Game chat: Phillies, Diamondbacks conclude series

The first-place Phillies try for their fourth-straight series win when Brett Myers (2-2, 4.70) toes the rubber against undefeated ace Brandon Webb (7-0, 2.49). First pitch is 3:40 ET from Chase Field. Discuss the action here. [Live Boxscore]

Comments

[Tim from Williamsport]

3 out of 4 against arguably the best team in the league would be HUGE for the Phils. I'll take a split though.

[Bob]

That's the best thing about today's game. It would be great if the Phils won. But they don't HAVE to. That's what was so frustrating about last year. Every time they took the field from April on they HAD to win.

[curt]

We'll know real fast whether Myers has his stuff.

[Sophist]

I'm okay with a split so long as Myers looks good in a loss. If Myers gives a 3-5 starter start today and the Phils lose, I won't be content with the split. If Myers pitches 7+ and simply gets out-pitched by Webb, the loss won't feel as bad.

[Sophist]

Not that I'm content with any loss - just that relatively speaking, a solid Myers outing/loss/split series wouldn't bother me as much as most losses.

[Lake Fred]

The obvious mismatch between Brett Myers (2-2, 4.70) and the D-Backs undefeated ace Brandon Webb (7-0, 2.49)makes it plainly obvious that the Phils will win. Webb isn't as good as his record and us BL readers have been fed enough garbage (PR from Phillies mgmnt.) to believe that Myers is not as bad as his record. Let's take 3 of 4 from the snakes.

[RSB]

I don't think Werth would have a prayer against Webb. Stronger RH pitching still easts him alive. I'm still seeing that he can't hit a good fastball from a right-hander. I also wouldn't have thought Burrell would have much of a chance against Webb based on how he was swinging last night, and it's a good time to give him a day off.

Agreed that a split is wholly acceptable in this series. A win today would be gravy, especially with this matchup.

[Spitz]

Howard and Utley have hit Webb well (small sample size). Would be nice for the big fella to get it going this afternoon.

[Sophist]

Webb's last start wasn't a strong one: 6 IP, 4 R, 2 BB 3 SO. He's also way better against RH so far this year (.373 OPS vs. .702 OPS) and has been much worse at home than the road (4.05 ERA vs. 1.33 ERA.) He's played at SD, SF, COL, and CIN. His home games have been against NYM, SF, and COL.

[GM-Carson]

Webb is really damn good. With that said, let's rock him!

[Sophist]

Lineups are up - Burrell gets the day off.

[Sophist]

Vic
Bruntlett
Utley
Howard
Jenkins
Dobbs
Taguchi - LF
Coste
Myers

[GM-Carson]

Burrell deserves and probably needs a day off. Against Webb and being a day game, wise decision by Manuel.

[Ribbies]

I'll be curious to see how Jenkins does today. He seems to be warming up a bit and has shown some power against Webb. He only has three hits against him (in 20 abs) but two of them have been round trippers.

[curt]

With that stacked lineup Cholly obviously expects Webb to go deep into the game. We'll see.

[Sophist]

Webb isn't as strong against the Phils with Rollins in the lineup and even an average Howard. We'll see what we get from Howard + the bench (Dobbs needs some nice hits) today.

The chance Myers pitches an Ace are pretty low I imagine. He certainly has the potential every time out though.

[Spitz]

Don't forget that the DBacks best bat, Conner Jackson, is out today as well. That should help Myers.

[CP, NJ]

End the slump, big guy,PLEASE!

[GM-Carson]

I typed this about 5 minutes or so ago' "Burrell deserves and probably needs a day off. Against Webb and being a day game, wise decision by Manuel.", and Mitch Williams practically just said the same thing, almost word for word.

[GM-Carson]

Infield singles must piss pitchers off to no end.

[Sophist]

Vic has got to steal here. A DP is the most likely result otherwise

[diggitydave]

Regardless how this game goes, the Phils must be extremely content with the way things have gone thus far.
Think about it:
1) Rollins has been on the DL most of the first month and a half of the season
2) Howard is hitting at a level equivalent to somewhere between Travis Lee and Ricky Otero
3) The Phils are taking AT WORST 2/4 from arguably the best team in baseball (without Cole pitching in the series!)
4) The Phils find themselves tied for first place

This is pretty damn exciting, isn't it??

[kells]

Note to Comcast:Why are you sending Tom McCarthy(I'm sorry T-Mac)to obscure parts of Chase Field. Bring back Larry Anderson to TV-he actually makes sense when he talks.

[CJ]

That's manufacturing a run!

[RSB]

That's a nice early run.

[Tony]

surprise surprise, our 10million dollar man strikes out, AGAIN

does he still think he is worth a record contract valued high than miguel cabrera's?

[TK]

Ryan Howard sucks. Pass it on.

[CJ]

Vic showing how great speed is...

1) Gets to first on an infield single.
2) Gets to second on a ground ball to short. Would have been a DP in most cases (and I'm surprised he didn't take the play at second).
3) Gets to third on a passed ball.
4) Scores on a sac fly.

[CP, NJ]

Good to have Vic back

[Tony]

im saying 263 K's on the year for Ryan "im blind" howard

[CJ]

Yes, let's pile on a guy who just struck out against the NL's best pitcher.

[curt]

Fastball looks decent today.

[diggitydave]

I really, really dislike this guy Augie Ojeda for some reason.

[king myno]

Stark called him "J.R." Swindle in Rumblings and Grumblings today. Even though he's still a fringe prospect, I expect more from one of Philly's finest, Jayson.

[CJ]

Yeah, looked real decent there...

[TK]

Brett Myers kind of sucks too.

[Tony]

CJ - its not just against webb, look at the totals, he's striking out against EVERYONE

[bay_area_phan]

typical

[Bob]

CJ,

Amen. When Vic is on base he changes the whole dynamic of the defense.

BTW, Chase, while not as fast, is no slouch either. He won't make your eyes pop out with a spectacular play like Vic, but Mitch Williams yesterday called him "possibly the best base runner in baseball today" because he NEVER fails to get as many bases as possible or makes a mental error. I knew he was excellent but hadn't had it put in that perspective.

[p. Red]

@CJ I think the piling on is less due to striking out against Webb and more about striking out against just about every other pitcher he has faced this year.

[johnnysanz3]

Myers..chicks dig the long ball..when you hit them, not giving them up.

[Malcolm]

When you're facing Brandon Webb, you can't afford to give up two runs, let alone in the first.

That's not "ace" stuff, Brett.

[diggitydave]

Didn't realize Brett Myers led the league in homeruns given up...

[bay_area_phan]

CJ: I understand reversion to norms & all that stuff but how long would Howard have to keep looking pathetic before it's ok to express utter exasperation?

[RSB]

Myers getting everything up.

Chase Field is the quietest stadium in the world until someone hits a homer - then it's a rock concert and an air raid.

[p. Red]

So we are getting bad Myers today?

[Sophist]

Myers has been bad in the 1st inning all year. Better than Mark Grace who's awful in every inning - guy must be drunk for every broadcast: gets simple facts wrong and is obnoxious.

[CJ]

bap: You're all free to voice displeasure. And when it sounds stupid, I'll point that out, too.

[curt]

Myers has all his pitches & good velocity. Just a little problem with location.

[diggitydave]

Sophist- you're right. Grace is atrocious. Really unbearable.