Hamels uninjured in first spring start
March 5 2007
One thing that's for sure is almost all Phillies fans are hoping for the Phillies to come out strong in April off of back-to-back 10-14 starts. Count me in. Winning definitely helps you more than losing. If for no other reason, I'm for it just because if I hear one more person say, "You can't win a pennant in April, but you can lose one" I don't know if I can take it.
You can't lose a pennant in April, either. Here's a look at the playoff teams from the last two seasons and how they did in April:
| 2006 | ||
| Team | April | Final Record |
| NYM | 16-8 | 97-65 |
| STL | 17-8 | 83-78 |
| SD | 9-15 | 88-74 |
| LA | 12-13 | 88-74 |
| NYY | 13-10 | 97-65 |
| MIN | 9-15 | 96-66 |
| DET | 16-9 | 95-67 |
| OAK | 12-12 | 93-69 |
| 2005 | ||
| Team | April | Final Record |
| ATL | 14-10 | 90-72 |
| HOU | 9-13 | 89-73 |
| STL | 15-7 | 100-62 |
| SD | 11-13 | 82-80 |
| NYY | 10-14 | 95-67 |
| BOS | 12-11 | 95-67 |
| CHI | 17-7 | 99-63 |
| LAA | 13-11 | 95-67 |
Five of the 16 teams had a record under .500 in April. The Padres have made the post-season in each of the last two years despite going 20-28 in their last two Aprils. They are joined by the '06 Twins and the '05 Astros and Yankees.
This article says Manuel may play Dobbs at second. It also suggests that Ryan Howard thinks he should make $520 million if he hits 250 home runs this season. I don't think it's realistic to think he can hit more than 220.
Derrick Turnbow has not allowed a runner in his two spring training appearances, the second of which came yesterday.
Cole Hamels works out a a lot and says he has an extra vertebra. Between Hamels' extra vertebra and Alfonseca's extra digits the Phillies should be getting close to having enough extra stuff to make another person if that's the direction they want to go.
Tom Gordon is expected to pitch tomorrow for the first time in spring training.
The Phillies lost to the Yankees 10-5 yesterday. They are 2-2 in spring training.
Karim Garcia was 0-for-2. Coste was 1-for-2 with an RBI-double and a well-hit ball to left for an out. Dobbs didn't play. Most likely explanation is he needed to return to the mothership for re-charging.
Victorino had two more hits, he was 2-for-3 with a walk. Helms 2-for-3. Burrell 1-for-1 with a walk and a double. Nunez has been hot early, he was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Werth has been having a tough time in the early going. He was 0-for-4 yesterday and is still looking for his first spring training hit with the Phils. He also made a two-base error in left field.
Wes Helms manned the hot corner. He made a low throw that needed a scoop and Melky Cabrera reached on a bunt single.
Cole Hamels got the start for the Phillies and was fabulous. He allowed two singles in three shutout innings. Anderson Garcia kept New York off the board in the fourth but returned to start the fifth and had huge problems. He faced four batters, all who reached, and was charged with four runs on three hits and a walk. Zack Segovia wasn't much better than Garcia. He was charged with two runs on five hits in two innings. Brian Sanches pitched the seventh and got the first two men he faced. Single, single, walk, single, walk before he got the third out. Jim Ed Warden gave up two runs in his frame. Clay Condrey set the Yanks down on three ground balls in the ninth.
The Phillies play the Reds this afternoon.