Phillies take aim at win number 1

The Phillies send Ryan Madson and Jon Lieber to the mound in today’s double dip in hopes of collecting their first win of 2006.

The Phillies fell 5-3 in Friday’s series opener to go 0-4 on the young season. Yesterday’s game was postponed due to rain.

They hope to bounce back fresh this afternoon as Ryan Madson makes only the second start of his career. Madson is coming off an impressive spring.

He’ll face Derek Lowe (0-1, 12.60 ERA), who was among a handful of quality starters who got bombed opening week.

Another pitcher who struggled mightily last week was Jon Lieber (0-1, 21.60 ERA). Lieber takes to the hill in Game 2 against Brad Penny.

Look for Sal Fasano to catch Lieber’s game. Fasano was one of the only bright spots Friday night, launching a home run into the upper deck. Jimmy Rollins will look to extend his hitting streak to two games.

Getting relief
While starting pitching has been the big issue, middle relief has answered the call. The worst five ERAs on the team belong to four starters and closer Tom Gordon.

Ryan Franklin, Geoff Geary, Rheal Cormier and Arthur Rhodes have combined for 10 shutout innings. After getting bombed in the first game, Aaron Fultz and Julio Santana bounced back to lower their ERAs to 1.80 and 4.50 respectively.

Early struggles
David Bell started his third-straight game on Friday. He went 0-3 and is now 1-10 on the season. His backup, Abraham Nunez, hasn't been much better, just 1-8 so far. Aaron Rowan has also struggled, going 2-14 to start the season.

Comments

[RickSchuBlues]

I hate to take some starch out of even the 'bright spot', but the bullpen guys have put up those numbers exclusively in non-pressure situations - in games where the Phillies have either been so far behind or nonexistent offensively so as to more or less lull the opposition to sleep. I have doubts that their success rates can continue if the Phils actually get a late-inning lead (it's becoming difficult to conceive, but it could happen).

Hopefully they'll at least be able to win one of the games today, but anything less than a sweep will still leave egg all over this franchise's face. There are banners and billboards and ads for the Phillies everywhere in the city. It's just sad. No one is going to care (except us beerleaguers) unless they start rising to the occasion - really, just once wouldn't hurt - and giving people a reason to get excited with their performance on the field. So far they've played like a team that's 25 games out in August; on the first homestand of the season, there is absolutely no excuse for it. Let's hear one more time about how loose ol' Charlie's got the clubhouse...

[Ed]

Given that the ChiSox are 1-4 and the Yankees are 1-4 and the Braves are struggling too, I'm not too too worried yet, but boy, I hope they pull out a sweep today.

[Adam]

Already 3-0 Dodgers...I can't believe how terribly this team is playing, right out of the gate.

But once again: why is David Bell starting? Not only is he 1-10 to start off the season (with the one hit, a HR, off a lefty) but we're facing a right-handed pitcher whom he is 3-17 against lifetime. Manuel's unwillingness to start Gonzalez or Nunez in these situations is bordering on bizarre.

[tc]

There was an article in the Boston Globe last week that ranked last season's Phils as the top of league in defense - by far. What's with all the errors this season? Two more today. At least one a game, I think. I have to assume the d will improve over the season but this is a rough way to start.

[Mike]

8th inning... Bell... WHY GOD, WHYYYYYY?!?!

[Adam]

Mike...you beat me to it.

I do not think I have hated a player more than I hate Bell. It's not even the $17 million. I'd give him $17 million to stay the hell away from us. It's the being stuck with him for 4 years...

most importantly: why didn't Manuel pull Bell (0 fo 3 for the day) when he pinch ran Nunez? I mean, I guess he wanted to avoid having the pitcher up, but he could've left Rowand in, and then pinch hit with Fasano there. Bell is now 1 for 14 on the season, with a rally killing double play and two crucial errors.

[George S]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. David Bell once again hits into the rally-killing GIDP.
But let's not forget JR, who came to bat with 2 men on base and no one out. The pitcher had just walked the previous batter on 4 pitches, including a wild pitch. And after throwing yet another ball to start off JR, he swings away at a letter high pitch and pops it up.

[Adam]

Manuel is a goddamn moron--a sac bunt with Victorino? As a result, the Phillies have one out, runner on 2nd. They then walk Rollins (which they did), Fasano is a relatively easy out, then we have 2 lefties. What a waste of an out.