Phils Lead For Entire Game, Sweep Florida

Finally. The Phillies put together their most complete performance of the season Sunday, in completing a three-game sweep, with a 13-2 victory in Florida. For the first time in 2009, the Phillies had the lead for the entire game. After Shane Victorino lead off the game with a walk, the Phils' WE was at 53.5%. Their WE never went lower. The Phillies record went above .500, at 9-8, and it could stay there for awhile, with a series against lowly Washington on tap.

Phillies' starter Jamie Moyer had an outstanding game, as is typical when he faces the Marlins (now 12-1). Moyer picked up his third win of the season, tying relief ace Clay Condrey for the team lead. The soft-tossing veteran allowed only a single run (on seven hits/one walk) in six innings, the best outing by a Philadelphia starter, so far. He also contributed at the plate, reaching base on a walk, a HBP, and a single. I'm still not sold on the idea of giving a forty-six year old a two-year contract, but that's one opinion where I sincerely hope I am wrong.

The offense had an excellent approach against the Marlins' Graham Taylor, working him for six walks in three and two-thirds innings. The left-handed Taylor, making his MLB debut, threw ninety-eight pitches, only forty-nine for strikes. The rookie was charged with four earned runs, but he did deserve a little better, as the "defense" behind him was putrid. (Marlins LF Jeremy Hermida is, apparently, not surrendering the title for "NL East's Worst LF" to the Mets' Daniel Murphy without a fight.) The Phils then proceeded to destroy the Florida bullpen, batting around in two consecutive innings (seventh and eighth), aiding Marlins reliever Hayden Penn's candidacy to join former Marlins reliever Logan Kensing in the DFA Pile. The Phillies had twelve hits, but only two (doubles by Bruntlett and Victorino) were for extra bases. Florida used RF Cody Ross to pitch the ninth, and he held Philadelphia scoreless. But, it's difficult to complain about a performance where the Phils had a WE of over 90%, from the seventh inning on.

Worthy of complaining about: Eric Bruntlett batting second. I understand that Phillies MGR Charlie Manuel wanted to use Bruntlett, and give struggling Jimmy Rollins the day off, but, again, with italics and bold caps, ERIC BRUNTLETT BATTING SECOND?! Bruntlett really needs to bat lower in the order, in the event that the Phillies feel the need to even give him a start. (Personally, I think I'd take my chances with Pedro Feliz at short, and Greg Dobbs at third. Bruntlett is just really bad at baseball.)

Raul Ibanez has had a very successful start to his career as a Phillie, but it is possible that there are some among us who are getting too excited by his "defensive proficiency." Specifically, Phillies announcers Tom McCarthy and Sarge Matthews, Sr., who are ready to forget about the scouting reports that consider Ibanez to be "Burrell-esque" in his fielding ability.There have only been seventeen games played. His poor defensive performance over the last two seasons is a better indicator of his proficiency in the field, than our perceptions of his ability from watching him play in 2009. However, the Phillies would not be a .529 team without the numerous contributions Ibanez has made, mostly at the plate, so far. In the unlikely event that he keeps this up for three seasons, I'll be the first to recommend that the Phillies re-sign him. (But only for one season, as he'll be 40. And there would need probably need to be a pay cut.)

The surging Phillies return home to face the Nationals on Monday night. Phillies starter Joe (the Lumber) Blanton will try to catch Chan Ho Park in the home run race, as well as throw his third "quality" start in a row. He'll be opposed by Shairon Martis, who has also had two quality starts in a row. (Blanton's starts only met the bare minimum for a QS, hence the quotes.) Washington has won one game in a row, and one of their last four. The Phillies, winners of three in a row, need to pick up some wins against the Nats, before heading into a weekend series with the archrival New York Mets.