Game chat: Phillies, Phillies JV open four-gamer

Once and forever Phillie Brett Myers (8-7, 3.11) makes his first Citizens Bank Park appearance since Game 3 of the 2009 World Series tonight when the Astros and Phillies open a four-game set in Philadelphia. Joe Blanton (5-6, 5.54) deals for the hometown nine.

Preview: Myers has been a revelation for Ed Wade's motley crew of unwanted Phillies. Myers, who signed a two-year extension with a club option third year at the deadline, set a Houston franchise record by lasting at least six innings in each of his first 25 starts, and lately he's rewarded egghead Eddie's generous offering with a 3-1 record and 2.26 ERA in his last nine outings. Myers may be best known in Philadelphia for his at bat against CC Sabathia and the Brewers in the 2008 NLDS. Otherwise, his eight-year career was a series of highs and lows that included flashes of the type of front-line pitcher he would eventually become with the Astros, a fairly successful transition into a closer and an embarrassing demotion to the minor leagues. ... Turning to the Phils, Charlie Manuel again passes up a chance to use his opening day lineup for the first time since May 21. Placido Polanco is experiencing some minor soreness in his left elbow and is scratched for Wilson Valdez, but Manuel told reporters before the game that Polanco's situation it was no big deal. The Phils are hoping for more workman-like results from Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 4.06 ERA in his last five starts. The Phils have won their last seven series at home and eight of nine overall.

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Comments

[MG]

Phils South - 1. Phils - 0.

How can Daulton think that Bourn was in the basepath?

[bay_area_phan]

Sophist: Did I write "season = over?"

[Sophist]

K/BB list: http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/shareit/V7Jfr

[The Truth Injection]

i don't even really like Madson and even I'm not stupid enough to start bashing him for giving up "critical runs" after tonight.

Even a person who hates him can readily say he has been a steady presence, and our most reliable reliever, since he returned. Also, without him we probably have a tough time winning the WS in 2008 and getting back to the WS in 2009

[Fatalotti]

And for those saying that the Werth play is no big deal because Valdez was coming up....I don't care if Helen Keller was coming up to hit, there's no reason to be sleeping off second base there, when the catcher is standing up and looking right toward second base. He should've just put a nightcap on and curled up on the ground, you know, gotten comfortable out there.

[Sophist]

MG, that's confusing me too. Just can't see how he could be 3 feet in the line there.

[mal]

Oh. And Chase Utley is, actually, a .270 hitter, so why wouldn't he hit like one?

[GBrettfan]

I liked Charlie's answer when a reporter asked about the Werth pickoff. "That play speaks for itself. I don't have to say nothin'."

[bay_area_phan]

Fatalotti: Helen Keller has good numbers with RISP.

[Sophist]

Prado HR. 3-2 Rox.

[Fatalotti]

The most aggravating thing about the Bourn play is that the HP umpire came all the way out and was noticably willing to give his opinion, and the first base umpire was having none of it. Such arrogance is the reason why umpires are despised, not because they make mistakes. If the entire crew had gotten together and called it the same way, I'd still be disappointed, but I wouldn't've been seething with anger.

[Heather]

I wonder why if UC thought that play was so bad why he didn't yank Werth?

It doesn't matter if you think a play is bad, if you don't yank him I don't know what message you think you're sending.

[steve]

Sophist, the call doesn't matter...Ryan Madson gave up two fluke runs...this is on the offense and dumb dumb jayson werth. Also, when will Charlie get Rollins out of the lead off spot. No team wins with a LO guy hitting .230

[Fatalotti]

Sophist, since you have a copious amount of stats at your very finger tips, how is this offense performing this year. I keep expecting that things will eventually click, and the offense of old (and of the beginning of this season) will just show up, but doesn't seem to be happening. Am I engaging in confirmation bias?

[Rich D]

If the offense wasn't so bad, I'd bench Werth tomorrow night.

[Sophist]

Heather - I think it's because Polanco was sitting tonight. Had he pulled Werth, he'd have a shorter bench to work with. Ending up needing Benny to PR in the 9th, too.

[Old Phan]

Werth probably didn't get pulled because it was a mistake. A bad one, perhaps, but just a mistake. It isn't something that happens often. I know I've never seen it.

[Sophist]

Fatalotti - not as well as offenses of seasons' past, obviously, but it hasn't been the personnel of seasons' past. Said this the other night, but it's pretty hard to predict what we'll get from these guys down the stretch. They have been scoring over 5 runs per game during this 30 game stretch, though.

steve, Rollins OBP this month is about .355. He went 2-5 tonight.

[Heather]

"Werth probably didn't get pulled because it was a mistake. A bad one, perhaps, but just a mistake. It isn't something that happens often. I know I've never seen it."

It happened in the Marlins series just this month. Same thing, picked off second.

[Old Phan]

Heather, different circumstances. Anyway, you can't pull a guy for getting picked off a base.

[bay_area_phan]

In the big scheme of things, what would pulling Werth have really accomplished -- other than providing fans a moment of catharsis & weakening an already struggling lineup?

[Jason Werth]

Leave me alone you bullies. What have I ever done to you. Mommy!

[Heather]

"In the big scheme of things, what would pulling Werth have really accomplished -- other than providing fans a moment of catharsis & weakening an already struggling lineup?"

Why do you ever pull a player for lack of attention and/or hustle? Obviously it does something, or managers wouldn't do it so often.

[Sophist]

Fatalotti - put it this way: Ibanez OPS was about .710 for most of the year; Rollins was out (and not effective until the past 3-4 weeks when in); Valdez has about 300 PA of 67 OPS+ production; Dobbs has 150 PA of 51 OPS+ production; Castro has 130 PA of 28 OPS+; Vic has a 99 OPS+ but his BA is .255 so far; Utley's SLG is down; Werth has good numbers but his RISP problems have been costly ...

That said, they've been climbing the offensive ranks. Now 3rd in RS in the NL (tied with the Braves who's generally been moving in the other direction offensively).

[Old Phan]

BAP, exactly. Nothing would be served by it, and I doubt you'll see it happen again, at least not in that way.

[Heather]

"Heather, different circumstances. Anyway, you can't pull a guy for getting picked off a base."

From my memory, he got picked off the base because he took too long of a lead and was caught napping. Seems like the circumstances were pretty similar.

[The Truth Injection]

This is another twist on the "Heather hates Charlie Manuel" mode of posting.

[Sophist]

Heather - Werth gets pulled and Ruiz is running for himself in the 9th, or you're a man down more later if it gets to extras.

[Jimmy Rollins]

Lick my balls Steve I'm hittin' over .250

[Sophist]

Rollins has 4 hits in his last 2 games and about a .360 OBP with 7 steals in the last 21 games.

[Heather]

Pretty funny you can go through and find posts and posts of people ripping JW a new one, but I suggest he be benched for the game and his defenders are coming out of the woodwork.

I'm coming to the conclusion that you're only sticking up for him because I'm the one saying it.

[Fatalotti]

The thought of Rich Harden throwing a no hitter is laughable. This guy couldn't pitch a complete game in softball.

[Sophist]

4-2 Rox.

Heather, I'm not giving a defense but a baseball reason. Otherwise what Werth did was inexcusable. But he's not a child; he doesn't need a timeout if the Phils need him in the game otherwise.

[Heather]

Rich Harden looked really good tonight. Maybe ordinarily he sucks, but tonight there wasn't much cheap about his no hitter. Unfortunately he got pulled for pitch count before he could complete it.

[Fatalotti]

Heather, I have no doubt his stuff was nasty, but the guy hasn't come close to completing a game in years. He doesn't go 7 or more often if ever anymore.

[Kool Earl]

Heather- you are a dumb wench but are right this time. Manuel should have made like Billy Martin and ordered Werth to plant his arse on the bench

[Sophist]

Harden most certainly does not "ordinarily suck." He's nasty, but brittle.

[Heather]

"But he's not a child; he doesn't need a timeout if the Phils need him in the game otherwise."

This is a philosophical difference. Plenty of coaches and managers at the professional level, the collegeiate, to the minors and right on down believe in benching as a discipline method. Maybe you don't, but that doesn't mean it is an illegitimate method for correcting mistakes.

[Heather]

"Harden most certainly does not "ordinarily suck." He's nasty, but brittle."

Yeah, I don't know how he is ordinarily. I was just responding to Fatalotti's comments. I've watched most of the game due and was just wanting to say that he certainly did not pitch a "cheap" no hitter today. He was very good.

[Fatalotti]

In 2008, Rich Harden went 9 IP 0 times, 8 IP once, and 7 IP 6 times. In 2009, Harden went 7 IP 5 times and nothing more, and this year, he's now gone 7 IP 3 times. He's like a skinny version of Joe Blanton, only actually much less innings. Point is, he doesn't go deep into games often.

[Fatalotti]

Heather, I was only commenting on Harden's ability to go deep into games, not his ability to get hittes out when he actually in there.

[Fatalotti]

Correction, Harden only went 6.2 today, so he's only gone 7 innings twice this year.

[Fatalotti]

"No hitter" on ESPN 2.

[Fatalotti]

It is now a hitter.

[TK]

Mauer spoils the combined no-no

[Fatalotti]

Braves has closed the gap to 4-3. Let's hope Huston Street or Manny Corpas, whoever is closing, can actually do his job tonight.

[The Truth Injection]

The Giants are kicking Edinson Volquez in the teeth right now

[Fatalotti]

What are the chances that the Rockies hold on this one? Have to get 6 outs and protect a one run lead.

[Fatalotti]

Albert Pujols is one HR away from his 400th. what an incredible career.

[Fatalotti]

Damn Braves tied the game up. It's starting to feel less likely that the Braves are going to stop scoring, despite their apparently putrid offense, and that they will lose quite enough for the Phils to catch them.