Phils Lose on Mayberry's Day

Saturday's Phillies-Yankees game was going quite well for the Phils. J.A. Happ, making his first start of 2009, pitched six effective innings. Despite not having thrown more than fifty pitches in a game this season, Happ threw seventy-five on Saturday, fifty for strikes. He only allowed two runs (four hits/ZERO walks!) to the strong Yankee lineup, pitching in the new offense-maximizing Yankee Stadium.

John Mayberry, Jr. made his MLB debut for the Phils, starting in the outfield, as defensively-mediocre slugger Raul Ibanez batted as the designated hitter. Mayberry, Jr. had two hits in three at bats, including a huge home run. The Phillies took a 90.4% WE into the ninth inning, with closer Brad Lidge on to protect a 4-2 lead. Six batters later, the Phils had lost 5-4, and this replacement-level blogger's profanities reverberated through the summer air.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, after the Yankees had tied the game, they had a runner on second base, and one out. As the only run that mattered was the potential game-winning run on second, it seemed like the correct move would have been to intentionally walk Melky Cabrera. This would have set up a potential inning-ending double play, or at least make a force play at second a possibility. Cabrera has been hitting well as of late, while the next batter, Nick Swisher, has not. After Swisher, the Yanks had weak-hitting Angel Berroa due, followed by Kevin Cash, who wishes he hit as well as weak-hitting Angel Berroa. The Yanks did not have any pinch-hitters available. However, the Phillies opted to let Lidge pitch to Cabrera, and Cabrera beat them.

When John Mayberry, Jr. hit his fifth inning homer, the FOX cameras immediately switched to the stands, in order to show his father's reaction. It was a bit surprising to see the rather youthful-looking former MLBer totally outfitted in WBC apparel, but refreshing to see that he, too, had realized that the WBC is, in fact, a Classic. Considering that he had just seen he son hit his first MLB homer, you'd think he would have been a little more excited about the game, than about the selection he had made from the concessions. But, who among us hasn't made the perfect culinary choice at the ballpark, and then taken a moment to revel in the delicious consequences of our own brilliance. FOX had, obviously, been prepared for this moment, seeing the potential as soon as the younger Mayberry was announced as the starting rightfielder. Right? Well, guess not. The fan the FOX cameras had shown was not actually the former Blue Jay/Yankee. Nicely done, FOX.

The Phillies played 98% of a great game on Saturday, with J.A. Happ and John Mayberry, Jr. putting the Phils in position to win. The best move might be to focus on those positives, and forget about the Lidge-induced ugliness that concluded the game. Saturday was Happ's day, and the (real) Mayberrys' day.

Phils complete the Yanks' series on Sunday, as they attempt to take two of three in their first interleague weekend. A tremendous pitching matchup awaits, as Phillies' ace Cole Hamels faces Yankees' ace C.C. Sabathia. Should be a good one.




Postgame Texts

(54) Sorry about that one JA.
(43) No worries, get'em next time.

(40) Like that power, pop?
(28) Good. A guy at the game said the WBC Shop is having a sale!