Phillies' offense: Torture
Phillies' offense: Torture
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
Their final game was emblematic of their season: A quick early surge of offense, nothing in the middle, runners left on base everywhere.
Eliminated by the Giants, 3-2, in Game 6 last night, the Phillies will not make their third straight trip to the World Series because they could not generate rallies, plain and simple. Their biggest hit of the night was Chase Utley’s first-inning double into the rightfield corner, driving in the first run and setting up the second. They were 2-for-2 with runners in scoring position at that point.
Then Jonathan Sanchez left the game.
From then on, the Phillies left two runners on in the third, bases loaded in the fifth, stranded Raul Ibanez on third with one out in the sixth, and could not push the tying run across in the eighth inning after two one-out singles against Tim Lincecum.
Carlos Ruiz ripped an opposite field line drive to first baseman Aubrey Huff. Shane Victorino, overeager as always, was closer to third than second when it hit his Huff’s glove and was easily doubled off.
In the ninth, the Phillies put two runners on with two out, had Ryan Howard at the plate. he ran the count to 3-2, fouled a pitch straight back, and watched a cutter for a called strike three.
The Giants also had their troubles. They recorded nine hits off Phillies starter Roy Oswalt, ran themselves into an out at home in their two-run third inning, had two runners on in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, and came away with nothing.
``Giants baseball: Torture’’ was a tongue-in-cheek description by announce Duane Kuiper that became the team’s rallying cry. But the Phillies co-opted it this series, wasting numerous opportunities in two of the three games played in their home park, torturing fans time and again with sloppy at-bats that aborted rallies.
The Giants pitched well. So did the Phillies. The difference in this series came down to little things, to shortening swings, to smart at-bats. It was something the Phillies were supposed to specialize in, and something the Giants were notoriously bad at. But almost habitually, the Phillies chased balls on favorable counts, failed to make contact with a runner on third and less than two out -- as Ben Francisco did in that critical seventh.
Giants batters prolonged at-bats by fouling off pitches, by throwning their bats at balls sometimes as Edgar Renteria did again last night.
There will be much talk today about the eighth-inning home run Juan Uribe hit off Ryan Madson to break a 2-2 in the eighth inning last night. But it meant nothing without all the self-inflicted wounds that preceded it. Madson was working his third straight game, was in his second inning, trying to bridge the game to Brad Lidge in the ninth. After striking out the first two batters he faced to run his streak to six, his outs came harder, until Uribe’s unlikely opposite-field poke.
So now what? The likely departure of Jayson Werth for one. Some tough calls on bullpen guys, a re-shuffling there as well. An even more lefthanded lineup looms for next year, a lineup that opponents have already developed a blueprint to pitch to.
The big three will be back of course, and if healthy, should make next summer another exciting one. But the days of watching these guys bomb balls over the fence and chip away at you with their speed and smarts may be going, going gone.
Phillies baseball: Torture.
It has a sickening ring to it.
Comment removed.
Perhaps we overlooked the Giants. If you look at all the pre-series columns last week, the local press figured a walk over the Giants, and bring on the Yankees. Now they're both sitting home.— wayne h- Phillies first priority for next season must be a BATTING COACH— amolano
- I get sick watching the Phillies offense suck at small ball. Let's get rid of Voctorino and Ibanex and sign Carl Crawford. Not having a leadoff hitter kills us as much as Howard coming up small with runners in scoring position. Rollins is an 8th hitter in most line-ups - he's awesome on D in the field, but he's just a .250 hitter. Victorino is pathetic - swings for the fences and pops out more than anyone. Learn small ball you overpaid bunch.— Dish
- Charlie Manuel lost this game in the 6th inning. Why wasnt Rollins running with 2 out? Howard hits a single and he scores. If hes caught, Howard leads off in the 7th.
Instead, no runs and the bottom of the order in the 7th. Then he bunts Ruiz and lets Francesco hit???? again, nothing.
Manuel wasted the 6th and 7th innings worse than Andy Reid runs a 2 min warning.
This has been going on since Charlie got here, hes gotten a free pass... but hes lost a world series and lost a trip to it this year.
Note to Charlie... The game tightens up in October. Home Runs dont come like they do in June.— inkd0874 - It is so sad to read all these negative comments. The Phillies gave it their all, yet came up short. In sports, it does happen. In the end, the lack of hitting came back to haunt this Phillies team. We saw it all season, the lack of hitting with runners in scoring position was the dagger in the season's heart. In the long run, what a great 4-year run...and its not over. Look at all the injuries suffered this season. Howard hasn't been right since his ankle injury nor has Utley or Rollins. Next year, Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, Blanton, and Worley will give the Phightens a chance each day. Werth is a goner, as someone will grossly overpay for his services. Up to management to find yet another reclamation project with a right handed bat. Don't count on Dominic Brown. His postion will come to fruition in 2012 when Ibanez' contract is up. RAJ knows how important obtaining a right handed power bat for 2011 will be. The core is back next year. No reason to expect anything less. Thanks for a great season. Phight ON.— drhoffman
- I watched every game that Texas played against Tampa Rays, and NY Yankees. I knew, that IF (very big if) the Phils won, that they would probably be swept by Texas. The only reason the Phils made it to the NLCS was because Cincinnati decided to commit suicide. So Giants fans, this is the 'team' you beat, and you struggled at that. Texas in 4.— gadzooks
- How many years are we stuck with Amaro's loser, Howard? He wasn't paid the millions he was paid to get singles in NON CLUTCH situations. He stinks worse than any player they have. Next season we will have NOBODY worth anything in right, Howard's clutchless hitting and Rollins, a has been at short. Great season to look forward to.— philpa
- @MRD Why don't you just go away. You're team is about to get slaughtered in the least watched World Series in history.— muddy14
- Hey Filly fairweather fan. Yeah ask a Filly site who is going to win the world series. Filly's just got smacked around by a superior team. Filly fan captured crying on TV. Losers!!!
Go chuck some batteries ya degenerates, Lol...
Go Giants!!!— Sucka Free City - I'd love to talk S, because so many east coast fans do non-stop when any of their teams do anything, but I won't. It was just our time. You guys still have a great team with all the pieces in tact.— Hippytim55
- Too bad NO sports writer in Philly will ask Manual the difficult questions about his horrible managing decisions INSTEAD OF some gutless question like, how did you feel when the ball went over the wall?— philpa
- Bye Bye H2O LOL Let's Go Mets!— JOPRCR
- Comment removed.
- Go Giants! But...um...somebody needs to talk to Sanchez. Chippin at Utley? Dumb. Utley is nails...a true ballplayer...and chippin at him after drilling him? Dumb.— CJ Topspin
Reach Sam at donnels@phillynews.com.
