Catcher Carlos Ruiz returns from the disabled list tonight when the 24-12 Phillies open a weekend set with the 21-18 Atlanta Braves. Cole Hamels and Brandon Beachy have the honors.
Ruiz, who was finally placed on the DL on May 8 with a lower back strain, returns to the offensively-challenged 8-hole following a brief rehab in Clearwater. Chooch, unfortunately, has been part of the problem, however, hitting just .226/.310/.371 in the opening month of the season. His last action came Apr. 27. … At 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA, Hamels has worked himself into the early, early Cy Young discussions and has stumbled in only a handful of bad moments all season. Beachy, meanwhile, is looking to improve an already fine 1-1, 2.98 line tonight starting at 7:35.
Lineups are in: Rollins, Victorino, Polanco, Howard, Francisco, Ibanez, Orr, Ruiz.
[Jump to the newest comments]
Welcome back, Chooch!
(and thanks JW for a Phils shot in the header of the Game Thread; this already feels like a win)
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:09 PM
I'm not worried about Chooch. He will start hitting.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:11 PM
LETS DO THIS!!
Posted by: Jay | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:21 PM
I'm not sure we can expect Chooch to just jump in and start hitting - But we can always hope.
I think as much as "Ruiz hoping to reignite bottom of lineup" may be true, it is equally true that Phillies fans are hoping he'll provide a spark.
It's a good night for a win with Cole on the mound. Go Phillies!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:35 PM
"I'm not worried about Chooch. He will start hitting."
And, if he doesn't, we've got highly capable backups in Schneider and Sardinha.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:44 PM
I'm strapping in for an endless barrage of discussion about run differential and win-loss record for the next 5 hours or so, coupled with cleverly placed sarcastic comments containing the word "scary."
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Dumb luck brought Britton his out pitch
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AlzyqG74XZJVe4t160iXnPE5nYcB?slug=jp-passan_zach_britton_sinker_rookie_ace_orioles_051211
Cool article on Britton on the O's and how rare it is to have a LHP who relies upon a sinker as his out pitch.
Posted by: MG | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:45 PM
BAP, Tuffy never even stood a chance this season, did he? :(
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:46 PM
Rain Rain stay away,plz let our phillies play!!
Posted by: Jay | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:47 PM
Pedro Feliz is back in the big time!
Signs deal with Camden Riversharks. I'm guess Camden had a lefty/righty platoon that would have done better had they stood pat.
Posted by: CJ | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:47 PM
I saw a few days ago that Lackey has been pitching poorly and sounds distracted by his wife's cancer - It was all news to me. How sad.
And I just saw this, again in the sidebar for HardballTalk (which is also where I noticed the Lackey story):
* * ** * *
Harmon Killebrew: “My battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end”
Aaron Gleeman May 13, 2011, 11:19 AM EDT
21 Comments
Hall of Famer and Twins great Harmon Killebrew has entered into hospice care following unsuccessful treatments for esophageal cancer and issued a very sad and equally brave statement:
It is with profound sadness that I share with you that my continued battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end. With the continued love and support of my wife, Nita, I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease. My illness has progressed beyond my doctors’ expectation of cure.
I have spent the past decade of my life promoting hospice care and educating people on its benefits. I am very comfortable taking this next step and experiencing the compassionate care that hospice provides. I am comforted by the fact that I am surrounded by my family and friends. I thank you for the outpouring of concern, prayers and encouragement that you have shown me. I look forward to spending my final days in comfort and peace with Nita by my side.
Damn.
Devastating news, especially since the initial reports about his treatment were so encouraging months ago. Killebrew is one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history, ranking fifth all time with 573 homers when he retired in 1975, but is also universally regarded as one of the nicest superstars of all time and is beloved by Twins fans and Minnesotans. Here’s hoping he finds some peace in his final days.
* * * * *
Amen to that.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:48 PM
Sad news on Killebrew.
Lackey has had a really rough go of things lately. Hopefully all his off the field stuff works out well and he is able to focus on pitching again.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:52 PM
Cancer is a vicious and inexorable foe. I've lost my father and my aunt to it, and my stepdad has been nearly incapacitated after his battle with cancer.
My heart goes out to the Killebrew and Lackey families.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 06:59 PM
WP: I'll go out on a limb: Tuffy will play for the Phillies at some point in 2012.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:00 PM
There was a fangraphs article on the Lackey situation that was published yesterday or today...some of the comments made make you wonder about humanity sometimes.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Marlins out to a 3-0 lead over the Nats in the first.
Posted by: CJ | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:22 PM
Welcome back Chooooch!!!
Let's go Phils!!
Posted by: BloodStripes | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:29 PM
At least the Phils can get out of Miami and those incredibly sparse crowds...
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:32 PM
NEPP, agreed.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Anyone know if the Play Station network is up and running for the mlb.tv app yet?
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Come on, Big Piece!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:41 PM
15 games for vic....
Posted by: Jay | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:41 PM
41 more to go...
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:42 PM
If the first inning is any indication, this offense seems to function much better with Carlos Ruiz in it.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Contract! Bandbox!
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Kabooooom!!!
Big Piece
Posted by: BloodStripes | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Brandon Beachy may be a great pitcher, but he just threw an absolute meatball.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Big Man!
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Run Differential!
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:44 PM
All the Howard haters back off
Posted by: The hook | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:44 PM
It's like old-time Phillies baseball! Way to come up big, Big Piece! Kudos to Vic & Polly, too.
Cole - They got you some runs!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:44 PM
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the lineup is supposed to work.
Big Piece!!!
Posted by: philwynk | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:44 PM
This kid Beachy is good
Posted by: BloodStripes | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:45 PM
When did hitting season begin? I forgot to flip my calendar.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:45 PM
BIG PIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jay | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:45 PM
Holy cow, do the Braves have somebody up in the bullpen? Beachy does not seem to have it tonight...
Posted by: philwynk | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:45 PM
I like this Beachy kid.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:47 PM
I hope they can get another run or two out of this inning. They have Beachy on the ropes, and hopefully they can land the knockout blow.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Man, this Beachy fellow stinks. Even Ibañez has a Hit.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:48 PM
MAN I HOPE THE RAIN STAYS AWAY!
Posted by: Jay | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:48 PM
What's Beachy's pitch count at?
Posted by: Andrew | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:49 PM
Ruiz already getting the respect he deserves. Too bad Cole has a better OPS than Ruiz so far this year.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Andrew: he's over 30, before the IBB
Posted by: cjp | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Welcome back, Chooch. Now take your base.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Good eye, Chooch!
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Please, please, please someone fire Wheeler and TMac.
They grate on my soul.
Posted by: LNM | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Beachy's at 36 pitches after that IBB.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:51 PM
They're walking Chooch to get to the Phillies' best hitter.
Posted by: philwynk | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:51 PM
That's unfortunate. They could have essentially put this game away with a few more runs.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:52 PM
When's the last time Cole had a 3 run lead to work with? He won't know what to do.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Cole swings a bat before he pitches. Hot start Phils.
Posted by: BloodStripes | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Move yer damn feet, Prado!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:55 PM
What a wonderful top half of the inning.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:55 PM
TheGoodPhight (via Twitter): "Howard hits so many home runs because of that bandbox in Philadelphia."
word.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:56 PM
Corey Seidman (via Twitter): "Ryan Howard, career: 128 HR at home, 134 homers on the road."
SAID.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
no hd feed for phl17 tonight? wtf
Posted by: johnnysanz3 | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
That was an odd throw.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Damnit.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
What the hell was that? That was hilarious...
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
C'mon, Phils. No more sloppy defense.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Wow, Hamels imploding.
Posted by: Ron Jones | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Damn. That sucks.
Posted by: Andrew | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:58 PM
One of those games?
Posted by: Matt | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Chipper's just a Phillies killer, no two ways about it.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Braves' announcers talking about Ibanez having no arm in left.
Posted by: Ron Jones | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 07:59 PM
It's pretty common for the second baseman to cover first on bunt plays. Between that and the fact that he rushed himself, it looked like was throwing to Orr. Unfortunately Orr was only backing up the play, not covering first.
Posted by: krukker | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Be a good time for a K.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Series finale of "smallville" instead of the hd feed of phillies game tonight =(
how that show lasted 10 years or whatever is beyond me
Posted by: johnnysanz3 | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Uggla putting together a good at bat.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Huge K there.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Hamels throwing a lot of curves tonight.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Great job by Cole there.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:04 PM
That's better Cole.
Posted by: BloodStripes | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Freddie free pull a chair like that overrated
Ugly
Posted by: The hook | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:05 PM
SIT DOWN MEAT!
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Jimmy's a flyout to CF away from the cycle.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Beachy already at 54 pitches. Get a hit here, and he probably doesn't even go 5 tonight.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:13 PM
If this game follows the usual script, they'll still be at 3 runs by the time the 9th inning rolls around.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Hopefully we will have held the Braves to 1 run too and Madson is getting his 6th Save.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:15 PM
Lost your bat, Alex.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:17 PM
If this game follows the usual script, they'll still be at 3 runs by the time the 9th inning rolls around.
Posted by: (The glass is always half full) bay_area_phan
Posted by: Mike | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:17 PM
Hamels has settled in nicely.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Did Beachy hurt himself swinging the bat?
Posted by: Matt | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Who's injured?
Posted by: philwynk | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:23 PM
pitcher...
Posted by: Jay | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:25 PM
I think someone forgot to unscramble the letters in this guy's first name.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:28 PM
ben francisco + plate discipline would = a .300 hitter
Posted by: awh | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:31 PM
That's our 5-6-7 hitters, folks!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:31 PM
That was brutal...and fairly predictable. This is where random reliever gives the opposition a yeoman's effort of 3 scoreless innings to keep his club in the game.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:32 PM
Yep, it's starting to look like a typical Phillies game. A few quick runs, followed by a hideously squandered opportunity, followed by 8 innings of sheer haplessness.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Here's an idea--let's keep throwing high fastballs to Prado.
Posted by: Matt | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Utley is 1 for 3 with a single so far in Clearwater.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Man, if Hamels can make that curve more than a show me pitch, watch out.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Nice! Ruiz looked pretty healthy on that throw.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Yay, Chooch!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Awesome DP. Good stuff!
Posted by: BloodStripes | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Another strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP!
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:39 PM
That was nice.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:40 PM
BAP, I thought the typical Phillies game is when they don't score at all. I'm confused.
Posted by: Old Phan | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Welcome back, Chooch.
Posted by: philwynk | Friday, May 13, 2011 at 08:40 PM