Archive: April, 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009
Fun with April numbers

Here are some April numbers I compiled while I made like Arlen Specter and enjoyed a morning waffle.  Look for a more complete list in tomorrow's Inquirer.

·        9: come-from-behind victories.
·        .270: the team batting average, up from .255 in 2008.
·        .241: leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins’ on-base percentage.
·        7: Home runs by free agent acquisition Raul Ibanez.
·        .359: Ibanez’s team-leading batting average
·        3: stolen bases by the 36-year-old Ibanez, sharing the team lead with Shane Victorino.
·        .254: Pat Burrell’s batting average with Tampa Bay. He has one home run.
·        2: Regular chants at Citizens Bank Park that sound like “boo”: “Ra-ooool” for Ibanez and “Louuuuuuu” for rookie catcher Lou Marson.
·        8: The major-league leading amount of home runs allowed by Brett Myers.
·        4.83: Myers’ team-leading earned run average.
·        0: Wins by Cole Hamels.
·        93: The velocity in miles-per-hour of Hamels’ fastball before he sprained his ankle on Tuesday.

As a new Philadelphian, I have two questions for you residents.  Having watched Myers for all these years, how concerned are you right now? And, does it bother you that the senator you elected from one party has switched to another, or has the guy earned the right to fight for his re-election?

Posted by Andy Martino @ 1:07 PM  Permalink | 45 comments
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Medical Report, lineups

A few injury updates:

Brad Lidge plans to throw a bullpen session during the day Friday, at which point he will determine if he can pitch in that night’s game. If not, he may have to go to the DL, though it would be retroactive to his last appearance April 25.
 
Cole Hamels was nowhere to be found this afternoon, but Rich Dubee and Ruben Amaro Jr. said they are still hopeful that Hamels could start Monday in St. Louis. Hamels will throe a bullpen either Friday or Saturday, and everyone will know more then.
 
Carlos Ruiz took batting practice with the big boys today, and will report to Lehigh Valley for rehab tomorrow, where he is scheduled to catch.
 
Here are the lineups:
Phils
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Werth RF
Ibanez LF
Feliz 3B
Coste C
Myers RHP
 
Natty Nats:
Guzman SS
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dunn RF
Dukes CF
Willingham LF
Flores C
Hernandez 2B
Olson LHP
Posted by Andy Martino @ 6:07 PM  Permalink | 4 comments
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Colbert Report, volume infinity

Well, the Phillies projected optimism after the game, despite Hamels’ injury. Charlie Manuel said that while the dugout was quiet and teammates were concerned immediately after their ace sprained his ankle, x-rays were negative and revealed a “mild sprain” and that Hamels would make his next start. Because of Thursday’s off-day, Hamels has six days before that happens, and he said that would be enough.

 The pitcher was clearly and justifiably upset in the fifth inning, but later tried to downplay the darkness. Some quotes from the morning story: “It’s not severe, so I’m not planning on missing a start...Obviously, we’re going to see how it feels the next couple days, but I think it helps that we have an off day.”
 
“(There was) some frustration, but almost comedy, because the last time I felt like I was doing really well and obviously got hit and that knocked me out of the game,” he said. “This time, I felt like I was finally getting in a good groove again, and it happened. But I don’t know what else to do but just kind of laugh about it, because it’s not serious.”
 
As he spoke, he smiled, laughed and wore a light bandage wrap around the ankle. 
 
Reasonable people understand that Hamels’ last two injuries, this and the Prince Fielder liner he took off his left shoulder on Thursday, were freakish and not indicative of fragility. His stuff was terrific tonight and his velocity up to 93 in the first inning, and the team hopes that this setback will be as minor as they say. Of course, the next few days will determine that.
 
***
Also, the Inquirer has learned that Chase Utley is a good baseball player.
 
***
 
Those who watched the game understand that Chad Durbin’s 3 2/3 innings of relief were crucial. He took the mound at a dark moment, and held the sucker down. The reliever allowed only run, an Adam Dunn homer.
 
“His stuff is plenty good right now, so it’s just a matter of time,” Durbin said of Hamels.
 
***
Check the morning paper for updates on Lidge, Ruiz, J.C. Romero and other Phillies-related business.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 11:15 PM  Permalink | 23 comments
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hamels sprained his left ankle

That's all we know right now. Don't shoot the messenger. If you're not watching the game, he rolled his ankle while attemping to field a bunt in the fifth inning.  He had been pitching a shutout.

Posted by Andy Martino @ 8:36 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Lidge and Ruiz, lineup

 

Here is the first new news of the day of Brad Lidge and Carlos Ruiz:

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that Lidge is not headed to the disabled list, at least not yet. “We’re not thinking DL yet,” Amaro said of his closer. “There may be a time when we’ll have to consider it.”
 
Lidge is suffering from inflammation in his right knee and was unavailable last night (Charlie Manuel did not say definitively whether the pitcher was available tonight, but it seems unlikely). Amaro said that the closer had a cortisone shot six days ago, but the issue resurfaced during Saturday’s game Florida. That night, Lidge loaded the bases in the tenth inning before earning the save.
 
Amaro attributed Lidge’s struggles this season ( a 7.27 earned run average, with the first blown save of his Phillies career) to the injury. “Any time you have an injury, it’s going to effect performance,” Amaro said. 
 
Added Charlie Manuel: “I’m concerned.”
 
Amaro said that Ruiz (strained right oblique) felt pain during batting practice last night. “He’s feeling much better today,” the GM said. Ruiz played catch this evening at Citizens Bank Park and will hit tomorrow. No word yet on his timetable.
 
Here’s the Phils lineup tonight:
 
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Werth RF
Ibanez LF
Feliz 3B
Coste C
Hamels P
 
Here’s the Nats lineup:
Belliard 2B
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dunn LF
Dukes CF
Kearns RF
Flores C
Gonzalez SS
 
John Lannan starts. Also scheduled to pitch: Paul McCarthy, Ringo Storr and George Morrison. I know. But I couldn’t help it.

 

Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:07 PM  Permalink | 14 comments
Monday, April 27, 2009
Romero files suit

 

So J.C. Romero has sued Ergopharm, the company that made his androstenedione-containing supplement, 6-OXO Extreme. He also sued the Vitamin Shoppe and GNC, where he bought the stuff. As most of you know, Romero was suspended 50 games after testing positive (the test occurred on August 26, 2008), though he claims he didn’t know that the supplement contained a banned substance. Only Romero knows if that is true, because none of us was privy to his thoughts when he purchased and repeatedly ingested the andro. He will ultimately lose $1.4 million in salary.

 His statement reads:
"Testing positive and being suspended from baseball was one of the most painful experiences in my life and robbed me of the joy of winning the World Series and damaged my reputation in the process," Romero said in a statement. "I purchased an over-the-counter supplement that I was told and believed would not cause me to test positive. These events have hurt me deeply and placed a cloud over my career, accomplishments and family. It is my hope that I can finally start to put this event behind me and protect the interests of others who rely on manufacturers and retailers to be honest about their products. I look forward to rejoining the Phillies and my teammates at the end of my suspension."
 
Major League Baseball has a hotline that players can call to learn whether their supplements contain anything that would trigger a positive test. Players have said that MLB has not advertised the service well enough. But if Romero had gone out of his way and taken this step (and wouldn’t you be extra diligent in matters that could threaten your livelihood and reputation?) people would not be guessing at his intentions, he wouldn’t have needed to hire a legal team and PR firm and he’d be $1.4 million richer. 

UPDATE: Thanks to the reader who reminded me of this January New York Times story, which provides a helpful summary of the entire situation, and resolves the confusion over whether calling the hotline would have helped.  Near the bottom of the story, MLB's Rob Manfred states clearly that the league would have told Romero not to take 6-OXO, had the pitcher called the hotline.

This is from pages 4-5 of the lawsuit: “During the All-Star break in July 2008, Plaintiff went to a GNC store in his home town of Fairhope, Alabama, where Plaintiff was well known as a professional baseball player. Plaintiff asked the salesperson at GNC about 6-OXO EXTREME, and specifically asked the salesperson at GNC if 6-OXO EXTREME would make him test positive on a Major League Baseball drug test. Plaintiff relied on the representations of the salesperson at GNC that 6-0XO EXTREME would not make him test positive for any substance banned by Major League Baseball, Plaintiff purchased one bottle of 6-OXO EXTREME from the GNC store, which he consumed up to an through August 16, 2008 (italics mine).”
 
The lawsuit goes on to say that Romero read “literature” on Ergopharm, and consulted with “colleagues.” Those experiences led him to feel comfortable taking the supplement.
 
All the while, the hotline was available, capable of providing a definitive “no.”

 

Posted by Andy Martino @ 3:16 PM  Permalink | 37 comments
Monday, April 27, 2009
From Sunday

I'll be back on the beat tomorrow, but in the meantime here is Craig Barnes' game story and notebook, the latter a report on his conversation with Jimmy Rollins yesterday.

Saw a recent David Letterman line that made me laugh: "This just in: George Steinbrenner has ordered the Yankees back on steroids."

Well, A-Rod's set to return soon, in time for the Phillies' visit to the new Yankee Stadium in late May. That'll coincidentally be one of my only weekends off this season, because my wife has a birthday that Saturday.  Can't say that I will regret missing that fraudulent, taxpayer-robbing, Bronx parkland-plundering, half-empty bandbox.

Posted by Andy Martino @ 10:58 AM  Permalink | 13 comments
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday night lineups

 

Here are the lineups for tonight’s 7:05 game against the Marlins and their hotshot starter, Josh Johnson.
 
Phils:
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Werth RF
Ibanez LF
Feliz 3B
Marson C
Myers RHP
 
Marlins:
Bonifacio 2B
Baker C
Ramirez SS
Gload 1B
Uggla 2B
Hermida LF
Ross RF
Maybin CF
Johnson RHP
Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:37 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
Thursday, April 23, 2009
bski by a nose
 
I am in the aiport en route to Miami, so I have no news for you regarding Cole Hamels or the Phils weak effort today.  Jim Salisbury does, however, and he's already posted some of it  on our website.
 
But I can tell you that this week's competition for Wise Comment of the Week was tight.  The discussion regarding my suggestion that Manuel should have named names in his Monday quasi-rant was particularly thoughtful, though no one seemed to agree with me (I can take it).  But bski, always a source of mature and rational thoughts, offered a nice take.  Congrats, bski, your random letters will identify you in the Sunday paper.
 
Also, props to the group for self-policing some racist commentary on the same subject.  You have the power to keep this thing respectable, and I applaud you for exercising it.
 
 
 
Posted by bski 02:05 PM, 04/21/2009
This is the next step in the progression for Manuel. He has been talking about how the team needs to forget about last season success and start focusing on what they need to do to be successful this season for a little while now. It seems like each successive statement he makes on the subject is more stern and foreboding. This one almost comes across as a parental thing. You know, like when you were a kid and you were horsing around/fighting/making a racket with a brother/sister/friend and one of your parents would yell, "Don't make me come up there!", or "If you guys can't work it out, I'll work it out for you!", that type of thing. Well, it sounds to me like the parental warning has been issued and if the situation doesn't correct itself very soon, then Charlie will address it (i.e. the individual player or players) directly, just like he has in the past.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:34 PM  Permalink | 24 comments
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
More on Charlie

Here’s the full story, in case you haven’t seen it yet. The sample I posted last night obviously sparked discussion, and I’m sure that’s what Manuel intended. He does this sort of thing occasionally—cites a vague problem without naming names or even the specific issue. His intent seems to be to send a you-know-who-you-are message to players. 

Problem is, that it sort of act makes everyone guilty by implication. Let’s say he wasn’t referring to Hamels or Rollins, for example. By not ruling them out, he left room for speculation about those guys. You all are perfectly right to speculate; Manuel’s comments practically beg you to. But it doesn’t seem fair to the hardworking players to have their names dragged in if undeserved. If people are indeed slacking, Manuel should name them to absolve those you aren’t. But that’s just IMHO. His understanding of how to motivate men is deeper than mine, granted.
 
I won’t claim to know who he had in mind, but I can tell you that he has explicitly complimented Howard, Rollins, Utley, Hamels and Myers lately for various work ethic-related actions. But just because he hasn’t said anything positive about, say, Pedro Feliz, doesn’t mean that Feliz is part of the presumed problem. See what I mean?
 
Here's Jim Salisbury's exclusive on Hamels from this morning. 
 
***
Congratulations to Shane Victorino for winning the 2009 Lou Gehrig Award for his work raising money for ALS. He will be presented with the award before a home game July 4 by the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity (that’s Gehrig’s old frat at Columbia), who will then lead a sing-along of “Louie, Louie” and throw a keg through the window.

***

Remember, I tweet you.

Posted by Andy Martino @ 12:24 PM  Permalink | 31 comments
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About Andy Martino
Andy Martino is in his first season on the Phillies beat. A former New York City public school teacher and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he previously wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered baseball and worked with the award-winning investigative sports "I-team."
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