Tuesday night game, reality TV notes

The Phillies continue to strand base runners at an alarming pace, and Geoff Geary gets rocked in a four-run fifth, as the Phils lose to the Mets 8-3 Tuesday night.

“Fire Me, Please!” is a great summer hidden camera show that aired opposite the Phillies game last night on CBS. I know this because I flipped channels after Utley left them loaded. Contestants intentionally try to get fired the first day on the job and must do so by a certain time.

If the game last night was an episode of “Fire Me, Please!” Jimmy Rollins would have been canned after the first at bat.   

For the second time in as many weeks, J-Rolls’ lack of approach really hurt, and probably won't receive the scrutiny it should. Last time it was against these same Mets in the series opener at CBP, and once again J-Roll's failure to understand the situation cost them.

Facing Victor Zambrano, notorious for allowing free passes, throwing to Mike Piazza, who can’t throw out base stealers, J-Roll’s job in life couldn’t be clearer. Get on base. Be patient and you can stretch one bag into two virtually uncontested. Entering the game, base runners were 16-16 running on Zambrano, and everybody and their grandmother knows about Piazza.

Instead, J-Roll’s stuck in Citizen’s Bank Park mode. He went 0-5 trying to clear the fences in every AB I saw (forgive me, I only saw three). His night went pop-up, strikeout, deep fly, pop-up, ground out. Referencing my last post, it isn’t a question of heart and passion with J-Roll, it’s about execution, preparedness and an approach demanded from a player with his experience.

Tejeda
Robinson Tejeda had another good outing in spite of the results and some wildness. He displayed uncommon poise after a rocky third inning, in which he allowed two runs. He bounced back in the fourth allowing only a lead-off walk. The rookie continues to impress me with his pitch selection. I also agreed with Manuel's decision to pull him early. Playing in the oppressive heat, these players were soaked.

Geary and Manuel
Geoff Geary deserves credit on this anti-Geary space for a couple of nice outings recently, but I question Charlie Manuel’s decision to bring the right-hander into this close-game situation. He should have handed the ball to Aaron Fultz, who’s pitching with a lot of confidence and is making a case as the team’s best reliever this season. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, dropping his ERA to 3.41 and WHIP to a very good 1.10.

That said, Bobby Abreu, all-star starter, didn't help Geary. See below.

Utley
Chase Utley had a nice at bat going with two outs and the bases loaded, but struck out to end the rally. Right approach, but wrong results.

Zambrano
This is the second time in a row Victor Zambrano has gotten the best of the Phils. He reminds me a lot of Russ Ortiz, who always looked like he could give up the big inning when he was pitching in Atlanta, but it never happens.

Abreu update
I didn't see Abreu's costly miss against the wall, so anyone that did feel free to comment on it. Readers know my feelings on Abreu - I believe he's a vital part of the Phils and a star in my book, but his failure to show up in big moments is undeniable, and his defense is suspect at best.

Comments

[mitchwilliams93]

yeah good job in the outfield last night Aboo-boo.....way to be afraid to hit the wall to catch a catchable ball...even Beltran, who got a triple on the play, thought the ball was going to be caught....nope, Boo-boo doesn't want to go hard for it...nice...

oh and that triple....yeah that touched off a 4 run inning for the mets....there is no heart on the team at all.....

[Jerry]

You're absolutely right about Fultz over Geary in that situation. Match-ups are important. And it's not a second guess; it was obvious at the time. Abreu definitely screwed up his play, but a) that's not what cost the game, and b) he continues to help more than hurt, every day. Clearly an all-star, Macnow and Eskin mimics and wannabes notwithstanding. Think for yourself, and watch the games.

[pawnking]

Bobby is the best outfielder in the NL according to win shares, which includes fielding. If numbers just aren't your thing, feel free to ignore them. I'm glad to see someone pointing out that Chase Utley (who is a great player) also sometimes fails in critical situations.

[Tom G]

To me, it isn't that Abreu isn't willing to crash into the wall and make a catch, it's more the fact that he can't figure out where the damn wall is. He looks like a drunk on ice when he gets to the warning track.