EW Double Issue - Oct. 14/21, 2011

I was flipping through the latest edition of Entertainment Weekly Magazine and in the back section they have the television (What to Watch) schedule for the next two weeks.

And listed for Wednesday, October 19^th time slot is the WORLD SERIES.  The ironic part is that the picture accompanying the little snippet is of Roy Halladay and mentions the Phillies and Yankees.  Both teams were eliminated in their respective Game 5’s.

And you know looking back to the whole Sports Illustrated Brotherly Love article right before the playoffs started, I am even more convinced that was nothing more than a big old jinx. And back at the end of Spring Training, the Four Aces and Joe Blanton graced the cover as well.  Though the regular season was a success, the postseason was a anything but.  Coincidence…maybe, but PLEASE Sports Illustrated do NOT put any Phillies or the team as a whole on your cover!!!  EVER!

Now the injury reports.  And there are a few.

It was confirmed yesterday that Ryan Howard ruptured his left achilles tendon.  And will require surgery.  However, until the swelling subsides, he can’t have it done.  And a Phillies source stated that there is no guarantee Howard will be ready for Spring Training and could possibly miss the first couple months of the season, if not more. *sigh*

Both Hunter Pence and Placido Polanco have sports hernias.

Polanco is expected to have surgery, while Pence’s plan will be determined following the MRI. Polanco had battled through the sports hernia much of the season, while Pence never indicated publicly it had been an issue. – Phillies.com

Cole Hamels will have loose bodies removed from his elbox next Friday and he too has a hernia, an inguinal one.  Surgery for that will occur the week after next.  Hamels had a shoulder issue back in August but appeared to somewhat work through it.  At least to finish out the season.

Ross Gload who is now a free-agent, will most likely have arthroscopic surgery on his right hip.

I’m still numb over the Phillies being eliminated from the postseason, but with so many injuries, maybe it was just as well.  Polanco who started off like gangbusters, slumped after May and didn’t recover.  So his injury definitely hampered him.  And Howard busting up his achilles…what would have happened if he had actually had a base hit instead of getting out?  He wouldn’t have even made it to first base, as he collapsed half way down the line.  But guess that doesn’t matter because he was in fact out!

To read Entertainment Weekly check it out online or buy a copy.

I was all set to write…WOO-HOO Phillies clinch the 2011 NLDS!  But boy was that shot to s**t after the Phillies lost 5-3 to the Cardinals.

So now we are heading back to Philly for Game 5 on Friday night. Which I really didn’t want to see happen.

And I didn’t think it would be necessary after the Phillies took a nice 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Jimmy Rollins got the ball rolling with his fourth double of the series, then Chase Utley hauled ass to get an RBI-triple.  Hunter Pence then singled to score Utley.  Offense looked good and ready to win this game.  Unfortunately the bats had other plans and flatlined.

The Cards quickly answered in the bottom of the first with an RBI-double by Lance Berkman, that ended up being a double thanks to Shane Victorino slipping (literally) and unable to get the ball back in.

Was hoping for a better outing from Roy Oswalt, but he just didn’t have it.  He threw six innings, gave up five runs on six hits, and struck out five.

The squirrel that made its national television debut on Tuesday night, made another appearance in tonight’s.  And it decided to run across home plate as Oswalt was pitching to Skip Schumaker.

The pitch, which hit the catcher’s mitt a split-second before the furry fellow crossed the home-plate area, was called a ball. The squirrel darted into the stands while Oswalt stood with his hands in the air, either protesting the pitch should have been wiped out or should have been called a strike. – Phillies.com

Obviously Oswalt was struggling anyway, but the squirrel definitely just added to it.  And I defended the little critters in my previous post but they have no place on the baseball field.  When asked after the game what he thought of the squirrel, Manuel stated that there wasn’t much he could do about it, but that being from the south, had he had a shotgun, he would have shot the squirrel.  All I know is that better be the last squirrel sighting at any Phillies games.  The once labeled ‘lucky squirrel’ is now null and void.

On Tuesday night, the Philly killer was Ryan Theriot, tonight it was David Freese, who hit a two RBI-double in the fourth then slammed a two-run homer in the sixth.  Putting the Cards up 5-2.

Joe Blanton threw in the seventh and Brad Lidge pitched the eighth.  Combined they retired all six batters faced but the damage had already been done.

The Phillies managed to squeak in a run in the eighth courtesy of pinch hitter Ross Gload singling then advancing to second on a balk.  Michael Martinez pinched run for Gload and got to third after Utley singled.  With Hunter Pence at the plate, St. Louis reliever Fernando Salas threw a wild pitch, allowing Martinez to score.  At that point the Phillies would take a run any way they could.  Sadly though with the offense on life support, there wasn’t much hope of a miraculous recovery.

Even worse, Ryan Howard who usually kills it at Busch Stadium has been downright invisible. Tonight he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.  Not harping on him, I just want him to find whatever is missing and be the hitter I know he can be!  And hopefully he finds it before Friday night.

And speaking of Friday night, the pitching match-up for Game 5 will be Roy Halladay vs. Chris Carpenter.  If ever there was a time to be grateful that Doc is a Phillie, Friday night would be it.  I have faith…so please baseball gods, don’t disappoint me!

Complete Box Score Phillies/Cardinals – Game 5 NLDS 10/5/11

The song used for the FOX/TBS Postseason is “Written in the Stars” by Tinie Tempah featuring Eric Turner can be heard here.

I stated a couple days ago how the Phillies were either going to be the Atlanta Braves’ worst nightmare or their dream come true, well I think its pretty clear which one the Phillies are.

The Phillies 7-1 victory over the Braves, put to rest any doubt people had (myself included) on whether they could finish out the regular season on a high note after hitting a bad streak.  But I refrain from being too ecstatic for fear of being a j**x.  Look at that, I won’t even spell it out!  And for those that know me and my track record at Phillies games this year, I have NO tickets for any of the post season games.  So everyone can breath a sigh of relief.  I will watch from the comforts of my home in southern New Jersey, approximately 30 minutes from Citizens Bank Park, I think that’s a safe enough distance!

In regards to Tuesday night’s game, I can’t stress enough how absolutely wonderful it is to see the offense show up and make the other team’s pitchers work.  Especially when you have a guy like Derek Lowe on the mound.  Let’s face it, the dude has been struggling.  The Phillies would have been crazy not to take full advantage of Lowe’s current lack of pitching prowess.

Roy Oswalt - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

Chase Utley started it all off with a solo home run in the first.  Hunter Pence had 3-RBI’s on the night, thanks in part to a 2-run homer in the fifth.  Pence has 96 RBI’s on the season, just four shy of a 100.  Jimmy Rollins hit another solo shot after hitting one in Monday night’s game.

Righty Roy Oswalt pitched well by going six innings, only giving up three hits, no runs, and struck out four.  That was enough to give him his ninth win of the season.  Rookie Joe Savery relieved Oswalt in the seventh and had a one-two-three inning including a strikeout.  Then Antonio Bastardo pitched the eighth and I’ll be honest, my faith in him has been teetering.  But he looked good, also having a quick inning, retiring all three batters.

Kyle Kendrick threw in the ninth and though gave up a homer to Martin Prado, he retired all three batters afterwards.  Game over!

With Tuesday night’s win, manager Charlie Manuel reached 645 wins (2005-2011) as the Phillies skipper.  Tying him with Gene Mauch for the Phillies franchise record.

The Phillies’ win on Tuesday was their 101st victory of the season and that ties them with the 1976 and 1977 Phillies for the franchise record.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Braves – 9/27/11 Game

After the jump, check out Wednesday’s game preview which is the Phillies final regular game of the season!!!!

» Continue reading “Phillies = Buzzkill For Braves”

Friday night’s Phillies/Mets match-up was postponed due to what else…RAIN!   The Phillies will play a split doubleheader on Saturday with Game 1 starting at 1:10 pm EDT and Game 2 at 7:10 pm EDT.

Saturday’s Game 1 Preview

Phillies (98 – 58)     vs     Mets (74 – 82)

Game Time:  1:10 pm EDT

Citi Field – New York

TV:  WPHL 17 – Philadelphia

Radio:  WPHT 1210, WUBA 1480

Weather at Game Time:  73,  showers likely

Pitching Match-Up

Philadelphia:  LHP Cole Hamels  (14-9) ERA 2.80

New York:  RHP R.A. Dickey  (8-13) ERA 3.35

Hamels allowed seven hits and four runs and struck out nine in seven innings in Sunday’s 5-0 loss to the Cardinals. He hopes to pick up his 15th win Friday against the Mets, which would tie a career high, which he set in 2007.

Dickey has 11 straight quality starts, but is just 4-5 in the stretch. He lost 1-0 to the Braves in Atlanta last Saturday despite giving up just three hits in 7 2/3 innings. Chipper Jones had the winning hit in the eighth after two walks. – Phillies.com

Game 2 preview is after the jump…

» Continue reading “Phillies/Mets Rained Out, Split DBLHeader Saturday”

The Houston Astros have lost 97 games and last night they beat the Phillies by a score of 5-1…SAY WHAT????  I would crack it up to my old ‘Phillies not showing up to face weaker teams’ motto, but seriously there is no excuse.

Roy Oswalt - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

I get the whole Roy Oswalt facing his former team and all that jazz, but funny it didn’t affect Houston’s Brett Myers who was once a Phillie.  Oswalt pitched seven innings, gave up 11 hits, five earned runs, walked two, and only struck out two.  I have no idea if his nerves got the best of him with being back in Houston or whatever the reason was, but Oswalt flat out just didn’t look good.

Hunter Pence didn’t seem to be as affected in his first return to Houston, he had two hits including his 35th double of the season.  And he received a standing ovation his first time up at the plate, for which was well-deserved.

Misplays also cost the Phillies.  I swear for a team that most of the time looks world class, every once in awhile they tend to look more like the Bad News Bears.  But I will give them a pass for last night’s game.  Because they still have the best record in baseball and they are only one away from clinching a playoff berth.  Which could have happened last night, but such is life.  I have faith it will happen tonight with Cole Hamels on the mound.

Last night, Jimmy Rollins started at shortstop for the first time since being activated from the 15-day disabled list. Rollins had one hit.  Raul Ibanez hit his 29th double of the season.  But the Phillies only had a total of six hits and their only run came from an RBI-single by Pete Orr.

On Monday, the Phillies activated right-hander Joe Blanton off the 60-day disabled list and he relieved Oswalt in the eighth.  He gave up one hit and struck out one.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Astros – 9/12/11 Game

Check out Tuesday night’s game preview after the jump….

» Continue reading “Are You Kidding Me Part 3??? Astros Edition”