Game chat: Phils try to capture all 3 in Milwaukee

Cole Hamels (3-2, 4.53) and the 22-13 Phillies set their sights on the sweep against Conestoga High product Dave Bush (1-3, 4.24) and the Brewers tonight at 8:05 on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. Paul Hoover and Wilson Valdez remain in the lineup. Carlos Ruiz is reportedly getting an extra day and could be good to go when the Phillies return home tomorrow. Before the game, the Phils made a surprise announcement that Jimmy Rollins is heading home from Clearwater, and pending the outcome of a quick physical, could be activated from the disabled list tomorrow. [Jump to the newest comments]

Comments

[Gsl]

Hoover doubled and threw a guy out. Valdez doubled in a run and made two great plays there. Time for BL to give these guys some love. By the way, they are also playing the two toughest positions. The Phils have overcome a ton of injuries and it is more because of the success of the replacements than because of the stars making up the difference. Pat Castro, Valdez, and Hoover on the back.

[The Truth Injection]

GTown: There was nothing sketchy about the ball hit to Howard. That thing was smoked.

[GBrettfan]

Wait, wait, wait. Is JC coming in to save?

[BloodStripes]

JC is coming to save us.

[GBrettfan]

You make a good point, Gsl. I was thinking last night that I really feel good about our team when the 3rd stringers are getting hits. And they have held their own defensively, too - not perfect, but they've had their great moments.

Oh crap, it is JC. Fasten your seatbelts.

[philwynk]

Romero. Ouch.

[GTown_Dave]

TTI: Both were, but both should have been caught.

[Hope SE]

3rd string SS; 3rd string catcher; 2 toughest defensive positions.

4th (or ?th) closer

3 out of 3?

[Dukes]

This is weird. I kind of get JC being in the game if they want to rest contreras...but why is contreras warming in the pen?

[philwynk]

Yeah, Gsl. All the concern early in the season was about how little depth the Phils had at some positions. Turns out we were worried for nothing.

[BloodStripes]

Agreed Gsl. Replacements have done an admirable job. Phillies really are a good TEAM.

JC, JC, JC. Save us JC!

[The Truth Injection]

GTown: That's easy to say.

[Dukes]

Could you imagine spending an afternoon with Wheels, McCarver, and Morgan? God those three are annoyingly similar.

[Brian G]

No one is allowed to talk smack about Valdez again after tonight.

[AFish]

Milwalkee has an all left-handed bench, and Cholly wants to rest Contreras.

[GTown_Dave]

TTI: That it is. Of course, I'm not being paid handsomely to make such plays, either.

[GBrettfan]

Wow, JC! Looked good there! Maybe he's getting back to form.

Yay - A sweep!

[Bruce Ruffin]

AFish called it!

[Hope SE]

Is JC back???

[philwynk]

Waddaya know. Good job, JC Romero. Sweet.

[waaaah]

Another thread full of whining, another victory for the Phils

[EastFallowfield]

Feels like a loss, tastes like a sweep.

Girly man Cole is ESPN's player of the game...how is that even possible???

[RSB]

1-2-3 for J.C. Romero in the 9th? That's when you know things are going well, fans.

[GTown_Dave]

Well look at that: the Phils swept Milwaukee, & they managed to do it w/out the help of Ben Francisco. Will wonders never cease ...

[EastFallowfield]

Only the Tampa Bay Rays have fewer losses in baseball. Don't know how many "Feel Like A Loss"es they have, though.

[Old Phan]

Never a doubt.

[MG]

It will never show up in the box score but Valdez made a couple of really nice plays late to help preserve the victory.

This was definitely a 'taking care of business' series. Played a team that was struggling a bit, exploited those weaknesses, and found a way to get the sweep despite being a bit short-handed themselves & not having Halladay start.

Good chance to this week to continue to "take care of business" against two mediocre teams (Succos and Cubs).

[Old Phan]

EFF, I think the Rays have 3 less "feel like a loss"es than the Phils. That would give them the home field advantage if the All Star game turns out to be a tie.

[Dukes]

Valdez and Hoover have been huge these last couple of days. Fun to watch, actually.

Not sure JC is back. The strikeout was nice, but the ball in the hole was hit hard and of course he threw three straight balls before he got the fly out at the end. I guess JC was never a strike thrower, though.

[GTown_Dave]

Old Phan: The NL team would still have the advantage, as the Rays draw more fans of the opposing team to their World Series home games than they do Tampa fans ... probably due to not having enough of the latter to fill an entire stadium.

[MG]

Brewers team is really short on answers right now especially in their bullpen. There really wasn't a single bad move that Macha made all series. He just didn't get any real decent relief all series & mediocre starting pitching didn't help.

[MG]

My friend was saying the Phils look like they should be a bit depleted right now too.

They don't have their starting SS & C, backup C, backup SS, 4th starter, setup man, and their closer. Certainly didn't show this series.

[Brian G]

So is Kendrick really going tomorrow or do we move up Halladay?

[curt]

Yet another game without All-Star-in-Waiting Ben Francisco, while 3rd stringers like Valdez & Hoover keep racking up innings. Oh the injustice.

Rube deserves kudos for having had these guys stashed at LV.

[vegas]

Hats off to Charlie for pulling Cole in the 6th with a righty coming up even though he got two quick outs. He seemed gassed, I had visions of one more long shot out to left to tie up the game. Durbin's been great.

[bay_area_phan]

It's easy to say this now, but going with Romero against a switch-hitter & 2 lefties was the right move. The only real reason Romero is on the team is to face lefties. If that's not the right spot for him, then there isn't a right spot.

Tonight was actually the first time Romero looked halfway decent since coming back. Had a nice 12:6 strike:ball ratio & consistently threw strikes when he needed to. His velocity isn't back to where it was, and I'm beginning to suspect it may never get there -- at least in 2010. But he's got plenty enough velocity to get left-handers out, so long as he has reasonable command of his pitches, which he did tonight.

[goody]

Interesting comment by Lou Marson on being pushed by a prospect. "He's supposed to be the next guy, but so was I when I was in Philly. We'll see how it works out."

Lots of ex-phils in the middle of things today, if you like to study box scores like I do.

Anyone think Hoover and his 1.126 OPS gets another shot tomorrow? Let him get the wear and tear of KK, and save Chooch for the easier job of Doc his first game back.

[Old Phan]

It wouldn't be the worst thing to give Hoov another start tomorrow against the Buccos.

[phargo]

Good Morning!

The first 5 innings took 2 hours. It sure made me miss Roy and the "old days" with Cliff. Move it along, man!

Feelin' good though! Hoover has been a nice surprise.

Have a great day.

[clout]

"All the concern early in the season was about how little depth the Phils had at some positions. Turns out we were worried for nothing."

And here I thought the season lasted until October. Silly me.

[clout]

Intersting how the same posters who were blasting away on Valdez just two weeks ago are now singing his praises. But that's the essence of Beerleaguer.

He actually did a pretty good job filling in for Reyes last season. IMHO, he's both a better fielder and a better hitter than Castro, although he is certain to be sent down when Rollins returns.

[clout]

BAP: Totally agree on Romero.

[Andy]

take it to the shop
cause it ain't workin' quite right
this Hoover don't suck

[Andy]

Here's something to argue about though:
As Rollins comes back, will the Phils send Valdez back down? (Well, of course, we know they will but...) Should they send Valdez down, or ditch the slow, defensively limited, not-any-better offensively Castro?

I think I'd rather keep the one who's faster than Pat Burrell.

Oh - Hoover had more doubles (and extra base hits) in this Milwaukee series than in the rest of his MLB career.

[Andy]

Wow, clout, I was working on saying the same thing when you were. The realization makes me think I have to go pour something stronger in my coffee...Bourbon? Rum? Strichnine?

[phargo]

Andy! It's good to see you.

Also, heh.

[NEPP]

Typical, I rip Romero and say he should be released, then the SOB goes and pitches a perfect 9th for a Save.

And I complain about SBs and they go and steal some.

[NEPP]

****IMHO, he's both a better fielder and a better hitter than Castro, although he is certain to be sent down when Rollins returns.****

I think they are essentially the same player but Valdez has a far stronger arm while Castro has softer hands. Otherwise, I dont notice a difference. Valdez's arm did save them a couple times last night in the later innings.

[NEPP]

****His velocity isn't back to where it was, and I'm beginning to suspect it may never get there -- at least in 2010****

I'm beginning to think this is his real natural velocity and what we saw before that was "enhanced" for lack of a better word.

[Andy]

Thanks, phargo. And Good Morning!

[Will Schweitzer]

Andy: According to MLBTradeRumors, Valdez would have to clear waivers to be sent to Allentown. Maybe that will factor into their decision.

[NEPP]

****According to MLBTradeRumors, Valdez would have to clear waivers to be sent to Allentown. Maybe that will factor into their decision.****

So would Castro. They're both in the same boat in that respect.

[Spitz]

Valdez can't simply be sent down. He has to get through waivers first, which he may or may not do. The right move is to put Castro on the DL until we are sure Jimmy is OK. Hopefully they make the right move!

[philwynk]

Clout wrote:

"And here I thought the season lasted until October. Silly me."

See, clout, this is why you're involved in arguments here all the time -- the ones the rest of us have to skip over because we hate hearing adults carping at each other like 8-year-olds.

You could have said "The year's young" or something like that, and I'd agree completely. But no. You have to say "You're a f*&@^#$ idiot" along with it.

Why do you feel the need to do that?

If it makes you feel any better, ok, I'm a f*&@^#$ idiot. There. All better?

[NEPP]

**** The right move is to put Castro on the DL until we are sure Jimmy is OK. ****

That would be the smartest route...and the one they should take.

[thephaithful]

bap and gtown move to 13-23 on the year - its been a tough last few seasons for them.

[thephaithful]

also, it looks like i could be premature on declaring myself wrong about wanting to keep Valdez over Castro. I'm sure I'm only another 2-3 Valdez GIDPs to change my mind - again.

[twitter.com/jtramsay]

Has anyone requested that Beerleaguer put 'Feels Like a Loss' t-shirts into production? It really captures the ethos of the comments section perfectly.

[michael jordan shoes]

Good for Werth! Playing himself into some serious coin! Well, in case we don't get to keep him, let's enjoy it while we can!

[vibram five fingers shoes]

winning baseball= great defense and a great leadoff hitter