Cory quiets kerfuffle as pen quiets Cards
August 2 2006
The Cory Lidle thing
looks like it's over after Lidle backed off of his recent comments about the
team. If he says the
quotes we all read didn't reflect his thinking I am happy to believe him.
The most frustrating part about the whole situation is the notion that the
problems the Phillies have are in their clubhouse or in their minds, that
they don't know how to win or don't want to win. The problem the Phillies
have are at third base and at catcher, but most of all in their pitching
staff. After 105 games they've given 64 starts to guys who start the day
with an ERA over five for the year.
With that latest round of absurdity hopefully behind us, here's what I think
happens next: I think Chase Utley emerges as the leader of the Phillies, on
and off the field, and I think it happens fast. Try to read something about
the Phillies that doesn't include a quote from Chase Utley. He's gathering
a lot of momentum here, let's see if it continues after the hitting streak. I think it may. It's been a long time since Phillies fans knew who the
leader of their team was. Part of the reason I think it's going to happen
is that the Phillies want it to badly, and there's a lot of money to be made
for them when it does.
And if you believe that's going to happen soon, the Phillies have a short
window of opportunity to build around the cheap new nucleus that's led by Utley
and Howard. Phillies beat writer for the Inquirer Todd Zolecki wrote
the most encouraging thing I've read about the Phillies in a while in his
Q&A Forum on Monday, 7/31. He basically said that he doesn't believe at all
that Gillick thinks the Phillies can't compete in 2007. That came as a huge
surprise to me, mostly cause I don't think the Phillies can compete in
2007. If they can, I don't see how yet. They tore down the team this year
because it wasn't good enough, and they have a long way to go now to get the
team back to where it was at the beginning of the season.
The Phillies beat the Cardinals last night 5-3. The win improves them to
50-55 on the year. They are in second place in the NL East, 13 games behind
the Mets. The Phils are 4 1/2 back in the Wild Card hunt, but trail five
teams.
The Mets seem to be a sure thing for the playoffs at this point, but I would
be worried about their pitching if I were a Mets fan. Their pen has to be
tired, they've thrown more innings than any other team in the National
League. In all of baseball, only the Royals have asked their pen to throw
more innings, and they might not even make the playoffs. From the Mets
perspective I think you have to hope that they can get some stability in
their rotation and give their pen a break before the playoffs arrive. Of
course, if the Mets continue to face no challenge in the NL East they can
rest the key members of their pen for the playoffs if they choose to anyway,
even if it costs them a game or two.
Scott Mathieson got the start for the Phillies in last night's game. He
went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks. He got
the win, which was the first of his career. He did not allow an extra-base
hit.
Through the first three innings, Mathieson did not allow a hit but gave up
three walks. He got a big double-play off the bat of Belliard with one out
in the second after he had walked Molina and Suppan back-to-back.
The Phillies led 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. Pujols led off
the frame with a single and Rolen followed with a walk. Jim Edmonds
followed and singled on a flare into center, which scored Pujols from
second. Something odd happened on the play and I don't know what caused it
-- Mathieson flipped out a little, and, in career start number four, was
obviously displeased and started screaming on the field. It wasn't clear to
me if he was mad at his fielders, I doubt it cause the ball didn't look
catchable, or himself. Anyway, Utley came in and seemed to calm him down.
Encarnacion followed, with nobody out and runners on first and second, and
grounded to short with the Phils getting only Edmonds at second. With one
out and runners on first and third, Belliard bunted to third, scoring Rolen
and advancing Encarnacion to third. Nunez made a nice play to get Belliard
at first, but the Cardinals had cut the Phillies lead to 3-2 and had a
runner on second with two outs. Molina followed and walked again, putting
runners on first and second. Pitcher Jeff Suppan was up next and singled,
scoring Encarnacion from second to tie the game at 3-3 before Eckstein flew
out to end the inning.
The Phillies went ahead 4-3 in the top of the fifth and Mathieson got the
Cards 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
Manuel pinch hit for Mathieson in the top of the sixth with a 5-3 lead,
taking him out of the game having thrown 91 pitches. With all the young
guys in the Phillies rotation, managing the pitch counts will be critical
down the stretch and I think Manuel has done a nice job with a few
exceptions. Hamels has had two outings I thought went too long, and Brett
Myers has been pounded on -- he's not young but he still won't be 26 till
August.
Geoff Geary threw a 1-2-3 sixth and returned to throw a 1-2-3 seventh. He's
allowed one hit in his last four innings. Not to be a
the-glass-is-half-empty kinda guy, but lefites are hitting .354 against him
if you're wondering who might be the closer in a post-Gordon era
sure to come.
Arthur Rhodes pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with the Phillies still up 5-3.
Tom Gordon notched save number 26 in the ninth, setting the Cards down 1-2-3
while striking out two. He's allowed one hit over three innings in his last
three appearances. I'm a little surprised he's still a Philly at this
point, but he has been very good.
The Phillies pen went four perfect innings and Phillies pitchers allowed
just three hits on the day.
The Phillies lineup against righty Jeff Suppan went (1) Rollins (2) Dellucci
(3) Utley (4) Howard (5) Burrell (6) Rowand (7) Nunez (8) Coste. Over his
last four starts Coste has gone 6-for-15 with a double and two home runs.
He's started a game for four straight days, with Lieberthal catching one in
the weekend's double-header. He'll no doubt get a break soon but has hit in
five straight games and seven of his last eight. He hit 372/426/651 in 43
July at-bats. If they ever let him hit in front of Abraham Nunez they'll
have to make a movie about the guy.
On Monday the Phillies made a roster move from bizarro world, sending
Michael Bourn back to Triple-A and calling back up his brother in fifth
outfielderdom, Chris Roberson. Bourn did make his debut while he was up,
going 0-for-1.
The Phillies got two hits in the first but came away empty when Ryan Howard
grounded into an inning-ending double-play with one out and runners on first
and third. Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 33 in the first with
a piddler up the middle that oozed past second baseman Ronnie Belliard.
They got a leadoff double from Burrell in the second but left him stranded
when Rowand and Nunez both struck out, Coste walked and Mathieson grounded
out to end the inning.
In the third the Phillies loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles
and an error by Albert Pujols. Howard followed with a two-run single and
the Phillies led 2-0. Burrell followed and hit the ball hard but right at
Rolen for the first out the inning and the Cards walked Rowand to load the
bases for Nunez. Nunez grounded to shortstop, bringing in a run to put the
Phillies up 3-0, before Coste grounded out to end the inning.
The Phillies managed just a walk in the fourth and the game was tied at 3-3
in the top of the fifth. Howard led off with a solo home run, putting the
Phils up 4-3.
In the sixth, the Phillies got a leadoff home run from Coste, extending
their lead to 5-3. Later in the inning the Philles put runners on first
and third with nobody out and David Dellucci due to hit against a lefty,
Randy Flores. Manuel called on switch-hitter Shane Victorino, who struck
out. On the year, Dellucci has four at-bats against lefties. Over his
career Dellucci has been terrible against lefties, 205/267/293. In 2005,
however, he was 242/342/364. You don't really want your right-fielder
slugging .364 against much of anyone but it's still an improvement over his
career numbers. A left/right platoon in right field with Victorino and
Dellucci makes sense to me. Last night Manuel took a chance early cause
he was uncomfortable giving Dellucci an at-bat against a left-handed
pitcher. I would guess he won't continue to play it that way regularly, I
think it's tough to pinch-hit for your starting right fielder in the sixth
inning. Victorino's strikeout left it first and third with one out and
Ultey followed with a strikeout. Howard walked to load the bases and the
Cards brought in righty Jorge Sosa, who got Burrell to line to left and end
the inning.
The Phils went 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth. In the top of the ninth
they got a leadoff single from Utley but the next three batters went in
order.
Rollins was 3-for-5 on the night and has his average up to .265. He stole
his 24th base during the game and has been caught just four times. Over the
last two season he's stolen 64 and been caught 10 times.
Dellucci was 1-for-2 with a walk and Victorino 0-for-2. Dellucci has played
in seven straight games, going 7-for-25 with three extra-base hits.
Victorino is 6-for-his-last-53 (.113).
Utley extended his hitting streak to 33 by going 2-for-5 with two singles.
Howard was 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and three RBI. He has four home
runs in his last 17 at-bats.
Burrell was 1-for-5 with a strikeout. He hit the ball hard for an out
twice, both on nice plays from Rolen.
Rowand was 0-for-4 with a walk. After hitting .223 in June and .224 in
July, he's at 257/320/428 on the year. The .257 average is worse than any
other year of his career.
Nunez was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and an RBI. Over the last seven days
Nunez has gone 5-for-25 with five singles and eight strikeouts.
I'm having a lot of fun watching Chris Coste. He was 1-for-3 with a home
run and a walk.
Brett Myers faces Jeff Weaver tonight.