Game chat: Hamels, Schneider pair as Chooch sits

Preview: Cole Hamels (1-1, 3.65) has the honors in his home town when the Phillies continue their series with Edinson Volquez (0-1, 4.24) and the Padres. First pitch is 10:05. Carlos Ruiz is out of the Phillies’ lineup Friday night with a sore and swollen left wrist reportedly suffered tagging Will Venable in the sixth inning Thursday night. So the Phils will go Pierre LF, Polanco 3B, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Victorino CF, Wigginton 1B, Galvis 2B, Schneider C. Juan Pierre, who had two of the Phillies' hits and also drew a walk in last night's 2-0 victory, is hitting .333 with a .353 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, John Mayberry Jr., who had a .931 second-half OPS in 2011, looks on. The Phillies have won 12-straight games at Petco Park. [Jump to the newest comments]

Comments

[Scotch Man]

Per @DavidHaleTNJ, 5 of the Padres 9 starters are hitting .214 and under so far this season. You know what that means...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddAi8FF3F4

[LET'S EAT]

i still donot get schneider's resigning

when we have an ADEQUATE sub catchers in LV

[schmenkman]

@GBrettFan (from previous thread):
"MG, the best thing Utley could do for the Phillies, if he can't come back and produce, is retire and free up his salary. We don't have to pay him if he retires, do we?"
---
The risk that a player might suffer a career-ending injury is exactly why they sign long term contracts. WHY would he choose to give that up?

Hopefully he can give the Phillies something close to his 2011 production, when he was still one of the best at his position.

[schmenkman]

"i still donot get schneider's resigning

when we have an ADEQUATE sub catchers in LV

Posted by: LET'S EAT"
---
From a previous thread...

1. Phils' pitchers are comfortable with Schneider
2. Schneider hits left-handed, so Ruiz can rest against selected righties
3. Kratz would not improve the offense significantly, if at all

Kratz' last 3 years' OPS in AAA:
.807, .875, .838

The major league equivalent version of the same 3 years:
.675, .729, .700(est)

Brian Schneider's last 3 years:
.627, .729, .502

However Schneider sees RHPs almost exclusively.

Kratz vs. RHPs (MLEs):
.589, .681, unavail

Schneider vs. RHPs:
.656, .820, .539

Source for MLEs: http://mlsplits.drivelinebaseball.com/mlsplits/playerinfo/456124

[bay_area_phan]

Any game in which Brian Schneider is in the lineup is a game which feels like a loss.

[schmenkman]

Bake: 6th straight division title

[GTown_Dave]

It's worth reiterating that Volquez is a BB machine. If ever there was a time for the Phillies to begin displaying even the slightest bit of plate discipline, tonight's the night.

[MG]

schmenkman - The Phils resigned Schneider because he came about as a veteran MLB catcher will come ($800k just slightly more than the veteran league minimum) and he knows the staff.

That's it. It had nothing to do with his offensive/defensive contributions at this point.

[LET'S EAT]

i don't want to look at the last 3 yrs, i want to look at this year.. even if its a small sample- i see what schneider is doing this yr

[schmenkman]

bap, I'm sure you know that feeling would have been wrong 27 out of 35 times last year.

(I know -- garbage stat. Just pulling your leg)

[GTown_Dave]

Not-So-Bold Prediction: the Flyers are gonna blow a 3-0 lead & lose their series.

[schmenkman]

MG -- I think you're right. But I think the rest shows why it's not that horrible a decision.

[bay_area_phan]

If those major league equivalents had even the slightest shred of validity, there would hardly be a player in the major leagues who ever posted an .800 OPS.

[MG]

Stat aside (and Schneider my bet ends up overall at the very bottom of overall performance among catchers this year in MLB)

Since the ASB last year, Cholly has made it a habit of routinely pulling Schneider late in games on Chooch's off-days. I have never seen another MLB manager do this. Even last week, LA added when Schneider got pulled late that he couldn't remember a manager routinely playing his starting catcher on his off-days either.

If this doesn't sweep volumes about how little Cholly value Schneider, I don't know what will.

He's bad even by backup catcher standards. Still have to play him though and give Chooch a rest though at least 1x/week. That's on Cholly for such foolish roster management.

[Mike G]

Wow......there's a suprise! GTown_Dave with a pessimestic prediction. Who would have thunk it!

[schmenkman]

LET'S EAT -- you only want to look at his last 6 at bats? Gotcha.

[LET'S EAT]

maynot be horrible -but it sure wasnt smart

[schmenkman]

bap, young players continue developing, which is why they post .800 OPS's in the majors. 32 year old career minor leaguers, not as much.

[MG]

All I know is if I am the Padres, I run every single chance I get against Hamels/Schneider.

Hamels has a terrible pickoff move for a LHP and Schneider can't throw anybody out anymore.

[MG]

Best LHP pickoff moves I have ever seen:

1A Petitte
1B Mulholland

Both were great

[schmenkman]

MG, are you saying that Amaro and Manuel strongly disagrees regarding bringing back Schneider? Not a crazy thought, just making sure that's what you mean.

[NEPP]

***Not-So-Bold Prediction: the Flyers are gonna blow a 3-0 lead & lose their series.***

One thing 3 decades of Flyers fandom has taught me: They will break your heart every damn time.

[LET'S EAT]

it was a dollars and cents decision- there were better FA catchers out there.. 6 AB's are not alot, but honestly - is a discussion about BS' production this worth this much time or effort.. my statement - was an example - a statement of frustration at some of RAJ's 2011 off-season signings. Nothing more. end of story

[GTown_Dave]

NEPP: Damn straight.

[GTown_Dave]

MG: Absolutely agree RE: Mulholland. Amazing move.

[MG]

schmenkman - Yeah I do. Cholly clearly prefers veteran players but it is the oddest thing he keeps taking Schneider out of games on Chooch's off-days.

If it happened once or twice, no big deal but it is something he did already once this season in a game they were down 4-0 at the time with 2 outs in the 7th.

Never seen a manager do something like that with his backup/starting catcher. Not even when Mirabelli returned to Boston who basically made his living for a few seasons as the Sox backup catcher simply because he caught Wakefield.

[GTown_Dave]

Nice. A BB followed up by a complete waste of an AB by Wigginton.

[Steve]

Might have missed it earlier, but why is Wigginton starting with a lefty on the mound?

[phatti]

Wow Galvis walked...
Steve, I think it's because he was something like 3-6 vs. Volquez previously. Not a small sample size or anything.

[NEPP]

****Might have missed it earlier, but why is Wigginton starting with a lefty on the mound?***

My guess is that UC is giving Mayberry the night off after his atrocity of a game last night. Despite the fact that LHP is the only pitching he should see at all.

Also, Galvis has a 1 game On-base streak going.

[Fatalotti]

At least Schneider hit the ball hard.

That's really all we can muster these days..celebration of rote fundamentals.

[NEPP]

Wigginton has never faced Volquez...per B-R.com

[GTown_Dave]

Good AB; Wiggington; Good AB; Schneider.

This kinda crap is the reason the Phillies have scored 2 runs or less in 8 of their 13 games.

[MG]

It is not frustrating to watch this lineup's lack of power. It is the utter amount of sheer crap they swing at.

Not a single guy in this lineup tonight who consistently works counts and doesn't chase offspeed stuff frequently. Not one.

[MG]

I will say that last inning though they did have a few ABs including Vic's where they did work some counts.

[NEPP]

Wow...what a terrible bunt attempt.

[MG]

Looked on Fan Graphs

Phils are the No. 1 in swinging at pitches out of the strike zone in MLB

34.1%

No. 2 in making contact at those pitches

72.4%

One of the key reasons why this teams makes weak outs by the truckload.

[GTown_Dave]

Halladay should also have purchased a fancy watch for Maybin. Probably the single biggest contributor to the Perfect Game after Roy himself.

[NEPP]

Colbert is coming up on 40 pitches.

[NEPP]

***No. 2 in making contact at those pitches

72.4%***

That is a terrible percentage.

[MG]

Neither starter is has much command early. Hopefully Hamels can get out of this unscahted.

[GBrettFan]

Whew!

[NEPP]

I wonder if the Pirates would give up Garret Jones for cheap? He'd be a nice fit as a LF/1B assuming Mayberry continues to be completely worthless.

okay power and okay offense at 2 positions we need.

[GBrettFan]

I think Hamels just challenged his teammates to man up at the plate.

[GTown_Dave]

Hamels w/ the best hit ball of the season for the Phillies ...

[Fatalotti]

The answer tot he trivia question is Adrian Gonzalez.

40 HR< 99 RBI in 2009

[NEPP]

Maybe Cole can play the field the 4 days a week he doesnt pitch?

[Fatalotti]

I don't care what you think of your pitcher, you don't bunt your leadoff hitter with a pitcher on the bases. This is just dumb.

[NEPP]

That ball is gone in CBP.

[MG]

"Hamels w/ the best hit ball of the season for the Phillies ..."

That's not schtick either. Nice to see the Phils get him in here.

[NEPP]

You dont bunt in this situation period. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[GTown_Dave]

Pierre is a dipsh*t.

[Fatalotti]

The Phillies deserve this. Maybe they'll learn to STOP BUNTING!

[NEPP]

Pierre=Terrible fundamentals.

[MG]

WTF. Bunting here with Pierre when he has been hot and this is a place ideal for him to bloop one in with the size of the OF.

Cholly has rocks in his head at times.

[Rob]

That's some fine umpiring there. Great to see they're on top of that whole inch out of the box bunt rule.

[MG]

BOOOOOO!

[NEPP]

You dont see that call very often but you cant complain about it..its in the rules.

[Fatalotti]

Keep swinging at garbage Polanco. You'e going to keep making weak outs. You should know this. You've only been playing baseball your whole life.

[GTown_Dave]

MG: I was dead serious. In this park, early in the season? Best hit ball I've seen from the Phillies this year.

[NEPP]

***That's some fine umpiring there. Great to see they're on top of that whole inch out of the box bunt rule.***

More like 1.5 feet out...and Pierre shouldnt be bunting there anyway.

[NEPP]

What kind of douche gets his face painted like that?

[MG]

yeah not complaining about the rules. Why the f@ck do you call for a bunt there with 2 strikes and it was called in from the dug out because Pierre looked at Samuel for the sign.

Ugh. How many innings this year is Cholly going to manage them out of a run possibly?

[NEPP]

***Keep swinging at garbage Polanco. You'e going to keep making weak outs. You should know this. You've only been playing baseball your whole life***

Professional Hitter

[Fatalotti]

Bob, whether it was an inch or a foot, he was out of the box. Shouldn't have been bunting in that situation. They asked for trouble, and they got it.

[GTown_Dave]

I've finally found a category in which the Phillies lead the league: Ignorance.

[MG]

Pitchers are going to keep pounding Polanco away with sliders especially until he lays off.

[Fatalotti]

Ugh. How many innings this year is Cholly going to manage them out of a run possibly?

Posted by: MG | Friday, April 20, 2012 at 10:55 PM

All I can say with certainty is: a lot more.

[GBrettFan]

That was sad.

[NEPP]

I really cant blame Hamels if/when he walks this off-season. This offense has never supported him and its not looking like it will get better next year given our budget issues and the lack of FAs or top prospects available.

I will really miss him though.

[MG]

I know it was a fastball but JRoll BBed on four straight pithces, Volquez is struggling with command all night, and Pence tries to kill it first pitch.

Ugh. What a terrible collection of situational hitters.

[Steve]

At some point a member of the rotation is going to lose his sh8t on the offense.

[NEPP]

Pence made great contact...it was just RIGHT at Hudson.

[Rob]

I agree--it was a totally lame call to bunt there. And those are the rules. Just can't believe that was the call--haven't seen that in 35 years of baseball watching.

[NEPP]

What will Chase Headley cost us at the deadline?

May, Brown and another piece is my guess.

[Fatalotti]

Oh my goodness, Galvis is so friggin good at defense!

[MG]

Pence is like the Green Hulk. Strong and swings really hard but not a lot of brains.

[Fatalotti]

That play wasn't even close.

[GTown_Dave]

Another gorgeous play from Galvis. Damn this kid can play the field. One part of this season which definitely has not been a disappointment.

[Bill]

I know I'm stating the obvious, but it's impossible to listen to Tmac.

[MG]

Sweet play.

[GTown_Dave]

Bill: The Phils' radio broadcast is your friend.

[MG]

Innings 4-6 it is Franske/LA regardless of whether I am watching TV or not.

[bay_area_phan]

Wasn't in front of my computer when it happened, but why would you bunt for a hit when there's a man on 2nd? The idea is to drive the ball to the OF so the guy on 2nd can score. That is the 2nd example in this young season of Pierre totally having his head up his ass when it comes to recognizing the situation.

[LET'S EAT]

shane - ball 4

[LET'S EAT]

wiggy - quite the eye at the plate -- that was ball 5

[Fatalotti]

BAP, I really do think the bunt was called from the dugout. Manuel said before the season that this team was going to bunt a lot more, and he wasn't lying.

[MG]

Generally swung at better pitches that inning and tried to work counts. Nada to show for it but still don't mind innings like that.

[NEPP]

There is zero chance that bunt wasn't called by the dugout.

[GTown_Dave]

Manuel said before the season that this team was going to bunt a lot more, and he wasn't lying.

Meanwhile, plate discipline remains for crap. I think Charlie might have a better shot at getting the team to play small ball if he had even the first clue what it was.

[MG]

Its nuts but if Hamels gives up even 2 R, he is getting a ND or L. Ugh.

[GTown_Dave]

What pitch to Yonder Alonso breaks?

[Fatalotti]

"It's nuts but if Hamels gives up 1R, he is getting a L"

FIFY

[polly]

"There is a clear line of demarcation in the NL offensive numbers too between '69 when they lowered the mound 5 inches.

In 1968 - 3.43 R/G, 1969 - 4.05 R/G"

I bet the average pitcher is about 5 inches taller now than in 1968. I wouldn't mind seeing the mound lowered again and fully expect it to be done in the next few years.

[GTown_Dave]

Cole might need to go batsh*t on an umpire to relieve some of the frustration born of having to suffer this offense.

[MG]

Balk interpretation is so iffy. 1st one definitely was one. 2nd one was spotty by Hamels.

Goes back to the fact though that Hamels has a lousy pickoff move to 1st.

[NEPP]

Balks are like pornography, I know it when I see it.

[lance]

god our offense could put a glass eye to sleep. well as elsewhere... the f'n braves are lightin' up the scoreboard as usual. ugh...

[MG]

Nice toss by Hamels.

[HammRadio]

In neither case does have anything to do with his pick off move... The flinch was the result of signs and comfort. The second was clearly an attemp to step off and re adjust there was no attempt for deception. Most pitchers get the benefit of the doubt. It was bs.