Phillies-Yankees Game II: Jayson Werth To Replace Hugh Hefner
May 23, 2009 by Flattish Poe
Filed under Fan News
Lidge has greasy fingers. And when “grease is the word,” Madson’s the cure.
Mark my words.
But let’s look on the bright side. JA Happ-y dominated, while namesake, John Mayberry, Jr., made his major league debut and showed up the lineup as a designated hitter. He went 2-for-3 and tidied up the bases with a three-run homer.
And Raul Ibanez continued his trek to set the record as the coolest dude ever.
That said, I have to come clean. Today, I realized I’m Phillies obsessed.
I turned on WMGK radio and heard, “We’ll be right back with the Philly 500.” Instantly, I thought this had something to do with the Phil’s winning percentage this season. Then I found out it was a song countdown.
Then as I reminisced about the Fightin’s hot bats in the Yank’s series opener, I was reminded I need to buy another stick of Secret Solid for those steamy Sundays in section 145.
And as I was spraying my Lysol shower mist about, I recalled the article in the paper that quoted Charlie Manuel saying, “Jimmy (Rollins) has some slick to him.”
Slick? I’d like to see him slick, especially in that “Phillie of the Week” calendar. I’d even volunteer to spray on the oil.
And now that you’ve brought it up, I have some ideas for a centerfold. But we can’t shoot it until after I get my Jayson Werth blanket on July 24. That’s when I’ll have to slather on the Secret solid, because no matter the weather, I’ll be wrapped in Werth.
It’s pathetic.
But it’s the curse of a fan.
I’m so obsessed, everyone is suffering. My output as a mom has declined, and my husband says I don’t put out.
That always brings up that age old debate: how much sex should a wood chuck get? (If you have a problem with symbolism, I’m the wood chuck.)
I tell him it could be worse. The Pro Bull Riding tour only takes off two months during the whole year. If I was a fan of that…
Oh, wait. I am.
So you can sympathize with his pain but can you also appreciate my joy? Right now is the perfect time to be a Phil’s fan. They’re leading the division and have one more chance at the Yankees before the team comes home for a three-game series with the Marlins.
Put that way, some things are certain:
I’m as giddy as a groupie hiding in a Jonas Brothers’ bus.
I’m as high as a Harry Kalas cloud in the left field sky.
I’m as excited as an old married babe on Jayson Werth day.
Well, he doesn’t actually have his own day, but a girl can dream.
Now if they’d only give away a Jayson Werth thong, I’d be set. It’s the only way I’ll ever have the strapping outfielder comfortably hugging my hips.
I know some people don’t like thongs, but my husband does. He says it serves as a barrier between me and all those bugs crawling up my ass.
Now, aside from the blown save on Saturday, the Phil’s have been looking splendid, but I was trying to think of ways to make them look even better. Of course you’ll see most of my ideas splashing the pages of that proverbial calendar, but in the meantime I came up with a plan.
It’s in the stats. Batting averages are reported on a scale of a thousand while ERAs are reported on a scale of a hundred. I understand it’s because you want the hitting to seem higher, and the hits off the pitcher to seem lower, but what if we added some zeros to the figures.
What if we added zeros until a hitter’s batting average and a hurler’s ERA could be compared to his salary. Then we’d compare how he was performing with what he was earning. I like that.
Pitchers could be paid per pitch.
Hitters could be compensated per hit.
Raul would show up the national debt.
Well, Sunday’s another game. It’s ace against ace.
But since the Phil’s are finished for the night, I have some things to do.
First, I think I’ll kick off that age old debate…
See you at the ballpark.
World Series Phlashback: 1950 World Series – Game Three
May 23, 2009 by kevin mcguire
Filed under Fan News
The 1950 Phillies, affectionately nicknamed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful age, clinched the National League pennant on the final day of the regular season.
Led by Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn, the Phillies would make their second trip to the World Series.
Their opponents would be the defending world champion New York Yankees, who were looking to add their 13th title to their franchise history. The experienced Yankees would sweep the Whiz Kids, although all but one was a one-run game.
This is part three of the four-part series and focuses on game three of the 1950 World Series.
New York Yankees (98-56) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (91-63)
Game Two: Yankees Win 3-2, Take 3-0 Series Lead
Yankee Stadium was already a place where legends were born and where legends played. This Yankees team had a legend of their own in Joe DiMaggio. As intimidating as the aura of Yankee Stadium could be, the Whiz Kids showed that they would not suffocate under the pressure. Or did they?
Playing their first game ever in Yankee Stadium, the Phillies both rallied to take a lead and then later blew their lead en route to a third straight defeat.
Taking the mound for the Phillies was Ken Heintzelman, who pitched seven outstanding innings. The Yankees countered with Eddie Lopat.
Once again, the Yankees were the first to dent the scoreboard. Phil Rizzuto crossed the plate in the third inning on a Jerry Coleman single.
Coleman tried to reach second on the play but was tagged out to end the inning, with the Yankees up 1-0.
The Phillies would tie it up in the sixth inning when Dick Sisler’s single to left field scored Del Ennis from second base. Granny Hamner scored the go-ahead run for the Phillies in the seventh inning when Mike Goliat hit a single to center field.
For the first time in the World Series, the Phillies had the lead. Hamner however would be one of the reasons the Yankees would come back.
Pitching in the eighth inning with the 2-1 lead, Heintzelman began to lose his control. Heintzelman was able to record the first two outs of the eighth inning, but then he walked Coleman.
Then he walked Yogi Berra. Then he walked Joe DiMaggio to load the bases. At this point manager Eddie Sawyer went to his bullpen and brought in Game One starter Jim Konstanty.
Konstanty would face pinch hitter Bobby Brown. Brown grounded to Hamner which should have ended the inning, but Hamner misplayed the ball.
The tying run had crossed the plate and the bases were still loaded. Konstanty got Johnny Mizeto foul out to end the inning on the next batter though, keeping the game tied at two runs apiece heading to the ninth inning.
Hamner did everything he could to get that run back, though, as he lead off for the Phillies in the ninth inning with a double to left center field. Andy Seminick put down a sacrifice bunt that moved Hamner to third base with one out.
After Mike Goliat was intentionally walked pinch hitter Dick Whitman, hitting for Konstanty, grounded into a fielder’s choice. Hamner was out at home to keep the game tied.
The Phillies would leave two runners on base when the inning was over. Then the Yankees came to the plate.
Russ Meyer entered the game to pitch for the Phillies and it looked like things were set for another extra-inning game. Meyer recorded the first two outs on the first two batters and then ran into trouble.
Back-to-back two-out singles by Gene Woodling and Rizutto set up Coleman’s game-winning base hit. The Yankees came from behind to take game three by a final score of 3-2.
The Yankees were now one game away from the inevitable sweep.
John Mayberry Jr.: Welcome to the Big Leagues
May 23, 2009 by john gehan
Filed under Fan News
What a great story. John Mayberry Jr., son of former major leaguer John Mayberry, forcefully un-tied today’s Yankees-Phillies game in the fifth inning.
With two men on, Mayberry crushed an off-speed pitch to center field. His dad was in attendance, and with one fist pump in the air, celebrated his sons’ great achievement. (Or did he?…Fox showed the same guy for five minutes after the homer and claimed it was his father—only to find out it was a regular old Phillies’ fan…way to go, Fox.)
In his second at-bat in the major leagues, in Yankee Stadium nonetheless, Mayberry took Andy Pettitte deep. It was a three-run shot and made the game 4-1 in the fifth inning.
He came back to the bench and got the silent treatment from Charlie Manuel, only for Manuel and the team to congratulate him a few moments later.
As if the Phillies need another slugger…welcome to the major leagues, John Mayberry Jr.
Thus far, J.A. Happ has pitched a great game and is in line for a win, if the Phillies can keep the lead. This is Happs’ first start since being inserted into a starter’s role, after Chan Ho Park was optioned to the bullpen.
Let’s go, Phils!
Raul Ibanez: Pat Who?
May 23, 2009 by john gehan
Filed under Fan News
When Pat Burrell left the Phillies for the Rays, I thought we were in trouble. Get rid of the right batting Burrell to had the left batting Ibanez? I didn’t understand considering Burrell was an above average fielder and his bat was always a great addition—when he wanted to hit.
When I saw the Phillies sign Raul Ibanez to a three-year deal worth $30 million, I was baffled. I mean, sure, he was an average left fielder with slightly above average numbers, but Burrell was the longest tenured Phillie. Pat Burrell is three years younger and equal or better in all categories—besides speed.
Boy, was I wrong.
This guy is a stud. As of today Ibanez leads the NL in RBI with 41. He is tied for the HR lead with San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez, at 16. He is first in the league in OPS over second place Albert Pujols. He is first in the NL in SLG percentage at .737. At a .353, he is fifth in the league in batting average.
When I started to see Ibanez shine, I shrugged it off. I said, “eh he’ll come back to earth.” But the 36 year New York native just keeps proving me wrong. Maybe the organization knew something the rest of us didn’t when they signed him.
Maybe I should have seen it earlier. He is an upgrade on the base paths—being much speedier than Pat Burrell. He is a formidable fielder and his bat has been nothing short of amazing.
At first, I was sad to see “Pat the Bat” go, but now I wish him luck because we have added a new star to an already stacked line up—”I-bat-nez.”
If Ibanez continues his brilliance at the plate, and everyone else plays the way we know they can, we are going to be tough to beat—even with one of the worst average ERA in baseball.
By the way, congrats to Brett Myers for pitching a strong eight innings against the Yankees last night. It is nice to finally see someone other than Cole Hamels have success like that.
World Series Phlashback: 1950 World Series – Game Two
May 23, 2009 by kevin mcguire
Filed under Fan News
The 1950 Phillies, affectionately nicknamed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful age, clinched the National League pennant on the final day of the regular season.
Led by the likes of Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn the Phillies would make their second trip to the World Series.
Their opponents would be the defending world champion New York Yankees, who were looking to add their 13th title to their historic franchise history. The experienced Yankees would sweep the Whiz Kids, although all but one was a one run game.
This is part two of the four part series and focuses on game two of the 1950 World Series.
Philadelphia Phillies (91-63) vs. New York Yankees (98-56)
Game Two: Yankees Win 2-1, Take 2-0 Series Lead
Robin Roberts,an eventual Hall of Fame pitcher for the Phillies, made his World Series debut and may have pitched one of the best games of his life. Unfortunately for the Phillies, Roberts’ ten inning complete game would turn out to be a loss, sending the Phillies up to New York in a tough 0-2 hole against the defending World Series champions.
Roberts had pitched three games in five days down the stretch of the regular season and was unavailable for game one of the World Series. Instead he would pitch game two on full rest. Roberts allowed ten hits in those ten innings and struck out five Yankees batters.
Opposing Roberts on the mound was Allie Reynolds, who pitched a masterful game himself. Also pitching all ten innings, Reynolds picked up the win along with six strike outs and just one run allowed.
The Yankees got on the score board first when Jerry Coleman scored on a base hit by Gene Woodling in the second inning. The Phillies would respond in the fifth inning, tying the game on Richie Ashburn’s sacrifice fly to left field brought Mike Goliat home.
Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio made a fantastic catch to keep the Phillies from starting a rally.
Del Ennis lead off for the Phillies in the sixth inning and hit a deep fly ball to right center field. DiMaggio though was in a hurry to track it down and made a Willie Mays type catch before Mays ever had the chance to do it himself.
The game would remain tied at the end of the ninth inning and went to extra innings tied at one.
It did not take long for the Yankees to take a lead though. Joe DiMaggio hit a lead off solo home run off of Roberts to deep left field, giving the Yankees the 2-1 lead. Roberts retired the next three batters to give the offense a chance in the bottom of the tenth.
After pinch hitter Jackie Mayo forced a lead off walk, first baseman Eddie Waitkus used a sacrifice bunt to move Mayo to second base. Ashburn failed to advance Mayo though with a fly foul ball out and left fielder Dick Sisler struck out looking to end the ball game.
The Yankees took both games in Shibe Park and were heading home to try and wrap up their thirteenth World Series championship.
Phillies-Yankees Opener: Phils Yank Yankees Chain as Myers Throws Gold
May 23, 2009 by Flattish Poe
Filed under Fan News
This morning, the sign on the Methodist Church read, “Count your blessings, not your problems.”
Hell, I’m an equal opportunity sinner. I say we tally them both.
Let’s take affirmative action and also exaggerate some facts. How do you think rumors start anyway?
It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it.
Jamie Moyer spoke with Alex Rodriguez before game one of this interleague series. The two former teammates exchanged what bystanders are assuming were words regarding Jamie’s judgment of A-Rod’s steroid use some seven years ago. Jamie’s a God-fearing man and he doesn’t approve of A-Rod breaking the rules.
Wait. Rewind.
Judgment? God fearing? Did I hear a “cast the first stone” connotation in there somewhere?
Now from what I’ve read, Alex Rodriguez was one of 104 names on a super-secret list compiled of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. And somehow, mysteriously, A-Rod’s name slipped from the report and into the hands of stellar reporter, Selena Roberts.
I wonder how one name could flow from a top secret page straight into an article in Sports Illustrated. We could always blame the font. I never trusted Courier 12-point anyway.
From what I heard, Alex has slept with just about everyone. Maybe that’s how he got the “Rod” part of his nickname. On that note, maybe this is a case of a woman scorn. Maybe she was feeling as underappreciated as George W. Bush at a Mensa meeting. And hell hath no fury… We could only surmise.
Now I haven’t read the dirty truth because I’d rather pass around conjecture than read scandalous facts. And I know Selena can write inspirational pieces just as well as she condemns ballplayers, so I think I’ll wait and read her next piece of journalism.
The bottom line is, Alex Rodriguez is still playing ball because there were no penalties in effect when he injected.
I can only control what I do and how I react, so I’m not spending another moment worrying about anything other than the Phils denying Alex successful at-bats.
And Brett Myers did a damn good job trying.
Simply put, if Budweiser has drinkability, the Phillies had pitch-ability, hit-ability, and field-ability capped with win-ability.
Their 14 hits (including four homers) overshadowed Chase Utley’s error in the fifth, the same inning Brett Myers struck out two of his game total of five. And he pitched eight without walking a soul and gave up only three hits–all solo homers. You can’t fault the Yanks for efficiency.
Jimmy Rollins seemed happy and he should be. His first pitch home run was definitely a case for smile-ability. He went 2 for 5 with a walk and stolen base number 301. Guess whose stats were even better?
Nope, not Chase Utley… not Raul Ibanez… not Ryan Howard… not Shane Victorino… not even Pedro Feliz. You give?
It was Carlos Ruiz. Yes, Chooch made it look Ru-E-Z last night. He snuck a two-run dinger over the left field wall in the first inning that escaped a miscalculated leap by Johnny Damon.
Then in the bottom, Carlos denied Johnny a run by tagging him at the plate, so you can imagine Damon’s delight when Carlos miscalculated a fly ball in the fifth and was thrown out by Johnny while trying to get back to first.
Even so, Carlos finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBI and a stolen base. If Brett wouldn’t have pitched so stellar, I think Carlos would have earned “Player of the Game.”
And possibly a calendar page. Did I mention I’d love to volunteer for the photo shoot?
To sum it up… last night was a perfect culmination of game-ability. One where Jayson Werth ended his no-hit streak at 12.
Let’s talk about “the streak.” That’s a noun, not a verb.
I’m not talking about the one that waves your privates in the wind. I’m talking about the type ballplayers either worship or dread; the one that puts you on a high or haunts you for days.
Acknowledging a streak is as taboo as mentioning a no-hitter in the ninth. You’re not supposed to say anything, because as much as it affects men’s souls, talking about it neither lifts the hoax nor denies a jinx.
So when Jayson’s streak was mentioned over the last few days, the press spoke of it as if he had hiccupped instead of crapped his pants.
But I’ll help him out of those later.
As far as slumps go, there’s a whole bunch about baseball that falls into the category of “working it out.” And everyone will give you all the help you need until you can’t. Then management steps in.
Like with Chan Ho Park. He wanted to start–bad. He wanted his family in South Korea to watch him play every five games instead of waiting up until three in the morning hoping to see him step from the bullpen.
I feel bad for him, but there are powers that be that send us messages with greater reliance than Federal Express.
And they sent Park to the pen. They’ve also sent Jimmy Rollins to the bench, Brett Myers to the minors, and Adam Eaton packing.
Last night the Yankees were sent packing. One down, two to go.
I’m looking forward to this holiday weekend. Mine is six games long.
Maybe we can use the wins Thursday and Friday to start another streak. If not, maybe Jayson Werth will drop his drawers and sprint out across the field.
A girl can only hope.
See you at the ballpark.
Phillies-Yankees: Chien-Ming Wang Didn’t Relieve NY As Expected
May 22, 2009 by Micheal Robinson
Filed under Fan News
Chien-Ming Wang came back Friday and got smashed by the Philadelphia Phillies like a roundhouse kick from the foot of Chuck Norris.
Wang came in relief during the seventh inning to face some tough hitters in the Philadelphia lineup.
He got Chase Utley out on a ground ball to start the inning, but then it went downhill.
Raul Ibanez hit his National League-leading 16th homer of the season, and it went out like a fat kid in a game of dodge ball. One of the longest shots at the new Yankee Stadium, it was hit to deep right-center.
He returned to strike out Ryan Howard looking, but getting Ryan Howard to strike out is like getting Mario Mendoza to hit below .200; anyone can do that.
Jayson Werth then took a sinker that didn’t sink well to center field for a base hit.
Shane Victorino then hit an 0-2 pitch right up the middle past Wang for the third hit of the inning.
A sharply hit ball by Matt Stairs stabbed by Mark Teixeira got Wang out of the inning to strand the two runners.
Wang returned to pitch the eighth inning as well.
The first batter he faced was Pedro Feliz, who hit a ground ball right up the middle for a single to start the inning. He then struck out Carlos Ruiz swinging to bounce back.
Jimmy Rollins then singled to left on the second pitch he saw on an 0-1 count, which was the fifth hit Wang gave up on the night.
Chase Utley then got an RBI single to right to plate Feliz and move Rollins to second.
Robinson Cano then saved another run as he snagged a ground ball, flipped it to Derek Jeter, who threw it to Mark Teixeira to end the inning on a double play.
After 41 pitches, six hits, and two earned runs, he returned for yet another inning to eat up some work in a four-run ball game.
Howard flew out to left-center on a routine fly ball to start the inning, then Werth walked.
Victorino flew out to right center for the second out of the inning.
A line drive off of the bat of Stairs to Cano ended the inning and Wang’s night.
Not a horrible outing, but still not what the Yankees were looking for. Still…it’s a start.
Wang had been scheduled to start on Friday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Pawtucket, but with injuries to Brian Bruney and Joba Chamberlain, an overworked pen needed someone to eat up innings.
Well, he can eat up some innings, but he can give up some runs too.
It’s hard to believe this is the same pitcher who had back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007 with 19 wins.
Wang had a 34.50 ERA in three big-league starts before going on the disabled list with weakness in his hips. He threw 13 scoreless innings at Triple-A and looked sharp in a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium.
Before the game Friday, Wang said, “Pitching as a whole, balance-wise, I feel much better.”
Well, it doesn’t look like he has it quite worked out yet, but to his credit, Raul Ibanez is on a tear and has hit a lot of pitchers well before the home run off of Wang.
Game 40 Preview: Phillies at Yankees
May 22, 2009 by kevin mcguire
Filed under Fan News
The Phillies make one final stop on their road trip to play the New York Yankees in the new Yankee Stadium. Both teams bring high octane-offenses to the table, and the way Yankee Stadium has been giving away free souvenir balls to fans in the outfield this season, there is no reason to expect a slow weekend in the Bronx.
Taking the mound for the Phillies will be Brett Myers. Myers has had two straight solid outings, allowing just three earned runs in 13 innings against the Nationals and the Braves. He has also recorded two wins in his last two decisions.
Myers will be the first pitcher to try and hold down the rejuvenated Yankees offense that features Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, and Robinson Cano.
In the Yankees’ recent nine-game winning streak, New York has scored 59 runs. Both the Yankees and the Phillies lead their respective leagues in average runs scored per game.
Myers is 3-0 on the road this season while his counterpart, A.J. Burnett, has yet to record a win in the new stadium. Burnett, however is still pitching well and has only lost once in his last six games. He has received five no-decisions. Both pitchers have a 1.40 WHIP this season.
Phillies Record: 22-17
Yankees Record: 24-17
NL East Standings (Team, record, games behind)
- PHILLIES 22-17, –
- Mets 21-19, 1.5
- Braves 20-20, 2.5
- Marlins 19-23, 4.5
- Nationals 12-28, 10.5
Pitching probables: Myers (3-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Burnett (2-1, 5.02 ERA)
TV: MyPhl 17
First pitch: 7:10pm
Season Series: First meeting
Open thread for the game will be posted at 6:30pm. No game recap though due to weekend schedule.
Strike While the Bats Are Hot: The Anatomy of a Winner
May 22, 2009 by scott eisenlohr
Filed under Fan News
As I field through the myriad of baseball stories pondering the whys and hows of one’s favorite team with perpetual problems, my mind wonders: What makes a winning team and one who falls short?
Obviously, good pitching, defense, and offense are the tenants of any winning team, but each World Series champion gets to its goal by minute points of greatness, winning attitudes, and never-say-die approach.
I watched my team, the defending World Series champions, the Philadelphia Phillies video highlights on my iPod, which showed the highlights of a 12-5 victory on May 21 against the host Cincinnati Reds. One thing I noticed was that the Phillies scored six of their 12 runs with two outs. Not enough can be said about two-out hitting.
Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Reds showed the Phillies can win one-run games. Last year, the Phillies were 27-23 in one-run games. American League champions Tampa Bay had a 29-18 record in one-run games.
Key role players are an important tangible elements of winners. Jim Eisenreich was a key role player for the 1983 National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. Greg Dobbs and Matt Stairs are key role players for the Phillies today.
Defense is another key element of a champion. Why do I feature the Phillies Chase Utley for my story about winners? Utley breathes winning. His video studies of pitchers is well-known among Phillies fans.
I also thought about the two Phillies World Series wins. Pete Rose helped the Phils to a championship by his attitude in 1980.
In 2008, Chase Utley’s defensive plays in Game Four of the NLCS for an inning-ending double play and Game Five of the World Series when he faked the throw to first and shot a bullet home for a bang-bang out demonstrates the difference between winning and losing.
Pitching? One team comes to mind when you talk about winning teams and pitching. And it ain’t da Phils.
In 1971, the Baltimore Orioles had four 20-game winners. Mike Cuellar: 20-9; Pat Dobson: 20-8; Jim Palmer: 20-9; and Dave McNally: 21-5. How did they do? They won the American League pennant and lost the World Series, 4-3, to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who featured legendary Roberto Clemente in his last season before his tragic death.
And not to be a homer, I looked at why the 1986 Mets won the World Series, their last championship.
Some might credit Billy Buckner, but to be fair, they had two hitters with .300 or more batting averages: Wally Backman with a .320 average and Keith Hernandez with a .310 average. Their outfield consisted of George Foster, Lenny Dykstra and Darryl Stawberry, who hit 27 home runs.
Their starting pitching: Dwight Gooden, 17-6; Ron Arling 15-6; Bob Ojeda 18-5; and Sid Fernandez, 16-6.
The bullpen? Roger McDowell had 22 saves and Jesse Orosco had 21 saves.
They were in the top four in many pitching and hitting categories. That was a solid team. That team went 108-54. Whew!
Managing? You can’t win managing scared. The Phillies did for many years, until Charlie Manuel came along. What get Charlie upset? Blown umpire calls. That is it. He sits there and blows bubble gum. Why? ‘Cause he won a World Series.
Think about Joe Torre and his look in the dugout with the Yankees.
Winning cures all ails.
Even the Washington Nationals have hope. The future of the Nationals is their starting pitching. Jordon Zimmerman lead the crop of fine young Nats pitching. Their bullpen is why the Nats are terrible right now.
I also submit to the 10-games over .500 theory. It is mine, maybe others. Once you get 10 games over .500, you can start playing those bench guys who might have potential as starting players.
An injury to Geoff Jenkins paved the way for Jason Werth’s ascension from platoon player to the every day left fielder. But it could have also happened once the team was playing near .550 or .600 ball.
Confidence and a pack rat mentality separated the Phillies and Mets bullpens in 2008. A perfect 41-41 save opportunities from closer Brad Lidge did not hurt.
As a baseball fan, I’d like to see the Chicago Cubs win a World Series. Many would like the Tampa Bay Rays, with their under-Alex Rodriguez payroll team to break through and win.
And I even think the Mets winning the whole shooting match would help the rivalry with the Phillies and be good for baseball.
How ’bout 2012?
Just kidding…
Raul Ibanez: Great Signing for Phillies
May 22, 2009 by Andrew Godfrey
Filed under Fan News
The Philadelphia Phillies made a great move during the offseason when they signed Raul Ibanez to a three year contract for $31.5 million.
Ibanez has hit six homers and driven in 17 runs in his last ten games for the Phillies and has eight homers and 23 runs batted in during the month of May with several games left this month.
He is tied with Adrian Gonzalez for the major league lead in homers with each player having 15. He is third in the majors and first in the NL in runs batted in with 40.
Ibanez is projected by ESPN.com to hit 62 homers and drive in 166 runs by the end of the season and have 222 hits.
He more or less replaced Pat Burrell in the Phillies lineup this season. Burrell is on the disabled list for the Rays and before going on the DL he had one homer and 17 runs batted in in 108 at bats.
So Ibanez has 14 more homers and 33 more runs batted in than Burrell so the Phillies made the right move by letting Burrell go to the Rays.
Ibanez is leading all major leaguers with at least 100 at bats in slugging with a .724 mark. Next is Kevin Youkilis with a .701 slugging percentage.
He is second in extra base hits with 26 with only Evan Longoria having more with 28. He leads the NL in OPS with a 1.134 mark.
The offensive spark provided by Ibanez has helped the Phillies lead the Mets by a game and a half in the NL East despite being 27th in ERA. The Phillies are second in the NL in runs scored.
Ibanez and the Phillies are looking forward to hitting in the new Yankee Stadium as they start a three game series there tonight. However the Yankees are looking forward to facing Brett Myers who will start for the Phillies. Myers and Jamie Moyer lead the majors in most home runs allowed with 12 each.
Best Matchups Tonight
Phillies at Yankees: This should be an interesting game with so much firepower in one contest. The Yankees will feature Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira while Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Raul Ibanez see for themselves what it is like to hit in the new Yankee Stadium which has become the latest homer haven in the majors.
Mets at Red Sox: Johan Santana 5-2 will face Daisuke Matsuzaka 0-1 who is starting his first game since April 14th.
Blue Jays at Braves: Roy Halladay 8-1 will try to become the first pitcher to win nine games against the Braves who will send a struggling Kenshin Kawakami 2-5 to the mound.
Pirates at White Sox: Zach Duke 5-3 who has won his last two starts will be opposing Gavin Floyd 2-4 who hasn’t won since April 19. Floyd has allowed 20 runs and 24 hits over his last three starts which encompassed 15 innings. He has an ERA of 12.00 this month.
Cubs at Padres: Carlos Zambrano 3-1 will make his first start since May 3 against Jake Peavy 3-5 who used his no trade rights yesterday to nix a trade to the White Sox. Peavy had also been mentioned last offseason as possibly being traded to the Cubs.
Giants at Mariners: Randy Johnson 3-4 will try for his 299th win tonight. Johnson has allowed 18 runs and 27 hits in 14 innings over his last three starts. Johnson will be facing Jason Vargas 1-0 who has a 1.29 ERA and has allowed only two runs in 14 innings.