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The team to beat.

The Good: That was an unbelievable start by Hamels. That may have been his most dominate performance of his career. Rollins continues to blow everyone away with his run production. Something not very common for a lead-off hitter. That catch Rowand made in the outfield may have been the second greatest catch by a Phillies outfielder ever. Next to his broken-nose-grab of last year.

The Bad: Getting the win was the most imortant part of last nights game. But I thought that Hamels should’ve been left in to close out the game. He was never really in any trouble of giving up any runs (except the bases loaded jam which he got out of). I would’ve liked to see him get a complete game shutout. But when that’s all there is to complain about after a game, I’d call it a good day.

We all now what might happen today. We all now that the Phillies are the closest ever, since ‘93, to making the playoffs. Once again I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I cannot believe what might happen. My mind does not have the complexitiy to understand that the Phillies could be in the playoffs. These players have absolutely over-performed getting themselves here (or maybe they’ve just underperformed the last few years). I don’t want to start talking about their chances in the playoffs because they have to get there first. So I’ll save those thoughts for tonight or possibly tomorrow night.

Well, no one said it was going to be easy. And there’s no more proof in the statement then the fact that Eaton is going to start for the Fightin’s. But if he can shock everyone with a decent performance, I’ll never criticize him again (for at least another week). I just can’t help but laugh when I look at his ERA. He’s getting paid millions of dollars for an ERA of 6.33. How is that legal. However, against Washington this year in 3 starts, he is 1-0 with a 5.71 ERA. I guess that’s an improvement.

Last start (9/21): W / 5.0 / 3 ER / 5 H / 5 BB /2 SO / Washington

Starting for Washington will be Matt Chico. He comes in with a 6-9 record and a 4.75 ERA. He has a sneaky delivery and good control of his fastball, curve, and change-up. But he sometimes can get knocked around when he believes he throws harder then he really does. He can’t exactly blow peple away. In 1 start against Philadelphia this year, Chico lasted 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs.

Last start (9/24): W / 5.1 / 3 ER / 9 H / 2 BB / 0 SO / New York

Last words . . . WE’RE IN A PENNANT RACE!!!

Tied in 1st . . . for now.

The Good: Kyle Kendrick showing that he is a season veteran by getting a crucial . . . What? He’s a rookie? Nice. I’m glad he’s on my team. Howard and Burrell both hitting the biggest homeruns of their careers. Unless you’re considering every homerun Burrell hit off of Wagner. And maybe Howard’s 58th homerun last year. But still, those were pretty important homeruns.

The Bad: What are you a freak? How could there be anything bad about todays game?

Do you believe in miracles? This is unbelievable. I don’t want to say too much because this season is still far from over. But you gotta like our chances. The 2007 Phillies are about to erase all the bad history that came from teh 1964 Phillies. This team cannot be knocked down. Throughout this season I have been trying to convince everyone not to get your hopes up on this team. You can look back on my blogs and see that I claimed that this season was over many many times. I said it when Howard went down. When Utley went down. When Hamels went down. When Gordon and Myers went down. When Victorino and Bourn went down. Gillick made the trade for Iguchi and I couldn’t understand why he was wasting his team making a transaction that won’t make a difference. When they blew the 6-run lead late in the Atlanta game I thought that was the final nail in the coffin. I had completely given up hope.

Then the New York Mets decide they don’t feel like playing in October. 7.5 game lead with 17 games left. How do you mess that up? When the Phillies swept them twice, I just thought it gave me a key arguing point when the obnoxious Mets fans wanted to talk trash. I never thought that it would the Phillies to take over the lead. I really want the Phillies to put that 4-game sweep of the Mets on a DVD set. I will be the first in line to buy it and play it until the DVD burns away. Now I should’ve went to bed, then wrote this blog after a night’s sleep. I would’ve settled down and realized that the Phillies could very easily blow this chance. But who wants to be a pessimistic fan. This is our year. At least for a playoff berth.

Our “ace” takes the mound for Friday’s game. Cole Hamels needs to pick up where he left off in his last start. He went 5.0 innings (due to his recent coming off of the DL) and only allowed 2 hits. I know I said before that I’d rather have Hamels played on a side of caution since he is so young and has an incredible amount of potential. But that went out the window when they found themselves in first place of the NL East. Against Washington this year, Hamels is 1-1 in 4 starts and has a 2.63 ERA in 24.0 innings.

Last start (9/23): ND / 5.0 / 1 ER / 2 H / 2 BB / 6 SO / Washington

Tim Redding is coming off of a tough no decision, which he got after allowing 1 run through 6.2 innings. He also hasn’t had a great month of September. In 3 starts, he’s0-0, lasted a total of 13.0 innings and has an ERA of 4.85. He has a mid-90 fastball and the ability to work himself out of jams. However he rarely goes deep into a game and doesn’t have any great secondary pitches.

Last start (9/22): ND / 6.2 / 1 ER / 8 H / 0 BB / 7 SO / Philadelphia

Last words . . . who cares about the Eagles, Phillies are in a Pennant race.

Phillies keep playoff race tight with win.

The Good: They sure looked like a good team out there. Grant it they were helped out when Utley wasn’t called out for running on the grass infield. I have to admit, I thought he should’ve been called out. But getting a call to go your way wasn’t the only reason why they won. Lohse really has been a savior to this rotation. This team got quite a few surprises, many going against them, but Lohse has really been a huge part of this team making the push for the playoffs. Rollins is continuing to add to his resume of why he should be the NL MVP

The Bad: Not really much to complain about after a last season win. One thing that is starting to reveal itself is that Werth may not be able to be an everyday player. At least not until he learns to hit right-handed pitchers at a more consistent rate. During that stretch when he was on fire, he was hitting off of anyone that stood on that mound. But now that he’s come back down to earth, he’s once again having trouble with the righties.

For the first time in 10 starts, Kendrick is coming off an appearance in which he didn’t allow a run. We’ve been watching this kid go out at take the mound and put up great performances on a weekly basis and we sometimes forget that he’s only a rookie. This is easily his biggest start of his young career. And we’ll have a chance to see if this kid has the guts to pitch a good start in late September. In his one start this year against the Braves, Kendrick lasted 5.o innings allowing 2 runs.

Last start (9/22): ND / 6.0 / 0 ER / 6 H / 0 BB / 6 SO / Washington

Phillies have their work cut out for them in their season finale against Atlanta. They are going up against the future hall of famer John Smoltz. He’s allowed 3 or less runs in his last 10 starts (2.38 ERA in the month of September). In that same stretch of ten games, he’s allowed 3 or less walks in each start. And his strikeout total has suffered either. What I’m trying to say is that if the Phillies want to make the playoffs, they’re going to have to earn it. Smoltz has only faced the Phillies once this year, in that start he went 6.0 innings allowing 3 runs.

Last start (9/22): ND / 8.0 / 2 ER / 2 BB / 3 H / 8 SO / Milwaukee

Last words . . . Victorino got rid of the mohawk? I need a new hero.

Off to a bad start.

The Good:  Nothing new, this team can hit the ball out of the park.  All I wish is that these homeruns could’ve came with maybe one or two guys on base.  But it comes as no surprise, 6 runs is not enough to secure a win.  Romero is really showing that he might have gotten his act together and could be a possible closer.  Which would mean Myers could come back to the rotation next year.  But we have all winter to discuss that.  Howard didn’t strike out!!!

The Bad:  Mr. Moyer.  Why do you suck so bad?  How can Nunez be considered a professional hitter when he hits a ball out of the infield once every 20 at-bats.  The week from hell begins.

This is going to be an unbelievably long week.  Living or dieing on each pitch during the Phillies’ games.  Then having that emotional rollercoaster ride during the Mets, Padres, and Rockies game.  I really hate scoreboard watching.  And the Phillies have/had the benefit of being tied for first and were in control of their own playoff berth.  But once again, they get close to the finish line and start choking.  All I ask is that if they don’t make the playoffs, just lose every game from here on out.  I can’t go through this turmoil for another 5 days.

Kyle Lohse will try to help the Phillies get off to a better start in their next attack on the Braves.  Coming off his worse start since coming to Philadelphia, Lohse is going to have to rebound against a very powerful Atlanta team.  Next to May, September has been Lohse’s worst month compiling a 6.10 ERA in 5 starts.  In his one start against Atlanta this year, he went 6.2 innings allowing 2 ER.

Last start (9/20):  ND / 2.0 / 6 ER / 6 H / 2 BB / 0 SO / Washington

Coming off of 3 fantastic starts, the Braves ace, Tim Hudson, is going to do all he can to rain on the Phillies parade.  In his last 23.2 innings, he’s allowed 6 runs.  While the Phillies tried to use the homerun to win on Wednesday, they won’t be able to use that against Hudson as he has only given up 9 homeruns this entire year so far.  This is due to his control and ability to induce ground balls.  Against Philadelphia this year, Hudson is 0-1 in 4 starts with a 4.39 ERA in 26.2 innings.

Last start (9/21):  L / 7.2 / 3 ER / 8 H / 2 BB / 5 SO / Milwaukee

Last words . . . Gillick leaving after next year?  Is that a good thing?

Nationals steal the finale.

The Good: Hamels had a great start and did so with excellent control. Looks like he’s back to his old form, hopefully.

The Bad: Not one starter had more then 1 hit. Werth usually only has great games or terrible games. There’s really no medium. If he’s not 3-for-5 with 2 RBI’s, he’s striking out 4 or 5 times a game. Don’t know if I’m really complaining because as long as he is able to produce once every 3 games, then I’ll be happy.

It’s about time this bullpen woke me up from my dream and back into reality. Now I don’t know how Hamels was feeling after 5.0 innings, but he was pitching a hell of a game. I would’ve liked to see him go out there for another more. But I’ll take just the 5.0 innings and have him healthy enough to pitch another game. The reason the Phillies were winning all their games was because of the play of the bullpen. But it really wasn’t “the bullpen.” It was 3 guys in the bullpen. Romero, Gordon, and Myers were pitching every game. Since they are human and needed a rest, it lead to Alfonseca and Davis pitching. This team really needs a great game from one of the starters in order to allow this bullpen some rest.

Moyer is coming off of 2 good starts. I never thought I’d say that again. But in his last 2 starts, he’s allowed 3 runs over 13.0 innings. And against the Braves this year, he has an ERA of 4.26 over 19.0 innings, but is 2-1.

Last start (9/19): ND / 6.0 / 1 ER / 7 H / 5 BB / 3 SO / St. Louis

The Braves send to the mound Chuck James who has a record of 11-10 and a 4.11 ERA. In September, he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. This southpaw has exceptional control to go along with his impressive changeup. He can work himself out of jams but often has problems in the middle innings. This year against Philadelphia, James is 1-0 and an ERA of 4.50 after 3 starts. He also has 16 K’s in 16.0 innings against the Phillies this year.

Last start (9/19): W / 7.0 / 0 ER / 2 H / 1 BB / 8 SO / Florida

Last words . . . I’m going to miss all of these old, piece of crap stadiums like RFK and Vet’s Stadium.

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