SHANE WINS! And The Phillies Look To Take The Series

* Congratulations to Shane Victorino, who was declared the winner of the 33rd and Final All Star Vote.  I won't say he deserved it any more or less than the other guys (nor can I say who the other guys even were), but he is an exciting addition to the game and it's cool he made it, even if it required some stuffing of the ballot box.  Nice work, everybody. *

Update: and as several commenters quickly pointed out, there are reports of the Phillies signing Pedro Martinez to a one year contract worth $4 million.
11:15 p.m.: as of now, this has not proven to be true.

As any cynical person likely predicted, after hanging 22 runs on Cincinnati, the Phillies offense has sputtered once again.  Credit the Reds, who have themselves a nice pitching staff despite Monday's unusual outcome, but plenty of people predicted the feast-then-famine Phils would show up.  I'm told there isn't actually much (any?) statistical evidence supporting the idea, but it just feels like every huge outburst is almost invariably followed by a slump with this club.

Maybe that says more about the inconsistencies that have always existed in this lineup, though were recently hidden by a new left fielder and the glow of a World Series Championship.  Weren't too many strikeouts and the constant stranding of runners staples for much of the '08 season, and probably longer?  The more '09 progresses, the more it begins to feel like a mirror image of last year.  Of course there are some major differences, chiefly the toothy bite of the injury bug, but this team still showed once again last night they still have the flare for dramatics.

Even if they have been sleep-walking through portions of their schedule.

With a series against Pittsburgh looming, the Phillies have a chance to correct some of the nasty results of their hangover and carry some solid momentum into the break, but it starts with taking the Reds series tonight.  They face right-hander Micah Owings, who we last saw falling victim to another brutal offensive onslaught, allowing 5 earned in 3 innings en route to a 12-5 loss on May 21, by far his worst outing of the season.  Maybe that will get the bats going.

For the good guys, it's Jamie Moyer's turn.  After a scary start, he appears to be turning things around little by little, though he's still not performing to the level he did last year, which probably was a bit much to ask in the first place.  Anyway, he's at least been serviceable, going fewer than 6 innings just once since pitching in Cincinnati on May 20, a 3-run losing effort.  From that point on, he's done about all anyone could ask of the elderly.

It all comes back on the starting lineup though.  If the Phillies are hitting, Cincinnati simply does not have the talent to keep up.  Give Moyer the run support, and they should cruise into the final set before a much-needed and deserved break.  If it's anything like last season, that's when things will heat up.

Comments

[phillyfan412]

There are reports that the Phillies have signed Pedro Martinez.

Please God no.

[PhiPhan5648]

Well freaking worth it.

[yert]

Report on DNL ... Phils sign Pedro to 1yr/4mil

[PhiPhan5648]

@phillyfan412, and yert.

Imma vommit blood if they sign that washed-up waste.

[Titus Pullo]

Way to go, Shane.

I voted A LOT today. I kept the ballot open on my computer, and then would take quick breaks from my work and vote 5 or 10 times every 15 minutes.

[phillyfan412]

I'm praying that this is not true. How can Amaro talk about not wanting to spend too much money because they already have the highest payroll in team history, and then sign Pedro Martinez for $4 million?

[jtq1]

Question: Is Shane the most likeabe guy on the Phillies roster? I have yet to hear a bad word about him.

[yert]

If the Pedro reports are true, I do not think its that bad, we didn't have to give up any of our prospects to get him and he has to be better than Rodrigo Lopez and this could also mean J.A. Happ gets thrown into a Halladay deal

[Will]

"Candela Deportiva, which I am not completely familiar with, but who broke the signing of Wily Mo Pena signing with the Mets earlier this year, is reporting that the Phillies and Pedro Martinez have agree to a $4 million contract."

philly.com

[JMP]

YEAHHHHH SHANNNEEEEE!!!!!

(also, I'd rather have Brett Myers start in the condition he's in now than Pedro. Just sayin'.)

[phillyfan412]

How can you guarantee that Pedro would be better than Lopez? He couldn't get anyone out two years ago.

[Will]

NO DEAL. =D

[alex]

this frees up the phils to hive the jays, happ...... Halladay and Hamells best 1-2 punch in the NL maybe in the majors

[Andy]

there are very few phillies that i will never, ever like. doug glanville was one. pedro will be the next. i would hate to see how this fat has been affects team chemistry

[yert]

in the WBC he looked good and we didn't lose anyone, all we lost is $4 mil, which i'm not worried about...its not the end of the world, and i would rather have a future HOF pitcher(3 cy youngs, 3000+ K's, 8 time all star and a world champ) then Rodrigo Lopez who is a .500 career pitcher

[phillyfan412]

Pedro's stats mean nothing now, unless you're talking about his chances at the Hall of Fame. He's a shell of his former self at best.

[alex]

correction, lopez is one win above .500

[Palmer J]

Shane got interviewed on CSN before the game and gave us TWO "No Questions Asked." Awesome, good job Shane, GO PHILS!

[Blues]

they were mentioning the phillies CFs who made the all star game...how could they forget doug glanville??

[Blues]

Hmm... i guess i'm wrong, but i totally remember glanville making it in 1999.

[Mike]

Shane with an All-Star walk.

[Mike]

I think Park put him over the top.

[Liam]

Will the Phillies fail to score with a runner at third, and less than 2 outs? No questions asked

[mplant]

@ Blues,

Glanville was never an All-Star. But he did hit .325 with over 200 hits in '99

[handsome pete]

I'm interested to hear some people saying the pedro signing, if it happens, is a precursor to freeing up Happ for a trade to the Jays. Has anyone actually heard/read that or is it just conjecture? That is the only reason I could see being happy about this pedro signing. My concern is that pedro is amaro's "consolation prize" to the fans since he won't give up drabek or donald.

[Zack]

Surprised Shane did not go home on the fly ball by Werth

Phils are unfortunately great at having the bases loaded with 1 or fewer outs and not scoring a run

[John]

breaking news....jayson stark says phils agree to deal with blue jays for halladay....players traded include drabek, happ, donald, brown..........

[Liam]

@ John:

where did you see that?

[chris]

john, u for real?

[The Polish Punch]

Please please please please tell me none of this is true. Pedro blows, and we don't need Halladay, especially if it costs us all those prospects. For Christ's sake, Happ's been our best starter this season.

[Steve]

It's not on ESPN.com so I'm hoping that John is sitting on a throne of lies.

[Zack]

That would be a lot to give up for Halladay

[Zack]

Wow Encarnacion is going to hit the cycle tonight

he is batting like .140

[Hoosier Poppa]

Not on any ESPN network, its dotcom version, or Stark's twitter. Shenanigans. Which is, y'know, as lame as it gets.

[yert]

pearl jam at the spectrum oct 28 and 30

[handsome pete]

@polish

Just out of curiosity, why would you mind emptying the farm system for a guy like halladay? By the time drabek, brown, taylor, etc... are ready to contribute, utley, howard, ibanez will be leaving their prime. Why not sacrifice the future for a legit shot to be championship contenders for the next two years? There is no way this team, as currently constructed, can win a world series.

[Zack]

nice hit by shane

[Dan]

SHANE!

[Liam]

Shane comes through again! Anybody know how the Cincy bullpen is overall? I don't think either pitcher lasts more than 5 innings, so its coming down to the pens

[will]

i heard the phils are going to scout paul abbott at a car dealership promotion saturday from 1-3.

pedro martinez, really?

[will]

@john

you're lame joke would have been better had it come on a day halladay didn't start. he would have been pulled from his start if a deal was in the works.

jesus fucking christ jamie.

[Zack]

can we trade Moyer in a deal for Halladay and keep Happ?

[chez bippy]

wow what a shocker, Phillies score and immediatley give it right back

[Sean]

First and foremost, congrats to Shane, I don't care who he was up against, he deserves an ASG roster spot because he ALWAYS hustles and generally acts as a catalyst both offensively and defensively. He's a dynamic player.

Secondly, I hate Pedro and he will likely have some Met stink on him which makes matters worse, but it's a low risk, potentially high reward move because if he does in fact "feel better than he has in years." Also, consider that the $4M would likely be prorated, making it really a $2M cost to the team. Not to mention that, if it does happen, he will definitely be out to prove that the Mets made a mistake, so perhaps he'd pitch over his head in any matchup with them.

All in all, I'm not in love with the move and don't expect much if it happens but can't crush Ruben for pursuing all options.

[Greg]

What? No Eric Bruntlett pinch hitting? I am shocked.

[Bryan]

Can we PLEASE get a hit with the bases loaded?

[handsome pete]

bako in a huge spot? i really hope the phils do something to improve their bench.

[Bryan]

welll its progress

[handsome pete]

way to swing at ball four, bako

[MikeG]

well that was...different.

[Shawn]

PAUL EFFIN BAKO

[Joe]

Why Marson hasn't been called up to be backup catcher is beyond me. Instead, we get 2 triple-a lifers in Coste and Bako.

[Shawn]

i like to call him, chan HOVA park

[Sean]

Park looks like Sandy fucking Koufax out there tonight. Damn.

[PhiPhan5648]

Attaboy Lidge!

Good in a Save Situation again! Where you at pilgrim? LOL!

[Zack]

great series

[phillyfan412]

As much as Park sucked as a starter, he has pitched very well out of the bullpen for them and filled an important role. I can only think of one or two major hiccups he's had out of the bullpen.

In other news, who knew Bako had such wheels? I mean, he's not the Flyin' Hawaiin but I was shocked at how quickly he busted it down the first base line, and then the 3rd base line on the passed ball (or wild pitch, whichever one).

[John]

Wasn't a joke...apparently Stark was on 950 espn and reported it...my friend sent me a text....i just posted what he said...i was excited

[phillyfan412]

Oh, and the Phillies and Martinez's agent have denied that he signed, although his agent did say that there is interest on both sides.

[phillyfan412]

@John-

You're an idiot. Nobody believes you and the false trade thing is annoying and juvenile. And if your friend did actually text you that, you're an idiot to believe him.

[the sixers]

pedro!!!

[Jon]

Shane is in the all-star game, no questions asked

[will.H]

very few times can fans actually impact baseball like this. we did it, we got our little favorite hawaiian in the all star game.