Game chat: Phillies go back to work in Windy City

Jamie Moyer (9-8, 4.51) and the Phillies try to match their longest winning streak of the season tonight when they start a four-game set with the Ryan Dempster (7-7, 3.81) and the Cubs. First pitch is 8:05 EDT. The Phillies will welcome Chad Durbin back into the fray.

Beerleaguer: With permission to mail-it in at the break, Beerleaguer is fully recharged and ready for some fast and furious blogging. We're talking non-waiver trade deadline, waiver trade deadline, the division race, wild card race, all with the hope that the Phillies become the last team standing in November. It all starts tonight for the 47-40 Phillies, who arrived at the break looking up at the Braves and looking around the clubhouse at some unfamiliar bodies. Injuries defined much of the first half, with Chase Utley expected to be gone until Septmeber. Nevertheless, the Phils saved their best series of the season for the end of the first act: a classic four-game sweep of the Central-leading Reds. They're looking to extend their streak to five tonight. The Phils have won eight of their last 10 over the Cubbies, who enter the second half a disappointing 39-50.

Transactions: Reliever Chad Durbin has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room, right-hander Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment for the second time this season. The Phils made an additional move, activating left-hander Antonio Bastardo form the disabled list and optioning him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Pitching matchups: Just a reminder that schedule-wise, this isn't your typical series. Tomorrow at 2:20 ET: Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41) vs Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08); Saturday at 1:05 ET: Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.78) vs Randy Wells (4-7, 4.61); Sunday, July 18 at 8:05 ET; Roy Halladay (10-7, 2.19) vs Tom Gorzelanny (4-5, 3.16).

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Comments

[MG]

Old Phan - Cholly let guys sit in the pen for a week at the time including Romero and Lidge.

Does it matter if Blanton, Hamels, and Halladay all go at least 7 IP? No, but what if Blanton only make it makes into the 5th or 6th inning tomorrow. With a really long stretch coming up without an off-day, it is not a good usage of your relievers. Likely plenty of chances to have them see some IP over the next 7-10 days.

[Alex]

This team stinks plain and simple. They were fortunate the pitching held the Reds down. The lineup is putrid.

[Old Phan]

Not defending Chuckles, but most of them only went 1 inning. Interesting how Contreras put the game out of reach. It's good to see them still going in the 9th like they were against the Reds. It's a good sign.

[Meyer]

Let's vote again.

[phlipper]

Old Phan: It's not safe to get in between MG and a critique of Charles' bullpen management.

The last guy that did it is still in the hospital.

That said, MG, it could be argued that using one or two guys for multiple innings would be just as, if not more, limiting going forward. It would render one or two guys unavailable. At this point, he has the full bullpen to use going forward.

[Will Schweitzer]

Heather: that was my argument exactly. It seems ridiculous to demote those who succeed in their role (Figgy) and retain those who fail (Lidge) in it, particularly when you have no one to put in the role (long relief/spot starter) of the demoted individual (Figgy) and several viable options (Contreras, Madson, Baez to a lesser degree) to place in the role of the retained (Lidge) and when the retained individual (Lidge) has reached historic levels of failing in his role (2009).

It's a shame that I have to explain it as if I were filing a legal brief to be understood, but there it is...

[Thump Bump]

Still not sure why Halladay or Hamels didn't start this game, an old man like Moyer could use the extra rest. Once again the offense is minimal, not sure that is ever going to change this year.

Happ erratic in his start tonight; unable to blow away AAA hitters so don't expect him in big league this year. DB had a couple singles and almost ran over center fielder when going for fly, I don't think he is ready for the primetime.

[Old Phan]

Actually, scoring 6 runs in the game is not minimal. I would love it if they scored 6 runs every game for the rest of the year. Young Jamie didn't pitch well and Contreras had a meltdown (as did Baez). Because they scored the runs in the 9th doesn't matter. They all count equally.

[Meyer]

6%. Interesting.

[Iceman]

Werth has just been abysmal. Both he and Vic are the two main people actively hurting this offense. They ended up scoring 6 runs (mainly thanks to Howard), but it was a pretty rough night at the plate for most of the team.

Other than that, when your pitching gives up 12 runs it doesn't matter much what the offense does. Moyer just didn't have it. It happens.

Highlight of the thread: dennyb claiming the Reds offense doesn't scare him.

[Old Phan]

FWIW, Vic did get 2 hits tonight.

[Greg V.]

Moyer seemed like he was in a nice groove and it seemed like one of those instancees where maybe too much rest was a bad thing. He was all over the place.

One can only hope the rest factor has the opposite effect on Blanton tomorrow. He's normally very good against the Cubs so I like his odds at having a good game. Just one of those crappy games tonight.

[Old Phan]

This seemed like an odd quote.
"Jayson Werth

Despite some prolonged cold streaks offensively, Werth has been the team’s best hitter (tied with the injured Utley in wOBA at .377). Werth’s itinerary for the second-half? Keep on doing what he’s doing."

Really?

[bay_area_phan]

"They all count equally."

Well, sort of. They count equally when you add up the team's total runs at the end of the year. But they sure don't count equally in terms of importance. And, if you're looking at the 6-run total as a sign of life from the offense, I wouldn't attach much significance to it. Quite literally, the only reason they scored more than 2 runs is because their pitchers gave up 12. If the game had been even reasonably close, the Cubs would have brought in Marmol to slam the door in the 9th.

[passing by]

If he keeps on doing what he's doing, I hope he does it somewhere else

[Old Phan]

BAP, "if" doesn't really matter.

How and why the runs scored isn't relevant. We could say IF only Jamie hadn't hit those 2 batters it might be a different game, but that's not what happened. And what score constitutes a "closer game" where Marmol comes in and automatically shuts down the Phils. No guarantee there.
Seeing The Big Problem hitting 2 monster jacks with a guy on base is a good thing.

[MG]

So Cholly managed to use 3 of his top relievers tonight including Durbin, Contreras, and Madson in a game they were losing 11-2 going into the top of the 9th.

Now if any of these guys pitches tomorrow night too, I doubt very much that Cholly will want to use of them 3 straight nights in a row because Durbin & Madson are still working their way back from injuries and Contreras because of age/wear & tear.

Herndon easily could have worked another inning tonight. Using KK was fine for an inning. Then you try to get 1+ IP out of Baez. If Cholly want to work back in Durbin tonight to give him an IP, I can see that.

It was just stupid to use Contreras or Madson in a game where you are down 4 or more runs. I want those guys available for the games in which the Phils are going to be ahead late as much as possible. Not pitching mopup without a day-off for the next 3 weeks.

[Old Phan]

MG, I understand your concern about Contreras, but he is a main reason the score became 11-2. A 6-2 game is still very much within reach. Yes, Cholly could have used Herndon another inning and Durbin for perhaps 2.

[bay_area_phan]

Only way he could have used Herndon another inning was to let him hit for himself in the 5th. A more valid criticism is that, with the pitcher due up 2nd in the 5th, perhaps Cholly should have used someone like Baez, who is purely a one-inning pitcher. Then he could have pinch-hit for Baez & brought in Herndon the next inning, so he could give us at least 2 innings before coming up to bat again).

Not that any of this would have made a difference to the game's outcome.

[out of my league]

On another note...

Got to see "The Freak" pitch a CG shutout against the Mets tonight in SF...sweet.

[Iceman]

Old Phan: I'm not normally one to jump on BAP's Doom and Gloom bandwagon, but I tend to agree with him that if the game were only 6-2, we'd have seen Marmol and he'd have likely shut the door. It was very encouraging seeing what might be the beginning of one of Howard's torrid streaks, however. He's going to have to have one of those from now through September for the Phils to get back in it.

And Vic did have two hits tonight, but he also had some poor ABs and generally has not been someone the team can count on during a time when they need him to step up with their two best hitters out of the lineup. I suppose even more of a problem is Ibanez hitting third (who also had two hits tonight, but is the 7th or 8th best hitter in the lineup at full-strength), but really, who else is Cholly going to put there? Werth and his non-existent bat? There's just no one else to turn to right now.

[bay_area_phan]

I have to keep reminding myself that, except for his doubles (which are way up) & homeruns (which are significantly down), Werth's overall numbers are almost exactly the same as last year. I also keep having to remind myself that he hasn't really been slumping since April; he actually had a big June.

I think the reason it seems like he has been slumping forever is because he's hitting an astonishingly bad .169 with RISP, & he has exactly 2 RBIs in his last 17 games.

[bay_area_phan]

It's kind of hackneyed to start dissecting Cholly's lineup decisions when the team isn't hitting. But it does seem perplexing that you've got a guy with a .317 OBP and 14 homers batting 2nd, while a guy with a .367 OBP, but only 2 RBIs in his last 17 games, is hitting 5th. It's also kind of odd to have a .240 singles hitter continue to bat 3rd.

With a lefty on the mound for the Cubs tomorrow, Vic would fit nicely in the No. 3 spot, because he rakes against left-handed pitching. My lineup card for tomorrow would be:

Werth
Ruiz
Victorino
Howard
Francisco
Rollins
Ransom
Valdez
Blanton

[Hugh Mulcahy]

The whole 'Manuel just blew teh bullpen out' is overblown - there is no problem in getting guys back in the swing. Still, they may have a chance to do that today. I would have just put Kendrick in and let him go. You have to juggle a bit when their next turns come up but, I wouldn't have feared throwing either guy on 3 days. Moyer's outing was short. Kendrick's young and a candidate for long relief anyway.

[The Truth Injection]

HUGH: For years now MG has harped on Charlie not knowing how to use his bullpen. He says it roughly 300 times a season. You're best to just let him rant and just ignore it. He is never going to come off it.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

Oh, I know MG's schtick but, it's not just MG who was b!tching about how the pen was used last night. Also, my comment applies to people were moaning about the loss of Figueroa. I feel for the guy but, he or Herndon was the obvious guy to go and it's obvious they're committed to holding Herndon. If they need a long man or a spot start, Happ is available.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

Or, Figueroa, obviously, if he clears waivers.

[fljerry]

It would be hard to believe figueroa getting thru waivers this time. He has been the Phils best reliever this past month. I would of never thought the he be put on waivers.

[EastFallowfield]

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