The Stretch Run, I Guess

Can't lose to the Nationals, Braves, or Marlins. With the Mets win and Phillies loss, they are now 2 games back with Cole on the mound tonight. They just have to win or obviously they won't make the playoffs. Plus Kyle Kendrick has been god-awful recently. He's clearly afraid to throw so that has to change. Maybe they'll give his next start to J.A. Happ; see how he does.
Brad Lidge is still perfect!--AND he has a cute butt.

P.S.

Get this shirt and vote for Obama!

So Good

Another sweep of the NY mets. Let's hope this lasts and they actually play well against St. Louis, Washington, and Florida. I'll enjoy it while I can. Greg Dobbs!...he's too good.




ENJOY.

I love them.

I really do. They frustrate the hell out of me when they lose but get my hopes up when they win. And they did just that with the complete 4-game sweep of the NY Mets. Everybody played well expect Kyle Lohse, ANTONIO ALFONSECA, and a few other bullpen scraps. Clay Condrey and Tom Gordon actually pitched well. Condrey get defensive help from both Rowand and Jayson Werth who made amazing catches in the outfield. A 4-hour, 9-inning game, with so many ups and downs. It was looking good for the Phillies when Ryan Howard homered in the 1st inning. Then later Pat homered, as did Aaron Rowand. The Phillies took a quick 5-0 lead which looked to be secure. We jumped on Hernandez early. He left after 3-innings. The Phillies gave up 3 runs in the following inning and then ended up letting the Mets tie it up. Not to roll over, the Phightin's scored 3- 2-out runs in the bottom of the 5th thanks to Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino, and Jimmy Rollins[our MVP Hopeful]. That's when Antonio Alfonseca imploded. ..hits, walks, error. The Mets scored 5 runs in the 8th inning to take a 1-run lead. Pat 'the bat' responded in the bottom of the 8th with a solo shot. He's got a Met-killer instinct. If Pat Burrell can only hit one team for the rest of his career, I'll be ecstatic that it stays the Mets. The bottom of the 9th was simply amazing. Jayson Werth leads off with a single. After Ruiz flies out. Werth proceeds to steal 2nd base and 3rd base with just 2 pitches being thrown by 'Wags'. Iguchi clutched it up with a single and after stealing 2nd they intentionally walked Jimmy to get to Chase...bad mistake. Chase gets the game-winning single. All too exciting and I'm just glad the Phillies came out on top. Only 2 games back with big series against the Marlins and Braves. Go phils. Mets are so scared.

Quote from a Met fan:
Mets Merized:

"This was hard to watch. Jimmy Rollins is the best shortstop in the NL, Pat Burrell is easily the Mets fans worst nightmare. We didnt even face their best pitcher Cole Hhamels!! I would trade our infield for the Phillies infield anyday!"
***
"And by the way, as much as I love Jose Reyes, he's definitely the third best shortstop in the NL right now behind Hanley Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins. Rollins definitely made his superiority to Reyes an open and shut case in this 4 game sweep." {quote:: taken from Beerleaguer commenter Malcolm}.

<3

Marlon Anderson's not dirty

He's just an idiot. Jamie Moyer looked hittable all night but somehow kept the Phillies in the game and pulled out a win. Abraham Nunez helped Jamie a lot by snagging and robbing two extra-base hits from Luis Castillo. Jimmy responded to David Wright's solo homer in the top of the 1st with a lead homer of his own. Pat gave the Phillies a lead with a solo homerun of his own. He almost hit a grand slam but we were okay with a sac fly that ended up being the game winner. The bullpen was really solid, including JC Romero, Tom Gordon {I can't believe I just said that}, and Brett Myers:: well kind of. Brett Myers struck out Carlos Delgado to start the ninth but ended up walking Paul Lo Duca {then replaced by pinch runner Endy Chavez}, Marlon Anderson got a base hit that set up 1st and 3rd with one out. Shawn Green became the new pinch hitter. He grounded softly to Jimmy Rollins who flipped to Iguchi, who was then 'tackled' by Marlon Anderson and thus ruled an interference double play to end the game.

It was clearly the right call and hopefully the Phillies can finish the series off right. Kyle Lohse pitches today against Orlando Hernandez. All I ask is that Lohse keeps us in the game and he's pitched well as of late so hopefully that keeps going. Chase will play today after last night's rest. Keep your fingers crossed. 3 out 4 ain't bad but a sweep would be sweet.

Fate was on the Phillies Side

Homeplate Umpire Joe West was not. Jayson Werth's 9 consecutive hit streak ended on a very controversial pitch. Low and definitely off the plate. But it's okay. Tom Glavine looked sharp early on and the Phillies could not get the elusive hit with a RISP. Adam Eaton pitched 5 2/3 and actually kept us in the game. Allowing only 2 runs courtesy of a Delgado homer. The bullpen was solid for 4 1/3 not allowing an ER or hit. Brett Myers went a strong 2 innings.

Maybe seeing Tom Gordon warming up, is what triggered Ryan Howard to end the game in the 10th inning with a (1-2 count) going to the opposite field. It was all set up when Jimmy Rollins hit a lead-off homer in the 8th inning. Chase made the first out. Pat Burrell walked and Victorino became the pinch runner. Ryan Howard made the second out and that's when Shane stole second and advanced to third on Lo Duca's throwing error. Aaron Rowand hit a blooper down the foul line which the Mets infielders tried to watch roll foul. It barely stayed fair and Shane was able to score. I feel good about the next 2 games with Moyer and Lohse pitching. To be able to take at least 1 of the next 2 games would be huge. This is one of the best games of the season. Up there with Cole Hamels' CG-15 SO against the Reds w/ a Triple Play. I will sleep well tonight.

Good news for Hamels--

He's eyeing Sunday for his return. That would be amazing. To have Chase, Cole, and Shane back. It doesn't get any better...well maybe sweeping the Mets would be better :)

Hamels [MLB.com]

Chaser

What a wonderful return for Chase Utley. He went 3-5 with a HR, 2B, and 2 RBI's. He's amazing, he's Mr. Everything, and thankfully he plays for the Phillies. The Phillies are actually 7-3 in the last 10 games that Chase has actually played. Iguchi has worked well as a pinch-hitter so far, with a pinch hit 2-run homer last night.

Pat Burrell keeps destroying the Mets. He went 2-4 last night with a homer and 2 RBI's. He's been red hot in July and August. So far it's worked out well that he hasn't been traded. He has 38 career homeruns against the Mets which is tied for the most, along with Barry Bonds and somebody else that I don't care for.

Jayson Werth is 9 for his last 9 with a walk. He's 6 for his last 6 with runners in scoring position and thanks to Bloodstripes, I know that Werth is 1 hit away from tying the record for most consecutive hits and 2 from obviously breaking the record.

Lastly, Mr. Met is stupid. The Phanatic should have kicked his ass.

Sweeeppp of the Mets.

It was CHASE UTLEY in game 1.
It was JIMMY ROLLINS in game 2.
It was PAT BURRELL in game 3.

The Phillies swept the Mets in Shea Stadium where the Phillies bullpen was fabulous and didn't allow the Mets to score 2 run [earned or unearned]. Antonio Alfonseca earned all 3 saves in the sweep. Chase Utley was 3-4 in game 1 with 3 RBI's and a clutch homerun in the 10th that gave the Phils the win. Jimmy Rollins hit a 3-run homerun in the 7th inning to give the Phillies a lead that they would not relinquish. Pat Burrell hit a homerun in the 9th inning of, of Billy Willy Wagner which tied the game at 3 and sent the game into extra innings...at least the 10th when Chase would get his first hit of the game, a double that scored Jimmy.

The disputed play last night came with 2 outs and after Carlos Delgado's homer. David Wright hit what appeared to be a homerun but ran the bases to 3rd thinking it stayed in the ballpark. He began to complain when he saw the replay on the big screen and then the umpires who presumably saw the replay too changed the call. Charlie would argue and then get ejected again. Paul Lo Duca then hit another homerun which gave the Mets the lead. Cole still pitched great despite the back-to-back-to-back homers. He went 7 innings, 3ER and 5 Ks. & Billy Wagner looks like he's going bald. Mets fans are gay and David Wright's a homo.

NOW HOPEFULLY WE DON'T GET SWEPT BY THE ROYALS...Freddy's pitching so hopefully our bats will win the game.