No Offense, No Win

Okay, okay, so we scored 5 runs. Big deal. Four of those runs came from the NL MVP Jimmy Rollins.

Yesterday's problem was the top 4... and I give them all the credit in the world for stepping up today.

Rollins was 2 for 5, with a run and 4 RBIs.
Utley got 2 late inning hits, though I would trade both for a more timely one.
And Howard had 2 hits including a homerun, though he did leave 3 men on base.
Finally, Victorino came through in a PH role and produced a run with a single and a SB/E-2. He was eventually knocked in by a Rollins ground out.

So the "superstars" kind of answered the call today. But the offense stopped there.

Nobody Hits, woohoo!

If you combine the totals from the rest of the team you'll see the numbers are pathetic. Excluding the aforementioned Rollins, Utley, Howard and Victorino, the team was 2 for 20. Burrell, Helms, Werth and Iguchi all managed walks, but that was it.

I'm not saying the offense is the only thing to blame for this loss. Our bullpen is exposed, though they've been exposed all year. But I am saying that our offense is not clicking on all cylinders which can lead to a laugher like this one.

The decision to pull Kendrick in the 4th with the bases loaded is easy to criticize because Lohse was beat deep by Matsui who is not a homerun hitter. Had he gotten him out, it would be a different ball game. Now I'm not a genius, but Matsui, being a contact hitter enjoys balls low and probably can't catch up to the high fastballs, otherwise he'd have more homers. So instead of pitching him up, Lohse gives him a low strike to hit. I'm just sayin'...

And then there's Mesa. Enough said... the ball game was over when Mesa came in and starting walking guys and giving up doubles, that's never a good sign.

We've a tough road ahead having to pull off 3 in a row... It's not impossible, but it sure is daunting.

I'll leave you wall with a song. Sung to the tune Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry", hopefully this will bring back some recollection of what we used to have and bring us some good karma from this regular season.

"No, Offense, No Win"

Said - said - said: I remember when we used to score
At Citizen's Bank Park in Philly,
Ob - observing the hot sticks
As they would mesh with the good defense we'd play.
Good games we won, oh, good games we've lost
Along the way.
In this great game, you cant forget your bats;
So dry your tears, I say.

No, offense, no win;
No, offense, no win.
Oh, little Phils fan, don't shed no tears:
No, offense, no win.

PS - I like our chances with Jaime Moyer. It takes a crafty, veteran with off-speed stuff to slow down hot bats. We'll just need to sacrifice a chicken to get our going.

You are the Weakest Link... Goodbye!

It appears as if our reigning National League MVP is our weakest player. Our $900,000 baby is not holding up his end of the bargain. The new face of Major League Baseball is getting a lot of time to watch his friends run around the bases...

To date, Ryan Howard is the weakest of our eight everyday position player starters. His .213 average is nearly 70 points lower than our next worst starter.

Howard has to uncross his bats, to take off the hex... but I'm sure he knows that.

All in all, that's pretty impressive.

Granted, Chase Utley's 5 for 5 game tonight raised his average nearly 50 points, but it is still encouraging to look at our 7 starters without an MVP trophy and smile at their current averages.

Rollins - .295

Victorino - .282

Utley - .296

Burrell - .344

Helms - .290

Rowand - .365

Ruiz - .296

That kind of production is going to score some runs. It doesn't matter if we're hitting singles, doubles or homeruns, this offense is going to score runs.

This offense has finally woken up and is no longer relying on Jimmy Rollins to provide the pop. Burrell is still hitting. Rowand has a 13 game hitting streak. Utley has finally woken up, and Helms, Victorino and Ruiz are doing there jobs very well.

Now if we can just wake up our sleeping giant, Ryan Howard, we'll be in good shape and we'll be tough to beat. At this point though Ryan Howard is the least of our worries. He seems to be hitting a homerun now and then (he hit his 3rd tonight), he's still getting on base via the walk and is still finding ways to drive in runs... he's got 12 to date.

On another note....

Another strong outing by a Phillies starter. Lieber pitched well tonight. 6 innings (that's half a dozen, Jon), 2ER, 5Ks, 0 BBs and a victory.

Tomorrow night is Cole Hamels. This guy is a stud. Hamels is coming off a 15K performance and has pitched solid in every outing. His opponent, Shawn Hill has not let up more than 2 earned runs in any of his 4 previous starts. It should be a great game tomorrow. Two young arms. I'm looking forward to a pitcher's duel.

Skeeter at Driven to Center believes we'll continue our winning ways and end April at 13-12... it is definitely doable.

Game Log: Phillies Win Over Mets, April 11

In Game Thoughts

First inning, uneventful.. Victorino stung the ball but to no avail, he was robbed of a hit.

Top of the 2nd Inning

7:36 - After two walks in a row to Burrell and Helms, somehow Aaron Rowand managed to strike out. Putz.

7:39 - Rod Barajas just drew a walk to load the bases and more importantly turn over the lineup to try and get the top of our order an opportunity to bat with men in scoring position. This makes Rowands walk look even more suspicious.

7:40 - Eaton Strikes out, to end the inning. Phillies Leave 'em loaded. First threat is dead.

I'm disappointed Rowand couldn't put his bat on the ball to move the runners... how about a bunt in that situation, to put men at 2nd and 3rd? Does Elmer understand how to use the bunt?

Bottom of the 2nd
Momentum is going our way. After loading the bases, a quick inning by Eaton is a good sign for the momentum of this game. 1-2-3 inning. Without scoring any runs, we won that inning.

Top of the 3rd
7:50 - Victorino grounds out to short. Victorino has hit the ball hard twice... good sign that he's progressing. He'll get a hit today.

This pitch progression thing with MLB Gameday is pretty cool. You can go to past at bats and watch the pitch progression.

7:54 - Perez's 4th walk in two innings. 26 balls, 26 strikes after 52 pitches. Another scoring opportunity with a runner in scoring position and our best hitter, Burrell is up. (please don't strike out with that long, slow swing...)

7:56 - Burrell works the count to the 3-0. Takes a strike on the outer half of the plate. Burrell is a Met killer, remember all those homeruns he used to hit against this team... let's repeat history Pat?

7:58 - The 3-2 pitch to Burrell... High. Ball 4. Bases loaded again... Momentum is definitely wearing a grey and red jersey.

7:59 - Ball one to Helms. He should take 2. He does. Two balls, no strikes. Low, ball 3. Take all the way. Let's draw first blood... The 3-0 pitch... is low, ball 4.

The Phils take a 1-0 lead. Great discipline by Helms and Burrell not to swing at ball out of the zone.

8:00 - After walking 3 in a row... what is Aaron Rowand doing swinging at the first pitch... somebody tell this guy how to bat... and now he's down in the count 2-2 because he swung at another pitch out of the zone... Does he watch the game?

8:03 - Rowand walks and brings in another run. 2-0 Phillies. Lucky, what a stupid at bat. To follow his other stupid at bat.

Aaron Sele is warming up for the Mets.

8:05 - Rod Barajas is hit by a pitch to bring in another run. Pitching change. How often do you see a pitching change right before the pitcher's spot in the batting order.

3-0 Phillies. Eaton has some breathing room.

Bottom 3 - Eaton walks a guy but puts down the Mets easily. Phils lead 3-0, after 3.

Top 4
8:23 -- Victorino is robbed again... he can't buy a hit today. He's hit the ball hard 3 times with nothing to show for it.

Bottom 4
Beltran leads off with a double. Let's see how Eaton battles through adversity here with Delgado, Wright and Alou due to bat.

After a good battle, with a few 3-2 foul balls, Eaton loses Delgado. The Mets have men at 1st and 2nd. Now's a good time for a double play. Eaton gets ahead 0-2. Don't get beat here... (see Brett Myers, 8th inning game one...) Damn! Eaton hits Wright to load the bases...

Nice... Alou hits into a 4-6-3 double play... Beltran score on the play but now we've got 2 down and the damage will be minimized. Green flies out to left to retire the side.

That double play is bigger than most think... to get out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam with allowing only 1 run is a good thing.

After five, the Phillies hold a 3-1 advantage.

Top 5
8:39 - Two balls no strikes to Howard, a hitter's pitch.. good time to look fastball... Howard gets a fastball but flies out to center.

8:41 - Infield single for Helms. Good to stay away from the 1-2-3 innings.
8:42 - Rowand gets an infield hit too....
8:43 - Barajas flies out, ending the threat.

I'm satisfied with that inning because it brings the top of our order up again. Even though we didn't capitalize on the back to back hits, and Eaton is leading off, we'll get to our big guns sooner.

Bottom 5
8-9-1 due up for the Mets. Should be an easy inning.

8:47 - 8:51 - Infield hit for Valentin. Sele bunts him over to second, and Reyes singles to bring in the run. Mets cut the lead to 1.

1 out, man on first, not a good time to lose the lead. Reyes is a burner and might be looking to run. Phillies are keeping Reyes close with snap throws from Barajas and Eaton. Good baseball.

Phillies pitch out and nail Reyes at 2nd. Great call. Good execution. Elmer Fudd did something right. Good job. I wonder if Elmer called that one?

8:54 - LoDuca flies out to center and the threat is stopped.

After 5, the Phillies hold on to a 3-2 lead.

Top 6
8:59 - Triple by Rollins. Larry Anderson is so unexciting on the radio... I saw the triple on the Game Day feature before the delayed audio, and I expected to hear some exciting commentary, but it wasn't... it was uneventful slop. He sure doesn't give me goosebumps.

9:00 - SAC Fly by Victorino. Phils take a 4-2 lead. Just desserts for Victorino getting an RBI there after hitting the ball hard 3 times.

Bottom 6
Eaton enters this inning with 79 pitches. If he can get a quick inning, no reason he doesn't pitch the 7th too. (47 strikes, 34 balls)

Eaton strikes out Beltran. And gets Delgado on a lazy fly. Two quick outs. If anything, this start is very encouraging as to what we can expect from Adam Eaton. He's not overpowering but he seems to be smart and makes good pitches.

A big, 13 pitch 1-2-3 inning for Adam Eaton. He's got 92 pitches, there
s a slight chance we'll see him start the 7th. If Eaton doesn't bat this inning, I'm betting we'll see him go one more.

Top 7
Sele's done a pretty good job of keeping the Phils in check. Let's see how he does with our 4-5-6 hitters.

David Wright is playing a good 3rd base. Though I can't see it down here in Atlanta, I can hear it, and this is at least the 3rd time he's gone to his right, backhanded a ball and made a play. He just robbed Burrell of a hit... though Howard, who walked, did advance to second. Burrell's 7 game hitting streak might be in jeopardy.

9:18 - Madson is warming up.

Aaron Rowand has justified his two stupid at bats with a big 2 out double to score Howard. With first base open, the Mets intentionally walk Barajas to get to the pitcher's spot. Manuel decides to stick with Eaton and allow him to bat with a 5-2 lead. Interesting choice. Considering all the trouble the Phillies have had with their bullpen this is a good decision. Eaton subsequently pops out to end the inning.

Bottom 7
This is where Adam Eaton, with 92 pitches, needs to bear down and keep that bullpen off the field as long as possible. He needs to finish this inning. Madson is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. Gordon has a 9.00 ERA also...

Eaton gets Shawn green to fly out for the second out on his 99th pitch. Eaton then proceeds to walk Valentin on 4 pitches. But he comes back to get pinch hitter Newhan.

That should do it for Eaton.
7 IP, 2 ER, 5 Ks, 3 BBs

A solid outing by Eaton. He's put us in a position to win the game. My fingers are crossed that our bullpen can hold 'em in check.

Top 8
9:32 - Alfonseco is now loosening up in the bullpen. Alfonseco has a 2.70 ERA... whew!

Rollins finally gets to Wright. E-5, Rollins on at first. It would be great to manufacture a run here. I'd expect a bunt from Victorino. He squared on the first pitch.. but not on the second. Maybe he was bunting on his own... How about a hit and run... Victorino's been hitting the ball solidly... and it can't hurt to be agressive. I wonder if Elmer is even thinking right now. Does he know what a hit and run is?

9:36 - Wow... A hit and run. Rollins was running and Victorino fouled it back. Elmer is thinking!!
9:39 - A balk by Feliciano has put Rollins in scoring position. Let's take advantage of this gentlemen!

9:42 - Utley is hit by a Phantom pitch... Utley had a check swing and got back in the box... the home plate umpire awarded Utley first base saying he got hit. Clearly, Utley thought he fouled it because he got back in the box...

Two men on for Ryan Howard, who has homered in 5 straight games vs. the Mets. Nope. Strike out. The slump continues. The Phils are 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position tonight.

Bourn, a defensive replacement for Burrell is having a pretty good at bat. He was agressive early in the count, fouled off a pitch. And then took 3 balls to fight back to 3-2. He's fouled off 2 straight 3-2 pitches. He's putting himself in a good position to succeed. Another fould ball. Outside ball 4... an 11 pitch walk. Great job by Bourn. That at bat impressed me. Good discipline and good protection. He loaded the bases and the Mets go to the pen to bring in pitcher #5.

The Mets bring in RHP Joe Smith. Manuel decides to stay with Helms and the righty vs. righty matchup. He has the lefthanded bat of Dobbs on the bench, who also happens to play 3rd base. If he's not confident with Dobbs' glove, we've still got Nunez. Plus we'd still have Werth and Carlos Ruiz to pat for the pitchers later. Let's use our resources Elmer. Helms pops out.

The Phils go to the bottom of the 8th leading 5-2.

Bottom 8
6 Fingered Alfonseca is on the mound. He makes a statement with a 9 pitch, 1-2-3 inning.

Top 9
Rowand walks to lead off the 9th. The Phillies have walked 11 times tonight and two batters have been hit by pitches. That is 13 extra baserunners. It goes without saying that the Phils have left 13 men on base.

The Phils lead the league with 51 walks thus far. We just can't seem to bring them home.

10:07 - The Phils go down quietly in the 9th, leaving Rowand stranded and increasing men left on base to 14.

Bottom 9
Flash Gordon, is on in relief in the 9th. Gordon is looking for the save. I'm of the school that always believes the first batter is the most important in these situations. Get him out and you've got 'em.

Gordon K's Delgado for out #1. That should do it. The Mets' fans our heading to the exits.

10:14 - Mets have some life. David Wright singles to center. "Hey Sal, c'mon back, Wright just got on." Some of the Metropolitan faithful are once again interested and borrow some seats closer to the exits. But not for long...

Gordon strikes out Alous and the Mets fans once again file out of Schea.

10:16 - Shawn Green grounds to Howard for the final out.

The Phils snap a 3 game losing streak and get a much needed win. A strong outing by Eaton will be the big story. And the Phils will be criticized for leaving 14 guys on base. Also, I'd like to highlight the two stupid at bats by Aaron Rowand. And kudos to the bullpen for doing their job... no wait.. that's what you're supposed to do...nevermind.

Phils win 5-2, with 5 hits and no errors. Player of the Game Adam Eaton.