Salvaging the Week
The Eagles lost. That sucks. But maybe the Phillies can help you forget about your football blues with a big week this week in Atlanta and Florida.
Salvaging the Week
Todd Zolecki
Brad Lidge and Co. will try to make you forget about last night's Eagles loss. (JERRY LODRIGUSS / Inquirer Staff Photographer)
The Eagles lost. I know, it sucks. But maybe, just maybe, the Phillies can help you forget about your post-Monday Night Football depression with a strong week this week in Atlanta and Florida.
I figure the Phillies are competing with three other teams for a postseason berth: the Mets in the NL East and the Brewers (sans Ned Yost) and Astros in the NL wild card. Here is a look at the remaining schedules for the Phillies, Mets, Brewers and Houston Astros, who are 2 1/2 games behind the Phils and Brewers in the wild-card race:
Phillies (12 games): They play six on the road this week against the Braves and Marlins, and finish the season with six at home against the Braves and Washington Nationals. The Marlins are the only team with a winning record. The Phillies are 10-2 against the Braves, 9-6 against the Nationals and 6-9 against the Marlins.
Mets (13): The Mets play six on the road this week against the Nats and Braves. They finish with seven games at home against the Chicago Cubs and Marlins. The Mets are 10-4 against the Nationals, 9-6 against the Marlins, 6-9 against the Braves and 0-2 against the Cubs.
Brewers (12): The Brewers look like the '07 Mets, so now is not the time to have the toughest schedule of these four teams. But that's exactly what they have. (And a new manager after firing Yost yesterday.) They play six on the road this week against the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds before they finish with six at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs. The Brewers are 4-6 against the Cubs, 7-8 against the Reds and 11-1 against the Pirates.
Astros (13): The Astros played a "home" game for the second consecutive day yesterday against the Cubs at Miller Park in Milwaukee, losing to the Cubs. They open a three-game series tonight in Florida and continue their road trip with three games this weekend against the Pirates. The Astros finish with seven at Minute Maid Park: three against the Reds, three against the Braves, and a makeup game against the Cubs. General manager Ed Wade's Astros are 2-1 against the Marlins, 6-7 against the Pirates, 10-2 against the Reds, 1-2 against the Braves and 9-7 against the Cubs.
Comments (54)
a season sweep in Atlanta would be nice, let's start it tonight with Moyer- it would be even nicer if the Muts continue to do the choke dance...— KMG- What the heck is up with a Astro's "home" game in Milwaukee? It's closer to Chicago!?!? Is this Bud Selig's or what?— Barndog
- Nuetral field isn't Bud Selig's home town! It's ahome game for the Astros so it should be closer to their home not the Cub's.— Barndog
- The Phillies hadn't had a good long winning streak all year. I think that their longest streak is at 5 games. Now would be a good time to have a 10 game winning streak. Heck... Would it be too much to ask for a Colorado-esque win streak to win the remaining games up until the World Series?— roque32
- I agree KMG. That would be sweet~— KarenA
- Roque - yes it would be too much to ask. I personally like the position the phillies are in. I think they'll make the playoffs, but if they win the division they'd be playing the dodgers first round (4-4 against this year), wild card is cubs (4-3 this year). It looks likely that we wouldnt play the mets first round no matter what.— kr1spy
- Zo what is up with the kid Parr? Have not heard much about him but he looks pretty good. 12 scoreless innings in two starts? Is he that good?— Beef69
- kr1spy - I think MLB rules prohibit a team from playing a division rival in the first round. So if the Mets and Phils both make it, the div. winner would get the Dodgers, the wild card would get the Cubs. If the Phils win the division and Brewers get the WC, then the Phils would get Milwaukee, and Chicago would get LA. I think that's how that works.— B in DC
- Unless you're assuming Milwaukee is done. In which case, you're correct...could be a pretty safe assumption, but how many Mets fans were making safe assumptions this time last year?— B in DC
- Any depression over the Eagle's loss was cancelled by the news that the Mets lost again. I'm with KMG, let's go get a sweep in Atlanta.— jimmymack
- ZO, they didn't print my comment, the idiots. I said that the Mutts have 13 games left, (6 road, 7 home) and not 12 as you wrote. That extra game could be very important.— jeff gross
- anyone out there today? I'm bored at work and was counting on you guys to pass the time— jeff gross
- Jeff you know anything about that Parr kid we are facing tonight?— Beef69
- Beef, He went 5-3 with a 3.23 era in AAA ball,. He had 14 BB 44 K and a 1.13 WHIP. I think he's a potential # 2 pitcher who has been lucky as no one knows his stuff yet. Hopefuly we'll "Eaton" him— jeff gross
- I am not going to get greedy. Fact of the matter is, if the Phillies simply take 2 of 3 in each series the rest of the way (8-4), they are most likely in the playoffs, with a real chance at the division, if the Mets continue to struggle. In order to keep pace with Mets, they need only match their win total the rest of the way, which is nice to know.— RollinsWasRight
- Let's take them one at a time. Let's win tonight, and then we can worry about tomorrow. Only people who should be looking ahead to the rest of the serries are the SPs tomorrow and Thurs— jeff gross
- The following was posted by a Mets fan on the NY Daily News website this morning: "I'm not jumping ship. I'm still a fan, I'll stick with them till the end. But reality is setting in. Just watch a Philthies game and see the energy level and confidence that they have. Compare it to the Mets, it's pathetic...Regardless of what the Mets do the Phillies are not looking back anymore." ... ... ... once again September fills me with pride in the hometown 9. Sorry, I just don't want to take for granted the way this team plays when it matters most... it is a lot of fun to watch.— RollinsWasRight
- Thanks Jeff. Would be nice to "Eaton" him. I was just looking at the match ups and noticed him there. Looks like he does not go to far into games either. Prob on a tight pitch count. 6 innings each in his first two starts.— Beef69
- RWR, thanks for that quote. We never apreciate what we have until it is taken away. Beef, while Parr was in AA this year, he went 8-4 3.64 with 37 BB 81 K and 1.31 WHIP. I still think we can "Eaton" him— jeff gross
- He seems to have averaged under 6 innings a start in minors as well. Not an innings eater by any means— jeff gross
- If we keep hitting should not be a problem. That was a great post by a Mutts fans. Maybe some of them do know a little about baseball.— Beef69
- Just thought you might like to see this comparrison of COle and Santana. Seems we may have to call Cole an ACE afterall Name W L ERA G CG sho IP BB K WHIP Cole 13-9 3.11 31 2 2 214.1 50 184 1.07 Santana 13-7 2.70 31 2 1 210.1 56 179 1.16— jeff gross
- I'm still in for a winning streak all the way to the World Series :)— roque32
- At this point the Phillies only have themselves to blame if they don't make the playoffs. It seems that whenever they get into this position however, they lose. Hopefully the Braves will continue to play badly and the Phils can beat them. They cannot get over confident. Take it one game at a time.....— James TL
- Believe it or not, Murphy has an interesting though in his blog ( it is in teh comments section) "(in)four starts against the Braves this season, Kendrick has allowed nine runs, and hasn't allowed more than three in an outing. 5/13: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER 6/7: 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER 7/1: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER 7/25: 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER" Interesting if he does get teh start tomorrow— jeff gross
- Still tough to say who they go with. I am all for it if Kendrick bounces back but we can't afford a 1 1/3 outing and 7 runs.— Beef69
- I think that at this point I'm in favor of Kendrick with Happ warming up from the first pitch. Chollie needs a real quick hook on him. Alternatively, you could start Happ with Kendrick warming up from the get go. What is important is that we win, regardless of anyone's hurt feelings or embarressment.— jeff gross
- At least the game is away and he will not have the fans booing at every ball he throws.— Beef69
- jeff gross: even more interestingly on the Kendrick vs. ATL note - Mark Texeira was still in the middle of their lineup in all of those games.— RollinsWasRight
- But what are lefties hitting off Kendrick? Think is is over .300.— Beef69
- RWR: very good point. I'm surprized you haven't commented on teh cole/santana comparison I posted earlier. It's the kind of thing you normally love— jeff gross
- Add another vote for a Phillies sweep the rest of the season! They are LONG over due for an extended win streak. Why not now? And. jeff....I like your idea of Kendrick, with Happ warming up from 1st pitch.— Norma
- Actually, I think that despite the pennant race, we owe it to Happ to give him a real chance. This means as a starter. Since we can't/won't start him in a game, we should let him warm up as if he was starting and enter the game in the beginning of an inning as if it was a start. Same idea, just less innings. Also, they have got to get Marson into a game either as PH, or as defensive replacement for a few innings. If you bring the kids up, you have to at least use them once— jeff gross
- jeff gross: I really had nothing to say on the Cole/Santana comparison. I think the numbers speak for themselves. The only thing I could offer is my thought that Santana is overrated... not to say he isn't a terrific pitcher, and a great guy to turn to when your team needs a win, but since last offseason started he has been widely touted as "the best pitcher on the planet"... I disagree. I think he was a few years ago, but for my money, I would take Jake Peavy or Brandon Webb over him in a heartbeat... or, in a playoff or otherwise pivotal game, I would take Josh Beckett over any pitcher in baseball. Santana is great, but not the greatest, IMO. Same is true of Cole. One thing I would like to see out of Cole is another game or two like he had against Washington last year on a Fri. night at the end of Sept., with the Phils tied with the Mets and surging, he pitched 7 DOMINANT innings, and struck out 13... or maybe I just take his outings for granted because he makes it look so easy... is he still leading the NL in WHIP? I know he was for most of the season, and to me, that is the most telling stat about a pitcher's performance.— RollinsWasRight
- RWR: he is still leading the league. I was surprized at who is second, though. Nolasco(fish) is only .05 behind. His numbers look great. Anyone know if he is a FA or one of the fire sale guys? He might be worth picking up if we want a pitcher who is good, yet not going to cost an arm and leg— jeff gross
- Regarding the starter tomorrow, I think it's got to be Kendrick, but someone should get in his face before the game. Let Myers go out to the pen and hype him up after he warms up...punch him in the gut or throw him against the wall or something. He's seems like he's trying not to fail instead of pitching like a winner.— B in DC
- They did use Marson once shortly after they brought him up (the opponent of which escapes me) and I believe he made an error or misjudged a play. But agree nothing like experience to better a player.— KarenA
- Jeff, your comment on Marson is a good one, though I don't know they owe any of the young guys anything at this point. It's a good experience one way or the other, but I'd like to see him get a couple of ABs and work a couple innings at some point. There's bound to be a blowout at some point in the next 12 games, and if you hold Ruiz or Coste on the bench as isurance against some sort of meltdown, then I don't see the harm.— B in DC
- jeff: Ricky Nolasco is only in his third ML season. He pitched in 35 games (22 starts) in 2006, but was limited to only 5 appearances last year due to injury. He won't be a free agent for five more years, and it is unlikely he will be arbitration eligible until after next season (2009), so the Marlins will most likely hold onto him at least that long.— RollinsWasRight
- Thanks karen and RWR for the information. FYI RWR, Bush, from the Brewers, is 5th in WHIP but is only 9-11 with a 4.24 ERA. Just goes to show that stats don't always show the whole story— jeff gross
- Right on Todd about the post-loss depression. The week always starts better when the Eagles won the day before... If the Phils finish 6-6, they will end up with the same record as last year. Which is somewhat odd, because it doesn't seem that they have had a better year than they did, to give them the chance to finish with 90+ wins. Go Phils!— DCExpat
- Interesting tidbit: The Mets not only went 5-12 in the final 17 games of 2007, but also went 7-10 the final 17 games of 2006, and have begun the final 17 games of 2008 by going 1-3. Perhaps last year wasn't an aberration, so much as a trend no one noticed prior because there was no other team taking advantage in 2006 (they started that 7-10 stretch with a 16 gm. lead in the division, so no one really paid attention). We should all be very familiar with teams that seem to have a mental block about the final two weeks or so of the season (see: Phillies, 2001, 2004-2006).— RollinsWasRight
- DCExpat: They started the season so much better this year, we just forgot about it amidst the mid-June to late-August sleepwalk. 13 games over .500 in mid-June... I don't think they reached that mark last year until September.— RollinsWasRight
- if only they could have kept up the pace they set the first three months of the season....oh well, at least this way it is interesting— jeff gross
- They always make things interesting. Nothing ever comes easy. In this great city. One min you are throwing a beer at the TV the next you are spilling one on yourself.— Beef69
- beef, just don't throw teh TV at the beer— jeff gross
- anyone know what happened to Truth? I kind of miss his irrelevent ravings. Always added spice, if nothing else, to this blog. Guess he is Rollings kind of fan, only follows when they suck...— jeff gross
- jeff: I think he had to go into hiding when Chase Utley was found (i.e., he is hitting again, something like .350 over his last 20 games, with 11 RBIs and 12 Runs, if I remember the numbers).— RollinsWasRight
- Jeff has not come to that point yet and lets hope it don't. Anyone see Cameron give the crowd the finger at the first game Sunday?— Beef69
- Beef: I did not, and I did not hear about it, either. When did he do that?— RollinsWasRight
- I also didn't see or hear about it. I'm sure it would have made huge waves. Is there a video somewhere??— jeff gross
- I was at the first game Sunday (was it hot) and a lady at worked asked me if I seen Cameron give the crowd the finger. I did not see it and no one mentioned anything about it. She said it was around the 5th inning. I was wondering if anyone else seen it or heard about it.— Beef69
Jeff: "we owe it to Happ to give him a real chance"??? OK, ya lost me there. The Phils are a big league ball club in the midst of a pennant race, and we "owe" a kid just up from the minors his chance to go out and porve himself? Look, I get that he was brought up and not used. Seemed silly, OK. But this is not about what we (the club) can do for JA Happ. It's about what is the best option for the club winning this race. If Happ is the right choice, then so be it. But that's for Charlie and Doobs to determine based on what they are seeing from these guys and how they match up on a given night. Also, I have to question your plan to have a guy warming up from the first pitch. I hope you're kidding on that one. I can hear Dubee now as he sends the young, nervous starter to the mound: "OK, son, you go on out there and show us what ya got. We believe in ya, so let's get it done. Oh, and uh, don't worry bout that other guy warming up out there in the bullpen. Nothin to do with you. You're our guy." Pitching is as much a mental discipline as a physical one, and concentration and confidence play a huge part. How can you expect Kyle Kendrick (who's confidence is already less than zero), or JA Happ (who has to be a little weak at the knees just to be in the big leagues at all) to focus on pitching effectively when his replacement is already warming up for everyone to see? Sorry to be negative, but I think someone has a little too much time to ponder this stuff.— bobby- Bobby, hi was missing you today. It is very normal for a pticher to pitch a "bullpen session" during a game. I suggest having Happ, or Kendrick do so while teh other starts. this way, worst case, we have someone ready to go. As for owing it to Marson, I'm not saying start the kid, but give him an at bat in the 9th when we're ahead by 2-3 runs, or let him catch an inning when the game is decided already. If we are serriously consdereing these guys for next year's team, we need to see them in real game situations and not just the minors, or grapefruit league.— jeff gross
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