Game chat: Kyle Kendrick hoping to stay the course

Phillies' starters are 11-4 with a 3.05 ERA in May. Kyle Kendrick, who is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last three outings, is a large reason why.

Preview: Much to the surprise of many, there hasn't been a drastic drop between Roy Halladay and numbers 2-through-5 in the Phillies' rotation. Kendrick (2-1, 5.24) hopes to stay on track tonight against Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 7.89) and the Red Sox in the middle game from Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is 7:10 in a game that will air regionally on Fox. ... With Jimmy Rollins back on the DL, the lineup goes Victorino, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Ruiz, Castro. Howard has been a hot hitter of late, going two-for-three with a homer last night, raising his line to .310/.359/.503. Very quietly, he's reached base safely in 16-straight games and is hitting .257 against left-handed pitching ... Twitter reports suggested that Wilson Valdez may not arrive in time for the game. Valdez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Lehigh Valley only yesterday. In good news, Ruben Amaro confirmed that Rollins' strain is considered Grade 1 and not as serious as when he first went on the DL.

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Comments

[GTown_Dave]

This game feels like a no-hitter.

[MG]

Wow. Dice-K has a great shot to no-hitting the Phils at this point. Bottom of the lineup coming and a weak Phils' bench.

Might end up being the 2nd no hitter I have had tickets for yet sold them. Last one was when I was living in Boston and Lowe no-hit the Rays on a beautifal Sat. day game at Fenway.

[Old Phan]

Phils will score in the bottom of the 9th, but not enough to win.

[Scott]

MG: If this holds, you may be able to start driving up your prices when you sell tickets.

[Matt]

Should've started Figgy tonight.

[NEPP]

Can't believe we're gonna get no-hit by Dice-K.

[MG]

Amazing the amount of uniformed stuff & out-of-date stuff that comes out on these national broadcasters. Heard at least several things tonight including that "Beltre is still a 25-30 HR guy." My a$$.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

Every ball is right at somebody in this game.

[MG]

Billy Mac - Dobbs is now 10-71 (.141) his last two season as a PH including just 3 XHB with 9 BBs and 16 Ks. That's terrible by any stretch.

[bay_area_phan]

I've had 2 brushes with no-hitter dom. I gave away my tickets to that game at Candlestick years ago, where Don Carmen took a perfect game into the 9th, only to lose it on a double off of Milt Thompson's glove.

I was also at the Vet when Tom Browning took what would have been his second career perfect game into the 9th inning. I was actually rooting for it to happen, but I'm certainly not rooting for Dice-K tonight.

[Billy Mac]

That 3-0 pitch was 4 inches low.

[Scott]

If we can't hit Dice-K, what are we going to do against 59 mph knuckleballs tomorrow...???

[MG]

Ibanez has struggled this year with the fastball but I have been impressed by his patience at the plate especially the ability to take a walk.

[Old Phan]

He may not be having a good season, but it isnt like Dice-K doesnt know how to pitch.

[bay_area_phan]

Unbelievable.

[Scott]

bap: If this gets broken up, it won't be because of Milt Thompson.

[MG]

Great play by Beltre. Looks like his range is better than Polanco and his arm is clearly superior.

[Old Phan]

Unless they let Milt pinch-hit

[Matt]

They may not have won, but they certainly haven't been overwhelmed by Dice-K. Hard hit balls, amazing defensive plays--pretty much just running on luck to get a no-no.

And as I type, there it goes.

[Billy Mac]

Now that's over. Let's win this.

[NEPP]

Thank you Juan Castro!!!

[Meyer]

It's always a Castro type that breaks it up.

[NCPhilly]

Count on Castro.

[NEPP]

When you need a hit...you call on Castro. He's simply a machine.

[GTown_Dave]

I haven't felt this relieved since the Phillies won the World Series in '08. I don't even care that it was a cheap, bloop-ass hit. Castro is gonna get a pass from me for a little while.

[MG]

Haha. That kind of crap always seems to happen. One of the most unlikely guys in the lineup bloops/flares something with a weak swing that drops in.

[NEPP]

If Castro hadn't gotten that hit, Vic should have bunted in the 9th to get a hit. Its cool to bunt in the bottom of the 9th to break up a no-hitter when you're down by 5, right?

[Billy Mac]

Phils' bench is pathetic. Do we lead the league in least pinch hits ?

[Hugh Mulcahy]

After all hte liners that got caught, and flies to the warning track, the no hitter goes away on a Texas leaguer.

I'm wondering if the Phils have been on the wrong end of more no-hitters than any otehr franchise.

[bay_area_phan]

Biggest dud of the early 2010 season: the Phillies' supposedly improved bench (which has somehow managed to get even worse than it was in 2009).

At least we didn't get no hit.

[Old Phan]

The bench is actively hurting this team.

[MG]

Frankly this is one of those "no-harm/no foul" losses. Didn't use up any of your key bullpen guys because the mop-up guys did their jobs, no one got hurt, and most importantly they didn't get no-hit.

[NEPP]

Herndon gets to work on back-to-back nights against the Red Sox. Who had that on their pre-season pool?

[GTown_Dave]

MG: Amen to that!

[bay_area_phan]

Back in the late 60s and early 70s, the Phillies used to get no-hit as an almost annual ritual. In my lifetime as a fan, though, the only no-hitter I can recall was at the hands of Bob Forsch.

[Old Phan]

Didnt Burt Hooten no hit the Phils?

[NEPP]

I attended the Mulholland no-hitter against the Giants. That was a fun game. Sat in the 500 level at the Vet for it.

[J.R. King]

If someone was going to bunt to break up a no-no, it should've been Howard.

Generally, it's not cool to bunt in that situation, but I think an exception should be made when a team employs the shift. They're basically giving the guy a hit. Why can't he take it.

[Billy Mac]

Ever notice that Herndon hops after he throws a pitch ?

[Iceman]

I had a "feeling" the no-hitter would be broken up as soon as every commenter here started saying it "felt" like a no-hitter.

[NEPP]

It would have been awesome to see Howard bunt to break up a no-hitter. Of course, we'd have to bench him on Sunday to avoid seeing him get killed but it'd still be hilarious.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

With all hte baseball I've watched over teh years, I've never watched a no-hitter.

I saw a one-hitter once. May 1989 at Fenway. Chuck Finley one-hit the Sox. Lance Parrish hit the longest home run I've ever seen off Roger Clemens. Highlight of the game, though, was during an argument at 1B after a close play, the argument suddenly stopped and the manager, 1b coach and umpire all backed away from each other - someone in the first base stands had lobbed an M-80 into the middle of the brouhaha and it was smoking in the grass where they were standing, then BOOM. They probably would evacuate the stadium if that happened today.

[Old Phan]

If you are down 5 runs and arent hitting, you need to do what you can to get on base. Vic bunting in that situation is legitimate.

[MG]

Billy Mac - The Phils bench is now PH at a healthy 7-57(.122) clip with 2 XHB after tonight. They are last in every PH category in the NL league right now including hits trailing the stellar Padres bench filled with sub .200 guys (8).

Phils' pitchers by comparison are hitting .143 (14-98) and have 3 XHB.

Nowhere to go but up.

[bay_area_phan]

Old Phan: Yes, Hooten did no-hit them in 1972. That pre-dates my lifetime as a fan, which started in 1974, when I was 6.

[Old Phan]

BAP,thanks for confirming. I vaguely remember listening to that game on the radio

[Old Phan]

Ok, here comes the 3 run 9th.

[Dukes]

NEPP - I was at the Terry Mulholland as well. That would have been a perfect game if not for the error by Charlie the Mayes Hayes. It was ironic that he snared a sure double down the line to end it.

[GTown_Dave]

I was roundly mocked for suggesting that the bench should be a priority for upgrade (along w/ the bullpen) after last year's 1-18 World Series debacle. Glad to see my concerns have been thoroughly debunked by the performance of the '10 Phillies bench.

[MG]

I would be curious to see what the Phils' PH stats are since the All-Star break last year but I would be stunned if their AVG was better than .150 and their OPS would above .450.

Understandable why their bench was so bad last year after the All-Star break because Stairs was washed up, ditto on Bako, and Francisco/Dobbs.

[Matt]

No way is bunting to break up a no-hitter while down five runs in the ninth a legitimate play. Whoever did that would get killed.

[MG]

Last pitcher to no-hit the Phils was Pascual Perez in '88 on a rain-shortened 5 IP. Last CG was Forsch as BAP stated all the way back in '78. Haven't been no-hit in Philly since the late 60s.

[curt]

As I recall BLers once were appalled by the idea of trading Marson for Bard.

[Billy Mac]

MG: Thanks for the PH stats. I didn't even think it was that bad. Dobbs has never been the same since his injury and I never understood the need to give Gload two years.

[NEPP]

Some were...those that probably had no idea who Bard was.

[Matt]

The good news is Halladay is pitching tomorrow to take two of three from the Red Sox.

[NEPP]

Even with that 2nd year, I dont really see Gload here next year. His salary is low enough that they could just eat it. He's basically been terrible so far.

[MG]

Billy Mac - It has been like having a team of Abe Nunez PH the past past year or so. Bench has been that toothless.

[GTown_Dave]

Didn't someone bunt to break up a no-no vs. Arizona many moons ago? Perhaps off of Schilling? I seem to remember there being quite a brouhaha over it at the time, although I felt it was a legit move in (what I believe was) a 1-0 game.

[Dukes]

GTown...I remember that...I think it was a catcher from the Padres or something.

[NEPP]

I think it was a 2-0 game and it was completely legit. That's what I was thinking of when I mentioned the Vic bunt. I don't recall the specifics though...I'm 90% sure it was against Schilling.

[MG]

NEPP - Gload is making $1.6M next year so he is coming back because the Phils' payroll will be that tight. There is no-way that Dobbs is back though. In fact, I would be surprised if he gets a guaranteed MLB contract next year if he continues to scuffle so bad.

[NEPP]

Per Google, it was Ben Davis who bunted to break up the perfect game after Schilling had retired 22 straight to start the game. It was 2-0 at the time of the bunt.

[bay_area_phan]

Now that you mention it, I do vaguely recall that Pascal Perez 5-inning no hitter. But I don't think rain-shortened no-hitters are counted as no-hitters anymore.

[NEPP]

****NEPP - Gload is making $1.6M next year so he is coming back because the Phils' payroll will be that tight.****

Well, they ate it on Eaton and Jenkins, both of whom were making far more than that. Its possible they just dump him if he is this bad all year.

[Scott]

Amaro should be punched in the throat for giving Gload $1.6M...

[Dukes]

I believe my comments after the last KK outing about the Pirates being a AAA team and my feeling the need to not consider him as "arrived" until after he pitched against boston elisited a wise remark from clout. I'm guessing KK just didn't throw strikes tonight.

[MG]

It is amazing but I think you actually become less informed watching local TV news. At the very least, you just wasted 30 minutes.

[Lake Fred]

Hitting season took a day off. We'll get a win for Halladay tomorrow.

[GTown_Dave]

NEPP: Thanks. It's good to know my memory isn't totally shot ... yet.

[goody]

Anyone have Phils stats vs. Wakefield? Should be entertaining either way.

Saw Schilling 1-hitter. HR by Bobby Bonilla.

[GTown_Dave]

goody: Wakefield (Career) vs. the Phillies:

9 G, 7 GS, 2 CG, 3-1, 49 IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.327 WHIP, 25 BB, 1 HR

That's all from '92-'06, though. This is a somewhat different, presumably more mature group of Phillies. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

[BobbyD]

Phillies will lose tomorrow and it will be a successful series because they didn't get swept. It's interleague, after all.

[Iceman]

G-Town with the subtle swipe at the present-day Phils for not being 'more mature' than the team from '92-'06.

Interesting. (/clout)

[goody]

Thanks Dave. Seems odd we havn't faced him since '06. I was looking more for our current guys records. How about Raul and BenFran? Who do you think will give us the best laughs?

Not sure if it was my first game, but the only time I saw my favorite player, Ted Kluszewski, was when he played for the Pirates. That would be 1958-1959. He had 2 doubles at Connie Mack.

[goody]

I forgot Polly and maybe some bench guys from the AL.

[GTown_Dave]

Iceman: It wasn't intended as a swipe, subtle or otherwise.

goody: I don't know how to get ahold of numbers for individual hitters vs. individual pitchers, at least not "on demand". I'll pass 'em along whenever pregame notes come out for tomorrow's game. They usually include that sort of info. In general -- given the somewhat schizophrenic nature of Phillies hitting -- I figure almost everyone, or almost no one, will hit Wakefield.

[Brett]

Werth rakes against Wakefield, Vic close behind (albeit 2 AB's), and Ibanez has had relative success with the most AB's against.

Everyone else... looks pretty dismal. We shall see their maturity level tomorrow.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

So, I tried to count most no-hitters against but, got bored of it. Despite having the last one against them in '78 (P. Perez's five inning job isn't on wiki's list), Phils were the most I counted with 18 no hitters against. A's were second with 14.

I quit when I saw the note next to Joe Cowley's 1986 no hitter - 'last win of his major league career'. Of course, Phils traded for him after the '86 season. He disappeared into teh minors after 5 games in '87, posting a 15.43 ERA (only 20 of his 26 runs surrendered were earned) and a sterling 3.257 WHIP.

[goody]

Dave: Thats usually the way it is with knuckleballers. They are either unhitable, or get murdered. And if we are ever going to start running, tomorrow is the time.

[GTown_Dave]

goody: Perhaps I'm going nutty from lack of sleep, but for some reason I feel like tomorrow will be a hittin' day. We shall see ...

[EastFallowfield]

First loss by more than 3 runs since April 30.

Supposedly first start not to go five innings since April 14.

Both were Kendrick games.

[Andy]

phargo: How was the marathon?

goody - to run, of course, you need to get on base; maybe they'll do a better job of that today.

Georgetown - personally, I think you're doin wishful thinking. Today is gonna be relatively cool and rainy. Maybe if it clears and warms up they might hit. But on days like these the pitchers often have their way. You can get the hitters against specific pitchers on b-ref. Start at the specific pitcher's page and look for vs. Batter. Change the vs. Current menu to Phillies. There ya go.

[EastFallowfield]

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