HALLADAY BLANKS BRAVES

                                    It was clear, Phils needed a lift;

                                    in a blink it came, sure and swift.

                                    Doc Hallady in charge all the way,

                                    great defense helped save the day

                                    and end 3-game losing drift.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia.

Philadelphia - 2, Atlanta - 0.

WP - Halladay (4-0), LP - Tim Hudson (1-1).

Shane Victorino snatched Troy Glaus' 2^nd inning blast an instant before it cleared the centerfield fence. Utley, Castro, and Howard (4) all made outstanding defensive plays.

News from the groaning bench: Polanco had to leave the game after taking a pitch off his elbow. Happ will miss a start because of soreness in his left forearm. Blanton, Lidge, and Romero are expected to be back by the end of the month. Rollins is taking batting practice, but his calf still hurts.                           

STUNNED IN ATLANTA

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Like three pistol shots in the night,

                                    to Phils' fans a plum ugly sight.

                                    Thank Kendrick, into the ninth, team was cruising,

                                    then, in a flash, they were losing.

                                    Ryan Madson the cause of this blight.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta - 4, Philadelphia - 3 (10 innings).

WP - Billy Wagner (1-0), LP - Contreras (0-1).

BS - Madson (1).

HR - Glaus (2), 9^th, 1 on; Heyward (4), 9^th; McClouth (1), 10^th.

LOSING STREAK

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Nineteen innings and only one run?

                                    Hang on, team, this is no fun

                                    Cole Hamels pitched well,

                                    but still the Phils fell,

                                    to a phoney Fish lefthander's gun.

Sunday, April 18, 2010. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Florida - 2, Philadelphia - 0.

WP - Nate Robertson (2-0), LP - Hamels (2-1).
H- Burke Badenhop (3)

S- Leo Nuñez (3)

HR - Uggla (3), 2^nd.

A Little League third base coach has this advice for a runner on third with less than two out: "Listen to me, son. If the batter hits the ball to the outfield, your natural reaction is to break for home. YOU MUST RESIST THIS REACTION. You must immediately go back to third base and tag up. If the ball falls for a hit, or is dropped, you will score easily. If the ball is caught, you have a more than even chance of scoring after the catch."

In the fourth inning of this Phillies' game with the team trailing 1-0, Jason Werth was on third with one out when Carlos Ruiz hit a fly ball to medium right field. Did Werth go back to tag up? No. He broke for home, then had to recover and retreat to tag up. Too late. He was standing on third when the throw sailed over the catcher's head, but was backed up by the pitcher. This happens often in kid's games, but not in the Major Leagues. Disapponting? For sure. Disgusting? That too. A chance to tie the game before 45,000 desperately seeking home fans, who take every loss as a personal affront. Sam Perlozzo, Phils' third base coach should be banished to Reading for further instruction. Jason Werth should stop thinking about whether to get a shave or not. Pay attention, guys, this is serious stuff. We're talking about a two-game shift in thestandings - win and take a 2½ game lead over the Marlins, lose and it's a ½ game. It's intolerable.

TROUBLE

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Ricky Nolasco, always trouble,

                                    pricked Phillies high-scoring bubble

                                    Jamie Moyer again five good, but one bad.

                                    The first-inning train wreck was sad;

                                    left him scrambling to rise from the rubble.

Saturday, April 17, 2010. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Florida - 5, Philadelphia - 1.

WP - Nolasco (1-0), LP - Moyer (1-1).

HR - Paulino (1), 1^st, 2 on.

Werth (1), 9^th.

HALLADAY LANDS FISH

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Doc Halladay won his first game at the Bank;

                                    made sure Fish stayed in their tank.

                                    Fans' main complain,

                                    was a nasty, cold rain,

                                    but they loved hearing Fish bats go clank.

Friday, April 16, 2010. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia - 8, Florida - 6.

WP - Halladay (3-0), LP - Anibal Sanchez (0-1).

S- Madson (3).

HR - Uggla (2), 4^th.

Polanco (2), 2^nd; Utley (6), 7^th.

If it wasn't for the persistent rain, Halladay would have pitched the ninth with an 8-2 lead. But the rain wouldn't quit so Charlie sent David Herndon out for the mop up. The kid deserved better; his power sinker was doing its job, but three dribblers on the wet infield went for hits, and Ryan Madson had to save it after the Fish scored four and put the tying run on base.

Chase the Mace homered in his fourth straight game, bringing a ho-hum, what else is new, from the Phils broadcast booth. In 2009 the slim slugger homered in five straight games two separate times. Polanco also homered, and after 10 games has 20 hits and a .444 batting average. Ryan Howard is not far behind with 17 hits and a .362 average. The numbers are blinding, but Liddy cautions against premature celebrations. I know, I know, only ten games. 

BLOWN SWEEP

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Just what we Phils fans most fear:

                                    a blown save - the first of the year.

                                    Baez had a 4-2 lead,

                                    'til a two-homerun, 8^th inning bleed.

                                    Nats' bats awoke 'twould appear.

Thursday, April 15, 2010. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Washington - 7, Philadelphia - 5.

WP - Clippard (2-0), LP - Baez (0-1).

H - Sean Burnett (2).Bastardo (2)

BS - Baez (1).

S - Matt Capps (4).

HR - Dunn (1), 8^th; Zimmerman (1), 8^th, 1 on.

Utley (5), 1^st; Victorino (3), 9^th.

It was a day of firsts - (1) Matt Capps' first career one-plus inning save, (2) Ryan Zimmerman's first career pinch-hit homerun, (3) Adam Dunn's season-first homerun,

(4) Ryan Zimmerman's season-first homerun, (5) Phillies' season-first blown save, (6)

Max Blue's first season-rant at Phillies' bullpen.

            PHILLIES THRASH NATS

By Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    The Hawaiian and Chase drove in nine,

                                    as the offense continued to shine.

                                    Nats thumped Kendrick but no luck,

                                    they got hit by a runaway truck.

                                    Folks in these parts think it's just fine.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia - 14, Washington - 7.

WP - Figueroa (1-1), LP - Bergmann (0-1).

H- Durbin (4).
HR - Utley -2 (4), 2^nd, 2 on, 6^th; Victorino (2), 5^th, 1 on.

Jimmy Rollins on 15 day disabled list with strained right calf muscle. Wilson Valdez called up from Lehigh Valley..    

PHILLIES BANK OPENER

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Phils trailed 4-0, but no matter,

                                    team muscle's like one fearsome batter.

                                    Polanco on record hit pace,

                                    Howard the same and Chase is a mace.

                                    In 2010 some ceilings will shatter.

Monday, April 12, 2010. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                        

Philadelphia - 7, Washington - 4.

WP - Hamels (2-0), LP - Marquis (0-2).

H - Durbin (3), Contreras (1), Baez (2)

S - Madson (2).

HR - Willingham (2), 2^nd.

Utley (2), 5^th, 1 on.

A couple of dark clouds marred the sunny day at the Bank. Jimmy Rollins hurt his right calf muscle in pre-game warm-ups, and Jason Werth had to leave the game in the fifth inning with a sore hip. Born to suffer.

HALLADAY BRINGS HIS BROOM

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    Doc Halladay loaded his gun,

                                    then strode to the mound bent on having some fun.

                                    When all the smoke cleared,

                                    it was what Houston feared,

                                    Phils leading the league, five and one.

Sunday, April 11, 2010. Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas.

Philadelphia - 2, Houston - 1.

WP - Halladay (2-0), LP - Oswalt (0-2).

HR - Rollins (1), 1^st.

Jimmy Rollins took Oswalt deep on the games' second pitch, his 34^th leadoff homerun,

It would have been enough but for a poor throw to third by Halladay in the 6^th inning..

Trailing 2-0, the Astros put the first two men on base, and Jeff Keppinger tried to bunt them over. Halladay fielded the bunt and threw low to a back-tracking Placido Polanco who failed to hold the throw, loading the bases with none out, A run scored when Cory Sullivan hit into a 6-3 doubleplay. Carlos Lee stranded the tying run on third with a fly to center, making the run unearned. Halladay's 111^th pitch was popped up by old amigo Pedro Feliz to end the game and leave the Doc with a 2-0 record, 17 strikeouts, no walks, and a 0.56 ERA over 17 innings of picture-perfect pitching.      

                                    .

BARRAGE CONTINUES

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                    A curious, hard to explain game,

                                    Jamie Moyer was great, also lame.

                                    Ryan Howard on a furious pace,

                                    denting walls all over the place.

                                    Keep it up, team, and gain fame.

Saturday, April 10, 2010. Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

Philadelphia - 9, Houston - 6.

WP - Moyer (1-0), LP - Brandon Lyon (0-1)

H - Sampson (1).

       Durbin (2), Baez (1).

BS - Lyon (1).

HR -    Jason Michaels (1), 3^rd, 1 on; Pence (1), 3^rd, 1 on.

            Howard (3), 7^th, 1 on; Victorino (1), 9^th, 1 on.

How can Jamie Moyer pitch five innings of two-hit, shutout ball, interrupted by a third inning meltdown where he coughs up a fou-run lead by handing out a pair of 2-run homers, seven hits and a walk? It's like he took a quick nap where he dreamed about bad pitches, then woke up and resumed dazzling the opposition with well-placed, off speed stuff. Curious.

Never mind. Ryan Howard bailed him out with a 2-run moon shot in the 7^th. Ten RBIs and three homeruns in five games - on pace for 324 RBIs and 97 homeruns..  

                                    .