skip to main |
skip to sidebar
BY SCOTT LAUBER
On Sept. 14, 2007, the Phillies were 5-1/2 games behind the Mets in the NL East when they played the first of three games at Shea Stadium. Three days later, after sweeping the weekend series, they were 2-1/2 games off the pace, having started a 13-4 run that catapulted them past the free-falling Mets and into the playoffs on the season's final day.
One year later, on Sunday night, the Phils capped a four-game sweep of the collapsing Brewers by winning both ends of a day-night doubleheader at the Bank. So, with 12 games left, they're tied with the Brewers for the wild-card lead and sit only one game behind the Mets in the NL East.
Cue the Twilight Zone theme.
Can this really be happening again?
"It kind of felt like last year," Brett Myers agreed after tossing a 95-pitch, two-hit, complete-game gem on only three days of rest. "We just went out there and had some fun. The offense came out swinging. The starting pitching was good. That's what wins championships. Hopefully, we can keep it up."
***
Everyone is riding the Phillies bandwagon. After losing two out of three to the Marlins last week, the Phils had only a 16.5 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Baseball Prospectus. Today, after sweeping the Brewers, their chances have risen to 59.3 percent, the highest they've been since Aug. 7 and higher than the Brewers (48.7) and Astros (10.7).
***
If the Cy Young and MVP awards were based solely on second-half performances, Myers and Ryan Howard would be the favorites.
Myers was 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA in 17 starts when he agreed to spend three weeks in the minors. In 11 starts since his return, he's 7-2 with a 1.80 ERA, second-best among NL starters since the All-Star break, trailing only CC Sabathia. Interestingly, the Phillies tried to trade for Sabathia in July, while Myers was in triple-A, but they lacked the stud outfield prospect that the Indians craved. The Brewers, offering Matt LaPorta, won the Sabathia sweepstakes. But, in what may turn out to be the biggest game of their season, they elected not to use Sabathia on short rest, like the Phillies did with Myers.
"It was almost like a [trade] deadline acquisition," Jayson Werth said of the resurgent Myers. "The way he's throwing, it's deadly."
But is it as lethal as Howard?
On May 7, Howard was batting .163. In 35 games, he had six homers, 16 RBIs, a .286 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage. He looked utterly lost. But, in his last 19 games, Howard is batting .356 with 10 homers, 25 RBIs, a .440 on-base percentage and an .894 slugging percentage. With Jimmy Rollins, he has been carrying the Phils' offense. And despite the slow start, Howard leads the majors with 44 homers and 133 RBIs. The closest players on the leaderboard in either league are Carlos Quentin and Adam Dunn with 36 homers, Josh Hamilton and Justin Morneau with 124 RBIs.
"The numbers speak for themselves," Charlie Manuel said. "Who's close to him? You can say whatever you want to say. He has RBIs and he has homers. He's the best run-producer in the National League."
***
Fresh off their sweep last night, most of the Phils were gathered around a few televisions, watching Carlos Zambrano record the final three outs of his no-hitter. It must've been a strange scene in the Brewers' clubhouse. Zambrano, a member of the rival Cubs, no-hit the Astros in the Brewers' own Miller Park. The game was moved to Milwaukee because of the devastation in Houston caused by Hurricane Ike.
"They're probably drinking champagne and having a beer shower right now in our locker room while we sulk about what happened here," left fielder Ryan Braun said after the Brewers lost for the 11th time in 14 games. "It's ironic, where we're at as a team and how we feel at the end of this series and see them celebrating a no-hitter on our field."
One fellow scribe joked that when the Brewers return home, the only thing that will stink more than them is their clubhouse.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So much to talk (and write) about after the Phils' 7-3 win in the opener, and the nightcap already is underway here at the Bank, where fans are waving rally towels and cheering madly, just like last September. Without further ado, then, a few notes:
* Think Pat Burrell was happy to finally get a big hit? "It was big, man," he said after lacing an RBI single to left field in the eighth inning that broke a 3-3 tie. "I've been really struggling. I really haven't been contributing much at all. I can't lie. I needed to get a hit in that situation."
* What, exactly, was Brewers manager Ned Yost thinking by sticking with lefty Brian Shouse to face Burrell instead of bringing in right-hander Eric Gagne? "It was more based on Brian Shouse and his ground-ball ability. When it got to Ryan Howard -- and Ryan Howard has shown us in the last few games that he's as hot as he can be -- we took the opportunity to walk him and see if Shousey could get a ground ball there. And he did get a ground ball. It just wasn't at anybody. It was in the hole."
* Speaking of Howard, he has 22 hits in his last 54 at-bats, eight homers and 21 RBIs in his last 14 games, and leads the majors with 44 homers and 133 RBIs. Is he an NL MVP candidate? "The numbers speak for themselves," obviously biased Charlie Manuel said. "Who's close to him? You can say whatever you want to say. He has RBIs and he has homers. He's the best run-producer in the National League."
* Lost in all the offense was the performance of Joe Blanton, who recorded his first quality start since Aug. 24. Blanton entered with a 5.58 ERA in his previous six starts and had exhibited an uncharacteristic lack of control that prevented him from logging his usual six-plus innings per start. But there may be a reason for it. Pitching coach Rich Dubee revealed today that Blanton pitched through a minor bout of biceps tendinitis for two or three starts, causing his arm slot to get out of whack. Blanton believes he has everything under control now, though.
* Scott Eyre has a 1.64 ERA since being traded to the Phillies in early August. A free agent after the season, Eyre, a 36-year-old lefty, said he'd like to re-sign with the Phillies and would even accept a one-year contract.
More later.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, Cole Hamels was talking yesterday about how every start, from the first one in April to the last one in September, is equal. They all count the same, and surely, he approaches each one with the same singular focus and purpose -- to win. A few minutes later, though, he admitted what everyone knows.
September is different.
Hamels won 15 games last year, but most people remember the Sept. 28 start at the Bank when he struck out 13 Washington Nationals over eight innings and lifted the Phillies into first place for the first time all season. And Hamels knows that, no matter how many games he winds up winning in 2008, his season will be remembered mostly for what he does in his last few starts. He took a positive step yesterday with 6-1/3 gritty innings in a 7-3 win that drew the Phils to within two games of the wild card-leading Brewers.
Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard have made a habit of having big Septembers. Rollins is a .297 career hitter in the season's final month, and this year, he's only adding to those numbers. In 11 games this month, Rollins is batting .362 with two homers, seven RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage. Howard is a .314 career hitter in September, including .366 with six homers and 17 RBIs this year. And both guys had big days yesterday. Howard sliced a two-run double in the second inning to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead, and Rollins went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a two-run homer in the sixth.
With another all-important day-night doubleheader slated for today, the Phillies need Rollins and Howard to stay as hot as the weather. And, if you've been outside already today, you know it's going to be a hot one.
***
Talked to Rich Dubee before yesterday's game, and while circumstances certainly could change, he tentatively has Brett Myers scheduled to make only two more starts after today -- Sept. 19 against the Marlins, Sept. 24 against the Braves. Dubee said it would be asking a lot for Myers to pitch twice on short rest in two weeks. For now, the Phillies have Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer and Hamels slated to pitch the final three games, with Myers ready and waiting in the bullpen, if necessary.
***
Howard is the first NL player with at least 130 RBIs in three straight seasons since Sammy Sosa (1998-2001). But while Howard and Rollins are hot, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell are not. Utley has 24 hits -- but only three extra-base hits and no homers -- in his last 74 at-bats (92 plate appearances) since the seventh inning Aug. 22. Burrell, stuck in a 9-for-66 (.136) slump, hasn't homered in 70 at-bats (76 plate appearances) since the first inning Aug. 23.
***
Everybody chuckled when Ed Wade traded for Randy Wolf on July 23. Were the going-nowhere Astros delusional? Did they really think they were contenders? Nobody is laughing now. The Astros have played themselves into wild-card contention, and all along, Brad Lidge knew it was dangerous to count them out. Lidge pitched for the Astros in 2004 and 2005 when they rode big second-half performances into the playoffs. And while the 2008 Astros are a much different team, Lidge said they have three common ingredients: Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt and Brad Ausmus. "Those guys know how to win," Lidge said.
If it's a Sunday, it must be another day-night doubleheader. Enjoy the games everyone, and enjoy your Sunday.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, in case you were wondering, here's how this doubleheader decision happened.
After last night's game was postponed, the Phillies and Brewers held separate team meetings. Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' player rep, said most of his teammates voted for a doubleheader to preserve Monday's off-day, even though Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee preferred a Monday game to keep the starting rotation in order. But, even if the Phillies had voted to play Monday, they would've been overruled by the Brewers, who were adamant about playing a doubleheader. The Brewers haven't had a day off since Aug. 29. If they had to play Monday, they would've gone 24 consecutive games before their next off-day. And, according to players' association bylaws, teams can't play on more than 20 consecutive days without getting approval from the union.
"We debated and debated and debated," Brewers managed Ned Yost said. "We need an off day."
So, there's that.
***
Could Ryan Howard be playing himself into consideration for the NL MVP award with another strong September? Manuel said Howard's value to the Phillies can't be measured by things like batting average or strikeouts.***A few words on Cole Hamels, whose latest big start comes here today: Hamels lacked his usual fastball velocity last Sunday night in New York, and when he tried to overthrow it and lost command, the Mets sat on his breaking stuff. Dubee reminded Hamels of his first game after the All-Star break when he didn't have his best fastball but got by on guts, guile and good breaking pitches. "He doesn't have to throw 92 or 93 because of the separation [in velocity] between his fastball and his changeup," Dubee said. "That's what this game is all about, especially when you've got his repertoire."
Enjoy your Saturday.
Tonight's game against the Brewers has been postponed. A makeup date is still pending. It'll either be a doubleheader Sunday or on Monday.
More when I get it.(Update, 7:20 p.m.): According to Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' player representative, the teams will play a doubleheader Sunday. If it rains again tomorrow, the teams will play on Monday, too. But there's still nothing official from the team or MLB, so stay tuned.(Update, 7:26 p.m.): OK, it's official. The rainout has been rescheduled for Sunday night. It will be a split-admission, day-night doubleheader. First game at 1:35 p.m. Second game at 7:35 p.m. Tickets for tonight's rainout will be honored Sunday night. Cole Hamels will pitch tomorrow. Joe Blanton and Brett Myers will pitch Sunday, though it's not clear which pitcher will start which game.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
While we wait for the rain to stop (or, more likely, for tonight's game to be called) ...
* The Phillies have won all four coin flips for possible tie-breaker games. So, if the Phillies wind up tied with the Mets in the NL East or the Brewers, Astros or Cardinals in the wild-card race, the tie-breakers would be played at the Bank. By the way, retired Phillies PR honcho (and Wilmington resident) Larry Shenk was the lucky charm who called the flips.
* Brett Myers threw in the bullpen today and will start Sunday on short rest.
* Rumor here is that tonight's game would be made up as part of a split day-night doubleheader Sunday. The Brewers have informed MLB that they'd rather not play Monday, a mutual off-day for both the Phils and Brewers.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Ryan Howard, a.k.a. Mr. September, provided the offense. Jamie Moyer provided the inspiration. The bullpen -- specifically Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge -- provided the security. And Carlos Ruiz, perhaps unknowingly, provided the energy.
Big win for the Phillies last night? You bet.
Now, they need a few more.
That's the reality of the situation. Beating Ben Sheets, who hadn't allowed a run in 20 consecutive innings, was a nice way for the Phillies to start this four-game series. But the fast-fading Brewers still front the wild-card race by three games, and the red-hot Mets still lead the NL East by three. Those advantages can't be erased unless the Phillies keep winning. So, it's up to Cole Hamels tonight, and I'll have a few words about him shortly.
For now, though, let's look back ...
1. Mr. September: A few weeks ago, Howard was in the midst of a 5-for-50 slump. But, since Aug. 21, he's 26-for-79 (.329) with 10 doubles and 10 homers. And maybe, just maybe, he has played himself into the MVP race by getting the clutch, run-producing, extra-base hits that Chase Utley hasn't been getting. Howard's hot streak should come as no surprise, though. In 114 career games after Aug. 31, Howard is a .314 hitter with 39 homers and 94 RBIs. What do you think? Howard for MVP?
2. Moyer: When runners reach base, Howard says they often ask him, "Man, how does that guy keep doing it?" Howard usually shakes his head. This time, The Old Man took the ball on three days of rest and spun a gem for five innings. And now, impossibly, Moyer has a team-leading 14 wins and at least three more starts. "Somebody had to pitch," he said. "I just felt, why not me? I felt like I was able to throw my name in the hat and let the staff make their choice from that."
3. Ruiz: As he walked to the plate in the eighth inning, Ruiz turned to the dugout and asked, "What's the squeeze sign?" Suddenly, Charlie Manuel had an idea. So, with Shane Victorino on first base, Manuel flashed the squeeze sign. Ruiz dropped a bunt, Victorino charged for home, and the Phillies had an insurance run. According to our friends at the Elias Sports Bureau, it was only the second time in Manuel's four seasons at the helm of the Phillies that the club executed a squeeze play. The other was May 12, 2007, when Ruiz (who else?) dropped a bunt that scored Abraham Nunez from third base against the Cubs.***Finally, a few words about the biggest nonsense issue of the day: You had to look hard -- I mean, really probe -- to interpret Manuel's postgame comments Wednesday as a rip on the fans. But, sure enough, some folks broke out their high-powered microscopes and were aghast that Manuel may have, in some way, questioned their passion and intensity.Give me a break.What Manuel said after the loss to Florida: "We won a game here against the Mets in extra innings [on Aug. 26], and it seemed like everyone in Philly got real high. The next night, we lost and there was a big difference. People got flat. Now, the team didn't, but the whole environment was that way."Well, duh. If y'all cheered deliriously all the time, even during losses, you'd be like the drones in St. Louis. But Manuel, incredibly, had to clarify his comments, saying that the entire mood around the Bank goes flat when the Phillies don't hit, and the Phillies haven't hit consistently enough to keep the mood on a permanent high, like it was last September when they slugged their way to a 13-4 finish. That's all he meant. And if that's insulting to some people, well, then their skin is thinner than they think.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
As the Phillies took batting practice today, I sat down with Mike Radano of the Camden (N.J.) Courier Post to discuss the big Brewers-Phillies series. Excuse the abrupt ending. The final 10 seconds were cut off due to technical difficulties (Mike's recorder stopped recording). Want to listen? Sure you do. Please click here: R09_0025.mp3OK, here's your series preview. You tell me: Do the Phillies have to sweep to have a chance to make the playoffs?BREWERS (83-63) at PHILLIES (79-67)Tonight, 7:05: RHP Ben Sheets (13-7, 2.82) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (13-7, 3.64)Friday, 7:05: LHP Manny Parra (10-7, 4.03) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (12-9, 3.12)Saturday, 3:55: RHP Dave Bush (9-10, 4.23) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (2-0, 4.61)Sunday, 1:35: RHP Jeff Suppan (10-8, 4.63) vs. TBAHot: Brewers LF Ryan Braun is batting .327 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in his last 53 games; Brewers SS J.J. Hardy is batting .327 with six homers and 18 RBIs in his last 24 games; Phillies 1B Ryan Howard is batting .344 with eight homers and 18 RBIs in his last 16 games; Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins is batting .382 with seven walks, 11 stolen bases, a .436 on-base percentage but only eight runs scored in his last 16 games.Not: Brewers 1B Prince Fielder has eight hits in his last 51 at-bats (.157) and hasn't homered in 92 at-bats (24 games); Brewers CF Mike Cameron has four hits in his last 28 at-bats (.143); Phillies 2B Chase Utley is batting .219 (7-for-32) with one extra-base hit in September; Phillies LF Pat Burrell hasn't homered in 63 at-bats since the first inning Aug. 23 in Los Angeles.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Getting ready to head over to the Bank for the opener of -- and I don't think this is overstating -- a make-or-break four-game series against the wild card-leading Brewers. With 17 games remaining, the Phillies (79-67) are 3-1/2 games behind the Mets (82-63) in the NL East, four behind the Brewers (83-63) in the wild-card standings.
Time is running out.
Two comments that struck me after yesterday's crushing loss to the Marlins.
Charlie Manuel: "The difference is that last year we were hot and we were consistent. We could score runs, and it seemed like we had enough pitching to get through. We were very energetic and [had] life and really got after it. I think this year, when you're struggling to pitch and score runs, it's tough. We were very resilient last year. We can still do those things, but not as much as we did last year."
Brett Myers: "We have to stop pressing so much and have some fun with it. We were having fun last year. If we have fun, the wins will come. Everyone, including myself at times, is pressing so hard to make up ground in one game, instead of going out and having fun with the game and what got us here."
Does that sound like a confident team? At least the Phils won't have to contend with CC Sabathia. He pitched yesterday for Milwaukee. It's possible that he could come back Sunday on short rest, but it's hard to imagine Ned Yost making that move unless the Phillies win the first three games of the series.
***
So, in naming a starter for Sunday, it appears Manuel and Rich Dubee will choose between the lesser of three evils: struggling Kyle Kendrick, inexperienced J.A. Happ, maligned Adam Eaton. Wouldn't it be nice if Carlos Carrasco, the Phillies' top prospect, was in consideration? Instead, Carrasco is home, in Venezuela, getting ready for winter ball. The ultra-conservative Phillies simply don't think he's ready for the majors yet.Check back later today for a new audiofile, and a Brewers-Phillies series preview.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Jamie Moyer will, in fact, start on short rest tomorrow night in the series-opener against the Brewers. But, really, any suspense about that decision was erased when J.A. Happ walked to the mound in the second inning last night.
The decision now, it seems, is who will start Sunday's finale against the Brewers, after Cole Hamels goes Friday and Joe Blanton on Saturday. Charlie Manuel allowed for the possibility that Brett Myers could come back on short rest for only the second time in his career (he allowed three earned runs in five innings on Oct. 3, 2004), depending, of course, on how arduously he labors today. I have no doubt that Myers, if asked, will take the ball. As I've written here before, you can say a lot about Myers, but you can't question his resolve or desire to win.
But if Manuel and Rich Dubee believe Myers won't be able to come back Sunday, my guess -- and it's strictly a guess -- is that you'll see Kyle Kendrick on the mound. A few weeks ago, Manuel said the stretch run is no time to "experiment" with the lineup or rotation, and last week, I asked Manuel if giving Happ a start would be too much of an experiment. He wouldn't answer the question at that point, but reading between the lines last night, it certainly sounds like he's not willing to do it. "This is the stretch drive, and [Happ] is kind of inexperienced with where you're going to put him," Manuel said. "I'm not saying he can't do the job because I've seen him pitch a good game, and he's going to be a good big-league pitcher."
So, it's sounding more like Myers or Kendrick on Sunday. Stay tuned, though, for more.***
Also, Geoff Jenkins (hip flexor strain) has been activated from the disabled list, and Andy Tracy (broken hand) is done for the season. Tracy was hit by a line drive in batting practice yesterday, which probably partially explains why Manuel didn't pinch-run for Matt Stairs in the sixth inning last night.
BY SCOTT LAUBERA few numbers to digest with breakfast while we wait for Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee to choose between the lesser of three evils -- Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ or (gulp) Adam Eaton -- for Sunday and wonder how ageless wonder Jamie Moyer will fare while pitching on short rest Thursday:Ryan Howard: 20-for-56 (.357), 14 runs, 7 HR, 17 RBI in last 14 gamesChase Utley: 25-for-74 (.338), 14 runs, 1 HR, 10 RBI in last 20 gamesJimmy Rollins: 26-for-64 (.406), 8 runs, 2 HR, 12 RBI in last 15 gamesOrdinarily, you can tell how the Phillies' offense is going by looking at the Big Three. And while it appears that all three are hot, the number that strikes me is that Rollins has scored only eight runs in his last 15 games despite reaching base well over 40 percent of the time. Obviously, that isn't good enough. One reason: Utley hasn't been driving the ball. He hasn't homered since Aug. 22 in Los Angeles, and 18 of his last 20 hits have been singles.***With the Brewers coming to town tomorrow, it's fair to wonder if the wild card is the Phillies' best path to the playoffs. Well, they're 2-1/2 games behind the Mets in the NL East and three behind the Brew Crew in the wild-card race. And while the Mets have Johan Santana and Carlos Delgado to prevent a repeat of last season's epic collapse, the Brewers have a history of second-half meltdowns. In fact, if it wasn't for the Mets blowing a seven-game lead with 17 to play last season, we'd be talking more about Milwaukee, who led the NL Central by 8-1/2 games on June 23, 2007, before going 40-48 and missing the playoffs entirely. The Brewers 34-40 after the All-Star break last season, 31-41 after the break in 2006. Will they fall apart again?***Couldn't agree more with good friend John Finger's take on Billy Wagner. Love him, hate him or both, Wagner is always entertaining. And, really, isn't that what baseball is about?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Before tonight's game, Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee said the Phillies still hadn't settled on a starter for Thursday night's series-opener against the Brewers.
Well, I think we have our answer.
Kyle Kendrick already has been knocked out of the game -- his hideous line: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR -- and replaced by rookie lefty J.A. Happ. So, it seems, Jamie Moyer will pitch Thursday night on short rest for the first time since July 6, 2004, with the Mariners. That day, he allowed seven runs on 10 hits in five innings in a 7-6 loss at Toronto. In his career, Moyer is 5-3 with a 4.12 ERA in 14 career starts with only three days of rest.If Moyer pitches Thursday, the Phillies would need another starter for Sunday. They could choose between Happ or, brace yourself, Adam Eaton. But Eaton hasn't pitched since Aug. 30 for Class AAA Lehigh Valley, so I'm not certain if his arm is stretched out enough to make a start. Meanwhile, I think we've probably seen the last of Kendrick this season (he has an 11.35 ERA in his last six starts). It appears the Phillies will need a No. 5 starter only twice more, and Happ could be the guy. Ultimately, here's how the rotation could shape up for the final 17 games:
Wednesday vs. Florida -- Brett Myers
Thursday vs. Milwaukee -- Jamie Moyer
Friday vs. Milwaukee -- Cole Hamels
Saturday vs. Milwaukee -- Joe Blanton
Sunday vs. Milwaukee -- TBA (J.A. Happ, Adam Eaton?)
Monday -- Off
Tuesday at Atlanta -- Brett Myers
Sept. 17 at Atlanta -- Jamie Moyer
Sept. 18 at Atlanta -- Cole Hamels
Sept. 19 at Florida -- Joe Blanton
Sept. 20 at Florida -- TBA (J.A. Happ, Adam Eaton?)
Sept. 21 at Florida -- Brett Myers
Sept. 22 vs. Atlanta -- Jamie Moyer
Sept. 23 vs. Atlanta -- Cole Hamels
Sept. 24 vs. Atlanta -- Joe Blanton
Sept. 25 -- Off
Sept. 26 vs. Washington -- Brett Myers
Sept. 27 vs. Washington -- Jamie Moyer
Sept. 28 vs. Washington -- Cole Hamels
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Didn't see much of Pat Burrell yesterday.
Before the game, he didn't spend much time at his locker. He didn't take batting practice either, in accordance with the suggestions of Charlie Manuel and Milt Thompson. And, for the second time in three games, he wasn't in the lineup for the Phillies' 8-6 victory over the Marlins.
What gives?
Well, Burrell is in a miserable slump. He has two hits in his last 15 at-bats, and since Aug. 24, he's 6-for-49 (.122). Break it out even further: In 34 games since Aug. 1, Burrell is batting .175 (21-for-120) with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
"He wants to win, and I think he tries too hard sometimes," Manuel said. "When you're not getting hits, it's kind of the natural tendency to do that. I told him to take it easy. I want him to sit down, relax, get away from things, and see how it works."
So, when might Burrell play again?
"We'll see," Manuel said. "Pat's our regular left fielder. Just because he hits a tough spot and he's not swinging well at the moment doesn't mean I'm going to go away from him and not put him back in there."
***
Jayson Werth belted a three-run homer last night, but he bristled when he was asked if he took more satisfaction out of taking a right-hander (Marlins reliever Joe Nelson) deep.
"Should I?" Werth said.
Well, moments earlier, Manuel said this about Werth: "When he improves against right-handers, he'll be a very good everyday player." Reminded of his reputation that he struggles against righties, Werth said, "My numbers against right-handers aren't that bad. But sometimes it's hard to shake a label."
Werth is a .251 career hitter against righties, .292 against lefties. This season, he's batting .258 (54-for-209) with seven homers and 26 RBIs against righties, .304 (42-for-138) with 15 homers and 33 RBIs aginst lefties. Manuel is a big Werth supporter, and it's likely that Werth will be an everyday player for the Phils next season, especially if they don't re-sign Burrell.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Just in from Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee: Kyle Kendrick will start tomorrow against the Marlins. Brett Myers definitely will pitch Wednesday.Beyond that, the Phillies aren't sure.Dubee said that Jamie Moyer is "in consideration" to pitch Thursday on short rest. Evidently, he has told Dubee that he believes he can make that start in the series-opener against the Brewers, but the Phillies won't know for sure until after he throws a bullpen session tomorrow. That would leave Cole Hamels to start on his standard rest (four days between starts) Friday. If Moyer is unable to go Thursday, J.A. Happ would appear to be the choice. Moyer would then pitch Friday, followed Saturday by Hamels. It seemingly all hinges on Moyer's bullpen session. Of course, if Happ pitches Thursday, Moyer pitches Friday and Hamels pitches Saturday, Myers, Moyer and Hamels would be lined up to pitch the final weekend of the season, Sept. 26-28 against the Nationals.***Slumping Pat Burrell has the night off. Here's tonight's lineup against RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-3, 5.54 ERA): SS Jimmy Rollins, CF Shane Victorino, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, LF Jayson Werth, 3B Greg Dobbs, RF Matt Stairs, C Carlos Ruiz, RHP Joe Blanton (1-0, 4.34).
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Just sat down with Michael Radano of the Camden (N.J.) Courier Post and taped an audiofile to recap the Mets series and look ahead to the Marlins series. Want to listen in? Sure you do. Click here to listen: R09_0018.mp3
BY SCOTT LAUBERLeft-hander J.A. Happ and catcher Lou Marson have won the 2008 Paul Owens Award for the best pitcher and player in the Phillies' minor league system.Happ, 25, went 8-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) for Class AAA Lehigh Valley. He had 151 strikeouts in 135.0 innings pitched (10.1 SO/9.0 IP) and held opposing hitters to a .234 average. Marson, 22, hit .314 with five home runs and 46 RBI in 94 games for Class AA Reading. He was the starting catcher for the All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium and played for Team U.S.A. in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which won the bronze medal. Marson was also named to both the in-season and post-season Eastern League All-Star teams. Behind the plate, he threw out 36.1% (30-83) of potential basestealers.
The two players will receive their awards during a pre-game presentation on Monday, Sept. 22, when the Phillies host the Braves at the Bank.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Because we're just not ready to let go of the Mets series ...1. Billy Wagner has a tear in his left elbow that will require surgery. He'll miss the final 19 games of this season and almost all of next year, too. So, maybe Pat Gillick was wise for not giving Wagner a four-year contract in November 2005. Then again, Gillick probably shouldn't have given Tom Gordon a three-year deal.2. The Phillies have Mike Schmidt's 73-word e-mail missive, but according to esteemed New York Times columnist George Vecsey, Marlon Anderson provided some inspiration for the Mets back in June. When the Mets were 30-32, Anderson told his teammates they would have to win 62 of their final 100 games to qualify for the postseason. So far, they're not far off that pace.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, it turns out, Meatloaf (or everyone's favorite John Kruk lookalike) was wrong.Two out of three ain't bad, unless it's September and you have a chance to sweep the first-place team in your division in your final head-to-head series. In that case, anything less than a sweep won't do. Thus, the Phillies weren't a particulary cheerful bunch as they packed their things and left Shea Stadium last night, likely for the final time ever.To review: Jamie Moyer was great by day, Cole Hamels was mediocre by night, and in a doubleheader that was as important as any you'll see, the Phillies achieved a split. And, with 19 games remaining, they trail the Mets by two games in the NL East. "With the opportunities we gave away earlier this season, we had to sweep just to get the momentum back," Hamels said. "The opportunity we really had was to sweep, so we're going to have a tough road the last 19 games." A look at that road:PHILLIESMonday-Wednesday: vs. MarlinsThursday-Sunday: vs. BrewersSept. 16-18: at BravesSept. 19-21: at MarlinsSept. 22-24: vs. BravesSept. 26-28: vs. NationalsMETSTuesday-Wednesday: vs. NationalsFriday-Sunday: vs. BravesSept. 15-18: at NationalsSept. 19-21: at BravesSept. 22-25: vs. CubsSept. 26-28: vs. Marlins***In a matchup of aces, the Phillies' 6-3 loss in Game 2 was decided, essentially, in the first inning. Ryan Howard's one-out RBI single opened a 1-0 lead. But, with runners on first and second, Johan Santana struck out Pat Burrell and got Shane Victorino to fly to center field, thereby preventing the Phillies from having a big inning. In the bottom of the first, Hamels didn't get any help from plate umpire Jerry Meals, who called catcher's interference on Chris Coste to put runners on first and second with one out. But when Hamels needed to make big pitches, he gave up an RBI single to Carlos Beltran and a two-run single to Carlos Delgado to give the Mets a 3-1 lead. If Hamels could've gotten out of the first-inning jam the way Santana did, it may have been a different story.Most of the time, Hamels will be better than that. And he better be because, as Martin Frank writes, Hamels, Moyer and Brett Myers are on pace to start 12 of the final 19 games, and the Phils' destiny may be riding on their arms.***Howard is the first player in Phillies history to have at least 40 home runs in three consecutive seasons. Not even Mike Schmidt did that. Howard also is only the third Phillies player to reach the 120-RBI plateau in at least three straight seasons. Chuck Klein (1929-33) and Sam Thompson (1893-95) are the others.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- Between games here at Shea after an absolutely clutch performance by Jamie Moyer. But perhaps the most important pitches of the day are being thrown right now by Billy Wagner. The Mets' closer is throwing a simulated game, with third-string catcher Gustavo Molina at the plate. If Wagner comes through this OK, he may be ready to pitch for the Mets next week. We'll keep you posted.(Updated, 6:52 p.m.): Wagner cut short his simulated game after feeling discomfort. That's the second time in the past three weeks that Wagner has had to cut short a throwing session. The guess here is that he's finished for the season. A break for the Phillies? Perhaps. Meanwhile, in the Phillies' clubhouse, Charlie Manuel and Moyer already are talking about tonight's game."We've got one more to play," Manuel said. "We have to win it. [Cole] Hamels probably is going to throw a shutout, and we'll be OK."Said Moyer, "It would be great to walk out of here with another win. Then, we'll control our own destiny."Game 2 lineup against Johan Santana: SS Jimmy Rollins, 2B Chase Utley, RF Jayson Werth, 1B Ryan Howard, LF Pat Burrell, CF Shane Victorino, 3B Pedro Feliz, C Chris Coste, LHP Cole Hamels.More in a bit.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- For those of you who are too busy watching the Eagles or enjoying the weather ...Greg Dobbs just swatted a three-run home run to give the Phillies 6-0 lead against Pedro Martinez and the Mets in the fourth inning here at Shea. It's the second homer in as many games for Dobbs, who is shaping up to be a Mets killer. Check out Dobbs' up-to-the-minute career numbers against them: 29 games,
51 at-bats,14 hits, 4 homers, 15 RBIsTo me, Dobbs' pinch-hit grand slam last Sept. 16 at Shea stands out as one of the biggest hits for the Phillies down the stretch.***FYI: Before the game, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said right fielder Geoff Jenkins (strained right hip flexor) will begin taking batting practice tomorrow at the Bank and could return within the next week or so.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- The rain is gone. The sun is out. And we're settling in here at Shea Stadium for what is shaping up to be a huge doubleheader.Sweep, and the Phils will be tied for first place.Get swept, and they'll be four games out.Split, and the deficit is two games.What's going happen?Jamie Moyer vs. Pedro Martinez in the opener. Cole Hamels vs. Johan Santana in the nightcap. Personally, and for the record, I thought the Phils should've started Hamels in the first game. Hamels would've given them a big edge over Pedro, and if Hamels had won, it would've put enormous pressure on The Johan tonight. But, alas, Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee know far more about pitching than I do, so we'll see how it works out.Game 1 lineup: SS Jimmy Rollins, CF Shane Victorino, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, RF Jayson Werth, 3B Greg Dobbs, LF Matt Stairs, C Carlos Ruiz, LHP Jamie Moyer. Pat Burrell, in case you're wondering, always struggles against Pedro (1-for-26, home run). He'll play tonight, though.***Joe Blanton will pitch tomorrow against the Marlins, and Brett Myers will pitch Wednesday. In between, it'll be either Kyle Kendrick or J.A. Happ. We'll try to get a definite answer later today. Regardless, tropical storm Hanna seemingly guaranteed that Kendrick will make one more start, either Tuesday or Thursday.***The Mets can't seem to shake talk of last September. And, as Billy Wagner said Friday, they won't shake it until they hold off the Phillies and win the NL East. If the Phillies sweep today, talk of last year's epic collapse will heat up even more.Ready to rumble?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- With tropical storm Hanna heading this way, today's Phillies-Mets game has been postponed.
The teams will play a split-admission doubleheader tomorrow. First game starts at 2:15 p.m. Second game, televised by ESPN, will start at 8:05 p.m. More on the pitching matchups once I get them.
According to the Mets, tickets marked Game 68 from today's game will be honored for tomorrow's 2:15 p.m. game only. Upon the conclusion of the 2:15 p.m. game, all fans will exit Shea in advance of the 8:05 p.m. game. Because of the ongoing U.S. Open, the limited parking due to the construction of Citi Field and the expectation that both games will be sold out, the Mets are encouraging fans to use mass transit for Sunday's games, wherever possible.
(Updated, 11:36 a.m.): Pitching matchups will stay the same. Jamie Moyer vs. Pedro Martinez in Game 1, Cole Hamels vs. Johan Santana in Game 2. (Updated, 12:07 p.m.): Joe Blanton will start Monday night against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. No word yet on Tuesday night, although it's likely J.A. Happ will get the start. Brett Myers will pitch Wednesday in the finale against Florida, and Kyle Kendrick most likely will pitch Thursday night against the Brewers.***Back in July, the Phillies talked about trying to acquire CC Sabathia. Instead, they rediscovered Brett Myers. Myers was great last night against the Mets, but then again, he has been great since the All-Star break when he returned from a three-week stint in the minors. Greg Dobbs said Myers "has become the top-tier pitcher that everybody knew he was." Hard to argue.***Greg Golson stole second base in his major-league debut Wednesday night in Washington. Great play, right? Wrong. Davey Lopes wasn't happy with Golson, who probably shouldn't have been running in that situation.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- So, Jimmy Rollins was in a rush to get out to the field today for batting practice and said he read only the first seven or so words of Mike Schmidt's e-mail missive to the Phillies.
He never got to the part about the Mets.
Told that Schmidt wrote, "the Mets know you're better than they are," Rollins smiled and said, "Well, that part's true." Asked if Schmidt was right that the Mets are still thinking about last season's epic collapse, Rollins said, "I think it's only natural -- if we win three games. If not, they'll take a deep breath and get a chance to probably regather themselves. But if we win all three games, naturally, you're going to think back to that. It's human nature."
Agree? Disagree? Discuss. Meanwhile, here's Martin Frank's take on the Schmidter.***
My sources tell me it's already raining back home, and tropical storm Hanna is expected to show up here by morning. Thus, there's a very good chance that we'll have a day-night doubleheader Sunday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, eight of the 15 doubleheaders played in the majors this season have resulted in sweeps.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- Underway here at Shea Stadium, where the sound system is ear-splittingly loud (it's always loud, but tonight, they seem to have pumped up the volume even more). Anyway, wanted to pass this along from the Phillies' clubhouse, where an e-mail message from Mike Schmidt was taped to the door. It reads as follows:
Guys,
One pitch, one at-bat, one play, one situation, think "small" and "big" things result. Tough at-bats, stay up the middle with men on base, whatever it takes to keep the line moving. Hot offense. 27 outs on defense. The Mets know you're better than they are. They remember last year. You guys are never out of the game. Welcome the challenge that confronts you this weekend. You guys are the best.
Good luck,
Mike Schmidt.
Cool stuff. More later.
By SCOTT LAUBER
NEW YORK -- Tadahito Iguchi has rejoined the Phillies.
Iguchi, who spent the final two months of last season with the Phillies, has agreed to a contract with the team today. Iguchi was released by the Padres earlier this week after batting .231. The Los Angeles Times reported in today's editions that Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, had been contacted by the Phillies and Dodgers.
Because he was acquired after Aug. 31, Iguchi isn't eligible to play in the postseason if the Phillies qualify by winning the National League East or the wild card.
Iguchi, 33, batted .304 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 45 games for the Phillies last season. He was acquired in late July to replace injured second baseman Chase Utley, who broke his hand. Iguchi figures to be used as a pinch-hitter and possibly at third base.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Five free minutes for me before I board an Amtrak train to New York, five free thoughts for you on the huge series that starts tonight at Shea Stadium:
1. Good pitching matchup in the opener. Mike Pelfrey is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA and two complete games over his last four starts, and other than Johan Santana, he probably has been the Mets' most consistent starter. Brett Myers, meanwhile, has completely revived his season. Since he returned from those three weeks in the minors, he's 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA. Crazy as it sounds, there's probably no pitcher, Cole Hamels included, that the Phils would rather have on the mound tonight. That said, this is probably Myers' biggest start in a while, maybe since the pennant push in 2006. FYI: During his final six starts that year, Myers went 2-1 with a 2.72 ERA.
2. As you know, the Phillies trail the Mets by three games in the NL East, their largest deficit since May 11, so they have little time to wax nostalgic about Shea Stadium. This is, however, their final trip to soon-to-be-demolished Shea, and many Phillies players have experienced memorable moments there. Ryan Howard, for one, noted Wednesday that he hit his first major-league home run at Shea on Sept. 11, 2004, a two-run shot off reliever Bartolome Fortunato, who is famous for nothing in Mets history except being traded for Scott Kazmir.
3. Charlie Manuel drew a parallel between Wednesday night's crushing loss to the lowly Nationals and a gut-punching loss last Sept. 5 in Atlanta in the finale of a Labor Day week series. Everyone knows, of course, about the historic Phillies rally and Mets collapse that ensued. But the hangover from that bad loss actually lingered for another few days. The Phillies lost the Sept. 7 opener of a three-game series against the Marlins and actually went 3-3 in a six-game stretch before kicking it into gear and finishing on a 13-4 roll. This year, the Phils can't afford to wait. A few losses to the Mets this weekend and they can forget about a repeat NL East title. As it is, if the Mets finish 11-11, the Phillies would need to go 14-8 (.636) just to tie them. If the Mets win two of three this weekend, they could go only 10-9 the rest of the way and force the Phillies to go 14-5 (.737) to forge a tie.
4. Could the Phillies reacquire Tadahito Iguchi? According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, has been contacted by the Phillies and Dodgers. Iguchi was released by the Padres after batting .231. Keep in mind, because the Aug. 31 waiver deadline has passed, Iguchi wouldn't be eligible for the postseason.
5. It happened at nearly 1 a.m. on Aug. 28, out of the view of television cameras and long after newspapers went to print. But after the Phillies' improbable rally from a 7-0 deficit in a 13-inning, 8-7 victory over the Mets last week at the Bank, Jimmy Rollins made it clear that the Phillies don't really like the Mets. "The other team gives you inspiration, let's put it that way," he said. "And when you're able to take that and keep yourself motivated, it helps." Rollins never named names or hinted about a specific incident. Prodded further, he flashed a smile and said simply, "Just watch 'em. If you were a player, you're looking over in that other dugout, you'll feel a certain type of way." This weekend, the Phillies shouldn't need to draw inspiration from Jose Reyes' finger-wagging home-run celebrations or his child-like handshakes with teammates in the dugout. Clearly, though, they need to harness all of that emotion and use whatever motivates them to play three big games in New York.
Should be fun to watch, shouldn't it?
Here's your series preview:
PHILLIES (76-64) at METS (79-61)
Tonight, 7:05: RHP Brett Myers (8-10, 4.40) vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey (13-8, 3.66)
Saturday, 3:55: LHP Jamie Moyer (12-7, 3.80) vs. RHP Pedro Martinez (5-3, 5.07)
Sunday, 8:05: LHP Cole Hamels (12-8, 3.01) vs. LHP Johan Santana (12-7, 2.71)
Hot: Phillies RF Jayson Werth is batting .400 (14-for-35) with four homers and nine RBIs in his last 10 games; Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has a 10-game hitting streak during which he’s batting .341 (14-for-41) with five homers and 11 RBIs; Mets SS Jose Reyes is batting .367 (18-for-49) in his last 11 games; Mets CF Carlos Beltran is batting .395 (15-for-38) with five home runs and 13 RBIs in his last 11 games.
Not: Phillies RHP Chad Durbin has a 7.82 ERA over his last 12 relief appearances; Phillies LF Pat Burrell has six hits in his last 43 at-bats (.140); Mets RF Ryan Church has four hits over his last 25 at-bats (.160); Mets RHP Duaner Sanchez has an 11.25 ERA in his last eight relief appearances.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, just heard that Phillies third-base coach Steve Smith has been suspended for two games after his argument with umpires last Friday at Wrigley Field. He'll begin serving his suspension tomorrow night in New York.
Smith, you'll recall, was ejected after arguing a first-base umpire Chris Guccione's call that Ryan Howard was out on a close play at first base. Replays later showed that Howard was safe. It was the final out of the inning, and Smith was ejected after saying something to Guccione as he ran across the field toward the Phillies' dugout.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
As bad losses go, it's hard to imagine one much worse than last night's for the Phillies.
The Nationals are a terrible team. Just awful. How awful? Only the Padres have as many losses (86). And, last night, their lineup included rookies at second base (Emilio Bonifacio), first base (Kory Casto), left field (Roger Bernadina) and right field (Elijah Dukes) and inexperience at catcher (Wil Nieves). Even their "stars," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and center fielder Lastings Milledge are green. Only shortstop Cristian Guzman could be considered a veteran.
Playoff-caliber teams can't lose two of three games against the Nationals.
But the Phillies got only four innings from starter Joe Blanton. And after Ryan Howard's second homer of the night opened a 5-4 lead, overworked Chad Durbin allowed a game-tying homer to Zimmerman in the seventh. Then, in the eighth, Durbin and J.C. Romero combined to allow four runs, and although the Phillies scored twice in the ninth, they couldn't complete a comeback.
Bad loss.
But, on the drive home from the nation's capital, I was reminded that the Phillies suffered a terrible loss almost exactly a year ago. On Sept. 5, 2007, in the finale of a Labor Day week series in Atlanta, the Phils blew an 8-2 lead in the final two innings of a 9-8 loss to the Braves. (Remember, Chris Roberson losing a ball in the sun because he didn't have sunglasses). Well, the Phils had a day off after that game, returned home and lost again, dropping to six games behind the first-place Mets. By Sept. 12, they were seven games behind New York.
And then, well, you know what happened next.
Point is, a three-game deficit with 22 games to play is hardly insurmountable, even if it is their largest since May 11. But, if the Phillies are counting on another improbable comeback, well, it won't be easy. Septembers like last year are like bolts of lightning. They rarely strike twice. The Mets probably won't collapse again the way they did last September. And the odds are against the Phillies winning 13 of their last 17 games. So, last night's loss was, in fact, a terrible loss. And there's no overstating the importance of this weekend's series at Shea.
Let's hear from you: Do you think the Phillies have to sweep the Mets to have any hope of winning the NL East?
***
The Phillies' version of Decision '08 really wasn't much of a decision. Cole Hamels will start Sunday night against the Mets, but honestly, I never thought there was a chance Charlie Manuel or Rich Dubee would let anyone else take the ball.
Also, within the notebook, there are a few words on Kyle Kendrick's uncertain future. Once again, let's hear from you: Should Kendrick start Monday? Should he start again this season?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
WASHINGTON -- Cole Hamels will start Sunday night against the Mets -- and Johan Santana.
More in a bit.(Updated, 5:23 p.m.): Here's what Hamels said moments ago ... "I understood the situation. I think this is the time that really matters. I know [pitching every] five days is what I just did five days ago. That's what I've been able to do all year, and that's what I'll do this time. The main guy, when it's the playoffs or the division championship or the big division rivalry, that's what I want to be. It's time to step up to the plate, and I know that I'm ready for it."Upon hearing that he actually has pitched better this season when he has four days between starts (8-2, 2.47 ERA) than five (4-5, 4.14), Hamels wasn't surprised: "Mentally, your body is ready. When you get that extra day, sometimes you feel off."This from pitching coach Rich Dubee: "All year, we were pretty much protecting him. This is September. We've got what, 24 games? How long can he go? We're hoping nine innings."By the way, Dubee said Kyle Kendrick, who would've started Sunday, will be available out of the bullpen this weekend. A decision on whether Kendrick will make his next start hasn't been made.Much more in tomorrow's News Journal.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
WASHINGTON -- So, Cole Hamels tossed 7-1/3 shutout innings here last night against the last-place Nationals. He allowed five hits. He threw 104 pitches. At one point, he retired 12 of 15 batters.
Doesn't sound too stressful, does it?
Hamels clammed up, though, when asked if he will be able to pitch Sunday night, on standard four days of rest, against the Mets and Johan Santana at Shea Stadium in a nationally televised game and a potential first-place showdown.
"I'm not going to give you guys an answer for that," Hamels said. "Sorry."
No problem, Cole. But that won't stop us from breaking down reasons why he should start Sunday night.
1. Yes, it's true that Hamels would be making his third consecutive start with the requisite four days between starts. And it's true that Hamels has done that only one other time this season, back in July before the All-Star break. And, yes, it's true that, because the Phillies aren't off again until Sept. 15, he'd have to make a fourth straight start on four days of rest Sept. 12 against the Brewers. And, yes, it's true that Hamels leads the NL with 203 innings pitched and has a checkered injury history. But four days rest is standard for starters. It's not like the Phillies are asking him to pitch on short rest. And it's the final month of the season, "go-time," as Hamels called it. If there's any time to push your arm, it's now.
2. Hamels actually has pitched better this season when he has four days between starts (8-2, 2.47 ERA) than five (4-5, 4.14).
3. What's the alternative? Kyle Kendrick has a 9.14 ERA in his past five starts, and he would be lined up to pitch Sunday. If Kendrick is replaced in the rotation, it likely would be rookie J.A. Happ. Happ opposed Santana in a July 4 start at Citizens Bank Park, and the Phillies actually won the game. But it's hard to imagine that happening again.
"I want Hamels on the Mets, and the reason is because that's a two-game swing," Charlie Manuel said. "This time of year, we've got to win some of those games in New York."Said Hamels, "I've finally surpassed 200 innings. That's in their mind. It's in my mind. I truly want to be able to finish the season. I don't want to overextend myself because if I do that, it's not going to benefit the team. I haven't been a good teammate with the injuries I've gotten in the past. ... It's a sticky situation. I want to get past it so I never have to deal with injuries again. Extra days off have benefited me down the line. But I also know it's 'go-time.'"
Here's a look at how Hamels has fared in stretches of three or more consecutive starts on four days of rest:
June 11-21, 2006
vs. Washington, Tampa Bay, NY Yankees: 0-3, 6.32 ERA
July 29-Aug. 8, 2006
vs. Florida, St. Louis, Atlanta: 2-1, 2.21 ERA
April 26-May 16, 2007
vs. Washington, Atlanta, San Francisco, Chi. Cubs, Milwaukee: 4-1, 3.89 ERA
July 3-13, 2008
vs. Atlanta, St. Louis, Arizona: 1-1, 1.99 ERA
***
Within the notebook, we examined Chase Utley's collision with Nats catcher Jesus Flores. By all accounts, it was a clean play. It was even an admirable play, according to Manuel. "That's the way you play," he said. "I wish every one of my players played that way."
Would you say it was "old-school?"
"Don't say old-school. It's not old-school. That's good-school," Manuel said. "That's the way you play the game. Unless you want to put some rouge and makeup and lipstick on and say, 'Oh, I got run over.'"
BY SCOTT LAUBER
WASHINGTON -- Quick lineup note: With a lefty (John Lannan) on the mound tonight for the Nationals, Charlie Manuel has put Jayson Werth in the No. 3 spot. Werth leads the majors with 15 home runs against left-handed pitching.
Here's the full lineup against Lannan (8-12, 3.92): SS Jimmy Rollins (.269/10/50), 2B Chase Utley (.293/31/87), RF Jayson Werth (.279/21/56), 1B Ryan Howard (.234/37/115), LF Pat Burrell (.256/30/77), CF Shane Victorino (.283/11/49), 3B Pedro Feliz (.250/13/51), C Carlos Ruiz (.220/3/23), LHP Cole Hamels (11-8, 3.13).
***
A few minutes ago, I sat down with Michael Radano of the Camden (N.J.) Courier Post to tape our latest audiofile. Today's topics: Should Hamels pitch Sunday night against the Mets (I say yes), and should Kyle Kendrick be removed from the Phils' starting rotation (I say no)?
Want to hear more? Sure, you do. Please click here to listen: R09_0004.mp3***Still no decision, by the way, on whether Hamels' next start (after tonight) will be Sunday night in New York or Monday at home against the Marlins. And there's no word on whether Kendrick will make his next turn. If Hamels pitches Sunday night, it will mark the third straight start that he'll have normal (four days) rest. With no other days off until Sept. 15, Hamels would have to make a fourth start on four days of rest (Sept. 12 vs. Milwaukee). In his career, Hamels has made at least four consecutive starts on four days of rest only once before. Last season, he had five straight (April 26-May 16, 2007) and went 4-1 with a 3.89 ERA.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
WASHINGTON -- So, last week, the Phillies had a chance to take advantage of an off-day by pushing back Kyle Kendrick in the rotation and lining up Cole Hamels to face the Mets on his regular rest last Wednesday night at the Bank.
No way, said pitching coach Rich Dubee.
No thanks, said Hamels.
This week, they have the same opportunity, and Dubee, at least, is considering it. Hamels? We're not sure yet.
Spent a few minutes with Dubee after the game yesterday, and it seemed fairly clear that he wants Hamels to pitch Sunday night at Shea Stadium in the final regular-season matchup against the Mets. Hamels has faced the Mets only once this season (April 18), and with only three games left against New York (and the Phils trailing by two games in the NL East), each head-to-head matchup is precious.
"You'd like to go with your horse every five days, if possible," Dubee said. "This is regular protocol, pitching every five days. It's what starters do. But, again, we have to find out where he is physically. This is new territory for the kid."
Hamels, who always seems to appreciate an extra day of rest, didn't want to discuss any of this yesterday. He is among the NL leaders with 195-2/3 innings pitched, a career-high. And the Phillies tend to be cautious with Hamels, who has been prone to injury throughout his pro career. Dubee said tonight's start against the Nationals will go a long way toward determining if Hamels can pitch Sunday. If he doesn't have to labor tonight, there's a better chance he'll face the Mets. Either way, it sounds like the choice might be Hamels' to make.
To me, though, this is a no-brainer. There are only 24 games left in the season, not the time to be giving Hamels extra rest.
Not the time for him to ask for it, either.
***
If Hamels doesn't face the Mets on Sunday, will Kyle Kendrick? Not so sure about that after his latest stinker here yesterday. Dubee said the Phillies may consider replacing him in the rotation, possibly with J.A. Happ, and had some strong words for Kendrick after the game. "He doesn't have a good look about himself right now," Dubee said. "He doesn't look like he wants to be out there to get people out. Generally, if you get that look, bad stuff is going to happen. He's got to get more confidence again."Kendrick, of course, got no help from his offense yesterday. The Phillies didn't have a hit until the sixth inning against nemesis Tim Redding.***The notebook is chock full of stuff, from Pat Gillick admitting that he "screwed up" by signing Adam Eaton, to Lou Marson getting a vote of confidence (and a single-digit number). Also, Gillick said the Phillies didn't come close to making another trade before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline, but there's a "slight possibility" that they could make one in September. If they do, however, the player they acquire won't be eligible for the postseason.***Didn't make the paper: Reading manager P.J. Forbes had some fun with Marson and Greg Golson before telling them they'd been called up by the Phillies."A couple days ago, our trainer, Chris Mudd, told me I was getting a day off," Golson said. "I was like, 'Why did you give me a day off?' Chris told me I had been doing extra hamstring stretches lately and wanted to give me a day off. I was like, 'You can ask me first,' and I kind of got in his face. He said, 'I'll go talk to the manager,' and a couple minutes later, he was like, 'You can still be used in a double-switch so just be ready.' After the game, they said, 'P.J. wants to see you in the office.' He's like, 'I know I gave you a day off today, but it's with good reason. You're going to the big leagues. Now, don't you owe your trainer an apology?'"Marson said, "I got hit with a backswing a couple days earlier in Reading. Our manager, P.J. Forbes, was messing with me. He said I didn't pass the concussion test or something like that. The trainer was in the room, too, so it seemed pretty official and everything. P.J. told me I couldn't play the next day, but he's like, 'You can play Monday in the big leagues.'"
BY SCOTT LAUBER
WASHINGTON -- OK, lots going on before today's game, so let's get right to it:1. With Adam Eaton returning to the Phillies' clubhouse, Pat Gillick addressed the biggest blunder of his three seasons as GM. Gillick admitted he made a mistake by signing Eaton to a three-year, $24.5 million free-agent contract before the 2007 season. "You go back and look at it and you kind of evaluate how you might've screwed up, to be frank," Gillick said. "But you kind of got to forget about it and go on." Gillick also said that Eaton will have only a "small window" to pitch in September. It seems he'll only get the ball in blowouts. The real kick in the pants, though, for the Phillies is that Eaton is under contract for $8.5 million next season. Of course, Gillick is still planning to retire after the season, so Eaton will be the next GM's problem.2. Charlie Manuel said there's a possibility that Cole Hamels could pitch Sunday night against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Hamels is slated to pitch tomorrow night here against the Nats. With a day off Thursday, the Phillies could shuffle their rotation to keep Hamels on his regular rest and start him Sunday night. During the last trip through the rotation, they had a similar opportunity, but they opted to give Hamels, who leads the NL with a career-high 195-2/3 innings, an extra day of rest. Will try to get to pitching coach Rich Dubee before the day is over. He should have more information.3. Generally speaking, it's considered a good sign for a player when he's assigned a low number. Lou Marson has been given No. 3. "I was talking to our [minor league] catching coordinator Mike Compton, and he told me he knew one year he went to spring training that he was going to make the team just by his number," Marson said. "I'm not going to say that's going to happen [next year], but it was nice."4. Gillick said the Phillies didn't come close to making another trade before last night's waiver deadline. Quite simply, the asking price was too high. Gillick did say the Phillies will call up a few more minor leaguers tomorrow. Shortstop prospect Jason Donald appears to be a possibility. Also, don't count out lefty-hitting Chris Snelling, although he and Donald would have to be added to the 40-man roster. Outfielder T.J. Bohn already is on the 40-man, and he's likely to be recalled.5. As expected, Pat Burrell is getting a rest today against Nationals RHP Tim Redding. Burrell is 4-for-34 with 12 strikeouts in his last seven games, and he's only 6-for-25 with six strikeouts against Redding. Matt Stairs will make his Phillies debut in right field today. Jayson Werth shifts over to left.Your full lineup against Redding (9-8, 4.54 ERA): SS Jimmy Rollins (.270/9/49), CF Shane Victorino (.283/11/49), 2B Chase Utley (.293/31/87), 1B Ryan Howard (.234/37/114), LF Jayson Werth (.282/21/56), 3B Greg Dobbs (.296/6/31), RF Matt Stairs (.250/11/44 with Toronto), C Chris Coste (.280/9/34), RHP Kyle Kendrick (11-7, 4.83 ERA).Much, much more on all of the above in tomorrow's News Journal and here at www.delawareonline.com.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
WASHINGTON -- So, back in June, I spent an afternoon in Reading and spoke to Lou Marson and Greg Golson. Both were enjoying good seasons, and I wondered if they were thinking yet about making their major-league debuts in September."My goal coming into the season was play the season and hopefully get called up in September," Marson said at the time. "I don't know what they're going to do, but that was one of my goals. That would be great."Goal achieved.We're here in Washington, after an early-morning flight from Chicago, and in a few minutes, the Phillies' clubhouse will open to the media and Golson, Marson, lefty J.A. Happ and right-hander Adam Eaton will be in there. They were the first four players called up as part of the annual September roster expansion. And while Eaton's return surely will be interesting (I doubt he'll pitch much), I'm most interested to see Golson and Marson. Golson will be used as a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement, not unlike Michael Bourn last season. And Marson? Perhaps we'll get enough of a look to see if he's ready to be a major-league catcher next season.***The Phillies left Chicago last night feeling confident, and why wouldn't they? A split of a four-game series against the Cubs was impressive. More impressive was that the outplayed the Cubs throughout the series and easily could've won three, or even four, games.Sorry for the quick post, but the clubhouse is about to open. More in a bit.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
On May 7, Howard was batting .163. In 35 games, he had six homers, 16 RBIs, a .286 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage. He looked utterly lost. But, in his last 19 games, Howard is batting .356 with 10 homers, 25 RBIs, a .440 on-base percentage and an .894 slugging percentage. With Jimmy Rollins, he has been carrying the Phils' offense. And despite the slow start, Howard leads the majors with 44 homers and 133 RBIs. The closest players on the leaderboard in either league are Carlos Quentin and Adam Dunn with 36 homers, Josh Hamilton and Justin Morneau with 124 RBIs.
