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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
It's Not Do or Die, But ...
Struggling offense vs. Johan Santana. That's not a great combination, but stranger things have happened.

It's only Juy 22, so there is time.

We know how quickly things can change in just a matter of weeks. The Mets held a comfortable seven-game lead over the Phillies with just 17 games to play last season, but choked away the National League East in an epic collapse. But the Mets have turned the tables on the Phillies this year. The Phillies had a 7 1/2 game lead over the Mets on June 13, but enter tonight's three-game series against the Mets at Shea Stadium in a first-place tie.

The Phillies were 41-28 (.594) on June 13 for the fourth-best record in baseball. The Mets were 32-34 (.485). But the Mets are 21-12 (.636) since for the third-best record in baseball, while the Phillies are 12-18 (.400) for the sixth-worst record in the Natonal League.

The Phillies helped the Mets get hot by losing three-straight games to them earlier this month in Philly.

Now would be a good time for the Phillies to get their act together.

"I'm excited,'' Joe Blanton said. "Maybe there will be a few butterflies, but once you get settled in, it's about competing."

"I can't think of a better team for me to come back against," Brett Myers said. I don't like them. We're not supposed to like them. Nothing against the guys on the team - they're our rivals. We like beating them; they like beating us.''

Lately, the Phillies haven't beaten much of anybody. They'd like that to change this week at Shea.

*

Billy Wagner's shoulder is bothering him. His availability this week remains uncertain.

*

Here are the pitching match ups at Shea:

Tonight at 7:10
RHP Joe Blanton (5-12, 4.96 ERA) vs. LHP Johan Santana (8-7, 3.10).

Tomorrow at 7:10 p.m.
RHP Brett Myers (3-9, 5.84) vs. RHP John Maine (8-7, 4.22)

Thursday at 12:10 p.m.
LHP Jamie Moyer (9-6, 3.90) vs. LHP Oliver Perez (6-6, 4.36).

Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 8:36 AM  Permalink | 63 comments
63
Comments   
Posted 09:06 AM, 07/22/2008
John in LA
Well, this should be interesting. And for everybody still lamenting on this Phils lack of starting pitching - the pitching has been fine. Probably better than fine. The hitting has been terrible, and it's going on 2 months now (since that first June weekend vs. the Braves). It's not a slump. This is a trend. Now it's a question if they'll even make the playoffs, and looking at the line-up - where are the leaders? Spare me the Rowand talk, he wasn't worth the money. But Rollins has been a huge disappointment, probably even more than Howard (at his lowest points, earlier) because of all the intangibles Rollins normally brings. And no, Truth, it's ain't the ankle. This is all betweeen the ears. In his head. He doesn't want to be on the field. So we'll see.
Posted 09:25 AM, 07/22/2008
JayW
Let's hear more about Clay Harris at Reading. He started as a second baseman I think. If he keeps hittting the way he has, there may eventually be an incentive to trade Ryan Howard. Not this season of course. The Yankees are the one team that may be able to afford and need him.
Posted 09:36 AM, 07/22/2008
yahmpy
Rollins doesn't want to be on the field? You actually made a few points until that nonsense. By the way, if the starting pitching can't make it through 7 innings, and seeing that Hamels has done that feat 18 times, compared to the other four pitchers COMBINED who have done it 20 total times, it is an accepted sign that a bullpen is being worn down. That means the starting pitching is a definite problem. To say otherwise is laughable since the Phillies openly admit having discussed Sabathia, Blanton, Burnett and Bedard. It is telling that the Phillies wanted an "innings eater", and went after a guy who has gone 7 or more innings 8 times already this year, putting him second behind Hamels on the team for guys who have gone that far in a game. So, you're right, we will indeed see.
Posted 09:52 AM, 07/22/2008
John in LA
Huh. So what good points did I make, then? Sorry, dude, you're maybe the only one here who doesn't think Rollins is a huge disappointment this year. Mentally as much as playing-wise. Won MVP last year? Remember? And the point - above - was that hitting is the problem - more than pitching - and this was a team that used to hit. Built to win with their bats. See Cole's starts. This team isn't making the playoffs if they don't get back to their old ways. PS: Say hi to Jimmy.
Comment removed.
Posted 10:15 AM, 07/22/2008
Gary Varsho
joerothwell12 - you obviously don't know how the finances of baseball work. Jimmy is in the middle of a long term contract that he signed a few years ago - so he can't feel "cheated". And for Hamels, he's being paid what a guy with his service record dictates - lets not forget about the signing bonus he recieved before he ever threw a pitch for this organization. He'll get his money. Enough of ownership being cheap - they spend money, but its not about spending money - its about spending it wisely which is the fault of the GM.
Posted 10:18 AM, 07/22/2008
Truth
Look at Boston they use there young guys so effieciently. I loved how they brought Masterson back a a reliever, they play to win now not next yr. P.G. and the brass are brainless!
Posted 10:20 AM, 07/22/2008
KarenA
Trying to keep a positive outlook on the Fightin' Phils in the hopes that the will come out of this funk and start hitting like we know they can. I wasn't sure if Rollins could keep up with his MVP year (and he also missed a month of play)but I expected a bit more hustle in his at bats. I hope Blanton's numbers against the Mets continue. Go Phils!
Posted 10:39 AM, 07/22/2008
Billy The Kid
Truth, you're at it again. Ignoring the facts behind the circumstances. The Red Sox bullpen (other than Papelbon) has been horrible this year and they have a ton of young, starting pitching. That's why Masterson was converted into a reliever. The Phillies, up until last week, had Adam Eaton in their starting rotation and have had a strong bullpen, so converting any starter into a relief pitcher makes no sense right now. P.G. may be brainless, but with every post, you're proving to be the same.
Posted 10:53 AM, 07/22/2008
southpaw57
Sometimes the best deals are the ones not made. The rumored deal w/the Rockies would have been a bad deal for the Phils. They would have given up too much. Happ showed a lot of poise in his two starts, and Carrasco has top-of-the-rotation talent. Look for one or both of them to be vying for spots in next year's rotation. Also look for Marson to be in the mix next year for the starting catcher's job. The Phils should be able to win with the talent they already have. The starters are already throwing more innings than any other team in the AL, despite Eaton's and Myers' problems. The bullpen has the lowest ERA in the majors. The problem lies with the offense. Too many strikeouts...bad situational hitting...too many one- and two-pitch outs...too many weak ground outs while trying to pull outside pitches. Just watch the better teams like Red Sox and the Angels. Their hitters work the count and go with the pitch instead of trying to pull everything.
Posted 11:02 AM, 07/22/2008
Casey
Billy Wags spits the bit tonight as Phils take 2 of 3 at Shea!
Comment removed.
Posted 11:21 AM, 07/22/2008
wmontanez27
Phillies need one win in the series Two would be nice. Rollins and the lack of consistent offense is a much bigger problem than the starters or pen. This team was built for offense. The park is made for offense. Unfortunately, the offenses disappears as often as Burrell does in late innings.
Posted 11:43 AM, 07/22/2008
scotty82
Geez, what happened to education in our society? Please look up the difference between "there" and "their."
Posted 11:57 AM, 07/22/2008
RG
Truth, do you know where the Red sox got most of their young talent? From the draft, mainly as compensation picks for letting Damon, Lowe, and Pedro walk AFTER their 2004 championship. That was hardly playing to win then (in fact i think they got swept in the '05 playoffs), but rather a long term decision.
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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