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PHILLIES JOURNAL 2010
PHILLIES JOURNAL 2010
by Max Blue
OPENING DAY, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010. It’s a bright sunny and warm day in the Nations’ Capitol,
and the honorable Barack Obama, sports fan, and incidentally, President of the United States, toes the rubber with his left foot and rocks into a herky-jerkey motion. The pres wears a red satin Washington Nationals jacket and on his head, a wrinkled Chicago White Sox cap to show the crowd where his baseball allegiance rests. The good natured crowd handed him the first Bronx cheer of the day when he whipped out the cap on his way to the mound. The TV announcers note that Obama’s pitch marks the 100th anniversary of the day in 1910 when William Howard Taft became the first U.S. President to throw out the first pitch of the baseball season (never mind that made-for-TV Yankees-Red Sox game last night).
The pitch is high and away, nowhere near the strike zone, a fitting reminder of where the 2010 Washington Nationals are likely to end the season. The star-spangled Phillies’ lineup takes a couple of innings to get the kinks out, then goes to work on John Lannan, the hapless Nats’ lefty to the tune of a five-run fourth inning keyed by Ryan Howard’s two-run blast over the right field bullpen. Placido Polanco ices the cake with the first Grand Slam of the season in the 7th inning. Meanwhile, Doc Halladay fans nine Nats in seven innings on the way to an 11-1 win. Phillies’ fans are pleased by the near-perfect outcome, but nervous at the thought that the successful 2006, 07, 08, and 09 seasons all began with an opening day loss. Whatever. We will do what we have to do.
DOC HALLADAY’S FIRST DAY
Welcome to Philly, new friend,
let’s hope that this win starts a trend
to a big winning season
we’ll all find most pleasin’
with a World’s Series crown at the end.
Monday, April 5, 2010. Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia – 11, Washington – 1.
WP – Halladay (1-0), LP – Lannan (0-1)
HR – Howard (1), 4th, 1 on; Polanco (1), GRAND SLAM, 7th.
.
Brown in Town
To Philly town came Domonic Brown, an outfield job to find. The kid had all five tools, and longballs on his mind. But mostly what he sought was a Champion’s cap for his crown. The 22-year-old lefty didn’t hurt his cause on this sun-splashed west-Florida day. In the second-inning, with Detroit-ace Justin Verlander buzzing his heat, the kid turned on an inside pitch and launched it over the rightfield seats for a 1-0 Phillies lead. Two innings later, hitting against lefty Steve Coke, the phenom was at it again with a two-run blast to center, and then in the fifth he bounced a bases-loaded infield hit to complete his three for three, four RBI day. After the game, Domonic Brown packed his bags and headed for the Phillies’ minor league camp. Say what? If the Phillies were a bad team and destined for a somnolent summer, Dom Brown would no doubt still be polishing his major league credentials, but when you are three-straight NL East Division Champions, and have all-stars at all three outfield positions, Brown has to go down to the farm and wait his turn. He will do that, and so will Phillies’ fans – thank you, Ruben, Junior, for not trading what might be the next Phillies superstar. The folks in Reading are smiling. More good news: Cole Hamels pitched five innings, yielding one unearned run, and Ryan Howard hit his first Spring Training homerun. Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Brighthouse Field, Clearwater, Florida. Philadelphia – 6, Detroit – 1. WP – Hamels (1-0), LP – Verlander (1-2). HR – Brown -2 (2), 2nd; 4th, 1 on. Howard (1), 4th.
Game One – Cliff and Chase Set the Pace
GAME ONE – CLIFF AND CHASE SET THE PACE
by Max Blue
For those who had doubts,
Note C-Lee’s arm and C-Ut’s clouts.
The mystique of Yankee Stadium,
Lost in Phil’s radioactive radium,
And just enough,”Let’s go Phillies!” shouts
Sabathia and Lee duked it out,
The difference: Utley hit two out.
Lee in command all the way,
A ten K, no walks day.
Any doubt what this game’s all about?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009. Yankee Stadium, the Bronz, New York.
Philadelphia – 6, New York Yankees – 1.
WP – Cliff Lee (3-0), LP – CC Sabathia (3-1).
HR – Utley – 2 (31), 3rd, 6th.
Cliff Lee, the Phillies’ gold-plated, ice-water veined, lefthander dismissed a Yankee team that led the majors in wins, homers, and runs, with cool disdain, fanning 10, including the ballyhooed Alex Rodriguez, the fearsome A-Rod, three times. Lee was machine-like in command of at least four pitches – 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, spiked curve ball, cutter, and changeup. Did I say four? The Yankees’ run came in the 9th inning on an error by Jimmy Rollins that Lee shrugged off with K’s of A-Rod and Posada to end it.
CC Sabathia, the mountainous Yankee lefty, was almost as good but for two fastballs that Chase Utley hit into the rightfield bleachers.
Next up: Game two. Pedro Martinez for Philadelphia, A.J. Burnett for New York. In a pre-first- game press conference, Pedro announced to the New York writers, and the world, that he, Pedro Martinez, might be the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium. Any questions?
NLCS GAME ONE – PHILLIES
NLCS GAME ONE – PHILLIES
by Max Blue
Up 1-0 in the fifth, LA’s Kershaw faltered.
His high and tight fastball was altered,
When Champ’s Carlos Ruiz
launched a three-run deep breeze,
And the Dodger’s momentum was haltered.
In the eighth, another Champ’s two-on home run,
And the Dodgers’potato was done.
Raoool Ibañez the guy
Who darkened LA sky,
And Brad Lidge sealed the Champions’ fun.
Thursday, October 15, 2009. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California.
Philadelphia – 8, Los Angeles Dodgers – 6.
WP – Hamels (1-1) [11-12], LP – Clayton Kershaw (0-1)
H – Durbin (1), Happ (1), Park (1)
S – Lidge (3) [34].
HR – Loney (1) [11], 2nd; M. Ramirez (1) [16], 5th, 1 on.
Ruiz (1) [10], 5th, 2 on; Ibañez (1) [35], 8th, 2 on.
GAME FOUR – CHAMPS ADVANCE TO LCS
GAME FOUR – CHAMPS ADVANCE TO LCS
by Max Blue
Colorado did not go down easy,
Their three-run 8th made us queasy.
But Phils saved the best for the last,
Keyed by R-How’s clutch two base blast.
On to LA, land of Dopey and Sneezy.
Monday, October 12, 2009. Coors Field,Denver, Colorado.
Philadelphia – 5, Colorado – 4.
WP – Madson (1-0) [5-5]. LP – Street (0-2) [4-1].
H – Eyre (2) [13].
BS – Street (1) [2].
S- Lidge (2) [31]
HR – Victorino (1) [10], 1st.; Werth (2) [36], 6th.
It was a warm and snuggly night in Denver, a cool 47 degrees at game time. Cliff Lee took the mound in the first inning with a one-run lead thanks to Shane Victorino’s first inning homerun off Rockies’ ace, Ubaldo Jiminez. Program note: two years ago, here at Coors Field in the 7th inning of the Game 3 LDS, Victorino homered off Jiminez to tie the game at 1-1 though the Phillies lost it 3-1. Lee pitched into the 8th with a 2-1 lead then turned it over to Mad Dog Madson following a bizarre acrobatic leap by Dexter Fowler over Chase Utley fielding Todd Helton’s weak grounder in the basepath. . Utley’s flip to Rollins was dropped leaving two on and cleanup hitter Troy Tulowitzki due to hit. Madson retired Tulow but yielded a game-tying single to pinch-hitter Jason Giambi and a two-run double to catcher Yorvit Torrealba who nearly dislocated his jaw screaming his pleasure. Not so fast, Yorvit, these are the World’s Champions, and they showed it by posting a three-spot of their own in the 9th. With two out and two on, Charlie Manuel’s “Big Piece”, R-How, himself, nailed a Huston Street pitch for a breathtaking shot off the base of the rightfield wall to score Victorino and Utley. Jason Werth followed with a well-placed dunk to rightcenter plating Howard with the game and series-ending hit, when Brad Lidge fanned Tulowitzki with two on to end it.
Bring on the LA Dodgers.
GAME THREE – LIDGE TURNS OUT COLD, LATE LIGHTS
GAME THREE – LIDGE TURNS OUT COLD, LATE LIGHTS
by Max Blue
The spotlight came on and Brad Lidge jogged in,
His job, as before, to save a Phils’ win.
In mile-high Denver it was just below freezing,
Could B-Lid overcome his 11 blown-save teasing?
With two on he turned out the lights with a pop fly and grin.
Sunday, October 11, 2009. Coors Field, Denver, Colorado.
Philadelphia – 6, Colorado – 5.
WP – Durbin (1-0) [5-5], LP – Street (0-1) [4-1].
H – Eyre (1) [13].
BS – Madson (0-1) [6].
S – Lidge (1-0) [31]
HR – Carlos Gonzalez (1) [13], 4th.
Utley (1), [31], 1st.
The good news was there was no wind, so the 30 degree temperature did not feel like 15 or below. The bad news was the cold caused pitchers to struggle with command of their fastballs, and curve balls were out of the question. Hitters did their part by swinging at pitches out, even way out, of the strike zone. In the fourth, after Rockies’ right hander Jason Hammel walked Ibañez with the bases loaded and nobody out to tie the game at three, Feliz lunged at a slider way outside and low, tapping it to Hammel who started a 1-2-3 double play. Yikes! Chooch Ruiz then rapped a ground single to left to give the Champs a 4-3 lead. Two innings later, Ruiz singled on the ground to center for a 5-4 lead. But again the Rockies forged a tie, keyed by a leadoff double from the suddenly unstoppable Carlos Gonzalez..
Chad Durbin pitched a crucial 8th inning for the Phillies, retiring the Rockies with three ground ball outs on ten pitches to preserve the 5-5 tie. The Champs broke through for a run in the 9th off Rox closer Huston Street, aided by two Umpires’ wrong calls on the same play. With Rollins on second base after a leadoff single and a Victorino sacrifice bunt, Utley fouled a low and in slider off his leg, but took off for first when the ball rolled into fair territory. Video replays showed that it was a foul ball and that catcher Torrealba’s throw to first was speared by first baseman Helton with his toe on the base a fraction before Utley’s foot hit the bag. Utley was called safe at first with Rollins taking third. Ryan Howard then delivered a mammoth sacrifice fly near the 400 foot mark in left centerfield for a 6-5 lead.
And then came Lidge. It was nearing 2 a.m..in Philadelphia when B-Lid toed the ice-cold Denver rubber with the game, and assuredly, the 2009 season on the line. With one out, Lidge walked the smoking hot Gonzalez who quickly stole second as Lidge faced the dangerous Jason Giambi, pinch hitting for Dexter Fowler, never mind the rookie already had two hits. When Lidge retired Giambi on a late-swing pop to third, it was not clear whether the result was caused by a slow Giambi bat or a late moving Lidge fast ball. The next challenge was the veteran professional hitter, Todd Helton. Lidge would not let this guy beat him. He pitched to him, but carefully, Helton not eager to swing at pitches close to the strike zone. Why not, Helton? That’s the tying run out there on second base. What are you waiting for? Goes through the mind of more than one Rockies’ fan, to say nothing of legions of baseball experts around the country who stayed up late to catch this drama. Whatever. Helton takes first in his mincing trot way, looking to Troy Tulowitzki to bring home the bacon. He can’t do it. The dreaded fly ball to left and at 2:14 a.m.in the East it’s over. Champs win 6-5 to lead the series 2-1. Lidge celebrates mildly, and looks for Cliff Lee to end it starting about 16 hours later here in Denver where it’s hoped it will be in the balmy 40-degree range.
Let it be mentioned that Frank Fitzpatrick, writing in the Philadelphia Inquirer, noting that Lee shaved off his goatee following his first game shut down of the Rockies, had this to say:
The baseball universe is more superstitious than a Haitian grandmother. Why in the world would Lee tempt the fates by altering his appearance for game 5(sic)?
The baseball gods are fickle deities.
GAME TWO – ROCKIES COME THROUGH
GAME TWO – ROCKIES COME THROUGH
Rockies’ Cook throwing sinkers,
Bounced off Champs’ bats like cold clinkers.
Cole Hamels could not find his groove,
It’s like he had nothing to prove,
For the team it was one of those stinkers.
Thursday, October 8, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Colorado – 5, Philadelphia – 4.
WP – Cook (1-0) [11-7], LP – Hamels (0-1)[10-11]
H – Contreras, Belisle, Betancourt, Morales.
S – Street
HR – Torrealba (1) [2], 4th, 1 on.
Werth (1) [36], 8th.
The game turned on two bang-bang plays that the Phillies failed to execute. In the first, Hamels picked Carlos Gomez off first, but when Howard double-clutched getting his throw off to Rollins, Gomez was credited with a stolen base. He was bunted to third, and scored on Todd Helton’s off-the-end-of-the-bat tap down the first base line. Yuk.
Trailing 4-0, the Phillies rallied for three runs in the sixth inning on RBIs from Howard and Ibañez, but the Rockies scored what proved to be the game-winner in the seventh. Joe Blanton, relieving for the first time, gave up a leadoff double, and threw late to third by a fraction on a bunt. J-Happ relieved and was felled by a line-drive off his shin that loaded the bases. The run scored on a sacrifice fly.
After Jason Werth cut the lead to 5-4 with an 8th inning homer, Shane Victorino lined out to second to end the game with the tying run on second and the winning run on first.
Game three is scheduled to be played in Denver on Saturday where the weather forecast is for a high temperature of 34 degrees and a 30 percent chance of freezing drizzle and snow. Oh boy.
PAUL HOOVER WALKS OFF
PAUL HOOVER WALKS OFF
by Max Blue
Phils win with Triple-A team,
Big guys are tired it would seem.
Still, the game was much fun,
And somehow we won,
Hoover’s walk off hit was a dream.
Sunday, October 4, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 7, Florida – 6 (10 innings).
WP – Chad Durbin (2-2), LP – Dan Meyer (3-2)
H – Badenhop (2). BS – Calero (5).
HR – Cairo (1), 4th.
MORE OF THAT RELAXING
MORE OF THAT RELAXING
by Max Blue
Champs gearing up for post season,
Still, to lose to the Fish is not pleasin’.
R. How and J. Werth went long,
But C. Ham a three inning wrong song.
The good news: B. Lid a clean inning teasin’.
Saturday, October 3, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Florida – 4, Philadelphia – 3.
WP – A. Sanchez (4-8), LP – Hamels (10-11).
H – Meyer (20), Sanches (10).
S – Nuñez (26).
HR – Howard (45), 2nd; Werth (36), 8th, 1 on.
The Division Championship Series are in place after St. Louis lost and LA beat Colorado. Phillies play a five-game series against Colorado beginning Wednesday, October 7 at Citizens Bank Park. C-Man has not announced who will start Game 1. The choices seem to be either Cliff Lee, or Cole Hamels. Neither has pitched that well in recent starts.
The main worries are these:
1. No Champs’ pitcher has sparkled in the last week or so.
2. Was today’s Brad Lidge’s 1-2-3 ninth indeed a tease? Mad Dog gave up an 8th inning run that proved a game-winner.
3. Chase Utley looks completely lost – his batting average has slipped to around .280 with feeble, and last second cuts at pitches he famously used to drill to vacant spots in the gaps, down the lines, and over the walls. He almost certainly is once again playing with a sore hip as he did a year ago. We can only hope he has the fortitude to rise above the pain in the playoffs as he did last year.
The good news is that Ryan Howard has been seeing the ball well and is launching it to far places against all kinds of pitching. His batting average has nudged toward .280, closing in on Chase Utley. He seems poised for a titanic post-season run. The Champs will go as far as R-How carries them. So says the fearless Max.
CHAMPS RELAX
CHAMPS RELAX
by Max Blue
Phils shift to relax mode,
Once here at the top of the road.
R-How three hits, one deep,
Just so you know, foes, our man’s not asleep.
In post-season he may just explode.
Friday, October 2, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Florida – 7, Philadelphia – 2.
WP – VandenHurk (3-2), LP – Blanton (12-8).
H – Sanches (9).
HR – Howard (44), 1st, 1 on.
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