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Phillies win w/ Halladay domination, sans Rhyno

Written by Mike Mariano | 04 August 2010

Throwing Roy Halladay is a recipe for success, it's a wonder how he ever lost eight games in his career, let alone this year.  The Doc went seven allowing one run on five hits and striking out nine.  The lone run came off a Dan Uggla home run early in the game, but that was the end of the threats.  Chad Durbin finished out the last two innings allowing a few hits, but no runs.

Minus Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and co. the team still found a way to win.  Only Jayson Werth didn't have a hit for the Phillies.  Roy Halladay even had a two-rbi double which doubles his career RBI total to 4!  Ben Francisco and Chuuch supplied the power and 6 runs was all the Phillies would need to cruise to victory.

The Braves lead has been shrunk to two games and the wild card is 3.5.  For those wondering at home, the Mets are 6.5 out of the division, but the Phillies appreciate all help they can offer by beating the Braves.

John Mayberry Jr (Jumanji) hits the majors, Ryan Howard hits the DL

Written by Mike Mariano | 04 August 2010

That ankle does need some healing, From ESPN:

Howard is the 15th Phillies player to go on the disabled list this season. Shane Victorinoand Chase Utley are also sidelined now, leaving the two-time defending NL champions without a big chunk of their offense as they try catch first-place Atlanta in the East.
When asked what kind of challenge the Phillies face in Howard's absence, manager Charlie Manuel said: "It's a big one. ... We've only had our starting lineup six or seven games since the season started. We've got to get well, and we've got to keep going."
The move involving Howard was retroactive to Monday. John Mayberry Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will join the team Wednesday.

You know I love Jumanji (the best John Mayberry Jr. nickname ever) in my life.  Losing Ryan is a tough one and the team is going to have to manufacture runs anyway it can in his absence.

Down Goes Howard, but Phillies gain back another game

Written by Mike Mariano | 02 August 2010

Wins and losses of the day get pushed to the back burner when Ryan Howard twists his ankle in the first inning.  This is the text I received from a friend of mine and manager of the classiest establishment in Philadelphia:

YO! Howard just DESTROYED his ankle heading back to second.  It was ugly, he walked off, though... With help.  I'm guessing high ankle sprain.  3 weeks.

Granted it threw my wonderful beach vacation for a loop (although spending some time out in the sand can really help a guy forget).  Well XRays were negative and we can all breathe, but the ankle of a guy that big is already under enough pressure.  I'm not sure he can afford to take some time off, but he very well may have to.  Howard is far and away the best player on the Phillies right now and has been responsible for most of the offense while guys like Ibanez and Werth find their swings again.

Back to the stuff about the games.  Phillies gained another full game with a win and a Braves loss.  Not just any win, but another extra inning affair.  The Phillies took the lead in the 11th on Polanco and Werth hits, then Brad Lidge made quick work of the bottom half to seal it.  That's not normal, but we'll take it happily.

Jayson Werth's solid play continued with two doubles from the Wolfman and it looks like slowly he's making his way back to some normalcy and back into the hitter he was.  The situation requires monitoring but I have hope.

Decent outing for Hamels, 7 innings, 4 runs, one Adam Dunn bomb.  Not his best, but let's not dwell on that on a day where the Phillies gained a full game in the standings.

Roy Fail-swalt

Written by Mike Mariano | 31 July 2010

Tough debut for the Phillies big acquisition. Started off the game giving up a lead off triple to Nyjer Morgan.  Left after six innings with four earned runs and the eventual loss.  Roy Oswalt leads the league with the worst run support around and last night was no different.  The Phillies lost 8-1 and Roy has plenty of room for improvement to say the least.  A loss is a loss, they happen, no reason to worry.

Bright spots?  Nice to see a Jayson Werth home run and nice to see Domonic Brown knock to more hits.  Werth, DoBro, and Ibanez were the only Phillies with hits (each had two a piece).

So the streak ends at 8 and the Phillies drop a full game in the standings, but there are two most in Washington to go.

2.5 back and 8 in a row

Written by Mike Mariano | 30 July 2010

Who'd have thunk that a Phillies extra inning win would come off the bat of Wilson Valdez in the eleventh.  Not only that, Ryan Howard -- one of the hottest hitters in baseball -- came up with the baseball loaded in the bottom of the tenth and a shot to win the game.  Also Valdez got it done with the glove and the Phillies won 3-2 in extras.  The eighth win in a row brings the Phillies to 2.5 game outs of the division and 1.5 games out of the wild card.  The are cruisin' right now.  Game notables:

  • Cody Ransom had another strong night going 2-3
  • Ryan Howard had another hitless day, 0-3, but that's fine save it for a game when we need it.
  • Don't look now, but Raul Ibanez is starting to find it at the plate.  Added a big home run last night.
  • A nice 6 innings out of Kyle Kendrick and good work at the finish from Lidge and Contreras.  Not so good out of Madson and Romero.
Tonight, the debut of new starter Roy Oswalt.  Also the Nationals took 2 of 3 from the Braves without throwing Strasburg, so law of averages they're going to drop a bunch against us, right?

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