Looking for a Split
The Phillies are looking for a split today against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Looking for a Split
Todd Zolecki
The Good News: Cole Hamels loves pitching at Great American Ball Park. He made his big-league debut here in 2006, when he threw a one-hitter in five innings. He struck out 15 in a memorable complete game in 2007, which turned around the team's 4-11 start on its way to the National League East title.
The Bad News: He needs to pitch well today (and the offense needs to hit and the defense needs to play smart), or the Phillies drop three of four to the Reds to fall to 2-5 before they open a three-game series tomorrow afternoon against the Mets at Shea Stadium.
Hey, times could be worse.
They could be the Tigers.
But Brett Myers didn't pitch well in yesterday's 8-2 loss to the Reds. He lasted just five innings. He allowed eight hits, four runs and three walks. He struck out four. He thought he had much better stuff than he had in Monday's season opener against the Nationals. Charlie Manuel thought otherwise. He thought Myers mixed in his fastball as he tried to throw mostly offspeed pitches to the Reds. Good stuff. Bad stuff. There's no question the Phillies need Myers to turn things around quickly. The reason they acquired Brad Lidge in the off-season is because they thought Myers and Hamels would be a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. If Myers suddenly scuffles, it would be trouble.
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Today's lineup against the Reds: 1) Jimmy Rollins 2) Shane Victorino 3) Chase Utley 4) Ryan Howard 5) Pat Burrell 6) Geoff Jenkins 7) Pedro Feliz 8) Carlos Ruiz 9) Cole Hamels.
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In the Phillies notebook: Lidge makes his Phillies debut, Shane Victorino continues to struggle at the plate and more.
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Not to look ahead, but ...
Lefthander Jamie Moyer (0-0, 7.36 ERA) faces lefthanders Oliver Perez tomorrow afternoon at Shea. Righthander Kyle Kendrick (1-0, 7.20 ERA) faces righthander Mike Pelfrey (season debut) on Wednesday night, and righthander Adam Eaton (0-0, 3.52 ERA) faces righthander John Maine (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on Thursday night.
Although I'm not scared of Johan, it's nice to not have to face him this series... and from my math, the next series either.— rj1st- Although I'm not scared of Johan, it's nice to not have to face him this series... and from my math, the next series either.— rj1st
- why won't Manuel move Victorino to the end of the lineup until he starts hitting? right now I'd rather have it Rollins, Utley, Burrell, Howard, Jenkins...— andrew0182
- Because you don't move your 2 hitter after a weeks worth of games. Would you do the same thing in July when Rollins has a bad week? Or in August if Utley struggles over the course of two series? No.— NeduolCaz
- random question - what happened to davey lopes?— philliestew
- If Burrell keeps it up, would it make sense to bat him 4 to break up the Utley-Howard lefty combo?— Bizzle
- Davey Lopes is being treated for prostrate cancer. I forget which. I think the team said he should be back about a month into the season.— Norma
- neduol, moving victorino makes perfect sense. it has been done before and it should be done again. until his bat comes alive, its best to have utley and burrell batting ahead of howard to maximize run potential. then, when vic shows signs of waking up, move him back to #2. perfect managing.— andrew0182
- I wish this team, with all the speed at the top of the order, would/could manufacture more runs. It seems unless they get a cple of boppers they struggle. Glad they won but not sure what it portends for the season.— Truth
- HOW BOUT THAT SCORELESS 8TH...— flash gordon
- HOW BOUT THAT SCORELESS 8TH...— flash gordon
- Very proud of you Flash! LOL!— Norma
- Norma: Prostrate cancer? I didn't realize you could get cancer just by lying down. I had heard he had prostate cancer, which I presume you meant. But the question "which?" is easy to answer; he only has one prostate gland. Now had he had testicular cancer, I could understand the question "which?"; but I'm not really sure they'd announce which one. I think that would be too much info anyway...— marty
- Hey take it easy on Norma! She rulz!!!! BEAT THE METS, BEAT THE METS, LETS GO OUT AND BEAT THE METS!!!!!— Clinton, NJ
- Nice win today but too much drama with the pitching. Does anyone think Rich Dubee is doing a good job with the pitchers? What evidence is there of that?— jrquixote
- I'm still trying to figure out Saturday's game. Chad Durbin pitching the 9th, pitching to a left hand hitter, with runners on second and third with one out. What happened to walking the lefty to get a force at any base? Then the infielder can throw home for a force and maybe a double play. How many things were wrong with that picture? Is that an example of the manager losing the game for you?— Nick from the Northeast
- Always good to see that kind of start where the bulpen can pitch an inning or two with a couple run lead. Keep it up Cole! Can't wait to see a Hamels Santana matchup: Dual of the changeup.— bball
- Yeah Nick, kinda is. I think that would have been a good time to see Lidge personally, but someone disagreed with me on that one. Something about baseball 101 and never bringing in the closer in a tied game. I say use him on the road in a tie game to get you into extra frames, or have what happened on Saturday.— Clinton, NJ
