Archive: May, 2011
Philly.com sports
Video: Matt Gelb discusses how Joe Blanton and Shane Victorino's injuries were handled, the search for offense and the series vs. Texas.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
The injuries are becoming more frequent than the hits and runs for the Phillies.
After a rain-soaked 7-1 loss to a revived Jason Giambi and the Colorado Rockies Thursday night, GM Ruben Amaro was charged with running down the latest list of injuries.
Center fielder Shane Victorino, who had not started a game since Saturday, has a "Grade 1/Grade 2 hamstring strain," and "is likely to go on the disabled list" according to Amaro. The significance of the injury was revealed by an MRI that was performed Thursday.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
There is a lefty on the mound for Colorado and Ben Francisco is not starting.
It's just another sign that Charlie Manuel has soured on Francisco, who is 4 for his last 42 (.095) with zero extra-base hits. Repeat, zero. (The last extra-base hit for Francisco was exactly three weeks ago, a double on April 27.)
Combine that with John Mayberry Jr.'s recent performance (2 for 10 with two walks, three steals and a home run) in his last three starts and Manuel is going with him. Not that 2 for 10 is anything to celebrate, but right now it's a boon to the Phillies' lineup.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS -- The last casualty on a road trip that could not end soon enough was rookie righthander Michael Stutes. He was the first reliever used Tuesday night and lasted three pitches before needing to leave the game.
Stutes said he felt burning in his lower back after throwing his second pitch, a 93 m.p.h. fastball to Lance Berkman. He tried to pitch through it, threw another 93 m.p.h. fastball and then the pain was too much.
The Phillies are unsure if Stutes will require the disabled list. He will see a doctor when the team returns home Wednesday.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS -- The task is no easier Tuesday. Jaime Garcia, the talented 24-year-old lefthander, faces the feeble Phillies offense. Garcia has the third-best ERA in the National League at 1.89. The Phillies have 12 hits in their last three games.
And with Shane Victorino still out because of a sore right hamstring and Raul Ibanez out of the lineup because Garcia is tough against lefties, Charlie Manuel is forced to field yet another unconventional lineup:
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Michael Martinez 8
3. Placido Polanco 5
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. John Mayberry Jr. 7
6. Ben Francisco 9
7. Wilson Valdez 4
8. Dane Sardinha 2
9. Roy Oswalt 1
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS -- In more than half of the Phillies' first 40 games, they have scored three or fewer runs. They still have the best record in the National League at 25-15.
The dead ball era is alive and well in Philadelphia, eh?
A quick cursory look around the NL shows only two other teams have scored three or fewer runs more times than the Phillies. They are San Francisco (9-13) and Los Angeles (4-18).
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS -- Chase Utley will play again Monday night for single-A Clearwater, going on back-to-back days for the second time in official rehab games.
He has 28 at-bats in his rehab (including extended spring training games). But Ruben Amaro Jr. dispelled any notions that Utley could be back with the Phillies when Wednesday's homestand begins.
"Let's put it this way: He's not coming to Philadelphia in the middle of the week," Amaro said. "He needs at-bats."
- Poll: What is most surprising? (901 votes)
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS -- Roy Oswalt is wondering how this will go, just as you are.
"It should be interesting," he said.
Well then.
- Poll: What is most surprising? (901 votes)
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA -- Roy Halladay has thrown two complete games in a row only to lose both. In the last five years, that has happened to three pitchers.
Two of them, of course, are currently Phillies.
| Rk | Strk Start | End | Games | W | L | GS | CG | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | Tm | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy Halladay | 2008-04-17 | 2008-04-29 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 25.2 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 16 | 3.51 | TOR |
| 2 | Roy Halladay | 2011-05-10 | 2011-05-15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16.0 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 2.25 | PHI |
| 3 | Johan Santana | 2010-08-17 | 2010-08-22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16.0 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 3.38 | NYM |
| 4 | Roy Oswalt | 2006-06-30 | 2006-07-05 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17.0 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 2.12 | HOU |
As I wrote in today's game story, poor run support is something Halladay probably thought he left behind in Toronto. In that three-game stretch during the 2008 season when Halladay threw three straight complete games for the Blue Jays, his team scored four runs while allowing 10.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA -- The Phillies have the best record in the majors, so naturally, Ruben Amaro Jr. spent about 20 minutes talking about injuries this morning.
So it goes.
-- Shane Victorino (hamstring) is still sore, but Amaro does not believe he is a candidate for the disabled list. That could change in the coming days. Victorino says he expects to be ready for the homestand Wednesday, so he will miss at least the next three games.
