Game chat: Halladay takes aim at 20th win tonight

Roy Halladay (19-10, 2.49) tries to become the first Phillie since 1982 to accomplish the feat tonight in the second of three with Braves. First pitch is 7:05, with rookie Mike Minor (3-1, 5.84) slated for Atlanta. Following last night's win, the Phillies, who have won eight straight, hold a four-game lead in the National League East. Notes: Monday night’s Phillies victory over the Braves had the highest rating of any Phillies regular season game in Comcast SportsNet history. The 3-1 win received a rating of 14.5 (431,400 households). Phillies games are averaging an 8.0 household rating through mid-September, which is also a new high for the network. Lineups: Sans Jimmy, standard set. [Jump to the newest comments]

Comments

[Kutztown Fan]

Oswalt is pitching tomorrow. I have complete faith.

[philwynk]

Congratulations to Roy Halladay, who earned his 20th win of the season tonight, and became the first 20-game winner for the Phillies since Steve Carlton in 1982.

Stick that in your C__ L__ and suck on it for a while.

[BloodStripes]

Congratulations Doc! 20 big ones. 28 years eh? That's familiar.

[Thump Bump]

As ESPN just said, the Braves could be out of the Wild Card lead by the end of all the games tonight.

[Tom P]

Holy Moly, he smiled.

[NEPP]

Good Job by Doc. He's a battler.

BTW, that's 13 straight decisions for him (10-3 in that span). He's had only 2 non-decisions all season.

[NEPP]

How is that possible? Even with the loss, the Braves have a 1.5 game lead in the WC.

[Will Schweitzer]

Now, after Oswalt locks down the sweep tomorrow, who will be the first jackass with a tomahawk on his chest to whine and cry like a baby about the ballpark?

[Bay Slugga]

Love letters to Exxon Valdez tomorrow?

[GreysFan]

Another amazing team effort. Braves a very good team—Phils just better.

[Thump Bump]

NEPP: Agree, not sure what ESPN was saying as I check the standings.

[timr]

Here's some credit for Lidge: That 3-2 slider to McClouth was probably the best pitch I've seen him throw all season. Tons of movement on the slider, but it stayed in the zone. Pretty much unhittable that way. Well done, Brad.

[denny b.]

Doc won the Cy Young tonight.

Phils won the NL East tonight.

Be very interesting to see how the Phils play it next weekend. The Braves are going to need those games badly, to get the WC.

Would make all the sense in the world though, once the Phils clinch (likely in Washington), that the Big 3 don't pitch another inning this year in the regular season.

Might help the Braves make the playoffs though. But, that's OK. Its about getting the PHILS ready for the post-season. Who gives a damn about the opponent. If the Phils are right, they are clearly the best team in the NL. Its probably not even that close either.

Probably be seeing a lot Kendrick and Worley on the hill next weekend in ATL. Which is fine with me.

Still need to get Romero some work though. This team will need a LOOGY at some point in the playoffs. He needs to be prepared to do the job.

[NEPP]

20-10, leads the league in a bunch of categories and has a Perfect Game? Yeah, he's probably the favorite at this point.

[GreysFan]

Agree. That slider was Carlton-esque.

[Fatalotti]

Roy got squeezed tonight, but still pitched a good game. The Phillies are an incredible 30 games over .500, and have a 5 game lead, not only for the division, but for the best record in the NLt, and only have 10 games left to play. They just took 2 from the Braves on the strength of Hamels and Doc's arms. And now they have Oswalt going tomorrow.

They may have a 6 game lead in the division by tomorrow, and have the whole thing locked up before they head into that final series against the Braves.

Oh, and in case you've forgotten, 43-15 over their last 58. They've made up 12 games in the standings in exactly 2 months.

Amazing!!!

[Thump Bump]

I'm not going to get cocky, still need to take it one game at a time - they head to NY after tomorrow's game - a place they haven't played very well even though the Muts suk.

[cut_fastball]

Ricky Bo's concerned about the Doc.

[MG]

Scary thing is that Halladay isn't pitching nearly as well as Hamels or Oswalt either.

Only thing I can thing if I am Cox or a Braves' player is 'deflated.'

18 of 21

21 of 25

17-3 in Sept. Phils have already tied their 17 wins they had the previous 3 Septs.

Simply dominant.

[kuvasz]

Regardless of watching this team for the last several years it continues to amaze me how smoothly they can shift into high gear with no apparent effort. Reminds me of my first car, a '71 Chevy Impala with that monster TurboJet.

[Fatalotti]

Thump, the Mets series is in Philly.

[Unikruk]

I'd agree that Roy's the favorite, but look at Wainright's counting numbers - they're basically the same. But Roy gets it on the playoff bonus.

[st]

ricky bo is concerned about everything all the time

[MG]

cut_fastball - It is legitimate concern. Halladay simply has looked as good the past month (6 GS) as he was earlier this season. His K/9 is notably down, his cutter doesn't seem to be as sharp, and he is making more mistake pitches in the zone with his fastball.

He is still good but just not as dominant we have seen.

[Thump Bump]

Fatalotti: Oops, thanks, okay I feel a little better.

[cut_fastball]

Again, Ricky Bo: Doc's "elevated pitches?" Creepy. Sure hope this works out for Doc like Cliff Lee's woes before he bi!@E#-slapped the Yankees.

[rauls grandpa]

As a guy who had absolutely no faith in Lidge even a month or so ago and was ready to hit the panic button a few months back on the whole team, I must say I am pleased to say the least where the Phils stand today as a team, with this bullpen and this closer. Bobby and Chipper, have a great retirement. Braves, I hope you have not an iota of a chance to make the postseason as of tomorrow evening.

[Fatalotti]

Jayson Werth had a fantastic game tonight. Some strange plays in the outfield, but he drove in some huge runs. But the singlest biggest play of the game was the huge 2 run double against a tought left handed reliver.

That was inredibly huge. Once again, Lidge looked good, and got the job done fairly easily. Great strikeout on McLouth. Madson, steady as ever, did his job admirably, and Valdez continues to flash the leater.

Chase and Shane had off nights tonihgt, overall, but they'll pick it up later on.

Can't wait for tomorrow's game!!

[Thump Bump]

I have faith in Oswalt, but I just hope the bats show up tomorrow.

[MG]

Ibanez AB was the key of the night against a tough LHP reliever (Minor).

I really thought that Ibanez had his hot streak and that he was scuffle the rest of the way as Labor Day approached. Instead he is on pace to have a ridiculous final 3+ weeks of the season and finish with season totals that aren't really that off from his normal totals.

[st]

just needs rest. that's all

[Old Phan]

This is the Phillies team I expect, and this is the Braves team I expect. No guarantee they make the playoffs if they keep playing like this.

[EastFallowfield]

This gets updated soon at baseball reference...

Biggest Lead 5 last on Monday, May 17

[phlipper]

Ibanez 2nd half:

310/.384/.496/.880

Obvious, being washed up due to his advanced age, as predicted and re-affirmed by a slew of BLers, Ibanez just wore down post All-Star game.

Right, denny b?

[bake]

Maybe ESPN said that the Braves might be out of the wild card lead after tomorrow night.

(They might, and they might not.)

[NEPP]

****Roy got squeezed tonight, but still pitched a good game.****

I really dont feel that he was. His control was iffy for most of the game and he was missing his spots. He pitched well for a guy with no feel but I dont really think the umpire effected it that much.

[CJ]

If SF and SD both win tonight, the Braves will be tied in the loss column for the wild card lead. And they have to face Oswalt tomorrow.

[denny b.]

Don't you have to be in bed for school tomorrow, Flipper?

Ibanez sucked donkeys until August.

Glad he actually looks like a full-time player again now.

Why not call out Jason too? He was far harder on Rauuuuuuul then most of us were. And you know what? He deserved it. He DID look washed up, when he couldn't catch up with any kind of fastball. Scouts said the same thing. Glad we were all wrong.

[CJ]

13 of Doc's 20 wins have come against the NL East.

[MG]

C'mon Cubs. Want the Padres to take the West and the Braves the WC. Phils vs. Padres in the NLDS is the best matchup for them.

[CJ]

The Braves and Phillies have each won 7 games in the 14 game series so far this year... with the Phils outscoring the Braves 51-50.

[philwynk]

Phillies would practically have to collapse in order to fail to get top seed in the NLDS. They're 5 games ahead of all the other division leaders. Pretty impressive run the Phillies have had.

Oh, and they're only 1.5 games shy of having the best record in baseball.

[Oliver]

So I was just perusing my copy of the Phillies Annual 2010 preview, and I saw the blurb on Exxon. It ends thus:

"If he's in Philadelphia at any point this season, chances are the Phillies suffered a devastating injury that would shatter all hope for a World Series."

Well damn

[BloodStripes]

As much as I dig J-Roll. I'm not even worried about when he will return at this point. Exxon has played well above expectation with some top class play. Surprise of the season.

[NEPP]

Remember a month or so ago when I mentioned that Exxon could very well be the unheralded MVP of the season?

I stand by my words.

[Old Phan]

"Why are people so worried with the way Lidge has pitched the last 7 weeks?"

MG, great question. I guess old habits die hard.

[Bay Slugga]

Oliver: I remember that line, and now it is hysterical

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, newer thread