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.

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.

PHI Cole Hamels & STL Jaime Garcia

The series is tied 1-1 and tonight’s Game 3 is in St.Louis.

Ryan Howard usually tears it up at Busch Stadium, playing in front of his hometown family and friends, so hopefully tonight and tomorrow are no exception.

John Mayberry, Jr. who has had good success against lefties, will most likely start in place of Raul Ibanez.  Mayberry is 3-for-6 against St. Louis southpaw Jaime Garcia, with a double and RBI.

“I don’t think anybody feels real comfortable against him,” said Mayberry about his success against Garcia. “He’s a real good pitcher. I guess I’ve been fortunate in the past.” – Phillies.com

One of the biggest keys to beating the Cards is the offense staying hot.  So far lead-off batter Jimmy Rollins has done his job effectively.

Rollins is hitting .485 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, three walks and three stolen bases in his last eight games, including the first two games of the NLDS. – Phillies.com

So has Chase Utley who at times struggled going down the stretch.

Utley is hitting .500 with two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, four walks and one stolen base in his last four games, including the first two games of the postseason. – Phillies.com

As good as those two have been, both have not fared well against Garcia.  In their careers, Rollins is 1-for-11 and Utley is 0-for-6.  Not very good stats, but this is the playoffs and the mindset is completely different.  If Rollins gets on base, right out of the gate, he sets the tone for the rest of the game.

Tonight, we finally get to see Cole Hamels in the postseason. He finished off the regular season with 14 wins, nine losses, and a 2.79 earned run average.

“I know that being able to have good starting pitchers in the postseason is supposed to be sort of the way of success, but at the same time, in the postseason, everything is different no matter what you did during the regular season — how well you did, how well you didn’t do,” Hamels said. “You can have your big games in the postseason, but at the same time, it takes a whole team.” – Phillies.com

Check out tonight’s Game 3 preview after the jump…

» Continue reading “NLDS Game 3 Preview: Phillies/Cardinals”

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

Roy Halladay - MyPHL17.com

With my family over to celebrate my son’s birthday, we all gathered in the family room, excited and ready to cheer on the Phillies.  Our party buzz was quickly killed the moment Lance Berkman slammed a 3-run shot off of Roy Halladay in the first inning.  And we knew it was gonna be one of THOSE games.

But with Doc at the helm, even if he’s given up a couple runs, you always get the feeling that the moment he settles down and gets into his groove, good things will happen.  And that they did.  After allowing a single by Skip Schumaker, Halladay went on to retire the next 21 batters.

St. Louis’ Kyle Lohse kept the Phillies bats quiet and scoreless until the fourth inning, when Chase Utley doubled and Ryan Howard walked.  Shane Victorino then stepped up to the plate and hit an RBI-single, putting the Phillies on the board with one run.

But it would be the sixth inning that Phillies turned it on and then some.  Jimmy Rollins and Hunter Pence both singled then Lohse threw a sweet pitch that Howard just crushed.  Hitting his first homer of the post season and giving the Phillies a 4-3 lead in the process.  But the Phillies weren’t done with Lohse yet, after Victorino singled, Raul Ibanez homered to right field.  The Phillies were then up 6-3.

St. Louis reliever Marc Rzepczynski took over the seventh, and the Phillies tacked on three more runs.  Then in the eighth Pence hit a 2 RBI-single, adding two more runs.  The Phillies ended up with a total 14 hits in the game.

With an 11-3 lead in the top of the ninth, Charlie Manuel decided to give Halladay a rest and bring in reliever Michael Stutes.  The lead was substantial, so no harm letting the young guy get a little postseason experience.  Well, Stutes probably didn’t have the experience he was hoping for when he gave up three runs on three hits.  So Ryan Madson was called upon to hopefully end the game without giving up anymore hits/runs.  And though Madson gave a up a hit which scored a run (charged to Stutes) he was able to finish the Cardinals off by striking out both John Jay and pinch hitter Matt Holliday. 

Final score was 11-6 and the Phillies are 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Cardinals – Game 1 NLDS

For the Aerys Sports St. Louis Cardinals perspective, please check out Aaron Miles Fastball

Image Source:  MyPHL17.com