Preview: The Phillies haven't lost a road series since their interleague set in Seattle on June 19. They'll try for their ninth-straight road series win when they send Roy Halladay (15-5, 2.53) to the mound Sunday in DC. First pitch is 1:35 with Chien-Ming Wang (2-2, 4.41) scheduled for the Nationals. Halladay, of course, has never lost to the Nationals / Expos dating back to 2004. Doc took the complete-game loss his last start in a game that featured plenty of second guessing about Charlie Manuel's decision to let Halladay keep pitching the ninth. Statistically, Halladay is having his worst month; opponents are hitting .294 against Halladay in August, but his strikeout numbers have been solid (25 in 22 1-3 innings).
Standings: The Braves (75-52) have kept pace and continue to ride the hot bat of Dan Uggla, who homered twice in the Braves' 8-1 win over the Diamondbacks Saturday. They're tied with Milwaukee for the second-best record in the National League and are 7.5 games behind the Phils in the National League East. The Diamondbacks and Giants have each struggled on their roadtrips. Milwaukee is red hot right now.
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ahhh, back from vacation. did i miss anything?
nice segment on the Sports Reporters about the Phils. Lupica was claiming that the Phils are perhaps the biggest draw in all of baseball right now. nice!
Posted by: conshy matt | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Any BLers headed to CBP South today? In section 135..
Posted by: Hope SE | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:38 AM
It's a great day to beat the Wang
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Do I need to repost something about beating Wang ?
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Re: "yayberry". I was an early and rabid advocate of what I saw as JMJ's raw baseball skills (speed, amazingly graceful center field play; good power when he made contact). I often cited his opening day walk-off hit as "proof" that he was good at baseball (SSS???!!!).
Then he got sent down. When I whined about that, as I am wont to do, b_a_p admonished me for my lament; citing Mayberry's 2,000 undistinguished PAs in the minor leagues. Undeterred, I kept whining, and JMJ came back with a new swing and began to hit for extra bases -- frequently. The rest is SSS history.
I'm stuck -- JMJ has to be Werth 2.0; I've staked my tiny little Beerleaguer reputation on it. Regardless, he's a nice player who is likely speeding up Raul's confrontation with his baseball mortality at this very moment.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:02 AM
rauls granpda: You don't want to overdo the Wang beating. You could go blind that way.
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Grandpa, Grandma is not going to be happy about you thinking about beating Wang this afternoon.
Posted by: Lake Fred | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:07 AM
i believe it is the beatee who goes blind, not the beater.
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Saw a good explanation on last thread about why the Phils cut Cust: To give him a chance to hook up with another team. He also may have had a clause in his deal that said the Phils had to decide by certain date if they'll put him on the roster when they expand.
Cust's signing coincided with Brandon Moss turning red hot. His OPS is now up to .880 and unlike Cust, Moss, who's also LH, can run and field. His power is decent.
Best guess? The Phils decided to add Moss to the MLB roster and, out of courtesy to the vet, let him know he wouldn't make the team. He asked to be freed to sign with another team and they granted his wish.
It will be interesting to see if Moss is recalled before Aug. 31 so he'll be eligible for post-season.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:23 AM
You guys and your innuendo. It's too early for Old Phan, or he'd be part of your circle.
Anyway...
Good to see a superior outing by Oswalt. And I have a feeling Doc's gonna be super motivated today after his last outing.
Posted by: Kutztown Fan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I hope Hunter jacks Wang over the fence
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:27 AM
If Wang gets hitters in the hole early, he could go deep into the game. Either way, based on the forecast, sounds like he's going to get wet.
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM
hib to the jib
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Wang will be sticking it middle-in to batters topday
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Exactly what I come here for. Mature, well informed baseball talk.
Posted by: Mike G | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Wang!
/snickers
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Wang hanging low on the sinkerballs
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:37 AM
I'm glad there are not wide receivers or tight ends in baseball.
Posted by: A-Train | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Wang trying to backdoor the slider down and hard
Posted by: The hook | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:40 AM
I'm anticipating a Wang vs Bush clash in September.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Hopefully, Wang doesn't get cocky and try to put the hard stuff under anybody's chin, but if he does, I hope they smack him raw.
Posted by: cjp | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:45 AM
I've heard Wang swings a big stick.
Posted by: Sam | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Wang may go high and hard, hoping that Phils batters will chase
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Wheels has decided to take himself out of the booth today. He hasn't been embarrassed of a situation like this since his wife made him go to Hoover "Darn"
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Speaking of Wang, has anybody seen this http://www.thefightins.com/meechone/wilson-valdez-and-his-crotch-grabbing-pre-ab-dance-move/
so good!
Posted by: gobaystars!! | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Oh Boy.
Posted by: Sarge | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:55 AM
gobaystars!!: I'm as disturbed by it today as I was last night.
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:57 AM
I hope it becomes his signature move and Fox/ESPN talk about it the way they talked about the Nomar batting glove ritual.
Posted by: gobaystars!! | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Wilson mentioned that he was overly excited or overanxious during that AB in the star-of-game interview.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:03 PM
More "perfectly innocent" gangland style violence with San Fran and Oakland fans barely getting coverage today.
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Moss has flown under the radar all season even though he's probably LV's MVP. I like the idea of adding him and I bet he'll get a couple starts in September if the Phils remain well ahead of the Braves.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Here's my mini-scouting report on Brandon Moss:
Drafted 8th round by Red Sox out of HS in GA, he didn't show much his first two seasons in A ball. But in the Sally League at age 20 he had a breakout year, .917 OPS, and was the league MVP.
That got him on the prospect radar and he peaked at #72 on BA's Top 100 list in 2005.
He showed moderate power, a strong throwing arm, but below-average speed and a propensity to strike out. He wound up repeating both Double A and Triple A, mostly due to the strikeouts, but he improved each time.
He made the Red Sox out of ST in 2008 and was hitting .295 as a backup when they dealt him to the Pirates in a 3-way deal with the Dodgers that sent Jason Bay to the Sox, Manny to LA and Andy LaRoche to Pitts.
Another terrible Pirates trade.
The Pirates gave him more P.T. and he became exposed as a guy who didn't walk enough to offset a low BA and struck out in bushels. This was confirmed in 2009 when he started 95 games at the corner OF spots while posting a 19.8% K rate and 8% BB rate with little power (.364 SLG).
He spent most of 2010 in Trip A and then became a 6-year minor league free agent, signed by the Phillies.
At LV he's still striking out a lot, but he's walking more (12.7%) and hitting for more power (.245 ISO).
Despite his lack of speed, he's a savvy OF who knows how to position himself (thus a +8 career UZR150) and has a good arm.
An upgrade over Gload?
Certainly a question worth asking.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Moss has really grown on me.
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Me.
Posted by: Wang | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:27 PM
It says something about the discourse on this board when "hib to the jib" is the most mature thing posted. Yet I'm still laughing. That Wilson Valdez video has gotta be part of the year end review. Anyway to splice that next to Hoppy Whiteside's dance merged into his face plant?
On a more serious note, the Moss theories are intriguing....
Posted by: Kutztown Fan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:31 PM
I'm looking forward to a classic Sarge-ism today.
"Howard jerks off the pitch from Wang!"
Posted by: Scotch Man | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Moss is one of these guys who was once pretty highly regarded, but kind of fizzled out and is now at the age where conventional wisdom holds that he's too old for meaningful improvement. Except that sometimes conventional wisdom is wrong and 27 or 28-year olds do meaningfully improve like, say, John Mayberry or Michael Morse. So what the hay. I'm all for giving him a shot. It's not like Gload is doing anything to help us.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Good read on Pence:
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110821_Hunter_Pence_s_road_to_the_majors.html?viewAll=y
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Wang has no chance today.
He should just pull out now.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Some of this humor is pretty half-cocked.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 12:54 PM
After the Phillies beat Wang,Wang will be inserted into the Nats bullpen
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:01 PM
Zolecki (via Twitter): "We've got lightning and thunder in the distance at Nationals Park. Dubee must be a little nervous with Halladay set to pitch."
Yippee.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:02 PM
It's gon' rain:
Current NEXRAD Image
I'm fairly certain an acute case of drippy Wang is a bad thing. Luckily, there's a Doctor in the house.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:03 PM
I have a bone to pick with whoever started this thread.
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:04 PM
I noticed Flores is starting today - does he usually receive Wang?
Posted by: DH Phils | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:04 PM
et tu, bap?
Posted by: CJ | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:05 PM
et three, CJ?
Posted by: Old Phan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:08 PM
DH Phils: I believe Wang deflowered Flores some time ago.
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:09 PM
If weather becomes an issue, Johnson might need to jerk Wang early. Could be a messy afternoon.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:12 PM
Whiskey tango foxtrot?
Posted by: cut_fastball | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Remember when Wang was considered the next Johnson in NY?
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Wouldn't "yank" work better there?
Odds are with our offense, Johnson will be furiously yanking Wang in short order anyway.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:21 PM
NEPP: Far be it from me to tell Davey how to handle his Wang.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Wouldn't it make more sense to "start" Herndon in case of an early rain delay again?
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:32 PM
I just want to say that I hate Michael Morse's batter's box ritual. Makes me want to see him get hit in the hip. I know he hasn't batted in 15 hours. My doctor says too much caffeine makes me irritable.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Will the Phils be able to pull balls off Wang?
Posted by: BNG | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Hugh,
Don't you mean hib to the jib?
Posted by: rauls grandpa | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:40 PM
It's good to have Vic back.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:40 PM
Did Chase Utley always hit this many lazy faly balls to left field?
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:42 PM
Speaking of which, Vic could've stolen 2B at least 3 times already. I'm not sure what the hesitation is.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Sh8t, Pence hits it right to Wong.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Ugh. Just get a damn leadoff batter out once in awhile, Roy. Please. I'm begging you.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Ugh.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:53 PM
Why is Halladay already sweating like it's the 8th inning?
Posted by: Marv | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Look like we're in for another episode of "Halladay Gets Stern With The Plate Ump" between innings.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:56 PM
I AM GETTING STEAMED!!!!!
I AM GETTING STEAMED!!!!!
I AM GETTING STEAMED!!!!!
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:56 PM
Jerry Meals is notorious for calling a poor strike zone.
He's living up to his reputation today.
Still, Doc is off so far.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 01:58 PM
TMac about Werth: "There were times last year where he didn't hit well with runners in scoring position."
Yeah, it was called the entire season.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Charlie gets tossed early this afternoon.
Posted by: Meyer | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Doc, stop yelling at other players and the umpire, and start getting the batters out.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:03 PM
That had nothing to do w/ Meals. I only saw 1, maybe 2 Pitches of the 27 Pitches Halladay threw called incorrectly. 27 Pitches (20 Strikes, 7 Balls). He's just getting hit.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Would anybody else like to get Doc some rest? Or shortened outings? See if he can recharge for the postseason?
How many games left to clinch a playoff berth?
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:06 PM
GBrettfan: I don't know about the Wild Card, but the Magic Number for the NL East is 30 coming into today, w/ the Phils & Braves having a combined 73 Games left to play.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:08 PM
As much as Espinosa is supposed to be the better fielder than Desmond, I seem to see him drop balls, and slip in the field more often than his middle infield counterpart.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Love you, Chooch!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:09 PM
CHOOOOOOOOOCH!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:09 PM
If I were a Nats fan, I'd be fantasizing about Jimmy Rollins at short next year.
Posted by: gjs | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:10 PM
could that have been the worst home run call of all time? wow.
Posted by: Dukes | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:10 PM
bandbox
(suck it Nats announcers!)
Posted by: Jim | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Magic Number for playoffs is 22.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:11 PM
In TBag's defense, I thought that had no chance of being a home run off the bat.
Posted by: krukker | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Thanks, GTown...30 games still? ATL needs to start losing some so we can give Halladay & Lee a bit of a respite.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Ok. 22 sounds better. But we don't only want a playoff spot, we want top seed, now that I think about it.
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:15 PM
When you gut to the chase, Wang is likely to shrivel under pressure
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Thanks, by the way, Fata.
Which is more advantageous...Home field advantage, or a rested rotation/team? Is it worth sacrificing (potentially) some wins to get some rest for our guys? Or is the whole lotsa innings/pitches thing overblown?
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:19 PM
In other news, Giants closer Brian Wilson DLed. Too bad....for them! I hope he stays there until ST.
Posted by: Lake Fred | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:19 PM
GBrett, we're probably going to clinch the best record in the NL with about 2 weeks left in the regular season.
We'll get a chance to rest the regulars.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:21 PM
By the way, John Mayberry Jr. has a higher OPS/OPS+ than Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Of course, though, he's on the bench today while our regular with the second lowest OPS on the field (only worsted by Mini-Mart), who's a poor defender, is manning LF.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Great. Looks like J-Roll hurt himself on that throw last inning.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Those of you who want to see Mini-Mart and Valdez on the field at the same time to determine the 'Who sucks more?' debate, you might be getting your wish here soon.
Posted by: Iceman | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Crap on the JRoll wince.
Isn't it great to feel like we're bound to clinch best record with time to spare?
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Nice HR!!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Utley pounds Wang
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Yay, Chase!!
Posted by: GBrettfan | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Rollins is out of the game.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:33 PM
Franzke: "With Wang on the mound you don't need to struggle to find a way to squeeze in a station ID."
L.A.: "You can do it in the middle of his wind-up."
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:35 PM
I don't think I can handle an injury to Jimmy Rollins right now.
Posted by: phargo | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Let me first state the following, & w/ emphasis: I do not wish injury upon ANY Phillies player.
That said, why is it never, say, Raul Ibañez who has to leave the game?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:37 PM
What happened to Jimmy?
Posted by: Bigot-to | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:39 PM