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Game chat: Phillies igniting annual hot homestand

The hometown nine are making their 10-game homestand a memorable one. Winners of the first four games and five in a row overall, it’s reminiscent of other seasons when the Phillies caught fire at home.

Hall of Fame poster, RSB, summarized the situation this way in the previous thread: “The Phillies are once again taking advantage of their first long homestand of the the season; if memory serves correct, they also used this kind of opportunity as a springboard in the past three seasons. At this point 7-3 would be a disappointment. Doesn't this feel like it's finally their moment in the sun? The Braves are hobbled, the Mets are psychically scarred, the weather is warm, the park is sold out, even Brett Myers pitched eight innings. And now they're in first place a third of the way through the schedule.

“I know the bubble of optimism could easily be pricked with a loss tonight (as could the first-place status) but in spite of the momentum involved, I objectively believe that this is the Phillies' division to lose. (Maybe I shouldn't put it that way, but you know what I mean.)”

Pitching matchup: Cole Hamels (5-3, 3.18) and Ricky Nolasco (4-3, 4.70).

Phillies take over first, notch fifth straight victory

The bats continued their torrid hitting in a 12-3 shellacking of Florida. After allowing three runs in the first, Brett Myers pitched a total of eight innings with a season-high 11 Ks.

It’s been a charmed run for your Phillies. Yes it has. Sixty runs in five games. When they play this way, they’re humbling. Chase “Pinch Me He's Ours Forever” Utley is in that familiar zone. The baseball looks like a beach ball to Chase, who took over the league lead in homers (18) and RBIs (48). The hitting has been infectious. Your backup catcher, Chris Coste, is hitting .455 with runners in scoring position and provided the key hit in last night’s contest. In next week’s draft, teams won’t give a guy like Coste the time of day. The big innings have been made possible by more base runners, made possible by patient at bats from Shane Victorino. Vic has scored 11 runs in six games and has shown excellent patience – yet another case of a player rising to the challenge, in this case, when Jayson Werth went down.

After one inning, I bailed on Brett Myers, but that’s okay, because so did the Phillies. They started warming up Rudy Seanez. Then Myers went to his breaking ball ... and his split ... and his change, and was locating all of them. Eighty-nine on the gun, which is where it could be frozen forever, didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was throwing his fastball inside for strikes and putting guys away. That’s how he handled the young, aggressive Marlins. It’s how he should handle everyone.

The Phillies, winners of five in a row, climbed to first in the East and hold the third-best record in the National League (32-24). They’re red-hot, fun to watch and appear primed for the long summer haul.

Game chat: Phillies could use a long winning streak

The first-place Marlins make their first visit to Philadelphia this evening, as the Phillies continue their homestand with eyes on five in a row.

It seems like yesterday when the Phils were wrapping up April and we wondered how much of it would change in May. We wondered if Ryan Howard would warm up, and he has. We wondered if Pat Burrell would cool down, and he has. To coincide with the start of Charlie Manuel’s "Hittin’ Season," Shane Victorino, Geoff Jenkins and others have started producing, while others, like Pedro Feliz, have had their moments. Chase Utley endured his first mini slump of 2008 only to bounce back as he usually does. If April belonged to Burrell and Utley, May belonged to the role players: Jayson Werth and his eight RBI night; Greg Dobbs and Chris Coste hitting for high average.

On the mound, Brett Myers got worse. Opponents are hitting .348 off Myers in May. Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton have been fine recently. Cole Hamels was roughed up his last start, but held opponents scoreless for 16 innings before that.

The supreme constant has been bullpen. This from a team that used 28 different pitchers last season. Except for the addition of Rudy Seanez on April 3, the pitching staff has remained the same, with no real call for change.

The only thing missing is a long winning streak, which the Phils can build on tonight. They’ve won a season-high four straight to climb 7 games above .500. (31-24). This is the time when clubs start to separate, and the Phils would love nothing more than to catch Florida by the fin and distance themselves from New York and Atlanta.

They looked good against short-staffed Colorado. Can they keep it up against fully-loaded Florida? They have a good chance as long as Myers can revert to the pitcher of old. He’s lost six in a row, but in his defense, he could use a little help. The Phillies are averaging just 2.5 runs a game during his last six starts and have been outscored 32-15.

The Fish have pestered Myers and the Phils before. Bad things happen when the Phillies play Florida. It’s a nasty little rivalry with bad blood and brutal finishes, as Myers knows too well. It was against Florida when Myers pulled his shoulder and made his first career trip to the DL. Overall, Myers went 0-2 with two saves and a 10.13 ERA in seven games - one start - versus the Marlins last season and is 5-6 with a 4.79 ERA in 18 career starts against them.

Mark Hendrickson (7-2, 4.14) makes the start for Florida. The 6-9 left-hander has been nice surprise for the cash-strapped club, who signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million deal after being non-tendered by the Dodgers this winter.

Beer nuts: Marson leads Eastern League in hitting

Reading catcher Lou Marson, 21, is hitting .344 and riding a 12-game hitting streak. As the R-Phils press office reports, he would be in elite company if he can keep up the pace.

The last catcher to win an Eastern League batting title was two-time All-Star Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians back in 2002, when he also named EL Player of the Year. In the last 12 games, Marson is hitting .418 (18-43) with two homers and 17 RBIs, which includes a grand slam. Marson, along with outfield prospect Greg Golson, are featured in today’s Inquirer. Marson and the R-Phils fell to Erie 9-7 yesterday. They return home tonight to begin a three-game homestand with Harrisburg. Carlos Carrasco gets the start.

Errors infect Reading: The R-Phils have committed 32 errors in their last 28 games and rank next-to-last in the Eastern League in fielding percentage, according to the Reading Eagle.

Pitchers slumping: After a blazing start and call-up to Double-A, Antonio Bastardo has run into problems with his control, walking 11 in his last two starts. And in the bullpen, fast-tracked lefties Josh Outman and Fabio Castro were roughed up this week.

Triples: Last season, the Phillies ranked in the top three with 41 total triples, including 20 by Jimmy Rollins. This season, they’re near the bottom, with six total coming from six different players, none of them named Jimmy.

Swindle featured: Beerleaguer favorite R.J. Swindle is the subject of a long article on MiLB.com. Check it out here.

Win Shares added: Recently, the Hardball Times activated Win Shares for the 2008 season, the signature stat of Bill James. The Hardball Times formula isn’t exactly the same; frankly, I don’t really follow all that goes into the formula. Win Shares are a good tool for measuring overall contribution in a general sense, and it serves as an excellent resource when comparing players from others teams or by position. For example, remember all that hoopla about Pedro Feliz being the worst offensive regular third baseman in the NL last season? Well, history is set to repeat itself. Feliz’s 0.1 batting Win Shares is right at the bottom among regulars. A permanent link to Win Shares has been added to the top left sidebar.

Trust the eyes: Carlos Ruiz is hitless in his last seven ABs, but the numbers don’t reveal the whole story lately. Chooch made several outstanding defensive plays in the Colorado series and has also been the man behind the plate for the latest strong efforts by Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton. ... Speaking of Eaton, the maligned right-hander has been solid ever since Rod Barajas hit that grand slam in the second inning on May 17. Both Kendrick and Eaton have been pitching aggressively. Still, there is one school of thought that believes Eaton has little or no shot at helping them in October, so why beat around the bush and deny opportunities for prospects like J.A. Happ to develop?

New leadership has stepped forward for Phillies

Some considered Aaron Rowand’s leadership irreplaceable, but you wouldn’t know it from the wins and losses. Is clubhouse character overrated, or have new leaders emerged? We ask Scott Lauber of The News Journal.

Beerleaguer: The Philadelphia sports fan values leadership, heart and grit. That was how Aaron Rowand played when he was here. When he signed with San Francisco, there was concern that the clubhouse would miss his presence. Yet here they stand, 31-24, in better shape than a year ago. From your perspective, covering the team on a regular basis, who sets policy inside the Phillies locker room? Are new voices being heard?

Scott Lauber: To me, the most obvious answer is Jimmy Rollins. Because of his importance to the team and his status as the reigning NL MVP, his voice probably rises above all others in terms of being a leader in the clubhouse. As reporters, I think most of us view Rollins as the go-to player for a state-of-the-team comment, in good times and bad. Generally, he has a lot to say, and he usually says it with some flair.

But there are other voices that have emerged, too. I think back to last season when the Phillies started 4-11 and had their often-discussed team meeting before a game in Cincinnati. Obviously, Aaron Rowand had a lot to say that day, but many people told me Jamie Moyer spoke up quite a bit during that meeting. So, too, did Chase Utley. In his own way, Utley is a significant team leader, though I think most of his leadership comes by example. It's hard for pitchers to be leaders because they don't play every day, but I think Moyer and Tom Gordon are as respected as anyone in the clubhouse. When they speak, other guys listen. People may find this surprising, but I think Pat Burrell is a leader, too. Like Utley, Burrell isn't a team spokesman with the media, but I think his impact is felt behind-the-scenes. Without being prompted, some players have told me that Burrell is as devoted to the cause of winning as any player on the team.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Phan deciphers staff ERA

Our analysis of the night came from bay_area_phan, who exposes deeper meaning behind the numbers generate by the starting rotation and bullpen. He writes ...

“So our starters are pitching deeper into games than all but two teams in the NL, yet four of our starters have park adjusted ERAs below league average, while our bullpen has the league's best ERA. One way to interpret this info. is that our starting pitchers, though not very good, are reasonably reliable in avoiding the total meltdown and keeping us in games. Another way to interpret it is that our starters are doing an overall decent job, but their ERAs are being hurt at the end of their outings by relievers who are allowing too many inherited runners to score (thus resulting in ERAs which overstate the effectiveness of our bullpen and understate the effectiveness of our starters). A third way to interpret the info. is that the reason our bullpen has been so effective is because the starters have pitched deep into games, and prevented our bullpen from being overworked. And still another way to interpret the info. is that our stating pitchers stink, and the only reason they're pitching deep into games is because our manager systematically leaves them in too long, when he would be better off calling on the league's best bullpen. A plausible case can be made that any or all of these interpretations are true, to some extent.”

Game chat: Eaton hoping to build on solid outing

Adam Eaton (0-3, 5.37 ERA) took the loss Friday against Houston, but it was arguably his best start of the season. He’ll try for his elusive first win tonight as the Phillies go for the sweep.

Eaton allowed three runs and eight hits over seven innings Friday, locating his breaking ball and walking just one batter. He was burned by two long balls, which, surprisingly, is the most he’s allowed in one game all season. His control, which waivers from pitch to pitch, has been the primary concern, plus that annoying habit of getting ahead of hitters and not putting them away. He isn’t missing many bats and he’s walking too many. (29/24). He has not pitched well against the Rockies, going 8-12 with a 6.32 ERA in 25 career starts against them. He's got a tough act to follow, as Kyle Kendrick pitched very well last night and Jamie Moyer picked up the easy win Monday night.

For Colorado, rookie right-hander Greg Reynolds (0-1, 4.08) gets the nod. Reynolds was the second overall pick in the 2006 draft and was actually selected by the Phillies in the 41st round of the 2003 draft, but did not sign.

Midday: Utley leads voting, Burrell needs your help

Chase Utley’s 537,788 votes are more than 100,000 higher than the next-closest player, Chipper Jones (420,664). Meanwhile, the Cubs should be well-represented.

Nothing ruins an All-Star game like a good Cubs team and their unabashed fans. When the Cubbies win, their fans could punch ballots all the live-long day. NL second base isn't the deepest position in terms of talent, but Utley is deserving. Florida's Dan Uggla is also pretty deserving, but trails Utley, Kaz Matsui and Mark DeRosa. In addition to Utley, Jimmy Rollins ranks fifth among NL shortstops in voting, Ryan Howard ranks fifth among first basemen and Pat Burrell ranks sixth among outfielders. Besides Utley and Jones, top vote-getters, by position, include Lance Berkman, Hanley Ramirez, Giovanny Soto, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Ken Griffey Jr. The figures were released by baseball today. [NL Voting] [AL Voting]

Vote for Burrell: Pat the Bat has yet to be named to an All-Star team, and this would be a good time to change that. According to Hardball Times Win Shares, he’s tied for second among NL outfielders, trailing Pittsburgh’s Nate McLouth, who also needs your votes (although he’ll be named to the team for sure). Alfonso Soriano is the leading vote-getter among NL outfielders and he isn’t having a particularly good season. And enough with Ken Griffey Jr. already. Please. Ryan Church for the rival Mets also deserves more votes. [Vote for Burrell]

Kendrick goes on the attack: Here’s the million-dollar question (so important that I saved it for 3:45 in the afternoon and buried it all the way down here): Do the Phillies have the pitching to win in the post-season? Not to simply reach the post-season, but to win and win deep? While the latest offensive outburst has brought smiles to our faces, the night Kendrick had was just as delightful. For seven solid, he resembled a guy who could win a playoff game, pitching a career-high 7 1-3 innings with five strikeouts, a walk and two runs.

Granted, the Rockies aren’t fielding a playoff-caliber lineup, but it was a better lineup than the previous night, and the way Kendrick pitched he would have been tough on anyone. He took a hard-line approach with a weaker club, just as Jamie Moyer did during the middle innings the night before. He was aggressive. He was locating. He was driving hard to the plate. He was forcing groundballs. He was hitting 92 on the gun consistently, and topping 93 in the middle frames. I suspect if the weather hadn’t been threatening, he would have kept pace and gone the full eight. Up 7-1 with storm clouds looming, he rushed.

The Phillies’ lineup had no trouble pounding Ubaldo Jiminez’s 98 mph cheese. They’ll hit this type of pitcher. Jimmy Rollins had a couple good hits, including a line shot to center. Rollins isn’t going to repeat as MVP, and doesn’t have the home runs, but he’s swinging the bat as well as anyone in the lineup.

Filling in at left field for Pat Burrell, who was out with a stiff neck, Greg Dobbs continues to hit, going two-for-four with two RBIs. What a nice player he’s been since making the jump to the National League, where he’s flourished. In 71 at bats, he’s knocked in 17 for a total of 72 as a member of the Phils. That’s outstanding value for a waiver claim, and he doesn't hurt them defensively. Plus, I suspect he's a clubhouse asset, too. I'm checking on that.

Game chat: Kendrick hopes bats saved some for him

Following a 20-5 thrashing, the Phillies try to continue their high-scoring ways tonight when Kyle Kendrick (3-2, 5.19) meets hard-throwing left-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (1-4, 4.61). First pitch is 7:05 ET. I'll be down at the Bank tonight to claim my free cap.

Transaction: Phillies sign independent league closer

Long Island stopper Joe Valentine, 28, had his contract purchased by the Phils this weekend. The right-hander will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

From the Long Island Web site: Valentine earned six saves in 14 appearances for the independent Ducks in 2008, compiling a 2-1 record with a 1.62 ERA. He struck out 14 in 16.2 innings, allowing ten hits and three earned runs. In 51 career games with Long Island, he’s 6-3 with eight saves and 51 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. He served as the Ducks’ setup man before taking over the closer’s role at the beginning of the 2008 season.

Originally drafted by the White Sox in the 1999 draft, Valentine has appeared in 42 games at the Major League level, all with Cincinnati, going 2-4 with a 6.70 ERA and 39/37 K/BB ratio in 45 2-3 innings. His last appearance came in 2005. In eight minor league seasons, almost exclusively in relief, he’s 25-23 with a 3.57 ERA and 405/226 K/BB ratio, including 81 saves. The Phillies will be his sixth organization.

It's hittin' season: Phillies score 20 in rout of Rox

Charlie Manuel calls late May to Sept. 1 "Hittin' Season." Right on schedule, the Phillies offense explodes for 35 runs in two games with a 20-5 dismantling of the Rockies.

Chris Wheeler mentioned Manuel's "hittin' season" quip as the camera caught the Phillies skipper basking in the glow of another high-scoring affair. Cholly loves hittin' like a helping of mountain trout and cornbread. Their 20 runs eclipsed their previous season high of 15, set Sunday, and it was the most by a Major League team this season. Chase Utley knocked in a career-high six. Pedro Feliz and Chris Coste both plated four. The Phils had one hit through three innings and would finish with a season-high 19.

It was the best the offense looked all season, but it was also the worst showing by an opposing team in ages. Decimated by injuries, the Rockies’s lineup and pitching staff is filled with holes. It’s a shame; they’re nothing close to the team that swept the Phils in the NLDS.

The hubbub surrounding the game masks what was otherwise a so-so showing by Jamie Moyer, who was hittable and terrible before the Phils spotted him all those runs. After that, he picked apart the young, impatient Colorado lineup and finished with seven strikeouts in seven innings. 

Watch these averages soar. Feliz is riding a seven-game hitting streak and has his marks up to .271/.313/.448. So Taguchi earned a rare start and made the most of it, going 3-for-5 to raise his average to .204. Coste keeps hitting (3-for-6, .341), Dobbs keeps hitting (1-for-2, .358). Howard and Victorino appear to be heating up. And Utley never slumps for very long, lifting his OPS back over 1.000 (1.016, 16 HR, 42 RBI).

Monday: Too beautiful to blog holiday open thread

The Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park to open a three-game series against the Rockies after tearing apart Houston's bullpen yesterday in a 15-6 rout. Left-handers Jorge de la Rosa and Jamie Moyer square off tonight at 7:05 ET at Citizens Bank Park. Enjoy the game and nice weather.

Game Chat: Hamels takes aim at series split

Dating to May 9, Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels (5-3, 2.61) has pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings. He’ll try to keep it going today against Chris Sampson (3-3, 5.91) and the Astros. First pitch is 2:05 ET.

Preview: The Phils can salvage a winning road trip with a victory today, which is hard to believe considering the way they’ve played. Besides Wednesday, they’ve seen several tight, tough contests against less than marquee pitching, suffering back-to-back, one-run losses to Brandon Backe and Brian Moehler. They’re 12-11 this month and haven’t been able to steal as many close ones as they did in April. Houston offered one for the taking last night with bases loaded and one out in the ninth, but the Phils couldn’t convert. The funk continues w/RISP.

The Phils can either lose three in a row and return home 27-25 having lost 4-of-7 on the road, or Hamels can do what he’s been doing lately, and that’s stop a losing streak dead in its tracks. Hamels ranks second in the National League in ERA and third with 65 strikeouts. He’s been dominant lately, holding opponents scoreless with eight hits while striking out 17 in his last two starts.

Meanwhile, the Astros counter with Sampson, a mediocre right-hander, which has become the bane of the Phillies' existence on this trip.

Last night: Brett Myers labored through six innings, and while it wasn’t a terrible start, the struggling right-hander made several fatal mistakes, including leaving one out over the plate for pinch hitter Mark Loretta to drive to center for a go-ahead RBI in the sixth. A lack of location, pitch selection and velocity, and the consistency of those shortcomings, has made the Myers of old fade from view. Nevertheless, combine Myers' outing with Chad Durbin's night, it should have been enough for this lineup to play with.

Game chat: Phillies, Myers try to get back on track

Brett Myers (2-5, 5.76) has lost three straight decisions, surrendering a league-high 15 home runs on the year. He'll try to regain his 2006 starter form tonight at Minute Maid park. Brian Moehler (1-1, 4.76) stands opposite Myers as a pitcher who also spent 2007 in the bullpen. The 36-year-old journeyman right-hander joined the rotation as a fill-in for Wandy Rodriguez. Las Vegas lists Philadelphia as slight favorites. As a fan, I wish I could feel more confident with this Myers vs. Moehler match-up. Not the way Myers is throwing and the way Lance Berkman and the Astros lineup is hitting. The Phils need their bats to awaken from yesterday's slumber.

Werth lands on 15-day DL with right oblique strain

Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth suffered the abdominal pull swinging the bat in Thursday's game and was placed on the disabled list following last night's contest. Outfielder T.J. Bohn was recalled from Lehigh Valley.

Beerleaguer: Bohn earns the distinction of having the worst numbers I've ever seen from a call-up this late in the season, hitting just .162/.259/.253 with two homers with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The tall, 28-year-old outfielder, who hacks from the right side, looks like he should mash, but he's even more small ball than So Taguchi. He can run, catch and is gifted at finding ways to stay aboard a 40-man roster, and that's obviously what they care about here. You have to wonder what other candidates, like Reading's Jeremy Slayden for one, must think when the Phils make a move like this. The silver lining is the club will face a pair of right-handers to finish out their series with Houston, so Geoff Jenkins and Shane Victorino figured to start anyway.

The last time Bohn was recalled, there was a small outcry over the decision not to promote Double-A prospect Greg Golson. Golson, who's finally starting to click at Reading, would not have been my choice, but neither would Bohn. Truth be told however, Bohn, along with infielder Brad Haman, ended up being a non-factor in his earlier assignment. The Phils will hope it stays that way.

Game chat: Eaton hoping 10th time is a charm

Adam Eaton (0-2, 5.59) seeks his first win of the season when the Phillies continue their series with Houston tonight at Minute Maid Park. Game time is 8:05 ET. Eaton has lost two straight decisions, posting a 7.71 ERA and walking 10 during that span. Brandon Backe (3-5, 4.58) takes the hill for Houston, hoping for better results than the last time he faced Philadelphia, when he gave up six runs and 10 hits in three-plus back on April 17.

Beer nuts: Manuel thinks Feliz could set career highs

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told MLB.com that he believes third baseman Pedro Feliz can maintain his current pace.

Feliz went 2-for-4 with an RBI yesterday against Houston after going 5-for13 in the Washington series. The 33-year-old is hitting .252/.295/.436 with seven homers and 20 RBIs. "When he's aggressive at the plate, I really like his swing," Manuel told MLB.com. "He gets defensive at times, though. He gets kind of passive. But when he gets aggressive, he's a good-looking hitter." Manuel believes 30 homers and 100 RBIs may be attainable.

Vastly improved bench: Remember the days when the Phillies acquired Randall Simon and Jose Hernandez to upgrade the bench in the heat of the playoff race? Seems like yesterday, because it practically was (2006). Since then, they’ve come a long way in improving their bench. Led by Greg Dobbs, Phillies pinch hitters are hitting .280 (23-82), 2nd-best in the NL and lead all NL teams in pinch hits, HR (4), RBI (14) and SLG. The Phillies have had two game-winning pinch homers this season, Pedro Feliz hit the first in April against the Mets, and Pat Burrell did it last night. (from the Press Notes, except the part about Randall Simon).

Local podcast recommended: “On the DL” with Dan Levy, presented by Philadelphia Weekly, has ramped up its content with a couple shows and guests that parallel many of the topics we've covered lately, including blogs and their impact on traditional media. Recent guests include 610-WIP's Glen Macnow talking about blogs, plus a handful of Phillies players and personalities, including Tom McCarthy and Darren Daulton. [Link]

Beerleaguer on 610-WIP tonight: Tune in when Brian Startare and I talk Phillies baseball tonight at 10:10 p.m.

Friday: Aggressive managing paying off on the road

Charlie Manuel exhausted his bench to get the lead and put the game in the hands of his bullpen. For the second time on this trip, the age-old strategy of playing to win on the road worked according to plan.

The luxury of having a lights-out 'pen and a deep bench (perhaps the two greatest strengths of the young season) has allowed Manuel to pull out all the stops late in ballgames. There’s no better example than last night, as the Phils won a high scoring footrace to the ninth inning, putting it in the hands of stopper Brad Lidge to seal the deal in a 7-5 win. And in addition to Pat Burrell, who we’ll get to momentarily, it also showcased the virtues of a versatile bench, where someone like Eric Bruntlett can man multiple positions in an emergency.

The jackpot move was lifting Greg Dobbs for Burrell to start the eighth. True to form, it was another patient Burrell at bat capped by a nice, easy swing on a 3-2 fastball. Burrell rocked it like it was April 2008. In the bottom half of the inning, Manuel lifts Burrell for So Taguchi, who tracks down a ball tight to the line. A minor point, but it seemed like every move worked in their favor.

The Phils and Astros sprayed 26 hits all over the place in a back-and-forth contest that could have gone to anyone really. Roy Oswalt and Kyle Kendrick didn’t have it, but it was also a night of good hits and just as many lucky ones. The game featured lots of opposite field action, including Ryan Howard’s bomb to left field, part of a three-for-five night. Astros' pitching relentlessly tried to get him to chase outside; one couldn’t help but notice that Howard was aware of that and saw it all the way. Oswalt’s offering would have been an out pitch against Howard two days ago.

Minors: New faces guiding IronPigs to 10-10 May

The Phillies Triple-A affiliate has won two in a row and eight of their last twelve, getting help from a number of new additions.

The emergency overall appears to be working for Dave Huppert's bumbling ballclub. On mcall.com, readers can vote for the "IronPig of the Week" and four of the five choices weren’t with the club at the start of the season, including center fielder Rich Thompson, infielder Oscar Robles, left-hander Les Walrond and Beerleaguer favorite R.J. Swindle. Triple-A veteran Mike Cervenak is leading in votes, going 9-for-24 with 8 RBIs. The IronPigs begin an eight-game home stand tonight against Charlotte.

Blackley returns soon: Rule 5 left-hander Travis Blackley, who’s been out since April 28 with a pulled groin, is set to rejoin Lehigh Valley’s rotation, which will then feature four left-handers (Blackley, Brian Mazone, Les Walrond, J.A. Happ) and Ron Chiavacci.

Price makes pro debut against Clearwater tonight: Top pick in the 2007 draft David Price makes his professional debut when Vero Beach (Rays) hosts Clearwater. The former Vanderbilt star has been in extended spring training, most recently, striking out 10 batters in five innings, including Alex Rodriguez.

Reader compiles notable stats: Thoughtful contributor, denny b., supplies an update on statistical highs and lows from the Phillies' farm system:

Pitching:
Happ (AAA) - 10 games, 1-4, 57 IP, 48 hits, 26 BBs, 66 Ks, 3.45 ERA
Swindle (AA, AAA) - 17 games, 2-0, 24 IP, 12 hits, 1 BB, 27 Ks, 0.74 ERA
Carrasco (AA) - 9 games, 3-4, 55 IP, 49 hits, 22 BBs, 55 Ks, 3.44 ERA
Outman (AA) - 12 games, 1-2, 39 IP, 39 hits, 20 BBs, 43 Ks, 2.54 ERA
Castro (AA) - 11 games, 3-0, 36 IP, 28 hits, 22 BBs, 36 Ks, 3.50 ERA
Bisenius (AAA, AA) - 9 games, 0-1, 11 IP, 11 hits, 11 BBs, 11 Ks, 7.25 ERA
Overholt (AA) - 17 games, 1-1, 21 IP, 11 hits, 9 BBs, 21 Ks, 9 saves, 2.08 ERA
Carpenter (AA) - 9 games, 2-5, 50 IP, 66 hits, 20 BBs, 36 Ks, 5.54 ERA
Bastardo (A, AA) - 9 games, 4-1, 53 IP, 39 hits, 18 BBs, 67 Ks, 2.10 ERA
Savery (A) - 10 games, 2-4, 57 IP, 67 hits, 24 BBs, 49 Ks, 4.71 ERA
Garcia (A) - 9 games, 5-1, 56 IP, 57 hits, 16 BBs, 49 Ks, 3.54 ERA
Harker (A) - 13 games, 3-1, 20 IP, 21 hits, 8 BBs, 14 Ks, 1.31 ERA
Naylor (A) - 10 games, 4-2, 67 IP, 45 hits, 15 BBs, 71 Ks, 2.55 ERA
Brummett (A) - 6 games, 3-0, 37 IP, 28 hits, 10 BBs, 36 Ks, 1.95 ERA

Batting:
Watson (AAA) - .306 BA, 44 hits, 0 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 SB, 8 BBs, 16 Ks
Jaramillo (AAA) - .190 BA, 26 hits, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs, 0 SB, 13 BBs, 23 Ks
Golson (AA) - .325 BA, 54 hits, 5 HRs, 25 RBIs, 14 SB, 11 BBs, 49 Ks
Marson (AA) - .325 BA, 39 hits, 1 HR, 25 RBIs, 0 SB, 26 BBs, 28 Ks
Donald (AA) - .305 BA, 36 hits, 2 HRs, 19 RBI's, 4 SB, 20 BBs, 26 Ks
Harman (AA) - .206 BA, 14 hits, 2 HRs, 19 RBIs, 4 SB, 20 BBs, 26 Ks
Slayden (AA) - .282 BA, 42 hits, 4 HRs, 31 RBIs, 0 SB, 15 BBs, 37 Ks
Cardenas (A) - .333 BA, 26 hits, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 SB, 8 BBs, 10 Ks
Taylor (A) - .342 BA, 55 hits, 7 HRs, 32 RBIs, 5 SB, 15 BBs, 33 Ks
Brown (A) - .276 BA, 50 hits, 4 HRs, 21 RBI's, 9 SB, 18 BBs, 32 Ks

NL East: Surprising Marlins go for sweep of D-backs

As readers noted in last night’s comments, it may be time to start paying attention to the upstart Marlins, who handed Brandon Webb his first loss of the season yesterday.

Ricky Nolasco allowed one run in seven innings to help lift the Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks yesterday. Florida's Andrew Miller, who has pitched well lately, and Arizona's Dan Haren pitch Game 3 tonight in Miami. The Fish, led by red-hot second baseman Dan Uggla (.323/.402/.695) hold a 1.5 game lead over the Braves and Phillies, with the Braves winning four in a row after thrashing the Mets 11-4. Jeff Francoeur, mired in a power slump, homered and drove in four in a winning cause. Rookie Jair Jurrjens allowed one run over seven frames against a lethargic Mets' lineup. Moises Alou left the game with a strained calf and will undergo an MRI. New York has lost three straight to fall to .500, with manager Willie Randolph feeling the heat. Meanwhile, Carlos Beltran has gone deep just three times all season.

Beerleaguer: Florida has been forever dangerous. The combination of a pressure-free environment, receiving quality talent in their salary dumps and scouting well has kept the cycle going. They're on the rise and have completed their latest fire sale phase. They may not have all the parts to see it through, but they're in great shape to make some noise very soon.

Game chat: Phillies, Moyer take aim at series win

Left-handers Jamie Moyer (3-3, 4.89) and Matt Chico (0-5, 6.07) square off in the series finale between the Phillies and Nationals tonight.

Preview: The Phils have dropped eight of their last 14 and have scored a below-average number of runs during that span. They could really use this one – a series win on the road against a weaker opponent. A loss tonight might constitute a "funk," albeit a small one. The Phils haven’t seen Chico much overall. Howard is 1-for-8 off him; Utley is 4-for-7 with a home run. Utley comes into the game with seven home runs against left-handed pitching, most in baseball. This would be a nice time to give Howard a break, or save him for the right-handed bullpen. [Live Boxscore]

Wednesday afternoon Ryan Howard public pile-on

The 2006 National League MVP is having a horrifyingly bad season. What are they going to do about it, besides pout?

He’s hitting .183 and struck out three times last night, the seventh time it’s happened this season. And no one appears to be in a rush to do much about it. The manager continues to pencil him into the clean-up spot, and Howard continues to swing at everything. "You ground out. You fly out. You strike out. An out is an out," Howard told the Philadelphia Inquirer in March. "You don't hear anybody say, 'That guy led the league in groundouts last year.' "

That quote gets right to the heart of the problem. On pace for around 225 strikeouts, we get the point. We also recognize that your.686 OPS is about .300 points below where it needs to be for you to have much purpose batting clean-up. Meanwhile, the entire offense seems to be following the leader with terrible at bats, and lineup-wide change also hasn't happened.

“Strikeouts may be benign to sabermetricians,” Dave Sheinin writes in the Washington Post, “but they can still do damage in the bigger picture.”

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Cholly grilled in 1-0 win

Insightful readers emerge from the woodwork every day on this space, and last night was no exception, as Phillie Phorever wondered what Charlie Manuel was thinking in the ninth.

"Charlie Manuel's mishandling of third base is costing the Phillies, and I seriously doubt he will realize that, tonight, he unknowingly burned three players (Feliz, Dobbs, Bruntlett) as he did time after time last season (Helms, Dobbs, Nunez).

"For the manager to pinch run Bruntlett in place of Feliz -- who was already in scoring position with no one out! -- is ridiculous. Presumably, the reason Dobbs does not start is because he is below average defensively at 3B (Editor's note: Dobbs also has a sore back), even though he is clearly a better hitter against right-handed pitching than Feliz. If that is the case, why would you remove your top defender at that position for the bottom of the ninth, when defense matters most?

"Moreover, is Bruntlett that much faster than Feliz? Even if he were Vince Coleman, Feliz is standing on second base with nobody out. As it turns out, Bruntlett winds up trotting home, which, conceivably, Feliz could have done just as well. Thus, Manuel removed his top defensive third baseman for no reason.

"On top of this, he leaves Dobbs in to run for himself! What the hell is So Taguchi doing on this team if he is not pinch running or catching balls in the outfield? It's almost as if Manuel tries something and it doesn't play out favorably, so he changes his strategy mid-inning. The equivalent would be splitting 8s in blackjack, losing both hands, and never doing it again even though it is the proper statistical play.

"Dobbs gets thrown out at the plate. One, Dobbs should never have been sent (not even with two outs) because Utley was on deck. Thus, your best hitter doesn't have a chance to hit. However, if that run was important enough for Smith to send Dobbs even with Utley standing there, why wasn't Taguchi running for Dobbs? Wouldn't Taguchi have beaten the throw?

"The decision making on this team by the coaching staff is brutal. What, exactly, would Manuel have done had this game gone to extra innings? Who would he have double switched Lidge's spot with? It couldn't be Bruntlett, because that would leave them with Coste as their third baseman. Burrell was still in the lineup. Would his second pinch hitter be Adam Eaton? Maybe the guy can handle a clubhouse, but he cannot make baseball decisions."

-- Phillie Phorever

Game chat: Phils hand it to Hamels to snap skid

The Phillies try to avoid losing their fourth-straight game when Cole Hamels (5-3, 2.87) battles Jason Bergmann (1-1, 7.45 ERA) tonight at Nationals Park. First pitch is 7:10 ET.

Readers stole the premise of what would have been my afternoon post by discussing third base as a spot where they’d like to see Charlie Manuel shake things up by getting Greg Dobbs into a game. It was around this time last year when Wes Helms started seeing more time on the bench and would basically become a fixture there for the rest of the season. Dobbs played parts of 68 games at the hot corner during 2007, many of them as a starter, and I challenge anyone to remember a time when his defensive shortcomings proved to be the difference in the ballgame. Meanwhile, Pedro Feliz is 1 for his last 9 and is hitting .200/.240/.316 against right-handed pitching.

If only Cholly was as loosy goosy at third as he is in center field. The bottom line is the lineup he's putting on the field hasn't worked and should be fixed.

Hamels captures top spot in second Beerleaguer poll

As the Phillies journey deeper into the 2008 season, we measure which players have supplied the most muscle in the latest installment of Beerleaguer Power Rankings. Readers are encouraged to supply their own.

1. Cole Hamels: The Phils have lost three straight games, but the skid ends tonight. Bold statements, but Hamels has my back. Built to stop losing streaks in their tracks, the team’s best pitcher stands alone as the guy they’ve counted on the most, especially since Brett Myers cannot be counted on to perform at the same level. Hamels went the distance for his first career complete-game shutout his last start, allowing four hits while striking out six in the Phillies’ 5-0 win over Atlanta. He’s lasted seven or more innings in every start but one. He’ll be making his second trip to the All-Star game.

2. Pat Burrell: I like the season Burrell has had better than that of Chase Utley. Burrell earns bonus points for exceeding expectations. Utley is performing at, or slightly higher than, expectations. The two have generated similar power and run production. Everything is quite similar except for their performances in big at bats. Burrell has been the better hitter in that regard. Nevertheless, both players have cooled off this month.

3. Chase Utley: No longer setting the pace for NL MVP. Lance Berkman, Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols and even Nate McLouth have passed him. The star second baseman is hitting just .184 with a homer and three RBIs since May 9. Utley may be the Phillies’ best all-around player, but he’s been a streaky player his entire career. His peaks and valleys aren’t as sharp as Ryan Howard’s because he’s quick to adjust, but he can definitely get out of whack with his timing.

4. Brad Lidge: Lidge has been almost unhittable, possessing the kind of stuff Charlie Manuel has craved for his final inning. He’s dared hitters with his slider, and they can’t touch him. After 19 near spotless frames, he's converted 10 of 10 save opportunities and is averaging a little better than a strikeout per inning (21/8 K/BB ratio).

5. Chad Durbin: Making the biggest jump, Durbin has been vitally important to the bullpen, so much so that he could have easily leapfrogged Brad Lidge. There’s something to be said about performing well in multiple roles. He's been the missing piece. Durbin can eat innings or work late frames in a tight ballgame. He’s done whatever they’ve asked him to do, and he’s responded. He’s what Ryan Madson was in 2004, when Mad Dog could have been considered the most important pitcher in their staff for the first half of that season. Let’s hope Durbin can make it last; his peripherals aren’t particularly strong.

The rest: 6. Jayson Werth; 7. Jimmy Rollins; 8. Kyle Kendrick; 9. Jamie Moyer; 10. Ryan Howard.

Redding blanks Phils again; readers do the legwork

Tim Redding and the Nationals' bullpen combined for a 4-0 shutout, as the Phillies, who went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, drop their third straight game for the first time this season.

Good fortune has been on the Phillies’ side for most of the season, as the club emerged victorious in a number of tight contests and comeback victories. But lately, a listless offense has shepherded the yang to April’s ying. They’re 4 for 32 with runners in scoring position during the last three games, according to the Inquirer. Redding, who still appears utterly hittable to the naked eye, is responsible for leading the opposition in the second shutout against the Phils this season.

On the mound, the outing qualifies as a quality start for Brett Myers, but applying that term feels like grasping at straws, especially against a very weak Nationals club. His improvement in velocity appears marginal at best and he’s still missing his spots. Here’s what readers took away from a poor night at Nationals Park:

“Have they at least entertained the notion of giving Myers a physical, or is everyone going to just keep going along thinking it's perfectly normal that he's lost 7-8 MPH off his fastball from one year to the next? Is long-tossing between starts really going to make that difference to get that velocity back? This is like watching Freddy Garcia all over again.” -- RSB

“It seems to me when your big guys are slumping, as Burrell & Uts are right now, the last thing you need is an automatic out in your lineup. Dobbs should start vs. all RHP.” -- Clout

“The problem with this lineup right now is that it has just enough guys who are struggling that they can't piece anything together. Burrell has come back to earth this month a bit and Howard's 5 HRs cover up the fact that he is still been horrendous at the plate. Howard is somehow on pace to K more than the 37 he had last month. Pretty hard to believe.” – MG

Real Deal demoted to Double-A: Organization-wide, you won’t fine anyone performing worse than right-hander J.D. Durbin, who stank in spring training and carried it over into the season. The 26-year-old, who was given a definite opportunity to make the club out of spring training, went 0-5 with a 9.42 ERA in nine appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He appeared in 18 games for the Phils last season, starting 10 games and going 6-5 with a 5.15 ERA – pitching nearly as many innings as Myers, if you can believe it. Beat writer Mike Drago provided the report this morning and writes there is no word on whether he will be used as a starter or reliever.

Game chat: Phillies pay first visit to Nationals Park

Beer nuts: Hill likely to miss Wednesday's start

So much for a nice, easy stretch of right-handers to help the lineup get on track. Nationals manager Manny Acta told the Washington Post he plans on skipping Shawn Hill's turn in the rotation Wednesday.

Left-hander Matt Chico, who was moved to the bullpen since the Phillies faced him opening day, is likely to replace Hill, who’s experiencing lingering elbow soreness. The prospect of facing the Phillies’ left-handed thunder probably made the decision an easy one for Acta, whose club avoided a three-game sweep with a 2-1 win in Baltimore yesterday. Chico is a nobody, so it’s more annoying than anything, especially for someone like Geoff Jenkins, who needs to get on track. Also on the injury front, Nats right fielder Austin Kearns is considered day-to-day with elbow soreness.

Minor transactions: Perhaps the thinnest position in the chain, first base has been overhauled at the Double-A level, where 28-year-old Mike Eylward, who was signed out of the Mexican League in April, replaces Juan Tejeda, who has been released. Eylward spent most the last two seasons in Triple-A Salt Lake (Angels) where he hit for high average (.313 in ’06; .305 in ’07), but marginal power. In eight minor league seasons, he’s a .289/.358/.435 hitter with 68 home runs. Tejeda, 26, hit .248 with 10 homers last season for the R-Phils, but was hitting just .211 this season and was “erratic” at first, as Reading beat writer Mike Drago reports.

The R-Phils have been without a true first baseman since Ryan Howard, basically, and the highest-rated 1B in the system is Lakewood’s Michael Durant, 21, who has an .856 OPS and 9 home runs, but also 56 punch outs and is not rated among the top 30 prospects in the system, according to Baseball America. The situation is dire enough to give pause to Ryan Howard’s staunchest critics, who'd like to see the slumping slugger shipped out of town.

Tale of two pinch hitters: Greg Dobbs is hitting .450 (9-20), 2B, HR, 8 RBI as a pinch-hitter. Meanwhile, So Taguchi is off to a 0-and-7 start as a PH. Both players represented two of the finest pinch hitters in baseball last season.

Good opportunity for Myers: Obviously a big start for Brett Myers tonight. The team needs Brett to eat some innings, but it’s also a good opportunity to get on track, away from home, against a weak Nats lineup, one that’s barely managing four runs a game and averaging .235/.315/.353, the second-worst production outside of San Diego.

Report: Vic out, Werth in as starting center fielder

Manager Charlie Manuel tells Randy Miller of Phillyburbs.com that Jayson Werth is now a starter, leaving a disappointed and scuffling Shane Victorino fighting for playing time. [Link]

Victorino his hitting just .235/.296/.322 on the season and has been hobbled by a calf injury, while Werth excelled in center during Vic’s stint on the DL and is hitting .272/.348/.544 with nine home runs, three of them coming in Friday night’s breakout performance.

Beerleaguer: The trouble is, the last two games have demonstrated why Werth began the year in a platoon situation in the first place. Werth went hitless with five strikeouts in the last two games, each started by right-handed pitchers. Now, the Phils draw three righties in a row against Washington. So the timing is questionable, plus, they could use Vic’s wheels behind Myers, who’s given up plenty of deep drives this season.

Or, we could take it with a grain of salt and look at the situation as having three very good 4th outfielders, with playtime being granted to the hottest hitter. There’s nothing wrong with having a healthy competition. The list is long with players who’ve been challenged to perform, stepped into starting roles and punched the gas. David Dellucci did it. Victorino did it. Nevertheless, in Cholly’s defense, Vic has looked out of sorts since opening day. He hasn’t been getting on base nearly enough to justify more playing time, especially at the top of the lineup, where Werth’s patience is an asset.

The Rod Barajas Series: Because of the delays, I missed much of the game. Fortunately, Hall of Fame poster MG provided a first-hand report:

- Bad series. Phils need to take 2 of 3 against a team with a pedestrian offense and not facing Halladay as a starter. Phils have already failed to take care of business against some weaker opponents this year with favorable matchups. Let's hope it is not the start of a trend.

- Feliz was shockingly patient at the plate today. Actually took some pitches including 2-first ball strikes on his first two AB, held off some bad pitches, and got jammed on a really good pitch with the bases loaded.

- I understand Cholly felt he had to go with Durbin for another inning because of the bullpen's heavy usage over the past two days. Once again though, Cholly was behind the curve with his bullpen. When Durbin lost Scutaro on 3 straight balls that missed the plate badly, he should have had someone ready to go to replace Durbin. Instead, Gibbons PH with Overbay and Durbin hung him a fat meatball on the inside of the plate. You could tell the instant it left the bat that it was crushed.

- Dobbs is the best Phils' PH of the past 25-30 years. Just gets locked in and drives the ball well. Maybe only Greg Gross could be considered a better option.

Today’s number: 24.5. The percentage of fly balls allowed by Brett Myers that have sailed over the fence.

Game chat: Phillies, Jays settle series this afternoon

The Phillies have won five of the last five games started by Kyle Kendrick (3-2, 4.87 ERA), who has the ball against Shaun Marcum (4-2, 2.22) and the Jays today at CBP. First pitch is 1:35 ET.

Preview: A team that once went about business by averaging out the winning and losing streaks has figured out that slow and steady wins the race. A win today would give them their second-straight series win, which has happened a lot lately. For that to happen, they could use another quality start from Kendrick, who has five of them on the season all coming over his last six starts. The sophomore right-hander is making his living the same way he did last season, posting a staff-best 52 percent ground ball rate and issuing far fewer walks than he did in his first few starts.

Lineups are in with a few surprises. Following Friday’s three-homer explosion, Jayson Werth gets another shot against a right-hander today and bats second. Pedro Feliz returns to the lineup instead of Greg Dobbs, who had a solid day at the plate yesterday against A.J. Burnett. Carlos Ruiz will do the catching. Shane Victorino sits once again. [Live Boxscore]

Burrell and Utley: More men than machines lately

The Phillies rode the bats of Pat Burrell and Chase Utley through April, but May has proven to be the kryptonite for these men of steel.

Following a 6-3 loss, there's really no need to get into the same, tired Adam Eaton rant because it’s the same issue over and over. He caught the fat part of the plate more than you should with a fastball he had trouble controlling early. He made dumb mistakes and didn't put away batters when he had the chance. Rod Barajas’ grand slam pitch wasn’t a bad one, but for the most part, the Blue Jays waited for Eaton to get behind or make mistakes and hit him harder than the box score suggests.

Ryan Howard had his fifth three-strikeout 0-fer of the season, as the home fans continue their unrest. But it wasn’t Howard who blew the biggest opportunity. That honor went to Chase Utley, who grounded out on one pitch with the bases juiced in the third inning. Utley has seen his average fall from .369 to .310 this month and has one extra-base hit since May 6.

For the first time since April 3, Pat Burrell’s OPS fell below 1.000 after an 0-for-4 night. After a scorching start, voted as one of the runner-ups to Utley in National League Player of the Month voting, his line now reads like that of a human being - .286/.427/.564 - and he hasn’t gone deep since May 2. Comparatively speaking, Howard has been the better producer than these two lately, although you’d never know it by the tone being fostered at Citizens Bank Park.

Game chat: Right-handers square off in second act

Following his three-homer, eight-RBI night, Jayson Werth gets the nod and bats second against tough right-hander A.J. Burnett (3-4, 4.91 ERA). For the Phils, Adam Eaton (0-1, 5.40) tries for his first win.

Preview: Carlos Ruiz, who is battling a minor stomach ailment, is out of the lineup, replaced by Chris Coste. Shane Victorino gets the night off, with Geoff Jenkins starting in right. Of note for the Jays, unpopular ex-Phil Rod Barajas will do the catching. Best of the press notes: Eaton led all Major League pitchers in interleague ERA last season (1.40). ... The Phils lead all of baseball in home runs with 62 through 43 games. Last season, they didn't hit 62 until game no. 59. [Live Boxscore]

Phils win behind once-in-a-lifetime night by Werth

Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth homered three times and tied a franchise record with eight RBIs, as the Phils rolled Toronto 10-3.

Werth hit a solo, three-run and grand slam home run, putting him a two-run homer away from homering for the cycle. Four Phillies besides Werth have hit eight RBIs in a game; the last was Mike Schmidt in 1976. Nineteen others, including Ryan Howard, have hit three homers in a game.

Beerleaguer: Werth, who was plucked from the scrap pile last winter when the Dodgers decided they couldn’t wait for his wrist to heal, is turning into the steal of the Pat Gillick era. Although his left/right splits are cavernous, the Phils seem to be drawing more left-handed pitching these days and Werth is playing a significant role, adding a much-needed power bat from the right side to compliment Pat Burrell. They're no longer doomed against a left-hander.

Some thought the outfield would be only a little better than average after Aaron Rowand, but that hasn't been the case. Nine homers by Werth ties Burrell and Howard as he continues to look more like an everyday player and less like a 4th outfielder. He's strong, fast and patient. His defense would show better in right, but that's another subject. His numbers (23 RC, .295 GPA, 9 HR) are up with the best at his position, and his 4.8 P/PA is the very best in baseball, regardless of position.

We discussed extending Hamels yesterday. Here's a guy in Werth who's very interesting. He's still a decent age and is probably ready to start making real money. If they believe he can sustain this level, and if they feel they cannot keep Burrell, you have to wonder if the Phils should think about keeping him around a tad longer than the schedule dictates when the two sides meet this winter.

Game chat: Toronto in town for interleague action

Left-handers Jamie Moyer and David Purcey clash when the Phillies and Jays resume their non-conference rivalry tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

This on-going series with Toronto is intended to remind us of the 1993 World Series, but instead, reminds me of June of 2006, a time when the Phils were spiraling out of control and reliever Aaron Fultz made that spot start for the Phils up in Toronto. A month later, the Phils would throw in the towel and raffle off select parts. Ah ... memories.

Nearly two years and a playoff appearance later, they’re in better shape. At 23-19, they trail the Marlins by a game in a soft NL East, facing no significant injuries or insurmountable adversity. The biggest question may be their starting pitching. One concern is whether Jamie Moyer can give them the kind of season they need through September. The ancient left-hander tries to rebound from his worst start of the season against southpaw David Purcey. Purcey, a 2004 first-round pick, is making just his second start of the season for Toronto.

Lefty mania: This will be the fifth-consecutive left-handed starter the Phils have drawn, and they’ve faced a number of them this season already. Geoff Jenkins, who’s out of the lineup again, must be having second thoughts about signing here. [Live Boxscore]

Soggy stuff putting interleague opener in jeopardy

Periods of rain are expected to last through the evening with highs in the lower 60s, according to CBS 3. Winds expected to be 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent. Then tonight, occasional rain will taper off closer to midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. [Link]

Friday: Hamels goes the distance; contract discussed

Following the first complete-game shutout of Cole Hamels’ career, Daily News scribe David Murphy poses a timely question: why not sign Hamels to a multiyear contract right now? [Link]

This excellent, rainy-day question comes on the heels of another deal to a rising star, as the Brewers signed Ryan Braun to an 8-year, $45 million contract yesterday, which buys out his arbitration years and eats two years of free agency. Elsewhere, the Rays agreed on a three-year extension with left-hander Scott Kazmir worth $28.5 million, which includes a team option for 2012. So why not offer the same type of long-term deal to Hamels? Phillies GM Pat Gillick had the answer.

"Right now, it isn't going to happen," Gillick told the DN. Ok then. So, when do the Phils start thinking about it?

"If at some point, if [Hamels is] performing to the level, you're going to have to talk multiyear at some point," Gillick said. "These guys, maybe they are smarter giving guys 8-year deals. I don't know."

Meanwhile, as the Phillies decide whether Hamels is performing at a sufficient level, the young left-hander dominated the Braves for his first complete game of the season, giving up four hits while striking out six and walking two. Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino homered in a winning cause. Afterward, readers expressed satisfaction with the series, and the Phils’ pull within the division.

“The Phils handled Atlanta nicely in this series. Other than last week, they have consistently been winning series and are now 1.5 and 2 games up on the Mets and Braves, respectably. I think the signs are still largely positive so far this season, and I also believe that the Mets and Braves aren't a whole lot better than they've shown so far.” -- RSB

Game chat: Left-handers settle it tonight at CBP

Chuck James (2-2, 7.58) and Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.36) rock the house when the Braves and Phillies play the deciding game of their three-game set.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines an ‘ace’ as “the best pitcher on a baseball team, counted on to win important games, such as the deciding game of a three game series against a tough division rival with a formidable lineup.” So there you have it.

Hamels would be the first to admit he hasn’t been as sharp as was at the start of the season; he was 2-1 with a 0.82 ERA in his first three starts, but is 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA in his last five. He has not been particularly good against the Braves, going 3-2 with a 4.42 ERA against them. He’ll try for something closer to definition of an ace tonight.

Beerleaguer for breakfest: Readers explain Myers' dud

Brett Myers walked off the field to a chorus of boos after giving up eight runs – six earned – over 4 1-3 innings in a 8-6 loss to the Braves. Readers generally agree that Myers – who allowed three home runs to make it 15 on the season – has been undone by poor command.

"Myers problem tonight is what his problem usually is: Location. If he can locate his fastball and curve within the zone consistently, he can win big throwing 80% curveballs. If he can't put them in the proper spots, then it doesn't matter what % of anything he throws. He's gonna suck." – clout

"Myers' velocity has vacillated back and forth. Tonight it wasn't there but he was throwing his fastball @ 92-93 MPH in his last start.  Tonight he wasn't able to locate and got burnt. I still think the Braves' advance scouts saw something though because the Braves were swinging at a ton of first pitches in their ABs early tonight. ... Even if Myers is only throwing 89-90 MPH on his fastball, he can still be a very effective pitcher but needs to use the offspeed stuff more and earlier in the count (and basically junk the cutter since there isn't enough velocity difference between it right now and his fastball).” -- MG

"Maybe it's past the point where the Phils can even look at him as an effective starter. How long do you wait? When Howard slumps, he's one guy out of nine on the field. You can live with it. When a starting pitcher slumps, he's affecting the team in a much more drastic way, every fifth day. And there's no place to put him in the bullpen. Starting to think Seth Everett might have a point." – RSB

Beerleaguer: The Phillies need to get to the bottom of the velocity issue with Myers, because if he's hurt, now's the time to do something about it. A 15-day trip to the DL would be an excellent option. It's not like they'd miss his starts right now, and they have a replacement throwing well in Happ. A tryout would also allow the Phils to see what they have in Happ, who's 25 and doesn't need any more time in AAA. Myers' strikeout totals - which are still strong - are a little deceiving. Even the game at San Fran was not particularly sharp and the reported improvement in velocity couldn't have been more overblown. He's barely 90, and he looks sloppy, too. Sharp contrast in craft between Glavine, who hits his spots, and Myers, who isn't establishing his fastball, and gets burned by too many careless mistakes.

Taguchi slumping: A look around the league finds teams starting to cut bait with underperforming players, even players with substantial contracts. It happened recently with outfielder Jason Michaels in Cleveland. On a different team, one with better depth, So Taguchi, who grounded into a killer DP last night, might have been out of a job as well. I thought Taguchi would be a nice fit – and still may be – but his last hit came April 25 and he’s batting 178/.229/.222. Taguchi, who signed for $1M this winter, will be 39 in July. One has to wonder if he’s lost just too many steps to contribute.

Game chat: Glavine makes 65th start against Phillies

The Braves visit Philadelphia for the second of three at Citizens Bank Park. Tom Glavine (0-1, 4.03 ERA) tries to record his first win of the season against Brett Myers (2-3, 5.33) and the Phillies. First pitch is 7:05.

Glavine is 28-17 with a 3.68 ERA against the home club, including a 2-0 mark with a 2.14 ERA in five outings against them in 2007, all quality starts, according to the AP. Meanwhile, Myers is 4-6 with a 4.16 ERA in 24 games, 17 starts, against the Braves. ... The Phillies lead all MLB teams with 13 come-from-behind wins this season, following the trend set last year when they won a baseball-best 48 after trailing. ... The Phillies have taken 10 of their last 15 from the Braves, including last night’s 5-4 win, the 11th time the Braves have lost a 1-run game this season.

Everett: Now's the time to sell high on Brett Myers

MLB.com’s Seth Everett was a guest on WIP’s Morning Show yesterday and raised the issue of trading Brett Myers to a team in need of a closer.

Everett mentioned Milwaukee as a team with playoff aspirations having a rough time with their bullpen. Myers, who avoided arbitration by signing a three-year contract last February, earns $8.5 million this season and $12 million in 2009, so he would be better than a rental. The 27-year-old right-hander has been up-and-down at best in his return to a starting role and excelled last season as a closer. Everett, who said teams probably wouldn’t consider his early struggles a concern, proposed a swap for a package that included one of Milwaukee’s young starters.

Phillies 5, Braves 4: Maybe this is another case of selective memory, but I feel like I've watched a dozen starts by Phillies’ pitchers this season that resemble the one Kyle Kendrick had last night, where he isn't locating his pitches, digs an early hole, you think this is the game he will suffer a massive meltdown, and the next thing you know, he's through six innings.

Kendrick, who struggled in spring training and entered the season near the top of the list of concerns, has been fine as a back-end starter. In his last six starts, including last night, he has a 4.62 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 37.0 IP, 8 BB, 19 K. Hat tip to MG for the math.

Reading at the quarter mark: Position player review

The bulk of the Phillies’ top position talent resides in Double-A Reading. Reading Eagle beat writer Mike Drago provides an early update.

The Reading Phillies aren't even a .500 team this season, but the good news is that all of their young position prospects are excelling, most of them in their first Double-A seasons. That's encouraging, and rare. Given their ages, each of the four (Greg Golson, Jason Donald, Lou Marson and Brad Harman) should have productive major league careers.

Greg Golson is still striking out a ton, nearly 30 percent of his at-bats, and still getting fooled on breaking balls. But he's made a huge jump in his return to the Eastern League. He's shown power potential, is stealing bases at a high rate and is playing a marvelous center field (with a great arm). And he's batting .309, far better than he ever has. I don't see why he can't have a big league career every bit as good as Mike Cameron, maybe better.

Jason Donald is a kid that really grows on you. He's a baseball player. I think he's got just enough range and arm to play shortstop in the big leagues, and probably could be shifted to third. And he's gonna have the bat, and the power, to play a corner spot. I'm not certain that he's going to be a everyday guy in the big leagues for a long time, but I can see him having enough bat and versatility to stick around for a while.

Lou Marson has been the biggest surprise of all. His bat was a liability his first three seasons, but right now he's hitting .320 with an astounding .441 on-base percentage. How many catchers can do that? The list starts and ends with Joe Mauer. He hasn't shown any power yet, but that will come. He's only 21. I can see him having a Mike Lieberthal-type career. You'd take that, wouldn't you?

Brad Harman is the toughest call of the four. I haven't seen much of him, since he spent a couple weeks in Philly. I'm not sure that he's got a position. He's got some pop, so he could end up at third base. Will probably end up as a utility/bench guy in the big leagues.

-- Mike Drago / Reading Eagle

Game chat: Phillies back home for date with Braves

Best of the press notes: Kotsay swinging a hot bat

Andruw who? One of the most underrated moves of the off-season has worked for Atlanta, where center fielder Mark Kotsay has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games, according to the Braves’ press notes.

Dating back to April 17,  Kotsay, who was traded from Oakland to Atlanta in January for right-hander Joey Devine, is hitting .368 (28-for-76) with five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. His .368 ranks fourth in the majors during that span.

One-run woes: According to Elias, the Braves were one of only five teams in major league history to start a season by losing their first nine games decided by a single run. They snapped that streak on Thursday, but on Friday, dropped to 1-10 in one-run games with a 3-2 loss to the Pirates, the 15th consecutive loss for Atlanta in one-run games on the road dating back to last season.

Lefties: The Braves will throw three lefties at the Phils this week: Jo-Jo Reyes, Tom Glavine and Chuck James. According to Elias, before last week, the Braves had not started three consecutive left-handed since June 4-6, 1997, when they started Glavine, Denny Neagle and Terrell Wade.

Phillies transaction: The Phillies have traded organizational catcher Tim Gradoville to the Texas Rangers for future considerations. Gradoville began the season in Reading as a player/coach and has been in the Phillies’ system forever and ever. Gradoville was a fixture. It’s like trading the organ player.

R-Phils at the quarter mark: Four possibilities for help

With talk that the Phillies are seeking additional pitching, Reading beat writer Mike Drago updates the readiness of four Double-A pitching prospects.

Carlos Carrasco: He's a markedly better pitcher than he was last season at Reading, but he's still yet to take that huge step forward people are waiting for. His K/BB ratio is much improved, though it's still not great (44/19). Not sure why this is, but he's been tougher on lefties this year (.191 vs. .237) but not as effective against righties (.276 vs. .258). I'll have to check on that. Bottom line: He's not ready for the big leagues yet; by the end of July we'll have a better idea. He needs to run off five or six consecutive, consistent starts before he's moved up, and he hasn't come close to doing that.

Josh Outman: Early results from the bullpen are very promising. Last three times out: four innings, two hits, no walks, three strikeouts. Key there is no walks. Velocity on back-to-back nights was still good, 92-93. For the season, lefties are hitting just .160 off him, and he's struck out 10 of 25 lefties he's faced. It's early in the process, but he could become a seventh-inning guy, or situational guy, by midseason.

Fabio Castro:  Was actually better in a starting role than I would have imagined, but he's still walking too many batters (19 in 33 2/3). I can see him in some minor role in the major league bullpen, middle innings, situational type thing, though it's interesting this year that lefties are hitting better (.231) than righties (.202) off him.

Joe Bisenius: He had injuries the past two seasons, lost confidence, and now has control issues, but I still like him. He's got great stuff. He could turn it around quickly and be back in the big leagues by midseason.

Antonio Bastardo (honorable mention): He's better, and throws harder, than people have given him credit for. Still very inexperienced, though.

Beer nuts: Blogging, Bissinger and other points

Buzz Bissinger, author of "Friday Night Lights," is making the rounds in Philadelphia, trying to clear his name after the mess he made by losing his cool on HBO.

The author was on 610-WIP’s morning show this a.m. after appearing on Howard Eskin’s show last week. Although I only caught the tail end of the interview this morning, I listened to the Eskin interview in its entirety; I actually pulled into a mall parking lot to give it my undivided attention. Eskin, of course, considers Bissinger a champion for putting blogs in their place and shares his concern about the future of reporting, and that seems to be the sentiment of many established journalists.

It isn’t often that Beerleaguer breaks Phillies' continuity, but for this I’ll make an exception. Speaking on behalf of one of the city’s most established sports blogs, I felt a small sense of duty to respond, even though the integrity of Beerleaguer is rarely in doubt and the site is often praised for upholding journalistic standards, even inside the public comments thread. 

It might surprise some people, but I agree with some of Bissinger’s points, disagree strongly with others, all explained with a cooler head on Eskin’s show.

Like Bissinger has said in these follow-up interviews, there are many blogs worth reading, but many, many more that are not. Some sites do the legwork. Many more, like this one, rely on secondary sources. And many rely on hearsay and throw-away humor, and unfortunately for Bissinger, that’s how he came to take the bait, while the rest of us have dismissed those spaces as the work of amateurs out for kicks. And for the record, there's nothing wrong with getting your kicks, especially in the not-so serious world of sports.

The problem is, Bissinger and others are listening to a vocal minority instead of a silent majority, embodied by vast numbers here who hold traditional reporting and thought-provoking commentary in high regard. Readers take pride in this forum, their forum, which was designed with a journalistic eye. Some have called it the best place to receive Phillies’ information and insight, but I’d bet 9 out of 10 click Philly.com for the real scoop before they check here. This is where they come to debate the issues in a controlled, fun environment.

Of all the points Bissinger made, the most offensive and misguided part is the notion that bloggers would like to see the mainstream media disappear. The fact is, reporting is more valued than ever. It’s more global than ever. It’s also better than ever. We’re bombarded with perspectives from all angles, unbound by geography and circulation. Go back 15 years and the world, in many ways, still existed in relative darkness. Today, everyone is looking and the standards are higher. The same holds true for outrageous speculation and sensationalism. Instead of happening in the neighborhood watering hole, it’s happening in raucous pockets on the Internet.

Bissinger claims to have trouble separating the two. I find it to be quite easy actually. In calling out Deadspin, Bissinger ran into a problem, besides the obvious point that he’s taken the issue too seriously and hasn’t given the average sports fan enough credit for identifying sources they can trust. On Eskin’s show, he said it’s getting hard to separate reality and fantasy in sports, which is ironic, since fantasy is the entire point. We're all fantasy experts, pretend managers and fake GMs. From Howard Eskin to Jason Weitzel, we're all playing a part. Blogs have simply made it easier to reach people, a natural progression in a new, limitless world. Who doesn't glory days of the past? We all do, but step back for a moment and realize this is a great time to be an informed, entertained and connected sports fan. Where newspapers now reach millions, not thousands, the peanut galleries like Beerleaguer reach thousands, not dozens, of passionate fans inside a virtual pub.

Phillies continue AAA overhaul, acquire INF Rouse

To complete last week’s Gookie Dawkins trade with the White Sox, the Phils acquired 28-year-old lefty-hitting infielder Mike Rouse, who’s already appeared in three games for the IronPigs.

Last season, Rouse made Cleveland’s opening day roster as a utility man, but went 8-for-67 and was demoted to Buffalo and was later designated for assignment. He signed a minor league contract with Chicago this off-season, but couldn’t break camp. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 5th round of the 2001 draft, he’s seen Major League action in 49 games with Oakland and Cleveland, hitting just .165/.238/.209. In seven minor league seasons, the bulk of them coming in the Pacific Coast League, he’s a .273/.360/.404 hitter with 40 home runs.

Beerleaguer: I’d rather have Rouse than Dawkins. Actually, Rouse doesn’t look like a bad spare part, kinda like a middle infield variation of Greg Dobbs, whose career could benefit from a move to the National League just as Dobbs' did. There's no room for him in Philly, but he might be the guy to call if something were to happen to Jimmy Rollins or Chase Utley. He's off to a poor start in LV, however, going hitless in his first three games.

Phillies suffer a case of the Mondays on a Sunday

Nearing the season’s quarter mark, the Phils dropped the final game of their road trip, losing to the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on a two-run home run by backup catcher Steve Holm.

It could be the weather, or Monday morning or watching my team get beaten by a 28-year-old catcher who spent last season in Double-A; in any event, I sit here, look at the Phillies 21-18 mark and realize they’ve only been okay. They haven’t dug themselves into an early April hole, which is fortunate. They're hovering, and there's nothing wrong with that after 39 games. But I look at how they’ve managed to win and see a bullpen that needed to be perfect, a rotation that may be getting lucky and an offense that isn’t producing.

The offense part should take care of itself if Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino get on track, and if a few others can show a just a little improvement over the first month. It’s the pitching that scares me. The pitching, quite frankly, could have been smoke and mirrors for a month. Jamie Moyer gets shelled Saturday and J.C. Romero, who hasn’t been the spotless pitcher everyone says he’s been, gets tagged by Holm. Even Hamels got hit around Friday night. This against a Giants’ lineup generating less than 3.5 runs coming into this series.

The front office understands there’s still work to be done. They’re looking around and shuffling prospects in hopes of uncovering another lefty to add to the mix.

To take nothing away from Arizona, the Phils have run up against a string of teams that can’t hit: San Francicso, San Diego, Colordo is struggling, Milwaukee is struggling, Pittsburgh doesn’t scare you. Now they face Atlanta, a big division opponent, where the heart of the order goes Escobar, Chipper, Teixeira, Francouer and McCann. I can barely recall the Giants' lineup besides Rowand.

This week, we'll start to see what the Phillies are truly made of.

Game chat: Phillies set sights on 4-3 road swing

The Phils can consider their trip out West a success if Adam Eaton (0-1, 5.63) can rebound from his worst start of the season this afternoon against left-hander Johnathan Sanchez (2-2, 4.74 ERA) and the Giants. First pitch is 4:05 ET

Blacked-out game features old pro, budding star

Game chat: Today’s game between the Phillies and Giants will not be carried on television, making it the first Phils game to go unaired since June of 2006. Follow the action here, or tune in to the Phillies' Radio Network on 830-AM WEEU, when Jamie Moyer battles Tim Lincecum today at 4:05. [Live Boxscore]