Ryan Howard did it...he sure did!  A 2-run home run in the bottom of the tenth was just what the doctor ordered. I mean, seriously, how much better are these games where the Phillies win.  Ten minutes after the moonshot I had to be told to calm down and stop jumping on the bed by my roommates.  Howard knew it too, I don't even think he saw the ball leave the bat, he just calmly glanced towards his teammates in the dugout, bobbed his head and thought quietly to himself, "Yea, I am the man."

After going another game without a strikeout, Ryan and his homer in essence rewarded the Phillies pitchers for a game well-played.  Adam Eaton pitched a solid 5+ innings allowing just two runs in his comeback, while Geary, Romero and Myers kept the Mets at 2 runs.  Tom Glavine to his credit had a masterful outing, scattering eight hits over seven innings; but the Phils feasted on Mets relievers for two runs in the eighth and tenth with two of the runs being scored by Shane Victorino. 

Yet, the series with the Mets continues and their shrinking 4 game lead over the Fightins' could easily inflate back to 6 without more heroics by the Phillies.  Jamie Moyer, who has allowed eight runs in each of his last two starts, looks to rebound tonight and keep the momentum going.  Go Phils!

That's what I'm talking about!  Everyone, including myself, always like to talk about Chase Utley - how he's a special player that will play through pain and excel at everything he does.  Well, Chase certainly lived up to the hype last night.  In his first game back from a broken hand he went 3-for-5 including a solo shot to straight-away center that even Brett Myers would appreciate.   The home run put the NL East on notice:  Chase is back. 

Philly fans, as we tend to do, ate up every second of Utley's amazing performance.  Chase got a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the first inning and earned a curtain call after homering in the fifth.  Fans chanted "M-V-P" after his RBI double in the sixth.  Yet, like all superstars he made his teammates better.  Not to be outdone by Utley's solo shot, Tad Iguchi - Utley's replacement for the past month - made his presence known with a 2-run pinch hit homer of his own in the seventh.  Although, Utley's affect on the drama of last night's game can be easily overstated, it is impossible to deny the infectiousness of his return.  Shane Victorino, who sat out after tweaking his calf injury, was noticeably impressed as he danced around the dugout like a little schoolgirl.  "Chase coming out with a bang like he did tonight, people are probably going to be worried," Ryan Howard said.  Mets Coach Willie Randolph expressed his concern in saying, "I'm not looking forward to seeing him."

Ok, let's allow reality to set back in and recognize that the Phillies are still a long way from the playoffs.  As stated yesterday, Ryan Howard - who had two hits last night - must continue to reduce the strikeouts if the Phillies are to overcome their pitching woes.  Speaking of which, Adam Eaton returns to the hill tonight after a fortnight of mental and physical recuperation.  Plus there are rumors that Cole Hamels will also start this week.  The Phillies are coming back - first from injuries and hopefully next from five games behind.

Programming Note:  The comment tallies at the bottom of posts all list (1249).   You'll have to click on it to see if there are new comments.  We've been doing some upgrades in preparation for a redesign of the site and must have struck a power line or something.  We're working on fixing it so thanks for your patience.     

The Phillies managed to salvage a single game from the Wild-Card leading Padres this weekend as the offensive arose from their recent slumber en route to a 14-2 victory.  The drubbing was led by Ryan Howard who hit his 35th homer and collected his 103th RBI (tops in the NL).  With the Phillies bullpen in the shape it currently is, this was a much needed contribution by Ryan Howard.  As I touched upon briefly in the most recent radio interview and as regular commenter Greg noted, only Ryan Howard can carry this team to the playoffs.

Fortunately Howard has been building a reputation of coming on strong towards the end of the season.  Last season he batted .387 in September, and the year before he hit 11 home runs that same month.  All season he has been battling strikeouts, amassing 152 coming into Sunday.  However in the past six games, he has struck out just 3 times, including going without a K in 4 of those games.  He must continue that positive trend this week with the Mets in town.

Another reason why Ryan should carry this team down the stretch is that it's a contract year for him.  Back in January he felt slighted as he watched Chase Utley signed a $85 million deal and he got a paltry $900,000.  Yet, Ryan Howard isn't the kind of guy that would be jealous of Chase in this situation, rather he would become motivated by the oportunity to prove a point - that he is a career home run hitter.  All indications from the Phillies front office last off-season seemed to center on the idea that if Ryan stayed healthy and continued to produce, he would become a wealthy man.  But all money issues aside, a resurgant Ryan Howard is maybe the only thing that can save this season.

Last week I on the radio interview, I was proclaiming how the Phillies were going to win the Wild Card after a successful series in DC.  Now things aren't looking so hot.  After dropping 2 of 3 to the Pirates and the Dodgers, the Phillies are now scrambling for starting pitching as they begin a series with Wild Card leaders, the San Diego Padres.  So on this week's interview, I was singing a different tone. 

Listen to Brian explain the Cole Hamels situation and flip-flop on the Phillies chances.

The Phillies distressing week started off poorly in Pittsburgh.  The club gave up four-run leads in two consecutive games and lost a series to a team they should have beat.  As the Wild Card picture became more opaqaue, I got to thinking, maybe it would be better to focus on the Mets in this playoff race.  Of course New York has won seven of ten, but at least the Phils would only be chasing a single team.  Also, not to look past the Padres, but the Phils open up a four game series with New York on Monday to close out this home stand.  Padres and Mets back-to-back, without Chase Utley and without Cole Hamels...is it even possible?

The Phillies announced yesterday that ace Cole Hamels will miss his start tonight due to a strained elbow on his pitching arm.  He will have an MRI today to determine the cause of the soreness and extent of a possible injury.  If Hamels is placed on the DL it would bring the tally of Phillies on the disabled list to 13.  Cole had complained of soreness last week though he pitched through the pain to collect his 14th win in Washington.  He leads the team in Innings Pitched (6th in the NL) with over 167 and is known for his longer-than usual training sessions during off days.  Of course we must recall the fact that Cole hasn't seen a full season of pitching since high school.  Perhaps the grind of a major league season is taking a toll on the young phenom.  The team doctors said he could be out anywhere from one to three weeks.  My only worry is that last year when Cole went down with an injury, he realized that he could have played through the pain and likely shouldn't have mentioned it.  He pitched well on Thursday but if he says he can't start tonight, then I'm afraid it could be serious.  Let's hope the MRI provides good news.  In the meantime, J.D. Durbin gets the nod tonight.

INJURY UPDATE:  The number of Phillies on the DL remains at 12 as Cole Hamels was placed on the 15-day list with a "mild left elbow strain" and Shane Victorino was activated.  The good news is that Cole's MRI showed no structural damage and his placement on the DL is retroactive to August 17.  This means he is eligible to return to the team on September 1 and will miss his next three scheduled starts.

As Cole Hamels and his newly trimmed hair took care of the Nationals last night in the blazing heat of DC, I discussed the Phillies chances this season over on WNJC radio.

To listen to the interview click on the play button below.  If no bar appears, use the text link to download or stream it.

Brian talks about Phillies Nation and the Phillies chances this season on WNJC.

The Phils continue their road to the playoffs by traveling to Pittsburgh this weekend.  J.D Durbin gets the nod tonight in favor of the much-maligned and now injured Adam Eaton.  He faces off against lefty Tom Gorzelanny who has been on fire this month, winning two games (including a complete game) while keeping a 1.13 ERA.  Jamie Moyer (4-0 in his last 5 starts) and Kyle Loshe (undefeated as a Phillie) also take to the hill for the Phillies.  The Pirates lineup scored 22 runs in three games against the Mets this past week, but the team was only able to manage a single win in the series.  Also look for Shane Victorino to make his return to the Phillies bench.  He won't play however, he had a minor setback in his rehab assignment earlier this week.

What is your ideal starting rotation for the Nationals in 2008?

Steph: This is a tough one because it seems you never know what might happen to our rotation. We have had 12 different starters this year!  It has been a treat this year to watch guys like Redding, Bacsik, and Simontacchi come up with great stuff and prove they still have what it takes. A lot of their success does come from Randy's guidance, but I think our catchers Brian Schneider and Jesus Flores play a part also, both call a great game.   If I could choose I would have Bergman, Hill, Chico, and Hanrahan on the roster for sure. I am anxious to see what happens if our draft pick Ross Detwiler makes it to the big leagues this season. Depending on the stuff he throws, my fifth pick would be between Detwiler and Lannan. It's encouraging to have a couple of young prospects.  

Kristen:  I'd like to see Hill and Chico stay in the starting five.  I'm encouraged by the excellent work of (dare I say it) John Lannan and Joel Hanrahan.   There's also room for a lot of competition from some stellar young guys (Collin Balester), veterans like Simontacchi and Redding or even our first round draft pick this year, Ross Detwiler.  I think Randy St. Claire is pretty much invincible.   He can work with anyone we give him and somehow – he can make it work.  With Randy around, we can handle anything  that comes our way.

Lindsey: Redding, Hill, Chico, Lannan and Simontacchi

Do you have any inside info on some of the cool stuff to expect in the Nats' new stadium next year?

Steph:  We haven't heard many specific details. However, I have heard that there will be cup holders for every seat in the stadium. That's something Nats fans seem really excited about. Also an expansive new scoreboard, new restaurants (hopefully better food options!), cherry blossoms, and views of the Capitol, all things DC! 

Continue reading "Phillies-Nationals Rubber Match Tonight "

The Phils are opening a series with the Nationals in DC, so you know what that means, road trips and tailgate parties!  If anyone is coming down, let us know and you can join in the festivities.  Commenters have already hatched some plans last week, and below are the details for the official Phillies Nation tailgate party for Wednesday's game.  For those that will be stuck in Philly this week, don't worry, we have something in store for you too.

Wednesday Night - Tailgate Party at Phils-Nats game in DC

The Phillies meet up with the Nationals in the second game of the three game series on August 15 at 7:05 pm.  Rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick (5-2, 3.75) takes on Tim Redding (1-3, 2.86) and the rest of the Washington ballclub that is looking to move out of the NL East cellar.  We will be tailgate starting at 5:30 pm outside the stadium - looking at this map of the RFK parking lots, we are planning the party for Lot 3.  If you can't find the swath of people having fun in Howard-Utley '08 shirts, call me for directions at 215-510-0704.  Booze and food will be provided as well a Phillies Nation gear for a lucky few.

Thursday Night - Phillies Nation on Radio 1360 AM

For the Philly and Jersey folks, Thursday night at 9:30 pm, mute the game and tune into 1360 AM for an interview with yours truly.  I'll be talking with Mike from WNJC whose show runs Thursday nights from 9-10 pm.  Fans are encouraged to call into the program with questions and comments at (856) 227-1360.  For people outside the listening area, you can catch the interview at 1360 AM online.

We've heard all season how the Phillies vaulted offense is one of the best in the league, yet it's hard to appreciate that while the team is hovering around .500.  Looking at MLB team stats helps to validate the point as the Phillies are often found in the echelons of the Red Sox and resurgent Yankees.  In all of baseball, the Phillies score the third-most runs, are third in on-base percentage, and second in slugging percentage (the Yanks lead all those categories).  This list continues:  third in home runs, third in total bases, first in extra-base hits, first in stolen base percentage.  Although they only rank eighth in total team batting average, they lead the majors in plate appearances and walks.  One troubling statistic, however, is strikeouts where they rank eighth while the other top teams are near the bottom of that dubious list.  Still, these are some impressive numbers even if they do not quite approach the team statistics of the 1927 Yankees (.307 team batting average!) or 2004 Red Sox.

Then there are the dismal pitching stats - 23rd in ERA, 22nd in saves, 24th in shutouts, 23rd in WHIP.  The Phils pitching staff has allowed the sixth-most earned runs in all of baseball, while opponents have the 10th best batting average against and sixth best on-base percentage.  You usually can't blame the other eight fielders here, as the Fightins' consistently rank in the top third in most MLB-wide defensive categories. So it's the pitching that is keeping the Phillies from breaking out of the pack and securing a playoff spot - no new news there.  But can we also blame management?  Adam Eaton turned out to be a big bust and Freddy Garcia arrived in Philly as damaged goods.  There's been no added support, just subtractions due to injury.  Usually you can't pin the latter on management, but some critics say the fact that Myers and Madson went down with the same injury may prove a flawed training regiment.  Either way, the Phillies need consistent pitching because when you score 635 runs and allow just 581 you should win a few more games.

Chase Utley is slowing recovering from his broken right hand.  He visited with doctors yesterday to remove the stitches left over from the operation that inserted a stabilizing pin into his hand.  Chase has not been cleared to grip a bat or perform hand exercises, however he will continue to field ground balls and participate in other range-of-motion exercises.  Utley will see Dr. Randall Culp again on Aug. 20 and if the doc lets him pick up a bat, he could return to the team within a week.  This puts his earliest possible return at August 27, just in time for a four game series against the Mets in Philly. 

But even if Chase is ready August 27, will he be the same Chase Utley that went on the DL on July 27?  We all know Chase gives 100% in everything he does, but what if physically his hand is only at 80 or 90%?  There is a good chance at least for the first few weeks he is back that his offensive numbers will be lower, he might even be less inclined to lay out for a screaming grounder in the hole.  How Chase recovers from this injury will be an interesting clue into his status as a superstar.  He signed an $85 million contract in the off-season but an injury could mean the Phillies have a different player on their hands.  Good thing for Phillies and their fans that Chase Utley rarely disappoints.

Monday off days are great opportunities for taking stock of the season, looking ahead on the schedule and managing expectations.   That said, the Phils have 51 games remaining in the 2007 baseball season - 51 games to get back to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.  So what are the chances the Phillies will make this playoffs this year?  Some say 25%; but as Phillies fans, we all know we can't rely on the percentages.

There are 29 games remaining at home and 22 on the road.  Fortunately, this season the Phillies have finally begun to improve their record in Philadelphia (29-23 thus far).  To make it to 90 wins, they'd have to go 32-19.  In other words, the Phillies would have to win at least two games in each of their remaining 16 series.  A much more likely feat would be to reach Charlie Manuel's magic number of 85 wins and go 27-24 the rest of the season.  However, much of deciding how many games the Phillies can win revloves around the matchups they face.  We know how the Phils stack up any given day so let's look at their opponents.

Nine games remain against the NL West teams, save the one with Barry Bonds.  Then there is a three game series with the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.  There are also 3 games against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh which will involve a tailgate party with our friends from Philly Tailgate.  As always, the bulk of the schedule remains against the NL East with 35 games yet to play in the division.  Also as usual, the Phillies will wrap up September with some games against the Nationals.  Besides a DC tailgate party on September 22, we will have a group together for the games next week at RFK.  If any one from Washington, DC or the surrounding area is interested in going to the games August 14-17, let us know.  Although I'm not too worried about the 10 games left against the Nationals, the Phillies 18-19 record against the division does not bode well for reaching 90 wins.

The Phils are dropping like a Ryan Howard pop up as newcomer Kyle Loshe is the latest player to be beset by injury.  After hitting batters Aramis Ramirez and Cliff Floyd in his 29-pitch first inning of yesterday, Lohse took a Jacque Jones batted ball off his right forearm.  In witnessing the injury it seemed like it would a real bad bruise, and fortunately that's all it has turned out to be.  He is listed as day-to-day with a right forearm contusion. 

If anything, Loshe will miss his next start and be replaced by he-who-was-replaced, J.D. Durbin who came in to pitch after Loshe.  Still, between the two of them, they only managed four innings and allowed four runs.  Then of course the bullpen allowed the Cubs to chip away at the lead until the Phils finally put things to rest with a trio of insurance runs in the ninth to cap off a 10-6 victory.  Coming off the heels of Brett Myers' meltdown Wednesday night, things look frightening heading into Milwaukee.  Kendrick, Hamels, and Eaton will all start against the Brew Crew who just dropped two of three to the Mets.

One parting note, yesterday's "Under the Knife" feature on Baseball Prospectus hinted that maybe Aaron Rowand's hard-nosed style of play has rubbed off on his fellow outfielders - and that's why they are on the DL.