Game chat: Playoff chase resumes tonight at Citi Field

Cole Hamels (15-6, 3.06) and rookie Matt Harvey (3-5, 2.92) are slated when the Phillies and Mets continue their rain-interrupted set tonight at 7:10.

Beerleaguer: The Phillies' outside shot at a Wild Card has detracted from the original August and September intent of looking toward the future. The moment they traded Hunter Pence, this season became all about Domonic Brown. The high-ceiling outfielder appears to be hitting his stride. Over his last eight games, he's boasting a 1.115 OPS with three homers and a .412 on-base percentage. He continues to choose his pitches wisely and - knock on wood - take the field competently. In fact, between Brown and John Mayberry Jr., who has been in lockstep with Brown lately and is a .294/.370/.471 hitter since becoming fulltime on Aug. 1, the Phils have reason for optimism as they look toward 2013. The two are paired with Juan Pierre in tonight's outfield. Carlos Ruiz starts behind the plate.

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Comments

[Ryan Fvcking Howard!!]

Hey Beerleaguer jaggoffs, especially BAP, Gtown, Jack, Fatalotti fvck you dumb fvcking fvcks!

co-signed (because I hope you effing ban me and I have to watch all the games from deep right field where all I can do is catch homers by Rollins and Howard),
Gobaystars!

P effing S
Nice catch by Dom Brown in the 9th!

[bullit]

that's why i watch 'em until the last out. i've been rewarded often over the years for that.

[norbertods]

Anybody else see Hamilton left the Angels game with a sinus headache? You kidding me? What GM is gonna give him a $100 million dollar contract?

Great win, by the way. Always nice to beat the mets. Even in spring training.

[cut_fastball]

wow

[Cyclic]

Keep on winning.

Let's hope the 'Stros series was the last hiccup.

[MG]

http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/phillies-talk/Manuel-wants-first-class-setup-man-for-2?blockID=776049&feedID=693

Agree with Cholly that they need a RHP reliever who can set up but Cholly really does need a 'paint by numbers bullpen.'

"The Phillies have been pretty good at developing relievers over the past few years with the likes of Ryan Madson coming through the system as a starter, moving to the bullpen as a necessity and eventually taking on the role of closer."

Like who? You can count on one hand the relievers who have given the Phils' meaningful contributions for more than a season since 2000.

[Bubba]

Remember when the chief complaint about the Phils offense was that they only scored with the HR ball.

Well, here it is again tonight and I ,for one, am not complaining.

What a great way to turn a bad night into a good night!

And Ryan's HR actually cleared the fence by more than a foot. Breaking a 3 HR trend.

[Alber T. Ross]

I feel that Aumont is a fit. Just calm the beast.

[Meyer]

Oops Meyer.

[Bubba]

"Like who? You can count on one hand the relievers who have given the Phils' meaningful contributions for more than a season since 2000. "

MG- I don't want to bad mouth JW's employers, but of their writers are lazy in their preparation as Sarge, and as much company men as T-Mac.

Baseball gods or pure dumb luck tonight on Chase's 9th inning BB? You make the call.
I think he was standing at the plate looking for Balkin' Bob to ring him up for the last out.

[bfpsu]

Wow, we passed the Pirates, boy have they fallen apart. I am rooting for them to finish over .500 for the first time in 20 years. I am old enough to remember when they had a great rivarly with the Phils in the mid to late 70's. It's a shame to see what's happened to them and the Royals. Two once proud franchises are now the dregs. You have to wonder with the economics they way they are now, if a team like the Astros (except when they play us) will fall into a 10 plus year hole of fuitility.

[GTown_Dave]

Gelb: "Cardinals win. Phillies are 4 games and 3 teams back with 13 to play."

[GBrettFan]

Wow - The Braves have won 21 consecutive games started by Medlen.

[cut_fastball]

GTown -- All the Phils can do at this point is win out. And pray. Yea, it ain't purty.

[gobaystars!]

GBrettFan, I know very little about Medlen but looking at B-Ref I can see that those 21 stars span 3 seasons and while he has pitched well, it is a pretty flukey stat.

[GBrettFan]

It is since 2010 and may be flukey, but still, it seems impressive to me that they haven't lost a game he's pitched in that long. Maybe the Phillies can put an end to that streak of Ws....

[gobaystars!]

They've lost games that he has pitched. None that he has started but they've lost states.

[gobaystars!]

starts

[awh]

Glad they won.

[Phillies Dude]

I like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard a lot and it felt like old times to know that the two of them had two great ABs with two out in the 9th inning. We're still on life support with a breathing tube in place, but we've still got a pulse!

[MG]

There is no pulse. There is only the offseason.

Still appreciate a late comeback to beat the Mets though.

Mets have been moribund at home. 8th consecutive loss at home, one series victory since the ASB (vs. Astros) at home, and are 4-23?!!! at home since the ASB.

Mad Dog's rant a month ago basically sums up the sorry state of the Mets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rFBWL2wfaw

Terry Collins has been most excepting of garbage than Waste Management.

[bay_area_phan]

Just adding up the total losses by our bullpen this year, I count 25 -- which is to say, just over one-third of our losses.:

Papelbon: 6
Bastardo: 5
Savery and Rosenberg: 2 each
1 each for Valdes, Schwimer, Qualls, Diekman, Aumont, Lindblom, Herndon, Sanches, Kendrick, and Blanton (in relief)

This doesn't count all the blown leads which didn't result in losses. Nor does it count all the times where multiple relievers got plastered (since it still only goes down as 1 loss), or the times when the reliever came in & allowed inherited runners to score, but the loss got charged to the starter. I also didn't count the bullpen-game loss, since that loss technically went to the starter (Valdes).

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread