Archive: August, 2010
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
A quick note before we pack it up here at Dodgers Stadium, where the Phillies managed one hit in a 3-0 loss to Hiroki Kuroda and the Dodgers (they are three games behind the Braves in the NL East, but still lead the Giants by 1.5 games in the Wild Card).
The Phillies have been shut-out 11 times this season, their most since 1998. The Dodgers lead the NL with 14 shutouts, followed by the Pirates (13), Giants (12), Astros (12) and Reds (12).
Last night's loss was their 44th game scoring fewer than three runs, which ties them with the Dodgers and Giants for fourth-most in the NL. They scored fewer than three runs in 38 games all of last season.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
By DAVID MURPHY
dmurphy@phillynews.com
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Jimmy Rollins wasn’t just dead. He was Fredo Corleone dead. He was William Wallace dead. He was 12-point-buck-on-Roy-Oswalt’s-ranch dead.
“There’s a lot that goes through your mind when you know you are out,” Rollins said. “And it’s not good. It’s really like two words. The first one is ‘Oh.’ And you can guess what the second one is.”
Truth be told, Rollins doesn’t know what happened next. One minute, he was rounding third and sprinting toward home, sure as the pleasant SoCal weather that Yorvit Torrealba had caught the throw from center field in perfect position to make the tag. The next, he was flying by the catcher’s outstretched glove, twisting his torso and raising his arm and then slapping the corner of the plate with his hand.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Now might not seem like an appropriate time to talk about the postseason roster, given that the Phillies have lost six of their last eight games, including a four-game sweep at the hands of the Astros at Citizens Bank Park. But the decision to send Danys Baez to the disabled list today with back spasms will simplify some things if the Phillies do in fact reach the playoffs.
The Phillies recalled 24-year-old lefty Antonio Bastardo, meaning he will likely be with the team on Aug. 31, meaning he will be eligible for the postseason roster. So will Baez, who is eligible to come off the DL on Sept. 9. And it looks like rookie outfielder Domonic Brown will be eligible as well, since the Phillies will almost certainly keep him around through the end of the month (first baseman Ross Gload is not eligible to return from the DL until Sept. 3).
At the very least, it means some flexibility. To be eligible for the postseason, a player must be on the active roster as of Aug. 31. Teams have some wiggle room beyond Aug. 31, because they can substitute a player who is in their system for a player who ends the regular season on the DL. But at this point, they will only have one player on the DL at the end of the regular season (lefty Jamie Moyer).
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It was a frustrating 3-2 loss for the Phillies, who once again failed to trim their 2.5-game deficit behind the Braves in the NL East. And it has been a frustrating 48 hours for Ryan Howard, who was ejected in the 14th inning Tuesday night, setting off his epic explosion at third base umpire Scott Barry.
Howard did not start last night as Charlie Manuel chose to rest the struggling slugger against former Phillies lefty J.A. Happ. He did pinch-hit in the ninth inning, knocking a single through the weak side of the shift to momentarily put the tying run at first base (Domonic Brown struck out to end the game).
Since returning from the disabled list, Howard is 3-for-20 with 10 strikeouts. He said he spent much of Wednesday evening in the batting cage.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Roy Oswalt wasn't worried about spraining an ankle, or straining a rotator cuff, or looking foolish while fielding a fly ball when he trotted out to left field in the 15th inning Tuesday night.
Nope.
Roy Oswalt wanted to nail a sucker at home.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Did Ryan Howard deserve to be ejected or should the umpire have shown more restraint that late in the game? In this video, Dave Murphy of the Daily News shares his thoughts on last night's game.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
If you are curious about the lack of fire and brimstone emenating from the Phillies clubhouse in the wake of their 16-inning, 5-hour-and-20-minute fiasco of a loss to the Astros last night, know this:
Baseball is a game of controlled aggression, not only on its playing surface, but in the interpersonal relationships that lubricate its machinations.
A player must keep that in mind when he is dealing with his teammates. A manager must keep it in mind when dealing with his players. And all of the above must keep it in mind when they are dealing with the umpires.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
"7.08 -Any runner is out when -- (a) (1) He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely; or (2) after touching first base, he leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next base
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/runner_7.jsp
Discusss.
Daily News staff
Third baseman Placido Polanco is not in the lineup tonight for the Phillies against Brett Myers and the Houston Astros.
Manager Charlie Manuel told reporters that the night off is because of some soreness in Polanco's elbow, but said it was not a big deal.
Polanco took batting practice with the rest of the team.
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Chase Utley will get his first day off since returning from a seven-week layoff due to thumb surgery. I wouldn't read anything into it at this point, although if I hear otherwise before the start of the game I will be sure to update. It just seems like a logical spot to get Utley a day off: Although he has three home runs in his career against Nats lefty starter Scott Olsen, he is just 5-for-30 with 10 strikeouts overall. The rest of the Phillies line-up, meanwhile, has crushed Olsen. Today's eight regulars have combined to go 43/130 (.331) with 9 home runs, 7 doubles and a 2 triples off of him in his career. Ryan Howard is 14-for-32 with two home runs and 3 doubles. Jayson Werth is 10-for-20 with three home runs and two doubles.
Utley has started five straight games since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 17. He has reached base in the last four, and is 4-for-18 with a double, two walks an RBI and 3 runs scored.
Last night, in an 8-1 loss to the Nationals, he was 0-for-3 with a walk. He has struck out just once sicne returning.
