From Promise to Disappointment
The Phillies finished their nine-game road trip with a bizarre 7-6 loss to the Cardinals in 10 innings.
From Promise to Disappointment
Todd Zolecki
It should have been better.
The Phillies opened their three-city, nine-game, 10-day road trip through Atlanta, Florida and St. Louis two weekends ago by sweeping the Braves at Turner Field. But then they lost two of three last week to the Marlins at Dolphin Stadium and two of three this weekend to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium to finish the trip 5-4. They should have been 6-3, but they lost yesterday in bizzare fashion to the Cardinals, 7-6, in 10 innings.
Knowing fan reaction to Tom Gordon when he throws a first-pitch ball at Citizens Bank Park, I'm pretty sure most people are blaming him today. He totally whiffed at the ball Chase Utley threw to him with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, which allowed the winning run to score.
But like Charlie Manuel likes to say, "Watch the game."
Consider:
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Brett Myers got hit hard again.
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The offense went 4 for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 15 runners on base. It left the bases loaded four times. It had the go-ahead run on third with one out in the ninth, but couldn't score.
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Then the poor fielding in the ninth. Before Gordon whiffed, Utley made a bad throw that allowed the winning run on base with two outs.
Blame could be spread pretty evenly throughout. Hitting, pitching and fielding.
"We didn't do some things good," Manuel said. "The game was sitting right there. It could have been our game."
It wasn't.
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If the Phillies had taken better advantage of their opportunities and won yesterday, and maybe stolen another game in Florida, they really could have distanced themselves from the Marlins, Mets and Braves in the National League East. The Marlins went 5-5 since the Phillies opened their road trip. The Mets went 3-6 and the Braves went 2-7. So instead of picking up a half-game on the Marlins, two against the Mets and three against the Braves, they really could have distanced themselves.
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In the Phillies Notebook, Eric Bruntlett feels terrible about the collision at home plate that sent Yadier Molina to the hospital. Myers also talks about his problems on the mound.
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The Red Sox open a three-game series tonight aganst the Phillies, which means Red Sox fans will be at the ballpark tonight! Yeah! Actually, Bob Ford isn't real excited about this. In fact, he kind of can't stand Red Sox Nation.
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Manny being Manny. Manuel recalls managing Manny Ramirez as a top prospect with the Cleveland Indians.
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Pitching match ups for this week's series against the Red Sox.
JRQUIXOTE: No way. He didn't pitch badly yesterday. He got the first two outs on just a couple pitches. Then he gets a ground ball and Utley makes a bad throw. Next comes a broken bat single. Last was another ground ball on which either Utley made another bad throw or Gordon didn't catch the ball, whatever. Myers got pounded and pitched poorly, Gordon did not. I'm with Mark1npt on this. I think Gordon is pitching through shoulder instability/minor injury. Remember, he missed time last year. I don't think he ever completely healed. He is just going to continue to pitch through whatever nagging wear and tear or injuries he's got until he retires. Some days he'll feel good and "have it" and other days he won't. I think the key for him to remain as effective as possible is for us to be careful not to overuse him, like not using him three days in a row and such.— bski- The Phils had the hot streak they have every spring and now its over----prepare for .500 ball the rest of the way. That may be enough in this the weakest division in baseball..— Truth
- It's only a matter of time before Myers is back in the pen for good....Gordon's shoulder if it isn't already, will be gone by the all star break....Gillick had better secure another starter by then to take Myers' place in the rotation....he just isn't giving us any chance to win......look at the team winning pct. with Myers pitching vs. Kendrick, Moyer or Hamels....Eaton is probably a wash, but atleast he's keeping us in some games. Myers is dooming us to losses with his performances in the 1st inning alone. Cholly is saying what he has to say to support Myers, same things exactly that he stated in the press about Eaton last year. Do we have another Kendrick in AA? Can we expect to catch lightning in a bottle two years in a row with minor leaguers? This team cannot compete in the short season with anyone as it stands right now.— Mark1npt
- I can't figure out if Truth is doing acid or heroin........maybe he's just dyslexic....or maybe he just like seeing his name in print?— Mark1npt
- MARK: Did you happen to read Paul Hagen's article last week about pitchers the Phillies could possibly pursue? None of them really thrilled me to death. Also, I really don't like getting into a bidding war and giving too much up for a 1/2 year rental. There was one guy that really intrigued me: Eric Bedard. He's still got a couple years left on his contract, so it might be worth it to part with something to get him. Bedard could really solidify our rotation. Hopefully Gillick could use his Seattle connections to bring him here without giving up a lot.— bski
- MARK: Just do what I do with TRUTH, which is ignore him and hope he'll go away. It's not worth it to even try with him.— bski
- Every team goes through tough times although most would call a 5-4 road trip a success. My concern is looking forward. The Sox and Angels are tough and then we go to Oakland. Not pretty. http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/turnpike_series— BillZe
- Truth, without question in my mind, you are a cowboys fan. You,ll never see sunlight, your plate will never be filled and your sister will not kiss you anymore....— pat h
- Anyone remember the video for Tears For Fears "Head Over Heels?" There is a chimp wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform. I suggest that isn't the only chimp who wears one.— ErikT
- bski, I tried to reply to your question, my answer has not shown up here yet....— Mark1npt
- bski, I guess my logic and assessment of the talent pool available is scaring somebody in the front office.....— Mark1npt
- JRQUIXOTE.... Thanks for the gift, she arrived just in time for the start of the game!— Clinton, NJ
- MARK: Maybe the Phils front office doesn't want you tipping off other teams about who we're targeting. If they know who we want, they'll raise the asking price. Try posting it again when you get a chance. Maybe you can catch the censor napping.— bski
- Yes bski, I saw the Hagen article about pitchers......Wolf is cheap, Bedard and sabathia not...big prices and do we really want 3 lefties in our rotation pitching to all the RH hitters? Maddux cheap but maybe done, at best a 5-6 inning guy and don't we have enough of them? Maybe Myers for Oswalt?— Mark1npt
- PAT H, only a complete degenerate perv would mention anything about sisters kissing brothers. Sounds like you're still dealing with the hurt of that day yourself-lol— Truth
