Postgame: Brewers beat Phillies 4-1, series lives on

Tonight, Phillies fans experienced what this series has looked like from the other side, witnessing an ugly, poorly played loss from start to finish.

It started with Jamie Moyer, who struggled with Brian Runge’s strike zone right out of the chute. Moyer took the loss, lasting just four innings and walking three and letting up two first-inning runs against a patient Brewers lineup. Moyer’s problem was that he wasn’t throwing first-pitch strikes. After two miserable games, the Brewers’ offense decided they were going to make the opposing pitcher work for it. By the time Moyer figured it out, he was at 60 pitches.

It ended even worse. Down 4-1 with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth, Pedro Feliz grounded into a double play on the very first pitch from Solomon Torres, shades of the approach Milwaukee had the first two games of the series. On the play, Shane Victorino was called for interference at second, and Ryan Howard, who scored on the play, was forced back to third and the run was taken off the board.

Nevertheless, each team had chances. The Brewers probably had more. It was a trap game, and the Brewers, losers of seven straight to the Phils, were due for one. The Brewers were focused at home, the Phils went into a shell, and after Moyer was taken out, the game wasn’t entirely managed with a Game 3 victory in mind. At least that's how it seemed. Otherwise, several of Charlie Manuel's moves made no sense.

That’s it for the summary. For a hint at what I'm also thinking about, Beerleaguer will go to bed searching for meaning as it relates to a certain left fielder's past, present and future.

Comments

[AFish]

Weitzel: No RBI on a double-play, so Pete Happy didn't miss out on anything.

[J. Weitzel]

I always, always forget that. Three things you can always count on. Death. Taxes. Forgetting that rule.

[NEPP]

Bye Pat. It was a hell of a run. Enjoy whereever you end up.

[NEPP]

At least we're not playing like the Cubs...Its starting to look like a Dodgers sweep.

[RSB]

That ninth inning was just abysmal. Feliz comes up and swings at the first pitch, just as I'm sure so many were fearing, and of course hits it right at Hall to bail out a shaky Torres - but probably even worse was the way Victorino barreled into second and made the whole team look bad with that reprehensible, bush league play. The rest of the game was horribly played, but it would have left a far better taste in everyone's mouths just to have gone 1-2-3 in that last frame. I'm not at all impressed with the way this team has played in the series. It rode great starting pitching and relied on feeble clutch performances by the opponent in the first two games. The removal of these two elements exposed the Phillies as the post-season frauds they've probably been all along. They look only slightly more comfortable in the spotlight than Milwaukee. Whoever wins this round is almost surely toast in the next one.

[Sam]

i dont want to say this but is tomorrow kinda a must win game?

[Matt]

The Phils win it in Game 4 or its over.

Beating a rested Sabathia twice will be a tall order, especially if the Phils aren't hitting the ball.

[NEPP]

No because we can beat Sabathia in our park with Hamels on the mound. Sabathia sucked last year in the playoffs and sucked in Game 2...He's not a machine, he's a man. And we have Rocky on our side.

[BV2ST]

I don't know about Moyer struggling with Runge's strike zone. The camera caught Moyer giving a virtual tip of the cap to Runger in the dugout after he was lifted for a PH.

That being said, the 3,7 and 8 spots are killing us.

[RSB]

I didn't go all through the last thread, and I'm sure this was all said, but some questionable tactics from Manuel once again. And not just in retrospect, but as it was happening. Using Stairs to pinch-hit in the fifth inning was a head-scratcher. Moyer had thrown a lot of pitches, but he had gotten his game together by then and he probably could have gone another couple of innings. Instead, he puts Condrey in, and he was awfully fortunate to just give up one run in his wretched inning of work. Look: that Feliz-Ruiz hole was lethal all night and there's no way Manuel should have been in a position where he had no further choice but to let them *both* hit consecutively with the game on the line in the ninth inning. Just shouldn't have happened.

Moreover, the decision to waste a roster spot on Happ showed up when they left Eyre in to face Kendall with men on 1st/3rd. He still could have used Madson there, but the main point was that he was short a right-hander. You want a long man - you've already got one. That would be Condrey. You want lefties, you've already got two. Might as well have given the rosetr spot to Mike Cervenak.

[Slocs]

JW, No RBIs are awarded on double plays so even if they hadn't made an awful call on the interference Feliz doesn't get an RBI.

Boy, I sure felt like you had to turn it off with Bases loaded and no one on with Feliz and Ruiz coming up. You knew one of them would GIDP.

Phillies doing what they have all post season in 2008 and 2007, can't hit with 2 outs and runniers in scoring position. Let's face it, Utley got lucky in game 1, it should have been a fly out. The fact is here are 2 out hits with runners in scoring position:

Game 2 2007: Rollins
Game 2 2008: Victorino

Never should have pulled Moyer in a 2-0 game and inserting Condrey! But doesn't matter if Phils don't hit.

Bad approach all game, too many first pitch swings, especially Feliz in the 9th with bases loaded and Why Dobbs doesn't get a start, he is a proven clutch and big game hitter. Phils need hitting and starting Ruiz, Burrell and Feliz is creating automatic outs 5,7-9.

I'm flabbergasted why Coste doesn't get a start, Ruiz is a proven choke with runner's in scoring position.

Also, Victorino should be hitting 5th not Mr. Small Burrell. With 2 out tonight, Vic hit a screamer but Hardy made a good catch. Burrell's best at bat this post season and the last month was getting a walk.

I'll also say it, Utley is Mr. Small when it matters, look at last month during past 3 years and post season 2007 and 2008.

With all that said, I expect a brilliant start from Blanton and Rollins, Victorino and Howard to power the Phils into the NLCS

[Slocs]

RSB, I can't disagree more about the Victorino play. Granted it didn't matter, but it was clear he was ducking and getting out of the way, he just went standing up, the same thing big post season guys like Jeter, etc. do. It was an awful call. If he had knocked him over and broken up the double play, then I could see a call. With that said, it doesn't matter, Feliz was first ball swinging on a new pitcher and with Ruiz coming up, you knew it was over.

I think you have to start Taguchi instead of Burrell, he is a provem post season big, clutch player. Burrell is provem big game joke and using him in the 5 hole was killing us during the last month and continues to kill us in the post season.

[joe l]

slocs - forgetting Victorino's grand slam with two outs already?

[joe l]

Also,TBS has been throwing that 2-out run stat up all series, isn't somewhere near 7 out of 8 runs?

[RSB]

"Ducking and getting out the way"? My ass. He had no intention of getting out of the way. He was trying to take Counsell out. What, you mean to say he just suddenly realized, oh whoops, I forgot to slide, better duck! No. The umps got that call right. Victorino is both of these things: a sparkplug and an idiot.

[redbeard]

vics duck was half hearted and was accompanied with a hip check

[redbeard]

could use september howard tomorrow to drive in a few worthless rbis

[J.R. King]

Just hit Suppon tomorrow and everything will be fine. Nothing against Ruiz, but I hope we see Coste in the lineup.

And we better see Dobbs.

[Slocs]

Joe, I referenced Game 2 2008: Victorino. The only other 2 out hit with RISP is Rollins in game 2 2007. Those are the 2 out hits. Yes Utley in game 1 but I view that as an error, not a clutch hit.

[Slocs]

RSB - you aren't going to convince me and I can't convince you.

Funny that Clout never contacted me about going to Phillies playoff game, which I was taking him to since I lost bet. I waited until Tuesday night, for such a fan, it amazes me that he didn't want to go.

John

[GoPhilsGo]

Wow. Dodgers sweep. Manny is the real MVP

[Ben Keeler]

I want Dobbs as well, but I have a feeling the lineup will be what we have seen.

[bay_area_phan]

I agree with every word of RSB's post. The Dodgers must be licking their chops, because the Phillies have not been at all impressive this series; it's just that the Brewers have been even worse. Inept offense has been the Phillies' Achilles heel all season long and, sure enough, it rears its head in the post-season just like last year. And we don't even have the excuse that we've faced good pitching.

The Phillies' offensive problems have been analyzed and re-analyzed. They have too many strikeouts. They have too many streak hitters. They have too many power hitters & not enough high average hitters. They have too many one-dimensional players who can't hit left-handed or right-handed pitching. I'm starting to think maybe the problem is really a lot simpler: you can't have 3 automatic outs at the end of your lineup & expect to maintain any kind of offensive consistency. We have some hugely productive offensive players in our lineup but, like all players, they have their slumps and weaknesses. As a result, on any given day, about 2 to 3 of our key players are likely to be fairly useless. That's probably true of just about every team. Problem is, we also have 2 guys plastered at the end of our lineup, plus the pitcher, who are ALWAYS useless. That puts a huge amount of pressure on the remaining 3 or 4 guys to be productive. If those 3 or 4 guys don't hit, or don't hit at the right time, we score 2 to 3 runs. That has happened way too much this year & it will ultimately be our undoing in the next round, when I expect to get absolutely crushed by the Dodgers.

[Ira]

6/16 - Hits and at-bats by the first four hitters in the Phillies line-up in Game 3

3/19 - Hits and at-bats by the rest of the hitters in the line-up.

They finished the night 1-for-11 with RISP.

that pretty much sums things up nicely. Hopefully they get to Suppan early, since we cant get to their bullpen at all, otherwise its CC v Hamels for it all.

[Brandon]

guys, come on. Criticism after today is well warranted, especially the absolute, mind-numbing lack of clutch hitting and alarming amount of guys left stranded on base - but we are up 2 to 1 against a very pesky wild card team, and they are going to win the series. I think the Dodgers will pose a dangerous foe in the next series, but we have a legit shot at winning and going to the WS. Let's not jump off the band wagon after one crummy loss!

[kdon]

I only caught the first few innings and the box score from last night, but I have to agree with RSB on several points.

Lifting Moyer seemed odd.

Seanez should have made the roster over Condrey or Happ - don't need two long men.

Leaving Eyre in was a major mistake.

Werth should not be hitting second against a RHP?

Listen, the team can't hit, and that's not Manuel's fault, but as much as we love some of the things he does, he is just a *terrible* in-game tactical manager.

Final point, I keep reading that the "middle of the order" has been killing the team, which is just false; Howard has been fine.

Burrell has been a complete disaster and should be benched, but really, when is the golden boy going to start taking some criticism. I love all the stuff about Chase's hustle, but the guy is coming up very small again.

[EastFallowfield]

Well, all they did promise us was that they'd do better than last year, so mission accomplished.

And at least we're not Cubs fans.

[GM-Carson]

Today isn't a "must win", but it's damn near close, and we need every bit of offense that we can scrounge up. Dobbs better be starting at 3rd base and I'd go as far as to plug Stairs into LF for the abysmal Burrell. Not winning today means a well rested and redemption-minded CC back in Philly on Tuesday...not a scenario I'd be looking forward to. Blanton needs to pitch well, but the offense has got to stop shitting the bed for anything positive to happen in the playoffs this year.

[kdon]

A lineup proposal:

J-Roll
Vic
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Dobbs
Werth
Ruiz

[Yikes!]

Kdon- nice proposal, but I'd like this today:

1. Rollins
2. Utley
3. Victorino
4. Howard
5. Werth
6. Dobbs
7. Stairs
8. Ruiz or Coste

[kdon]

Yikes,

There are two reason I wouldn't start Dobbs and Stairs:

1 - This leaved the bench pretty weak for PH, and the back of the Brewer pen leans RH. I'd like to keep one of them in reserve to PH for Ruiz or the pitcher.

2 - Suppan probably isn't going more than 5 or 6 today, and Sveum has plenty of lefties, so you'll probably have to PH for both long before the end of the game.

I don't want to get caught with a shallow bench again in what will probably be a close game.

[Yikes!]

Howard, Utley, and Burrell are a combined 4-28 (.143) this series, that's pathetic.

[Jim J]

>That being said, the 3,7 and 8 spots are killing us.<<

Oh, yeah, and don't forget the 5 spot. That spot's been killing us since July.

[Yikes!]

Starting Feliz might cause death threats for Manuel, and Burrell looks like Mendoza Line Burrell of '07 right now, henche starting both Dobbs and Stairs. Burrell could be used to pinch hit later, and so could Feliz if necessary.

[GM-Carson]

Great quote from Charlie-
"I think we're fortunate to be up 2-1," Manuel said. "I mean, we've got to hit. We've got to score runs. We're supposed to hit, and when we don't, yeah, I'm concerned about it. But I don't know what you can do right now, especially this time of year in the playoffs. Actually, that's what the playoffs are all about; you don't have time to go into slumps or go bad or anything. You've got to be playing good. In order for us to go to the World Series, we've got to hit."

[Yikes!]

From Victorino's postseason blog-
As for my ninth-inning play on Craig Counsell, it wasn't dirty. If that was the case, I would've just bowled him over. That wasn't my intention. I was trying to get him to throw the ball off my chest, or my helmet, something. When the ball was hit, I said to myself, "That's almost an automatic double play." He hit the ball so well and Billy made a good play. I was just trying to get something to happen. I was trying to stay out of a double play. It didn't work.

[EastFallowfield]

Another take on the offensive performances from these teams:

Milwaukee Brewers extra base hits: 3

Jayson Werth extra base hits: 4

[kdon]

"Howard, Utley, and Burrell are a combined 4-28 (.143) this series, that's pathetic."

This is unfair to Howard. He's 2-8, while the other two are 2-20.

He also has 4 walks, and a .500 OBP. He's not the problem.

[Yikes!]

He's not the problem, but he is part of the problem.

[Verdeforce]

kdon - One additional criticism I did not see in your list was why in the world was Ruiz left in to bat as the tying run in the ninth - is Coste hurt? He's still listed on the roster so why wouldn't Charlie use him then? Anyway, I like Yikes! lineup, except Burrell will get the start over Stairs - he's hitting .455 since 2003 against Suppan. But maybe dropping Pat to 7th would wake him up.

[phargo]

Good Morning.

Urgh.

I hope Big Righty is up to the task today.

I can't even bear to talk about the (lack of) offense. There is one player who I have never understood why he is treated like the 2nd coming of JC himself when the fellow is a big postseason zero and can just as easily be replaced by the likes of Tad Iguchi for a month with no detriment to the team...oh wait, did I give it away?

Sorry, I am grumpy this morning. As you can see, I even slept in.

Have a good day, and Go Phils!

[Verdeforce]

As for the rest of our guys against Supppan - there are a lot of guys with good numbers, like JRoll, whose batting .385 while facing Suppan the most of any Phil (26 at bats) since '03. Also since then, Werth is batting .583 against him, Vic - .571, Utley - .500, Bruntlett - .429. The two guys who have 0fers against Suppan - both Ruiz and Dobbs are 0 for 8. So maybe we'll see Cose, but I now suspect we'll see Feliz as well.

[kdon]

"He's not the problem, but he is part of the problem."

Well, he's definitely not the solution, but I think Utley and Burrell deserve much more of the blame.

I just think it's misleading to throw his okay 2-8 with 4 walks in with Burrell and Utley.

For example, you could say that ROLLINS, Utley and Burrell have combined to go 6-32. Or that VIC, Utley and Burrell are 6-30. Anyone you throw in there with PtB and Utley is going to look bad.

Utley is a Mike Cameron misplay away from being completely useless so far.

[Verdeforce]

Looking at those numbers plus the lack of familiarity the Brewers have with Blanton definitely gives the Phils an adge. Only Ray Durham has more than 6 at bats against our big righty from Kentucky, although he is batting .529 against him, so Joe needs to learn to be careful with him.

[Verdeforce]

kdon - I agree with you on Utley, but if it wasn't for that misplay, we'd probably be down 2-1 and not up 2-1, so the fact that he did hit it as hard as he did when it mattered has to be given some credence.

[Verdeforce]

I feel much better about our chances in Game 4 than in Game 3, but just to ensure there is no Weitzel jinx - how about creating a game 4 graphic for the game chat today? You had one for the wins in Games 1 & 2, but nothing for last night....

[kdon]

You're right Verde, that's why I qualified the statement.

He hit it well, in a big spot, but Cameron makes that play 9 out of 10 times.

[bathtubhippo]

be fair to howard--they've been pitching around him all series, and i can recall one AB where he was put in a bad count by taking a truly atrocious pitch for a strike. on the other hand, we've seen vic get an IBB so the brewers could pitch to chase....who thought we'd ever see that?? so i'm with kdon on the criticism of utley in this series. he needs to show up today.

and, please, enough of pedro feliz starting at 3b! he platooned them throughout september--why is cholly messing with something that won for them down the stretch?

[Verdeforce]

Based on the numbers, I think we'd be more likely to see Bruntlett at 3rd rather than Dobbs - anyway, I'm more anxious for Coste getting a start in the catcher platoon than anything happening at 3rd.

[Verdeforce]

Final comment from me until game time - I don't mind that we didn't sweep. That was a horrible feeling last year, and I actually feel bad for the Cubs fans, even if they were way too cocky coming in to the playoffs. Hopefully, the Phils wrap it up today, but both of the AL series get extended so no other fans have to go through what we did last year and what those poor miserable north-siders are going through now.