Roy and the ROY

August 23rd, 2009

3:11 PM

In recent weeks we have heard almost as much praise for Cliff Lee as we heard rumors involving Roy Halladay before the July 31st trade deadline.  JAANDCARLOSLee’s exceptional start with the Phils has already been compared to the numbers Halladay has put up after he realized he would be stuck with the team that drafted him in 1995.  Let’s not forget about J.A. Happ.  If Plan A for Ruben Amaro Jr. panned out, Happ would be currently donning a Jays uniform.  Not only has Cliff Lee’s 0.82 ERA since arriving in Philadelphia blown away pretty much every starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, but J.A. has been right behind him.  Yes, J.A. (the soon to be ROY) has even been better than Roy since the deadline passed.

 

Roy Halladay: 4 GS | 2-2 | 1 CG | 30.0 IP | 3 BB | 22 SO | 6 HR | 3.30 ERA | .294 BAA

J.A. Happ: 4 GS | 3-0 | 1 CG | 29.2 IP | 14 BB | 17 SO | 1 HR | 1.21 ERA | .216 BAA

 

Happ’s walks in his past few starts may seem alarming, but they have not hurt him one bit.  He has put together 11 quality starts in his last 12 outings.  It’s hard to remember the last time Philadelphia has had such a pleasant surprise.

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‘08 Carsten Charles vs. ‘09 Cliff

August 15th, 2009

3:59 PM

Yeah, Carsten Charles is the real name of C.C. Sabathia, in case you didn’t know.

Last year, the Brewer’s deadline deal to bring Sabathia onboard was labeled as the ultimate acquisition. LEEANDCCHe single handedly carried the Brewers to their first postseason birth since they lost the World Series in 1982.  His domination of his new NL foes garnered Cy Young and MVP votes after only being in the league for half of a season.  A midseason maneuver of this stature could not get any better.  Right?  Hold that thought for a second…

Check out C.C.’s numbers through his first 3 games with Milwaukee in ‘08:

3-0 | 1.88 ERA | 2 CG | 24.0 IP | 6 BB | 24 SO | 1 HR

Now look at Cliff Lee’s numbers through his first 3 games with the Phils in ‘09:

3-0 | 1.12 ERA | 1 CG | 24.0 IP | 6 BB | 23 SO | 0 HR

Almost identical.  They couldn’t even break the tie with their bats.  C.C. was 2-9 with 1 HR and 1 2B.  Cliff has gone 3-9 with 2 2B.  Lee has ways to go to reach the numbers put up by his fellow former teammate and Cy Young winner, but he is well on his way. 


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These guys are trouble

August 10th, 2009

5:32 PM

And what were we saying about the division being just about wrapped up?  In the blink of an eye the Marlins came to town and swept the Phils in 3 games, which trimmed the NL East lead from 7 games to 4 games.  Yesterday’s unbearable 12-3 loss was the final straw, as it’s time for these fish to get the heck out of town.  It does not matter who is on the Marlins’ roster.  Every year they give the Phils some of the toughest competition they will face all year.  

It almost seems as if you could build an All-Star team of current and former Marlins that just always manage to kill the Phillies when they are wearing that fish uniform.  Jeff Conine, Luis Castillo, Juan Pierre, Josh Willingham, Hanley Ramirez, and now Cody Ross would definitely be the foundation of such a squad.  Cody Ross has gone 19-51 (.373 BA) this season against the Phils with 8 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, and 6 RBI.  He even pitched a scoreless inning of relief.  

There are 53 games remaining in the regular season and a 4-game lead is not enough to lower the average heart rate sustained by fans in the coming weeks while watching.  The 53 remaining games are against 10 different teams, including the Marlins.  They all have their own versions of Cody Ross.  By that we mean guys that the Phillies and the fans have no desire to see again.  Over the next few days we will take a look at 1 guy on each team that just means trouble.

Chicago Cubs: Ryan Theriot

When you think of the Cubs you think of sluggers.  You think of Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, and Milton Bradley coming to the plate with the ability to launch one into the seats at any given moment.  Well Ryan Theriot is a rather different problem.  He’s a scrappy player with speed that has given Philadelphia pitching fits over the years.  He is a career .338 hitter against the Phils with a .410 OBP.  Those figures are way better than those of the aforementioned big bats.  In the Phils first series with the Cubs in 2009, Theriot went 5 for 11 with 3 R, 1 RBI, 3 SB, and 3 BB.  He just always seems to annoy you.

Atlanta Braves: Matt Diaz/Martin Prado

I know we were supposed to stick to one name from each team, but these two fellows are a gut-wrenching pair that has managed to wreak havoc in the 3 games they started against the Phils.  That’s right.  They only started 3 of the 9 games with Atlanta, but they still make up the duo that has caused us all the most grief.  How about a combined 17 for 29?  That is a .586 BA!  Throw 10 R, 6 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB, and a 1.739 OPS into the mix as well and you have two of the most disrupting forces the Phils have faced all year.  Bobby Cox has found a way to make Martin Prado an everyday starter since the last series with the Phils.  Prado’s ability to play every infield position makes Cox’s job a lot easier.  

Arizona Diamondbacks: Yusmeiro Petit

Who?  Exactly.  How do you award Dan Haren with a loss and then manage to get stifled by Ysmeiro Petit?  Just ask the Phils.  Petit came into the final game of the first D-Backs series with a 7.68 ERA and it looked like the Phils would cash in another 5-game winning streak.  Petit had very different plans as he pitched 6 scoreless innings, only gave up 4 hits, and struck out 8.  He prolonged his flash of superiority by pitching 8 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball against the Pirates in his next start.  Dan Haren or Yusmeiro Petit?  Pick your poison.

New York Mets: Mike Pelfrey

It never gets old to hate on the Mets.  Even with a banged up team of scrubs floating 7 games below .500 residing in the newly constructed Citi Field, its still hard to not refer to the Mets as our most heated rivalry.  So with the bulk of the normal cast of characters riding the DL, who do we go with?  D-Wright?  That’s a little too boring.  He hurts us sometimes, but he’s not one to make you all squeamish when he steps up to the plate.  How about Mike Pelfrey?  Not Mike Pelfrey–the pitcher–who has gone 2-0 against the Phils in 2009 with a 3.93 ERA.  We’re talking about Mike Pelfrey–the hitter–who has managed to go 3 for 8 with 1 R, 1 2B, and 3 RBI.  Yes, Mike Pelfrey–THE HITTER–who is a career .089 hitter with only 4 hits this season.

More to come tomorrow…

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Making First Impressions

August 7th, 2009

3:16 PM

After Cliff Lee shined in his home debut, Philadelphia fans now know that he is the real deal.  Roy who?  Lee’s immediate success and impact has brought pure jubilation to his new team’s fans and has squandered all complaints.  Well at least no one is complaining except for everybody’s favorite Philadelphia sports talk radio personality.  The combination of a stacked farm system, superb tactics by the front office, and the Cleveland Indian’s financial woes has put the Phils in the best possible position for Philadelphia’s first repeat since the ‘74-’75 Flyers.  Lee proved that by going 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA in his first two starts.  

Now let’s see how previous significant Phillies midseason acquisitions have performed in their first two starts over the past 10 seasons:

  • ‘09 Cliff Lee: 2-0 | 1 CG | 16.0 IP | 1.12 ERA | .182 BAA
  • ‘08 Joe Blanton: 0-0 | 8.0 IP | 7.88 ERA | .333 BAA
  • ‘07 Kyle Lohse: 1-0 | 7.1 IP | 6.14 ERA | .296 BAA
  • ‘06 Jamie Moyer: 1-1 | 12.0 IP | 6.00 ERA | .300 BAA
  • ‘04 Cory Lidle: 0-1 | 8.1 IP | 9.72 ERA | .314 BAA
  • ‘04 Paul Abbott: 0-1 | 9.0 IP | 4.00 ERA | .250 BAA
  • ‘00 Omar Daal: 0-2 | 11.0 IP | 4.09 ERA | .279 BAA

Lee has made quite the first impression in his first two outings.  It is probably safe to say he has garnered the city’s love and support faster than any other starter coming over during the season.  Then again, if we go back one more year it looks like Cliff Lee may have been outdone.  In 1998 a rather forgotten fellow, Paul Byrd, came over from the Atlanta Braves and went 2-0 with 2 CG, 1 SHO, and a 1.12 ERA.  Too bad we were 20 games back at this point of the season in ‘98.

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The Unpredictability of Jamie Moyer…Or is it Predictability?

August 4th, 2009

9:59 PM

Throughout many parts of this season Jamie Moyer has absolutely looked like he is 46 years old.  When that happens, his opponents feel like The Babe taking part in a slow-pitch softball game and that is certainly reflected on the scoreboard.  On the other hand, sometimes Jamie looks like the Jamie of 2001-2003 when he went 54-21 with a 3.34 ERA.  Those 3 years contained two 20-win seasons, an All-Star selection, and quite a few Cy Young votes.  Hey, he was only 40 years old in his last 20-win season!  

You just really do not know which Jamie Moyer will be taking the mound on any given start.  Or do you?  On June 11th Jamie kept the Mets in check as he held them to 3 ER in 6.0 IP.  The Phils picked up a W, as Jamie gave them a quality start.  His next start on June 17th against the Blue Jays was anything but a repeat performance.  The Jays claimed 6 ER off of him in 6.0 IP.  Not a quality start.  His next start on June 23rd?  Quality start.  June 28th?  Not even close.  July 4th?  I think you can figure out the rest.

Over his last 10 starts, Jamie has completely maintained his string of predictability and that continued tonight.  The last time we saw him he was beautifully picking apart the Diamondbacks on their own turf and he looked like the 38 year old stud that helped lead the 2001 Mariners to an AL record 116 wins.  He gave us a masterful scoreless 6.2 IP.  Tonight?  He looked 46.

5.0 IP, 6 ER, and 1 big fat L later — I guess we’re in for a treat the next time the ageless wonder takes the hill.

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What’s the status of our favorite reality television stars?

August 3rd, 2009

10:31 PM

There is no question that the members of the Phillies’ pitching staff have been passing around the injury bug for the bulk of this season.  Brad Lidge, Clay Condrey, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, Antonio Bastardo, Brett Myers, and Scott Eyre have all gotten a nice whiff of the disabled list.  As you can see, most of those arms are members of the ‘pen.  The extensive list of boo-boos has made Rich Dubee’s hair even grayer and has created a revolving door in the bullpen that has turned guys like Sergio Escalona and Tyler Walker into nomads.  Romero, Durbin, and Condrey are still out of action, so let’s see how they’re doing according to several reports (including The Daily News’ David Murphy):

  • J.C. Romero (out since 7/23 – forearm): Threw 30 pitches yesterday in a bullpen session
  • Chad Durbin (out since 7/23 – back): Will have a rehab assignment on Wednesday in Clearwater
  • Clay Condrey (out since 7/26 – oblique): Supposedly threw a bullpen session in Clearwater

As of now it looks like Durbin and Romero could be ready to return to action after their DL stint it up on August 7th.  Clay Condrey re-aggravated the same strained left oblique that landed him on the DL for the first time.  His status is up in the air and it does not look like we should hold our breath until he returns.  Durbin and Romero were so crucial to last year’s run and they are needed back as soon as possible with Lidge continuing to struggle.

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Phils not the only team making the right moves…

August 2nd, 2009

9:47 PM

First of all, apologies are in order for a very long hiatus.  THEPHILSBLOG.com has been sitting on its 90th post since its June 2009 inception for a little over 1 week.  The blog is now back in business and will not experience a gap of that stature anytime soon.  I’m not one to make excuses, but the R, O, Y, H, A, L, and D keys on my keyboard were temporarily out of order due to overuse in recent weeks.  

Since the last post, quite a few things have happened.  The Phils have gone 6-5, 3 key relievers have landed on the DL, Cliff Lee was acquired at the trade deadline, and Cliff Lee pitched a complete game in his Phils debut.  Speaking of which, a heck of a lot went down in the days leading up to 7/31.  Lee’s impact and newfound importance to this team is beyond obvious, but sometimes moves made by the competition can go a little overlooked.  Let’s take a quick glance at a few deadline deals that might pose a minor obstacle to Philadelphia’s early-November plans.

St. Louis: Red Sox trade Julio Lugo to the Cardinals for Chris Duncan/A’s trade Matt Holliday to the Cardinals for Brett Wallace, Shane Peterson, & Clayton Mortensen

The Phils could very well find themselves in a first-round matchup with the Cardinals this October.  HollidayTradeMark DeRosa, who was once coveted by the Phillies, was acquired well before the deadline chatter even began.  Not only does DeRosa possess the talent to serve as an everyday starter, but he also has the ability to play almost every position in the field.  Is that what they teach you at the University of Pennsylvania?  Lugo also has experience at the middle infield positions and the outfield.  He has put up decent numbers in his career, but he was just not Terry Francona’s favorite guy in Boston.  A change of scenery already appears to be working in Lugo’s favor.  He is batting .371 in his first 8 games with St. Louis.

Matt Holliday was the biggest relocated bat of the 2009 deadline.  He has already solidified himself as a Philadelphia foe.  Holliday was the star of the Colorado team that ruined the Phils return to the postseason after 14 years in ‘07.  Let’s also no forget that he nearly beat out J-Roll for the NL MVP in the same year.  Facing this guy in the playoffs once again will only further entrench his positioning in the Philadelphia doghouse.  We already know Holliday means business, as he went 7 for 12 in the Cards’ recent series in Philadelphia.  The dynamic duo of Holliday and Pujols will not be a desirable sighting in October.

Los Angeles (NL): Orioles trade George Sherrill to the Dodgers for Steve Johnson & Josh Bell

At this point in time it is no secret that a Phils and Dodgers NLCS rematch is much more than a remote possibility.  Even less of a secret is the vitalness of a strong back end of the bullpen.  The Phils are learning this the hard way, as Brad Lidge’s 2009 season is almost the mere opposite of his perfect 2008 campaign.  The Dodgers already have an All-Star closer in Jonathan Broxton (7-0, 2.83 ERA, 24 for 27 in SVO).  George Sherrill now gives them a deadly left-handed option late in games.  He will probably be used to keep the 7th or 8th inning on lockdown, but he is also the best ‘backup closer’ in baseball.  Unfortunately, that is something the Phils do not have.  Sherrill introduced himself to the Phils this year by pitching a hitless 9th in each game of the Orioles’ series sweep.  He was rewarded with a save in 2 of those outings.

San Francisco: Pirates trade Freddy Sanchez to the Giants for Tim Alderson/Indians trade Ryan Garko to the Giants for Scott Barnes

The Giants are a team that can beat you 1-0 on any given night.  Their pitching is that good.  The only problem is the fact that the 1 run is oftentimes very hard to come by.  The Giants made great strides towards solving that issue by making two key acquisitions at the end of the deadline.  Freddy Sanchez is a 3x All-Star, former batting champion, and a career .300 hitter.  He also gives the Giants a true everyday starter at second base, which was something they previously lacked.  Also, the double play combo of Freddy Sanchez and Edgar Renteria is not too shabby.  Freddy Sanchez is the ’sexy’ addition the Giants made to their ball club at the ‘09 deadline, but Ryan Garko has the potential to make just as big of a splash.  Garko has quietly become a very consistent major league hitter.  You will always find him hitting around .280 and his bat has a decent amount of pop.  He also gives his team an everyday starter at first base, which was a void filled by a handful of guys until now.  Lincecum, Cain, and Co. were already enough to worry about, but with a little added offense this team might now be the biggest sleeper in the MLB.  

Colorado Rockies: Indians trade Rafael Betancourt to the Rockies for Connor Graham/Nationals trade Joe Beimel to the Rockies for Ryan Mattheus & Robinson Fabian

Like the Giants, no one really thought the Rockies would be hanging around this late in the season.  They will also most likely be the Phils’ NLDS opponent if they capture a playoff birth.  Since the first week of May, Colorado has the best record in baseball.  After the Phillies, they score the most runs and hit the most HR in the National League.  They even have an above average starting rotation that is led by Jason Marquis and Aaron Cook.  Who would have ever thought that?  Coors Field is where pitchers go to deteriorate.  The Rockies’ bullpen is really their one true blemish, but a poor ‘pen is enough to hold anyone back.  GM Dan O’Dowd pulled some strings and did all he could to give the Rockies a shot at making a wildcard run.  In 2007, Raphael Betancourt was as valuable as anyone on the Cleveland Indians team that made it to the ALCS.  He managed to maintain a 1.47 ERA in 79.1 IP in 68 games as the team’s setup man.  He struggled last year, but is back to his normal self in 2009 and will pave the way for Huston Street to close the 9th.

Joe Beimel is another guy who will further solidify the end of the Rockies’ ‘pen.  Beimel’s 1-5 record is a little deterring, but he was by far the National’s toughest reliever before the trade.  He also has an impressive track record, as he compiled a 2.02 ERA and earned his own bobblehead day with the Dodgers in 2008.  The Rockies recognized their biggest problem and they came pretty close to fixing it.

Florida Marlins: Nationals trade Nick Johnson to the Marlins for Aaron Thompson

While most of us have already gotten into the habit of not paying attention to any of our NL East rivals, it must be pointed out that the pesky Marlins have gotten even peskier.  If the Phils continue on their winning ways and the Marlins continue to build their 2009 legacy of inconsistency, Nick Johnson will be just as relevant as he was during his National days.  That being said, the Phils will still see the Marlins 6 more times before the season is over and Johnson will make those games a tad more difficult.  Since 2006, Johnson has hit at a .321 clip against the Phillies.

 

Now those are some pretty productive deals that will absolutely strengthen the competition, but none are more impressive than this one:

Indians trade Cliff Lee & Ben Francisco to the Phillies for Lou Marson (minors), Jason Knapp, Jason Donald, & Carlos Carrasco 

Way to go Ruben.  Pat Gillick taught you well.

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Drabek shows scouts why he should be pried away from the Phillies…

July 23rd, 2009

12:34 AM

While it was rumored that the Blue Jays and possibly other teams would have scouts observing Kyle Drabek’s start in Altoona, he certainly did not disappoint.  Drabek allowed 2 ER on 6 H in 8.0 IP.  He also struck out 7.

What does this mean?  Nobody actually knows.  GM’s Ruben Amaro Jr. and J.P. Ricciardi are sure putting on a show for the fans and the media.  It is obvious that they are both putting on a front every time cameras and microphones are present.  Why would they make their true plans public?  There are 28 other teams in Major League Baseball.  None of our questions will be answered truthfully until we check the major league and minor league rosters on July 30th.

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Cubs 10 Phillies 5: Can’t win ‘em all…

July 23rd, 2009

12:17 AM

It had to end sometime, right?  Cubs Phillies BaseballThe Phils’ longest winning streak in 18 years has finally come to an end.  Excellent starting pitching has been such a vital component of this hot streak and that was nowhere to be found today.  Jamie Moyer has had a very large amount of better performances in his 23-year career.  He gave up 5 R (4 ER) on 8 H in 5.0 IP.  The top of the 4th was the demise of Moyer, as he kicked the inning off by tossing up multiple meatballs that yielded 4 consecutive Cub singles and a double.  The Cubs had put up a 4-spot in a heartbeat.  From that point on the Phils showed a few signs of life, but were never truly back in the game.

In my opinion, Charlie erred in his decision to bring Chad Durbin into the game.  While the bullpen was hurting after a 13-inning victory, Durbin pitched 3 innings on Monday.  It showed as he faced 5 batters in the 5th and allowed 3 ER on 2 H and 3 BB, while he recorded no outs.  Lidge was also not looking sharp as he relinquished another 2 ER after getting wild in the 9th.

It’s a shame the pitching did not show up like it has so frequently in the past 15 games, as the Phils managed to finally get to Carlos Zambrano after he was so dominant in the first 4 innings.  All 5 runs were earned while the temperamental Zambrano was on the mound.  Pedro Feliz and Paul Bako each knocked a 2-run single.  They had huge chances in the 7th and 8th to poise a larger threat, but they failed to come through.  While down by 3 runs in the 7th, Feliz lined out with 2 men on.  While still down by 3 runs in the 8th, Ryan Howard grounded out to 1st with the bases loaded.  Things were just not falling into place.  Here are some more points:

  • Not only was the 10-game winning streak snapped, but so was J-Roll’s 7-game hitting streak.
  • John Mayberry Jr. ended an 0 for 13 stretch and picked up his first hit since June 30th.
  • Since Jamie Moyer notched a quality start on June 11th in Citi Field, he has managed to have a quality start every other outing.  With today’s poor performance the pattern has continued.  We’ll be looking forward to his next time out.
  • Kevin Gregg has managed to master the Phillies in his rather mediocre career.  After spending the last 2 seasons with the Marlins, Gregg has racked up quite a number of appearances against the Phils.  After today he now has a 0.79 ERA in 21 games versus Philadelphia.
  • On a brighter note, Scott Eyre has still not given up an ER since April 27th.  Since then he has pitched 17 scoreless innings in 22 appearances.  
  • Charlie Manuel was ejected in the bottom of the 6th.

The Mets lost to the Nats and remain 10 games back.  Unfortunately, the Braves and Marlins each managed to pick up a game.  They are 5.5 and 6 games back, respectively.

*Photo Courtesy of AP*

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Phillies 4 Cubs 1: Werth wins it…

July 22nd, 2009

7:44 AM

The Phils were 1-9 tonight with RISP, but the 1 was all that mattered.  WerthwinJayson Werth absolutely hammered an offering from Jeff Samardzija for a 3-run HR to win the game in the bottom of the 13th.  The pitching marathon came to a thrilling end with one swing of the bat and the winning streak now sits at 10 games.  The only other run came at the result of a J-Roll solo shot in the 3rd off of Rich Harden.  In fact, Werth’s HR was the first hit the Phils had collected in the extra innings.  

An offensive execution may have provided the final fireworks for the 13 inning affair, but this game was all about pitching.  Joe Blanton and Rich Harden emerged onto the big league scene together within the Oakland A’s organization and tonight they faced off for the first time.  Their lines were nearly identical.  Blanton lasted 7.0 IP and gave up 1 ER on 5 H.  Harden also lasted 7.0 IP and allowed 1 ER on 4 H.  Both bullpens were also almost picture perfect.  

The Cubs’ relievers were strong until the final pitch of the game.  The Phillies’ pen not only pitched 6 scoreless innings, but they pitched 6 HITLESS innings.  The reality television stars are on fire and once again Chan Ho Park was at the center of things.  Park pitched 3 of the scoreless innings in relief.  He also struck out 5.  What else is going on:

  • The Phils are the first defending World Series champions in 35 years to win 10 games in a row.
  • Rich Harden now has a 0.90 ERA in 3 career starts against Philadelphia.
  • Since May 26, Blanton is 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA.  His ERA was as high as 7.11 on May 21st, but it is now down to 4.24.
  • The Phils’ record in extra-inning games is now 8-5.  They have already played just as many extra-inning games than last year when they were 6-7.
  • Jayson Werth is 3 HR away from tying his career high of 24 HR, which he set last year.
  • J-Roll has now hit safely in 14 of the 17 games that he has been back in the lineup.  He is currently on a 7-game hit sreak.

The Marlins and Braves held their ground in the division, but the Mets dropped to 10 games behind.  How sad…

*Photo Courtesy of AP*

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The Value of a Rollin’ J-Roll

July 21st, 2009

5:37 PM

I looked up some more numbers to further illustrate what Jimmy Rollins means to the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Phils are:

  • 40-6 when J-Roll has at least 1 hit.
  • 19-5 when J-Roll has a multi-hit game.
  • 17-6 when J-Roll has at least 1 walk.
  • 37-8 when J-Roll scores at least 1 run.
  • 7-1 when J-Roll has a multi-run game.
  • 12-2 when J-Roll steals a base.

Wow.

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Phillies 10 Cubs 1: .500 at home!

July 21st, 2009

12:39 AM

What were we saying about that awful record at Citizens Bank Park?  RaulHRCelebrateoffofLillyThe guys are way too pressed!  There’s too much going on at home!  The home clubhouse changed caterers!  BS!  The law of averages has finally come into play.  With today’s win the Phils have moved to a record of 23-23 at home.  It was unexplainable.  There was no reason for the poor play in front of sold out crowd after sold out crowd.  The home fans were just experiencing a lengthy string of bad luck.  The bulk of the losses were simply occurring on the home turf by just mere coincidence.

Coming into this series, the Cubs seemed to pose the biggest threat that the club has experienced in their recent weeks of heightened success.  They were riding a hot streak of their own and sent their lone all-star to the hill for the first game.  Ted Lilly barely resembled a big league pitcher, yet alone an all-star after the Phils bats were done with him.  Ted lasted just 4.0 innings and gave up 9 runs (7 ER) on 8 hits.  Just when it looked like the Phils were going to blow an invaluable scenario in the first inning when Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins were on 2nd and 3rd with 0 outs, Raul Ibanez hit a 3-run HR.  Lilly was 1 strike away from digging himself out of the unenviable situation.  Carlos Ruiz showed some untypical power at the plate with 1 HR, 1 2B, and 3 RBI.  Rollins and Utley also knocked in 1 run each.  The 10-spot was achieved when Ryan Howard hit #201 off of Angel Guzman in the 8th.  

Rodrigo Lopez has continued to make a case for himself when it comes to sticking around in the rotation.  He went 6.0 IP and only allowed 1 ER on 5 H.  The 3 BB are not too appealing, but who cares if he is now 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA.  Chad Durbin further demonstrated the versatility of the Phillies bullpen as he ended the game with a scoreless 3.0 inning save.  The combination of strong starts and excellent management has awarded the arms in the pen with some much needed rest at a very pivotal point in the season. 

  • The Phillies have held the opposition to 2 runs or less in 10 of their last 14 games.  The pitching staff now has an ERA of 2.30 during that stretch.
  • Chad Durbin has provided the Phils with a much needed 3.0+ IP of relief on three separate occasions this season.
  • The Phils have hit 2+ HR in 7 of their last 14 games.
  • Since his return from the DL, Raul Ibanez has gone 8 for 23 with 3 HR, 3 2B, 9 RBI, and 6 R.  He has also put together a 1.271 OPS during that time.

The Phillies have now won 9 in a row and will aim for the franchise record of 13 consecutive wins (modern day).  Unfortunately, the Mets and Braves have held their ground by beating the Nationals and Giants, respectively.  The Marlins also look like they are about to fend off the Padres out west tonight.

*Photo Courtesy of AP*

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Phillies 5 Marlins 0: Another Sweep, Bigger Lead

July 19th, 2009

10:29 PM

How great does it feel to be 6.5 games up in first place in the NL East?  The Phils have not had a 6.5+ game lead since 9/10/93.  JROLLSHANEThe last time this franchise was in such a comfortable position this late in the regular season was when the Krukker held down the fort at first base, Dutch called the games behind the plate, Nails patrolled center, and a 26-years-old Curt Schilling emerged into superstardom.  

J.A. Happ is still not close to slowing down.  He pitched another 7 scoreless innings and only allowed 5 hits.  It looked like Happ was going to get in trouble at several points throughout the game, but he worked his way out of every jam.  Phillies pitching stranded 12 Marlins on base and kept the opposition to 0-12 with RISP.  Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Scott Eyre, and Brad Lidge finished the game off and successfully maintained the shutout.  

J-Roll was a HR short of the cycle and knocked in 1 run.  Raul prolonged his welcome home party with a 2-run double.  Chase also knocked in a run and scored on a wild pitch by Brendan Donnelly.  Even Happ joined the fun with his 2nd major league hit and 1st major league run.  What else:

  • J.A. Happ has now pitched 7.0+ innings in 5 consecutive starts.  He has also had 8 quality starts out of 11 starts overall.  
  • Today’s win extends the current win streak to 8 games, which is the longest of the season and the longest since 2006 (4/30-5/9).
  • Phils pitching has compiled a 2.88 ERA during the 8-game winning streak.
  • J-Roll had two chances to complete the cycle with a HR, but failed to cash in on the opportunity.  The last Phil to hit for the cycle is still David Bell on 6-28-04.  
  • Pedro Feliz had 2 errors tonight.  He almost had 3, as he was originally credited with an error that was later officially scored as a hit.  Pedro’s .968 fielding percentage is 6th out of the 20 major leaguers with 60 or more starts at 3rd base.

*Photo Courtesy of AP*

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    Grading the 1st Half: The Bench

    July 17th, 2009

    9:06 AM

    THE BENCH

    Ruben Amaro Jr. better take some time off from fantasizing about Roy Halladay and look for a right-handed bat off of the bench.  bruntletterrorThe bench was one component of the Phils that you were very comfortable with last year.  That is absolutely not the case midway through this season.  Players that have come off of the bench this year had a .201 BA in the first half.  Last year the bench hit at a .249 clip, which was only 10 points off of the starters’ average.  Matt Stairs is the only guy you are happy to see in the late innings and that is not enough.

    Greg Dobbs OF/3B/1B   (108 AB, 13 R, 29 H, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 21 SO, .269 BA)

    For most of the season Greg Dobbs was plummeting towards Bruntlett-mode.  He had 1 hit in his first 13 pinch-hit appearances.  He stayed cold until Raul Ibanez landed on the DL.  After Dobbs started receiving the opportunity to start and  got consistent ABs, he finally started to heat up.  His batting average was as low as .172 as recently as June 17th, but it has shot up to .269 after getting 14 starts since that date.  Now that Ibanez is back, Dobbs needs to reassume his role as pinch-hitter extraordinaire.  Not receiving consistent at-bats is no excuse.  How can Dobbs expect to receive a lot of starts when the Phils send a trio of all-stars out to the outfield every game.  Grade: C+ (Keep in mind, his .BA as a bench player is still .150…)

    Chris Coste C/1B   (102 AB, 12 R, 25 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 14 BB, 27 SO, .245 BA)

    Chris Coste is a class act and a great story, but he is a rapidly declining ballplayer.  His average has dropped each year since he was the 33-Year Old Rookie.  His pinch-hitting and sub numbers have been even worse.  When coming into the middle of a game, Coste has been 3 for 18 at the plate.  Sometimes backup catchers can hang around due to their defense (see Paul Bako).  Unfortunately for Chris, his skills behind the plate do not cancel out his flaws at the plate.  Grade: C

    Eric Bruntlett OF/3B/SS/2B   (72 AB, 8 R, 10 H, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 18 SO, .139 BA)

    AAAAHHHHHH!  That is my reaction every time Eric Bruntlett enters the game.  He is the absolute worst.  How is he still on the roster?  Last year he was Pat Burrell’s spare legs, but this year Raul can hold his own on the base paths and run down fly balls.  He filled in nicely for J-Roll last year, but there is nothing to like about him this year.  Well maybe the beard?  The only reason he still is breathing major league air is due to the fact that he is the only bench player capable of playing the middle infield positions.  I’d still rather give him the boot and watch Matt Stairs play shortstop.  Grade: F 

    Matt Stairs OF   (60 AB, 11 R, 17 H, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 13 BB, 17 SO, .283 BA)

    How can you not love this guy?  His NLCS heroics have carried into the 2009 season.  He gave Harry one last opportunity to call a HR on April 12th in Colorado.  That was the first of his 4 pinch-hit HRs this season.  He is quickly approaching Cliff Johnson’s career record of 20 pinch-hit HR and could also aim for Dave Hansen (’00) and Craig Wilson’s (’01) mark of 7 pinch-hit HRs in a season.  Matt exemplifies everything you would want in a big bat coming off of the bench in the late innings.  All of his HRs have come in the 9th inning.  Grade: A

    John Mayberry Jr. OF   (49 AB, 7 R, 9 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 19 SO, .184 BA)

    There is no denying Mayberry’s potential.  He has the power, speed and defense to one day grow into a star.  At the moment, he definitely strikes out way too much.  Exactly one-half of Mayberry’s outs have been strikeouts.  Charlie gave Mayberry a huge confidence boost when he kept him on the roster after Ibanez returned.  He has already put on a show in the outfield and displayed some pop in his bat.  In order to keep his head above water, big John needs to start getting on base more often.  Grade: C- (You have to love his 5-tool potential, but he also has a lot to prove)

    Paul Bako C   (28 AB, 4 R, 6 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 7 SO, .214 BA)

    Bako’s bat is pretty irrelevant.  He is not on this team to produce offensively.  Up until now he has made his living as a very solid defensive catcher and that is what the Phils still see in him.  Charlie really likes the way he handles the pitching staff and his numbers further demonstrate his skillful approach to calling games.  When Bako starts, the Phils are 5-2.  Phillies pitching also has a BAA of .259 when Bako is catching.  That is lower than when any other Phils catcher is behind the plate this season.  Grade: B-

    We’ll look at some potentially available role players leading up to the trade deadline, because that is definitely a necessity…

    *Photo courtesy of Philly.com*

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    Phillies 4 Marlins 0: Trying to run away with it…

    July 17th, 2009

    6:54 AM

    Jamie Moyer is the Florida Marlins’ ultimate nemesis.  He cruised to his 13th career victory against the Marlins in a very dominant fashion.  RyanRaulMoyer allowed 0 ER on 1 H in 7.0 IP and joined forces with Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero to pitch the Phils’ first combined one-hitter since 1986. If it was not for a single off of the bat of Jorge Cantu, we would be talking about a no-no right now.  

    The All-Star break did not interrupt the building momentum of the big bats in the lineup.  Jayson Werth was the only starter to not get a hit, as he went 0-4 with 4 Ks.  Raul Ibanez showed us his time on the DL was no big deal after he smacked a HR to left and a HR to right.  Ryan Howard became the fastest to hit 200 HR, as he hit a solo shot in the 6th during his 658th game.  Some more bits:

    • Jamie is now 13-2 with a 2.84 ERA against the Marlins in his career.
    • Howard broke Ralph Kiner’s record, who hit 200 HRs in 706 games.
    • Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins each got thrown out trying to steal.  While Victorino was the victim of a bad call, this was the second time all season that the Phils had 2 CS in one game.
    • Raul’s multi-HR game is his 3rd of the season.
    • Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero both lowered their ERAs to under 3.00 after pitching a scoreless inning each.

    The Phillies are now 5 games up in the NL East.  5 games is their largest division lead since 2001.  Well ‘09 will end on a much higher note than ‘01.  The Mets lost to the Braves and have fallen a season-high 7.5 games back.

    *Photo Courtesy of AP*

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    Grading the 1st Half: The Bullpen

    July 14th, 2009

    12:59 AM

    As we head into the All-Star break, let’s grade the Phils’ first half performance from top to bottom.  You cannot complain about being 10 games over .500 and sitting atop the NL East by 4 games, but there is room for improvement everywhere.  Obviously, that applies a lot more to some than others.  The report card will be divided into 4 sections: bullpen, bench, starting rotation, and the lineup.  We’ll take a look at the new reality TV stars to kick things off.

    THE BULLPEN

    After proving to be the league’s best bullpen and serving as a very critical component to the 2008 championship season, there was a lot of pressure on the pen for a repeat performance.  LidgeGaining national exposure on a weekly basis from the MLB Network’s The Pen only added to the weight on shoulders of the relievers.  As the season progressed, it became even more evident that the bullpen would need to stay sharp in order for the Phillies to have success in 2009.  The starting rotation was struggling and an injury to Brett Myers only made matters worse.  Poor outings by starters resulted in many early showers, which meant even more innings would be needed in relief.

    After a rocky start due to being overworked, the bullpen has settled down significantly.  Here is where they rank out of the 16 NL teams:

    • 3.95 ERA – 11th
    • 280.1 IP – tied for 5th
    • 141 BB – 4th
    • 241 SO – tied for 5th
    • 23 Saves – 8th
    • 32 HR Allowed – 2nd

    And now for the individual members…

    Ryan Madson (3-4, 3.02 ERA, 45 G, 44.2 IP, 16 BB, 44 SO)

    Last year Ryan really solidified his role as the team’s 8th inning man and as one of premier setup men in the league.  He started off the season by living up to his new reputation.  When Brad Lidge went onto the disabled list, Madson was asked by Charlie Manuel to fill in as the club’s closer.  He definitely had the stuff, but he appeared to lack the mentality.  Before Lidge went on the DL, Madson’s ERA sat at 2.22.  After blowing 2 saves and picking up 3 losses during his tenure as the closer, his ERA ballooned to 3.46.  He went from dominant to very hittable in the blink of an eye.  Fortunately, Lidge has returned and Madson is back in a spot he has grown to become very comfortable.  He was sharp leading into the break and appears to be back on track.  Grade: B+

    Chad Durbin (1-2, 4.47 ERA, 39 G, 44.1 IP, 28 BB, 43 SO)

    After having a breakout year as a reliever, Chad Durbin has cooled off.  Last year his ERA was 2.87 and he was definitely the unsung hero of the bullpen.  While his ERA is up a lot more than you would like, he continues to do a lot for the Phillies.  He has seen the bulk of his action in the 7th inning.  As a former starter, he is still capable of going more than one inning if called upon.   7 of his outings have been over 2 innings long.  Grade: B-

    Clay Condrey (4-2, 3.71 ERA, 33 G, 34.0 IP, 14 BB, 22 SO)

    Clay has surprised us all.  He was supposed to be once again nothing more than the Phils ‘mop up’ guy.  Well Charlie has certainly given Condrey a huge vote of confidence.  16 of his 33 appearances have been in games where the game is tied, within 1 run, or the opposing team had the tying run at least on deck.  He was in 11 games of that nature all of last year.   Clay had a few rough outings that lead to a DL stint on 6/22 with a strained oblique.   Grade: B+

    Brad Lidge (0-4, 7.03 ERA, 35 G, 18/24 SV, 32.0 IP, 19 BB, 37 SO)

    Brad has by far been one of the Phillies’ biggest disappointments.  You knew the save streak would not last forever, but you did not expect Lidge to blow 6 games before the break.  It took 18 appearances for Lidge to finally surrender his first run of the 2008 season.  In 2009 Lidge gave up 16 ER in his first 18 games.  After blowing 2 saves at the new Yankee Stadium on 5/23-5/24 and another 2 in LA on 6/5-6/6, he was placed on the DL.  Brad’s ERA is toast for the season, but he needs to forget about that.  There are plenty of games to still be saved.  Since coming back from the DL he has been perfect in save opportunities (5 for 5).  Grade: C-

    Jack Taschner (1-1, 5.20 ERA, 21 G, 27.2 IP, 20 BB, 17 SO)

    You have to feel for Jack.  When the season started you knew he wasn’t going to last too long.  The initial thought was that he would lose his spot as soon as J.C. Romero returned, but he dodged that bullet.  He still started to see less and less time, as he only pitched 5 games in all of June.  Taschner never got a chance to pitch consistently and his numbers did not help his case.  Of course, that works both ways.  He was designated for an assigment on 7/3.  Grade: D

    Chan Ho Park (2-1, 3.16 ERA, 18 G, 25.2 IP, 9 BB, 29 SO)

    Chan Ho Park is my first-half bullpen MVP.  Now I know that is not the most prestigious award in baseball, but you have to look at what this guy has done.  Chan Ho signed with the Phillies after he was promised a chance to compete for the #5 spot in the starting rotation.  He deservedly won the spot after an outstanding spring training, but he quickly unraveled in the regular season.  After being moved to the bullpen after his final start on 5/12, Park has been outstanding.  He has become one of the more versatile guys in the pen.  He can come into a tight game and get some crucial outs or eat up multiple innings.  6 of his 18 relief appearances have been over 2 innings.  3 of them have been 3 innings long.  In those 6 multi-inning relief appearances, he has only given up 1 ER.  Chan Ho has adjusted to his new role very quickly and has not looked back.  You have to really admire that.  Grade: A-

    Scott Eyre (1-1, 2.16 ERA, 27 G, 16.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 SO)

    Lou Piniella’s reluctance to use Scott Eyre in 2008 was one of the best things that has happen to the Phillies in awhile (besides winning a World Series maybe).  Eyre pretty much fell into the lap of the Phils last season via a trade with the Cubs.  This year he has been a very reliable member of the pen.  He is probably the most efficiently used relief pitcher the Phils have to offer.  Charlie has brought Eyre into a game 8 separate times to face one specific batter.   After he got the out, he was plucked from the game.  He did the same thing with 2 batters in 5 different games as well.  Eyre has the best ERA on the pitching staff and does most of his work in the later innings.  Eyre landed on the DL with a calf injury he suffered while running from the bullpen on 6/11 at Citi Field.  He is back and looks close to becoming himself.  He has only given up 4 ER all year and that all happen on 4/27.  Grade: A

    J.C. Romero (0-0, 3.14 ERA, 17 G, 14.1 ERA, 12 BB, 11 SO)

    The announcement of Romero’s 50-game suspension was a huge bummer to this team.  As one of the most passionate guys on the field and in the clubhouse, his presence was missed.  Last year J.C. was the primary left-handed arm out of the bullpen.  His 1st half numbers are from a relatively small sample size, but J.C. has not been as sharp as he has been in the past.  His outings have been pretty rocky and he is letting too many men get on base.  He has only faced the minimum amount of batters in 6 of his 17 appearances.  You do not want to see that from one of your most vital relievers.  Hopefully J.C. has shaken out the rust and will be ready to go in the second half.  Grade: B

    Tyler Walker (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 9 G, 11.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 SO)

    Tyler Walker has made the most of his short time in the majors for the Phils this year.  After making his Phillies debut on 6/16, Walker has been almost flawless.  The only 2 runs he gave up occurred during the 11-1 blowout loss to the Braves on 7/1.  Other than that, he has really gotten the job done.  He is averaging only about 13.5 pitches in his 11 innings of work.  Unfortunately, he will probably get the boot when Clay returns.  Grade: N/A (Still has way too much to prove)

    Lastly, Sergio Escalona gets an A for frequent flyer miles and Kyle Kendrick gets a ‘sad face’ for probably never seeing the major leagues as a Phillie ever again.

    *Photo Courtesy of AP*

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    Pedro’s Almost Here?

    July 13th, 2009

    7:26 AM

    Apparently Pedro Martinez is on his way to Philadelphia to take a physical.  If Pedro looks good to go, a deal could be signed right away.  This means he could be taking Rodrigo Lopez’s spot in the rotation as soon as the Phils resume play.

    The $4 million prorated salary sounds a little steep, but it could be worse.  In 2007, the Yankees signed Roger Clemens to a prorated salary over $28 million.  The one issue that should be a bigger concern to this team is Pedro’s impact on the clubhouse.  For a certain stretch, Pedro was one of the best pitchers the game has ever seen.  His stuff was electrifying and he was one guy absolutely no one wanted to face.  Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind about him is his manhandling of the 72 year old Don Zimmer in the 2003 ALCS brawl.  The Phillies are fresh off a 9-1 home stand and 5 players being named to the midsummer classic.  The mood in the clubhouse is flying high and Pedro puts that at risk.  

    If this move works out, I cannot wait to see Pedro make a start against the Mets at Citi Field during the Aug. 21-24 series.

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    Phillies 5 Pirates 2: Happ and the Phils do it again…

    July 13th, 2009

    7:17 AM

    J.A. Happ is unstoppable.  Who would have thought that the Phillies most reliable starter would have been someone who barely made the major league roster as a relief pitcher?  HappratesHapp and his ‘invisaball’ were at it again today.  He lasted another 7.0 IP and only gave up 1 ER on 4 H.  How does he do it?  You would have thought the Phillies pitching could have had their way with the Pirates’ bats all series long, but look what happen to Cole Hamels.  It does not matter who is at the plate for J.A. Happ these days.

    Happ was given a very early lead thanks to the bat of Pedro Feliz, who launched a grand slam off of Virgil Vasquez in the first inning.  Vasquez lasted just 1.1 IP and was responsible for all 5 of the Phillies runs.  The Pirates’ bullpen held the Phillies to just 2 more hits throughout the rest of the game, but that did not matter.  Enough damage  had been done in the first inning to give Happ all of the run support he needed with 3 runs to spare.  Too bad you can’t carry those extra runs over.  The Phils could’ve used a lot of that during the first half of the season.  Here are some closing remarks from the final game of the first half:

    • Feliz’s first inning grand slam was the 7th for the Phils this year.  The franchise record for grand slams in a season is 8 and that was set in 1993.  The MLB record is 14, which is held by the 2006 Tigers and the 2000 A’s.
    • J.A. Happ has now made 10 starts since joining the rotation and 7 of them have been quality starts.  His 2.90 ERA is by far the best of the starters.  Happ has not lost a game since his major league debut on June 30, 2007.
    • It looks like Ryan Madson is finally back to his old self.  He has not given up a run in his last 5 appearances.  He has also only allowed 2 H during that time.
    • J-Roll was 15 for 38 (.395) on this home stand.  He also walked 10 times and scored 10 runs.  Looks like Charlie Manuel knew what he was doing.  Doesn’t it?
    • Shane Victorino was even better in his final push of his All-Star campaign.  He went 18 for 43 (.419) during the home stand.  
    • Phillies pitching has been even hotter.  The pitching staff has compiled a 2.70 ERA during the 10-game span.  

    The Phillies go into the break with a record of 48-38 and a 4-game lead in the NL East.  Last year they were 52-44 with a 0.5 game lead.  The difference this year is that the Mets are fading and they are fading fast.  The Phillies need to stay hot once the break is over and continue to build upon their division lead.  They failed to cash in on their opponents’ struggles to the maximum extent, as their lead could really have been doubled.  Regardless, the Phils are in a good spot and should concentrate on increasing their lead, which could actually result in a relaxing September.  

     

    *Photo Courtesy of AP*

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    Phillies 8 Pirates 7: The Likeliest and Unlikeliest of Heroes

    July 12th, 2009

    1:30 AM

    Going into the 9th inning down by 4 runs is not a situation you yearn to be in, but tonight you just had a feeling that the Phils could overcome the deficit.  Ryan TiedThe Pirates closer, Matt Capps, was 19 for 21 in save opportunities and he was sent out for the bottom of the 9th with the score at 7-3.  Matt Stair’s pinch-hit solo HR to start off the inning?  Very expected.  Ryan Howard’s 3-run HR to tie the game at 7-7?  You knew it was coming.  Paul Bako’s walk-off RBI single?  What!?  Bako’s third RBI of the year was a big one, as he lifted the Phils to an 8-7 victory.  Chris Coste’s departure solidified Paul Bako’s role as the backup catcher to Carlos Ruiz.  Well he personally thanked the organization for the move by ‘Capps’-ing off the 5-run 9th.

    As for the pitching, Cole was awful.  He allowed 3 HR within the first 10 batters of the game.  He surrendered 5 ER on 7 H in 6.0 IP.  He did manage to settle down and deserves credit for lasting 6 innings after getting roughed up early.  Tyler Walker got the win after pitching a scoreless 9th.  Here are some more notes:

    • Bako’s game winning hit gives the Phils their 4th walk-off win this year.  The first one came on April 19th when Raul Ibanez hit a walk-off HR off of Edwin Moreno of the Padres.  On May 2nd Shane Victorino was walked by the Met’s Sean Green to force in the winning run.  Lastly, Shane Victorino had a walk-off RBI single off of the Reds’ David Weathers on Wednesday.
    • Remember that 1-8 home stand a few weeks ago?  Well the Phils have managed to cancel that out by bringing the record of their current stretch at home to 8-1.  
    • The Phillies have already achieved a milestone by having 4 players sitting at 20+ HR before the break.  Now they have 3 players with 60+ RBI: Ryan Howard (66), Chase Utley (61), Raul Ibanez (60).  Jayson Werth (56 RBI) is not too far behind.
    • Ryan Howard had 3 hits for only the 4th time this season.  His .258 BA is still way above where he stood last year at the break (.234).
    • Less than half of Cole’s starts have been quality starts (8 out of 17).  
    • Tyler Walker has compiled a 1.64 ERA in his 11 innings of work over 9 games.  Unfortunately, there will be no room for him on the roster once Clay Condrey returns.  Clay pitched a scoreless inning today in his first rehab game with the GCL Phillies.

    ESPN brought up something very interesting on Baseball Tonight.  While the Phillies have been known as one of the most resilient  teams in the league over the last few years, the last time they overcame a 4-run deficit in the bottom of the 9th was June 14, 1998 vs. Pittsburgh.  Coincidentally, the final score was also 8-7.  Who had the walk-off hit?  That would be the Phils’ catcher, Mike Lieberthal.  To make things even more eerily similar, Greg Gibson was the home plate umpire in both games.

    The Marlins lost to the Diamondbacks to put the icing on the cake.  The Phils now have a 4 game lead in the NL East.

     

    *Photo Courtesy of AP*

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    Supporting Charlie’s decision to name Werth an All-Star

    July 10th, 2009

    4:24 PM

    Charlie Manuel put it best when he said that his players are the reason his team won the World Series and got him the NL All-Star Manager job.  So for starters, he has every right to be a little biased.  Joe Torre once brought 8 Yankees with him to the midsummer classic.  Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Shane Victorino were all voted in by the fans.  Before today, Manuel’s only controversial move was handpicking Ryan Howard as the NL’s fourth first basemen.  How could you deny the hometown guy who has 21 HR and 63 RBI.  Ryan has been snubbed before and Charlie did the right thing by making sure he came home to St. Louis to put on a show.

    Manuel’s latest move was naming Jayson Werth an All-Star to replace the injured Carlos Beltran.  You can make a few arguments for other guys, but no one comes close to blowing Werth away.  The only names that come to mind are Matt Kemp, Pablo Sandoval, and Adam Dunn.  Adam Dunn is putting up nice power numbers, but he is on a last place team.  When there are a bunch of deserving guys to make the trip to St. Louis, there is no need to have 2 All-Stars from the Washington Nationals.  Pablo Sandoval is batting .328, but his other numbers do not compare to Werth’s stats.  Jayson Werth’s 20 HR, 54 RBI, and 59 R give him the nod over Sandoval’s 13 HR, 50 RBI, and 39 R.  Matt Kemp’s 10 HR, 46 RBI, and 46 R also do not make enough of a case to dethrone Werth.  Werth’s combination of speed and defense is also just about on par with Kemp’s.  There is going to be some complaining that resonates throughout the west coast, but Charlie Manuel did the right thing.  Jayson Werth is very deserving and his manager is calling the shots.

    The last time a whole outfield was named to the NL All-Star team came in 1972 when Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Al Oliver all made it from the Pirates.

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