Results tagged ‘ Phillies Journal 2009 ’
RYAN HOWARD, THE BIG PIECE
RYAN HOWARD – THE BIG PIECE
by Max Blue
As we watched the ball soar
and heard the crowd roar,
we knew it was Ryan Howard time,
helping Champs continue their climb,
and show Atlanta Braves the loss door.
Friday, August 28, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 4, Atlanta – 2.
WP – Moyer (12-9), LP – Hanson (9-3).
H- Park (9), Madson (22). S – Lidge (26).
HR – Howard – 2 (37), 2nd, 4th, 1 on.
Charlie Manuel has named him “The Big Piece.” Charlie got that one right . . . with 2 games left in August, Ryan Howard has 11 homeruns and 32 RBIs, approaching the 14 -40 August numbers he posted in his 2006 MVP year.
Good news was all over the place after this night’s game ended. Two rain delays brought Jamie Moyer in to take over from Pedro Martinez who got through two scoreless innings before the rains came. As he did 10 days ago against Arizona in a similar situation, Moyer pitched brilliantly, and was rewarded with his 257th ML victory. The other good news was Brad Lidge’s clean 1,2,3 save punctuated by striking out smoking hot hitter Matt Diaz for the final out.
MADSON BLOWS SAVE, HOWARD STILL BRAVE
MADSON BLOWS SAVE, HOWARD STILL BRAVE
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
Hamels blanked Pirates through eight.
Champs up 1-0 on Utley’s big tate.
But Dog let it slip
on a game-tying rip,
and H-bomb again saved Phils’ fate.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009. PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia – 4, Pittsburgh – 1 (10 innings)
WP – Madson (5-4), LP – S. Jackson (2-3)
BS – Madson (5).
HR – Moss (6), 9th.
Utley (27), 1st; Howard (35), 10th, 2 on.
UTLEY, HAPP CAP METS
UTLEY, HAPP CAP METS
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
Champs down 1-0 after five,
when Chase the Mace unleashed a long drive.
When it came down the Phils were ahead,
and the ailing Mets were near dead
Hot Phillies continue to thrive.
Saturday, August 22, 2009. Citi Field, New York, New York.
Philadelphia – 4, New York Mets – 1.
WP – Happ (10-2), LP – Pat Misch (0-1).
H – Madson (21). S – Lidge (24). BS – Misch (1).
HR – Utley (26), 6th, 1 on.
CHAMPS DISMISS D-BACKS
CHAMPS DISMISS D-BACKS
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
Phillies’ bulldozer beginning to roll,
to second-straight champion goal.
Pitching, fielding, hitting in place
to make a big joke of the race
What’s the feeling in town? How ’bout droll?
Thursday, August 20, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 12, Arizona – 3.
WP – Blanton (8-6), LP – Davis (7-11)
HR – Werth (28), 5th, 1 on; Ruiz (7), 6th; Howard (32), 6th, 2 on.
CLIFF LEE SKINS SNAKES
CLIFF LEE SKINS SNAKES
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
The D-backs had nowhere to hide,
swamped by a Lee-rising tide.
Power from Utley, Howard, and Werth,
caused quakes in the tightly wound baseball Earh.
Be glad, Phillies’ fans – these guys are on our side.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 8, Arizona – 1.
WP – C. Lee (4-0), LP – Haren (12-8).
HR – Utley (25), 3rd, 1 on; Howard (31), 5th, 2 on; Werth -2 (27), 5th, 7th.
Cliff Lee. Chris Wheeler in the booth searched for words to describe what he and a few hundred thousand other Philly baseball fans had just seen. He settled on Steve Carlton. In a full nine innings Lee allowed just three baserunners (four if you count the error by Pedro Feliz that cost him a shut out) – 2 hits, 1 hit batter – nothing more. Eleven strikeouts, no walks. He lowered his National League ERA to 0.82. Ricky Bottalico, in a post-game analysis said that Lee throwing 81 of 108 pitches for strikes was ridiculous. Synonyms for ridiculous – absurd, preposterous, laughable, ludicrous, farcical.
Outside of the Delaware Valley and the spreading Philly fan base, nobody is laughing as a true number one starter begins to take his bows at Citizens Bank Park. Around the league, the word out of Philadelphia is not ridiculous in the true (for much of team history) or ironic (thank you, Ricky Bo) sense of the word. When the Baseball World notes what Cliff Lee has brought to Philadelphia, the word that pops out is: OMINOUS.
MOYER CHARMS SNAKES
MOYER CHARMS SNAKES
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
Pedro Martinez’ night cut short by rain.
Old man Moyer comes in and hands Snakes big pain.
Pedro and Jamie a nice pair,
471 ML wins, who can compare?
Phils’ path to greatness is plain.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 5, Arizona – 1.
WP – Moyer (11-9), Garland (6-11).
HR – Drew (11), 1st.
Werth (25), 5th; Ruiz (6), 6th.
The Baseball Gods (some said Mother Nature) solved Charlie Manuel’s dilemma of what to do with Jamie Moyer. When it became clear that the rain delay would go past 60 minutes, Charlie dialed Moyer’s bullpen number, and told Pedro to take the rest of the night off. Moyer was strong with eight days rest, his fastball reaching 84 mph. His changeup was 10 mph slower and his control was spot on. Result: six shutout innings, two hits, five Ks, no walks, and only 69 pitches. Dilemma solved – Martinez and Moyer share the fifth spot in the rotation and everybody lives happily ever after.
HOWARD, HAPP, WRAP BRAVES
HOWARD, HAPP, WRAP BRAVES
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
Braves’ Vasquez made two big mistakes,
For Ryan Howard all that it takes.
End-to-end a fifth of a mile,
two bombs and a major-league smile,
Jay Happ turned Braves into cakes.
Sunday, August 16, 2009, Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia.
Philadelphia – 4, Atlanta – 1.
WP – Happ (9-2), LP – Vasquez (10-8).
H – Madson (20), Eyre (12). S – Lidge (23).
HR – Diaz (7), 4th.
Howard -2 (30), 2nd, 6th, 2 on.
LIDGE LOSES
LIDGE LOSES
by Max Blue
http://mxblue3.tripod.com
Three outs to go and we win,
then “Lights Out” Brad Lidge comes in.
He was perfect last season,
so what is the reason
this year he dumps team in loss bin?
Saturday, August 15, 2009.Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta – 4, Philadelphia – 3.
WP – Moylan (5-2), LP – Lidge (0-5).
H – Eyre (11), Durbin ( 7), Madson (19). BS – Lidge (8).
HR – McCann (13), 3rd, 1 on.
Werth (24), 7th.
One reason is that Lidge is a lousy fielder. He literally threw the game away in the ninth inning. After fumbling a sacrifice bunt attempt, he frantically picked up the ball and lobbed it into the right field corner, allowing the tying run to score, and the winning run to reach third with nobody out. He was charged with two errors on the play. Charitable scoring by any measure, he should have been charged with eight to match his blown save number. After the game, he addressed questions about the difference between 2009 and 2008. With a straight face he opined that it was a matter of luck – last year every bounce went his way, this year the opposite. He claimed that his stuff is better this year, and that he has not lost confidence. Okay, so that’s it – the baseball gods have withdrawn their support. We have six weeks to figure out what Lidge has done to anger them. Or maybe it’s not anger, just some playful shenanigans by bored gods who have too much time on their hands. Whatever.
UTLEY, HOWARD, COOL
UTLEY, HOWARD, COOL
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
Atlanta Braves making their move,
five-straight wins, in a good groove.
But Utley and Howard showed them how
with long balls that made them say, “Wow.”
Champ Phillies still have something to prove.
Friday, August 14, 2009. Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia.
Philadelphia – 3, Atlanta – 2.
WP – Madson (4-4), LP – Soriano (1-4)
S – Lidge (22)
HR – Utley ( 24), 4th, 1 on; Howard (28), 9th.
CHAMPS SWEEP CUBS BEHIND CLIFF LEE
CHAMPS SWEEP CUBS BEHIND CLIFF LEE
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com
A smooth-as-silk lefty named Lee
once again brought Philly high glee.
He put down the Cubs,
turned their bats into nubs,
in Wrigley, his team won all three.
Thursday, August 13, 2009. Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois.
Philadelphia – 6, Chicago Cubs – 1.
WP – Lee (3-0), LP – Dempster (6-6).
HR – Howard (27), 4th, 2 on; Feliz (9), 4th.
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