So far in Chicago, the Phillies have been snake bitten in Chicago. They've lost two very important games to Chicago with the bullpen appearing to have a big problem holding games all of a sudden. The offense is doing their job, and now the pitching seems to have let the Phillies down a bit, though they are not out. Yet.

 The Phillies fell to 2.0 games out of first now, and with the games dwindling down to the month of September now with the remaining schedule, they have to do all they can to get back to their winning ways.

The Fightins have lost three in a row now, and this late in the season they can't afford to do that. On paper, they are almost statistically identical to the NY Mets, the Phils have just stumbled a bit lately. This type of play isn't the mark of a World Series winner, but if the Phils just make the playoffs that in itself becomes a new season and nothing previous matters.


 The Mets haven't seen the last of the loss column, that is for sure. The one terrible stat the Phillies have this year is their record for day games, they are 16-22. This isn't a good sign. Somehow, they have to find out why their record during the day isn't too good. This day record the Phillies have is equal to the record of the Washington Nationals, so you can see this isn't good.


         Here's some misc. stats of the Phils so far:

           Ryan Howard...   Strikeouts 2008...      175 as of 8/29
           Chase Utley...    Hit by pitch...             21   "       "
           Jimmy Rollins...  Triples...                    9    " 
          


                 

A trip out to the West Coast for the Phillies has brought nothing but quiet bats, losses, and Jimmy being Jimmy. Or was that Manny being Manny? Oh well, when your making $8 million this year and millions before, I guess you can say whatever you want to when your Jimmy Rollins. I think a lot of these ballplayers lose sight of who actually comes out to see them. It isn't millionaires for the most part, they're too busy making money to actually go out and see the team, no it's hard working people who have to put their season tickets on credit cards and pay on time just to keep their season seats. So, are you going to support that fan, Jimmy? No, I didn't think so. I've always liked Jimmy and I continue to be a fan of his but get off this subject and get out there and start getting the job done on the field!

  Well, moving on, we have a swept team looking for salvation in San Diego tonight. This team needs a win, as the Mets won against Pittsburgh and look like a team turned around. The Phillies need to win every time the Mets win just to stay up with them, the minute the Phils lose when the Mets win, they start digging that winter hole that they can crawl into in October and miss the playoffs.

   What happened? J Roll seems to be off on a temper tantrum, Utley curses at the fans that boo right on national tv, the whole team isn't hitting almost like Ryan Howard's average every game and Myers looks like he's going to kill someone out there on the mound when he's pitching. This is certainly going from bad to worse, they need a bit of lightening up a bit, bring a clown into the clubhouse or something, a comedian perhaps. The team needs to take a load off their mind, and just relax and play baseball. 


    I predict the Phils knock the seams off the ball tonight and win big in game one in San Diego!

   The team did lose 6 straight already this year in June, I don't think they break that streak. They need a win though and start taking every game seriously but relax and have fun.

In the games against the L.A. Dodgers, Jimmy Rollins went 3-17. He found time to talk about the fans though, somethings are better left unsaid and that subject is one of them. There is no easy explaination of why Philly fans take delight in booing a player when they aren't doing too well. The obvious thing for the fans to do in the players benefit would be to offer encouragement to a player that needs the extra support. 'Angry mob' mentality dictates that this isn't what happens though, and it is easier to boo than reason with why a player is doing badly.

Schmidt tried to tackle this subject, as did Carlton, and many other great Phillies. It's bothered all of them. Pat Burrell has maintained a silence on the subject for the most part, though I know something is simmering and one day he'll tell us all how he feels about the subject. It's just not easy to put a handle on it, I've been to many a game though in Philly and I find that the ignorant ones that boo are just trying to make some noise because they actually want attention more than the fact that they are booing a player for any given reason. The problem is there seems to be a lot of those types in a crowd at times.

When Utley said the infamous words that he uttered about fans that booed, he just said, "Boo? - F$$k You!" and no one said anything. The Utley comment flew over the radar by Philly fans and instead of J Roll trying to be philosophical about it, he should have just said the same thing and nothing would have been said. J Roll should have just said that very comment on the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" and he wouldn't be in the trouble he is in with some fans today.


Utley's comments weren't just directed at NY Fans, it pertained to every fan really. I like Utley as a player, but I didn't like what he said when he said it on national tv at the Home Run Derby in July.



     Rollins is firmly entrenched into a different realm with these comments, he directed it at the wrong time, with the Phillies doing so badly in LA and now he'll hear it real loud on Tuesday night. He has moved into an area that Schmidt, Carlton, and all the Phillies greats have been exposed to. What a difference a year makes, he's MVP last year and this year the tables have turned.


 

I don't interpret Jimmy Rollins comments about the fans as a negative. He's just calling it as he sees it. Look at Pat Burrell for instance, he's endured more booing than any home team player should have during his time here, and for what? He's the same player, this year he is doing very well, those boos have changed to cheers. I've talked at length about the damage we can do as fans by booing your own player, especially the ones that don't deserve it. They are 'your' team. It's like booing your mother when she tells you it's cold outside and to wear a jacket, she's your mother!


When a player on a team does poorly most of the time he isn't trying to do poorly, they need support not a dismissive boo in their ear. I think this is the way Rollins meant his comment to be taken. He may have went a little to far saying the fans here are front runners though. Every crowd loves a winner though, that is the nature of the beast, what do you want them to do... want to lose? Jimmy has opened a can of worms here now, he may face the boo birds at Citizens Bank Park, I don't think there will be many but when he goes 3-4 with two doubles and a homerun, they'll cheer him- if he strikes out a couple times he may get the boo call, nothing personal it's just those fans way of telling a player, "hey I spent a days wages for my tickets, how about giving that little bit extra and do something good!"



Don't boo Rollins when the Phillies come home, you'll fall right into the trap!

Cole Hamels seems to have had a lack of run support in the last couple games. This hasn't always been the reason that he hasn't done well this season though. There are a couple of stats that Hamels possesses to support this. Number one in my mind is home runs given up, he is up there at 23 going into tonight's game in LA, that is up there for Cole. Myers has given up 25 and that has been widely publicized, but Cole's number is right there as well.




Cole is also up there for hits allowed over 9 IP that number is 7.40. Cole does have 2 CG and 2 shutouts this season though. His record is a not so good, 9-8. This doesn't bode too well for Cole's demand of much more money this year the way he has pitched so far. What the Phillies decide to do after this year will be interesting. Cole can pitch, but he needs to start showing it now. He desperately needs a win tonight in tinseltown.


His career record is 33-21 so he's still in the plus there, but his last two outings have found him getting tagged with losses in each game. At this point in time he is projected to end the season at 12-11 according to ESPN.com which has the projected stats to the end of the season. He has been called 'struggling starter' in the previews of tonights game. If Hamels wins tonight, he stays above water, if he gets pounded, look for more foreboding articles to appear about Cole - so I hope he wins tonight!


Listen to the Phillies podcast on Wednesday night 8/13 at www.phillywebcast.com at 630 pm and join in on the fun!

Richard Baxter - Fightin Phillies

The Phillies are out west in Dodgerland after a tremendous win on Sunday in a game that felt like it took forever to play with the 1:47 rain delay right from the scheduled start time of 1:35pm yesterday.

The team needed Chase Utley to snap out of his hitting funk, he sort of did with the homerun that sealed the Phillies victory but I hope that's the start of Utley getting hot again. He seemed to have a lot on his mind as he came up to bat yesterday at Citizens Bank Park.

Meanwhile, the Mets and the Marlins get a double dose of losing today and it puts a little distance between the first place Phillies if the Phillies can come up with a couple wins in LA, namely winning tonight the first game on Monday August 11.


Is the Phillies still a powerhouse playoff team, I am not that convinced that they are. They have been winning but not in a convincing fashion. They have sputtered terribly offensively lately and have sputtered a number of times this year for unknown reasons. It just seems that they are not all that happy as a team out there sometimes.


The 1993 team had fun along the way, this team seems uptight about something, there are some really long faces out there perhaps the team should start watching the Phanatic and just relax a little and have some fun.

The Dodgers are now home for a 10 game homestand with the Phils coming in for the first three of them.


Game One vs LA:

PHI: Kendrick (10-5, 4.37 ERA)
LAD: Lowe (8-10, 4.10 ERA)




Rich Baxter - Fightin Phillies

Brett Myers pitched like a man on a mission on Saturday night Aug 9th. He looked like the Myers of old, fiery and focused. That's what the Phillies hoped for Myers who looks like he's got his swagger back. Myers over the past two years has been moved everywhere but into a Phillies luxury suite for the team. He went out to the bullpen when the Phillies needed that most with the shakiness of Tom Gordon last year, even though Myers is a National League starter and lead the season off as the Phillies opening day pitcher. He's done more than he could have been expected to and still even though he struggled a bit this year, maintained his composure even going down to the minors to get his stuff back.

All his composure went out the window last night as Myers erupted like a volcano when Manuel made his way to the mound to take Brett out of the game. Myers looked like he was going to explode, he paced around the mound and cursed as Manuel extended his hand to get the ball from Myers. After he left the mound Myers responded with a cap tip to the fans who gave him a standing ovation, he would have got the ovation if he didn't go through all of his antics with Manuel anyway. The battle now continued when Manuel entered the dugout, he yelled out for Myers and the two began a jaw to jaw screaming match right in the dugout ending with Myers exiting the dugout and going back into the clubhouse.


Myers didn't obviously benefit from any anger management classes he may have had to attend with the assault a couple years ago on his wife on my birthday no less!, this was a classic no-no in baseball. You don't insult the manager by throwing a tantrum about one of his moves. More so, you don't get in your own managers face and scream at him, but all this frustration on Myers probably has been building for some time. Myers is doing much better on the mound, and I think he's going to be ok for the rest of the season. After the season though, I think he gets traded to another team and that may be good for him.



This isn't the first time Brett has been jawing at someone, here's the exchange between him and a reporter for the Philly Inquirer after a game, this show's Brett's passion for the game and how he pitches: (from www.bugsandcranks.com)


When Sam Carchidi, a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer axed Brett if he honestly thought those two balls were pop ups, things got interesting.

After the jump is the audio of the argument, as well as the must read conversation between the two:

Sam Carchidi: "You thought they both were pop ups?"

Brett Myers: "Yeah, didn't you? You think they crushed 'em?"

SC: "The first one I thought was out, the second one no."

BM: "Yeah, cause you're a retard, you don't know **** about f##kin' baseball. You're filling in for somebody."

SC: "How do you spell 'retard'?"

BM: "You know how to spell it, it's in your f**kin' vocabulary, I'm sure you know."

SC: "You are classy, I'll tell ya."

BM: "Go on. [Get] outta here, you f**kin' idiot."

SC: [pointing at Brett Myers] "You're the f**kin' idiot."

BM: "Hey! You pointin' at me motherf**ker?! I'll tell you what, dude, I'll knock you mutherf**king out!***** YOU!!! You're tough when f##kin' people are standing in front of you, aren't you, you piece of ****! Come on! You f**king idiot. Yeah, you're tough when f**kin' people are standing in front of you, you stupid ***."

SC: "I'm a retard?"

BM: "Yeah, that's right, YOU ARE, you're a f**king idiot. You ask stupid *** f**king questions!"




Myers is not one to back down when he's lost his temper, he still needs those anger management classes, but he gets the win in South Philly, the fans like a win and they like Brett Myers. Through all of the 8 years that Myers has been on the team there has been some great times and some not so great times, this was one of those 'not so great' times for him. The question begs though, "Can anyone pitch a complete game with Manuel as the manager?"



Rich Baxter ------- fightin phillies

JA Happ looked really good in the few times we've seen him in a Phillies pitching role this season. The trade deadline comes and goes.... They bring Happ back up to the bigs which is a good move, then they acquire Scott Eyre and ship Happ back down?

These types of moves are starting to pile up on the Phillies this season. Bad moves, that is. What do you have to do to stay on the Phillies as a minor leaguer? Even Ryan Howard and Chase Utley were kept in their minors spots for a long time before the Phillies brought them up and gave them the chance to play a couple years ago.

You bring in Eyre who has been terrible for the Cubs, "flat out terrible" and you move an upcoming ballplayer like Happ around like a yo-yo to accommodate the pickup of Eyre.



Scott Eyre comments from Rotoworld.com in the beginning of the season when with the Cubs:

Cubs activated LHP Scott Eyre from the 15-day disabled list
Eyre has been out all season after experiencing elbow soreness during spring training. His only value will be in leagues that value holds.



Scott Eyre-R- Phillies May. 9 - 9:11 am et

Scott Eyre (elbow) is expected to come off the disabled list on Saturday.
Eyre is currently sporting a 6.75 ERA in 6 2/3 innings in the minors, but three of his last four innings have been scoreless. The Cubs will send down a pitcher to make room for him.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times


Scott Eyre-R- Phillies May. 6 - 9:20 am et

Scott Eyre (elbow) is expected to return from the disabled list on Friday, although it could happen as soon as Wednesday.
Eyre's last three innings in Double-A have been scoreless. Sean Marshall could stick in the bullpen once Eyre comes back, leaving the Cubs with thirteen pitchers.
Source: Arlington Daily Herald
Related: Sean Marshall



Scott Eyre-R- Phillies May. 1 - 3:47 am et

Scott Eyre (elbow) threw a scoreless inning Wednesday in his first appearance for Double-A Tennessee.
Eyre gave up four runs in 2 2/3 innings for Single-A Daytona. He should rejoin the Cubs' pen next week.



Scott Eyre-R- Phillies Apr. 24 - 3:46 am et

Scott Eyre (elbow) threw a scoreless innings Wednesday in his first appearance for Single-A Daytona.
Eyre could rejoin the Cubs next week, but with Sean Marshall performing well in relief, there won't be any need to rush the veteran.



Scott Eyre-R- Phillies Apr. 16 - 10:34 am et

Scott Eyre is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Wednesday.
If that goes well, he could be assigned to start a minor league rehab assignment by the end of the week.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times


Scott Eyre-R- Phillies Apr. 14 - 9:33 am et

Scott Eyre (elbow) threw a side session on Saturday in Arizona, and is expected to throw another today.
Eyre has been sidelined for just over three weeks with a bone spur in his throwing elbow. There's still not a timetable for his return.
Source: Arlington Daily Herald


Scott Eyre-R- Phillies Apr. 8 - 9:39 am et

Scott Eyre will resume playing catch today after being shut down for a week due to discomfort in his elbow.
Eyre underwent an MRI last week to confirm that there wasn't a stress fracture in the elbow, and the original diagnosis of a bone spur was confirmed. He's unlikely to be back until early May, and with Carmen Pignatiello struggling in his place, the Cubs could once again look to Sean Marshall.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Related: Sean Marshall, Carmen Pignatiello



Scott Eyre-R- Phillies Apr. 4 - 9:49 am et

The Arlington Daily Herald reports that Scott Eyre (bone spur) will be out for at least two-to-three more weeks.
Eyre hasn't started throwing off a mound since feeling pain in his elbow almost two weeks ago.
Source: Arlington Daily Herald


Scott Eyre-R- Phillies Mar. 27 - 2:00 pm et

Cubs placed LHP Scott Eyre on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23, with a sore left elbow.
Either Sean Marshall or Carmen Pignatiello will claim the bullpen spot vacated by Eyre.
Related: Sean Marshall, Carmen Pignatiello





You can't get more injured than Eyre has been in the beginning of the year and lasting right up through May, is this guy still able to pitch? It's looking like Gillick likes anyone who is about to fall apart, like Freddie Garcia, and Adam Eaton. I don't like these kinds of moves!




Rich Baxter - Fightin Phillies Blog

If the Phillies somehow traded anyone for Manny Ramirez, I would have seriously considered not going to another Phillies game this year and even more about being a fan of the team. Manny is not funny anymore, he's pathetic. Such a whiny player who isn't concerned about 'team' play, he is only concerned about himself.

He may be a future Hall of Famer, I don't know, but his antics are way too much for any normal team to deal with. In a way, LA is a perfect place for him. There are plenty of bad actors in LA, and he's now one of them.  His style and caliber is something the Phillies and the fans didn't need. Pat, you said where would we put him, if the Phillies signed him? How about a dunk tank out on Ashburn Alley and have the kids try to sink this clown!


 Game two with the Cards tonight, Phillies look to even up with them, Go Blanton!

   The Phillies came into tonight's game against St. Louis very confident. Cole Hamels was starting the game tonight and it looked good for the Phils to go for even more wins on this road trip. Don't tell that to the Cardinals that equally came into this game looking to win at home.