Phillies Parade

[Ivytalk]

Braves lose again in Colorado, so Phils' lead is up to 4 1/2 games and could be 5 if Rockies win again today.

[Ivytalk]

Phils keep 4-game lead with 3-1 win over Pads. Another strong effort by Cole!

Lidge is back!

Baez is gone!

[93henfan]

Baez is gone!

Finally. I was wondering if he had cock shots of RA Jr. on his cell phone or something. There was no good reason for him to still be wearing red pinstripes. ¡Adios, Denise!

[Ivytalk]

Phils beat Pads. Reds beat Braves. Phils now up 5!

[93henfan]

It wasn't the game winner, but boy did Ryan Howard hit a clutch HR today. Phils had been up 3-0, then Kendrick imploded and the Padres went up 4-3. Howard had been given the day off to go to the batting cages to sharpen his swing and low and behold, Chollie brings him in late and he hits the first pitch over the wall in left center. Buzzkill for the rallying Pads.

Also Mike Martinez.

[Ivytalk]

Ivytalk and Junior Ivy witnessed the Phils' workmanlike 5-3 win over Pads today. Solid 8-inning effort from Doc.

[93henfan]

Ivytalk and Junior Ivy witnessed the Phils' workmanlike 5-3 win over Pads today. Solid 8-inning effort from Doc.

After 96 pitches in the first five innings too. He really found his groove after that.

Man, that Padres centerfielder had a helluva catch on Ibanez's would-have-been HR. Dude reacted fast and went on a dead sprint straight to the fence to catch it over the fence. Just a terrific play.

The play: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/video/pl ... id=8879374

And how about those awful Philadelphia fans giving the guy a round of applause? Terrible, terrible fans I tell ya.

[GannonFan]

Another series, another series win. 9 series wins in a row now and 12 of the last 13. Of course, it gets a little tougher over the next 4 with two series against the Giants coming up as well as the Pirates and the Rockies, but throwing a great starting pitcher out there 4 out of 5 days is a good recipe for success. Oswalt could even be back soon. It's a good time to be a Phils fan.

[93henfan]

So who do we get for Worley?

[GannonFan]

So who do we get for Worley?

If you can Hunter Pence for Worley (and not Brown) I'd do it. Give them Mayberry and then one or two of the good minor league arms. If Oswalt is healthy enough then Worley doesn't even pitch an inning this post season anyway. Pence is young enough and still under contract for 2 more years past this one. An outfield of Pence, Victorino, and Brown is a pretty good one going forward.

[93henfan]

So who do we get for Worley?

If you can Hunter Pence for Worley (and not Brown) I'd do it. Give them Mayberry and then one or two of the good minor league arms. If Oswalt is healthy enough then Worley doesn't even pitch an inning this post season anyway. Pence is young enough and still under contract for 2 more years past this one. An outfield of Pence, Victorino, and Brown is a pretty good one going forward.

Do you have hope that Brown is going to develop into a good player? His lack of hustle (rarely dives for anything or legs it out to first on grounders) and generally poor decision-making in the field (some ghastly throw-ins the last few games) and weak bat concern me.

[GannonFan]

If you can Hunter Pence for Worley (and not Brown) I'd do it. Give them Mayberry and then one or two of the good minor league arms. If Oswalt is healthy enough then Worley doesn't even pitch an inning this post season anyway. Pence is young enough and still under contract for 2 more years past this one. An outfield of Pence, Victorino, and Brown is a pretty good one going forward.

Do you have hope that Brown is going to develop into a good player? His lack of hustle (rarely dives for anything or legs it out to first on grounders) and generally poor decision-making in the field (some ghastly throw-ins the last few games) and weak bat concern me.

Yeah, I agree, that throw from right yesterday in the first inning when the Padres scored the first run was really cringe-worthy. But he's only 50 some games into really his first year full-time in the majors and he's only 23. I think there's still plenty of upside there that he's worth holding onto. If I had to part with him or Worley, I would part with Worley as no one was really predicting Worley to be a front line starter (so this period of stud pitching may be JA Happ-like and we haven't seen the complete picture yet) and also because once Hamels is signed the Phils will have Halladay/Lee/Hamels under contract through 2014 - we can afford to lose Worley. With Ibanez leaving after this year, we are going to need outfielders and I like Brown more than I like Mayberry, especially long term.

[93henfan]

On a side note, I thought I heard footsteps a week or two ago. Weren't some Braves fans thumping chests about being within 2.5 games?

It's really quiet all of sudden.

Braves better start looking back instead of forward. Dbacks only four back in the wild card.

[GannonFan]

On a side note, I thought I heard footsteps a week or two ago. Weren't some Braves fans thumping chests about being within 2.5 games?

It's really quiet all of sudden.

Braves better start looking back instead of forward. Dbacks only four back in the wild card.

Braves fans tend to always celebrate too early. Like last year when they almost held a parade when they finished the first half of the season in first place in the NL East. And like most of the decade and a half when they won division titles - most fans didn't hang around to see how they did in the playoffs, at least judging by the lack of attendance at home playoff games during that time.

With that said, it would be shocking to see the Braves not make the playoffs, and it would setup a potential all-Pennsylvania first round clash between the Phils and the Pirates.

[bluehenbillk]

Really interesting pitching matchup tonight Worley & Lincecum. Phils haven't lost 2 games in a row since early June. Looks like the Braves are finally flattening out. 6 games back, 7 in the L column.

[93henfan]

Might be time for the NL ROY voters to start following The Vanimal.

[bluehenbillk]

Agreed on "El Vanimal" for ROY consideration. Freeman & the guy in the Braves pen have an early lead on him but there are still 2 months to go!!

How about Utley? The guy makes this team go - great inside the park HR & slide last night. OK- maybe it's just because we were blessed with HK for decades, but am I alone in that Scott Frantzke is not that impressive of a radio guy? Don't you have to show some friggin enthusiasm once in a while when you call a game, he's so monotone he could put you to sleep.

Jerry Meals in Atlanta just wanna go home last night when he Jim Joyce'd that play at the plate? Ouch. At least it makes the case for replay a stronger one, no way a game should end like that after 19 innings.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Jerry Meals in Atlanta just wanna go home last night when he Jim Joyce'd that play at the plate? Ouch. At least it makes the case for replay a stronger one, no way a game should end like that after 19 innings.

I just watched the replay and that has to be one of the worst calls I have ever seen - in any sport. Dude had to be looking just to get the hell out of there.

[bluehenbillk]

Jerry Meals in Atlanta just wanna go home last night when he Jim Joyce'd that play at the plate? Ouch. At least it makes the case for replay a stronger one, no way a game should end like that after 19 innings.

I just watched the replay and that has to be one of the worst calls I have ever seen - in any sport. Dude had to be looking just to get the hell out of there.

I understand how Meals missed the call, at least he was forthcoming after the game & explained he thought originally the swipe tag drew nothing but air, but after he saw the replay he said he blew the call. Heard the Braves radio guy on the ride in this morning call the play - it was funny hearing his disbelief. Doesn't matter for the Phils but I can feel the heat from across the state this morning in Pittsburgh.

[JoltinJoe]

Not buying his explanation. He wanted to go home.

Meals on Wheels.

[Ivytalk]

Not buying his explanation. He wanted to go home.

Meals on Wheels.

Joe shoots -- he scores!









For once!

[93henfan]

Four stinking hits.

[GannonFan]

Four stinking hits.

Well, here's a full day ahead of people in Philly just going on and on about how the Phils suck and don't have a prayer in the postseason. At least it will be something different than Philly fans talking about how much they hate Andy Reid and the Eagles.

On another note, maybe the only person more annoying to listen to than Wheeler would be Ricky Bottalico - man is like a yo-yo, loves the Phils when they win, and rips the Phils mercilessly when they lose. And for a guy who was just a decent reliever he sure tries to come across as a man who knows everything - not sure how he's qualified to talk about swing mechanics.

[AZGrizFan]

Four stinking hits.

Well, here's a full day ahead of people in Philly just going on and on about how the Phils suck and don't have a prayer in the postseason. At least it will be something different than Philly fans talking about how much they hate Andy Reid and the Eagles.

On another note, maybe the only person more annoying to listen to than Wheeler would be Ricky Bottalico - man is like a yo-yo, loves the Phils when they win, and rips the Phils mercilessly when they lose. And for a guy who was just a decent reliever he sure tries to come across as a man who knows everything - not sure how he's qualified to talk about swing mechanics.

Ricky had a cup of coffee here in AZ....we're stuck with Joe Fucking Borowski as our post-game analyst....WAFJ.

[bluehenbillk]

Well after Sunday, it's time to downshift and just sit back & enjoy this team for 2 months - the goal - go into October healthy & with your pitching staff aligned for how you want it in the postseason. For the next four days - it'd be nice to get Hunter Pence or a good right handed bat - trade Dom Brown & whatever combo of minor leaguers you need to do it.