Rubber Match Game Chat: Eaton vs. Maine

Tonight's meeting with New York at Shea is just another early April game, right? Maybe. It could set the tone for the rest of this season's rivalry with the hated Mets. A win tonight would be huge for the Phils psyche while a loss would certainly be a little tougher to deal with.

The Phillies need to get their fielding in order. Before the season many considered their infield to be among the best in the league.  Coming into to this evening's game, however, the Phillies lead the league in errors. That's not how you win baseball games. If Chase Utley wants to be the third straight Phillie to bring home some MVP hardware, he's going to have to improve his leather a bit from the first few weeks.

Last year John Maine  was clearly a better pitcher than Adam Eaton but Eaton's numbers are better early in this 2008 campaign (0-1, 9.00 ERA and 0-0, 3.52 ERA, respectively). With Chad Durbin doing well in long-relief last night, he's likely unavailable to mop up any blood that might be spilled on Eaton's account, and Ryan Madson has been sidelined for five games with shoulder soreness, so the Phils may need to rely on scoring in bunches to keep up.

As mentioned, we're going to watch a college hockey game first, but the tube will certainly be flipped over to the Phils afterwards.

Feel free to talk about your hatred for the Mets -- like that annoying mouthpiece Mike Pelfrey wore last night -- in the comments.

Comments

[zack]

phuck the mets!

[Chris]

Well I have to say that I am more worried about Jroll and his ankle than I am about this Mets series.

[johndewar]

I cannot believe that asshole Tom McCarthy interviewed Omar Minaya during the Phillies broadast of the game.

Hey douchebag! You work for the PHILLIES now! No one you are broadcasting to gives a FUCK about Omar Minaya. You like Minaya that much, feel free to go back to the Mets.....your so called "dream job" a couple of years ago.

[Paul]

Can someone please tell me why none of the phillies pitchers can get this no talent, nobody platoon player angel pagan out. It's fucking embarrassing, the guy is a career hasbeen. I don't care as much when Beltran or Wright get theirs, but seriously you have to get their garbage players out. If I were manuel in the next series, I would start fining pitchers who let him on base.

[Tom]

way to blow the chances here. Victorino Bruntlett as the 1 2..WTF?

[TheCoz]

At least Pedro prevented the shutout...That's something, right? Ugh...

[TheCoz]

RyHo, you are THE MAN!!!!! Homerun...Phuck the Mets!!!

[TheCoz]

All tied up...I must be the only one here...

[Adam]

I <3 J.C. Romero

[Adam]

Hopefully the Phils get one over or so we see Brad Lidge. not Tom "Boom Boom" Gordon

[Adam]

in the 9th

[TheCoz]

J-Roll at the bat!!! Granted he struck out, but he's back baby!

[Chris]

Howard looked bad on that breaking ball. Not as bad as Rollins, but pretty ugly

[Saul]

...here comes Brad. Anyone nervous, or is that just me?

[Adam]

Gotta do better than that. Gotta make contact in that situation. Looking forward to watching Lidgge pitch though...

[Joe]

Glad Bruntlett's been solid today. Hopefully we can get a couple runs here to close it out.

[Bryan]

Hello, offense?!

[TheCoz]

1 out, 2 men on base, Utley at bat, Howard on deck...we got this shit.

[Eric]

Wow bruntlett cant even lay down a bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd...we NEED J-Roll back

[Adam]

3 Things:

1. Cut Eric Bruntlett

2. WTF Chase? Grounding into a DP are you kidding me?

3. This inning will make or break Tom Gordon's season. He chokes, he collapses in on himself like a dying star. He holds them, well he lives to pitch another day, maybe gains some confidence

[Mark]

Gordon was just lights out . . . wow.

[johndewar]

Flash looked good there, but who will be in for the bottom of the next inning? Condrey?

[Adam]

I'm guessing clay condrey, yeah.

[Phils Phan]

Can we trade Bruntlett for LaForest?

[Mark]

Jesus, end this shit Phils

[Blendy]

I'm with Eric and Adam, Bruntlett is the definition of coming up small.

[Jeff]

cut tom gordon please

[Joe]

Another good Adam Eaton outing spoiled by poor offense. It's mind-boggling.

[Metssuck]

Umm thought you actually had to touch the plate to score.... Guess not Reyes never did.

[Greg]

Eric Bruntlett, 0-6, including a crippling bunt attempt. Don't come back to Philly, pal.

[TK]

I hope that Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins are able to play the rest of the year without injury. Eric Bruntlett cost them the game on wednesday and once again did more than enough to help them loose tonight. Seriously, cant the Phils bring someone up from AAA who's better than this stiff? If Rollins didnt get hurt the Phils would have won both games. Fuck the Mets

[mike]

I fucking hate you tom gordon, get hurt already you fucking old man. and eric bruntlett wins the assclown of the night award for the second straight night. please tell me he's not playing tomorrow or ever again. please come back jimmy!

[TK]

Trade Bruntlett to Florida for Wes Helms

[Gaze]

Wrong call, hands down. No umpires/ref should end a game on such a "questionable" call.

[Eric]

Yeah reyes was definitely out...and i think i'd rather have j-roll at 50% than bruntlett at 100%

[johndewar]

Anyone else think Uncle Cholly mismanaged this game just a little? How was he down to only Ruiz by the 10th inning? Two innings out of Gordon? Really? We weren't tempting the fates there?

Big Flyers game tomorrow. Must rest liver.

[Matt C]

That was the most BS call I've seen in a while . Jose Reyes the most overrated player ever was out at the plate. I wouldn't be suprised if that home plate umpire was really Steve Phillips, I swear Steve Phillips and that whole Baseball Tonight crew except for John Kruk is in bed with Johan. Speaking of Steve Phillips, every time I see him commentate on ESPN I just want to sock him one.

[Matt C]

That was the most BS call I've seen in a while . Jose Reyes the most overrated player ever was out at the plate. I wouldn't be suprised if that home plate umpire was really Steve Phillips, I swear Steve Phillips and that whole Baseball Tonight crew except for John Kruk is in bed with Johan. Speaking of Steve Phillips, every time I see him commentate on ESPN I just want to sock him one.

[El Captian Obviouso]

We lost early on last season too. Our hitting is a bunch of good players underachieving and our pitching is a bunch of chumps overachieving. So I'm giving high fives to the pitchers, good job. It's the for real season now hitters, lets do this.

[lol]

hahah...you should read the comments here....never has a fan base been so whiny, crappy, miserable and pathetic......

enjoy another season of 0 playoff wins flamins!!!!!!!!!