Jimmy Rollins - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

Thanksgiving is over and today kicks off the official start of the Holiday Season.  And we all remember that huge gift we Phillies fans received last year.  Not sure Ruben Amaro, Jr. can top the Cliff Lee deal but one never knows.

Could the re-signing of Jimmy Rollins be in the works?  Both sides have been quite silent on that matter.  Not sure if that’s a good sign or not.  We do know that on Wednesday the Phillies offered salary arbitration to free agent Rollins.  Yes I can’t even say Phillies shortstop because as View’s Karilee Jeantet pointed out in her post, Hey Phillies, This Is Too Strange, Please Fix! Rollins’ profile on twitter no longer mentions the Phillies and he’s currently not listed on the Phillies active roster.

He has until December 7th to accept the arbitration.

Because Rollins is considered an elite free agent, the Phillies would receive two compensatory Draft picks if he signs elsewhere. One of the selections would be a sandwich pick, and the other would be based on where the signing team’s first-round selection falls.

If the signing team’s pick falls within the first 15 picks, the Phillies would receive that team’s second-round selection. If the signing team’s first selection falls beyond the first 15 picks, the Phillies would receive that pick. – Phillies.com

The Phillies also offered arbitration to both Ryan Madson and Raul Ibanez.  The likelihood of Madson sticking around is probably a long shot.  When talks with him fell through and the Phillies chose to sign former Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, the writing was on the wall for Madson.  At least in the closing role it was.  Not sure Madson would want to stay on and just be a reliever again.  I get the impression he relished the closer role and doubt he wants to give that up.  And if another team is willing to give him a good chunk of money/contract to be the closer, I definitely see him going elsewhere.

The Phillies would also receive two compensatory picks if Madson signs elsewhere. But because he is not considered to be an elite free agent under the new collective bargaining agreement, the team that signs the veteran reliever would not forfeit a Draft pick.

The compensation for Madson would be one supplemental pick in the first or second round, and a sandwich pick – Phillies.com

» Continue reading “Post-Turkey Phillies Arbitration News”

Image courtesy of: limecandy.onsugar.com

I was going to write this post up after last night’s game ended, but wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to say. And to be honest, I’m still not sure.

The game definitely did not end the way I had hoped or wanted it to.  But it is what it is.  The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Phillies 1-0, eliminating them from the playoffs.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Cardinals – Game5 NLDS 10/7/11

Sure Roy Halladay gave up a run in the first inning, but that run was all he gave up.  What he needed was assistance from his offense which clearly he did not get.  A one run lead shouldn’t have been enough for the Cards to advance but sadly it was.  Even with 102 wins in the regular season the offense wasn’t always there and last night it was their undoing.

Third baseman Placido Polanco and first baseman Ryan Howard both had .105 batting averages in the NLDS series.  Catcher Carlos Ruiz had a .057 batting average while right fielder Hunter Pence had .211.  After Games 1 and 2, the offense just faded.  And no matter how great a team’s pitching is, got to have a strong offense to back it up.

Watching Howard walk up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and nobody on, was eerily reminiscent of last year’s NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.  That’s when Howard struck out looking to end that series.  Well last night,  the entire series once again laid on Howard’s big shoulders and he failed to deliver yet again.  Though he did manage to make contact with the ball, it was playable and Howard was thrown out at first.  But he never even made it to first base, he somehow tripped up exiting the box and injured his achilles (left ankle).

“I was trying to run and I just felt this pop, and the whole thing went numb like it was on fire,” Howard said. “I tried to keep going and went down. It literally felt like I was on a flat tire. I tried to get up, [but I] just couldn’t go.”

Howard said he may have hit his Achilles with his bat during his final swing of the 2011 season. Howard had been dealing with bursitis and an assortment of other foot injuries for the latter part of the summer, but he never was told continued pressure on those joints and ligaments would increase the risk of a serious injury. – Phillies.com

Howard who had to be helped off the field while the Cards were celebrating no less, is scheduled to have an MRI on Saturday to see what if any damage was done.

So the offense was a bust as a whole, but I must tip my hat to St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter, who was very impressive.  Going up against Doc for the first time must have been both exciting and intimidating at the same time.  But Carpenter prevailed and helped his team advance to the NLCS to face the Milwaukee Brewers.

As a Philadelphia sports fan, I am used to the disappointment.  Because other than the Phillies World Series win in 2008, I have watched the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) choke year after year.  Doesn’t make it any easier but I’ve come to expect it.  The moment Cliff Lee re-signed with the team back in December 2010, this Phillies team was predicted to go all the way .  With the 4 Aces and then the acquisition of Pence, this team was built to win.  But sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way.

Jimmy Rollins who stepped it up in the playoff series, is in the final year of his contract.  So his future with the Phillies is unknown at this time.  Raul Ibanez and closer Ryan Madson are also at the end of their contracts.

Overall the Phillies had a great year, but sadly because they didn’t make it past the NLDS, some will feel it was a bust and having the best record in all of baseball didn’t mean squat.

Not sure what the future holds for this team but guess we will find out as their off season begins.  SADLY!!!

I want to congratulate the St. Louis Cardinals, their Aerys Site Aaron Miles’ Fastball and its lead writer Christine Coleman!  Good luck in the National League Championship Series.

Ben Francisco - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

Phillies won Game 3 but it wasn’t easy.  The Cardinals put up a fight and Ryan Theriot‘s bat was hot tonight.  In fact, he is now referred to on twitter as ‘Cody Ross Theriot‘ thanks to last year’s playoffs where San Francisco Giant Cody Ross was a major thorn in the Phillies’ side.

And to make matters worse, Cole Hamels threw WAY too many pitches early on.  I won’t say he did poorly, because he didn’t, its just the Cardinals’ offense made him work.  He pitched six innings, gave up five hits, no runs, walked three, and struck out eight.  And though he didn’t go as deep into the game as he would have liked (his pitch count was at 117) he still got the win.

The game was scoreless until the seventh inning.  That’s when Shane Victorino lead the inning off with a single then stole second base.  With two outs, St. Louis lefty Jaime Garcia intentionally walked Carlos Ruiz then had to face pinch hitter Ben Francisco.  That’s when I said to myself, “It’d be a great time to hit one out Ben!”  He must have heard me because he delivered a 3-run shot to left-center field, putting the Phillies up 3-0.

Reliever Vance Worley replaced Hamels in the seventh and gave up three hits and one run.  Antonio Bastardo threw in the eighth and gave up a hit to Theriot, then Brad Lidge replaced Bastardo and gave up singles to both Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal.  Ryan Madson was brought in to get the Phillies out of the eighth and he accomplished that by getting Allen Craig to ground into a double play.

In the top of the ninth, the Phillies had a chance to add to their lead.  With Placido Polanco on first, Carlos Ruiz hit a shot to center where center-fielder Skip Schumaker made a slide and catch.  His glove was on the ground and the ball did in fact land inside of the glove, even though initially Ruiz was called safe at first.  Schumaker argued and the umps converged.  They unanimously agreed that Schumaker caught it, therefore Ruiz was out and the Phillies momentum was quickly snuffed.

Bottom of the ninth brought nervousness and almost panic to the millions of Phillies fans watching as Madson gave up a lead-off double to Albert Pujols.  Madson did retire the next two batters but then allowed an RBI-single by Yadier Molina.  The Phillies lead was cut to just one run and who was up at the plate?  Well you know it had to be none other than ‘Cody Ross’ Theriot.  And would he go 5-for-5???  HELL NO…he grounded out (thank goodness)!  Game over, final score 3-2.

Madson got his first save of the postseason.  And the Phillies now lead the series 2-1.  Game 4 tomorrow night.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Cardinals – Game 3 of NLDS (10/4/11)

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

Cliff Lee - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles blow their game on Sunday afternoon, I for one was hoping the Phillies game would be less frustrating and have a better outcome.  *sigh*

The game began with Rafeal Furcal leading off the with a triple.  And right away I was thinking, “here we go again” BUT Cliff Lee and the Phillies kept Furcal stranded and went on to dominate the bottom of the first by scoring three runs off of Chris Carpenter.  And that all started with a lead-off double by Jimmy Rollins, who in my opinion has really stepped it up.  Chase Utley then walked, then Hunter Pence did as well.  With bases loaded and no outs, Ryan Howard hit a 2 RBI-single.  Raul Ibanez brought Pence home with a single and the Phillies reversed roles with the Cardinals from Saturday night, by having a 3-run lead in the first.

And in the second, Rollins hit his second double of the game and ended up stealing third before Utley was walked.  Pence came up and hit Rollins home.  Phillies were up 4-0.

At that point, Lee had been doing well.  Even with an occasional hit or walk, he had struck out five and kept the Cards scoreless.  That is until the fourth inning when Lee uncharacteristically imploded.  A lead-off walk to Lance Berkman then a single by Yadier Molina, was capped off by a Ryan Theriot double, scoring Berkman.  Then John Jay and Furcal each had an RBI-single, giving the Cards three runs.  The Phillies were still up but by only one.

St. Louis reliever Fernando Salas replaced Carpenter in the fourth and retired all three Phillies batters. Lee had a quick fifth with two strikeouts and a pop out.  But Salas had the same result in the bottom of the fourth.

With two outs in the sixth, Theriot struck again with his second double then Jay hit him home.  The score was tied 4-4.

Octavio Dotel relieved Salas in the sixth and he too retired the Phillies in order.

Lee continued to be un-Lee like when Allen Craig tripled in the seventh, then Albert Pujols hit an RBI-single.  The Cards went up 5-4 and Lee’s outing was done!  In six innings of work, Lee gave up five runs on 12 hits, walked two, and struck out nine.  Relievers Brad Lidge, Antonio Bastardo, and Vance Worley collectively held the Cards hitless and scoreless.  Ryan Madson allowed just one hit, but though it helped defensively, the Phillies offense neglected to even it up.  Therefore, they lost 5-4 to the Cards and the series is now tied at 1-1.

When asked after the game what happened, Lee stated that he had a four run lead and should have done better.  “I take full responsibility,” Lee said.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Cardinals – Game 2 NLDS

The series now shifts to St. Louis for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

If someone asked, why should I root for the Philadelphia Phillies?  I’d have to think for a moment. Not because I don’t think the Phillies are root worthy, oh quite the contrary.  But for me I was born to be a Phillies fan and don’t know any different. So its almost implausible that there are people out there who don’t like them.  But I’m a realist and certainly not delusional.  Though I don’t feel the Phillies are loathed as much as maybe say the Yankees, I do think some might be tired of seeing them make the postseason…five years in a row to be exact. And advancing to the World Series twice in that time frame, once winning it all.

And though I could probably name a 1,000 reasons why someone SHOULD root for the Phillies, here are just a few:

The Aces

Cliff Lee:   Here’s a guy who turned down the Yankees to come play for the city of Brotherly Love.  A pitcher as dominating as Lee WANTED to be a Phillie again…that speaks volumes.  He was voted the NL pitcher for the month of August and with six shutouts this season along with hitting two homeruns, Lee is the real deal.  Can’t dispute the facts.  He might come off as smug but once you see and hear him speak, he’s just a regular guy who happens to be one of the best pitchers too.

Roy ‘Doc’ Halladay:   The reigning NL Cy Young winner is the starter for Game 1 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals and deservedly so.  With a 19-6 record and 2.35 ERA, Halladay had another Cy Young caliber season. And if you haven’t ever seen the MLB2K11 commercial with Halladay hanging with his ‘Chooch’ pillow, its a must-see.  Many think Halladay is so serious all the time, this commercial proves otherwise.

Halladay MLB2K11 - click photo to view commercial

Cole Hamels:  “Mr. Hollywood” had a decent season with a 14-7 record and 2.79 ERA.  At times he struggled with giving up the long ball and like last year, had to deal with his offense not showing up for him.  But overall Cole’s maturity on the mound showed through and the once petulant guy took the losses in stride.

Pence showing some skin at Phillies charity fashion show - MyPHIL17.com

“Good game, Lets Go Eat”:  At the end of July, the Phillies smartly acquired right-fielder Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros.  I had previously referred to Pence as a “Phillies Killer” because he always stepped up his game when he versed them.  But now he IS a Phillie and at first I wasn’t sure it was a good signing.  Well what the hell do I know, the guy is all kinds of awesome.  From his athletic ability to the immense amount of energy he exudes, the guy has been a substantial spark that the Phillies batting line up truly needed. And his now infamous, “Lets Go Eat” quote just endeared him more to the legions of Philly fans (along with his stripping at a charity fashion show SEE PHOTO).  Gotta love his no nonsense approach to everything.  View’s writer Karilee Jeantet* did a terrific piece on Pence’s quotes, you can read it here:  Fun With Hunter Pence Quotes

For the Fan Girls out there:

There are a couple of young rookies for you to enjoy.  One sports an awesome mohawk (best in baseball in my book), red specs and a pair of dimples that are hard to ignore.  His name is Vance Worley and he moved up from Triple-A to the majors will such ease that many find it hard to believe he is just a mere 24 years-old.  Then there’s reliever Michael Stutes who is just downright cute and for most of the season being the newest rookie, he had to carry a pink Hello Kitty backpack (filled with goodies and treats for the bullpen guys) and wear a pink boa around his neck.  He wore both proudly and to be honest, looked good doing it.  And by the way, both Worley and Stutes are damn good pitchers, so aside from looks and fun personalities, they have definitely been key assets to the team’s success.

» Continue reading “Welcome to the Bandwagon: The Fightins”