Posted: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 5:06 PM | 11 comments |
 

Gload in line-up, Phils catch break this weekend
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Although I may act like it at times, I do not have a direct line to God. So I'm not sure that tonight's game will start on time. But the thunderstorm that rolled through South Philly around 3:30 p.m. has moved out and there are a few patches of blue peaking through the clouds. If I had a green screen, I would show it to you. But you are just going to have to take my word for it.

As for the forecast for the rest of the night, none of the Phillies staff I talked to had a good idea of what to expect. The forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms. I realize none of that helped you very much, but a friend of mine with tickets left a voicemail for the inside dirt, and I do not have great cell reception right now, so hopefully he reads the blog.

Some pre-game notes:

1) Ross Gload is in the line-up in right field. The match-up makes sense, since the Rockies are throwing righty Jhoulys Chacin, one of the more under-the-radar up-and-coming starters in the game. History buffs will recall that Chacin started that September game in Colorado in which the Phillies scored nine runs in the seventh inning to overcome a 7-3 deficit, then held on for a 12-11 win. John Mayberry is not in the line-up for the first time in four games.

2) Mike Stutes threw a few pitches off the mound and said he should be good to pitch tonight. He left Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals early after three pitches with a muscle spasm of some sort in his back/side. Stutes' bullpen session was interrupted by the aforementioned thunderstorm, sending he and Mick Billmeyer scurrying back to the clubhouse like a couple of house cats.

3) The Phillies will catch a break this weekend as Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz will head to Triple-A to continue rehabbing his quad strain. Cruz was originally supposed to travel with the team to Philadelphia. The Rangers will also be without Josh Hamilton, who is rehabbing at Triple-A.

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Posted by David Murphy @ 5:06 PM  Permalink | 11 comments
11
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:31 PM, 05/19/2011
    The problem is tonight, Raul will start along with....some other punch and judy hitters. Blanton has to go 5 without being bombed before the Phils will have any chance.
    — Koons
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:31 PM, 05/19/2011
    If it rains do we get to skip Blanton?
    — jamesiri
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:12 PM, 05/19/2011
    YESSSS we do.
    — johnny eagle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:33 PM, 05/19/2011
    There's no guarantee of that at all. The Phils still have pitching, and pitching can keep you in games.
    — Muckrakers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:39 PM, 05/19/2011
    Tonka, I agree...that .535 record is scary good...A sweep this weekend would actually give them a winning record in May. Wait, that's only if they beat the Royals tonight. Anyway, the fact that they are 3 games above .500 makes them as sturdy as a plastic yellow truck. Especially considering they faced 2 teams with a .500 record or better in May. Could you imagine if they actually had a winning record against teams playing bad? Oh my goodness...

    Relax...I'm joking.
    — MFPhils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:41 PM, 05/19/2011
    Blanton hasn't given up more than 3 runs in his last 4 starts. 3 of which he only gave up 2 in...If the Rockies keep struggling offensively, there's nothing to worry about. And if they don't, maybe we won't either.
    — MFPhils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:44 PM, 05/19/2011
    It can't rain...we're going Saturday and I really wanna see Cliff Lee pitch.
    — PhillySubsMac
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:33 PM, 05/19/2011
    Kendrick pitches for Blanton and as usual does his imitation of Adam Eaton. LOSER
    — shawnmac
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:02 PM, 05/19/2011
    re cruz & hamilton... lucky, right; that just means the phils we be outscored by 5 runs a game instead of 10. this offense stinks... STINKS STINKS STINKS.... raj, fix this mess. utley could come back as babe ruth and this offense will still stink.
    — nyphilliephan


11 comments
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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