The Muppets Take South Philly: Santana Vs. Hamels
It's a gorgeous day for baseball in Philadelphia, and what better way to start the weekend than to take in a game featuring two of the best pitchers in the league facing off in one of baseball's fiercest rivalries. If you're going to the park, you'll have to put up with some jorts-wearing Mets fans tonight, but last year, this proved to be rather fun, as their derision turned to embarrassment at having traveled a few hours just to watch their team get swept.
Cole Hamels, who has been stunningly sharp so far this season, faces Johan Santana, perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. Santana has not been lights-out for every inning since signing with the Mets, but he's been pretty damn good, and yet the Mets fans have already started to boo him. How do the Phillies match up against Santana? On the one hand, they generally suck against lefties, especially those that throw as hard and with as much command as Santana. However, Santana is also very prone to giving up the long ball, and the Phillies went yard four times yesterday, so it's hard to say how things will go at CBP tonight. Santana likes to rely, perhaps a little too much, on mixing in his curveball, which is not as effective as his fastball and change-up, and he may have to use it more tonight facing the lefites in the Phillies lineup. And yes, I am indeed looking for every possible advantage to facing Johan Santana.
Unfortunately, the star of last year's Phillies-Mets rivalry won't be in the lineup again tonight, and his return date still isn't certain. Jimmy Rollins has a way of getting under the skin of New York fans, as well as players, and his presence and gamesmanship will certainly be missed. One piece of good news is that the Nationals took the Mets to 14 innings last night, taking a toll on their bullpen with no day of rest before facing the Phillies. The Phils bullpen is fairly well rested, and as Beerleaguer points out, they're actually pitching as well as any relief corps in the league. I'd say the stage is set for a great series.
Photo by Flickr user Jakesg,
I'm heading down to the game tonight, can't wait. Doesn't get much better than Phils-Mets, Hamels-Santana, 80 degree weather.
Posted by: gootman | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Heading to all 3 games this weekend...I can't wait. I'll be the one with the thunderous boo and a beer. Shouldn't be hard to pick out.
Posted by: j13 | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Same sounds perfect i got outfield seats and im expecting some homers today, hopefully all phils cause the mets ones sure as hell arent stayin in my hand.
Posted by: Mike L. | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Same sounds perfect i got outfield seats and im expecting some homers today, hopefully all phils cause the mets ones sure as hell arent stayin in my hand.
Posted by: Mike L. | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 03:31 PM
what's with the hostility towards jean shorts?
Posted by: will | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 03:47 PM
i'll be there, it sounds like a great match-up. i could only get standing room, but it's fortunate i could get in before they sold out.
Posted by: Derek | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 03:59 PM
@ will: if you have to ask...
Posted by: Matt P. | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:04 PM
@ matt: i guess living in florida has blinded me to their tacky-ness.
Posted by: will | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Tonight I'll be in Section 212, row 5. I'll be the drunk girl keeping score. Say hi.
Posted by: Clare | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I wish I could be there.... Living in LA dampens the possibility, though... Go TWC's Extra Innings Package!
Posted by: Karthik | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 05:01 PM
6-1 Phils, not even close
Posted by: TK | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 06:34 PM
This is tough to watch. It isn't a rout, but it feels like it, considering how I don't see how we are going to get any runs.
Posted by: Joe | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 08:46 PM
when the hell is ryan howard gonna learn to stop swinging at absolute crap, or move closer to the plate and not stand in the dugout when he's at bat
Posted by: mike | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 10:28 PM
when the hell is ryan howard gonna learn to stop swinging at absolute crap, or move closer to the plate and not stand in the dugout when he's at bat
Posted by: mike | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Yea he needs to move his goddamn feet a foot or two closer i mean seriously i dont understand why pitchers dont just pump fastballs on the outside corner to him, there no way he can reach there.
Posted by: Mike L. | Friday, April 18, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Today'd better be a better game than yesterday...that was miserable. Mets fans all around, generally screaming about sodomy and fellatio while sitting one seat over from 8 year old girls. Classy, aren't they? Seriously, I HATE the mets, I HATE most of their fans, I HATE their lame mascot, I HATE the stupid apple, I HATE their stupid colors (I like blue, I like orange, but blue and orange??), I HATE their self-righteous "We won a championship 6 years more recently than you did!!!" (even though it was 22 years ago) attitude, I HATE everything about that franchise. I'm using the word hate here. About the mets. I hate them.
Posted by: j13 | Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM