Cole Hamels: Pitcher Shows Respect for Bryce Harper by Plunking on Purpose

Starting pitcher Cole Hamels intentionally hit rookie sensation Bryce Harper with a pitch on Sunday during a Philadelphia Phillies loss to the Washington Nationals.

We know the plunking was with purpose because Hamels actually admitted as much. According to Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the pitcher stated:

I was trying to hit him. I’m not going to deny it. It’s something I grew up watching. That’s what happened. I’m just trying to continue the old baseball. Some people get away from it. I remember when I was a rookie, the strike zone was really, really small and you didn’t say anything. That’s the way baseball is. Sometimes the league is protecting certain players. It’s that old-school prestigious way of baseball.

In a way, Hamels’ act and his roundabout way of apologizing/explaining it shows a great deal of respect for the 19-year-old OF.

Philadelphia was letting Harper know that the team actually fears him and wants to get him off the inside of the plate. The Phillies have seen what the kid has done during his limited plate appearances and do not want to get burned as well.

During the three-game series between the two teams, Harper was at the plate 10 times, garnering two hits and four walks while striking out just twice. The Nationals also won the first two games of the weekend matchup.

It was time that Hamels—only 28 years of age, but an old soul—made the decision to keep the young man in line and teach him to respect the veterans in the league.

It’s certainly not going to be the last instance in which an opposing pitcher gets fed up with the well-hyped phenom and throws a ball inside at him.

When Harper was asked about being HBP, he didn’t have much to say.

According to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), he said, “Hamels threw a great game tonight.”

Harper actually made Hamels pay for the beaning later in the inning. As the pitcher was attempting a pick-off throw to first, the rookie decided to imitate Ty Cobb and make a break for home. He successfully stole the base and scored a run.

The Phillies ended up winning, 9-3, but most importantly, this rivalry may have just been kicked up a notch due to Harper and Hamels. 

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ESPN Sunday Night Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies (13-15) and Washington Nationals (18-9) will close out a three-game National League East series on Sunday night at Nationals Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 ET on ESPN.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Phillies as +105 road underdogs, while the total has held steady at its opening number of 6.

Philadelphia has dropped the first two games of this series, including a 7-1 setback on Saturday afternoon, which moved the club to 4-6 in day games this year. The Phillies will be glad to be facing a right-handed starter in this contest, as they’ve dropped six consecutive games against southpaws.

Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.78 ERA) is definitely a nice option to have on the mound when looking to snap a losing streak, leading the club to four consecutive wins since suffering a 6-2 home loss against the Miami Marlins in his season debut on April 9.

The left-hander boasts a perfect 2-0 record and 2.25 ERA in three road starts, issuing four walks and striking out 17 in 20 combined innings. Tonight will be his fourth straight outing away from Citizens Bank Park.

In 20 career games versus the Nationals, Hamels has compiled a 10-4 mark and 2.71 ERA, including a 2-0 record and 2.05 ERA in four career efforts at this ballpark. He has not surrendered a hit to former teammate Jayson Werth in six at-bats against him.

The Phillies are 9-1 in Hamels’ last 10 starts in this series, while the “over” is 22-7-1 in the last 30 meetings overall in the nation’s capital.

Washington is 8-1 in nine series this year, and is led by a starting rotation that has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 18 of 27 games. The group leads all of baseball with a 2.09 ERA.

Jordan Zimmerman (1-2, 1.89 ERA) has been a key member of the staff, as he looks to bounce back from his worst effort of the 2012 campaign, giving up four runs (three earned) and eight hits over 6.1 innings in a 5-1 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The right-hander is searching for his first win of the season in front of the home crowd, going 0-1 with a 2.21 ERA in three starts at Nationals Park, as he’s received just six runs of support in those contests.

Zimmerman will also look to notch his first victory against the Phillies, coming in with a 0-2 mark and 6.60 ERA in three outings. 

The Nationals are 5-12 in Zimmerman’s last 17 starts versus divisional foes, while the “under” has cashed in six straight games when he’s a home favorite.

Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a slight 5-10 mph breeze out of the southeast (right to left).

 

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports

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Carlos Ruiz: Why the Phillies’ Catcher Deserves to Start the 2012 All Star Game

When Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz first joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, he was coming off of a season in Double-A Reading in which he posted a .385 batting average with five doubles and six home runs in 91 at-bats. As a result of these numbers, Ruiz received his major league call-up and started 27 games with the Phillies.

In 2007, he was awarded the starting catching job with the Phillies, among talk of concern regarding his ability to hit, catch and have his body hold up for the entire season. As insurance, the Phillies signed Rod Barajas in the 2006 offseason to back up their catching prospect. An injury to Barajas left an opening for the 33-year old-rookie Chris Coste to start, but instead Ruiz got the majority of the catching time. In the 115 games he played in, he hit .259 and recorded career highs in doubles (29) and RBI (54).

Playing great backstop from behind the plate, Ruiz showed his doubters and quickly dispelled the thoughts that he couldn’t be a major league catcher. He instantly endeared himself to fans by a few clutch hits and key plays behind the plate, earning him the nickname of “Chooch.”

After 2007, Ruiz never looked back. He earned the full-time catching job outright and has been as vital to this team as any other player in recent years. His defense and pitch calling have never been in question and his offense is continually improving. He has been this team’s MVP time and time again, but has never gotten to start or even made the NL All-Star team. 2012, however, could and should be his year.

Follow @mgallagher17

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Philadelphia Phillies: Who’s the Real Ace in the Phillies Staff?

With the lackluster offensive performance out of the Phillies’ bats this season, fans are starting to question where is the strength in this World Series-hopeful team.

With RBI machine Ryan Howard out for what seems like a significant time, and an unknown return time for Chase Utley, Philadelphia needs to look toward the team’s pitchers for a boost of motivation. 

Why not the pitching staff?

They have three legitimate aces that, at any time, can perform at a championship level. They have pitched in big games but also have been extremely consistent throughout the years.

But the question is, who would you want on the mound in a must-win game?

That, ladies and gentleman, has become quite the dilemma.

It seems that Cliff “ice in his veins” Lee is not in the picture since he was placed on the disabled list. So that must make the “Doc” Halladay the favorite right?

Not just yet. Although Halladay has proven he is one of the most dominant right-hand pitchers in the league, he may not be the best starting pitcher on the Phils pitching staff.

Let me introduce the big, bad, Joe Blanton.  

Blanton threw his first shutout victory in five years. That’s right, five years. Think about what you were doing five years ago. Well the big guy is back, and has shown signs of life.

Joe Blanton is the guy for the Phillies. I hope everyone understands that this is going to be an “out of the ordinary” year for the Phillies.

Do not give up on the City of Brotherly Love just yet. Joe Blanton is the 2012 savior, and everyone will grow to love him

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Philedelphia Phillies: What Each Player Must Do to Help Continue Winning Ways

The Philadelphia Phillies are not a team built to play .500 baseball.

Yet that’s exactly what they’ve done through the first month of the season. Sure, they have their excuses. Any team would struggle with the meat of its order shelved on the disabled list. But the Phillies have never been a team to make excuses.

For every All-Star player on the disabled list, the Phillies have an adequate replacement in some way shape or form. You can’t replace those guys, but you can certainly hold down the fort until they return, and that’s what the Phillies are beginning to do.

Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are on the disabled list? Ty Wigginton and Laynce Nix have played well at first base. Freddy Galvis has lived up to every bit of his reputation as a sensational defender. Cliff Lee is on the disabled list? Kyle Kendrick has experience in the starting rotation.

The fact of the matter is that although this team can make excuses, they won’t. They know that they shouldn’t be playing .500 baseball.

Here’s what they need to do to win ball games from here on out.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 2012 MLB All-Star Game Chances for Each Phillie

The Phillies have star power. Whether they are in first place or last, the names in that lineup are recognizable throughout the baseball world.

While some (most) of the 11 former All-Stars boasted by the club are on the downward slopes of their respective careers, being voted to the All-Star Game is often as much about popularity as it is about performance.

Of the 34 players on the National League roster, though, only the eight starting position players are voted by the fans. The next 16, including five starting pitchers, three relievers and eight backup position players, are voted in by their peers.

The roster is then filled out by the manager—who this season will be none other than Tony La Russa—leaving one spot open for the final fan vote.

While the Phillies haven’t been as dominating as fans would’ve hoped or expected before the season began, they have still had some standout performers who will undoubtedly garner consideration for inclusion in the Midsummer Classic. 

Albeit with a good amount of baseball between now and then, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think the Phillies can match last year’s total of five All Stars, despite the sluggish start.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Multiple Concerns with Roy Halladay

There was a lot of talk during spring training about Roy Halladay‘s velocity being down.  That was quickly forgotten when Halladay won his first three starts, compiling an ERA of 1.17 while allowing just three earned runs in 23 innings.

Since then, the Phillies have lost three straight Halladay starts.  How rare is that? It never happened in 2011. As a matter of fact, the Phillies didn’t even lose their third Halladay start until the 54-game mark last season and didn’t lose their fourth until the 95th game.

The last time the Phillies lost three consecutive Halladay starts was 2010 when they lost 2-0 to Florida, 8-3 to the Yankees and 4-1 to Minnesota.  Those were in games numbered 58, 62 and 67. After their first three wins with Halladay this season, the Phillies were an amazing 49-19 (.721) with him on the mound. 

So are there valid reasons to be concerned about Halladay?

Well, first off, Halladay left the Phillies after the game Wednesday night to attend to a personal matter.  While that wouldn’t indicate anything is wrong with him physically, something mentally could be affecting his performance.

Halladay has always been known as a cerebral pitcher who prepares meticulously for every start. Personal issues could be affecting that preparation.

On the physical side, Halladay’s velocity is down. He typically would hit 93-94 mph in 2010 and 2011,  and he’s just not getting there this season.  Over his last three starts, Halladay is 0-2 with a 6.05 ERA. 

In Wednesday night’s game, after being given a generous six-run lead, Halladay started pounding the strike zone. But the Braves were able to bleed a few hits together.  Then Halladay hung a fat cutter in the middle of the plate and Phillies’ killer Brian McCann destroyed it.

Halladay not being able to make it through the sixth inning depleted the bullpen and forced Michael Schwimer and Brian Sanches to pitch in unfamiliar roles.

In summary, yes, the Phillies and their fans do need to be concerned about Halladay.  His mental makeup and physical tools both appear to be trending downward. Ruben Amaro’s master plan of winning another championship based on pitching might be blowing up right in front of his eyes.

Cliff Lee is already on the shelf.  Wouldn’t it be something if when Ryan Howard and Chase Utley finally get healthy, two of the three stud pitchers the Phillies trot out there are unable to perform.

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John Mayberry vs. Juan Pierre: Why Big John Must Start for the Phillies

Many people, including myself, looked at John Mayberry Jr this year and saw Jayson Werth circa 2008: the right side of a platoon that would play so well Charlie Manuel would have no choice but to play him every day.

Needless to say, that hasn’t happened—yet. So far this season, he’s hit .226 with no homers and only two RBI. Accompanying those numbers are a whopping 18 strikeouts in 53 at-bats.

On the other hand, his main competition for the starting left field job, Juan Pierre, is hitting .313 with four RBI. Ty Wigginton’s sterling early-season form has also meant fewer starts for Mayberry at first base than originally thought.

As Ryan Howard’s comeback tour finally starts swinging into gear, Mayberry’s best place for playing time will undoubtedly be left. However, manager Charlie Manuel has fallen in love with Pierre and is denying Mayberry the playing time he desperately needs to round into form.

Don’t let the numbers fool you. The Phillies are better served with Mayberry getting the lion’s share of playing time in left. Here are some good reasons why.

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Roy Halladay’s Nightmare at Turner Field: What’s Up Doc?

As if the Philadelphia Phillies don’t have enough issues, now their ace, Roy Halladay, is starting to show signs of actually being mortal like the rest of us.

Halladay, whose 3-2 start to 2012 has seen more walks and fewer Ks than usual, got touched for 12 hits and eight earned runs in less than six innings at Turner Field on Wednesday evening.

Doc had been staked to a 6-0 lead by the Phils, but a disastrous six-hit bottom of the fifth undid that lead, capped by a grand slam from Brian McCann. To be sure, the other Braves hits were all singles, including an infield chopper, but Halladay’s location seemed lacking.

Halladay, perspiring profusely in the 80-degree evening temperatures, returned to the mound in the bottom of the sixth, only to surrender three more hits, including a two-run single by Jason Heyward.

Luckily for Halladay, he escaped an L, as the Phils rallied to retake the lead (only to lose 15-13 in 11 innings). 

Halladay’s Atlanta outing could be an aberration, or something more ominous. Everyone took notice when, late last month, he walked three straight (Padres) batters for the first time in his career.

So, just what is going on here? Is he nursing an undisclosed injury? Is he losing a bit of velocity as he approaches his 35th birthday this month? A loss of even two to three mph off the fastball can be quite enticing to the professional hitters in the MLB.

Or, are his past few starts just an uncharacteristic blip in what will turn out to be another dominating season by one of the best pitchers MLB has seen in the past decade?

His next start will be at home against the Mets next week.

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Charlie Manuel’s 10 Worst Managing Decisions of the Season

Charlie Manuel is a guy that players love to play for. He has a good feel for the pulse of his locker room, and that was on full display when he led the 2008 Phillies to a World Series title.

Not all of Manuel’s in-game decisions, though, deserve the same level of praise as the rapport he has managed to develop with his players.

Charlie makes more than his fair share of questionable pinch-hitting substitutions, pitching changes and lineup choices. Here are his 10 worst decisions of the season so far.

*Special shoutout to the blog Charlie’s Manuel, which evaluates Charlie’s decisions each game and was very helpful in my research for this article.

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