The removal of Jamie Moyer from the rotation continues to be a hot topic around the internets. The Phillies removed the worst of their starters, in the hopes that the replacement would produce better results. There are more crucial issues right now. Will Brad Lidge get his act together? Will Matt Stairs start to get hits again? What really happened to Brett Myers on Friday night?
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) were held to only five hits, in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Bisons. Kyle Kendrick allowed three runs (one earned) in four innings (six hits, zero walks/one whiff). After spending the last couple of weeks buried in the parent club's bullpen, the game-rusty Kendrick was removed after throwing fifty-nine pitches. Tuffy Gosewisch had his first hit, since his promotion from AA, improving his average to .125.
The Reading Phillies (AA) won a remarkable pitcher's duel, walking off with a 1-0 win over the Binghampton Mets. Choosing to listen to the R-Phils internet broadcast, over the IronPigs internet broadcast, was the correct move today. DomOnic Brown sparked the rally in the ninth, blasting a double, and scoring the winning run on an error. Mike Stutes threw seven scoreless frames for the R-Phils, retiring thirteen consecutive Mets, and nineteen of twenty.
Stutes only surrendered two hits and one walk, while striking out nine. Sergio Escalona followed with two scoreless innings (one walk/one whiff), picked up his first win, and lowered his ERA to 1.82. Quintin Berry had two hits, and three stolen bases. Berry now has a league-leading forty-five thefts.
The R-Phils are locked in a tight battle with Erie and Bowie, for second place in the Southern Division, and a playoff berth.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored six runs, on eleven hits, but were outscored by the Tampa Yankees, 9-6. Matt Rizzotti was 4 for 5, with a homer, a pair of doubles, and three RBI. Rizzotti has hit .316 over his last ten games, improving his slash line to .257/.342/.468. Threshers' starter Darren Byrd survived only four and two-thirds innings, permitting four runs (eleven hits, three walks/two whiffs).
Showing posts with label Matt Stairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Stairs. Show all posts
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Welcome to Bakotopia!
Exhilarating. Bakotastic. Miraculous. Devoid of Bruntlett. Not sure which term best describes the incredible events that transpired at CBP on Saturday night. As play entered the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies trailed Pittsburgh, 7-3. The Phils had a Win Expectancy of only 2.0%. This game post had already written itself: start with a Joe Biden reference (the VP was at the game, didn't leave early, and autographed a fan's Tasmanian Devil t-shirt), blame poor luck (check out BABIP/LOB % and K/BB!) for Cole Hamels' poor results (six innings, five runs), close with the usual Gabor Paul Bako II excoriation (no explanation needed), and call it a night.
The Phillies' lefty-laden lineup, however, wasn't ready to call it quits. Against the Pirates' right-handed closer, Matt Capps, the first six Phillie batters were left-handed. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs had been bypassed in the sixth inning, when the tying run was on second. (Right-handed John Mayberry flew out against a right-handed pitcher. In Charlie Manuel's defense, Jesse Chavez, the Bucs' hurler, has been much more succesful (.203 v. 273) against left-handed batters.) Stairs started the ninth-inning rally, with a towering home run. A Jimmy Rollins walk and a Chase Utley single followed, and the tying run was at the plate. Slugger Ryan Howard is a pretty good bat to have at the plate in that type of situation. Howard's game-tying homer increased the Phillies' WE by 46.7%, from 11.6% to 58.4%.
Surprisingly, the Pirates opted to keep Capps in the game. Raul Ibanez, in his first game back from the DL, doubled. Jayson Werth was walked intentionally, and Pedro Feliz singled. There was only one out, the Phils had the bases loaded, and the winning run was on third, for...Paul Bako. Yep, the offensively-inept backup catcher was due to bat, with the Phillies' fate depending upon his batting prowess.
With a right-handed, non-position player on the mound, Eric Bruntlett was not a good pinch-hitting option. The rest of the non-pitchers on the Phils' bench had already been used. (Also, with the Phillies' other catcher, Carlos Ruiz, possibly not available, there may not have been a viable Bako-less possibility.)
The offensively-feeble Bako, now OPSing .517, hit a hard grounder through the conveniently drawn-in infield, and the Phils had a shocking walk-off victory. If the Pirates had been at double-play depth, slick-fielding shortstop Jack Wilson may have been able to start a 6-4-3 DP. The Phillies had BABIP on their side in the ninth, as well as some questionable game management by the Pirates. Paul Bako has had an MLB career of unsuccesful at-bats (career wOBA: .274), but he had two run-scoring singles on Saturday, and deserves some credit for his part in the victory. (Not an overabundance of credit, as Bako also played a role in the three homers allowed by Hamels. Plus, the Phils still should have kept Chris Coste over Bako. But Gabor done good on Saturday night.)
The Phillies go for the sweep of the Pirates on Sunday, hoping to finish off a 9-1 homestand. Remember when the Phillies were inexplicably poor at home? Me, neither. J.A. Happ gets the ball for the Phils, as they close out the first half of their season.
The Phillies' lefty-laden lineup, however, wasn't ready to call it quits. Against the Pirates' right-handed closer, Matt Capps, the first six Phillie batters were left-handed. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs had been bypassed in the sixth inning, when the tying run was on second. (Right-handed John Mayberry flew out against a right-handed pitcher. In Charlie Manuel's defense, Jesse Chavez, the Bucs' hurler, has been much more succesful (.203 v. 273) against left-handed batters.) Stairs started the ninth-inning rally, with a towering home run. A Jimmy Rollins walk and a Chase Utley single followed, and the tying run was at the plate. Slugger Ryan Howard is a pretty good bat to have at the plate in that type of situation. Howard's game-tying homer increased the Phillies' WE by 46.7%, from 11.6% to 58.4%.
Surprisingly, the Pirates opted to keep Capps in the game. Raul Ibanez, in his first game back from the DL, doubled. Jayson Werth was walked intentionally, and Pedro Feliz singled. There was only one out, the Phils had the bases loaded, and the winning run was on third, for...Paul Bako. Yep, the offensively-inept backup catcher was due to bat, with the Phillies' fate depending upon his batting prowess.
With a right-handed, non-position player on the mound, Eric Bruntlett was not a good pinch-hitting option. The rest of the non-pitchers on the Phils' bench had already been used. (Also, with the Phillies' other catcher, Carlos Ruiz, possibly not available, there may not have been a viable Bako-less possibility.)
The offensively-feeble Bako, now OPSing .517, hit a hard grounder through the conveniently drawn-in infield, and the Phils had a shocking walk-off victory. If the Pirates had been at double-play depth, slick-fielding shortstop Jack Wilson may have been able to start a 6-4-3 DP. The Phillies had BABIP on their side in the ninth, as well as some questionable game management by the Pirates. Paul Bako has had an MLB career of unsuccesful at-bats (career wOBA: .274), but he had two run-scoring singles on Saturday, and deserves some credit for his part in the victory. (Not an overabundance of credit, as Bako also played a role in the three homers allowed by Hamels. Plus, the Phils still should have kept Chris Coste over Bako. But Gabor done good on Saturday night.)
The Phillies go for the sweep of the Pirates on Sunday, hoping to finish off a 9-1 homestand. Remember when the Phillies were inexplicably poor at home? Me, neither. J.A. Happ gets the ball for the Phils, as they close out the first half of their season.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/7)
Matt Stairs is unavailable for the Phillies on Sunday night, as he is attending his son's graduation. The Phillies bench is composed of Chris Coste, the backup catcher who will not play (because he is the backup catcher), Greg Dobbs, who can only hit right-handed pitching, and Eric Bruntlett, who can only hit tee-ball pitching (presumably). Fortunately, Chan Ho Park is available as a right-handed bat off the bench, as Manuel (correctly) does not allow him to pitch.
Jimmy Rollins has been bumped down to the sixth spot in the lineup. This was an overdue move, as tonight's leadoff batter, Shane Victorino, gets on base much more regularly, than the slumping Rollins. It would be good to see Rollins batting sixth for more than just a few games.
This ESPN announcing crew is tough to listen to, and it should be possible to mute Joe Morgan, without muting everyone else. Every sentence from Joe Morgan makes every viewer less knowledgeable. Actually, muting Steve Phillips and Jon Miller is prudent, as well.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) were shut down by the Louisville Bats, 4-1. Jeremy Slayden hit a solo homer in the ninth, for the only run. The Bats' Homer Bailey (6.2 IP, 7H/0BB, 0ER) outpitched Lehigh Valley's Gustavo Chacin (5 IP, 9H/1BB, 2R(1ER)). Lou Marson had a pair of singles, but the IronPigs' offense suffered again from the absence of Pablo Ozuna. The two teams play again, on Monday night.
The Reading Phillies (AA) had a 2-0 lead, but lost to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Sunday, 4-2. Kyle Drabek makes his second start for the club, after an off-day on Monday, at home against the Trenton Thunder.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) had a 2-0 lead, but lost to the Palm Beach Cardinals, 6-4. Carlos Monasterios, acquired from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu trade, took the loss, in relief. The Threshers face the Cardinals again on Monday night.
Former Phillies farmhand Matt Maloney made his major league debut for the Reds on Saturday. Maloney, a twenty-five year old lefty, allowed only two runs (six hits/one walk) in a no-decision against the Cubs. Maloney has been good in the minors (1.18 career WHIP), has a 58/9 K/BB in AAA in 2009, but the $95 price for sponsoring his baseball-reference page seems rather high. He throws four pitches, none of which are overpowering, and could be good in the short-term, like Kyle Kendrick was in 2007. The Phillies dealt Maloney in 2007, for veteran Kyle Lohse, and I still like that deal. So far.
Jimmy Rollins has been bumped down to the sixth spot in the lineup. This was an overdue move, as tonight's leadoff batter, Shane Victorino, gets on base much more regularly, than the slumping Rollins. It would be good to see Rollins batting sixth for more than just a few games.
This ESPN announcing crew is tough to listen to, and it should be possible to mute Joe Morgan, without muting everyone else. Every sentence from Joe Morgan makes every viewer less knowledgeable. Actually, muting Steve Phillips and Jon Miller is prudent, as well.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) were shut down by the Louisville Bats, 4-1. Jeremy Slayden hit a solo homer in the ninth, for the only run. The Bats' Homer Bailey (6.2 IP, 7H/0BB, 0ER) outpitched Lehigh Valley's Gustavo Chacin (5 IP, 9H/1BB, 2R(1ER)). Lou Marson had a pair of singles, but the IronPigs' offense suffered again from the absence of Pablo Ozuna. The two teams play again, on Monday night.
The Reading Phillies (AA) had a 2-0 lead, but lost to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Sunday, 4-2. Kyle Drabek makes his second start for the club, after an off-day on Monday, at home against the Trenton Thunder.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) had a 2-0 lead, but lost to the Palm Beach Cardinals, 6-4. Carlos Monasterios, acquired from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu trade, took the loss, in relief. The Threshers face the Cardinals again on Monday night.
Former Phillies farmhand Matt Maloney made his major league debut for the Reds on Saturday. Maloney, a twenty-five year old lefty, allowed only two runs (six hits/one walk) in a no-decision against the Cubs. Maloney has been good in the minors (1.18 career WHIP), has a 58/9 K/BB in AAA in 2009, but the $95 price for sponsoring his baseball-reference page seems rather high. He throws four pitches, none of which are overpowering, and could be good in the short-term, like Kyle Kendrick was in 2007. The Phillies dealt Maloney in 2007, for veteran Kyle Lohse, and I still like that deal. So far.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Back to .500
The Phillies have spent most of the 2009 season under .500 in overall record, and most of their games under the .500 mark in Win Expectancy. Consistently poor starting pitching can have that effect. But the Phillies rode their strong bullpen, and a pair of late-inning homers, to escape a 3rd inning WE of .108 (10.8%) in Sunday's 7-5 rubber game victory in Colorado. The Phillies have won consecutive games for the first time this season, reaching the .500 mark (3-3) for the first time.
Trailing 4-0 after the first inning, and 5-1 after three innings, Philadelphia pulled to within 5-3 after seven innings. Chase Utley (.348 WPA) tied the game in the 8th, with a two-run homer off Colorado setup man Manny Corpas, and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs (.245 WPA) gave the Phillies the lead with a two-run blast in the ninth off Rockies closer Huston Street. (Stairs' homer was the 255th of his career, second most among Canadian-born MLBers, and most among MLBers who have played for ten or more teams.) The Phillies bullpen combined for five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks, contributing a total WPA of .328. Brad Lidge picked up his second save of the year, and his forty-third save in forty-three regular season save opportunities as a Phillie.
Today's Phillies comeback would not have been possible (or necessary), were it not for Chan Ho Park's ineffective start. Park was horrendous, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks, surviving only three and one-third innings. Park threw ninety-six pitches, fifty-five for strikes, and recorded only two strikeouts. DFA'd Villain/Baltimore Oriole Adam Eaton could have put up those type of numbers. (Actually, Eaton pitched against the Rays in Baltimore today, and allowed "only" four runs in four innings.) The early innings were played in a steady rain, and it seemed Park's best chance to avoid his first loss as a Phillie was a rain out. (A rain delay may also have given Park the opportunity to better Eaton's performance with the Rockies grounds crew on July 8, 2007, which may have been the $25 million free agent's greatest Phillies moment.) Despite Park's difficulties Sunday, he did face a tough lineup, under difficult weather (and altitude) conditions, and with the backup catcher (Chris Coste, subbing for DL'd starter Carlos Ruiz) behind the plate. It's too soon for the Phillies swap roles between Park and J.A. Happ. Perhaps after three Park starts...
Philadelphia will travel cross-country to play in the Nationals' home opener Monday afternoon. The Nationals are winless in their six games this season, but Nats slugger Adam Dunn believes all the team needs to do is improve their pitching and batting. Jamie Moyer gets the start, pursuing his first win of the season, and his two-hundred and forty-seventh career win. He will be opposed by Daniel Cabrera, who leads Nationals starting pitchers with forty-eight career wins. It should be a good opportunity for the Phillies to get their season record over .500, and to spend a game with their WE over .500.
Trailing 4-0 after the first inning, and 5-1 after three innings, Philadelphia pulled to within 5-3 after seven innings. Chase Utley (.348 WPA) tied the game in the 8th, with a two-run homer off Colorado setup man Manny Corpas, and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs (.245 WPA) gave the Phillies the lead with a two-run blast in the ninth off Rockies closer Huston Street. (Stairs' homer was the 255th of his career, second most among Canadian-born MLBers, and most among MLBers who have played for ten or more teams.) The Phillies bullpen combined for five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks, contributing a total WPA of .328. Brad Lidge picked up his second save of the year, and his forty-third save in forty-three regular season save opportunities as a Phillie.
Today's Phillies comeback would not have been possible (or necessary), were it not for Chan Ho Park's ineffective start. Park was horrendous, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks, surviving only three and one-third innings. Park threw ninety-six pitches, fifty-five for strikes, and recorded only two strikeouts. DFA'd Villain/Baltimore Oriole Adam Eaton could have put up those type of numbers. (Actually, Eaton pitched against the Rays in Baltimore today, and allowed "only" four runs in four innings.) The early innings were played in a steady rain, and it seemed Park's best chance to avoid his first loss as a Phillie was a rain out. (A rain delay may also have given Park the opportunity to better Eaton's performance with the Rockies grounds crew on July 8, 2007, which may have been the $25 million free agent's greatest Phillies moment.) Despite Park's difficulties Sunday, he did face a tough lineup, under difficult weather (and altitude) conditions, and with the backup catcher (Chris Coste, subbing for DL'd starter Carlos Ruiz) behind the plate. It's too soon for the Phillies swap roles between Park and J.A. Happ. Perhaps after three Park starts...
Philadelphia will travel cross-country to play in the Nationals' home opener Monday afternoon. The Nationals are winless in their six games this season, but Nats slugger Adam Dunn believes all the team needs to do is improve their pitching and batting. Jamie Moyer gets the start, pursuing his first win of the season, and his two-hundred and forty-seventh career win. He will be opposed by Daniel Cabrera, who leads Nationals starting pitchers with forty-eight career wins. It should be a good opportunity for the Phillies to get their season record over .500, and to spend a game with their WE over .500.
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