?
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Sep 7, 2011 6:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I mentiioned his delivery because it doesn’t seem developed for deception and it isn’t exactly a display of great athletic form like Lee, Hamels or Oswalt which is not a necessary conditon for effectiveness or good mechanics but is helpful in assessing young talent. The greater the athleticism the higher the ceiling. I think Worely has alot of raw athletic ability but there’s nothing in his current delivery that alleviates my concern about his primary weapon – the two seam fastball, a pitch notoriously hard to control with alot of consistency.
Two things
1. I fail to see how Worley is NOT up for NL ROTY.
2. Chuck LaMar, the Phillies assistant general manager of player development and scouting, resigned abruptly following a meeting with GM Ruben Amaro Jr. LaMar joined the team in Oct. 2007. Amaro called LaMar’s resignation a “disappointment.”
He is, and probably will get some votes. But it is a deep field (just Atlanta has arguably three nominees in Freeman, Venters, and the likely winner- Kimbrel). He deserves some votes, and it would be great if he won, but he is far from the only deserving player in the field.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Sep 7, 2011 6:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
A hearty h/t to the FO
for offering anyone with a ticket to last night’s game a free ticket next season to their choice of 6 different games…they did not need to do this and it is quite the gesture to the fans. I wonder if the Yankees did the same thing with their game starting at 11 PM?
6/14/15 and counting...
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