Only One Man Can Stop This Skid...

The Phils have lost three straight, including getting blanked by the Nats last night. They're locked in a three-way tie for second best to the Florida Marlins. Who can they turn to?

That's right.

Cool Hand Cole, originally uploaded by Fen Branklin.

Comments

[Paul]

Read this on espn.com today, god I hope it's true and we have a repeat performance of it tonight.

"This is a college baseball story, but about a current major leaguer, so hopefully it qualifies. I remember watching Pat Burrell, who had already clubbed two homers for Miami against the J.D. Drew-led Seminoles. His next time up, the pitcher threw a fastball right at him. But instead of diving away, Burrell took his hand off the bat and caught the ball with his bare hand. He threw it to the ground in disgust, stared down the pitcher (who probably soiled himself), then went on to hit another home run later for good measure."
--JT (Miami)

[jd]

anyone in dc know what channel the game is on?

[Benjamin]

Paul - my question is what the pitch is called. Ball, hit batter? Hmmmm...if he tossed it up and hit it, could he have run to 1st? Even better, tossed it up for himself, and hit it out of the park.

[Walklett]

If that story is true, it might be one of the most badass things I've ever heard of.

The Legend of Pat the Bat keeps growing...

[Walklett]

Anyone in D.C. know there's a baseball team?

[Steve]

Fucking hell, get a fucking it with RISP!

[Steve]

*Hit.

[Paul]

I looked up the NCAA rules for baseball just to clarify what I thought. If a batter intentionally moves any body part in order to make contact with a pitch with his body, then it is considered a strike. So Burrell would have had a strike called on him.

[Lenny]

Pat, the machine. There's no question about it now.

[Paul]

Can someone please explain to me how the phillies have not scored a run on this nobody pitcher yet. He started this game off with an ERA over 7.

[Saul]

Jason Bergmann? Really? This is happening? We're getting shut out by the *nationals* TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW? This guy came into the game with an ERA over 7. We're the Phillies. What's going on here?

[Saul]

Fortunately, Cole Hamels is a machine, so we're still in it.

[Saul]

And by the way, I promise that Saul and Paul are not the same person. We made those posts simultaneously, with no knowledge of each other.

[El Ricko]

Chase just took a pitch that went BEHIND him. Wow. And he didn't flinch, ready to take it for the team.

No matter what the scoreboard says, it's never too late or too EARLY, to start the rally...

[El Ricko]

Crap, the DC announcers are annoying. Zimmermann barely fouled a Gordon slider straight back, and they're talking about how Zimm was "all over that pitch, what a great swing." Wonderful.

Oh, now they're saying they really haven't seen Dmitri Young get overmatched this season yet. I don't know, it looks like he's been overmatched by a few IHOP breakfasts.

[Paul]

@saul
Yes, I'll confirm that this is not a biblical tale, I'm not a former tax collector converted by Jesus, or at least I don't think I am.

[Bryan]

Well can we finally Get one on (check)...Move him over (check)....bring him home?

[Bryan]

CHECK!!!!

[Paul]

Damn, that was so close to being a second run. Whatever, hope Lidge is ready to shut them down.

[Benjamin]

Phew, that was nerve-wracking. Sure wish we had that 2nd run. Unfortunately, that was the weakest slide into homeplate I have ever seen. Did he bounce of his shin, or was I seeing things?

[Phils Phan]

My... ulcer...

[Saul]

Nerve-wracking save there. But a scoreless inning is a scoreless inning. 11 for 11...

[jd]

GAME

[Steve]

Returning the favor of the 1-0 edge the Nats had on the Phils on Opening Night was nice. Much needed win.

Chase stood there completely frozen on that pitch that went behind him. Definitely taking lessons from The Machine.

[Michael C]

I also loved how I heard on the radio today Burrell calling out the team, saying the offense needed to pick it up, him included. I am starting to have this little idea in my head of Pat being moved to 1B in 2 years when they won't pony up for Howard... though if he continues to hit .190 i dunno...

And Bergmann shut out the Mets last weekend too. Must have learned something back in AAA earlier this year...

[Mike L.]

Greg Dobbs enjoys pinch hitting. i think.

[PJ]

I love Gregulated rbi's.