Thursday, June 30, 2011

Game 82 Red Sox @ Phils

Started out as another great pitchers duel, that is until Cole Hamels took line drive off the wrist of his catching hand. He finished the inning but left after the fourth.

Herndon is in now for him.

Phils got their first hit in the fourth.
Now that Herndon is in the game it looks like Jim Wolf behind the plate has shrunk his strike zone.

Herndon gives up a one out double that Francisco played into a triple and the next batter singles for a 1-0 Sox lead.

The odd thing on that Hamels injury is that in the second inning he caught a line drive that was exactly the same as the one that hit him in the hand.

I'm not sure what the thinking will be on this game with Herndon. the bullpen has had plenty of rest the last few games so if Herndon starts giving up runs they may pull him quick.
Now after another hit it's first and third 1 out, John Lester at the plate.
Lester strikes out but Elsbury singles for an rbi. One more batter and that has to be it.

Got him, well 2-0 looks tough today, Lester has been really good so far and Ryan Howard doesn't look like he is going to be of any help right now, He's in another funk.

Bleepin' Herndon gives up a homer to Veratek with 2 outs in the sixth. Next pitcher please.

Next pitcher is Andrew Carpenter, another call up from triple a.
Two hits for the Sox to lead off the seventh.
Carpenter gets out of first and third no outs, nice job.

Not so nice in the 8th, gave up 2 straight homers then a third right to the wall.

So those two extra runs might hurt badly as Howard just popped one into the upper deck for runs to make it 5-2.




Mood is slightly disappointed but I realize that it is very hard to take three from a really good team like the Sox are this year. Would have been nice to get more then 2 hits before the ninth inning too.
Francona got his 700th win as a Sox manager today. This is more wins then any manager in the entire History of the Phillies. Boggles the mind.


Loss 5-2
Streak 1 loss
last ten 6-4
Record 51-31

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Game 81 Red Sox @ Phils

Worley is pitching another decent game. Only one bad ab was when he got behind Lackey and then grooved one that Lackey smoked to the wall in left center for an RBI to tie the score at one.

It's getting late and the Phils haven't done anything since they score a run in the second inning.

Howard has struck out twice in three ab's.
Dom Brown looks so awkward on just about every catch he makes.

Ibanez had threehits today and inky needed a triple for the cycle. He did get a home run in the seventh to get a 2-1 lead.
Stutes a perfect eighth and Bastardo for the save.

Mood, Im flying right now a series win against the Sox for the first time in about ten years.
Vance Worley is pitching great now that they finally stopped goofing around with him.
Charlie became the third winningest manager in team history and if they win 52 more this year he will have the most wins all time as a Phils skipper.

Win 2-1
Streak 3 wins
Last ten 7-3
Record 51-30

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Game 80 Red Sox @ Phils

61 years. It was that long ago since the last time a Phils pitcher did what Lee did tonight.

3 shut outs in a row. 61 years ago Robin Roberts did it and three other before him including Grover Cleveland Alexander who did it twice.

Lee also has 32 straight shut out innings in a row now too. His 4th shut out this season and I think the Phils 12th.
Only two hits and only 5 K's but that's why he only threw 112 pitches.

Simply brilliant.
One walk in the first the no hits or runners until the sixth. So much fun to watch what he has done in June.

5-0 and one earned run in his last 42 innings in June.
His era for June is 0.21
Lowered his era to 2.66 he also had a sac fly rbi tonight and only faced 29 batters.

All of a sudden he is 9-5 and will be June's pitcher of the month.

He only needs three more shut outs in a row to match Orel Hersheiser.

Mood, Cliff lee is scary right now. the Phils are 50-30, 20 over .500 for the first time this season.
I'll have to look back and see the last time they were 20 over after 80 games.

Win 5-0
Streak 2 wins
Last ten 6-4
Record 50-30

Game 79 A's @ Phils

The A's and Phils finish the series today.
Halladay starts against one of the players they traded for Joe Blanton, last name is Outman, good name for a pitcher.
He was good but Halladay was very good.

You could see a few times during the game when Halladay just simply bared down and controlled an inning. Three innings of less then ten pitches.
He is now 30-3 in the 35 starts that the Phils have given him a lead. The third pitcher to get his tenth win after two previous no decisions.
Jimmy Rollins had his first four hit game in over two seasons.

Phils get to 19 over .500 for the fourth time in about a week. Also this was a needed win. The Braves lost but if the Phils lost they could have been down to a 3.5 game lead going into the series with Boston. As it is they are 4.5 up going into the series with the Red Sox.

Mood is good I really enjoy watching the A's come in to town and here the talk of the old A's teams and players.

Win 3-1
Streak 1 win
Last ten 6-4
Record 49-30

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Game 78 A's @ Phillies

I'm not sure what's going on with the Pils tonight but Coco Crisp went to third on a fly ball to Shane Victorino. Crisp got to third after he faked tagging up but Victorino double pumped and then just lobbed the ball in to third. Crisp went over on the lob throw.

Then just now Dom Brown leads off the fifth and hits a ball to the second baseman Weeks. He bobbled it but Brown did not run out of the box and was thrown out. He easily would have beat the throw if he ran hard from the plate but he didn't even run hard to the bag.
He hit another ground ball to Weeks again in his next ab and he didn't run hard on that one either. He should have been benched after the first one but they Phils are running on smoke and mirrors right now.
Half the bullpen is hurt, Gload is hurt and still keeps getting pinch hits but they have to put in a runner for him every time.
After they won seven in a row they are 4-4.

Mood has me a little worried. Oswalt is out for awhile. The pen is short and they have stopped hitting again, only four hits today and another loss for Hamels with him pitching another great game.

Loss 4-1
streak 1 loss
Last ten 6-4
record 48-30

Friday, June 24, 2011

Game 77 Athletic's @ Phillies

Only series that I really look forward to in inter league is with the A's.

This is only the fourth they've played and second time in Philly.

I waited until the seventh inning to start because this game had been a double no hitter through six.
Both the Phils and A's got the first hit in the sixth inning.
Vance Worley did a great job but he had too many full counts and was over 100 pitches after six and that was it for him today.

THey just showed Pete Rose in us seat sitting with Larry Christinson. Pete is getting pretty old I would love to see Jim get into the Hall soon.

Dom Brown is right at .200 now but the GM today said that they're going to keep himin the lineup and stick with him.
Brown just got the Phils second hit in the seventh with 2 outs and are doing a great job at making another average pitcher look like a hall of famer.

Ninth inning still only two hits for both teams. Victorino gets a lead off walk, Ibanez up next.
Should they bunt Shane over? I would but Raul doesn't and he pops out to right.

Brian Schneider grounds out but now they have second and third with two outs.
Ben Francisco chops a ball at to third over a drawn in third baseman's head for the game winning hit.
Nice.

Mood is good but not happy about only getting four hits again. Vance Worley pitched a one hitter for six innings. I want to see more of him and now that Oswalt is on the DL again I guess we will.

Win 1-0
Streak 1 win
Last ten 7-3
Record 48-29

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Game 76 Phils @ Cards

Oswalt looks prety good in the first. Getting the fastball in the the 90's which is good.
Other then the bomb John Jay just hit anyway.

Looks like Carpenter hasn't been any good this year so naturally expect him to shut out the Phils.
The Phils announcers were saying he hasn't been using his curve much this year. Well he has been today, a lot and the Phils don't hit slow stuff so.....

Francisco just hit one that the center fielder just dove for and missed going to the wall, so he's on third with two outs and Dom Brown rolls to the first baseman for the third out.

I spoke too soon about Oswalt. Three straight hits to lead off the second and a 2-0 hole. Now it's 4-0.
So now they're going to pinch hit for him. I guess his back must be acting up again.
He has been a disappointment this season. Even with the back problems he has not been good enough this season.

Oswalt's out and kendrick is in. Lead off double for Matt Holliday and then a line drive single for first and third to start the third.
Looks like a blow out is in the works.

Ok well unless the Phils get a couple of runs next inning I think this might be a write off. Polanco just got jipped out of a hit by the umpire.
He lined one to right, John Jay dove for it and got it in his glove but it bounce right out and hit the ground. He grabbed it with his free hand and held it up and the ump bought it.
Polanco saw It clearly and ran out to the ump right away to question his call.
How is it that everyone but the the ump can see these kind of plays?

Mood is blah. I dont even feel like this was a real game. It was more like a minor annoyance like a gnat or mosquito, once you swat it it's gone and you don't need to worry about it anymore.
The only problem and it is a bit of a big ones Oswalt. As I have been saying he just doesn't have his heart in it since he came back from his home and now he is hurt again and from what he was saying it sounds like he doesn't want to play anymore.
Plus Baez came in and gave up a four hits, two walks a homer and 6 runs. Is that it for him now?

Loss 12-2
streak 1 loss
Last ten 7-3
Record 47-29

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Game 74 Phils @ Cards

Roy Halladay hasn't lost two straight yet this season.
This is the Card first game after Pujols broke his arm and now will be out 6-8 weeks.

The Cards scored a run In The fifth and this one was looking like another week effort and a shut out but the squeaked out a run in the eighth.
They took Halladay out for Gload to pinch hit in the seventh and they had to do it even though Roy was pitching great.
Gload singled in the tying run but just barely as Ruiz was tagged out running to third.
Looked like he was trying to draw the throw to make sure Ibanez scored but with Holliday in left, he can't throw, Raul would have been safe by a bunch.
It really hate when players do that as it never looks lime they need to do it and it's always the third out.
Anyway Stutes comes in and promptly gives up a run for a 2-1 Cards lead, so now it looms Grimm again.
Then the super crazy Phils eighth inning happens.

Jimmy Rollins lines out to left fielder Matt Holliday.

Shane Victorino singles

Chase Utley walks. Shane Victorino to 2nd.

Ryan Howard hit by pitch. Shane Victorino to 3rd. Chase Utley to 2nd.

Placido Polanco hit by pitch. Shane Victorino scores. Chase Utley to 3rd. Ryan Howard to 2nd.

Raul Ibanez strikes out swinging.

Ben Francisco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday. Chase Utley scores. Ryan Howard to 3rd. Wilson Valdez to 2nd.

Carlos Ruiz walks. Ryan Howard scores. Wilson Valdez to 3rd. Ben Francisco to 2nd.

Michael Martinez walks. Wilson Valdez scores. Ben Francisco to 3rd. Carlos Ruiz to 2nd.

Jimmy Rollins singles on a ground ball to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Ben Francisco scores. Carlos Ruiz scores. Michael Martinez to 2nd.

Shane Victorino walks. Michael Martinez to 3rd. Jimmy Rollins to 2nd.

Chase Utley singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Holliday. Michael Martinez scores. Jimmy Rollins scores. Shane Victorino to 2nd.

Ryan Howard singles on a ground ball to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Shane Victorino scores. Chase Utley to 3rd.

Wilson Valdez flies out to right fielder Jon Jay.

So three walks, two hit batters and Five hits. Nine runs on no extra base hits. It was almost hard to believe.

Mood, shocked because really don't remember An inning like that in a long time.
I'm pretty sure the Phils had a game against he Reds that had them score 10 or 13 runs after two outs on two batters.

Win 10-2
Streak 1 win
Last ten 8-2
Record 46-28

Game 73 Phils @ Seattle Mariners

The Phils surprisingly beat King Felix yesterday, today they get Jason Vargas and it wasn't good. In fact it was ugly.
This guy pitched a three hit shut out at the Phils.
Hamels wasn't bad either but he was out pitched. He only gave up two runs but with the Phils in stink mode it wasn't enough.

This was Hamel's first road loss since last August and he picked up his career 1000th K, third youngest active pitcher to do it.

Mood isn't so great, but I'm trying to take into account that they just played in a very short time frame against the Fish and flew across the country to Seattle so maybe that's why they lost two of three here.

Loss 2-0
Streak 1 loss
Last ten 7-3
Record 45-27

Game 75 Phils @ Cardinals

Cliff Lee pitched a shut out last time out. Can he do it again?
Last pitcher for the Phils who had back to back shut outs was Corey Lidle In 2004.

Started off a little funky, Lee put seven straight balls up there to start the game.
Was a pitcher's duel for the first four innings until Rollins led off the fourth with a homer and later that inning Howard added a 2-run homer.

Would be all Lee needed.
They added a run in the ninth after Victorino tripled but it didn't matter.
It was Lee's second shut out in a row.
His last four games...
4-0
33 innings
19 hits
6 walks
24 K's
ONE EARNED RUN

Amazing.
He now has three shut outs and an additional combined one with Madson.

Mood, they are 10-2 last 12, 10 shut outs in 75 games. Matching the same in 1964. Season high 19 over .500. Best record in baseball. That's my mood.
My grandfather, who I used to watch games with way back when always complained that pitchers look miserable even when they are pitching a great game, they never smile. Now Cliff Lee he clearly looks like he is having funon the mound.

Win 4-0
Streak 2 wins
Last ten 8-2
Record 47-28

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Game 72 Phils @ Mariners

This is one of those games that you mark on a calendar.
"King" Felix Hernaandez is pitching tonight for the Mariners. He won the Cy Young last year even with only 13 wins.

Rollins got on to start the game and they got him in on a Howard sac fly.
But the Phils have had a runner on third stranded twice already after three, including after a leadoff double from Howard.

Vance Worley has been a little shaky but he has held his own against Hernandez as it's only 1-1 after four. He is doing a good job so far.

Dom Brown is flirting with the Mendoza line these days. Looks like they are keeping him in against righties for awhile longer though.

Worley leaves the game after only five innings. It's not like he isn't stretched out so why only five innings?

Big seventh inning now, Gload gets on and a really nice piece of hitting for Dom Brown. He doubled down the line.
Then after Ruiz popped up, Rollins walked and Victorino dropped a ball right on the chalk to drive I two runs.
Tonight became Shane Victorino night. He was a single short of a cycle and four RBI's.

Mood, well I'm in a great mood after this game. Anytime they beat a top quality pitcher like Felix Hernandez makes me very happy.
With Cole going tomorrow we should be in good shape for taking two of three.

Win 5-1
Streak 1 win
Last ten 8-2
Record 45 -27

Friday, June 17, 2011

Game 71 Phils @ Seattle Mariners

This could be a tough game. They just played 4 games in very short time frame and had a long trip out to Seattle.
Seattle's got a very good pitching staff including the rookie going tonight.

He's pitching a no hitter after four.
No hits after five.

This ump has a goofy strike zone. He is calling them a foot off the plate and just now the Mariner's catcher caught one that was very close the outside corner and him and the pitcher jumped up to run off the field but he called that one a ball.

After five Seattle leads 3-0 and the way this guy is pitching it doesn't look like Phils have another comeback in them.

Oswalt as he has lately looks indifferent to be being on the mound.
Dom Brown doesn't have an error but he had a bad jump on a ball in the gap that Victorino had to play and it ended up as an RBI triple, and another play that was a high pop down the rout field line that Utley had to play that Brown should have called him off. Brown would have had a chance to throw the runner out at the plate, Utley had his back to the plate and couldn't make a good throw.

The Phils aren't even getting good swings at this guy and haven't come close to a hit.
Rolling walked with two outs. So two walks and a hit batter is all so far.

Victorino got to 3-0 and this crazy ump gives the old automatic on the fourth pitch, it was clearly inside.
Now on 3-2 Shane gets a hit to break up the no-no and Chase gets a hit to knock in Rollins. A nice little 2 out rally gets it to at least 3-1.

Howard walked but Polanco just took a ball up around his shoulder the ump called a strike, so now he's swinging at anything close and he fouls one back that again was off th plate then he tries to check on another high pitch but can't hold up, and since these imps don't ask for help on check swings anymore he called Polanco out. Polanco hardly Evers coma ins but he did after that and had an animated discussion with the home plate ump. Eddings the home plate didn't throw him out though.

Olivo just almost had his second homer of the game but Victorino ran it down at the 388' marker in left center, he actually over ran the ball and jumped and he almost dropped the ball from jumping. Is was a ball long gone in most parks but not in this giant park. I thought it was out and that Oswalt just gave back the run the Phils just worked pretty hard to get.

Oh boy, jimmy Rollins just hit into a DP from behind the bag at third base, around the horn. It was a close play but he shouldn't be out on that. Chone Figgens even took an extra beat on that throw. Making it seriously bad is that Victorino just homered. Now the score is 4-2.
Whoa, Figgens just went right into the first row in foul territory trying to catch a pop up. Tumbled heel over head right in there.

Ichiro has three hits and scored three runs, he is the best hitter I've ever seen. I still can't believe he had 262 in one season.
Here comes Herndon in the eighth, and a leadoff hit.

Mood is not too bad. the Loss doesn't bother me as much as what I see from Oswalt.
I expected as much tonight with the 4 games against the Marlins then the long trip to Seattle.

Loss 4-2
streak 1 loss
Last ten 8-2
Record 44-27

Game 70 Marlins @ Phils

Going for 7 wins in a row today.
The Marlins are in a true free fall. 1-15 in the last 16 games. Just a couple weeks ago they were 2games behind the Phils. Now they are more then ten behind and have fallen into last place.

Cliff Lee pitched today and this was his best game so far.
Complete game shut out. Only four K's but also only gave up 2 hits. He had two hits of his own including a RBI double.
Dominating, he is finally on track.
Plus they had ten hits including Ryan Howards 15th homer. He's now second in RBI's.

Mood, they are 18 games over .500 and have a five game lead over the Braves.

Win 3-0
Streak 7 wins
Last ten 8-2
Record 44-26

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Games 68 & 69 day night double header Marlins @ Phils

Game one, Kendrick filling in as fifth starter and he did well. Pitched seven inning giving up a on the first and that was all.
Rollins homered again and they scored early and often.
We listened to most of the game on the radio and what a treat it is to listen to those guys. They are funny and tell you what you need to know. There is no sugar coating on anything.

Only had eight hits but did get a bunch of walks and timely hitting.
Rollins had four RBI's and Valdez tripled with the bases loaded.
Ryan Howard even made a perfect throw to Rollins to complete a double play.
The first two games this series the Phils have given up a run and have gotten it back right away.

Mood is great because they are now 16 games over .500 a season high and a season high 4 games on top in the division.

Win 8-1
Streak 5 wins
Last ten
Record 42-26



Game two....

Another game giving up first inning runs. I'm not sure what it is maybe the concentration isnt there to start the game.
Halladay gives up a double to the first batter then they move him over and score on a ground out to first. Then an opposite field home run.
Then the second inning he hits the first batter. They said the leadoff batter of the innings hitting over .300 against Halladay.
Phils first, lead of walk for Rollins but Victorino pops up. Utley doubles in Rollins but he might have been out, ump called him safe.
Runner on third one put. Howard grounds out but the Phils don't score that way, then Polanco grounded out.

Fourth inning and Greg Dobbs already has three hits. And now theynhave second andthird with one out after a ball was smoked to the wall off of Ibanez glove and now a seeing eye hit up the middle scores two.
Halladay stinks today really not pitching a good game.
Utley made a great diving pay and throw for one out and Dom Brown made a great diving catch and the glove rolled under his body and it looked like he could really have hurt his wrist but he didn't.

I guess it's only four zip and the bottom of the fourth so still time although they do only have one hit so far.
Again after getting the first two on this time they can't even move the runners over as Ibanez strikes out and Brown grounds out.MHD moved them over but now they will walk Ruiz to get to Halladay.

One thing that should be noted is that Anibal Sanchez told his coach he wanted to pitch against Halladay as a challenge.
Too bad Halladay didn't take up his end of the challenge.


Sanchez has 100 pitches already here in the fifth inning.
Utley tripled in a run but with one out Howard strikes out and Polanco flies out to right.
1-8 with runners in scoring position.
Halladay already up to 100 pitches in the top of the sixth.

Sanchez is now at 125 pitches and just struck out Victorino in the seventh. Maybe they can get something off the Marlins pen.

Down 4-2 headed into the ninth after Bastardo and Stutes kept the Fish off the board.
Phils get some base runners and after two outs Victorino gets a huge two out hit and ties the score, also gets Halladay off the hook.

Madson holds them off the board in the top of the tenth.
Bottom starts with Howard getting plunked in the armpit, Polanco flies out, Raul strikes out for the third time.
Dom Brown only hitting about .240 but he works a walk. So we have first and second with two outs for Ruiz.
He takes a pitch and then lines the next one past the drawn in infield, the ball goes under the glove of the center fielder Carlos Bonofacio and Howard chugs across home plate for the win. Woo hoo!!!

Mood, I'm in a great mood they have six wins in a row for the first time this season. 17 games over .500 for a season high.
They are on a little roll. Still can't ignore that against the really good Sanchez they o,y had 2 runs and five hits, but they made him throw a ton of pitches and got him over 100 in only five innings.
Great game.
Home record 27-12
Attendance 45,880 most EVER.


Win in ten 5-4
Streak 6 wins season high
Last ten 8-2
Record 43-26 the Red Sox with 40 and the Phils with 43 are the only two teams with 40 or more wins.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Game 67 Marlins @ Phils four games in three days

This could be a tough one. After a 90 minute rain delay Cole gave up a couple of hits and the Marlins scored a run on a little dribbler to Howard. Probably didn't matter that he can't throw I'm sure the run would have scored anyway.

Ryan gets it back plus one with an opposite field homer to left.

It's the top of the seventh and the Marlins just got their first runner since the first inning. 17 retired in a row by Hamels since the first. Howard made a sloppy error and now they get a hit.

Cole has really been brilliant tonight since that first inning and up until the seventh. He's even using his curve ball.

The odd thing in this game is the four homers by the Phils including three two run shots and a solo one by Dom Brown.

The Phils are on a pace to be the first team with at least three pitchers who get over 200 K's in a season since the Astros in '69.

Dom Brown just bombed one into the upper deck in right. Is this his first two homer game?

Oh no, Hamels is coming out of the game on an injury. Looks like a back thing. Hopefully it just is a stiffness or a spasm. Oh my he was pitching so beautifully.

Herndon came in and for the one inning wasn't too bad. He K'd the first two and gave up a hit but that was all.


Mood is, wow did they do that tonight. Five homers in one game, Dom Brown with two solos, Howard got one in the first, Utley homered and Rollins did too.
Hamels left the game with lower back stiffness but he joined Halladay as the only nine game winners in the league.
I see that the Indians lost to the Tigers tonight. They started the season 30-15 and are 5-15 since and now are in second place behind Detroit in their division.
The four Aces have won their last four starts in a row and that's the first time that has happened this season.

Win 9-1
Streak 4 Aces in a row.
Last ten 7-3
Record 41-26 = 15 over .500 a season high

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Game 66 Cubs @ Phils Sunday June 12th

Oswalt today.

Gave up three runs in the. First inning on a homer and four hits.
I think something is off with him since he came back from the family leave and his back injury.
He didn't win a game in May and is 0-4 since late April. He's pitched pretty decent but has that one inning where he seems to lose his concentration or something and it happened again today with that first inning.

Now Howard is up here in the first and the Phils have runners on the corners with one out.
Howard waiting, kept his balance on a slow curve and smacked one right off the bottom of the wall in dead center, nice at bat.
Hopefully he can get his average back over .240 today.

This guy pitching for the Cubs is throwing BP up there. Bases loaded one and all they get is one run after Ibanez strikesout swing at a 83 mph fastball and Ruiz lines out to third.

Nice recovery for Oswalt in the second. He got behind two guys 3-1 and recovered to get a meek grounder and a pop-up.

This Cubs pitcher, Doug Davis has an era over 6 and is 0-5 on the season. They better score some runs on this bum.
They do get one more in the third BUT for the second time in three innings they have the bases loaded with one out and don't get more runs.

They end up with only two runs off this guy but Marshall came in and they got two runs off him again same as yesterday.

Game ends right after Soto smokes one just foul in left for a long loud out, then pops one into right that Utley has to make great running catch on.

Mood, feeling pretty good after taking three of four this weekend. Howard did get his average up over .240 with a 3-3 and three RBI's. Utley had another big hit and is starting to look really good again.
Oswalt really came back after that first inning and held the Cubs of the bases.

Win 4-3
Streak 3 wins
Last ten 6-4
Record 40-26 first to forty wins but only 15-14 last 29 games.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Game 65 Cubs @ Phils June 11th FOX National game

Cliff Lee coming off one of his best games last week so I hope he can follow up with another good one today.

Today the Red Sox beat Toronto 16-4 so they are tied for best record with the Phils.

After eight the Phils are up 4-1.
Howard is 1-4 with an RBI and is still under .240.
Chase knocked in two runs in the first with a nice double not left center for the two RBI's.
The Cubs have two errors and continue to lead the league in errors.

Lee is having a great game, only four hits for the Cubs after eight. Marshall the lefty in the bullpen for the Cubs just gave up his first runs on the road this season when he gave up two to the Phils in the seventh.

Every time McCarver say Ruiz is sounds like two words "Rew Eeze" Carlos Rew

Anyway they picked up a few insurance runs in the eighth two of which came from a chase Utley 2 run homer.

Mood is great. I love this kind of win. They got two runs on a home run but e game was out of reach by then. Their runs were mostly from a few clutch hits and that's nice. Ten hits four walks and only five strike outs. Good job.

Win 7-1
Streak 2 wins
Last ten 5-5
Record 39-26 first team to 39 wins.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Game 64 Cubs @ Phillies June 10th

First inning starts out same us usual.
Rollins walks, Victorino gets on but Utley hits a shot right the middle and hits Zambrano's foot. Rollins gets caught off third but is able to get into a rundown for Utley and Victorino to get to second and third.

Looks like a rally or does it? Howard can't hit with runners on either and grounds out to first. Victorino scores on the out.
Polanco grounds out to end the inning. The only, run scores on an pit, not a hit.

Second inning was better. Ibanez leads off with another walk to start an inning, Dom Brown homers to right. 3-0 Phils.

That was it until the bottom of the seventh.
Rollins walks, Victorino bunts him over. Two more walks and the bases are loaded.
Then on a 2-0 pitch to Polanco they score for runs with only one hit. Couple more runners after that but Brown and Francisco strike out.

Halladay has over 100 pitches and it is 7-0 so no reason to keep him in the game so contreras comes in does his best to give it all back.

He pitched one third an inning but managed to walk two give up two hits and four runs. He got help from J.C. Romero. Romero came in with one of Contreras runners still on.
Romero let's that guy score and also gave up two hits, a walk and a run of his own. Stutes had to come in because Romero couldn't get one single out.

Mood, what should it be? They scored seven brut even then it's not a nice easy win because the bull pen tries tomgive it all back.
Polanco hit his 100th career homer but Howard is now hitting .238 ouch.


Win 7-5
Streak 1 win
Last ten 4-6
Record 38-26 Back to the best winning percentage but barely above the Cards. 5-7 since getting to 14 over after taking 3 of 4 from the Reds

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Game 63 Cubs @ Phils

Tonight's game is also on WGN the Chicago superstation and for unknown reasons to me it isn't blacked out so I get a chance to watch a Phils game with decent announcers or at least not Wheels and T. Mac.
That didn't last long after a long rain delay I wasn't able to tune that channel back in.

Here's another game of five hits or less and 3 runs or less and it has come back to get them tonight.
Leading 3-2 going to the ninth. Madson gets an out then gives up a game tying home run.
Next batter Bops one over the fence too, or did he.
It looks very much like a guy reached over and pulled it back over the fence into the stands. The guy grabs the ball quickly and angrily throws it back onto the field. Now they have been showing replays and the guy has gotten a call and was shaking his head as he was told by somebody that he might have screwed up the game for the Phils if this doesn't get overturned.
The replay shows that it didn't go over the fence and the play is overturned put him on second and the dope in right field gets removed from the game.

It all comes down to the Phils not scoring runs again and only getting five hits. Wheels and Tom MacCarthy just got done saying how they are again not scoring more then three runs, then the tie homer and the next batter was of for his last 34 before knitting the ball to the wall for the fan interference.
No more runs and here comes the bottom of the ninth.
The Phils have one pitcher left, David Herndon so let's hope they can score and hold off the Cubs.

I'm going to bed and finish watching there. I'll finish this up tomorrow.

They lost the game in eleven and it could be said that Charlie Manual could be blamed for this one because he ran out of pitchers in only the tenth inning.
The Phils loaded the bases with two outs in the tenth but since they had no one left to pitch he had to leave Herndon in to hit and he can't hit.
He took two down the middle and feebly waved at a third one for the out.

Top of the eleventh has Polanco and a throw over to first in the dirt for an error. Cunbs get a guy on so it seems pretty sure that they will get a run. They do.


Mood, who knows what my moodis, I don't. It's the same thing every game. Two ot three runs and five hits. Even extra innings only allows for five hits.

Loss 4-3
Streak 1 loss
Last ten 4-6
Record 37-26 watch out the Braves are only two back

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Game 62 Dodgers @ Phils June 8th

Over 210 ab's without a home run and only 7 extra base hits in that span.
There's a guy sitting behind home plate with a shirt that looks like it says "ABC Stole Slacks Hoagie's Logo", who knows.
Phils first, three outs to Ethier, two hit very hard.

Howard is now, after his strike out 0-12 against Kuroda with five K's, including this one that was a ball that bounced six feet in front of the plate. He has been doing that a lot lately.

Fourth inning Phils finally get first hit. But then Howard swings and misses another wild pitch that almost him on his back foot and Raul pops out to left.

Holy cow. Martinez triples with 2 outs, Hamels walks. Kuroda fires a wild pitch to the backstop, and they still can't score.
What the H?

Martinez runs halfway down and stops, goes back to third. He could have walked to the plate. It just boggles the mind.
Now they walk Victorino to get to Brown.
Kuroda is up near 90 pitches already here in the fifth inning.
Brown has been swinging at balls in the dirt too lately.
Broken bat bloop out to right field.

Ryan Howard finally ends the homeless streak in the sixth by dropping one just over the fence in right.
They get two more on but don't get any more.

Cole let's the first two Dodgers on in the top of the seventh, first hand third and gets out of it with zero Dodger runs. He is having another great performance.
He is the best pitcher this season.

Bottom seven, the Phils pick up a huge extra run.
Victorino triples with one out and with the infield in Dom Brown hits a ball to second. Shane goes on contact and slides just under the tag.
The key to that was Brown making contact and not popping up as this team seams to do a lot.

Cole works out of another little jam in the eighth so we move on to the Phils half then the ninth with at least a 2-0 lead. I doubt Hamels will be out there. It's still over 90 degrees out and a bit humid so looks like Madson.

More on the Slacks controversy. From http://www.philliedelphia.com/

"Were you squinting at the TV trying to read what the white t-shirt said in the guy behind home plate? It read,

"ABC STOLE SLACK'S HOAGIE'S LOGO"


What is this about, you may ask? Well, as chronicled by the Daily News' Dan Gross, ABC's hit show "Cougar Town" features a business called "Mel's Hoagie Hut", with a very familiar logo:

















It would appear that the man wearing the t-shirt behind home plate is Dennis Slack himself."


So there it is. ABC borrowed the Slacks Hoagie Logo.

Mood is reserved. They did win but still only 5 hits. Cole Hamels is on his way to a top pick for a Cy Young award.


Win 2-1
streak 1 win
Last ten 4-6
Record 37-25 Tied with the Cards for best record pending their game tonight.

Game 61 Dodgers @ Phils

This was bar far the worst game of the sea on for the Phils.
The first inning was really a joke.
Victorino leads off the inning with a walk, great Polanco bounces one at the pitcher. Does Victorino wait for itto get through? No he head over to third and is thrown out by a mile. Polanco on first.
Utley walks, runners at first and second.
Howard week ground ball for a force at second, runners on the corners.
Raul dribbles to the pitcher for the third out.
AWFUL!

Then you see the Dodgers. A leadoff double to start. A line drive right at Utley, he has Kemp out to dry for a double play but throws the ball into left field. No error as he stays on third but should be two outs.
THen a walk for second and third.
Backup catcher Navarro hitting .196 singles and Kemp scores easliy from Second on a grounder through the hole because Ibanez has a noodle for an arm.

Inning ends on a DP. But they are able to get a leadoff double in or a run, something the Phils cannot do.

Then comes the Phils second inning.
I forgot to mention the starter for the Dodgers is a rookie making his first start ever in the bigs.
Rubby De La Rosa, pronounced like the gem.
Anyway Ruiz gets the Phils third walk already to lead it off.
Dom Brown walks. Four walks no outs in the second, two on no outs.
This guys all overthe place and getsto 3-0 on Valdez.
Valdez lines a single up the middle but no ne scores because these guys at the bottom of the lineup are as slow as anyone, so the bases are loaded no outs, Oswalt strikes out.
Victorino bounces a hard one at the pitcher who knocks it down and gets a force at home.
Polanco walks for the fifth walk so far to force in a run.
Right after Wheels says they need to make him pay for all the walks, Utley flies out meekly to right field.

This is the way the rest of the game went. This rookie walked five and gave up only four hits in his five innings.
The Phils only had five hits but left 19 on base with all the walks.
Utley made several messed up throws, Howard and Brown swung at balls that almost hit them in the back foot.

Mood is just miserable, I'm running out of adjectives to describe how I feel and how bad these guys are at the plate. Oswalt was just average he gave up four runs in 6 innings.

Loss 6-2
Streak 1 loss
Last 10 5-5
Record 36-25

Monday, June 6, 2011

Game 60 Dodgers @ Phils

Bottom of the first it starts again just like every game. They get a guy on with no outs. Victorino leads off by getting hit in the arm. He leaned into it and could have been called on it but he was given first.
Polanco moves him over so now runner at second one out.
As usual they don't score.

Wow the did it in the third. Valdez doubles to lead, then Lee bunts him to third. Victorino walks and Polanco singles in a run.

After four Lee has given u.p a hit an inning but he is dealing tonight. Getting his strikes on the corners and he just looks tuned in.

Eighth inning and the Phils have only five hits and again less then three runs but tonight Cliff Lee pitched a Cliff Lee game. Struck outnten in seven and walked only one. No runs.
Ryan Howard might be going blind. He just swung and missed a pitch that bounced three feet in front of the plate and to add injury to insult it bounced up and hit him in the shin. Then he swings and misses wildly and limps back to the dugout.

Bastardo a good eighth but Madson has been shaky lately and gives up a run in the ninth and loses the shut out.

Mood, hmm any win is a good win I suppose but still another game of 3 runs or less. Lee saved them this time.
Also only six hits.

Win 3-1
Streak 2 wins
Last ten 5-5
Record 36-24 still best record.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Game 59 Phils @ Pirates

The last time Halladay pitched I thought that it would be about time for him to throw one of his great games and against the Pirates would sem like a good chance. Well I guess not. He gives up a hit to the first batter in the game, again, a bunt an out then a two run home run.
Not the great start I wanted. Making things worse is Halladay probably had that guy out on a called third strike but he didn't get the call.
Next pitch is out.

Other notes is that now Rollins is out, day to day with a bruised knee and the pirates are using the Ryan Howard shift on Ibanez. Yesterday he grounded into it twice and today already in his first

Howard struck out too and is getting close to .230 again.

Ok Utley is at second with no outs after the second wild pitch by McDonald in the top of the fourth.

Phils are on the board and trail now 2-1. McDonald has three wild pitches and has hit Ruiz. Runners on the corners with one out. They need this guy to throw strikes and get a few runs here. He is not good. This is the fourth inning.

What the bleep now Dom Brown smokes a ball up the middle and hits the umpire.
Howard easily would have scored and Ruiz to second, but once the ump touches the ball, the play is dead so everyone goes to the next base and that's it. Bases loaded for Valdez. And he dribbles a ball right to the bag at second for an easy double play. WEAK.
It's almost expected at this point.

This guy McDonald is all over the place he almost hit Valdez just before the DP and now throws to pitches up and in to Halladay.
Walks Roy then Victorino on four pitches to start the fifth. Polanco was showing bunt on the first pitch but was almost hit. He walks on four pitches and McDonald is out of the game.
Utley grounds into a force play at home, Halladay called put. Still loaded now one out.
There is no one near third as the Bucks have the shift on even with the bases loaded. Victorino could try to steal home. Why not. Couldn't get worse then it is now. The third baseman is is just about on top of second base, that's how far away from third he is.

After a 12 or 13 pitch ab Howard hits a sac fly to tie the score.
Then Ruiz gets hit in the arm again to give them a 3-2 lead. Dom Brown smashes one about five feet foul and just misses a slam and then dribbles an out to first.
So without a base hit they score 2 runs. Pretty scary that they have 8 batters to the plate, score 2 and don't get a single base hit. How is that possible?

Mood is no better then the last few games because they still struggled to score today and Halladay gave up another home run in the first.
Left 16 on base.

Win 7-3
Streak 1 win
Last ten 5-5
Record 35-24 Stil best record but barely by % points over St. Louis

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Game 58 Phils @ Pirates

I feel like I can copy the last three entrees right here and it won't matter because this game has gone on just like the rest.

They get the first two on, Rollins after he bangs a foul off his knee doubles but it takes an error on a grounder from Howard to get a run.
Kendrick starts for the Phils so it won't be long before the Pirates score too and it isn't because they score two in the second.

There was another play that required Howard to throw a ball to first on a pick off attempt. The runner gets to first easily because Ryan Howard cannot throw a ball to save his life.
Wheels was good enough to Howard to point out that the runner got in the way of a possible good throw to first.

Phils are able to get it tied in the fourth on two more sigles and a ground out.
but, Kendrick is still pitching and he is very good at giving runs right back just after the Phils score.

It doesn't help when Lyle Overbay gets his first triple in years after Ibanez faceplants himself while trying to catch a routine fly ball.
So two more runs and the Bucks have a 4-2 lead.

First and third with one out in the fifth but Howard grounds into a dp. zzzzzzzz

J.C. Romero has himself a very giving seventh, he gave the Bucks a little run to improve their lead to 5-2. He walked the leadoff hitter and of course he scores.

Eighth inning, this time It's Baez turn to screw up.
He walks the leadoff again. then a nice dp ball to Howard, oh right he can't throw. they do get the force at second but a decent throw gets them the double play at first.
So they have a runner at third now two outs and Baez throws a ball back to the backstop for a wild pitch.
Sardinha hets it quick enough but Baez forgets to catch the ball after Sardinha throws it to him at home, now it's 6-2.

The Phils tease us by loading the bases and getting a run in the ninth but Ben Francisco was pinch hitting and takes a called third strike right down the middle.

Game ends on a little weak fly ball to left from Utley. zzzzzzzz

Mood is getting really tired of this teams act on offense. Truly excruciatingly awful. Really embarrassing.
I thought I heard Wheels say they have scored 3 runs or less 32 times now. they have won 10 of those games. I know it's a long season but this is bad, really bad. I don't even want to watch these games all the way through but I do because I know everyone wants to know what I'm thinking.

Loss 6-3
Streak 4 losses second time this year
Last ten 5-5
Record 34-24
Cleveland is better again and now the Cards have more wins. First time since the first few games another National League team has more wins.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Game 57 Phils @ Pirates

I think they have lost 4 of the last five series in Pittsburgh and 8 of the ten total they have played at PNC Park.

Phils managed to get an ugly run in the sixth after getting the first two on. Too bad the first guy was Cole Hamels he was doubled
Off second on a line drive so that was bad. Then Rollins stole second and was called safe but he was out.
He scored on a single by Utley.
Bottom of the sixth Hamels walks the 8 hole hitter and that leads to a run after he is bunted to second and gets to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sac fly, so they have a 1-1 tie and only one hit to the Phils four.

Btw off topic, the Michael Jordan Hitler mustache commercial just aired, can't believe it still pops up.

Ok the Phils offense seems to get worse against bad teams. Hamels is pitching a one hitter but the score is still 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth.
They just had first and third with two outs and Utley dribbles one to first. Also Hamels has two of the six Phils hits.

I'm just stunned. Hamels has to be pulled from a 1 hitter after 8 innings because they can't score.
Still tied bottom inf the ninth.
McCutchen was just caught stealing and he looked more close to being safe then on both of Rollins steals.

Ugh this is excruciating, leadoff walk for Ruiz in the tenth, and Francisco actually bunts him over I can't believe it.
Doesn't matter because they can't get a hit with anyone on second or third were he ended the inning.


Bottom of the tenth was just ridiculously lucky for the Phils.
One out runner on second, simple founder to Utley that he nearly throws over Howards head. He catches it and tags out the runner. Current base runner moves to third. He scores if Howard misses that throw.

Then Polanco makes a bare hand play on a swinging bunt hit and throws over to first and barely gets him out or again, game over.

Mood is angry, very angry. They lose another game after the starter pitches a terrific game.
They lose in twelve on a bad hop over Utley's glove for the winning hit. The ball hit the edgeof the grass just as Chase was goingmto at least knock it down.
But it shouldn't come down to that. They can't hit and it is..... I don't know what it is. I haven't seen anything like this forms long as I can remember.
Hamels would be the first pitcher with eight wins if the Phils just get a hit.

Loss 2-1 in twelve
Streak 3 losses
Record 34-23
Last ten 5-5

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Game 56 Phils @ Nats

This team is the best in the league and the worst at scoring with a runner in scoring position and less then two outs.
Polanco who is in the leadoff today gets on. Then Mayberry doesn't bunt of course but hits into a DP. Great job.
Nats half of the first get a leadoff, guess what they bunt him over and he scores on a two out hit by Werth.

Phils second another leadoff hit then a walk, Ibanez then K's looking. They only scored a run because the ball Ruiz hit to third bounced off his glove and Howard scored from second on it, barely.
Then Valdez flies out and. Oswalt grounds out.

They better win this game, Lannan stinks if he out pitches Oswalt I will be royally annoyed.

And Oswalt gives up a homer in the third.
Lannan has never beaten the Phils and is 0-10. Are the Phils going back to not being able to hit again after one week of doing well?

Continuing to be another pathetic hitting day. They have three hits into the sixth and Ryan Howard has two of them.

Still 2-1 but in the sixth they managed two runners but Domonic Brown smoked one into left field but Lance Nix made a diving catch that was just great. He actually did need to dive it wasn't one of those fake diving catches just to look good for ESPN.

Mood is annoyed because this was a weak effort against a bad team. Lannan out pitched Oswalt, not by much but enough for him to get his first win against the phils and for the Phils to need to pinch hit for him in the sixth inning so Oswalt only pitches five today.

Loss 2-1
Streak 2 losses
Last ten 6-4
Record 34-22