The Race Resumes Tonight in Florida

I don't know about you but I'm ready for some Phillies baseball this evening. The All Star Break was nice and all but exhibitions are just kind of boring. The real season picks back up tonight and the Phils will start their second half tied in first place with the stinking Mets.

The New York fans have come out of the woodwork after winning 10 straight and by their arrogant attitudes, you'd think this winning streak will continue all the way until September. The next Phils series against the Mets should be quite exciting. But first we face the Fish.

The NL East is by no means a two team race and the Marlins will want to have their say. The Phillies will head into the second half with a new face in the rotation but it's the old and trusty Jamie Moyer who will kick things off tonight.

Here's to a nice second half of Phillies summer baseball. I'm expecting big things.

Comments

[Andrew C]

I think Chase is going to come to the plate wearing a leather vest and black framed glasses after his hardcore coming of age this week.

[Mike'M]

Que?

[TheCoz]

How is Chase going to follow "Boo? Fuck you"? Impossible...

[DCG]

A co-worker of mine, a Mets Fan, hasn't said a word all season... in fact, he's intentionally ignored me until today. I ran into him in the hallway and with a shit-eating grin he says "Who's in first place!"

Upon telling him that both teams are in first...something he apparently didn't know...he said, "oh, well not for long."

I simply cannot tolerate ridiculous Mets fans...the Phils can't lose this! I can't imagine why I feel this way, but I have this sinking feeling that the phils will be 3.5 games out after by next Thursday night. God I hope I'm wrong.

[DCG]

A co-worker of mine, a Mets Fan, hasn't said a word all season... in fact, he's intentionally ignored me until today. I ran into him in the hallway and with a shit-eating grin he says "Who's in first place!"

Upon telling him that both teams are in first...something he apparently didn't know...he said, "oh, well not for long."

I simply cannot tolerate ridiculous Mets fans...the Phils can't lose this! I can't imagine why I feel this way, but I have this sinking feeling that the phils will be 3.5 games out after by next Thursday night. God I hope I'm wrong.

[ricky]

He's Chase Utley, he'll find a way.

[DCG]

Ah, my first double post. Now I feel like a true part of the 700 level.

[DCG]

Sorry for all the posting, but figured people would like to read this...Eaton to the pen - Good Lord:

Blanton to make 1st start for Phils against Mets
By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies moved Adam Eaton to the
bullpen Friday to open a spot in the rotation for newly acquired
Joe Blanton, who is expected to start for the team Tuesday against
the New York Mets.
The Phils obtained the right-handed Blanton from Oakland on
Thursday for three minor leaguers.
Eaton is 3-8 this season with a 5.71 ERA in 19 games, all
starts. He has started all but two of the 195 games he has pitched
in the majors but is switching to long relief.
"When I look at our rotation, we needed some different looks,"
manager Charlie Manuel said before the start of a weekend series at
Florida. "We needed to try to get better. It doesn't hurt to try
to get a little creative at times."
In 6 1-3 innings over his past two outings, the right-handed
Eaton has allowed 16 runs and 17 hits. He joins a bullpen that
began the weekend with the lowest ERA in the big leagues.
Blanton won 42 games for Oakland in 2005-07 but has been a
disappointment this season. He's 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts.
"Maybe a change of scenery will help him," Phillies pitching
coach Rich Dubee said. "We think he's going to be a piece that's
going to help us get into the playoffs and further on."
Blanton, who had been scheduled to start Friday at Yankee
Stadium, instead will pitch in New York next week to open a
three-game series against the Mets. The Phillies and Mets began the
weekend tied for first place in the NL East.
Blanton is expected to join his new team Sunday in Miami.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-07-18-08 1728ED

[Rico]

Moyer is a Marlins-killer. No worries tonight

[Bean]

If Eaton is going to the bullpen to make room for Blanton, someone from the bullpen is going to be sent down, right? So who is that going to be?

Also, Myers is pitching in Clearwater (high-A) right now. Last time I checked, he had given up 2 runs (1 earned) through 4 innings. Is he really ready to be brought in against the Mets now??

[ricky]

So when is Wheels gonna propose to Cholly?

[MikeY]

Brett Mtyers Update

6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER

[Phils Phan]

Let's see if Cordero found the balls that he lacked last night.

[Phils Phan]

Man, Romero looks ... like he did on Boston.

[Phils Phan]

Bring in Eaton to close it!

(Is anyone watching the game besides me?)

If Wagner used Sandman, and Gordon used Flash, does this mean Eaton would use Rape Me?

[TheCoz]

He might use "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits.

[MSM]

It's amazing how good Lidge is when he hasn't thrown 100+ pitches to warm up.

[TheCoz]

Phils win!!! Great way to start second half of the season.

[Phils Phan]

I'll continue this discussion myself, then.

Lidge looks either work out or something. He's getting outs, but purely by the slider. He didn't throw a fastball for a strike until his tenth pitch (a small sample, I know, but the control looks eh). In addition, he topped out at 93, which is 2-3 off his normal speed. I don't like the looks of this going forward.

In other news: Mets fans, did you enjoy your day in first? As we said all along, this is going to be a CF dogfight the rest of the way out. I know I'm pumped (scoreboard watching in July?!).

[BadMotherFutley]

Lidge got a weak grounder, a K, and a pop-out, for a perfect inning on 11 pitches (8 strikes). His velocity was down a bit, but I'll wait until it's a multi-game trend before I get concerned.

Speaking of concern, does anyone remember when we used to get offensive production from our catchers? Back on 7/2, Coste went 2-4 with an RBI double. Since that game, the combined numbers for Ruiz and Coste are beyond horrid:

4/45, 10 K, 4 BB, 1 Sac Bunt, 4 GIDP, 0 XBH, 0 RBI.
Thats an .089 BA, .252 OPS.

[Loqiel]

Lidge looked just fine to me.

[Phils Phan]

Maybe I'm being too critical, then. I suppose it's just that in the beginning of the season, I became accustomed to outs on the gas. While a slider out is fine, I thought his control of the gas lately was suspect. Perhaps I just didn't pay close enough attention in the beginning.

[Roche]

Magic Number: 65

[Zack]

beginning of the year he didn't have his slider working as well...once he got that he went to it as his out pitch

I think the slider is by far his best pitch...so he should keep going to it

[Finally]

Thanks for showing up tonight Jenkins.