reCAP: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies

4/10/13

What a beautiful night for baseball in Philadelphia. It was not a beautiful first game in this series for the Phillies. They lost to the Mets 7-2 against one of the Mets top young pitchers in their organization - Matt Harvey. Roy Halladay didn’t help the cause either in that first game because he pitched ineffectively. Cliff Lee took the mound for the Phillies last night while Dillon Gee started for the Mets. The differences in the starting lineup for the Mets were Collin Cowgill leads off and plays in center field replacing Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Justin Turner is playing at first base instead of Ike Davis. The changes for the Phillies were Erik Kratz catching the game instead of Humberto Quintero, and John Mayberry Jr. playing in right field replacing Laynce Nix. Would the Mets come out strong as they did last game or would Cliff Lee dominate them? Could the Phillies offense give Lee run support?

It seems like Lee has set the standard for Phillies pitching. His night was better once the Phillies scored eight runs early in the game. It started in the second inning when Michael Young and Domonic Brown laced a pair of singles. Young wanted to test the arm of Lucas Duda in left field. Duda committed a throwing error as the ball hit Young as he was hustling to third base. Brown also advanced to second on the error. John Mayberry Jr. started the scoring as he ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line scoring both Young and Brown. Lee helped himself out by hitting an RBI single into centerfield and Mayberry Jr. scored from second to make it a 3-0 game. As Ben Revere dumped a single into left field to move Lee to second base, Jimmy Rollins pulled an RBI double down the right field line to score Lee. It was a 4-0 Phillies lead, and in two games in which they had a 4-0 lead early in the game, the Phillies wounded up losing both of those games. Could they keep scoring more runs or will the pitching implode later in the game?

In the next inning, the Phillies hit three homeruns. Ryan Howard and Young hit back-to-back homeruns while Mayberry Jr. hit a solo homerun just inside the left field foul pole. Just like that it was a 7-0 game. Gee’s night was over just as the third inning ended. He allowed 10 hits, seven runs, and struck out two batters.

The Mets scored two runs on a two-run homerun by John Buck in the fourth inning. It was a 7-2 game and I’m sure fans were thinking “Oh no…not again. Let’s not blow THIS game.”

The Phillies got another run back in the same inning off of new pitcher Greg Burke. As Chase Utley walked and then stole second, Young got Utley home by shooting an RBI triple into the left center field gap and it was an 8-2 game. Young was only a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

The Mets answered with one final run in the fifth inning. Jordany Valdespin hit a triple that Revere misjudged in center field. As Valdespin hit that triple, he pounded his heart twice in celebration. This is what you should NOT do when you’re on the losing end of an 8-2 game. Valdespin scored on a passed ball that Kratz couldn’t handle and it was an 8-3 game. This happened to be the final score too.

The Mets bullpen pitched exceptionally well as Burke, Scott Rice, Latroy Hawkins, and Brandon Lyon pitched a combined five innings, allowed one hit, one run, walked two, and struck out five batters.

Cliff Lee was one out shy of recording a complete game, but Charlie Manuel pulled him out of the game. The fans showed displeasure when Manuel came out of the dugout to hand the ball over to Mike Adams to record the final out of the game. Lee pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowed eight hits, three runs (two were earned), and struck out six batters. Adams struck out the only batter he faced in the ninth inning.

Overall, the Phillies needed to display a game like this where they can dominate. Their pitching may be the key to the season, but if the offense can consistently score runs to support the pitching, I can see bright things happening in the Phillies future. Lee has been unbelievable in his first two starts. I’m sure in the back of his mind that he is thinking, “Where was this last year?” It was great to see Howard hit his first homerun of the season, especially since it was an opposite field homerun. I wish Michael Young would have hit for the cycle so we wouldn’t have to hear that the last Phillie to have hit for the cycle was David Bell in 2004 against the non-existent Montreal Expos.

What did this game mean to you, the fan? Sound off and stay tuned as Kyle Kendrick takes the mound for the Phillies in the rubber match. Jeremy Hefner will start for the Mets.  

reCAP: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies

4/9/13

The Phillies welcome their first divisional opponent at Citizens Bank Park this season. That opponent happens to be a divisional rival in the Mets. The Phillies had another tough loss in their last game. They had another 4-0 lead and the wheels fell off as Hamels allowed eight runs to the Royals. They were close to coming back from a 9-4 deficit, but they were one run shy as they lost 9-8. Coming into this game, the Phillies had a 2-4 record while the Mets were 4-2. The Mets have had an easy schedule playing the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres. They both are inferior teams. The Phillies have had a tougher schedule playing the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals. The Mets did not make any major free agent signings in the offseason, but they traded away their Cy Young Award pitcher from a year ago. The Mets traded away R.A. Dickey, and both of their catchers from last year in Josh Thole, and Mike Nikeas to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Catcher John Buck, and three other prospects. Roy Halladay started for the Phillies and he would not like to remember most of his previous outing. He struck out nine Braves batters, but only lasted 3 1/3 innings. The question for Halladay is whether Humberto Quintero could be a better catcher than Erik Kratz? I ask this because there seems to be a lack of communication between Kratz and Halladay. Halladay said after his last start that he threw a pitch that Justin Upton hit a homerun “half-heartedly.” This sparked controversy on whether he and Kratz gel as teammates. Matt Harvey took the mound for the Mets and he is looking like a potential replacement for Johan Santana.

It was not a good night for Halladay. After the first inning, the game started to unravel for him. Buck hit a three-run homerun in the second inning and the bleeding began. He hit his homerun on a cutter that did not cut. In the third inning, Halladay walked two men which led to an RBI single into center field by Lucas Duda to make it a 4-0 game.

The Phillies had a chance to cut into this 4-0 deficit in the fourth inning, but they only scored one run instead of multiple runs. Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly and Jimmy Rollins strolled his way home.

In the fifth, Halladay allowed a ground-rule double to David Murphy. Murphy advanced to third on a wild pitch and David Wright laced an RBI single into left field to make it a 5-1 game. Chad Durbin relieved Halladay after he allowed a single to Ike Davis to have two runners on base. Just when you think Durbin could do the impossible and come out of an inning unscathed, he allowed Ruben Tejada to hit a two-run RBI single into center field. It was a 7-1 game and it looked like the Phillies simply gave up. The runs Durbin allowed were charged to Halladay because the two baserunners that scored were put on base by Halladay. Halladay went 4 plus innings, allowed six hits, seven runs, walked three, and struck out three batters.

The Phillies bullpen was surprisingly good this game. In total, the bullpen trio of Durbin, Jeremy Horst, and Raul Valdes pitched five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out six batters.

Harvey pitched seven solid innings. He allowed three hits, one run, walked two, and struck out nine batters. Josh Edgin relieved Harvey and he pitched well too. Edgin allowed an RBI groundout to Rollins in the eighth inning. It made the score, which ultimately turned out to be the final score of 7-2. Edgin pitched the final two innings, allowed one hit, one run, and struck out one batter.

Overall, Halladay yet again lacked command on his pitches. His cutter was flat and was not cutting at all. It was similar to throwing a straight slow ball. This time blame can’t be put on the catcher like it was in his last start. The offense didn’t help either, but Harvey showed why he is such a promising young ace. The Mets fans are thinking Johan who? Harvey has an electrifying fastball that tops out in the high 90’s and mixes that with his curveball, slider, and changeup.

Is Roy Halladay dwindling before our eyes, or is it too early to make that judgment? Sound off and stay tuned to the next game as Cliff Lee takes the mound for the Phillies and Dillon Gee is on the mound for the Mets.

reCAP: Kansas City Royals vs. Philadelphia Phillies

 
4/7/13

In an unusual circumstance, the Phillies started interleague play earlier than in years past. It is unusual because in years past, interleague play was only played in the month of June. The Phillies did not have a good home opener on Friday. They blew a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning and lost 13-4. I was at the game last night to witness what would be a boring game overall, but ended in the ninth inning with a walkoff hit that made the fans go home happy. The Royals are not a team to overlook like they use to be. They have some talented young hitters such as Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, and Mike Moustakos. They have some young flame throwing bullpen pitchers in Aaron Crow, and Greg Holland. What they did improve on this year from last year was their starting pitchers. The Royals acquired James Shields and Wade Davis from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Royals gave the Rays their top hitting prospect Wil Myers, and three other prospects. They also acquired Ervin Santana in a trade from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Royals gave the Angels a prospect in return. John Lannan was making his first start as a Phillie as he opposed Luis Mendoza for the Royals.

Both Lannan and Mendoza were pitching solid games through the first four innings. Lannan allowed no hits through four innings as Mendoza allowed one.

The fifth inning seemed like a sore spot for both pitchers. Lannan allowed the Royals’ first baserunner of the game to reach by getting hit by the pitch. Then he allowed the first hit of the game to Jeff Francoeur as he doubled into left field. Miguel Tejada got an RBI groundout to second to produce the first run of the game. Elliot Johnson knocked an RBI single up the middle and it was a 2-0 game. Mendoza started his end of the fifth with a walk to John Mayberry Jr. As he got Humberto Quintero to line out to right field, Lannan moved Mayberry Jr. up to second base by laying down a sacrifice bunt. Ben Revere slapped a single off of Tejada’s glove and went into left field and Mayberry Jr. went all the way home to make it a 2-1 game.

The Royals tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning as Tejada got an RBI double to right field that scored Francoeur. This inning could have been worse had Tejada not fallen asleep at third base when Quintero picked him off.

Mendoza pitched six quality innings. He allowed two hits, one run, three walks, and struck out seven batters. Lannan pitched seven innings. He allowed five hits, three runs, and struck out five batters. Aaron Crow and Kelvin Herrera both threw scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. They both combined for three strikeouts. Mike Adams relieved Lannan and allowed one hit and struck out one batter, but made his portion of the eighth inning interesting. Billy Butler lined a single into left field. Jarrod Dyson pinch ran for Butler, stole second base, and took third base on a throwing error by Quintero. The threat ended when Salvador Perez grounded out to Michael Young to end the eighth.

Antonio Bastardo relieved Adams and threw a scoreless ninth inning and walked one batter. The Royals new closer, Greg Holland entered the ninth and he gave the Phillies some life. He was all over the place with his pitches as he walked Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Michael Young. Ezequiel Carrera pinch-ran for Howard. Holland got Domonic Brown and Mayberry Jr. to strike out. Charlie Manuel used Kevin Frandsen as a pinch hitter to replace Quintero. The first pitch Frandsen sees, he lines a shot into right field that splits the gap. The bases were all cleared AND THE PHILLIES WON THE GAME 4-3!!!! Who would have thought that would happen especially when the Phillies only had 2 hits until this point in the game.

Overall, the Phillies had some solid pitching tonight. I expected Lannan to throw the ball down in the strike zone and induce the hitters to hit groundballs. The Royals right now are in the same offensive funk as the Phillies are. The home opener was a mirage in my eyes. I don’t expect either team to post offensive outbursts against one another. James Shields gets the ball in the final game of this series for the Royals while Cole Hamels gets the ball for the Phillies. Hamels is looking to improve after he had a typical bad first start.

What are your expectations for John Lannan? Sound off and stay tuned until next time…

reCAP: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

4/4/13

The first game is in the books as we slowly progress through this season. The Braves and Phillies put on an offensive display last game while their aces were on the mound. Can the Phillies offense consistently put up a high number of runs? Can the Braves continue to slug their way to a victory? Before the game, the Phillies made a roster move. They claimed outfielder Ezequiel Carrera off of waivers and designated Rule Five pick Ender Inciarte for assignment. The Phillies have 10 days to trade Inciarte or return him back to the Arizona Diamondbacks. If the Diamondbacks don’t want Inciarte, the Phillies can reassign him in their minor league system. The Phillies lineup stays the same as last night while the Braves made two changes to their lineup. Juan Francisco played third base instead of Chris Johnson as part of their platoon system and feel-good story backup catcher Evan Gattis got the start. Roy Halladay started for the Phillies as Paul Maholm started for the Braves. Halladay had one of his worst seasons last year and is hoping to have a bounce back season. Last year he had an 11-8 record with an ERA of 4.49. Halladay’s health and velocity has been in question since the start of spring training. Will this be the year that he reinvents himself as a pitcher and tries to get hitters out without being known as a power pitcher? Maholm had decent numbers for the Braves last year. He was 4-5 with a 3.54 ERA.

The Braves took where they left off last game. Justin Upton got the party started for the Braves as he blasted a two-run homerun off of Halladay. Francisco continued the scoring as he knocked an RBI single to right field to make it a 3-0 Braves lead. It took Halladay 40 pitches just to complete the first inning. This looked like a bad sign of things to come.

Halladay looked decent in the next two innings. He struck out nine hitters in the first three innings. The only problem was that he threw 79 pitches through three innings. This is what happens when you try and strike hitters out by throwing a lot of pitches.

Feel-good story Evan Gattis hit his first homerun of the season in the fourth inning as the ball barely cleared the wall and it was a 4-0 game. After two more hitters, Charlie Manuel had seen enough and took Halladay out of the game. Halladay pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowed six hits, five runs, walked three and struck out nine batters. Raul Valdes replaced Halladay, and he did not look sharp early. He walked the bases loaded and Freddie Freeman hit a shot into left field and bases were emptied making the score 7-0. Other than that blip by Valdes, he looked better as the game progressed. Valdes pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowed one hit, two runs, walked two and struck out three batters.

Paul Maholm was decent, but got out of some jams. He left guys on base in every inning he pitched except for the fifth. He was bailed out of trouble by the Phillies inability to hit with runners in scoring position. Maholm pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six hitters. Cory Gearrin relieved Maholm and pitched 1/3 of an inning, walked one and struck out one batter.

Antonio Bastardo and Mike Adams pitched the sixth and seventh innings. They both threw scoreless innings and didn’t allow anyone on base. Bastardo walked one and struck out one while Adams struck out two batters.

Cristhian Martinez relieved Gearrin in the seventh and he was terrible. He let Laynce Nix and Ben Revere reach base on singles and Chase Utley delivered the blow in the inning hooking a two-RBI double into right field and it was a 7-2 game. That blow led to the departure of Martinez. He pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowed three hits and two runs. Luis Avilan relieved him and got the final two outs of the inning. He struck out one batter too.

Jonathan Papelbon relieved Adams in the eighth inning and he did not look sharp. He allowed a two-run homerun by Jason Heyward that made it a 9-2 game. He finished the inning with one strikeout and allowed two hits.

Anthony Varvaro finished the game for the Braves and pitched scoreless innings and struck out one batter. The Phillies lost by a final score of 9-2.

Overall, Halladay showed signs of what he displayed in spring training. He did not go deep into the game, and the Phillies had to use their bullpen early. I like that he struck out nine hitters, but that doesn’t equate to the five runs that he allowed. Could the rain have played a factor in Halladay and the rest of the Phillies pitching? Perhaps, but the umpire seemed one-sided and favored the Braves more than the Phillies. Halladay didn’t get the calls that Maholm was getting. Also, the rain has an effect on pitchers because of the way certain pitchers grip the ball. The Braves are showing teams who they are by launching homeruns and striking out a lot. Their pitching is just good enough to win games. The Phillies are getting players on base, but they are not driving the runners’ home. There were multiple instances in this game when the Phillies could have scored more than two runs and they didn’t execute. The one play that I thought was critical for the Phillies was when Michael Young did a swinging bunt towards the first base side of the diamond and was called out for running out of the basepath. I bring this up because Young was not out of the basepath and he was safe as Avilan made a throwing error to first. Chase Utley would have scored on the play had Young been called safe and it would have been a 7-3 game. All in all, we have to move on from this game and focus on the final game of this series. Cliff Lee will start for the Phillies as Kris Medlen will start for the Braves.

Should we be concerned about Roy Halladay? Sound off and stay tuned until next time…

reCAP: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

4/2/13

Everybody rejoice. Baseball is back. This is my first blog entry of the Phillies and I hope all of you will stick around and enjoy this 162 game marathon of a season.

The Phillies and Braves both made splashes this offseason. The Braves splashes were louder than the Phillies. If you have already read my preview to the Phillies season, you know what the Phillies did in the offseason. Meanwhile, in tomahawk chop land, the Braves lost their hall of fame worthy player in Chipper Jones to retirement. They traded left fielder Martin Prado along with a few prospects for outfielder Justin Upton and third baseman Chris Johnson. The Braves also lost centerfielder Michael Bourne to free agency, and traded starting pitcher Tommy Hanson to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for reliever Jordan Walden. B.J. Upton was the Braves big free agent signing this offseason to shore their position in centerfield. The Phillies will have to rely on pitching and defense as they have been for the past three years. There have been new wrinkles in the lineup that have been discovered in the spring. Ben Revere has been in the leadoff spot and Charlie Manuel will experiment trying him out at that spot. This has made longtime leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins bump down in the lineup batting second. This year we will see what a full season of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley can provide for the Phillies. The Braves have a lineup that is full of power and a lot of strikeouts. Both Justin and B.J. Upton, Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward, and Freddie Freeman are all prone to striking out a lot. Their starting rotation isn’t as flashy as it was last year, and their bullpen has a lot of young players besides Craig Kimbrel and Eric O’Flaherty. The Phillies will be without their starting catcher Carlos Ruiz for the first 25 games of the season as he serves his suspension for using adderall. They will also be without outfielder Delmon Young as he was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Braves will be without their starting catcher in Brian McCann, setup man Jonny Venters, and shortstop Paul Janish. All of them have been placed on the 15-day disabled list. McCann is recovering from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Venters has a sprained elbow and Janish has a shoulder injury. Cole Hamels made his first ever opening day start for the Phillies while Tim Hudson started for the Braves.

The Braves offense got on fire in the first three innings of the ballgame. Hamels surrendered a two-run homerun to Freeman and a solo shot to Uggla. Both of those homeruns were on the same fastball right down the middle of the plate. Then Freeman ripped an RBI single past a leaping Utley that scored Andrelton Simmons. They had a 4-0 lead in the third inning.

The Phillies got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Utley hit his 200^th career homerun to dead centerfield to make it a 4-1 game. In the fifth, Utley hit a sharp line drive to right field that scored two runs and made it a 4-3 game and knocked Hudson out of the game. Hudson cruised through the first three innings, but fell flat during the fourth and fifth innings. He threw 4 1/3 innings, allowed six hits, gave up three runs, walked three and struck out three hitters. Luis Avilan replaced Hudson. He struck out Howard with runners in scoring position. This is all too familiar to Phillies fans who have watched Howard’s entire career. After he intentionally walked Michael Young to load the bases, Domonic Brown grounded out to second base to kill the rally.

The Braves answered back with another solo homerun. This time it was by Justin Upton on a fastball right over the plate. He made it a 5-3 game. Hamels was finished after five innings. He allowed seven hits, five runs, walked one and struck out five hitters.

Chad Durbin relieved Hamels and the results were terrible. Durbin did not record an out and allowed all of the hitters he faced to reach base. Gerald Laird hit an RBI bloop single to centerfield that scored Uggla to make it 6-3. Durbin was taken out of the game after that bloop single for Jeremy Horst. Horst allowed a run to score, but that run was scored when Reed Johnson grounded into a double play to make it 7-3. Durbin allowed two hits, two runs, and walked a hitter.

Eric O’Flaherty replaced Avilan in the seventh inning. Avilan pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one batter. O’Flaherty allowed a triple to Utley. Then Howard grounded out to first base and Utley strolled home to make it a 7-4 game.

Walden replaced O’Flaherty in the eighth inning. O’Flaherty allowed one run in one inning and allowed one hit. Walden was effectively wild. He allowed John Mayberry Jr. to double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Erik Kratz knocked Mayberry Jr. home on an RBI single and it was a 7-5 game. Kratz moved to second base on a wild pitch, but Laynce Nix or Revere could not drive Kratz home. Revere’s out was a tough call by the umpire since Revere is not prone to striking out.

Phillippe Aumont replaced Horst in the eighth inning. Horst threw 2 scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out two. Aumont threw a solid scoreless inning. He also walked and struck out one hitter.

Craig Kimbrel threw a scoreless ninth inning. He got a little help from umpire when he struck out Rollins, but got Utley and Howard to fly out to end the game. The winning pitcher was Avilan. Hamels was the losing pitcher and Kimbrel recorded his first save of the season.

Overall, I liked what I saw from the Phillies offense. They didn’t give up when it was a four run deficit. They kept chipping at the lead, but in the end it wasn’t enough. Hamels seemed like he was too amp’d up to pitch in his first ever opening day start. He threw a lot of fastballs and cutters and not a lot of the changeup, which is his bread and butter pitch. That’s why his location and control looked off. I really liked what I saw from Utley. He was one hit shy of hitting for the cycle. The Braves showed me that when they hit homeruns, they win games. Hudson didn’t pitch like he was an ace. He may be like Roy Halladay as in age being a factor with his effectiveness. I can see the Braves bullpen being a problem with Venters being sidelined for a few weeks. If the Braves use Walden as their setup man to get to Kimbrel, that will make the Braves fans chew on a lot of tums during the season.

How do you feel about the Phillies after their first game of the season? Sound off and stay tuned on Wednesday as the Phillies put Roy Halladay on the mound against Paul Maholm.