161-1 still possible
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161-1 still possible
Bottom line from the opening stinker, which the Phillies lost 4-1 : I wouldn’t worry about Brett Myers; I’d wait to get worried about the offense’s sluggishness, and I would be a little worried about they lefty factor in the lineup.
First, Charlie Manuel admitted that the pregame pomp may have distracted the team. It was such a novel experience to march onto the field on a red runner, watch your manager raise a World Series flag, run from the dugout to visceral cheers, and then play a ballgame, that the team may have been affected early.
Everything about the pregame scene was an adjustment from the casual, sparsely- populated spring training routine. Instead of chatting with teammates and a few writers at eight in the morning, the players were swarmed by television, print and radio reporters. Jack Taschner, the new guy, watched the scene with wide eyes. “For the first time in my life, I don’t care what my role is!” he told me, speaking rapidly and loudly. In other words, energy of the day was abnormally high.
Taschner and the bullpen did very well, by the way. After Myers settled and pitched scoreless third, fourth and fifth innings (hw only really made three mistakes, all home runs) Taschner, Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge combined for three scoreless innings.
Readers of this blog know that Manuel has been cranky about his offense’s lack of spring at-bats, worrying that his hitters wouldn’t be ready for the season. Minor injuries irritated him during camp, and the manager alternately referred to the World Baseball Classic as the “World Baseball Thing” and the “World Baseball League.” He just wasn’t that into it. And sure enough, the bats were sluggish last night. Give it few games before you get nervous, though.
Now, the lefty thing. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Ibanez batted 3-4-5, and faced lefty closer Mike Gonzalez with a little rally goin' in the ninth. Didn’t work out too well for the Phils, a team with very little righty pop in the lineup and NO righty pop on the bench.
So 162-0 has been spoiled. Jamie Moyer tries on Tuesday to set his team on course for 161-1.
UPDATE, after rubbing the sleep out: no, I wasn't drunk, something seems to have gone strangely with the cut and paste from Word. Paragraphs blending together or something. Can't figure out how to fix...
Okay, think it's fixed.
10,099.— The Wizard- Was this a draft version of the article that was accidently published? Andy, this is not like you ... leave the typos and grammatical errors to Murph and concentrate on your usual quality writing. By the way, it is only the first game so no reason to even analyze it.— curtis
- You actually graduated Columbia U writing like this? Who do you have pictures of there?— jeffmacnow1234
Comment removed.- They were serving beer in the pressbox...lol. It was almost unreadable; but, I'll give Andy, and the team, a pass because it was such an emotional night before the game even began.— Master Dreamz
- This is very poor writing, almost painful to read. What is it you are trying to say? I am sure the Phils are going to be good this year but I don't know if I can take a year of this kind of reporting. The Phils like every team in baseball will struggle with effective leftys. Its a good thing there are not a lot of them. GO PHILS!!!!— brickhead
- Hang in there Andy. Myers had a worse night than you did and being slammed by BB3X is routine around here. Columbia was the home of Lou Gerhig so you come from good stock.— mick314
Am I the only one who hated the gold trim on the new uniforms?— TomO- HAHA...i love the comments on Philly.com. You make one typo and you must deal with the fallout. If you are going to get on the good side of the people who comment you better know how to use Spell Check...classic.— tokar
- Andy, can you give Sheridan a wedgy for that stupid article he wrote? Thanks, much appreciated!— Timmy
- Yikes...this looks like it was written by a middle school kid. Is this a glimpse into the future of journalism?— Jeff Dowder
- Grammar police in full effect. It's a blog.— johnnysanz3
- I finally figured out what you meant to write - the cut and paste went awry. I won't judge you for it on a blog. It would of course have been possible that Burrell whiff for the last out as did Ibanez. At least Chase worked a walk. But I agree the 3 lefties in a row make it easier for the opposing team. Why not switch Vic and Ibby? I figure Charlie will play with the lineup this season like last season. Felt like I was watching last year's team around Aug. 1 when they couldn't muster any offense, so it all seemed very familiar. As was losing the opening game. And the last few seasons have ended up being good ones! It was good to see Brett fight back after those 4 runs, to have Ruiz get a double, and to see Bruntlett continue to hit well. I thought getting a run and an attempt at a rally in the 9th was a boost. Like the title, Andy - 161-1. :)— gbrettfan
- timmy, there's nothing that can be done to help sheridan.. thats just how he writes and what we've come to expect from him.— zwarte piet
- Although 3 lefties made it easier for Gonzalez to get out of the 9th, it was a RH pitcher who shut everyone but Ruiz and Rollins down all night...— gbrettfan
