Last night, coming off a dismal 2-0 shutout by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, Roy Halladay took the hill and looked as if everything we'd all been worried about with him has been fixed. His cutter found the edge of the plate routinely, his fastball peaked into the nineties, and he controlled a tight game through six innings, yielding only one run on one hit - with 8 K's.
Even Chase Utley and Ryan Howard did something they hadn't accomplished yet this season -- both hit solo home runs off of a left-handed pitcher (Wandy Rodgriguez). Howard even managed to hit his on a breaking pitch.
Typically, a performance like this from a Phils' starter would lead to a discussion about how dominating this team can be when it plays, well, like a team. Last night, though, a three-quarters-full Citizens Bank Park looked like a Double-A game being played in Harrisburg. Fundamental mistakes and errors (Marte should not have been credited with a ninth-inning triple) on offense and defense, and a brutal showing by the bullpen gave the Bucs a 5-3 victory.
Jimmy Rollins, who has always enjoyed the support of fans and management, made three costly mistakes in this game (94WIP's Angelo Cataldi referred to it as the "hat trick of errors") yet, on the scoresheet, you can't actually "see" any of the miscues. In the bottom of the 1st, Rollins sends a solid line drive into center field. Apparently unaware that Andrew McCutcheon has one of the strongest arms in the Majors, Jimmy decides it's OK to leg out a double. McCutcheon's throw is near-perfect, and Rollins is toast.
Rollins' second mistake of the game came when Humberto Quintero (Phils' catcher) tried to pick a runner off of second after a pitch; Jimmy caught the ball in plenty of time to nail the runner, but missed the tag!
The trifecta of blunders occurred in the bottom of the fifth, with Utley on first, Rollins on third, and Michael Young at the plate. Young hits a medium-hard bouncer to short, Pedro Alvarez tosses to second for the force, and Rollins - who broke late for the plate - can't beat the throw from Neil Walker (2B) to catcher Russell Martin. Toast again.
Jimmy wasn't the only ailment Wednesday evening. Reliever Antonio Bastardo gave up a homer on a meatball to Pedro Alvarez and Mike Adams - who was appearing for the third time in four games - looked exhausted in the 8th inning, and couldn't get his usually mid-90's fastball anywhere close to normal velocity.
Then there was the aforementioned triple by Starling Marte in the top of the ninth. With Clint Barmes on second, two men out, and the Phillies positioned in the hated "no-doubles" defense (which I believe is as useless as the Prevent D in football), Marte hits a pop-up behind first base near the foul line. The ball was well out of Ryan Howard's reach (whom we all know can run the 40 in 4.2 MINUTES), so with the right fielder out of position, Chase Utley is the closest man to the ball. He turns away from the ball to make an (unnecessary) over-the-shoulder basket catch, yet the ball hits the heel of his glove and bounds toward the stands. By the time Utley chased it down, Barmes had scored and Marte was standing on third. I enjoyed Comcast SportsNet's Larry Anderson's call of disbelief when the official scorer put "HIT" on the board. Larry says, "They've given him a hit; it's gotta be a triple. Are they nuts?"
My friends, last week I wrote about how Charlie (Manuel) might be a genius. Today, I need to reflect, and wonder if "genius" and "insane" really do mean the same thing. Either way, he and his team need more than just Doc; they need a real doctor.
In the words of the former Eagles genius Andy Reid, "Time's yours."
ERNDroid
#phillies #jroll #comcastsportsnet #
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Maybe Charlie is a Genius...
So here we are on April 20, 2013, and the Phillies, while three games under .500 (at 7-10), are showing real signs of improvement and possibilities.
Last night, Roy Halladay toook the hill and tossed a 7-inning masterpiece in which he surrendered only 2 hits - 2 solo home runs - leading the Phils to an 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Halladay looked stronger in this start than in any of his previous outings this year - including Spring Training games. This is a good sign. Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he said Doc would overcome his issues and become the Roy Halladay Fightins' fans are used to seeing.
Freddy Galvis is turning into the ultimate utility player. While we've seen Freddy at all four positions in the infield at times, now he's been given two starts in Left Field, and actuallly looks like an outfielder when he's there. He's got speed and agility and, as he plays more, will develop the capacity to read the ball off the bat and be able to react more quickly to the flight of the ball. Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he said he'd get his outfield situated within the first month.
Ryan Howard is still in his typical early-season slump. The man can't run so, unless he's homering, he's pretty useless with a bat in his hands at this point. I'm pretty sure I hit lefties better than Ryan, which is why Charlie sat him last night in favor of Kevin Frandsen (whom I believe I field 1st Base better than). Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he's allowed Howard the time to play through these issues in the past, and it's proven to be the right decisions then, so we'll have to give it another couple of weeks to see how it plays out.
Jimmy Rollins is back in the leadoff spot. While Ben Revere is younger and speedier than the veteran shortstop, Revere's inability to be patient at the plate spelled his demise in the top of the lineup. Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he just needs time to work with Revere on seeing the ball better, and knowing what to swing at and when not to. Charlie's always been revered (no pun intended) as a great hitting coach; this may be a bigger challenge to him than fixing Ryan Howard.
I'm always open to debate and opinion; please share yours.
Coming soon... What will Chooch's return mean?
ERNDroid
Last night, Roy Halladay toook the hill and tossed a 7-inning masterpiece in which he surrendered only 2 hits - 2 solo home runs - leading the Phils to an 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Halladay looked stronger in this start than in any of his previous outings this year - including Spring Training games. This is a good sign. Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he said Doc would overcome his issues and become the Roy Halladay Fightins' fans are used to seeing.
Freddy Galvis is turning into the ultimate utility player. While we've seen Freddy at all four positions in the infield at times, now he's been given two starts in Left Field, and actuallly looks like an outfielder when he's there. He's got speed and agility and, as he plays more, will develop the capacity to read the ball off the bat and be able to react more quickly to the flight of the ball. Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he said he'd get his outfield situated within the first month.
Ryan Howard is still in his typical early-season slump. The man can't run so, unless he's homering, he's pretty useless with a bat in his hands at this point. I'm pretty sure I hit lefties better than Ryan, which is why Charlie sat him last night in favor of Kevin Frandsen (whom I believe I field 1st Base better than). Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he's allowed Howard the time to play through these issues in the past, and it's proven to be the right decisions then, so we'll have to give it another couple of weeks to see how it plays out.
Jimmy Rollins is back in the leadoff spot. While Ben Revere is younger and speedier than the veteran shortstop, Revere's inability to be patient at the plate spelled his demise in the top of the lineup. Maybe Charlie is a genius -- he just needs time to work with Revere on seeing the ball better, and knowing what to swing at and when not to. Charlie's always been revered (no pun intended) as a great hitting coach; this may be a bigger challenge to him than fixing Ryan Howard.
I'm always open to debate and opinion; please share yours.
Coming soon... What will Chooch's return mean?
ERNDroid
Thursday, April 11, 2013
An Open Forum on the 2013 Philadelphia Phillies
April 11, 2013
The 2013 Major League Baseball season has been underway for a little more than a week now. Coming out of Spring Training, it appeared that the Phillies had several concerns that still needed to be addressed:
1. Who would be the every day left and right fielders?
2. Would Roy Halladay escape the funk that showed in Grapefruit League action?
3. How would Carlos Ruiz' 25-game suspension affect the team offensively and defensively?
4. Could the 4th and 5th starters (Kendrick and Lannan) keep them in games long enough for the bullpen to take over effectively?
5. Is Michael Young the answer at third base?
I'll start by answering these questions in reverse...
A) Michael Young appears to be the real deal and, so long as he stays moderately healthy, will provide a solid right-handed bat and strong glove at the Hot Corner.
B) The jury's still out
C) Eric Kratz (with occasional help from Quintero) is no Chooch. While he has shown a stronger-than-expected arm, he is, ultimately, a liability on both sides. The Phillies need a Major Leadue catcher behind the plate, and I put this completely on Ruben Amaro for not going out and getting someone.
D) There is obviously something wrong with Doc. Some say the issue's in his head; some say it's his mechanics. I'll go out on a limb with my theory: whatever he'd been taking to keep him strong, he has chosen to stop taking. He lost a good deal of weight in the spring (attributed to the flu), but I thinking it's something much different. Don't assume I have any inside information that isn't available to the rest of the world. This is just my theory and, from watching Hallady pitch, ya gotta believe it's possible.
E) John Mayberry, Jr. and Domonic Brown seem to be Charlie's choices for LF and RF. Probably not anyone's first or second (or twenty-third) choice for starting outfielders, but they've also shown some promise after 10 games. Just last night, Brown pulled a Jeremy Hafner meatball into the second deck, one night after Mayberry crushed one to left off of the Mets' Dillon Gee during the 4th inning Home Run Derby.
Now folks, it's up too you to keep this going. I'll add my Philliesophy every couple of days - more often if the need arises.
Coming soon... a discussion about Charlie.
ERNDroid
The 2013 Major League Baseball season has been underway for a little more than a week now. Coming out of Spring Training, it appeared that the Phillies had several concerns that still needed to be addressed:
1. Who would be the every day left and right fielders?
2. Would Roy Halladay escape the funk that showed in Grapefruit League action?
3. How would Carlos Ruiz' 25-game suspension affect the team offensively and defensively?
4. Could the 4th and 5th starters (Kendrick and Lannan) keep them in games long enough for the bullpen to take over effectively?
5. Is Michael Young the answer at third base?
I'll start by answering these questions in reverse...
A) Michael Young appears to be the real deal and, so long as he stays moderately healthy, will provide a solid right-handed bat and strong glove at the Hot Corner.
B) The jury's still out
C) Eric Kratz (with occasional help from Quintero) is no Chooch. While he has shown a stronger-than-expected arm, he is, ultimately, a liability on both sides. The Phillies need a Major Leadue catcher behind the plate, and I put this completely on Ruben Amaro for not going out and getting someone.
D) There is obviously something wrong with Doc. Some say the issue's in his head; some say it's his mechanics. I'll go out on a limb with my theory: whatever he'd been taking to keep him strong, he has chosen to stop taking. He lost a good deal of weight in the spring (attributed to the flu), but I thinking it's something much different. Don't assume I have any inside information that isn't available to the rest of the world. This is just my theory and, from watching Hallady pitch, ya gotta believe it's possible.
E) John Mayberry, Jr. and Domonic Brown seem to be Charlie's choices for LF and RF. Probably not anyone's first or second (or twenty-third) choice for starting outfielders, but they've also shown some promise after 10 games. Just last night, Brown pulled a Jeremy Hafner meatball into the second deck, one night after Mayberry crushed one to left off of the Mets' Dillon Gee during the 4th inning Home Run Derby.
Now folks, it's up too you to keep this going. I'll add my Philliesophy every couple of days - more often if the need arises.
Coming soon... a discussion about Charlie.
ERNDroid
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)