Sweeping a team is always nice, but sweeping the Mets always feels just a little bit better.  Especially when that sweep happens under the bright lights in New York City (though only one of the games was actually under the lights.)

Photo Credit: BJ WIlson

The Phillies sent Kyle Kendrick to the mound.  Now my distaste for Kendrick is well, strong.  If you would like to read about my dislike, you can find it here, and here (in poem form!!!) and here, oh and here.  So yeah, Kyle Kendrick is not, umm, liked by me.

Which is why the Mets should be completely embarrassed that he somehow held them only 3 hits, while pitching a Complete Game Shut Out.  For some reason, he pitched very well.  I posted on Facebook the following message:

I currently live in a world where Kyle Kendrick just pitched a 3-hit CGSO against the Mets and has the lowest ERA on the Phillies staff.

It was good knowing you guys enjoy the apocalypse.

And I truly believe it.  The Phillies have a staff of Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and, as of right now, Kyle Kendrick has the best ERA.  That’s just wrong.

» Continue reading “Phillies SWEEP Mets. That Always Feels Good.”

For the last few seasons, starting pitching has been a strong point for the Phillies.  The same idea will continue this year.  On a staff that is lead by Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, for the most part, pitching is shaping up nicely.

Well, at least some of it is.

Roy Halladay has had an interesting spring, an interesting 12 months really.  There were days when he has looked like the machine that he is rumored to be.  And days when he is a pitcher with an injury.  It has not been a good time in Halladay’s career and he has worked hard to keep pushing forward.

Unfortunately, the concerns seem to be back after Halladay’s latest outing.

Spring Training started on such a high note for Doc.  He said he felt good and, by all accounts, he looked good.  Torii Hunter couldn’t stop shaking his head after Doc’s first start of the spring.  Is it possible that that was the highlight of his year?  It better not be.

Last week, when Halladay faced the Yankees, his fastball was sitting around 89 mph.  The start before that, 90.  Today, it sat around 88 mph.  It should not be going down this early in the season.  Heck, it’s not even the season yet.  Halladay will be closely monitored as we get closer to opening day.

Both Doc and the Phillies promise everyone that he is not injured, just “lethargic” (whatever that means.)

Cliff Lee, has been, well, Cliff Lee and if the offense decides to schore runs for him, and the bullpen doesn’t blow his leads, then he will be fine.

Cole Hamels has been stellar.  His spring ERA sits at 0.90.  He has given up 1 run all spring.  (Yes, I am ignoring the start against the DR, they don’t count towards Spring Training stats.)  It has truly been a thing of beauty.

The Phillies have also taken note of their highest paid players’ spring and have officially name Cole Hamels Opening Day Starter.  He deserves it.

Kyle Kendrick and John Lannan have both been decent, but I still don’t like either of them.

The really sad part is that unless plans change, then Kyle Kendrick will be the starter for the Home Opener.  Yeah, please let Cliff Lee pitch that day.

On the twelfth day of Spring Training, the Phillies gave to me:

Grapefruit League game,

Inter-squad play,

Schmidt shows up,

Doc steps aside,

Young James speaks,

Player Photo Day,

Everyone gettin’ ready,

Full Squad Workouts!

Talking Chase Utley,

An optomistic Howard,

Doc and Chooch Pressers,

and

Pitchers, Catchers and a healthy looking Utley!

» Continue reading “Phillies: On The Twelfth Day Of Spring Training”

Philadelphia Phillies Ace Pitcher, Cole Hamels, rescued a life this offseason.  No he did not save a reporter’s life, that was Evan Longoria.  He did not save a man in the Amazon from an anaconda, that was Roy Halladay. He didn’t even perform the Heimlech on someone that was choking, that was Todd Frazier.

While Hamels did none of those things, he did save one little girl.

The Hamels family during a photo shoot. Photo Credit: 6abc

On Christmas Eve, the Hamels came back from Ethiopia with a new daughter.  Heidi and Cole brought home a 6-month old that they have named Reeve.  She is, apparently, the culmination of a 4-year adoption process.

My nephew and niece.

This topic is one that is near and dear to my heart.  In 2011, my brother and sister-in-law brought home a little girl from Zambia.  I have never been to Zambia, but from what my family has told me, my heart would break left and right.

The kids at the state orphanages are the poorest of the poor.  Often they are children of neglect and abuse.  Many will not see their second birthday, this probably would have been the fate of my niece if Steven and Kim did not intercede.  Though they couldn’t save all those children, they were able to save one.

Over the last 19 months, I have watched my beautiful, fun, girly-girl niece grow and blossom under the care and love of my family.  Steven and Kim has reversed her fate.

Now Cole and Heidi have done that for one more little child.  She is being blessed by becoming part of a family that will forever love her.  Oh, and with the Hamels adopting her, she went from one of the poorest in the world to a very wealthy child.  Now that is a complete 180.

35!  35 days to Spring Training.  So close, yet so far.

Randy Lerch:

Lerch wore #35 in 1986.  This was his second stint in Philadelphia.  He was a Left-handed pitcher whose ERA was 7.88 that year.  Amazingly, it was his last in pro-ball.

Jim Konstantly:

Konstantly was a RHP for the Phillies from 1948-1954.  (He wore 26 in ’48.) He was one of the top pitcher in baseball at the time, including winning the MVP award in ’50.  That year he posted an ERA of just 2.66 while appearing 72 games and finishing 66 of them.

Overall, Konstantly had a career 3.46 ERA while appearing in 433 games and pitching in 945.2 innings over 11 years.

Cole Hamels:

Hamels was once the golden boy of the Phillies minor leagues.  Drafted in 2002, Hamels quickly worked his way through the system and debuted in May, 2006.  Since the day of his debut, he has never looked back and pretty much dominating the NL East.  (Just ask the Marlins over the years.)

Today, he is an established Ace in the baseball world.  The strong throwing lefty has one of the most beautiful change-up in all of baseball.  He is also an NLCS MVP and a World Series MVP, has a ring and a huge contract that is just about to start.

Who wore it best:

Cole Hamels

This one was actually tough one.

Konstantly was an amazing relief pitcher, and I took a long time debating back and forth.  While Konstantly won the MVP, something that pitchers, especially relief pitcher, rarely win, Hamels’ resume is more impressive.

The most impressive part of all: Hamels still has at least 6 more years in a Phillies uniform to cement his name in the Phillies history books.

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.