Joe Blanton (7-6, 5.00) and the Phillies go for seven in a row this afternoon against rookie right-hander Yunesky Maya (0-2, 6.55) and the Nationals. First pitch is 1:35, with the Braves and Mets getting underway at 1:10.
Kendrick: Ryan Howard set a franchise record with five straight seasons with
at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs, while Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez also homered in Saturday's 5-2 victory. Ibanez and Wilson Valdez collected three hits as the Phillies continue to spread their production evenly this September. They've also capitalized on a run of lousy opposing pitching. As a group, they haven't smoked the ball this well since the opening weeks of the season. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick overcame an iffy first and fat pitch and survived six innings, allowing a pair of runs. It's time to regard Kendrick's season as a success rather than a failure. The 26-year-old right-hander fought to win back his job in spring training, has started 29 games (169 1-3 innings) and has collected 10 wins, just as many as Tommy Hanson and more than Ted Lilly and a number of others. Granted, he's received the fifth-highest run support in the league, but still. Someone had pitch those innings. Better an internal option like Kendrick, with his 4.78 ERA, than an expensive veteran equivalent. He's a flawed, but adequate fifth starter for this team. If after four seasons Vance Worley is 34-23 with a 4.71 ERA like Kendrick, I'll eat my hat.
Hamels benefiting from performance specialist: CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury is the first to reveal Cole Hamels' secret weapon: a San Diego-based sports psychologist who's helped the left-hander get his mojo back. Read Salisbury's full article here before Fox and ESPN recycle it.
Lakewood wins Sally League title: Congratulations to the low-A Lakewood BlueClaws who beat Greenville 4-2 on Saturday afternoon to clinch their
second straight South Atlantic League title. The BlueClaws have won three titles in the last five
years. The Phillies Gulf Coast League team also won their league championship earlier this month.
[Jump to the newest comments]
BAP: you were chided because, along with not remembering what inning it was, declared the season "on life support" in the same post. Smart thinking.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:10 PM
Just realized this...
Not only is my week-old daughter wearing her Phillies onesie today, but she was born last Sunday afternoon. The Phillies haven't lost in her lifetime.
You're welcome, Beerleaguer.
Posted by: Bridoc10 | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:10 PM
"Good win by the Phils, but a cautionary note -- Atlanta's pitching staff isn't going to be quite this generous."
Yeah, and Atlanta also won't be facing Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton.
Posted by: Malcolm | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:11 PM
Phils, 41-15 over their last 56. 15-3 in September. 11-1 in their last 12. 7 game curent winning streak.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:11 PM
Jack - I hope you are right. I would love to look stupid and see Werth go wild in Sept & Oct
Posted by: Slocs | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:12 PM
Yo. New thread, kids.
Posted by: Bridoc10 | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:12 PM
Werth claimed the other night to have made an adjustment after watching videos. It certainly seems like things are coming together for him.
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Guess I picked the wrong time to go to the store and miss the 9th inning.
Anyone know a good blog that recaps games using painfully unfunny humor and fictitious dialog? I'd like to think I understand what I just read about what might or might not have actually happened.
Posted by: Lincoln Hawkes | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:13 PM
H2O2, better known as Hydrogen Peroxide, heals all wounds...
Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt, Offense
Posted by: kilbillrain | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:14 PM
"Atlanta's pitching staff isn't going to be quite this generous."
Mike Minor, last 3 starts, ERA of 9.00.
Jair Jurrjens has an ERA of 7.09 in his last 5 games.
Not too worried abou those starters, you know?
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:14 PM
Clearly, the endless thread/argument about Werth's AVG with RISP did the job
Posted by: phlipper | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:15 PM
Watching the Eagles between innings is like watching the Phillies from 10 years ago.
Posted by: WillyFromPhilly | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 05:16 PM
"H2O2, better known as Hydrogen Peroxide, heals all wounds..."
Just an FYI, while hydrogen peroxide is very good at killing bacteria and preventing infection it actually significantly slows healing time. It kills as many white bloodcells and as much healthy tissue as it does bad.
Posted by: Lincoln Hawkes | Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 07:36 PM