Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
It's a guessing game right now whenever Adam Eaton takes the mound for the Phils. You just never know who is going to show up. The shaky Eaton who struggled in April, or the good Eaton who looked like the Phils ace in May. Tonight, it was the shaky Eaton, allowing 3 runs in the second inning. He allowed the Stros to load the bases with nobody out, on a pair of singles and a walk. Then he walked in a run, allowed another to score on a fielder's choice, and then served up an RBI single to Craig Biggio before finally getting out of the inning, and that was after the Phils had just taken an early 1-0 lead on a Wes Helms double in the top of the inning. Fortunately, The Phils scored two to tie it in the 3rd inning on a double by Ryan Howard, and the good Eaton showed up to shut down Houston for the next 3 innings. Micheal Bourn then put the Phils ahead 4-3, with a 2 out ground rule double in the 7th inning. The Phils bullpen kept it that way until the bottom of the 9th. There, Antonio Alfonseca came in to close it out and things got interesting. After getting a quick out, Craig Biggio and Hunter Pence singled, and Alfonseca walked Lance Berkman, loading the bases for the ever dangerous Carlos Lee. However , Alfonseca got Lee to ground into a game ending double play, and the Phils had won, or so they thought. Although replays clearly showed him out, firstbase ump Lance Barskdale called Carlos Lee safe, allowing Biggio to score with the tying run. Somehow Alfonseca got out of the inning with the score still tied but it didn't matter. The Phils had chances in just about every inning after that to get the lead back, but they weren't able to get that last hit they needed and in the 13th inning Hunter Pence finally ended the marathon with a homer, on the first pitch he saw from Jose Mesa. So the Phils lost 5-4, but should have won 4-3. In other words if the Phils wind up missing the playoffs by a game, Barksdale is a dead man. Anyway, the Mets and Braves both lost again as well, so again the Phils didn't lose any ground in the NL East, but life still sucks.
Monday, July 02, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils came into Houston tonight for a 3 game set, having won 6 of their last 9 against the Astros. With Jamie Moyer on the mound things figured to be more of the same. Moyer delivered, allowing just 4 runs on 9 hits, in 6 innings of work. The Phils bullpen on the other hand, didn't do so well allowing 3 runs on 2 hits after the Phils had cut the lead to 1 in the 6th inning. Aaron Rowand put the Phils ahead 1-0 in the first on a sac fly. Then after Houston tied in the bottom of the first, Pat Burrell went deep in the second for a 2-1 Phils lead. Houston tied it again in the 3rd, and then took the lead in the 5th with a 2 run homer by rookie Hunter Pence. The Phils then cut the lead to 1,at 4-3, with a solo homer by Shane Victorino in the 6th. Then Jamie Moyer returned to the dugout for the night and it all got away from the Phils. In the 7th, Brian Sanches walked 3 batters in a row to the load the bases with two outs and force in 1 run, but only after Shane Victorino attempted and failed to make a spectacular catch of a foul ball, lunging into the seats and bruising his side, he says he's fine though. Jose Mesa came in to relieve Sanches and walked in another run, before finally ending the inning. Then in the 8th, Mesa allowed a solo homer by Carlos Lee to seemingly put the nail in the Phils coffin. However, as is their current MO the Phils didn't go down easily. In the 9th, they loaded the bases with only 1 out, and Carlos Ruiz doubled to cut the lead to 7-5, and put the tying run on second. All they needed was one more single tie it, but Chris Coste grounded out, and Jimmy Rollins flied out and that was that. So the Phils lost 7-5 to drop to 42-41, but the Mets and Braves both lost as well, and the Phils thus didn't lose any ground in the NL East. Life still sucks though.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
After having swept the Mets in NY back in June, the Phils nearly allowed the Mets to come in town this weekend and repay the favor, as they won the first 3 games of a 4 games set. Today, in their first July game, the Phils avoided the embarrassing 4 game sweep. Rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick got the start , and once again he delivered. In just his 4th start, Kendrick went 6 and 2/3rds innings, and held the Mets to just 2 runs on 6 hits. The Phils meanwhile, got a 2 out double from Greg Dobbs in the 2nd inning, and a 2 run homer from Jimmy Rollins in the 3rd inning to take an early 3-1 lead. A solo homer by Carlos Delgado in the 4th inning, got NY back to within 1 at 3-2. Fortunately the Phils had one last rally in the 7th inning to put it away for good. With two outs in the inning, Shane Victorino hit a solo homer just inside the foul pole to extend the lead to 4-2. Then Chase Utley Tripled, Ryan Howard worked a walk, and Aaron Rowand singled to score Utley and push the lead to 5-2. Pat Burrell could then have extended the lead even further but he struck out rather weakly to end the inning. The Phils bullpen ruled the rest of the way although Mike Zagurski had to be rescued after surrendering a run with two outs in the 9th. Fortunately Antonio Alfonseca came in to get the last out, and the Phils got the win 5-3. So the Phils are now 42-40, just 5 games behind the Mets for first and 1 behind Atlanta for 2nd. Life is beautiful again. Oh and by the way Kendrick is now 3-0 on the season, can you say clutch.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers made some big moves today. First they signed free agent center Daniel Briere to an 8 year $52 million deal. Briere co-captained the Sabres to the best record in the NHL last season and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. Along the way Briere led the Sabres and finished 10th in the league with 95 points, off 32 goals and 63 assists. He was also the MVP of last year's All-star game in his first ever trip there. Not along after signing Briere, they swung a 4 player deal with the Edmonton Oilers, sending Geoff Sanderson and Joni Pitkanen, to Edmonton in excahnge for veteran defenseman and team captain Jason Smith and winger Joffrey Lupul. Lupul was really just a throw in, and may or may not help to improve the Flyers, but Smith sures up the Flyers defense ,and Briere does likewise to the offensive attack. There is thus a very good chance the Flyers could be right back in the playoffs next year, after finishing dead last in the NHL last year.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Like J.D Durbin yesterday, J.A Happ had rough major league debut allowing 5 runs, including yet another homer By Carlos Beltran, in just 4 and 2/3rds innings of work. The Phils bullpen wasn't much better. Beltran homered for a second time in the 7th and wound up knocking in 3 runs on the day as the Mets road a 6-3 lead into the 9th inning, where they tacked on two more excruciating runs, on a throwing error and a sac fly for an 8-3 lead. The Phils meanwhile, managed just those 3 runs off starter Jorge Sosa, who wound up leaving the game in the 6th with a strained hamstring. The Phils only real highlight of the day was yet another towering upper deck blast by Ryan Howard, his 19th of th season, which briefly helped the Phils tie it at 3 in the 5th inning. The Mets bullpen then just blew them away in the final 4 innings and the Phils fell 8-3, for their 3rd straight loss to New York, dropping to 6 games behind the Mets for first, and 2 behind Atlanta for 2nd. Thus, life really sucks now. Hey wait a minute weren't we just talking about heartbreaking losses, I guess some things just never get old.
SPECIAL SECTION
The Top 10 Most Heartbreaking Losses In Phillies History
I recently came across a sports illustrated article commemorating the Phillies for their long history of losing. So long in fact that the Phils, the losingest franchise in all of sports, now stand just 6 losses away from the greatest milestone in futility yet accomplished, 10,000 losses in franchise history. With the heartbreak of yesterday's doubleheader, and that milestone looming, I though it might be interesting to take a look back at some of the Phils toughest losses. By definition heartbreaking means causing or marked by grief and anguish, and experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss. In other words these 10 losses are those that Phils will never live down. The ones that they want to forget but never will. So all that said lets get started.
10. All of them.
Yes that's right I said all of them. Whether you're a player, coach or just a diehard, any loss by your team hurts. Some may hurt more than others, but in the end they all do. When you are the losingest franchise in sports, you learn pretty quickly that you have to be able to forget about them and move on, but as these next few losses can attest that's not always easy to do.
9. October 13, 1915 World Series Game 5, Boston Red Sox 5 - Phillies 4
Okay so only you 100 year olds out there probably remember this one, but that doesn't make it any easier swallow. The original "worst to first" team, the 1915 Phils had finished in 6th place a year earlier, but now with Grover Cleveland Alexander winning 31 games and Gavvy Cravath slamming a then single season record 24 homers, they romped to 90 wins and their first NL Pennant by 7 games over the Braves. Still, most experts didn't give them a chance in the World Series against the powerful Boston Red Sox. That didn't phase the Phils who shocked Boston by taking game 1, 3-1 behind Alexander's complete game. The Philadelphia A's had been heavily favored to win the 1914 series, but the Boston Braves swept them, would the Phillies now return the favor against Sox? not so fast. Boston won the next 3 games 2-1, twice knocking in the winning run in the 9th inning, then came the real crusher. For the first time since game 1 the Phils actually led late 4-2 on a two run double, and a homer by team captain and 1st baseman Fred Luderus, but it wouldn't be enough. Eppa Rixey, pitching in relief of Erskine Mayer, had shut down the Sox through 7, but in the 8th he was undone by a fatal move by owner William F.Baker. In an effort to increase ticket sales, Baker had placed extra seats in front of the left-field bleachers and right center field, reducing the size of the playing field at his namesake the Baker Bowl. In the 8th and 9th inning the Sox twice homered into the new seats, with Duffy Lewis tying it on a 2 run homer in the 8th, and future Hall of Famer Harry Hooper putting the Sox ahead with a solo shot in the 9th and just like that the Phils first word title had slipped away to Boston. It would be 35 years before they would have another shot at it.
8. October 16, 1983 World Series Game 5 Baltimore Orioles 5 - Phillies 0
3 years after their first and only World Championship in 1980, The Phils returned to the fall Classic led by a new cast of characters known as "the wheeze kids" because of their extraordinary old age. 42 year old Pete Rose, 41 year old Tony Perez, and 39 year old Joe Morgan reignited the big the red machine in Philly, and led the Phils to a division title and then a dramatic NLCS victory over the L.A Dodgers who had beaten them twice before in the 1977 and 1978 NLCS. Then Cy Young award winner John Denny, one of the few younger players on the team, pitched a complete game to help the Phils take game 1, 2-1 in Baltimore. Unfortunately, Baltimore was just too much for the Phils. They took the next 3 games by excruciatingly close margins, including consecutive 1 run losses in games 3 and 4. Game 5 by contrast was no contest, which was made it so tough to endure. It all just felt so final, as the Phils gave no indication that they any fight left in them. Future Hall of Famer, Eddie Murray hit two towering homers and Scott Mcregor pitched a complete game shutout in the all too convincing 5-0 clincher. The Wheeze kids had wheezed their last, and their fans were forced to watch another road team celebrate a world title in their house.
7. October 4-7, 1950 every game of the 1950 World Series.
Most people will still say that all they remember from 1950, was Dick Sisler's "shot hear round Philadelphia" which gave the Phils the pennant on the last day of the season, but its only because they don't want to remember what happened in the series. Unfortunately, that clinching victory required a monumental 10-inning effort from staff ace Robin Roberts, pitching his 3rd game in 5 days. Thus, the exhausted Roberts was unavailable to pitch game 1 of the series. So instead the "whiz kids" as they were known due their average age of under 30, went with one of their few older players, 31 year old Jim Konstanty, who was actually a rookie, and their closer for that matter. Although Konstanty had not started a game all season, he looked as if he had, going 8 innings while allowing only 1 run, but the Phils offense ran into Yankee Ace Vic Rashi who threw a 2 hit shutout for the 1-0 win in Philly, at Connie Mack stadium(although no one called it that then, as it was still known as Shibe Park). In Game 2 Robin Roberts returned to pitch a 9 inning 1-1 duel with Allie Reynolds. Then the yankee clipper, Joe Dimaggio clipped a solo shot in the 10th inning to put the Yanks up 2-1 and that was enough to win yet another game in Philly. In game 3 the Phils called on Ken Heintzelman who won 17 games for them in 1949, but in 1950 he was only 3-9. On this day though he looked like the old Heintzelman, carrying a 2-1 lead into the 8th, the Phils only lead of the series. Unfortunately, he chose then after 2 quick outs to come back down to earth walking 3 straight batters. In came Konstanty to save the day, which he did inducing a ground out, but Granny Hamner booted it and the tying run scored. Somehow Konstanty got the next batter to end the inning, but it didn't matter as the Yanks scored again in the 9th to win 3-2, and just like that the Phils had lost 3 in a row by 1 run. Then in game 4 the Phils ran into a young lefty in his 1st world series. He was none other than future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, and he breezed into the 9th inning with 5-0 lead, poised to shutout the Phils, but a Jerry Woodling error opened the door for the Phils to score 2 and cut the lead to 5-2. Unfortunately that woud be as close they would get and so ended the closest 4 game sweep in world series history.
6. October 2, 2005 Astros 6 - Cubs 4.
Over the last 4 years the Phils have come excruciatingly close to reaching the playoffs as the wildcard. They never came closer though than they did in 2005. Late in the season they found themselves 5 games behind the Astros in the wildcard with only a week to play and things didn't look so good, but then a funny thing happened. After a string of dramatic victories, and surprising losses for the Stros, the Phils suddenly found themselves just one game back on the final day of the season. All they needed was a win and an Astros loss to the Cubs to force a one game playoff for the wildcard, which incidentally would have taken place in Philly at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils got their win easily against the Washington Nationals, 10-1 and for a while it looked as if the Cubs would provide the loss. After trailing 3-0 for 4 innings, the Cubs surged ahead 4-3 in the top of the 6th. Then in bottom of the 6th Neifi Perez committed a rare throwing error and Houston went back ahead 5-4 and later added another run to go ahead 6-4 heading into the 9th. The Cubs got their leadoff man aboard in the 9th, but couldn't get the hit they needed tie it up again. The last batter Jose Macias, lined what appeared to be an RBI single to cut the lead to 6-5, but it went right into the glove of second baseman Eric Bruntlett to end the game, and just like that the Bank's first playoff game had slipped away.
5. October 7, 1978 NLCS Game 4 L.A Dodgers 4 - Phillies 3, final in 10 innings.
The Phils had already lost the last 2 NLCS including a 4 game heartbreaker to the Dodgers the year before. Now they were back for the 3rd year in a row, but initially it just looked like more of the same. The Dodgers won the first 2 games of the series in Philly easily, 9-5 and 4-0, but suddenly the Phils and Steve Carlton(god only knows why Manager Danny Ozark waited until now to give him the ball) took game 3 9-5 and Phils fans were at the edge of their seats all over again. Game 4 started well, as the Phils took a 2-1 lead in 3rd on a homer by Greg Luzinski. The Dodgers tied it in the 4th on a Ron Cey solo homer, then Steve Garvey put them ahead 3-2 in the 6th with his 4th and final homer of the series. The Phils tied it one last time in the 7th on a solo homer by Bake Mcbride, but after that the two team's bullpens dueled all the way into the tenth inning. Try as they might, the Phils just couldn't get that one run they needed to force a decisive game 5, and instead in the bottom of 10th the Dodgers struck. With 2 outs in the inning Tug Mcgraw walked Ron Cey, Dusty Baker reached on a rare error by Gary Maddox, and Bill Russell ripped a single into centerfield to score Cey with the winning run. Once again for the 3rd year in a row the Phils had failed to reach the world series.
4. October 20, 1993 World Series Game 4 Toronto Bluejays 15 - Phillies 14.
Most people will tell you that the Phillies lost the 1993 World Series in the 9th inning of game 6, but the series truly got away from them in this game. Trailing 2-1 in the series, the Phils desperately needed this one to pull even at two games a piece. They quickly fell behind 3-0 in the 1st inning, but the Phils came right back with 4 in the bottom of the inning. A 2 run homer by the dude, Lenny Dykstra pushed the lead to 6-3 in the 2nd inning. Toronto came right back with 4 of their own in 3rd inning for a 7-6 lead. Mariano Duncan tied it at 7 with an RBI single in the 4th. Then the Phils exploded for 5 runs in the 5th inning, on a 2 run homer by Darren "Dutch" Daulton, a double by Milt Thompson, and another 2 run homer by Lenny Dykstra. Now it finally seemed as if the Phils might have put it out of reach with a 12-7 lead, but Toronto just wouldn't go away. They put up 2 in the 6th to cut the lead to 12-9, then after the Phils had scored a run each in the 6th and 7th innings to up the lead to 14-9, Toronto erupted in the infamous 8th inning. The "wild thing" Mitch Williams had come in to close out the game for a 2 inning save, but he and his exhausted slide step were no match for the Toronto onslaught. The Jays scored 6 in the 8th to go ahead for good 15-14. The Phils had a shot to come back one more time in the 9th, but they had nothing left, and went down in order. Toronto thus had itself a 3 games to 1 lead at the expense of a depressed city and team.
3. October 23, 1993 World Series Game 6 Toronto Bluejays 8 - Phillies 6.
Thanks to Curt Schilling's complete game shutout in game 5, the Phils returned to Toronto for game 6, and most experts felt that if they could just pull this one out, they would win it all with Danny Jackson on the mound in game 7. At first it didn't look so good, as the Blue Jays again went ahead 3-0 in the first inning. The 1993 Phils were fighters though, and they did just that. Jim Eisenreich singled in a run in the 4th to cut the lead to 3-1. Toronto came back with runs in the 4th and 5th for a 5-1 lead, but the Phils were game enough to battle back one last time. In the 7th, Lenny Dykstra hit a 3 run homer to cut the lead to 5-4, then Dave Hollins singled in a run to tie it at 5 and then scored on a pinch sac fly by Pete Incaviglia to put the Phils ahead 6-5. That lead stood until the bottom of the 9th, as a tired Mitch Williams entered the game, with the Phils just 3 outs away from game 7. The "wild thing" walked leadoff man Ricky Henderson, then after inducing a flyout, a single by Paul Molitor put the winning run on first with just one out. Still, Williams had pitched out of bigger jams all year long, and he could certainly do it again couldn't he? Not this time. In came Joe Carter to bat with 2 on and 1 out and well, you know what happened next. "Touch em all Joe, you'll never hit bigger homerun in your life."
2. "Black Friday" October 7, 1977 NLCS Game 3 L.A Dodgers 6 - Phillies 5.
For the second year in a row the Phils had won a franchise best 101 games and many thought they were the best team in baseball. The year before they'd been swept easily by Cincinatti's "big red machine" but now there was no doubt they were going to beat the Dodgers. After splitting the first 2 games in L.A the Phils returned to the Vet, for what supposed to be the greatest moment in their history. Initially, it looked like it would live up to its billing. The raucus home crowd booed Dodger starter Bert Houton so heavily in the second inning, that he walked in 3 straight runs. The Phils the breezed through the rest of the game, taking a 5-3 lead into 9th. Unfortunately, all most Phillies fans remember is what happened next. Gene Garber (Unfortunately, Tug Mcgraw didn't become the team's regular closer until 1978, but they could've used him here) came into in to close it out in the 9th and got two quick outs, but then everything that could've gone wrong did. With 2 outs 41 year old Vic Davilillo came up for the Dodgers, and bunted, yes bunted, and somehow beat it out, but no matter Garber would surely get next guy right? Well not quite. In every similar situation throughout the season manager Danny Ozark had lifted leftfielder Greg "the bull" Luzinski in favor of defensive replacement Jerry "Mud" Martin. Tonight, Ozark apparently fell asleep, leaving the Bull in the game, and the next batter, 39 year old Manny Mota lofted a high fly ball right at him. Luzinski backed up, got under the ball and actually had it in his glove for a second, but he couldn't handle it, allowing Davalillo to score from first. Then Ted Sizemore threw away the relay throw from Luzinski and Mota moved up to third, putting the tying run on 3rd for current Phillies first base coach Davey Lopes. Lopes hit a rocket right off the shoulder of Mike Schmidt into the glove of Larry Bowa who fired to first, beating Lopes by a stride, and finally ending game, or so he thought. Umpire Bruce Froemming, the original Denkinger, called him safe, although replay cameras clearly showed Lopes out. Things only got worse from there. Gene Garber apparently lost his mind for a second and threw wildly to first, in an effort to pick off Lopes, instead the ball got through 1st baseman Richie Hebner and Lopes moved up to 2nd. Next up was Bill Russell, the same Bill Russell who would end the 1978 NLCS, although Phils fan only remember him for what he did next. Russell singled to score Lopes and just like that the raucus crowd had gone totally silent and the Phils were behind 6-5. They had one more chance to come back in the bottom of the 9th, but the Phils were still too stunned to do so as they went down in order. L.A then took game 4 to the win the series and Phils fans were left to ponder what might have been.
1. "Say it ain't so Chico" September 21, 1964 Cincinnati Reds 1 - Phillies 0.
Okay so this game sounds innocent enough, I mean it's a September game, how bad could it be. Well, let's just stay it what's happend after the game that put this one on the list. The year was 1964, and it was going to be the Phillies year. Everything was going their way, Dick Allen had clubbed 29 homers to win rookie of the year, Jim Bunning had pitched a perfect game on Father's day, Johnny Callison had won the all-star game with a 3 run homer and was named MVP of the game, still the only the Phillies player to be so honored, and now with just 12 games to play they were leading the NL by 6 and 1/2 games and seemed well on their way to their first pennant since the whiz kids 14 years ago. Everyone was sure they'd win the pennant and the series. In fact the Phils and their delirious fans had already begun printing out World Series tickets. Then came this game. It started fairly innocently with the two teams sailing through 5 and 1/2 scoreless innings. Then in the 6th inning with Art Mahaffey on the mound for the Phils and Frank Robinson at the plate, and a runner on 3rd everything still seemed normal, but something suddenly caught Mahaffey's eye as he readied to throw his next pitch. The runner on 3rd, little known rookie Chico Ruiz had suddenly broke crazily for home plate. Was he going to steal home, with Frank Robinson at the plate? Mahaffey sure thought so. He freaked out at the sight of Ruiz and threw wildly towards catcher Clay Dalrymple. Dalrymple never had a chance, and the ball got away from him, allowing Ruiz to score for a 1-0 Reds lead. It proved to be the difference as the Reds got the win, but it wound up as so much more than that. The Phils apparently never got over the shock of Ruiz stealing home and well, by you've probably heard about the rest. Manager Gene Mauch panicked and began repeatedly starting aces Chris Short and Bunning on two days rest, as the Phils went on to lose 10 in a row and drop out of the lead in the NL. Still, an exhausted Short and Bunning somehow won the Phils last 2 games and all they needed was one more Cardinals loss to the Mets in order to force a one game playoff for the pennant. Of course the Mets fell to St. Louis 11-3, and so ended the greatest late season collapse in the history of sports. Adding further insult to the Phils collapse, the Cards led by Bob Gibson, wound up beating the Yankees in 7 games in the world series, leaving the Phils and their fans to wonder yet again. Why oh why couldn't that have been the Phils winning in 7 and not the Cards?
Well, that ends this list so now that all these losses are out of your memory, its time to flip on the Phils game and wait for some much better moments.
Friday, June 29, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
It was a dark day and night for the Phils today. It started at 1:35 in the afternoon with Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez mowing down the Phils for 6 innings while allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits and striking out 7. 2 of thos 3 hits were homers by Aaron Rowand and Chris Coste, who just rejoined the team after Jayson Werth went on the DL. In his Phillies Debut J.D Durbin wasn't quite as good as El Duque. He struck out the side in the 1st, but after that he had trouble locating his pitches and the Mets took advantage. In the end he allowed 6 runs on 8 hits in just 4 and 2/3rds innings of work, as Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes both homered to help the Mets build a 6-1 lead through 6. The Phils then began their usual rally in the 7th, as Wes Helms hit a 2 run homer to cut the lead to 6-4. Then the "Met Killer" Pat Burrell blooped a pinch RBI single in the 8th to cut it to 6-5. In the 9th, former Phil and current nemesis, Billy Wagner came in for the save and well, he shut the door on the Phils and locked it striking out the side easily. Still, it was only the first game of a doubleheader and with Cole Hamels set to start game 2 you had think they would come right back and take the night cap. Sadly, that would not be the case. While the day belonged to "El Duque" the night belonged to John Maine and a suddenly revitalized Carlos Beltran. Maine pitched 8 innings and actually went all the way into the 9th, but wasn't able to record an out, as he allowed just 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6 on the night. Both Phillies runs were knocked in by Chase Utley on a sac fly in the 4th and an RBI single in the 9th. The Mets meanwhile blitzed Cole Hamels, to the tune of 3 runs on 5 hits, including 2 homers by Carlos Beltran, and perhaps more importantly 5 walks. In fact Hamels had as many walks on the night as he had strikeouts. Still, he kept them in the game, trailing by only 3-1, through 6. Then in the 7th Geoff Geary gave it away, serving up a 2 out 2 run homer to Damion Easley, to put the Mets up for good 5-1. Yet, the Phils battled back one last time in the 9th off Billy Wagner. With one out Chase Utley singled in a run to cut the lead to 5-2. Then Ryan Howard worked a walk and suddenly the Phils had the tying run at the plate in Aaron Rowand, with just one out. After a long at bat Rowand struck out, then in came, yes you guessed it, "the Met killer" Pat Burrell with 2 outs, 2 on and chance to tie the game with one swing, just as he had during the series the Phils swept back in New York earlier this month, but alas after another long at bat Burrell struck out and so ended the most torturous day of the year so far. The Phils are now just 41-39, 5 games behind the Mets and back again 3rd place, 1 game behind Atlanta. Life Sucks again, big time.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Tonight, was big for the Phils. With a huge 4 game weekend series with the first place Mets starting tomorrow they needed a win tonight to bring some momemtum into that series. Adam Eaton toughed out 6 solid innings despite allowing 5 runs on 6 hits, 2 of them homers, by Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Dunn. The Phils meanwhile flashed some power of their own. Twice Chase Utley hit 2 run homers in he 1st and 4th innings, and Greg Dobbs crushed a two RBI double in the 5th to put the Phils ahead 6-5 through 6 innings. The Reds tied it in the 7th and then took the lead in the 8th at 7-6, with a solo homer by Alex Gonzalez. In the end though, the hero of the night would be Jimmy Rollins. He tied it at 7 in the 8th with a two out triple and then in the bottom of the 10th in a driving rain with 2 on and 2 out he singled into gap in right center to score Jayson Werth with the winning run. So the Phils won 8-7 to improve to 41-37 now just 3 games behind the Mets for first in the NL East. In other words the winner of this weekend's series will move into first in the NL East, of course the Phils will have to sweep the series to do so, but to me that still counts. Anway, life is beautiful again.
SIXERS NEWS
The NBA draft was tonight and with 2 first round picks it proved to be an interesting night for the Sixers. With 12th pick they selected Georgia Tech small forward Thaddeus Young, a freakish athlete with miles of potential and upside. He may not be able to help the Sixers right away as he needs to get tougher on the defensive side of the ball, but he's a scorer and an energy guy and success of the Chicago bulls has proven that if you put enough guys like that on your team you can go places. Not to mention with some hard work and determination he could become a superstar in a couple years. With their next pick (number 21) the Sixers selected shooting guard Daequan Cook of Ohio State and promptly traded him to the heat for their 20th pick, 7 foot power forward Jason Smith, out of Colorado State. Smith could be the big guy the Sixers have been looking for years. He needs to get stronger, but he is a great rebounder and shooter. In fact he was one of the best free throw shooters in nation last year, which is incredible for a 7 footer. He is also another one of those energy guys like Young who can run the floor and score. In other words he could be pretty good player with a little time in the weight room. With 30th pick, their third and last in the first round, they selected Petteri Koponen a young point guard from Finland. However he was also traded away to Portland for their 42nd pick, Derrick Byars a 6-7, 230 pound guard/forward out of Vanderbilt. Byars is another high scoring energy guy and one of the sweetest shooting players in college basketball a year ago in fact he was a projected 1st round pick, so getting him this slow was somewhat of a steal. Potentially, he could team up with Rodney Carney to provide the Sixers with a dynamic duo off the bench. Finally, the Sixers finished their draft with the 38th pick of the second round. There they took a Center from Ukraine, whose name I can't remember, mostly because they traded him away to Utah for the 55th pick of draft, Forward Herbert Hill out of Providence. Hill led the big East in scoring with 19.9 points per game, and was second in rebounding with 9.8 a game. At 6-10, 240 pounds Hill gives the Sixers some more sixe off their bench, which could come in handy if they wind up trading Steven Hunter or Joe Smith.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Unfortunately for the Phils things are not always what they seem. Through the first 6 innings of tonight's game everything was going the Phillies way. They Led 3-0 on 2 out 3 run 500 ft homer by Ryan Howard in the 5th inning. As it happened it was his 100th career homer, making him with with only 135 games under his belt the fastest player to reach 100 career homers in major league history, beating by a whopping 50 games, the previous record ,held by Pirates hall of famer Ralph Kiner, of 185 games. Meanwhile, Jamie Moyer seemed set to make his own history, taking a no-hitter all the way to 2 outs in the 6th inning, and although he allowed 2 hits at that point he still managed to get out of the inning without allowing a run. So the Phils were just rolling towards another easy win right? wrong. In the 7th inning an obviously tired Moyer wound up allowing 3 runs before Charlie finally pulled him from the game with only 3 runs allowed on 3 hits while striking out 8. The Phils bullpen, specifically Geoff Geary, could give neither the Phils nor Moyer any relief, as they allowed 3 more runs before finally getting out of the inning, and just like that Moyer had gone from 5 and 2/3rds innings of no-hit ball to a no-decision and the Phils had gone from a sure win, to oh shit! what happened. Fortunately, the Reds being the worst team in the league, gave all of their 3 run lead right back to the Phils as Greg Dobbs singled in a run and scored on a passed ball, and Aaron Rowand singled in another run to tie it at 6. The Reds came right back in the 8th to take a 7-6 lead on a pinch double by Javier Valentin. The Phils nearly tied it again in the bottom of the 8th as Greg Dobbs hit a 2 out triple, but alas ,following a Chase Utley walk, Ryan Howard struck out to end the inning. Then in the 9th the rains came, but since it was the 9th they played on, as they say when it rains it pours. With 2 out and Ken Griffey on first due to a Ryan Howard error, Adam Dunn crushed his 22nd homer of the year to put the Reds up for good 9-6. The Phils went down in order in the 9th to take the loss and our now just 40-37, 3.5 games behind the first place Mets, but still in second place, although now tied with Atlanta. Thus, life sucks again.
SIXERS NEWS
The NBA Draft is tomorrow so get ready for a wild night as the Sixers own 3 picks in the first round, but none higher than the 12th pick, so you never what might they do with those picks.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils opened their series with the Reds tonight, just the way they should have, by winning easily. So Easily, that when the 4th inning ended, the game was already over as they already led 10-2 by that point. The Phils scored 2 in the first on a 2 run homer by Ryan Howard, 4 in the second on single by Carlos Ruiz, a fielders choice, a double steal with Carlos Ruiz stealing home, while Micheal Bourn stole second, and yet another RBI single by Chase Utley, 1 in the 3rd inning on a solo homer by Shane Victorino, and 3 in the 4th on a bases clearing double by Carlos Ruiz with the bases loaded and 2 outs, and 1 more in the 7th on a solo homer by Chase Utley. In all the Phils pounded the Cincinnati pitching staff for 11 runs and 16 hits. Meanwhile, young gun Kyle Kendrick once again sparkled, going 6 innings while allowing just 4 runs on 6 hits. In the end those 4 runs would be all the Reds would get as the Phils bullpen mowed them down in the final 3 innings, with Geoff Geary and Mike Zagurski combining to allow just 1 hit in the final 3 innings. So the Phils won 11-4, for their 40th win of the season, improving to 40-36, while Kendrick improves to 2-0 in his young career. Cincinnati young gun Homer Bailey, mentioned in yesterday's post was not so lucky, as he lasted just 1 and 2/3rds innings, allowing 6 runs on 6 hits, and fell to 2-1 on the season. Anyway, the Phils remain 2nd in the NL East, but are now a half game closer to the idle first place Mets, at 2.5 games in the rear. Thus, life remains beautiful.
SIXERS NEWS
There is nothing new to report, the draft is apparently not until Thursday. I don't know why I though it was tonight, I guess because last year it was on a Tuesday.
Monday, June 25, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils got the day off today after winning their weekend series against the Cardinals. Tomorrow they start a 7 game(but only 6 day, with a doubleheader Friday) home stand with a 3 game set against the lowly Cincinnati Reds who come into the series sporting the major league's worst record, at only 29-47. Of course, the Royals had that same distinction a couple weeks ago when they took 2 of 3 from the Phils and ended Freddy Garcia's season, so it is not give in that the Phils will dominate this series, but the fact is, they should dominate it, and if they don't they'll be in big trouble. At any rate in the first game of the series tomorrow night, young guns Kyle Kendrick of the Phils, and Homer Bailey of Reds will face of against each other. At this point both are undefeated with ERAs of 4.50 and 4.00 respectively, so it should be a interesting night.
SIXERS NEWS
There is nothing new for today, but tomorrow is the night of NBA draft and with 3 picks in the first round it should be a big night for the Sixers.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Coming into today's game Cardinals starter Kip Wells was undefeated against the Phils in his career with 5 wins. He's now still undefeated against the Phils, but only because he got a no-decision. Early on the game was mired by rain delays, with one at the on-set and one following the 3rd inning. At the time of the 2nd delay, the Cards led 1-0 and Wells was dealing. After the delay it was all Phillies. Wells, was inexplicably left in the game following the delay and Phils made him pay evening the score at 1 in the 5th inning on a Micheal Bourn RBI single. In 8th, Shane Victorino and delivered a pinch 3 RBI double to put the Phils up for good 4-1. Micheal Bourn tacked on another run in the 9th with yet another single for a 5-1 lead. Meanwhile, the Phils bullpen was lights out as Ryan Madson, Brian Sanches, Clay Condrey, and Antonio Alfonseca combined for 6 innings of shutout 4 hit ball to closeout a 5-1 Phils win. So the Phils improve to 39-36, still in 3 games back in second but now 1.5 games up on the 3rd place Braves who lost again. Thus, life is beautiful again
Saturday, June 23, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
After an easy win last night, the Phils looked to continue their winning ways against the struggling Cards. With the red hot Adam Eaton on the mound, who'd won 4 of his last 5 starts, and gone 6 innings or more in 7 of his last 8, you had to feel like the Phils could take another from the Cards. Unfortunately Eaton picked the wrong time to have an off day. The Phils got off to another quick start as Ryan Howard singled in a run in 1st for a 1-0 lead. Eaton gave lead the right back as Scott Spiezio scored on a fielders choice, following to singles, for a 1-1 tie. However, Eaton still appeared to be on the cruise control that had been carrying him through his few starts, as he retired the Cards in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but in the 4th he came undone. He quickly registered two outs in the inning, but in between he the made the fatal mistake of walking Albert Pujols, thus allowing Scott Rolen hit a ground rule double with 2 out in the inning, and Juan Encarnacion to follow up Rolen with a 3 run homer that put St. Louis up 4-1. Still, were well within striking distance, cutting the lead to 4-2, on an RBI single by Jimmy Rollins in the 5th. Sadly Eaton made another mistake in 6th inning as he again put Pujols on base, this time with an HBP(hit by pitch). This of course led to another homer, this time a 2 run shot by Chris Duncan that put the Cards up for good 6-2, and ended Eaton's night. The Phils came back again in the 7th with an RBI single by Chase Utley to cut the lead to 6-3, but alas it was nothing more than a futile response, as Cards put up 2 more runs of reliever Jose Mesa, on a RBI single by Aaron Miles, and yet another Mesa wild pitch, which allowed Miles to score. Jason Isringhausen then nailed it down in 9th for an 8-3 Cards win, leaving the Phils to ponder what went wrong. Fortunately, the Braves lost today as well, so the Phils remain in second place, but are now 3 games behind the Mets who won today. As if the Phils didn't feel bad enough after losing today, they got more bad news after the game. After taking an MRI, it was discovered, has in fact ruptured a tendon in the bottom of his foot, rather than straining his ankle as originally believed. He is now on the DL indefinitely, with a very slim chance of returning to the Phils in late September. While that could help them come October, you know they actually made the playoffs, it does nothing for them now. So, the Phils are now left with just 3 of their original 5 starters(Eaton, Hamels, and Moyer) and two spots to fill in their rotation. For now of course, Kyle Kendrick will fill one of those spots, but it's any one's guess who will the other, although it is definite that whoever it is will come from the Phils farm system. Thus, life sucks once again.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers completed their 2007 draft today, selecting defenseman Kevin Marshall in the 2nd round, wingers Garret Klotz, Mario Kempe, Jonathan Kalinski, and Patrick Maroon, in the 3rd, 5th, and 6th rounds respectively, and goalie Brad Phillips in the 7th round. As usual none of these are in the Flyers immediate plans but they could contribute someday. In other words only time will tell how good this draft was for the Flyers.
Friday, June 22, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils got off to a quick start tonight against the struggling, defending world champion Cardinals, and never looked back. Jamie Moyer toughed out 6 innings of shutout, 7 hit ball, thanks in part to his own sterling defense and work with the bat. He got the first hit of what turned out to be a 5 run Phils 3rd inning. Jimmy Rollins singled to move Moyer to 2nd. Shane Victorino blooped a single to score Moyer from 2nd. Chase Utley singled to scored Victorino and Rollins. Ryan Howard doubled to score Utley, and after an Aaron Rowand single moved him to 3rd base, Howard scored on a sac fly by Greg Dobbs. Just like that the Phils led and with Moyer on the mound that would be all they would need. In bottom of the 3rd, Moyer gave the Phils the shutdown inning they needed, but not without some fielding heroics. With two out Albert Pujols came up and hit a sharp ground ball right back at a stunned Moyer. Somehow the ball deflected off his glove and into the air. Moyer found it and grabbed it before it hit the ground and in one motion whirled towards first base, and while diving forward, flipped the ball to first baseman Ryan Howard, beating Pujols by a stride to end the inning. You just don't know what might have happened if Moyer hadn't made that play, but any rate he wasn't done yet. In 6th, Carlos Ruiz led off with a double, and then in came Moyer who coolly bunted him over to 3rd, thus allowing him to score one batter later on a fly ball by Jimmy Rollins. Moyer then left after 6th with a 6-0 lead after getting out of yet another 2 out jam. Ryan Madson blanked the Cards in the 7th and 8th, Jose Mesa, yes, Jose Mesa did likewise in the 9th and before you knew it the Phils had a combined 9 hit shutout of the Cards and a 6-0 win. So the Phils improve to 38-35, and since the Braves lost again tonight, they move into 2nd place, still 2 games behind the Mets for first. Life is thus beautiful again.
FLYERS NEWS
With the second pick in tonight's NHL draft the Flyers selected local product James vanRiemsdyk, from Middletown, New Jersey. van Riemsdyk was a member of the U.S 18 and under national team scoring 33 goals and 30 assists, and helpomg to lead the U.S to a bronze medal at the world junior championships. He is expected to go to the university of New Hampshire next year and will finish college forst before joining the Flyers. So he is not in their immediate plans, and most draft picks aren't, but with his freekish size and speed, he should fit in nicely with the Orange and Black when he does finally join.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils had the day off today, to contemplate why they've lost 4 of their last 6, you know besides the fact that the last two teams they faced were really good, while the Phils are just well, good. On a more postive note Jon Lieber, who strained his ankle last night, is expected to be back by Friday of next week. Do the math and you realize he's only going to miss one start, so the Phils can just simply skip his spot in the rotation, without having to worry about bringing somebody up for a spot start. At any rate, the Phils start a 3 game set with the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow, which has the potential to be a good one, considering how much the Cards have struggled thus far this season.
FLYERS NEWS
There is nothing new to report, except for one quick note. The NHL draft is tomorrow, and considering the Flyers have the second pick of the draft, it should be an interesting night.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished off their 3 game set with Cleveland tonight and for a moment it looked they might just win it. They got off to a quick start as Rod Barajas hit a 2 run homer in the 3rd inning for an early 2-0 lead. By the 4th inning the Indians had rallied to tie it at 2, so Phils put up 2 more runs in the top of the 6th for a 4-2 lead. Unfortunately it was at this point that reality finally hit them. That is, the reality that the Indians are far better than they are. In the bottom of the 6th they scored 8, yes 8 runs, 5 alone off Jon Lieber, who had been pitching pretty well until then. Things then went from bad to worse as Lieber limped to the dugout, following an one out RBI single by Casey Blake, in which he tried to get behind and backup the catcher, only strain his ankle, after taking just 2 steps off the mound. He is now listed as day to day. Mike Zagurski came in to replace Lieber and could do no better allowing yet another run to score. Yoel Hernandez then replaced him and allowed 4 more runs, before finally getting out of the inning. By then though, it was all but over, as Cleveland now led 10-4. The Phils tried to mount a comeback with 2 runs in the 7th inning, on a two out Shane Victorino double. Chase Utley then walked to put two on and two out for Ryan Howard. Thus, giving him a chance to cut the lead to 1 with one swing, but alas he struck out, and with that so went the Phils hopes on the night. Cleveland easily closed out the last 2 innings to win going away 10-6. Fortunately though, the Mets and the Braves also lost big tonight, so Phils did not lose any ground in the NL East, life however, still sucks again.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
A day after ace Cole Hamels was rocked by Cleveland, the Phils got even tonight with the new kid on the block Kyle Kendrick. In just his second Major league start Kendrick went 6 innings, and allowed just 3 runs on 5 hits to record his first win. Of course, with all the run support he got it would have been hard for him to lose. Ryan Howard alone, homered and knocked in 4 runs, in just his 3rd 3 hit game of the season so far. Chase Utley and Pat Burrell, also knocked in 2 runs each, with all four being 2 out RBIs. With all that support the Phils took a 7-3 lead into 8th, but the Indians wouldn't go away easily. They scored 2 quick runs off Ryan Madson in the 8th to cut the lead to 6-5 and suddenly it looked like the game on sunday all over again, you know the one where the Phils blew a 3-1 lead in the 7th, waisting a stellar start by Adam Eaton. Fortunately, in the top of 9th, Ryan Howard delivered a double to knock in his 4th and final run of the night, and Greg Dobbs smacked a pinch double to score Howard to put the Phils up for good 9-5. Despite allowing a run and 3 hits, Antonio Alfonseca managed to close it out in the 9th for a huge 9-6 win for the Phils. So, with the win coupled by yet another Mets loss the Phils moved to within 2 games of 1st in the NL East, and with yet another Braves loss they moved back to within .5 games of 2nd in the NL East. Thus, life is beautiful again.
Monday, June 18, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
After a devastating loss yesterday the Phils came into tonight's game in Cleveland against the Indians, looking to pick up the pieces and move on with ace Cole Hamels on the mound. Unfortunately Hamels simply didn't have the stuff tonight. In only 5 innings of work he allowed 6 runs on 8 hits, including a 3 run homer by Kelly Shoppach, who ironically, is the Indians backup catcher, with the dangerous Victor Martinez, known for his clutch hits, being their starter. So even avoiding the bat of Martinez isn't much of a break against the ultra-talented Indians. At any rate 5 of those 6 runs allowed by Hamels, came in the first 2 innings, putting the Phils in a 5-0 hole from which they would never escape. When Ryan Howard finally did get the Phils on the board with a solo homer in the top of the 6th, Cleveland came right back and scored 3 more off Geoff Geary in the bottom of the inning for a 9-1 lead. Then to add insult to injury, former Phillies bench warmer-turned Indians outfielder, Jason Micheals homered in the 7th to put the Cleveland up 10-1 and complete their pounding of the Phils, as that's how it ended. So the Phils lost big 10-1, while the Mets and Braves both won big, dropping the Phils to 3 games behind the Mets for 1st in the NL East, and 1.5 games behind the Braves for 2nd. Life thus, still sucks.
FLYERS NEWS
The Orange and Black have pulled off their first big trade under GM Paul Holmgren(he replaced Bobby Clarke halfway into last season). The traded the 23rd pick in the first round of this weekend's NHL draft to the Nashville Predators (the same team from which they recieved it in exchange for Peter Forsberg) in exchange for all world defenseman Kimmo Timmonen, who captained Nashville last season with 13 goals and 42 assists, and center/forward Scott Hartnell who put up 22 goals and 17 assists. The Flyers have said that this off-season they are looking to get bigger, faster, and more skilled, and with this trade they appear to have done just that and the NHL free agent signing period hasn't even started yet. So I would say that they have done a good job thus far in this off-season.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
In his last start Justin Verlander tossed a no-hitter, today the Phils quickly made sure he wouldn't throw another. Abrham Nunez singled in a run in the second inning to forge a 1-1 tie and the Phils were off and running. Chase Utley doubled and scored in the 3rd for a 2-1 lead, and Greg Dobbs tripled and scored in the 6th on a single by pitcher Adam Eaton ,of all people, for a 3-1 lead. Meanwhile, Adam Eaton cruised through 6 and 1/3rd innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits. Then Brandon Inge doubled, and Carlos Guillen singled putting runners on 1st and 3rd with one out and chasing Eaton from the game. Geoff Geary replaced Eaton and promptly tossed an RBI single to Gary Sheffield to cut the lead to 3-2. Mike Zagurski then replaced Geary and retired Omar Infante for the second out of the inning. Yoel Hernandez then replaced Zagurski and intentionally walked ex-Phil Placido Polanco to load the bases for Craig Monroe. Bad move. Monroe promptly hit a ground ball which deflected off Abraham Nunez, and went just out of the reach of Jimmy Rollins, allowing Guillen and Sheffield to score for a 4-3 Tigers lead. If the inning had ended then the Phils would have still been okay, unfortunately the next batter was the red hot Magglio Ordonez who doubled to score Polanco and Monroe for a 6-3 Tigers lead. After that Hernandez finally forced Sean Casey to pop out for the final out of the inning, but by then the Phils once safe 3-1 lead had evaporated into a 6-3 deficit. Things only got worse in the 8th as Yoel Hernandez remained in game for some reason, and allowed 3 straight Tigers singles, which resulted in a another run and a 7-3 lead. After that all heck broke lose. Aaron Rowand limped off the field with a leg injury, then a few Jose Mesa pitches later(he replaced Hernandez), Catcher Carlos Ruiz, Charlie Manuel, and 3rd base coach Steve Smith were all ejected for arguing a checked swing, that certainly appeared to be a full swing. Somehow from there Mesa got out of the inning, and the Phils cut lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the inning as Abraham Nunez singled and scored on a Jimmy Rollins single. Unfortunately, that would be all the Phils would get the rest of the way, as Todd Jones closed it out for Detroit in the 9th. Still, by the grace of God the Phils did not lose any ground in the NL East as both Atlanta and the Mets lost as well. So the Phils are still only 2 games out in the NL East but life still sucks again.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
"Old reliable" Jamie Moyer came through yet again today for the Phils. He went 7 innings allowing just 2 runs, on 4 hits, while striking out 4. More importantly, he kept Detroit in the ballpark forcing the Tigers into nearly 20 groundouts, while allowing just 2 homers, both solo, and early in the game. Carlos Guillen hit a solo shot in the 2nd inning, and Curtis Granderson hit a solo shot in the 3rd. After that it was all Moyer who retired the next 11 batters he faced. Meanwhile, for the Phils Shane Victorino hit a solo homer in the 1st inning, and Aaron Rowand hit a solo homer in the 3rd. Rowand then singled in Victorino in the 5th for a 3-2 lead. Chase Utley upped the lead to 4-2 with an RBI Double in the 6th. Carlos Ruiz hit another in 7th for a 5-2 lead, and Ryan Howard finished the double parade with an RBI double in the 8th for a 6-2 lead. The Phils bullpen then closed it out. Ryan Madson pitched a perfect 8th inning, and Antonio Alfonseca survived the 9th after allowing 1 run on 3 hits, to clinch a 6-3 Phils win. So the Phils are now 36-32, .5 games behind Atlanta for 2nd in the NL East, and 2 games behind the Mets for first. Thus, life is beautiful again.
Friday, June 15, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
After sweeping the White Sox the Phils came out firing against the Tigers tonight. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard both homered in the 1st inning and the Phils led early 2-0. Unfortunately just when it seemed as if their hot streak would continue, Detroit came back with a vengeance. The Tigers scored 2 in the second inning to tie it, and then in the 5th Jon Lieber ran into the dreaded ,big inning, as he was touched up for 5 runs, including a 3 run homer by Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Still, it was only 7-2, so the Phils were at least still in it. They wouldn't stay in it for long. The Tigers scored 4 more runs in the 6th off Francisco Rosario, including an RBI double by Sean Casey, to race out to an 11-3 lead(Jimmy Rollins hit his second homer of the night back in the 5th). Still, as has been their MO all season the Phils weren't ready to give up yet. Greg Dobbs homered in the 6th, to cut the lead to 11-4. After the Tigers had tacked on another run, Shane Victorino hit a 2 run homer in the 7th to cut the lead to 12-6. Carlos Ruiz doubled in a run, and Jimmy Rollins tripled in Ruiz in the 8th to cut the lead to 12-8. Then with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th, the Phils put two on for Greg Dobbs, with Jayson Werth in the on deck circle representing the tying run. Unfortunately, Dobbs struck out and the Phils fell 12-8. In all the Phils hammered 5 homers, for 8 runs on 13 hits. and yet they still lost. Which tells you just how good the Tigers are. So the Phils dropped to 35-32, but they are still in 3rd place just 3 games behind the Mets for first, and .5 games behind Atlanta for 2nd. In other words, life sucks again.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
After their sweep of the White Sox the Phils got a well deserved day off today. Tomorrow the Detroit Tigers come to the Bank for a weekend series, and hopefully they won't beat up on the Phils as much as they beat up on Mets earlier this week, when they swept them. In other news Freddy Garcia will not be having season ending shoulder injury. At least not yet anyway, as the Phils and the two doctors he has visited so far, want to take it slow with him. At any rate Garcia is still out indefinitely, but at least now there's a chance that he'll be back before the season is over.
FLYERS NEWS
Antero Niitymaki will be back with the orange and black next season, although this time he probably won't be the starter, as Martin Biron all but earned that spot with his play at the end of the season. At any rate Niitymaki signed a new 2 year contract with the Flyers. While, it's true that he struggled last season, recording exactly 9 wins in 47 starts, you could say the same for just about everyone else with Flyers last season as well, and so the Flyers hope that last season was just a blip on the radar screen, and that Niitymaki will return to form next season. Let's hope their right.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished off their 3 game set with the White Sox early today with a business person special. As mentioned rookie Kyle Kendrick got the start for the Phils and the youngster did a stellar job going 6 innings while allowing only 3 runs on 6 hits, and striking out 4. If that sounds familiar its because that's exactly what "the Rocket" Roger Clemens did for the Yankees yesterday. Now obviously Kendrick isn't the next Rocket yet, but today was a pretty good start, and if nothing else he's earned himself at least another start and consideration as the long term replacement for Freddy Garcia, if Freddy is in fact out for the rest of the season. Perhaps, the most remarkable aspect of Kendrick's performance though, is that the entire time he was in the game the Phils were trailing, yet he never got discouraged and kept his composure, until the Phils could rally in the 6th and 7th inning, after he left the game. Earlier on the White Sox led, scoring a run each in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd innings for a 3-0 lead. The Phils kept it close with an RBI single by Chase Utley in the first and solo homer by Wes Helms in the 2nd, yes he actually hit one for the first time in over 100 at bats. After Kendrick blanked the Sox for the next three innings, the Phils entered the bottom of the 6th only trailing 3-2. There Jayson Werth beat out an infield single, Wes Helms blooped a single to move Werth to 3rd, and Aaron Rowand lined a pinch hit ground out just hard enough to score Werth and tie the game at 3. Chase Utley then led off the 7th with a double, one out later and after a Pat Burrell walk , Abraham Nunez delivered a pinch single to score Utley and give the Phils a 4-3 lead. From there, things got wide open. After another out, Rod Barajas walked to load the bases with two out for ex-White Sox Aaron Rowand, who had stayed in the game to play centerfield after his pinch ground out. Two Strikes later Rowand greeted his old team with a grand slam, to put the Phils up for good 8-3. The Sox managed to add a run in the 8th to cut the lead to 8-4, but that would be all they'd get the rest of the day as the Phils won 8-4 to complete a sweep of Chicago. Unfortunately now that that's done the big boys are coming to town, as the defending AL Champion Detroit Tigers visit the Bank for the weekend and the Phils are then going to head to Cleveland to face the Indians to start next week. Both of those teams are loaded with talent and are likely headed to the playoffs this season, so if the Phils can get by them without losing too much ground, they might just prove that they're worthy of a division title or at least of a playoff berth. At any rate the Phils are now tied with Atlanta for 2nd in the NL East, and 2 games behind the Mets for first. Thus, life remains beautiful.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The hits just keep on coming, for the White Sox that is, as the Phils pounded out 7 runs on 9 hits, while Cole Hamels went 8 innings allowing only 2 runs on 6 hits, while striking out 8, to record his NL leading 9th win of the season. Initially, things didn't look so good as Paul Konerko and Jermain Dye both homered in the first inning to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. The Phils came right back in the bottom of the inning though, loading the bases with two outs. Pat Burrell walked to force in a run, Greg Dobbs singled to score two more, and the Phils took a 3-2 lead and never looked back. Chase Utley added a two run homer in the 2nd, and a 2 RBI single in the 4th, to power the Phils to a 7-2 lead , for which Chicago had no answer. Luis Terrero added a solo homer for the Sox in the 9th, but by then it was too late, as Geoff Geary retired the next two batters in order to clinch a 7-3 win for the Phils. So the Phils are now 34-31, 1 game behind Atlanta for 2nd in the NL East and 3 behind the Mets for first. Basically, they're in pretty good position now. Rookie Kyle Kendrick, recently called up from AA, gets the call for the Phils tomorrow in place of Freddy Garcia. Hopefully he can keep it going for the Phils, because once again life remains beautiful.
Monday, June 11, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Big win for the Phils tonight, and there really wasn't much to it. Adam Eaton, Mike Zagurski, and Antonio Alfonseca combined to blank the Jim Thome and the White Sox for all 9 innings of tonight's game allowing just 5 hits and striking out 7. Meanwhile, Pat Burrell hit a solo homer in the 2nd inning, Ryan Howard hit another in the 4th inning, and Jimmy Rollins finished off the homer parade with a 3rd solo shot in the 6th inning. So the Phils won 3-0 in front of the home crowd to rebound from their embarrassing loss at KC and have now improved to 33-31 just 4 games behind the first place Mets. Thus just like that life is beautiful again.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Royals are the worst team in the majors right now, and the only one with 40 losses, yet, today it was the Phils who looked like the 40 loss team, and the Royals who looked like the 3rd place team trying to get over the hump. The usually reliable Jamie Moyer wasn't today, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits in just 3 and 2/3rds innings of work. With homers by Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, the Phils somehow managed to hang in it for 5 innings, only trailing 6-5. Not coincidentally, the 5th, was also the only inning in which the Royals failed to score a run. In other words after the 5th it was all KC, as the Phils bullpen was just beat up, allowing 11 runs on 7 hits. Ryan Madson walked two batters, Jose Mesa fired two wild pitches, and Geoff Geary was treated to a couple boneheaded plays by Phils fielders. Basically, everything the Phils could have done wrong they did and in the end they lost by the whopping final score of 17-5. It just doesn't get any more embarrassing than that, and life just can't suck any more than that.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Thanks to Jon Lieber the Phils are back on track again. Lieber, pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just 2 hits the entire night while striking out a career best 11. Not surprisingly, this game lasted only about 2 hours, and featured only 2 innings in which runs were scored, all of course going to Phils. In other words, there is not a whole lot talk about, but just in case you were wondering how the Phils scored their runs on the night here goes. Greg Dobbs singled in Aaron Rowand for 1-0 Phils lead in the 2nd inning, and in the 4th inning Dobbs, Pat Burrell, and Rod Barajas all produced RBI doubles off Royals starter and losing pitcher Gil Meche, who didn't pitch too badly himself, allowing just those 4 runs on 8 hits while striking out 8 in 7 innings of work. So there you have it the Phils won 4-0 and are now back to within 5 games of the first place Mets. Thus, life is beautiful again. Oh and one more quick note, before I forget. Remember ex Phils closer Jose Mesa, their all-time and single season saves leader, well he's back with the Phils as he signed with them yesterday as a free agent, obviously in the hope that he can somehow bolster their beat up bullpen, with Brett Myers and Flash Gordon both on the DL.
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