Cliff Lee (4-4, 3.50) hopes to collect just his second road win when the Phillies pass the halfway point of their nine-game road trip tonight in balmy Washington. First pitch is 7:05. Jason Marquis (5-2, 4.26) goes for the Nats.
Beerleaguer: Despite some easier opposition lately, tip your cap to the Phils for pushing the rock up the hill during this stretch of 20 games without an off day, which included some rather tough opposition and a rash of injuries. They’re 10-8 over that span following Monday’s comeback with a much-needed break coming Thursday. After that, the Phils should basically be back to 100 percent for the first time this season, with Brad Lidge the only notable exception. … While the bats have generally heated up (more longballs, more production, in general, from the 5-through-8 holes), pitching continues to be a stabilizing force, and although Cliff Lee will tell you that he needs to keep the ball out of the middle of the plate, he’s still among the league’s best in terms of strikeouts and K/BB ratio. … Earlier today, it was announced that Kyle Kendrick will fill Saturday’s TBA against the Pirates. Raise your hand if you assumed, as I did, that Kendrick would be back in the rotation this season for one reason or another. Say what you want about KK, but it's nice having that kind of failsafe. … Trending topics from the Memorial Day holiday: Domonic Brown (9-for-28) starts again tonight, which makes it 8-of-the-last-10. Shane Victorino’s return will decide whether Brown is officially a member of the starting nine, at least against righties. Meanwhile, John Mayberry just hasn’t had the same offensive impact as a starter as he’s had as a bench player. Although his glove has shined, he’s hitting just .221 as a starter with a pair of homers.
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Lidge fastball was only at 87 mph today. Please stay away we don't need that batting practice flat stuff taking a spot away from others.
Posted by: The hook | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:03 PM
Really hoping for one of those signature starts from C. Lee tonight. But it's nice to see an offense coming through when needed recently.
Posted by: CJ | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:03 PM
Here's hoping Lee has his tilt properly aligned tonight.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:07 PM
The hook: Lidge is weeks away from rejoining the team. I don't think 87 is so bad considering he's only really started throwing.
Posted by: CJ | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Ah, the patented Jimmy Rollins 2 Pitch Out.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:10 PM
Polanco starts off with a hit. Nobody is surprised.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:11 PM
Utley ... #facepalm
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:12 PM
This team is full of idiots.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:13 PM
10 pitches for four batters. Great patience.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Given the way Domonic Brown runs his routes, I'd say he made an excellent career decision when he chose baseball over becoming a wide recevier at Miami U.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Nice catch by Brown.
Werth definitely has some prickish-ness about him and is proving that he is not worth the huge $$$ he got, but it still seems bizarre seeing him in a non-Phillies uniform.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:20 PM
GTown Dave: Yep... best record in baseball. Imagine where they'd be if the players weren't "idiots!"
Posted by: CJ | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:21 PM
BAP, it also doesn't hurt that he'll be able to walk when he's 60.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:21 PM
Given Brown's tortured stance, though, he may not be able to walk at 60.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:23 PM
Mayberry needs to swing. Both these pitches were hittable pitches...
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:26 PM
Fatalotti,
Not according to the Nats announcers. They say he would have broken his bad and his foot. And who are we to disagree?
Posted by: daveoutoftown | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:27 PM
Of the the three strikes Mayberry saw, he swung at the worst one.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:28 PM
For a guy who swings as rarely as he does, it's surprising that Mayberry doesn't walk more often.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Let the dink/dunks begin.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:34 PM
A DP would be nice here.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:34 PM
was Wheels just talking about BABIP?
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:36 PM
classic Idiot 6-4-3.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:37 PM
4-6-3. sorry.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:38 PM
conshy, indeed he was.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Wonder what's up with Utley and the tape on his hand...???
Posted by: Scott | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:40 PM
well, fat, there's a first time for everything.
i hope he never brings up WAR. i'd hate for Tmac to break out his Edwin Starr impression.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:44 PM
Looks like our real offense showed up tonight, instead of those resaonably competent hitters that have been wearing our uniforms for the last few days.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:45 PM
I would, however, love to hear Sarge take on that classic rack. :-)
Posted by: Mick O | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:46 PM
BAP: I know. If they don't get at least 4 runs off Marquis....
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:48 PM
I'm not watching this game on TV, but per MLB gameday it looks like they are hitting at will off of Lee. Are they lacing the ball or are these lucky drops?
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:50 PM
No Tilt, No Offense, Game Over.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:55 PM
I left my desk for 30 seconds. I come back and they have 5 runs.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:56 PM
Well, how much of a bat could we have gotten for 120 million? =P
Posted by: johnnysanz3 | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:56 PM
WTF Lee?!?!?
Posted by: SLO Phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:57 PM
This sucksd.
Posted by: They Call Me The King Of The Bop | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:57 PM
how much is bartolo colon making?
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:58 PM
I am not happy.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Is Lee hurt or something?
This isn't the same pitcher that was here in 2009.
Maybe all the innings have caught up with him?
Posted by: denny b. | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Here's what the inning looked like:
Bunt single
Bunt into force (mighta been a DP with a better throw from Lee)
Looping opposite field single
Walk
Sac fly from $126 man
Broken bat ground single in the hole at 3rd
3 run HR, hanging non tilt pitch
Walk
Posted by: EastFallowfield | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:59 PM
This is also why it's nice to have Kendrick in the bullpen & not the rotation. Lots of dead innings to fill tonight, & no one to fill them.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 07:59 PM
GTown: Meet our new inning eater, Mike Zagurski.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:01 PM
b_a_p: Great. Joe Blanton, Jr.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:04 PM
GT Dave-
They could have kept Worley up and let him strrrrrreetch things out tonight out of the pen.
Posted by: denny b. | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:05 PM
make romero go 5.
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Just a brutal AB by Howard - up 2-0, swung at slop.
Posted by: curt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Lee has now walked as many (18) in 77 innings of work this year, as he did in ALL of 2010 (212 innings).
What's up with that?
Posted by: denny b. | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Raul's Grandpa better keep my name out of his mexican mouth. Ha ha ha
Posted by: Barry Bonds | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Well Zagurski is good for an inning or two today.
Posted by: Scotch Man | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:09 PM
denny: Don't know, but that's definitely at the epicenter of his problems.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:09 PM
Just fold the franchise while '08 is still fairly fresh in our memories. Even though we're in first place and all.
Posted by: Scotch Man | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:13 PM
nats announcers should definately be included on the fantasy plane crash team.
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:15 PM
(
1 Cliff Lee <> pinpoint control [or]
2 squeezed by umps
3 = meatballs
4 If pinpoint control [or] "generous ump", End
5 Goto 1
End
)
Posted by: cut_fastball | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:15 PM
Scotch Man actually has a pretty solid idea. I'm for it.
Wes: How many seats on this plane?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Brown sucks so bad.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:20 PM
The rally: she begins.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:21 PM
D8mmit, when is Brown going to be ready for the bigs. Send him back down!
Posted by: jbird | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Definitely not ready!
Posted by: Demon Nick Brown | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Brown's kinda looking like a different player than the last time he was called up. Except for his defense, which remains as terrible as it was last year.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:22 PM
I'm perfectly fine never seeing Francisco ever again.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Mayberry and Brown are the heart of this team.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:23 PM
#7 & #8 go back to back. lol
Posted by: curt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Maybe RFD "tweaked" his swing...
Posted by: Mick O | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:25 PM
2nd G-Town
Posted by: Scotch Man | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:25 PM
gtown- plenty available. larussa is the pilot, reyes is the co-pilot, braves announcers are also up front.
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Cholly has a boner.
This young outfield is set for the foreseeable future. These two guys can hit. He has no need for BenFran or Raul next year.
Yeah, it sucks that they are losing tonight. But, DB and RFD have looked great this week. And they are giants.
Thinking RFD jersey for the 3 year-old.
Posted by: birds | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Brown and Mayberry go back to back. That's basically a wet dream for 2009 Beerleaguer!
Posted by: Jim | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:27 PM
I think someone should investigate the suspicious case of a certain Not Ready hitter who suddenly looks very ready.
Posted by: Tray | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:27 PM
little brown is finding his way.
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Barry,
You ignorant juicing Mf-er. Right church, wrong pew.
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Dom Brown...NOT READY
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Lee is one big disappoint thus far. His ERA will be near 4 after tonite. Sad, sad, sad.
Posted by: basil fomeen | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:44 PM
Cliff Lee - Now 3.84 ERA
Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon - 3.26 ERA
Cliff Lee - $11M salary in '11
Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon - $2.4M salary in '11
Victory is mine!
Posted by: Brian Cashman | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:49 PM
mick-0 - i caught that. funny.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:49 PM
Now 3.95 ERA and rising. Haha.
Posted by: Brian Cashman | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:50 PM
That's 3 HR for Espinosa in 2 games vs. Halladay & Lee. Who the f*ck is this guy?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:51 PM
So I just read Jason's post about Zagurski and got to the lines about Halladay and Lee being hit harder than usual as Espinosa crushed his second HR. Oh well.....
Posted by: Bill Moraca | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Are the big 4 giving up more homeruns on the road than in our bandbox?
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:52 PM
I cant wait for Cliff Lee to go on a hot streak and shut everyone up. He does this crap every year where he's mediocre for 10 games or so and then is suddenly unhittable. He's a big game pitcher and he'll rock the opposition soon enough.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:52 PM
gtown - espinosa's the one with the low BABIP which Wheels was saying should improve. it's improving before our very eyes. ugh.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:53 PM
Nice to see Mayberry HR been his power has been lacking. Only a 3 HRs in 99 ABs and a .384 SLG.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:54 PM
For the record, as I had to cut out earlier today during the PED debate that I kinda started...
Are my suspicions of Bautista fair? No, probably not but in the post-steroid era, every sudden increase in power is suspicious to me whether its justified or not. Sucks for him and it sucks for the game but that's just how it is.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Yeah everybody has their disappointing starts but to get tagged for 6 ER by this group of rag tag starters? Weak sauce.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:55 PM
this is getting tiresome.i'm not really feeling it for tomorrow either.
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:57 PM
rauls grandpa: '11 HR Breakdown (inc. this game)
Halladay - 1 Home, 4 Road
Lee - 3 Home, 5 Road
Hamels - 4 Home, 1 Road
Oswalt - 2 Home, 0 Road
Total - 10 Home, 10 Road
All Pitchers - 20 Home, 16 Road
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:57 PM
Lee just having a bad month...thank god its June in about 3 hours
Posted by: philly_jack | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 08:58 PM
i like this stutts....i think he could be our future closer in another year or two....anyone else's thoughts?
Posted by: Jack McHugh | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:01 PM
I would say possible setup man but most likely Durbin level middle to late reliever in pressure spots.
His control issues are a bit much for a closer.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Looking for a two-run HR by Mayberry now.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:04 PM
Actually, Lee's May ERA was 2.98 in 42.1 IP coming into tonight's game (compare w/ Halladay's 3.00 ERA in 45 IP in May). Not so much a bad month as a bad game.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:04 PM
i like this dom brown...i think he could be our future RF in a year or two...anyone else's thoughts? will?
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:04 PM
Domonic Brown is the only reason to watch the rest of this game.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Lee ERA
April - 2-2, 4.11 ERA (5 GS)
May - 2-3?, 3.78 (7 GS)
That's two months of general mediocre results even though his K/9, K/BB, and xFIP are really strong.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Madson's the closer after he signs a hefty extension.
Posted by: Basil fomeen | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:05 PM
i agree w/ NEPP about Stutes. looks like a solid reliever, not back end though.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Dave - Lee has had 1 bad start this month (tonight), 2 really good starts, and 4 average/above average starts.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Will is MIA lately, wonder why?
Posted by: MS69 | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Dom Brown...NOT FREAKING READY!!!
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:07 PM
MG: I'll take it.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:08 PM
i say let's start brown..he's got nothing left to prove at the minor league level
Posted by: Jack McHugh | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:09 PM
stutts has some cockiness to him that will play well in the 8th. seems to be pretty fearless.
Posted by: wes covington | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 09:10 PM