Wow… If anyone toldme that the Phillies would sweep the Mets and finish their home stand 6-4,
after two horrific series’, I would have asked them how much pot they
smoke. Maybe it wasn’t the pot, because they
did it… Although yesterday, the pitching
reverted back to the poor outings a lot of us Phillies fans have become
accustomed to – the bats picked them up. With aggressive base running and clutch hitting, the Phillies sent the
Mets to Atlanta with only a two game lead in the division.

Series Heroes:

Pat Burrell
continued his annihilation of the Mets pitching. Burrell went 5 for 15 in the series with 4
home runs and 7 RBI’s. Aside from his
big bat, Burrell’s attitude leads the team. He was the first person out of the dugout to congratulate players. In
Wednesday night’s game when Burrell hit the foul ball with the bases loaded but
jumping down the first base line waving the ball to go fair was reminiscent of Carlton Fisk in 1975. 

Ryan Howard’s
slump is behind him. He raked the Mets,
going nine for eighteen with two home runs and four RBI’s. His most notable home run came in Tuesday’s
game; a 10^th inning walk-off home run, winning the game for the
Phillies. 

Tad Iguchi has
relished his new role off the bench since Chase Utley’s return. Iguchi was two for three in pinch hitting
duties with a home run and three RBI’s. 

Series Goats:

Mets catcher Paul Lo
Duca took the sweep pretty hard making comments to the press regarding the
Phillies post game celebration and for them to wait until “the time comes”. He
needs to vent his frustrations, but in all reality Lo Duca single handedly blew
two games for the Mets. In Tuesday night’s
game, his errant throw went into centerfield, allowing Shane Victorino to advance to third, and eventually score on Aaron Rowand’s infield single. In yesterday’s game, Lo Duca let the
potential tying run, Jayson Werth,
steal second and third without a throw. Werth then scored on Tad Iguchi’s pinch hit single. When Iguchi came around to score on Chase Utley’s game-winning single, Lo
Duca failed to catch Shawn Green’s
throw as Iguchi crossed the plate. I
understand Lo Duca is upset, but be a man, and be upset at yourself and not at the
Phillies, for celebrating a four-game sweep.

Marlon Anderson
killed any potential with his interference in Wednesday’s game.  Anderson didn’t need to try and take Iguchi out as Green would have been safe
regardless. His bonehead play cost the
Mets the game against a very shaky Brett
Myers.

Without a doubt, Mets manager Willie Randolph was out-managed in this series, and particularly
made some calls that left some scratching their heads. I know it was a “must win” game for the Mets,
but expecting Billy Wagner to
convert a six-out save, without anyone warming up in the bullpen is poorly
thought out, especially after he gave up a solo shot to Pat Burrell in the
eighth inning.

Fish Fry? – The Phillies are in Miami tonight for a three-game series with
the Marlins. Kyle Kendrick goes for his eighth win of the season against,
Marlins starter. Sergio Mitre. Kendrick has been one of the reasons the Phillies
are still fighting for a playoff spot. Since
his call up from Double A Reading, Kendrick has been a strong number two
starter behind Cole Hamels. Kendrick has only faced the Marlins once this
season, going seven innings and allowing two runs. Kendrick did not factor in the decision. Mitre is 0-1 against the Phillies this season
in two starts. In his most recent start
against the Phillies, Mitre went six innings, allowing two run, while not
factoring the decision. The pitcher he
opposed? Kyle Kendrick… Tonight in Miami, it’s Kendrick/Mitre II.

I know it hurts, but they’re here to help…

If you haven’t watched any of the Mets/Phillies games this week, you’re missing a sneak preview of what the playoffs feel like. All three games have been hard fought, with rallies, home runs, and late inning drama. Last night was no different as the Phillies moved one step closer to sweeping the Mets, winning 3-2, in a game that ended with controversy.

In the top of the ninth the Mets had runners on first and third with one out. Shawn Green was at the plate, and he hit a slow roller to Jimmy Rollins. Rollins fielded the ball and flipped it to Tad Iguchi, looking for the inning ending double play. Marlon Anderson, the runner from first base, slid into the inside of second base, colliding with Iguchi and giving him a shove. As a result, Iguchi’s throw was bad and Green was safe. The runner on third had scored; the game would have been tied. The key phrase is “would have”. Second base umpire, CB Bucknor immediately called both Anderson and Green out, ruling interference. The ruling resulted in the second and third outs, ending the game, with the Phillies winning 3-2.

In reality it was a stupid play by Anderson as Green would have beat Iguchi’s throw. That didn’t matter with an interference call as the rule, MLB Rule 7.08(b), states:

“He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball. …With less than two out, the umpire shall call both the runner and batter out.”

Aside from how the game ended, it was a well played game by both teams. Jamie Moyer pitched like a forty-one year old, allowing two runs over six strong innings. The arms in the Phillies bullpen were again strong. JC Romero, Tom Gordon, and Brett Myers, all blanked the Mets offense.

Mets starter Oliver Perez got himself into jams, but got out of them. In the bottom of the fifth, the Phillies had the bases loaded with no outs. Pat Burrell hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jamie Moyer, giving the Phillies the lead. With runners on first and second and one out, Perez struck out Ryan Howard and Aaron Rowand, getting out of the jam while only allowing one run. Those were two of Perez’s ten strikeouts on the evening. Jorge Sosa replaced Perez, and pitched two strong innings. This was a big lift for Sosa who allowed at least one run in his prior three outings.

Kyle Lohse takes the mound this afternoon for the Phillies as they look to sweep the Mets. Lohse is 0-1 in two career starts against the Mets. Orlando Hernandez takes the mound for the Mets. Hernandez has been the Mets best pitcher as of late, winning his last five decisions. The Mets have won nine of Hernandez’s last ten starts.

The Phillies are marked with a scarlet letter this season and it’s their pitching.  Blame it on injuries, blame it on lack of depth, blame it on no talent; regardless, the Phillies’ pitching staff has sent chills up the spine of the Philly Phaithful. 

Well, the pitching has responded against the Mets in a big way.  The bullpen has pitched seven innings, allowing three hits and no runs, while striking out seven.  Adam Eaton, who leads the league in ERA, albeit the worst ERA, stifled the Mets lineup only allowing five hits and two runs in five-plus innings.  JD Durbin, who started the first game of the series, struck out six, allowing only two runs in over six innings.

The pitching staff of the Phillies might not be household names, and they’ve had their problems this season, but they’re stepping up when it counts and something that needs to continue if the playoffs are realistic.

Keep ‘em Guessing – Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran, the top four hitters in the Mets lineup, have gone a combined 2 for 32 with 7 strikeouts.

Ryan is hot - Ryan Howard’s slump is officially over, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.  In the past nine games Howard is batting .524 with 9 RBI’s in the past 5 games.

They say football is a game if inches.  One inch can make a difference between a game winning drive or punting the ball away, having to rely on your defense to hold the opposition and get he ball back.  Baseball meanwhile is known as a sport where the ball travels 400 feet into the upper deck or a clutch base hit in the gap; a dominating pitching performance.  An inch or two might mean something with a pitch off the plate, but not a ball in play.  Not last night.  While there were some big flies, it was two inches that won the game for the Phillies.

Pedro Feliciano started the eighth inning, replacing Mets starter, Tom Glavine.  Jimmy Rollins welcomed Feliciano with a bang, taking him deep into the left field stands, cutting the Mets lead to 2-1.  After getting Chase Utley to ground out to second, Feliciano walked Pat Burrell.  Burrell was replaced for pinch runner, Shane Victorino.  Ryan Howard stepped up to the plate.  This is the spot where you want to see Howard, one swing of the bat, the Phillies take the lead.  Well Howard just missed it.  He gave the ball a ride, but not deep enough, as he flied out to left field.  With Aaron Rowand up, the Mets brought in the right-hander, Aaron Heilman.  On the second pitch of Rowand’s at bat, Victorino took off for second.  Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca threw the ball in centerfield, and Victorino would up on third base.  The tying run was 90 feet from home plate.  With two strikes, Rowand just got a piece of the ball and it rolled down the third base line.  Victorino scored as Heilman, Lo Duca, and David Wright watched the ball roll 40 feet and stay fair by two inches.  Game tied at 2-2.

In the bottom of the tenth the Phillies decided it was time to go home.  With Guillermo Mota on the mound, Shane Victorino led the inning off with a single.  Ryan Howard came up to the plate in the same situation as the eighth inning.  This time was different.  Howard got all of the ball and deposited in the left field stands, winning the game for the Phillies in dramatic fashion.  It was Howard’s third career walk off home run.

All in all this was a great game.  Both starters Adam Eaton and Tom Glavine were outstanding with Eaton throwing one bad pitch that Carlos Delgado sent into the right field upper deck that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead.  Geoff Geary, JC Romero, and Brett Myers were lights out in the bullpen, only allowing one hit and four strikeouts.

This might be the biggest win of the season for the Phillies.  It’s not the fact that they won the game, it’s in the fashion they won it in, and the electricity the game had.  Though it’s not October, this was playoff baseball.

With the win the Phillies move to four games behind the Mets in the NL East.  Jamie Moyer takes the mound tonight, as he looks to finish a poor month on a high note.  In Moyer’s past five starts, he’s 2-2 with a 7.57 ERA.  Oliver Perez takes the mound for the Mets, who is coming off a dominating outing against the Dodgers, where he allowed no runs and three hits over seven innings.

Chase Ultey made is long awaited return last night and had immediate an impact going 3 for 5 with a solo home run and an RBI double.  Tad Iguchi, Utley’s temporary replacement, proved his worth on the bench, hitting a two-run pinch hit home run in the seventh inning, putting the game on ice for the Phillies, who beat the Mets 9-2.

Ultey missed 28 games with a broken hand.  Although the Phillies played well without Utley, going 15-13, but something was missing.  The final week before Utley returned, the Phillies looked like a team that was focused on next season, not a team that’s in playoff contention.  The spark that Utley had given the Phillies was finally gone, and the team was obviously missing his presence.  Upon his return last night, the Phillies had a different vibe.  From the first play of the game, you could tell the Phillies meant business.  Jose Reyes hit the ball up the middle. Utley, going to his right, made a sliding grab and gunned him out at first base.

Sure, Utley’s bat in the lineup was missed.  His offense something every team in the league would love to have.  In saying that, I think his on-field leadership is something the Phillies missed more then his ability to put the ball in Ashburn Alley.  Though they are different players on the field, Derek Jeter is a true comparison to Utley.  Jeter is a great player, who is surrounded by some amazing talent, but Jeter’s leadership ability takes the Yankees to another level.  The players feed off his energy.  With Chase’s injury, that was the piece that was truly missing. 

Now the Utley’s returned, the leadership is back, and so are the Phillies.

Eaton Returns - Adam Eaton makes his return from disabled list tonight to face Tom Glavine.  Eaton was put on the DL a “sore shoulder”.  Rumors circulated about this injury because there was no mention of it prior to him being placed on the DL.  The rumors were Eaton was going to be pulled from the rotation, due to his poor pitching.  It appeared to be more of a confidence issue, then a shoulder injury.  I’m not in the clubhouse, so all I can do is speculate.  For now, I’ll buy what the front office says. 

If there’s one team Eaton like to face it’s the Mets.  Eaton is 5-0 in his career against the Mets with a 1.89 ERA, including 2-0 this season.  In his last outing against the Mets, Eaton went six innings, allowing two runs as the Phillies beat the Mets, 6-4.

Glavine is going for his 12^th win of the season tonight.  This season Glavine is 2-0 against the Phillies.  In his last outing Glavine allowed two runs in seven innings but did not factor in the decision as the Phillies went on to beat the Mets 4-2. 

Tom Glavine Fact of the Day- This season Glavine has been a Jekyll and Hyde pitcher, depending on his opponents.  In games when Glavine faces a team below .500, Glavine is 7-1 with a 3.03 ERA.  In games when his opponent is over .500, we see a different Glavine.  He’s 4-5 with a 6.51 ERA.

Don’t expect to see Russell Branyan this week in the Mets series.  In activating Chase Utley from the disabled list, the Phillies designated Branyan for assignment.  In Branyan’s brief Phillies career he went two for seven with five RBI’s.  Both hits were home runs.  I liked Branyan’s power.  I didn’t like his strikeout rate.  He’s a likely candidate to clear waivers, so he’ll probably return this weekend when rosters expand.

Other random notes:

Pat Burrell has the second best average in the National League since the all-star break, and the league’s highest slugging percentage.  A hot Pat Burrell is something the Mets don’t want to see.  In his seven year career, Burrell has owned the Mets; hitting 37 home runs and 95 RBI’s in 127 career games.

John Ennis, who picked up a bizarre save in yesterday’s victory (when he entered the game, the Phillies were winning 13-1), became the Phillies 27^th different pitcher used this season, setting a new franchise record.

The Phillies have hit 41 home runs in their last 27 games against the Mets, including 22 at Citizen’s Bank Park.  As man home runs as they have hit at home, the Phillies have losing record against the Mets (14-19), at CPB.

Greg Dobbs will start at third base tonight.  Though Dobbs is in a hitting slump (1 for his last 17), the Phillies are 34-23 when Dobbs starts.

Stat of the Day:  When the Phillies record is 2-34 when they score less then three runs or less.  When the Phillies score more then three runs, they are an impressive 65-28.

It took six games, but the Phillies offense finally broke out in a 14-2 victory over the Padres.  Though unable to do it over the past few games, the Phillies were finally able to take advantage of a struggling pitcher.  Padres pitcher, Tim Stauffer, struggled from the first pitch and was unable to locate the lower half of the strike zone.  The results were the batting practice type pitches, up in the strike zone.  Stauffer allowed 11 hits and 11 runs in four innings.  Phillies starter, Kyle Kendrick, was dominant going six innings, while only allowing one run.

Ryan Howard appears to be coming out of his slump, going 3 for 4 with a three run home run in the third inning.  The game didn’t start that way.  In the first, Howard came to the plate with runners on second and third and no outs.  He ended up striking out, chasing three bad pitches.  After the first inning, Howard went 3 for 3 with 4 RBI’s.  Jason Werth continued his good play, going 5 for 5 with 4 RBI’s.

With the Padres series over, the Phillies have gone a disappointing 2-6 on their current home stand.  Now, the Mets are in town for a four game series and each game needs to be treated like a playoff game.  JD “Real Deal” Durbin starts tonight’s game for the Mets.  The “Real Deal” has been a serviceable pickup for the Phils, given the injuries they have faced, but he has by no means been a savior.  Durbin boasts a 1-2 record at home, but is 5-1 since the all-star break.  Brian Lawrence takes the mound for the Mets.  Lawrence has started four games for the Mets this season and has averaged five innings per game, while giving up 4 runs.  In Lawrence’s career he’s 1-4 against the Phillies, including an 0-2 record in Citizens Bank Park. 

Other thoughts:

Rumors are floating around that Citizens Bank Park has been intimidating for pitchers, due to its hitter friendly layout.  Maybe the pitchers who feel this way need to talk to Kyle Kendrick.  Since the rookie was recalled from Double A Reading, he’s 6-0 with an ERA of 3.26 at CBP.

Chase Utley will be activated from the disabled list prior to tonight’s game against the Mets.  Utley’s bat has been missed in the lineup, especially during the home stand where the Phillies averaged seven men left in scoring position per game.  Expect Utley to return to the third spot in the batting order.  Tad Iguchi is scheduled to start taking practice at third base, but he’ll most likely remain a bat off the bench.

With the return of Chase Utley, the Phillies bench has suddenly becomes deep.  Tad Iguchi, Jason Werth, Greg Dobbs, & Chris Coste are all strong options that Charlie Manuel can look to late in the game or in key pinch hitting roles. 

Jayson Werth is growing on me.  When the Phillies first signed him, I thought he was a former first round bust who can’t stay healthy.  Although he has spent a lot of time on the disabled list, since his return, he has been the one Phillie who has had a consistent clutch bat.

The losing for the Phillies continued last night as they dropped their fourth game in a row losing 4-3 to the Padres.  In what was a dominate pitching outing for Kyle Lohse turned into a no decision as Tom Gordon gave up a game-tying home run to Milton Bradley in the eighth.  Brett Myers, who came in to pitch the ninth, gave up home runs to Kevin Kouzmanoff and Terrmel Sledge, to put the game out of reach for the Phillies.

Like in all the games in their four game losing streak, the Phillies had opportunities to blow the game open, and failed to do so.  The Phillies left 11 men on base, including 5 in scoring position.  The biggest blow was in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Pat Burrell, who reach first on a fielder’s choice was replaced by, pinch runner, Abraham Nunez.  After Nunez reached second on a Ryan Howard single, he was left stranded there after Aaron Rowand and Greg Dobbs struck out, ending the inning.  In the ninth, there was some hope.  Howard plated Jimmy Rollins with a two-out single off, the recently struggling, Trevor Hoffman.  However, Howard ended the game stranded at first base as Hoffman struck out Rowand to end the game.

This team is hemorrhaging, and if the bleeding doesn’t stop soon, the season will be over for the Phillies.  The Phillies are now 1-4 on the home stand, and the heartless play is continuing.  Six days ago, the Phillies were in second place in the NL East, five games behind the Mets, and one game behind the Padres in the Wild Card race.  As of today, the Phillies are still in second place, now seven games out of first place, and four games behind the Padres in the Wild Card. 

Are the Phillies out of the playoffs?  The Wild Card no, the division, most likely.  Even with the seven remaining games against the Mets, seven games is a deep hole to dig out of, especially with only a little over a month left in the regular season. 

The Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound try to avoid the sweep today.  Kendrick has been strong at home this season, posting a 5-0 record.  Facing Kendrick will be Tim Stauffer.  Stauffer has only started one game this season, going 3.2 innings, while allowing seven runs.  The Phillies have been given plenty of opportunities to take advantage of struggling pitchers, and have been unable to do so.  Could today be the day they have an offensive breakout?  Let’s hope so…

When it rains it pours.  While the entire Midwest of the country was pounded by pouring rain, the Phillies were pounded by the Padres 14-3, continuing their poor play.  Jamie Moyer, gave up two runs in the first inning, taking his record to 2-8 when he allows runs in the first.

The Phillies started off strong, promptly knotting the game in the first inning.  Ryan Howard doubled home Tad Iguchi, and Aaron Rowand singled home Howard.  The strong play of the Phillies continued, taking the lead in the third.  Iguchi scored on Howard’s ground out, making the score 3-2. 

That was until the fifth inning.  After giving up a single to Marcus Giles, Moyer struck out Greg Maddux, and walked Brian Giles, giving the Padres runners at first and second with one out.  Moyer stayed strong, striking out Mike Cameron.  The Phillies were one out from getting out of the jam.  That was until Moyer tossed a meatball to Adrian Gonzalez, who deposited into the outfield stands, giving the Padres a 5-3 lead.

That was the turning point of the game.  Once Gonzalez hit the home run, the Phillies surrendered.  The following plays ensued; a home run, an error by Abraham Nunez (keeping the inning alive), a single, a walk, a double.  By the time the inning was over the Phillies were down 8-3.  After the Padres six-run, two-out rally, the Phillies were only able to muster three hits the rest of the game, while the Padres POUNDED Brian Sanches and Jose Mesa, for another seven runs.

It’s tough to say “move on from last night, and look to today”.  The Phillies aren’t just cold, they’re playing bad baseball.  They’re chasing bad pitches, the pitching staff looks like they’re thowing batting practice, and the fielding miscues are piling up.  Kyle Lohse is on the mound tonight, as he looks to break the three game slide.  Lohse is 1-0 as a Phillie, though he hasn’t exactly dominated his opposition.  The Padres are sending Clay Hensley to the mound.  Hensley is coming off a win in which he allowed six runs in five innings.  One of two things will happen.  The Phillies will rebound strong, and pound Hensley, OR Hensley will have a career game, stifling the Phillies bats.  Game time is 7:05.

Victorino Hurt-  Shane Victorino exited in the eighth inning, re-aggravating his calf.  It doesn’t appear to be serious, and is something that will probably continue the rest of the season.  Don’t expect to see him in the lineup tonight.

It’s tough watching the Phillies implode, but this is the same script year in and year out.  I’m off to drown my sorrows with a new tattoo…