Game chat: Cubs come in for three-game series

Comments

[clout]

Bit early on the game chat aren't we, Jason? You got big plans tonight?

[J. Weitzel]

Nothing gets past you, Clout.

[Bob]

Carlos Zambranno against the Phils' struggling bats? Not looking good, Harry.

[Ribbies]

I headed down to my first game of the season tonight, looking forward to it.

I'm not too excited about seeing Myers, but at least he's honest with himself about the beginning of his season, From today's Inky - "I've just been flipping crap up there," Myers said. "It wasn't working." His solution is - "I'm closing for nine innings tomorrow."

Something tells me that won't work out well.

[Morty]

What do people make of the very serviceable performance by the Phils' bullpen so far? A statistical oddity? Or something better?

[Andy]

Ribbies: I disagree. A guy like Myers is best when he's pissed with himself. Just hope Zambrano doesn't throw him any inside pitches - he may charge the mound.

[Morty]

Ribbies:

Agreed about Myers. Classic case of a million dollar arm and a 10 cent head.

[Ribbies]

Hope you're right Andy.

[CJ]

Morty: Something better.

Lidge appears to me to be as good as Myers... and if he returns to his form of a few years ago, he'll be better.

Gordon, despite his first appearance, has been suprisingly solid, even with last night's loss.

Romero picked up right where he left off, and I don't think anyone predicted that.

Seanez has proved to be a very good pickup and better than whoever he replaced, without question.

Durbin has proved to be a pretty solid long man. Sure, he'll allow some runs here or there, but he's been better than I think most of us suspected.

That means we have a solid longman, a solid righty/lefty in Seanez/Romero, a solid set-up in Gordon and a solid closer in Lidge. Will it last? We'll see.

[CJ]

I'm expecting good things from Myers tonight.

[clout]

I'm surprised there has been no comment from Beerleaguers today on this, from today's Daily News:

After being told that Madson said he didn't think he could go 2 innings, Manual said:
"First of all, we're not here to hurt people. And we're not here to put you in the game or anything if you are hurt and things like that. But when we've got 12 pitchers on our staff, somebody's got to goddamn pitch."

[Andy]

clout - it'd be nice if some of the other 13 players could g.d. hit, too.

[J. Weitzel]

Kyle Snyder top BP comps: Doug Brocail, Roger Mason, Jerry Spradlin, Tim Worrell. They call him "the definition of a low-leverage reliever," because he's put in games when the Sox are up by 4 or down by 2.

[ROB]

clout.. agree with you about Snyder.. He's had a lousy career with the exception of 2007 (era of 3.81). Even then, he walked 32 in 54 INN.. Just because he's a warm body who pitches doesn't make him a good sign..

[Brian G]

Rich Harden was sent to the DL today. Recognizing that it probably makes no sense for the A's to trade Harden or for any team to give what it would take to get him... if you were Phils GM what would you offer for Harden right at this moment? He makes 4.5 mil this year with a 7mil team option for next. Jason Donald? Probably way too high, but the thing is it doesn't make sense for the A's to take less than that. Kyle Drabek? The reward for Harden is obviously very high but chances of him giving even 15 starts over the next two years is slim.

Anyway, just throwing it out there...

[Rico Brogna]

Brian:

I don't think Beane is just going to sell low. He's going to wait until Harden makes 3-4 good starts and then send him off. No point in trading him now.

[MPN]

Friday, April 11, 2008
Rollins Still Out

Jimmy Rollins will not start for the third-straight game because of a sprained left ankle. Rollins said the ankle feels about the same. Shane Victorino will hit first tonight against the Cubs. Greg Dobbs will hit second.

From Zolecki. Imagine that Dobbs is starting in place of Feliz due to Zambrano starting for the Cubs.

[Dave X]

Rich Harden is the AL clone of Mark Prior. At this rate in a year or two he's going to get a 1-year, $5 million deal to possibly be a 5th starter.

[clout]

I hope that's right MPN. Feliz facing Zambrano would be a violation of the Geneva Convention.

[Mike Cunningham]

I kinda like Dobbs in the two hole...

but if we get another black hole at the 1-2 tonight... we won't win.

Regarding Rollins, my guess is, they are concerned about his range of motion in the field... and probably is available for a late pinch hitter

[Morty]

Ugh about Rollins. Madson/ Manuel was mentioned in an earlier thread today.

[Jack]

I'll be out at a bar watching the Flyers game, but I hope Myers can step it up tonight. Zambrano can be beaten if he starts to lose control, I like having Dobbs in there who will be more patient than Feliz would have been. Let's get the bats goin eh?

[MG]

Glad that Cholly realizes that Feliz shouldn't automatically just play everyday at 3B. Said last night I wanted this move today.

Also wouldn't mind seeing Werth get the start in CF instead of Victorino. To hell with the running game against Zambrano. Not like Victorino is getting on nearly enough either to take advantage of it anyway. Here is the lineup I would go with:

Werth
Utley
Burrell
Howard
Jenkins
Dobbs
Ruiz
Bruntlett

[clout]

MG: Werth has never been that good against RHP throughout his career. That's the problem with your proposed lineup. If you want to sit Vic, you have to lead off with Bourn...er...um

[MPN]

clout: Not sure about that, but I think we can both agree that Dobbs is a much better option for the 2 hole than Bruntlett. And, against a tough RHP like Zambrano and Brett on the mound for us, I'm happy to see Dobbs in the game.

[CJ]

Lineups:

Phils
Victorino
Dobbs
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Jenkins
Ruiz
Myers

Cubs:
Soriano
Fukudome
Lee
Ramirez
Ward
Soto
DeRosa
Theriot
Zambrano

[MPN]

where is Bruntlett batting? 8th?

[CJ]

Ha!

Yes he is. Must have been a mental block. Or I simply didn't believe Charlie would move the catcher up in the order.

Bruntlett batting 8th.

[MPN]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=280411122

Never mind, he is batting 8th.

[MPN]

CJ: No worries... easy to do after the 11th inning last night!

[Andy]

I'm not sure I wouldn't bat Bruntlett 9th, if Ruiz leads off and inning and gets on base you might want someone up there who can bunt.

[clout]

I hope Ruiz has a good game and forces Charlie to keep him in the 7th spot.

[MG]

Clout - Take a look though at Victorino's splits against RHP. They aren't exactly impressive either. Plus, Victorino is really struggling and had a couple of bonehead plays last night. He deserves to ride the pine tonight.

[Scott]

It's just about that time where we need to win a series.

[GM-Carson]

Watch this misfit lineup spark the offense and be Charlie's new go-to plan.

[Scott]

I have this lingering feeling that Derek Lee will have a big series.

[GM-Carson]

2nd time in this short season that Phils game isn't on in the Harrisburg area. I pay way too much money for Comcast to not get every stinkin' game...dammit!

[Scott]

I hate it when I'm right...

[GM-Carson]

Derek Lee is awesome.

[Scott]

Well be glad that it's not on

[GM-Carson]

Brett Myers has been a huge letdown this season so far, and I have a sickening feeling it will last all season long.

[GM-Carson]

Wow, back-to-back homeruns. Brett said he was going to pitch 9 innings like he was closing...just blew the save Brett!

[TarheelPhan]

Boy, I tuned in at just the right time *sigh*

[Scott]

We can't afford to have Myers not last at least 6 innings with how much our pen was used last night. I don't want to rely on 3 innings from Durbin.

[GM-Carson]

But according to J-Roll, this team only needs to finish .500 for the month of April. .500 would be an improvement, doubt it happens, not with the way the Phils are playing. Good pitching- no hitting, no defense. Good offense- no pitching, no defense. Good defense- wait, does that happpen?

[Scott]

I bet you Zambrano gets a HR of his own this game.

[Andy]

Ribbies:

Looks like I was wrong.

Have we has any games this year that the Phils haven't been behind.

It's like they're constantly in a hole. Very disconcerting and frustrating.

[Andy]

Nice AB by Vic. About time.

[Andy]

Chollie gets some props for playing Dobbs and batting him second.

[Scott]

Already better than last night in the 2 spot.