Philadelphia Phillies Week One: What Have We Learned?

With one week of the regular season behind us, what have we learned about the 2010 edition of the Philadelphia Phillies so far? A week is a just a week, but how a team plays and what story lines unfold once the big curtain goes up on the games that count often foreshadow the season.

First off, Phillies fans and players received ample reinforcement of what Toronto already knew—Roy Halladay is the real deal. He is a true stud at the front end of the rotation who appears on his way to a tremendous season. The way he expeditiously attacks hitters with dominant stuff, it evokes some serious “Lefty” deja vu for Phillies fans.

Based on the early returns, the prospects appear high that in a career filled with success—this should be his best season yet. When Halladay makes the walk to the mound, he is comforted to be backed by arguably the best offense and defense in baseball. 

Some other early impressions are that with the addition of Placido Polanco and the maturation of Carlos Ruiz, an already scary 2009 lineup looks even more frightening. 

And, a potentially huge factor that might have starting pitchers imagining various ailments when Philadelphia pops up on the schedule is the resurgence of Jimmy Rollins at the plate. After winning the NL MVP Award in 2007 with a phenomenal season, J Roll turned in a pair of substandard offensive performances, but has come out of the blocks looking like the 2007 vintage smacking liners around the yard. 

With J Roll and Polanco wearing out pitchers at the top of the lineup, the Phillies have been doing striking impersonations of the “Lumber Company” and “Big Red Machine.” Put Halladay on the mound with that lineup and there is no tougher opponent anywhere in baseball.

Did I mention Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth? The three already have pitchers reaching for the Maalox when the heart of the order is due up. 

Overall, the Phils’ 5-1 start is reason enough for optimism by itself as the team has made slow starts a habit. Cynics might point to their soft schedule, but they have yet to have any home cooking and opponent’s pedigrees never seemed to make a difference at the season’s outset in year’s past. 

Amongst the optimism, though, are some remaining concerns that have the potential of at least raining on the parade. A couple were left behind in Florida in the form of Brad Lidge and JC Romero—two-thirds of the back end of the bullpen.

The reports continue to be favorable regarding their progress, but until they return to action and bring their good stuff, Charlie Manuel and company won’t rest easy. Perhaps of more concern right now are the performances of three of its starting pitchers.

Most everyone would agree that Cole Hamels is a critical component to success in 2010. After three rough outings to finish spring training, Hamels looked a lot like the embattled hurler from last season as he struggled with his composure and command in his initial performance. 

It’s just one start, but displaying the same demons that haunted him a year ago did little to evoke confidence that he is not headed for a “Groundhog’s Day” performance. 

Fellow starters Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer looked primed to start the season strong after impressive spring performances. Unfortunately, both followed the Chan Ho Park  script from a year ago and got banged around when the games counted. 

Since inning eater Joe Blanton is parked on the DL with the type of injury that can deceivingly linger, the Phillies cannot afford to outhit opponents or tax their bullpen when these two take the mound. 

On the positive side of the ledger, sophomore J.A. Happ’s solid opening performance had to be pleasing to Manuel. After ending a brilliant rookie campaign with an injury and muddled role throughout the postseason, Happ started strong in making a case that he is not a “one-hit wonder.” 

Although he kept his Mendoza-like Grapefruit League trend line intact to begin the regular season, Raul Ibanez has shown some signs of life over the past two games. Shane Victorino is the only other regular who hasn’t sprinted out of the gate, but the Flyin’ Hawaiian is about as steady as they come.

Perhaps the area of biggest concern heading into the season is the bullpen. Of course, the puzzle will not be complete until the pair of missing pieces return, but the rest seems to be coming together nicely. 

The best Phillies start since 1993 and more than seven runs per game from the offense has a way of making even confirmed pessimists feel bullish. A week’s a week—but so far the team is looking the part of the consensus National League favorite.

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Philadelphia Phillies Pound Patience To Propel Staggering Start

The Philadelphia Phillies’ 2-1 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday was a bit of an oddity for the National League’s hottest team.

It was the first time all season that the Phillies have no gotten at least 10 hits.

No matter. Their ace, Roy Halladay was on the mound, giving up one unearned run in a seven-hit, no walk, eight strikeout performance. Oh, yeah, and it was Halladay’s first complete game of the season.

The Phillies pounded out six hits, featuring Jimmy Rollins’s home run to start the game and a Carlos Ruiz ground-out RBI in the second inning.

Halladay worked out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings and cruised in the eighth and ninth innings.

After two starts, Halladay is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA.

That’s just sick.

The other five days?

The Phillies hit the piss out of the ball.

The Phillies pounded out 11 hits in a 9-6 win on Saturday and 16 hits on Friday in an 8-0 win over Houston.

Sunday’s win completed the sweep of the Astros, who are winless after Sunday’s loss.

As of Saturday, 19 of the Phillies runs have been produced with two outs.

They continue to leave a lot of men on base, but with this lineup, somebody’s gonna produce hits, get on base and score runs.

For example: Jimmy Rollins, throughout his career, has not had a great amount of walks or had a good on-base percentage for a lead off man.

In 2009, Rollins had a horrid first half of the season and had a .296 on-base percentage. This year, Rollins has a .516 on-base percentage.

He also is hitting .391 and scored at least one run in each of the Phillies three wins.

Even Ryan Howard is being more patient at the plate.

Yesterday in one at bat, he went down 0-2 and drew the count to 3-2 before flying out.

His mammoth home run to left center Saturday propelled the Phillies 9-6 win.

The Phillies’ averages are staggering: Rollins, .391; Placido Polanco, .481; Chase Utley, .348; Ryan Howard, .357; and Jayson Werth, .360.

It is a long season, full of ebbs and valleys, scoring droughts and losing streaks, and also injuries.

The Phillies picked up Ross Gload from Florida in the offseason to bolster the bench and Ben Francisco can fill in for long stretches in the outfield.

But a trend started last year and has continued this year: the Phillies are patient at the plate and run deep counts.

An 0-2 count, drawn to 2-2 swings the favor back to the batter, and for the Phillies, it has produced awesome results.

The competition has not been great: a two-of-three game series win against perennial cellar dwellers Washington and a sweep of the winless Astros.

Today’s home opener is against the Nationals.

Then the schedule gets tougher.

The scrappy Marlins come to town for a home weekend series, then the Phillies head on the road.

Next, the Phillies travel to Atlanta and their first look at the rookie sensation Jason Heyward; Arizona; then San Francisco, until returning home on April 30 against the New York Mets.

The Phillies need to sweep or take the series from the Nationals.

The series against the division foes the Marlins and Braves should be fun.

The Phillies’ 5-1 start is their best since 1993, when Macho Row started the season, 8-1.

Starting pitcher Joe Blanton should be back in the next week or two.

Halladay is solid and a good, if not great showing by Cole Hamels in the home opener will solidify the starting rotation.

J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick, and Jamie Moyer fill out the Phillies’ current starting pitching staff.

It should be a fun team.

Do yourself a favor.

The next three home runs or RBI doubles by Ryan Howard, take a look at the count.

I will bet that at least one of hits will come with a 3-2 count.

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Phillies-Astros: Roy Halladay Completes Sweep of Houston with Dominating Play

In the final game of the Phillies-Astros series, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, who pitched a complete game on Sunday, seemed to be in midseason form.

Offensive help came from Jimmy Rollins, thanks to his solo home run to start the game off, and Carlos Ruiz’s second-inning sacrifice ground ball that sent Raul Ibanez home for the Phillies’ second and last run of the game.

In his second start with the Phillies, Halladay has won both games, posted an outstanding ERA of 0.56, has only allowed 13 hits, two runs, and has struck out 17 batters. He was a major catalyst in the Phillies’ red-hot 5-1 start to the 2010 season.

Sunday’s victory over the Astros also notched the 150th win and 50th complete game of his career.

Halladay effortlessly sailed through the first five innings Sunday afternoon, but did struggle from time to time in the sixth and seventh innings.

Manager Charlie Manuel didn’t seem to be concerned though and for good reason—it appears as if it may have just been a “hump.”

When Manuel was asked why he didn’t pull Halladay from the game during his struggles in those innings, he had a very short answer. “He was there, he kind of smelled it,” he said, referring to Halladay’s 150th win.

Not only is he tearing up the mound on defense, but he is contributing on offense too.

In back to back games, Halladay has had at least one hit.

So far, the decision to trade former Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee and acquire Roy Halladay is paying off beautifully. Can Halladay and the fightin’ Phils’ keep it up and transfer this dominating series into the next?

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Philadelpia Phillies: Howard, Werth Assist in Phillies Win over Houston Astros

 

For the third consecutive game in the four game Phillies-Astros series, the Philadelphia Phillies once again were triumphant in the end with the help of a few key players.

Up through the first two innings the Phillies held a one point lead over the Astros when Jason Werth hit a sacrafice pop up to center field, bringing in Ryan Howard to take the lead.

Then a spark in the top of the third after Astros pitcher Brandon Lyon walked Ryan Howard, which moved[Jimmy Rollins to home plate, Placido Polanco to third and Chase Utley to second.

The next batter up was Jayson “worth the cost of admission” Werth, who doubled with a ground ball to center field that brought in Polanco and Utley and just like that it’s 4-0 Phillies.

The Phillies and fans went into the bottom of the third feeling pretty good. Well that all changed real quick!

Moyer struggled in the bottom third allowing two home runs, as Jason Michaels hit a two-run shot, bringing in Felipo Paulino and then Hunter Pierce smacked one to left field, which also was a two run shot bringing in Jeff Keppinger.

Lastly in the third inning, Tom Manzella hit a ground ball single which brought home Carlos Lee and just like that it’s 5-4 Astros.

Was anyone else looking for their remote to throw?

Fast forwarding to the seventh inning, as nothing happened in between the fourth through sixth innings, the Phillies have two outs with Chase Utley on base and none other than Phillies slugger Ryan Howard at the plate.

The next thing I heard was a familiar and beautiful sound which erupted from Howards bat as he hit his third home run of the season, as Chase Utley came home to score and the Phillies once again hold the upper hand leading the Astros 6-5.

Later in the top of the seventh Shane Victorino hit a ground ball single to left field, Jayson Werth is brought to home and Raul Ibanez moves on to second—all this and there are two out!

Fast forwarding again to the top of the ninth and Shane Victorino again shows the city of brotherly love some love by hitting a two-run homer (Werth scores) and now the Phils lead 9-5 with half an inning to play.

The Astros got their sixth run of the game when Jason Michaels hit a single on a line drive to left fielder Raul Ibanez which brought home Michael Bourn.

The final game of the series is held tomorrow and it is also the Phillies home opener. The game will begin at 2:05 ET.

Can the Phillies sweep the Astros? I believe they can!

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By the Numbers: 15 Predictions for the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies

1. Roy Halladay will turn in the best season by a Phillies pitcher since Steve Carlton’s 27-win campaign of 1972. The former Blue Jays ace has turned in two 20-win seasons in Toronto. Imagine what he will do in Philly with seven All-Stars hitting for him.

I could see him winning 22, losing just 6, and posting an ERA around 2.50. And yes, that would be enough for Halladay to become the fifth pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young award in both leagues.

2. Cole Hamels will not regain his 2008 form (3.09 ERA), but he’ll be much better than he was in 2009 (4.32 ERA). Look for 14 wins, close to 200 innings pitched, and an ERA in the high 3.00’s. But don’t expect Halladay and Hamels to turn into the best one-two punch in baseball. That honor still belongs to the Giants’ tandem of Lincecum and Cain. 

3. The rest of the baseball world will finally realize that Ryan Howard , and not Chase Utley, is the most valuable player on the team. So Howard strikes out a lot and doesn’t play great defense. He has never had a full season that wasn’t fantastic.

He’s won a Rookie of the Year award, an MVP, and finished second, third, and fifth. He is one of the best power hitters in the history of baseball, and he has a batting average (.279) much better than most have realized. Look for a typical Howard season: 52 homers, 138 RBIs, .268 average. 

4. Brad Lidge will not be as terrible as he was in 2009, simply because that’s not possible. But if you have dreams of Lidge posting another perfect season, think again.

I expect an ERA around 3.30 with 33 saves in 39 opportunities, meaning Lidge would be a good but not great closer. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he spent a significant portion of the season on the disabled list.

5. The Phillies will let Shane Victorino run wild, and the Flyin’ Hawaiian’ will respond with 54 stolen bases. With the bat, expect a typical season from the consistent center fielder: a batting average around .280 with about 100 runs scored.

6. Jimmy Rollins will not make any predictions. At all. In 2007, the fiery shortstop correctly predicted that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East, which he backed up with an MVP season, while leading the Phillies to the postseason for the first time 14 years.

In 2008, he predicted that the Phillies would defend their division title, while winning 100 games. Not only did the Phillies defend their title, but they won the World Series, and including the postseason, won 103 games.

And before the 2009 World Series, Rollins predicted that the Phillies would win in six games, maybe even five. We all know what happened there. So I think it’s time for a prediction-free season by Rollins. 

7. And with the bat, I think Jimmy Rollins will turn in a slightly disappointing season. He’ll led the league in at-bats, like usual, and maybe triples or stolen bases, and I expect at least 100 runs. But I think he’ll hit around .265 with an on base percentage in the low .300’s, which would be one of the worst in baseball. 

8. After two seasons of poor regular season play followed by fantastic hitting in October, Carlos Ruiz will do the opposite this year. I expect him to hit around .280 with double-digit homers and 60 RBIs in the regular season, but I think he’ll be an embarrassment in the postseason, hitting below the Mendoza Line.

9. Jayson Werth will turn in a season better than anything Bobby Abreu ever did for the Phillies. Werth turned in an All-Star season last year, setting career highs in almost every statistical category.

I see no reason why he shouldn’t continue to get better. Look for the first 30-30 season by a Phillie since Jimmy Rollins in 2007, a batting average close to .300, and a top 10 finish in the MVP voting.

10. Raul Ibanez is going to be a disappointment. The soon to be 38-year-old has been remarkably consistent over his career, but I think age will take a toll on the left fielder.

Whether he is injured, loses playing time to Ben Francisco, or just doesn’t play well, I don’t think he is going to hit more than about 18 homers, with a batting average around .250. 

11. Ryan Madson will convert all 14 save opportunities during Brad Lidge’s two stints on the disabled list, leading many Phillies fans to call for his conversion to full-time closer. But Lidge will keep the job, despite Madson’s success. 

12. Jamie Moyer is going to show his age. Big time. I expect the 47-year-old to win about five or six games all season. I think he’ll spend some time on the disabled list, and may lose his spot in the rotation.

If his ERA is under 5.00, I’ll be pleased. And I think he will call it quits after the conclusion of his 25th season in the major leagues.

13. Don’t expect a lot of pinch-hits from the Phillies. The Phillies have their seven All-Stars and Ruiz, and that’s about it. Ben Francisco hit just .231 as a pinch-hitter last season. Greg Dobbs was one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball in 2007 and 2008, but hit just .247 last season.

I expect a little better from him this year, but I just don’t see the old Greg Dobbs returning. Wilson Valdez and Juan Castro are terrible hitters, and Ross Gload is decent, although he has declined over each of the last four seasons. 

14. Do expect to see some late-inning defensive replacements. If DeWayne Wise ever reaches the majors, the Phillies will remember his catch in the ninth inning to save Mark Buehrle’s perfect game last year, and he’ll see some time on defense in the outfield.

Ben Francisco is a solid defender, and Philly fans still remember his fantastic catch in the NLDS last year. Castro and Valdez are above average defenders and Gload is pretty good with the glove at first. 

15. I just don’t see how this team can miss the postseason. They’re completely stacked on offense, boasting an All-Star outfield, and one of the best infields in the last 50 years. They can hit for power, leading the National League in home runs each of the past two seasons.

They have speed, ranking in the top three in the National League in steals each of the last three seasons. They have an above average pitching staff, with arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball.

They have a closer who could rank among the best in the game if he regains his form. And they have a manager who knows how to discipline his players, while at the same time keeping them happy.

Don’t be surprised to see this team win its second World Series in three seasons, which would solidify this squad as one of baseball’s dynasties. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Look Geared to Repeat as National League Champions

Currently four games into the season, the Philadelphia Phillies are looking good, very good.

Just about everything looks great. The starting rotation seems to really have been positively affected by the presence of stud Roy Halladay. Further, Cole Hamels looks like he may be back on track, Kyle Kendrick had a decent outing, and J.A. Happ has picked up right where he left off last season. The starting rotation will only be better when Joe Blanton returns.

While the starting pitching looks very good, the real strength of the Phillies team is their offense. In each of their first four games, the Phillies have recorded 10 or more hits. Their lineup is stacked and one of the best in baseball. Let’s go through that red-hot lineup…

Leading off – Shortstop Jimmy Rollins: J-Roll has left the disaster that was last season far behind. He is getting on base more frequently already. In four games he has scored six runs. This is a great sign for the Phillies. They are a much better team when Rollins gets on base and scores runs, a key for any lead-off hitter.

Second – Third Baseman Placido Polanco: Polanco is another guy that is making Ruben Amaro, Jr. look like a genius. He is thriving batting second in the lineup. He is even doing a good job at third base, where many experts worried that he may struggle.

Third -Second Baseman Chase Utley:  Does this even need to be written? We all know Chase Utley is a legitimate star. In his seventh season, Chase is off to a good start to the season.

Fourth – First Baseman Ryan Howard:  You have to love watching the big man Ryan Howard hit a home run. Howard is feasting off of having runners on base. If the top of the lineup can continue to get on base, look for Howard to have a MVP season.

Fifth – Right Fielder Jayson Werth: Werth is hitting .333, yet he hasn’t knocked in a run yet. With power like his, Werth will likely get quite a few RBI before season’s end.

Sixth – Left Fielder Raul Ibanez: Rrraaauuulll isn’t off to the same start he had last season. He has four RBI in as many games, though. I was worried about Raul this season,for he is an aging veteran coming off an all star season. Sometimes guys just fall off. Raul seems to be fine.

Seventh – Center Fielder Shane Victorino: The Flyin’ Hawaiian was unhappy moving from second to seventh in the lineup—maybe with good reason. Shane is off to a slow start to the season. He is struggling to get on base so far. But hey, they’ve only played four games. He may just need some time to adjust to batting later in the lineup.

Eighth – Catcher Carlos Ruiz: Carlos is probably never going to be a good offensive player. He is great defensively, but his offense has always been subpar. I doubt Chooch will be able to hit the way he did last postseason.

Granted, it has only been four games, but I am excited about this team. There are very few holes in the lineup, or the whole team in general. The only weakness seems to be the Phils’ very battered bullpen. Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero will be returning to the bullpen soon which should help. Other than the bullpen, this team is elite.

It may be only four games, but the Phillies appear ready to make a run to the World Series. Can they win the World Series? Of course they can. Will they? Only time will tell.

 

 

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MLB Fan Support Running Rampant: Is It a Problem?

As a displaced Philadelphian, currently living in DC, I was relishing the chance to attend my first Phillies game of the 2010 season.

Yesterday afternoon, I met up with a few friends, and headed over to Nationals Park to watch the Phillies take on the Nationals.

The weather was pleasant and Nationals Park is beautiful. I certainly enjoyed myself, but throughout the game, I could not help but notice something—this did not feel like an “away” game.

The ballpark was sparsely populated and the Phillies fans clearly outnumbered their DC counterparts.

The “Let’s Go Phillies!” chants could be heard throughout the game, the Nationals’ starting lineup were audibly booed, and the Nationals pitchers were mercilessly heckled each time they had the audacity throw to first to keep a baserunner on.

I noticed that this has started to become a trend in Major League Baseball.

For years the members of Red Sox Nation have traveled far and wide to outnumber local fans at their own parks, even turning Baltimore’s Camden Yards into Fenway South for a few games a year.

This trend is far from being solely a Boston phenomenon though.

Fans from the baseball powerhouses of Boston and New York have been traveling for years, often overwhelming the local fans of their less fortunate opponents, such as the eternally miserable Kansas City Royals.

Even the recently successful teams like the Tampa Bay Rays have trouble asserting their majority when the Sox or Yankees come to town.

Nor is this strictly an American League occurrence.

On any given day you are likely to find more Phillies fans in Nationals Park, more Cubs fans in PNC Park, or more Dodgers fans at Chase Field.

Now, I know that this is purely a result of some teams being more popular than others, as is the case in all other sports in all other countries.

But my question is whether or not this is detrimental to the game.

Last week the Washington Post had published numerous articles highlighting the immense diaspora of Philadelphians who have almost overwhelmed the city and turned Nationals Park into hostile territory.

These articles, all of which portray the Phillies fans in a negative light, highlight occurrences where these Philadelphian transplants have made the game generally unsavory for the locals.

While this criticism may have more to do with the opposing fans’ actions and behavior, more so than their general presence, the animosity is still there.

I know there is no way to make all the teams equally popular, nor should this be the case. Teams are rewarded for their good decisions with success and popularity.

Baseball is a meritocracy and should remain that way.

I only wonder if there is a way for this popularity to come without the detrimental effects to local fans.

When it comes down to it though, I believe that this is not baseball’s problem, nor is it the individual team’s problem. Instead it comes down to the individual.

As baseball fans we should be able to support our team with all the passion and fervor that we can muster but we should also know when this passion has gone too far.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

When the Phils lose, don’t get down. I’ve found that a really fun way to pass the time is to go to the pet shop, find a big cage of mice, and watch them fight for position on their wheel. Seriously. It’s hysterical. It doesn’t even take mind-altering drugs to enjoy a curious mouse getting damn near decapitated by an ambitious team on a wheel.

But don’t watch if an employee messed up and put one girl in with the guys. Watching a cage full of males with balls bigger than their brains chase an innocent lass about a brothel isn’t for the meek. That’s for Republicans.

Whoa! That comment was way past al dente!

The good news is Kyle Kendrick’s poor start has definitely taken the heat off Cole Hamels. It was disappointing seeing Hamels last only five innings until Kendrick tossed only four.

At least Kendrick didn’t walk the first batter on four pitches like the 2008 World Series MVP. But when Nyjer Morgan stretched the first pitch into a triple, it ignited a Nationals offensive that ended with a 3-0 lead going only five batters deep in the lineup in the first inning. And the long ball didn’t even come into play. That’s a rate of manufacturing I thought only took place in China.

The bad news is, there’s no word on Joe Blanton’s return from a muscle strain. They said he felt nothing, even when he ran, but I swear that’s the tremor that woke me from my nap.

The good news is, we got a good look at our bullpen. The bad news is, we had to get a good look at the bullpen. The biggest surprise to me was that Chad Durbin made an appearance Wednesday as the Durbinator instead of Disturbin’ Durbin. That’s probably because ex-Philly Tyler Walker came out as Kick-Ass and sent six straight Phils back to the dugout to question why we’re batting against him.

Antonio Bastardo is still appearing as a peep show, Ryan Madson has yet to close without prompting my husband to throw the f-bomb, and I don’t think anyone really knows who else is sitting in the pen.

I don’t. I’ll have to sit down with my binoculars at the first game and really check out the physiques. I know it’s creepy but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

More good news: Jayson Werth gets his energy from his hair. He fired up his ugly chop swing to get his first three extra base hits of the season. He’s lucky he’s a sprawling cool drink of water with locks to manhandle ‘cause his swing ain’t got a thing. But his do does. Trust me, the pomp around Rod Blagojevich’s locks is nothing compared to the fantasies Jayson’s rug creates in the minds of middle-aged women.

Okay, maybe I’m speaking for myself. But I’ll bet if the Citizens Bank Park promotional giveaway on Mother’s Day was a Jayson Werth wig, it’d have to come with a dose of Cialis.

More good news… Placido Polanco is exactly as advertised. The Big Machine, Ryan Howard, calls him The Igniter. Polanco was recruited to replace Pedro Feliz, even though when Pedro joined the Phils in 2008, he was slated as one of the best third basemen in the MLB.

I know what it’s like when your best isn’t enough. Even with Victoria’s Secret keenest invention, I barely manage a 32A—and that’s only on a heavy water-retention day. They could make a bra that comes out of the box looking like a sculptured marble bust and I couldn’t hold up a tube top.

But Polanco doesn’t sag. He’s a lifetime .304 hitter. He stayed alive at the plate in the eighth so long I thought I heard the Bee Gees singing.

But it wasn’t enough. When the Nats intentionally walked Ryan Howard to put the winning run on base in the ninth, I was as nervous as a virgin in a Roman Polanski movie. But you can’t win them all. Like an A cup dreaming of supporting a strapless sundress, it wasn’t meant to be. The Phillies lost 5-6 and were 1 for 14 with RISP. Having that many guys in scoring position who fail to make it all the way around the bases is like an eternal state of high school. And equally as frustrating.

So we’ve seen the bullpen. We’ve also seen Jimmy Rollins looking like Jimmy Rollins should; Ryan Howard enjoying the unseasonably warm weather by finding the sweet spot in his bat like the girl he knew the night before, and Tom McCarthy summed up Chase Utley the best— “Man, is he a great baseball player!”

The Phils top five guys did what the top five guys were supposed to do, but ironically pushing Shane Victorino to the seven spot didn’t improve on what Pedro Feliz failed to do late in the lineup either. And no one’s talking about the cold bat of Raul Ibanez.

The good news is, it’s early. Way early. And if the Phillies win two of every three, they’ll end the season with 108 wins.

The bad news is the pet shop’s plumb out of mice.

Go Phils!

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Cole Hamels’ First Start Deceptive in Nature Against Nationals

In 2008, Cole Hamels was everyone’s darling. He lit the world on fire and went on to win the World Series MVP award. He was the “cat’s meow” and he was only 24.

The phenom was looking for a breakout year in 2009, and many fans thought it was coming from the left-hander going into his fourth full year with the club.

The breakout year not only didn’t happen, it was Hamels’ worst year as a pro and resulted in many people questioning his dedication to pitching.

No one mentioned Hamels’ offseason training in 2008, and no one really cared.

But as the 2009 season went on and Hamels’ ERA was getting higher and higher, the skeptics started to come out of the woodwork. I will fully admit that I was one of them and even wrote an article criticizing Hamels left and right.

While I still have a lot of problems with Hamels’ attitude, I decided to turn the page in 2010 and start a new chapter for a new season.

It really impressed me when I heard the reports come out of Clearwater regarding Hamels’ offseason regimen. He was embarrassed in 2009 and realized it, but instead of sulking over his bad season, he is looking to make sure there isn’t a repeat performance of the 2009 he would like to forget.

Instead of resting his arm in the offseason like he did in 2008, he decided to go out and throw a lot to keep his arm in shape.

He not only came into camp in the best shape of his life but also looked to add a cutter to his pitching repertoire that includes a low 90’s fastball, a curve that is either on or off, and his best pitch, the changeup.

I feel like Hamels really grew this past offseason, and because of it he really gained my respect.

This past Wednesday, Hamels had his season debut against the Washington Nationals and pitched pretty well. If you were to look at a quick box score, you would think that the outing was less than desirable. Hamels went 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K while picking up his first win of the season.

While it wasn’t the start everyone was expecting, I was impressed.

If anyone watched the game, Hamels didn’t pitch nearly as badly as his stat line implies.

Most of the pitches that were called a ball were so close they could have gone either way. The ump had a strike zone that was smaller than the Mets’ chance of winning the World Series, and I think anyone who watched the game would agree.

I believe it was Todd McCarthy that made the statement, “Pitchers are just going to have to throw it right over the strike zone tonight to get a strike,” and he was right for most of the night.

Hamels walked four batters, and he only did that a few times last season. If the strike zone had been a little bit bigger, Hamels’ night would have been possibly seven IP with more strikeouts and a lot less walks.

One telling sign from Hamels’ start was how he reacted to Ian Desmond’s HR, and it wasn’t what I was looking for. After giving up the HR, he immediately got into trouble with giving up a walk and then a base hit to Josh Willingham.

In my mind it was his only real flaw of the night, something he still needs to work on.

Most people aren’t pleased with Hamels’ first start, but I really think it was a good one, and I think we’re going to get a much better look at what we are going to get in 2010 when Hamels takes on Washington next Monday.

Make sure to check out my series recap from the Phillies-Nationals 2010 start.

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Cole Hamels Struggles, but Phillies Win Behind Potent Offense

This was not the debut that Cole Hamels had been hoping for. From all the hype of his spring training progress you half-expected him to go out and throw a no-hitter, and since it was against the lowly Washington Nationals, it might as well have made it a perfect game. 

Instead, Hamels labored through 5 innings. He gave up 5 hits, walked 4, and allowed 2 earned runs. It did not look pretty, but he was effective enough, and most importantly he didn’t allow the “big inning” that plagued him during his 2009 campaign. 

Phillies fans may be accused of demanding perfection, but with this teams offense, it seems like a lot less will suffice. 

The Phillies hitters were once again unleashed upon the Nationals and they punished starter Jason Marquis to the tune of 8 hits, 3 walks, and 6 earned runs through only 4 innings. 

They did it with power, but more impressively, they did it with patience. 

Although it is only two games, I have to say I have been very excited with the Phillies’ patience at the plate. It seems as if Placido Polanco’s grinder strategy has rubbed off on the rest of the lineup, who have occasionally been known to swing freely.

I have been particularly impressed with Jimmy Rollins. After last season’s miserable start, he simply seems more comfortable at the plate. He has not been swinging at as many first pitches, instead opting to wait for that right one that he can slap through the gap or drive down the line. No one will ever accuse Jimmy of being Kevin Youkilis, but if he can improve his on-base percentage the Phillies lineup will be even more of a force. 

All in all it was another effective performance by the Phils. Hamels didn’t mirror Halladay’s masterful Monday performance and the offense didn’t completely blow out the Nationals pitching staff (although they came pretty close), but a win is a win and over the course of a 162-game season, even the early, seemingly mundane games, can come back to matter.

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