Phillies Ready for Crucial Game 5?

Are the Phillies really ready for Game 5 against the Cardinals? The mood in the clubhouse certainly seems so. Ryan Howard who I’m sure we all could say is speaking with his mouth not with his bat. He said the game they should win because they have the Philadelphia crowd behind them, and Roy Halladay starting.

 

With Halladay going in game 5, his counter-part will be Chris Carpenter, who in game 2 pitched on 3-day’s rest gave up 2 runs to the Phillies. This time around he is pitching on 4 day’s rest, which most likely hasn’t happened that often in his career either.

 

If the Phillies could get a rally started, and get the crowd in the game, Carpenter may get rattled and give up more runs. The crowd in Philadelphia from what I experienced can get LOUD! Truth-be-told… I like the Phillies chances tomorrow. If the bats hit, the pitchers pitch, and the defense defends, I don’t see how this couldn’t be our game.

 

Game 5: Friday, October 7th 2011 at 8:05 pm.

Phillies, Giants Game 3 — Day After Brawl

As we Phillies fans should all know is that the Phillies got in a fight last night with the Giants. It was crazy. There will be a video below of the fight. It’s not the best quality, but it works.

Cole Hamels is taking the mound today vs. Matt Cain. Last time each other faced, Cain got the win with the Giants winning 2-1. Phillies scored their lone run in the seventh. They had more opprotunities than the scoreboard shows. Maybe this time around the Phillies will beat Cain.

If the Phillies win today they would have a 9 game winning streak. Amazing. On track for 100 plus victories.

Tonights game is on FOX at 4:10. Gonna be a good game.

Battle In The Bay: Phillies, Giants – Recap Game One and Two

Game one: The Phillies had Cliff Lee on the mound who had a complete game shut out. Just dominate was Lee. Phillies won 3-0

Game two: Yesterdays game was a rough one. Phillies were down 1-0 when in the third, Shane Victorino shot off a solo home run down the left field line. That made the game 1-1. Then later in the 6th, Rollins took a pitch to right field for a single scoring 2 runs to make it 8-2. Victorino was up to bat again in the 6th when pitch Ramirez hit Victorino right between the back and the top of the tail bone. He went to “charge the mound”, when he did that both the benches started clearing.. watch the video to see what happens.

* Brawl in San Francisco

* Tv video, but radio calls

That was one crazy game. Phils won 9-2, Worley is 7-1, 2.33 ERA. He’s been dominating all year. Pence hit a deep shot down left.

Game Notes: Mayberry hit a home run in tonight’s game. He has hit a home run in 3 consecutive games.

Pence has hit a home run in 2 consecutive games.

Phillies are now 20-3 in Schneider’s starts.

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*For the video above – I am not associated with MLB or MLB Advanced Media. I do not own the rights.

Trade Deadline: Carlos Quentin, Hunter Pence, or Nobody

As most of you already know the Giants have traded for Carlos Beltran, which may have run the Phillies into trying to hurry a trade. This results in attempting a trade for Hunter Pence which got rejected by Ed Wade and the Astros Organization. This would be a key trade to get the Phillies over the edge.

Hunter Pence has been killing the Phillies offensively the last few years as he is only 28. He stats against the Phillies and Braves as followed in 2011:

VS Opponent                AB    R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI BB HBP SO  SB CS  AVG        OBP      SLG       OPS

vs. ATL

19

3

8

2

0

1

5

2

0

6

0

0

.421

.476

.684

1.160

vs. PHI

12

1

5

1

0

1

1

0

0

3

0

0

.417

.417

.750

1.167

Those stats are very good. Obviously he has really hurt the Braves more than the Phillies. That may help out later in the run for 1st in the NL East. Pence at Turner Field is 2-8 with a .250 AVG.
Carlos Quentin

Carlos is 28 as well. He has 20 home runs on the season with a .265 average. Not too terribly bad, and has a better average than Ryan Howard at 20 homers. He has faced ATL and here is his 3-year stats vs ATL (3-year stats because he is in American League)

vs. ATL

9

4

4

0

0

3

6

1

1

1

0

0

.444

.545

1.444

1.989

 

Quentin has really pounded the Braves. 4-9 with 3 home runs. Thats just crazy. He would definitely help in the stretch. In order to put a second team to compare Carlos’ stats too, here are his stats against the San Fransisco Giants:

vs. SF

10

2

4

0

0

1

3

3

0

1

1

0

.400

.500

.700

1.200

 

He just pounds all the good teams. Maybe the Phillies should get Quentin instead of Pence. Tell me which outfielder do you want to be the Phillies newest teammate?

Phillies, Mets Game 2

Todays game versus the Mets is at 4:10 (sorry for the mistake last night, it was late.), the game is also on FOX not on CSN, again it was late.

Game 2 will feature Cole Hamels and Jonathan Niese.

Cole Hamels is 11-4 with a 2.32 ERA – to be honest, I think he is going to dominant again like he has all series against the NL. He only had one rough outing, and that was his first start against the Mets.

Jon Niese is 8-7 with a 3.88 ERA – I really think he is going to get hit early and often. The Mets are cold, and frankly since they are “restructuring”, it’s ruining their confidence in the club house. Maybe not for all players, but most. That ultimately will lose them this game and the series.

Prediction – Cole Hamels gets his 12th win of the season, pitches 8 innings giving up 0 runs. Niese gets the no decision but gives up 5 runs in 4 innings pitched. Phillies win 7-0, Brown has a good day at the dish (if he is starting). Mayberry goes 2-4, 1 RBI.

Phillies Win 7-2 Plus Who Should Get Sent Down and Reviews

Well, as we all know the Phillies have been raking lately. That may because of those youngsters that Phils have. They have been great replacements when players like Oswalt, Victorino, and Lidge have gotten injured. Their replacements have been Worley, Mayberry Jr., Stutes, Perez and Bastardo.

These are the stats the Phillies replacements have had before tonight’s 7-2 win versus the New York Mets:

Vance Worley – 4-1 2.20 ERA in 8 games started. He has been very impressive because of his toughness and how he has produced. Vance in 49 IP has only given up 2 home runs. I expect him to keep his great performance rolling with the Phillies. When Oswalt gets back, Kendrick goes back into the bullpen and some one will get sent down from the bullpen (maybe Baez?). Note: Would you consider him NL Rookie of the year? He qualified today as he has pitched past 50 innings.

John Mayberry Jr. – As of late he has been in the groove since the game before the All-Star break. Mayberry is sporting a .244 BA in 138 PA. John also has 5 home runs which is the most since being called up in 2009 (4). Ruben Amaro Jr., may not need to pick up a right-handed power bat. Quick note about Mayberry: He has been opening his swing, which has allowed him to take the ball the other way a bit better. Another note I would think that Francisco should be sent to AAA.

Michael Stutes – He has been dominant next to his other reliever Antonio Bastardo. His rookie season is a great one. At the young age of 24, he has an ERA of 3.26, 31 SO in 30.1 IP. Stutes has shown he can get out of dangerous innings when teams may strike for 3-4-5 maybe 6 runs. I look for him to keep up his great relief work, but will tire down before the post season.

Juan Perez – I know he hasn’t been up lately in the majors, but he has really shown up. He pitch a great 10th inning with a 9 pitch, 3 strike outs in 1 inning. This added him to a list of few of doing this feat. I expect him to stay in the majors with the great innings he has pitches. In the majors he has 4 games, with 3.1 IP, and a 0 ERA with 6 SO.

Antonio Bastardo – Last but not least. The current closer of the Phillies. He is doing consistent work. With a .082 ERA in 36 games pitched with 33.0 IP. This is what closers need to do, SHUT THE DOOR! I’m sure he hasn’t given up a hit in quite a while. All I remember the balls coming of the bat were foul pop-ups, or ground balls. Hardly any pop-ups. I think he is closer until one of the “other closers” can prove they are good enough again.

Cole Hamels goes tomorrow against the Mets at 7:05 PM, TV – CSN.

-P.S. How about those Pirates (first place by % points above the Cards)

 

 

 

Chooch Granny’s as Phillies Moter Pass Atlanta

The game was pretty close to even. The Phillies lead 3-2 in the 7th. Scherill and Linebrink were in a bases loaded mess. Charlie Manuel told Ruiz he could have a day off. Today Brian Schneider started, he did a good job replacing Ruiz. Schneider hit a 2 run homerun, which, gave the Phils a 1 run lead off Brandon Beachy. So anyways, back to Ruiz. Bases loaded, Chooch called in as a pinch hitter. He works into a 1-2 pitch count and right then, that next pitch he hits a Grandslam that gave the Phillies a 8-2 lead over Atlanta. After that the Phillies gave no runs up.

Roy Oswalt gets the win and is now 2-0 with a 2.25

UP NEXT FOR THE PHILLIES: The Rubber Game against the Braves. Phillies looking to take the series to be a perfect 3-0 in the final game of the 3 series. Cole Hamels takes the mound trying to prove he can pitch with the best after being roughed up his last start.

Game is on My PHL 17, and TBS at 1:35 pm.

Phillies Fall to Braves in Series Opener

The game started off great for the Phillies. Top of the first the Phils offense gave Cliff Lee a 2-0 lead. Well, that lead did not last very long. Lee allowed all 6 runs that Atlanta put on the scoreboard. On top of this Chipper Jones got his 2,500th hit in his long career.

Photo Courtesy of Streeter Lecka of Getty Images

Phillies: Roy Oswalt takes the mound in Atlanta for the 1:00 pm start on FOX. The Phillies will want to win here because of the lost game on Friday.

Atlanta: Tommy Hanson will take the mound trying to carry the momentum from Fridays game into Saturdays game. Facing the fairley hot bats of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Recap: Phillies Opening Day

John Mayberry Jr. Shaving Cream Pie AP Matt Slocum

What a joy it was.. Opening day usally means the end of spring. Although it was snowing before the start of yesterdays ball game. This game was not very exciting unitl the end.

The Astros were leading 4-1 late in the game. They brought out some other than Brett Myers. They pitched and only gave up one run. Then in the 9th, the Phillies offense came alive! Their were a few consecutive hits againt Brandon Lyon, until he got the first out. Ryan Howard comes up with a base hit and loaded the bases because Juan Samuel held Shane Victorino. The crowd really came alive when the bases were loaded. When it was 4-4 John Mayberry Jr. came up as the pinch hitter. He ends up hitting a single over the head of Micheal Bourn (just barely) and wins the game of the Phillies.

Will Injuries Hurt The Phillies This Season?

Chase Utley and Brad Lidge are two key pieces of the Phillies. In 2008 Brad Lidge went perfect in saves. Chase Utley helped the Phillies in the World Series push, and victory.

Chase Utley’s stats (3-year-average)

PA	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
2010 stats	511	75	16	65	13	.275
3-year average	635	100	27	87	17	.284

Brad Lidges stats (3-year-average)

2008	31	PHI	NL	2	0	1.000	1.95	72	0	61	0	0	41	69.1	50	17	15	2	35	4	92	1	0	5	292	226	1.226	6.5
2009	32	PHI	NL	0	8	.000	7.21	67	0	55	0	0	31	58.2	72	51	47	11	34	3	61	5	0	4	283	59	1.807	11.0
2010	33	PHI	NL	1	1	.500	2.96	50	0	38	0	0	27	45.2	32	16	15	5	24	4	52	1	1	3	193	137	1.226	6.3