(originally posted 9/12/07)
That was pretty bad. Shut down by some rookie pitcher named Morales. Another horrible performance by Adam Eaton. Putrid outings from the most putrid members of a bullpen that is, well, putrid. With a 7-0 deficit, going into the bottom of the 7th, I thought the Phils still had a chance. Hell, they've had some impressive comebacks, and the Red Sox had already come back from an eight-run deficit on the TV next door. With the Phillies' potent offense, it was possible, right?
The Phils did pull to within 7-2, propelled by Jimmy Rollins' 27th homer, but that was a close as they got. Rockies 8, Phillies 2. With the Padres winning, the Phillies' Wild Card chances continued to decrease. But not enough to be overly concerned.
The Phillies last remaining free agent starter is a bit of a concern, however. Eaton is now 9-9 for the season, with an ERA of 6.31. He has a 7.47 ERA in his last 13 starts. He has the worst HR/IP ratio in baseball. Fortunately, the Phils only have to pay for another two years of this. At about $16 million. Hell, I don't even know if he has a spot on the playoff roster. Kendrick, Hamels, and Lohse. That's all the Phils will need. Their Baseball Prospectus playoff odds went down to about 20% after Tuesday night's loss (I calculated their odds at 81.9%, so I'd have to question the statistical validity of BP's figure.), but those odds will go right back up tonight. With Kyle Kendrick (8-3, 3.78), the NL's Rookie Pitcher of the Year on the mound, the Phillies odds of winning tonight are 94.6%. (Note: That figure also takes into account the 19.06 ERA Rockies' starter Denny Bautista has this season.) It won't be long before the Phils are resting players for the postseason, and planning their World Series rotation.
No comments:
Post a Comment