Early July Clash of the NL East Titans
And by titans I mean two teams with a combined record of 78-76.
The Mets and Phillies have been the two teams atop the NL East for quite a few seasons now. After both teams struggling mightily over the past weeks, not to mention the Phillies being swept at the hand of the Braves, the East is currently a four team race. The Phils are currently TIED with the Marlins at the top of the division with the Mets and Braves back one and two games respectively.
The division will likely be decided by pitching and with that fact becoming more blatantly apparent with each mounting loss, the Phillies send out... Rodrigo Lopez.
Lopez hasn't made a start in the bigs since '07 and his photo on Phillies.com currently has him wearing a Rockies cap. If that doesn't sell you on the guy, listen to Ruben Amaro Jr. talk about him like he's a can of soup stocked on the super market shelf.
Now THAT is a ringing endorsement. Oh, and he led all of baseball in loses in 2006 and he gave up the second most earned runs that year trailing only potential Phillie trade material Jason Marquis.
With all that said, I wouldn't be shocked if Lopez shows up tonight and baffles the light hitting Mets line up.
The Mets will throw out Livan Hernandez who hasn't won a non-Nationals game since May 10th. Maybe Livan will be the panacea to the Phillies recent woes. A Phils fan can hope.
Despite both teams sputtering into this series, it could turn out to be a huge point in both teams' seasons. Will the Phils home struggles continue? Can the Mets make a statement and surpass the Phils with a sweep? Can it possibly get any worse?
Plenty of questions heading into tonight's game. Come Monday, we'll have a lot more answers.
Come on Phils, wake up and beat these guys.
FUCK THE METS, AND FUCK STALE BREAD
Posted by: Jocksniffer | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 05:13 PM
I don't like the looks of this one...
... not... one... bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5rDVIUC9z4
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Has anyone heard anything about Eyre? I haven't heard a word about him since he went down. The bullpen obviously misses him, and while I don't think that's the only reason they're struggling by any means, I think his absence is a factor. But despite that, I've heard nothing about him.
Anyway, with the ugliness of the pitching matchups this weekend for the Phils, I'm afraid the most we can possibly hope for is to take 2 of 3. A sweep seems impossible.
Posted by: phillyfan412 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Oh yeah, and the perfect response to any "Let's go Mets" chants that may break out?
"Where's your ring!"
Posted by: phillyfan412 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 05:55 PM
CANT WAIT FOR THE RODRIGO LOPEZ ERA!!!!
Posted by: Shawn | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 06:23 PM
@Shawn... yeah, the Rodrigo Lopez Era... you mean the Rodrigo Lopez ERA of 6+.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Please no one respond to the asshat that decided to post in a dead topic from February, that comments with all caps, and no grammar at all. Don't give that guy any attention.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 06:47 PM
@phillyfan412
"Lefthander Scott Eyre (strained calf), who allowed three hits and a run in two-thirds of an inning of his first rehab start Wednesday, is "physically fine" but remains "a little rusty," Ruben Amaro said. He is scheduled to pitch again for Reading tonight."
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/49823772.html
Posted by: Dan | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:00 PM
everytime lopez gets somebody out, i party like its 1999!
Posted by: Shawn | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Wtf is this leadoff base hit thing?
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:14 PM
@Liam, I think you and I are watching the wrong channel, cause this team is actually playing well at home this far.
Wow... Alright Bucs, that's what I like to see, beating the Marlins.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Way to go Werth, bases loaded with one out and you do basically the only thing that isnt helpful..
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Who is this team, and what have the done with the Phillies?
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:25 PM
@Liam, I don't know, but I like it.
The Nats are beating the Braves, and the Bucs are beating the Marlins too.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:28 PM
Sure wish Howard would've taken a pitch or two that last at bat. Livans pitch count is rising and he is struggling to throw strikes, and has gotten a few balls called his way, and you have a 1 pitch at bat? Come on guys...
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Wow... that was a mile high off of the bat. This team is steam-rolling right now.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 07:57 PM
I'm back on board... I love Jimmy Rollins.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:03 PM
...not that I was ever off it.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Watching on gamecast... how the hell did J Roll get a double there, it seemed like he hit it basically right to centerfield?
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Watching on gamecast... how the hell did J Roll get a double there, it seemed like he hit it basically right to centerfield?
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:03 PM
@ Liam
Hernandez threw his glove at the ball and missed, so he couldn't cover second base. None of the infielders covered either, so J-Roll took the extra base, and they scored it a double.
Posted by: theoldsport | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:05 PM
It was a bullet right past Livan Hernandez, it hit the field right in front of him. It was "Scolded" to borrow a term from Wheels.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:06 PM
@theoldsport, that too.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:07 PM
So that's what a leadoff hitter does? Get on base and score runs? no wayyyyyyyyyy
Posted by: Warren | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:08 PM
@Warren... funny how that goes isn't it?
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:09 PM
Haha, gotta love the Mets. No matter how bad the Phils are playing you can always expect them to have even worse fielding
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:11 PM
The guys over at Metsblog are loving this. LOL!
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:14 PM
Great job this inning by Werth and Howard working counts, taking the walks and forcing Livan out. Great start to a series forcing the Mets bullpen to throw 6 (or 5 if the phils win it in 9) innings, and if I'm not mistaken I believe they threw a few yesterday too.
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:25 PM
Ugh... god I'm sick of seeing those 1-2-3 DP's this season. Especially on 1st pitch. We're sure seen a couple of them this season.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Really Dobbs? This team just doesnt understand there are certain times to be patient at the plate. Why can Milt Thompson, and Charlie for that matter, not seem to get this through the guys heads?
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:27 PM
I really hope the bats don't go anemic again. Cause if they do, then I kind of feel like those 7 runs we got, were off of a guy just lobbing us BP pitches.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Not liking this... since Livan hit the Pine, we haven't hit the ball. I really hope that this wasn't just a case of a guy tossing us a couple of "Giveme's". Some more runs, would really be appreciated.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 08:41 PM
This is the same fucker that refused to review Dobbs' Walk-Off Foul. I'm glad they didn't decide to review that one, cause that might've been a Homer.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 09:01 PM
Man Chan Ho has really done a great job from the bull pen. Huge of him to not allow any more runs
Posted by: Liam | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 09:12 PM
@Liam, agreed. He's definitely earned some praise for his pitching from the Bullpen.
Posted by: PhiPhan5648 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
@Dan- Sorry I'm late, but thanks a lot. I don't know how I missed that. I guess it's not really good news, but I'm glad to hear something.
Posted by: phillyfan412 | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Really strong showing by Phils fans tonight. The park wasnt nearly as infested with met fans as the series late last year. Good job everyone!
Posted by: Bernie215 | Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:07 AM
I was at the game too tonight. Nice showing by the lads - bats sparked.
Just to be clear, while there were plenty of Met fans there tonight, I honestly didn't see any fights in the stands. That photo above wasn't from tonight apparently. Seemed like it was just a good night of baseball, especially if you were a Phils fan.
@Liam...let's not forget, though, Phils got Chan Ho'ed earlier in the week. I wouldn't pat his bat too hard just yet. He just hasn't been as terrible as he was a starter.
Also, good job out of the fans to give Lopez the standing O when he came out tonight. He must have felt good by that.
Posted by: Mark | Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 01:22 AM
Just got back from the game/Philly. Wished we could've tacked on a few extra runs in the later innings, but I'll take a drubbing of the Mets any day. Lopez looked pretty damn good. It'll be interesting to see him start against a team that's not the Triple-A Mets.
Although, the standing-O from 45,000 people when he was lifted from the game was pretty awesome.
All in all a great way to start the holiday weekend. Fuck the Mets. Go Phils.
Posted by: TheOtherJim | Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 03:10 AM