.500

(originally posted 5/19/07)
The Phillies have won 7 of their last 10 games, and have been playing inspired baseball. On Wednesday, they finally reached the .500 mark for the first time this season, at 20-20. They haven't yet managed to go over the .500 mark, but considering that they were short of the .300 mark only a month ago (4-10, .286 on April 19th), their current record is quite impressive.

On Wednesday night, they finally reached the .500 mark, at 20-20. Ryan Howard Bobblehead Night featured a Citizens Bank Park crowd of 42,713, who had to endure a 92 minute rain delay prior to the start of the game. But the game was more than worth the wait. The Phillies jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after two innings, with the bulk of the scoring coming on a three-run HR by Aaron Rowand. (While I have long hoped Rowand would be traded for a reliever, such as a Linebrink, I'm starting to think the Phils have made the right call in hanging onto Rowand.) The Phillies only scored one more run after the third, but it was more than enough.

Cole Hamels, the 2007-2091 Cy Young Award winner, was the big story. He took a PERFECT GAME into the seventh inning, and it looked like he could join the likes of Bunning, Wise, Mulholland, and Greene in the Phils No-Hit Club. (Note: This club is for PITCHERS who did not allow a hit in a game, NOT pitchers who could never GET hits. Sorry, Don.) Hamels' stuff, as usual, was overpowering, and the Brewers were simply outclassed. However, Rickie Weeks led off the Brewers' 7th with a walk, and J. J. Hardy followed with a 2 run HR. The no-hitter and shutout were gone. But Hamels composed himself, and allowed only one additional hit. He finished with eleven K's and one (!) walk in his brilliant 8 inning, 114 pitch, performance. With a 4 run lead in the 9th, Phils MGR Charlie Manuel inexplicably brought in Brett Myers, who pitched a scoreless inning in a non-save situation. The Phillies had reached .500!

In Hamels' 32 career starts, he has pitched to a 15-9 record and a 3.83 ERA. He has 215 K's and only 65 walks in 195 MLB innings. Not bad for a 23 year old. Extrapolating that out over his entire career you will get:
W: 1275 L:9 ERA: 1.13 K: 18705
It's pretty safe to say that Cooperstown will find a spot for Colbert Michael Hamels.

The Thursday afternoon game against Milwaukee featured another Phillies starting pitcher throwing 114 pitches. Unfortunately, Freddy Garcia only made it through 5.2 innings on that pitch count. When he was pulled, the bases were loaded, but Geoff Geary saved the Phils and Garcia's ERA (4.86), by getting of the jam. Brewers ace Ben Sheets was overpowering, limiting the hot Phils' bats to only two runs (including a Pat Burrell HR) in 7.2 innings. The Brewers' stingy closer, Francisco Cordero, finished up for the save. But not without some excitement, as the Phillies were almost able to battle back, before bowing 3-2. Pat Burrell hit a ball off the top of the LF fence, but it bounced back into the field of play for a double. (If the Phans behind the LF had formed up a human chain and lowered one of their compatriots into the flower bed to make the catch, the Phils could have won that game. They need to work on that manuever, in case it's needed in the Series.) The tying run was stranded, as Wes Helms and Abraham Nunez were retired. The Phils fell back to 20-21, and had failed in their attempt to sweep the four game series.

The highlight of the game may have been the streaker who ran onto the field in the seventh inning, holding his pants. While some say he looks like Will Ferrell, I don't see it. (He kind of looks how I envision Red from Surviving Grady looks like. Only I imagine Red has more tattoos, all of the pirate-themed variety.) The streaker probably could have been used off the bench by the Phils in the bottom of the 9th, but he was taken off to prison. He should be available for pinch-hitting duties in a year, with good behavior.

The Phillies Friday PM game featured the start of an interleague battle with their arch-enemies, the Toronto Blue Jays. Phillies players have been conditioned to hate the Blue Jays, ever since the infamous 1993 World Series. Cole Hamels described the process: "They put you in this tiny room, and you watch that HR again and again, interspersed with video of Dave Hollins smashing live blue jays with a bat. It's brutal. And they're playing the same Obituary song the whole time. I can never listen to Obituary again. Plus, every time I see a blue jay, I start to scream. That's about it. Oh, and I hate the Blue Jays. Hate 'em!"

The Phils were dominated by Jays starter Dustin McGowan, who held the Phillies scoreless until the 5th. But they knocked him out of the game with a five spot. Jon Lieber pitched brilliantly, holding the Jays scoreless through six innings. However, he allowed a 2 run HR in the 7th, and a solo shot in the 8th, before giving way to Roger Mason, who retired the only batter he was allowed to face. Inexplicably, Mason was removed from the game, in favor of David West, who walked the only batter he faced. Phils MGR Jim Fregosi continued to play matchups, calling radio announcer Larry Eugene Andersen into the game. Andersen hit one batter, and walked another, but managed to get out of a bases-loaded jam.

The Phils led by a run, going into the 9th. Fregosi decided to go to closer Mitch Williams to finish the game, despite the fact that Williams had been a bit on the ineffective side lately. Curt Schilling and Jon Lieber sat beside each other, heads covered in towels, fearing the inevitable disaster. But that disaster never came. Williams retired Rickey Henderson, Devon White, and Paul Leo Molitor in order, utilizing his guile and an 80 MPH fastball. The game ended with Joe Carter in the on deck circle. The ghosts had finally been silenced. (But not the blue jay screams in Colbert Michael's troubled mind.)