Results tagged ‘ Jonathan Papelbon ’
Friday Night Smackdown: Philadelphia 2, Boston 0
Both the Red Sox and the Celtics were in town Friday night, which is something that does not happen very often. Also a rare occurrence, both home teams came out on top…the Phillies beat the Sox, 6-4 and the 76ers took down the Celtics, 92-83 in playoff action. The stars aligned in Philly for what was a special night.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had a great view of the game from the Hall of Fame club section as he served his one day suspension for a heated argument with umpire Bob Davidson on Tuesday. Davidson was also suspended one game, even though he is the one who instigated the entire incident. I felt like he should have gotten more…but hey, MLB suspending an umpire publically? That is also something you do not see every day so we’ll take it.
An even bigger story last night was closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was looking forward to facing his old team. He had many reason to be fired up, including the fact that after last season, the Red Sox did not even bother to offer him a contract. But whether or not Papelbon was going to get a shot at revenge would depend on the rest of the team…
Cole Hamels did his part, winning 6 straight starts in games in which he earned a decision for the first time in his career. He allowed 3 runs over 7 innings last night while striking out 9 batters.
Meanwhile, the Carlos Ruiz ridiculous hit parade continued with 2 more hits, 2 more RBI, another stolen base and a run scored in the game. Hunter Pence is reaping the rewards of Chooch’s success; batting in front of Ruiz, Pence is getting better pitches to hit. Pence homered in the game and had 2 hits total. Freddy Galvis and John Mayberry Jr. each also had a hit and an RBI.
Chad Qualls came out of the pen for the 8th and right away cut the Phillies lead to 5-4 as he gave up a homer. Luckily, the Galvis home run in the bottom of the inning gave Papelbon some breathing room in the 9th.
Then, as if it was scripted, Papelbon got his wish; a 2-run lead and a save situation in the 9th against his former team. And just like a storybook ending, Papelbon got the save. But as he noted after the game, he will got gloat until the Phillies win the 3-game series.
Game 2 starts a little late tonight at 7:15pm as Pat Burrell will retire before the game on a 1-day contract with the Phillies. If you had not heard, a group of comedians (www.birdtext.com) recently made a video spoof which pokes fun at Burrell’s reputation with the ladies. According to the model who stars in the video, Burrell saw the video and liked it so much, he invited them all to tonight’s game and even requested the tee-shirts they are selling to promote the video. You can hear her interview on the Preston and Steve show here or at www.birdtext.com .
You have to see this….it is hysterical:
So remember, don’t let your mom, wife, sister, girlfriend or whoever get “Burrelled” tonight ;o)
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
5 in a Row!
Winning 5 games in a row seemed an impossible task for the Phillies until now. Their longest win streak of the season previous to this one was only 2 games. They have also gone above the .500 mark for the first time since the first game of the year.
Even having Roy Halladay on the mound has been no guarantee of a win this year as the offense has underperformed. Against the Cubs on Thursday night, Halladay finally got some run support and had a good game himself as well.
Over 8 innings, Halladay allowed 3 runs, 2 of which were solo homers. But he was even hotter at the plate, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Only 3 other Phillies had multi-hit nights,
One of those guys was Halladay’s battery mate, Carlos Ruiz. To say Ruiz is on fire right now is an understatement. He is scorching every pitch that comes his way. In this game, Ruiz went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI and he is now hitting .363. He even stole a base. Wow.
Juan Pierre continues to nip at Ruiz’s heels with a .343 average and 2 more hits in last night’s game. Pierre also made several outstanding grabs in left field.
But while the offense was cooking and it looked like this game might be a laugher, the all too familiar bullpen monster reared its ugly head again. With an 8-3 lead in the 9th, we saw the other side of rookie Jake Diekman. Two games ago, he was spectacular in his major league debut. But last night, he was the exact opposite…awful.
Diekman walked 2 batters, hit a third batter and then gave up a bases-clearing double. The score narrowed to 8-6 with 2 outs and Jonathan Papelbon had to be brought in to close the game. He allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced, making the total line for Diekman 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Yikes!
Papelbon did finally get the job done, but the final score was a frighteningly close 8-7. And the “other” side of Diekman was not something we would ever like to see again.
So the Phillies are heading home for a 3-game interleague series with the Red Sox. Game 1 starts at 7:05pm tonight.
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
Polanco’s 2000th Hit Helps Phillies Win
The Phillies Monday night 5-1 win over the Astros was full of hopeful signs. A little at a time, things are getting better for this team, which is currently still in last place in the NL East.
Starting pitcher Joe Blanton had another great outing, making us all wonder where this guy has been all these years. He has transformed from Average Joe to “I have an ERA under 3.00” Joe. Over 7 innings, Blanton allowed only 1 run on 6 hits and a walk.
Things got shaky in the top of the 8th when he allowed that one run via a solo homer and then gave up a single. Manager Charlie Manuel, not wanting to ruin and otherwise great start, pulled Blanton and let the pen take over. Blanton was visibly surprised at the move, but ultimately, it was for the best.
In the meantime, the Phillies offense showed signs of life. Carlos Ruiz and John Mayberry Jr. remain hot at the plate, each collecting 2 hits on the night. Rookie Freddy Galvis is finally catching on and had 3 hits plus 2 RBI.
But the best moment of the night came in the bottom of the 8th when Placido Polanco added his 2000th career hit in grand fashion. The 2-run homer was probably the best situation he could have imagined for this milestone. Congrats to Polly on this historic accomplishment!
And perhaps the back end of the Phillies bullpen is also getting into the swing of things. Antonio Bastardo, Chad Qualls and Jonathan Papelbon combined to close out the 8th and 9th innings and secure the win. Bastardo even provided his team with some comic relief as he hopped off the mound with enthusiasm thinking the inning was over when there were actually only 2 outs. Bastardo grinned as his teammates poked fun at him while he sauntered back to the mound.
It is nice to see this team finally having some fun out there. Winning certainly helps, but if they can keep their spirits up as well, that may go a long way towards digging their season out of the basement.
Game 2 with the Astros starts early today at 1:05pm.
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
Hamels Returns to Help Phillies Win Series
The 5-game suspension Cole Hamels received for smacking Nationals rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch last week turned out to be sort of a joke. With the off day on Thursday, the Phillies were able to rearrange the rotation, pitching Roy Halladay yesterday and Hamels today. So as it turns out, Hamels did not even miss a start.
And the Phillies are sure glad he did not. Hamels was solid in the 3-2 win over the Padres, allowing just 1 run and 5 hits over 7 innings.
The offense was a little stale, as usual, but they managed 3 runs. This time, that turned out to be enough. Jimmy Rollins got it started in the 1st with a leadoff homer. Brian Schneider gave Carlos Ruiz most of the day off and helped out with 2 hits and an RBI. Juan Pierre collected 2 hits, 1 RBI and continues to be the Phillies best hitter with a .351 average. I am not sure anyone saw that coming when he won a spot on the team out of spring training. But we’ll take it.
Hunter Pence, on the other hand, continues to struggle. Pence looks lost at the plate. He is still swinging at bad pitches, although he showed a little more patience today. But he is pulling off balls; his body goes one way and the bat goes another way…it is very awkward. And it is more awkward than his usual approach, which is almost hard to believe.
The bullpen finally held a lead in this one, although Jose Contreras did give up a run in the 8th making the situation very tenuous. But Antonio Bastardo got him out of the inning without further damage. And Jonathan Papelbon finally got to pitch for a save; it was his first save attempt since May 1st.
Before the game, the Phillies celebrated Mother’s Day. Pierre’s mom, wife and son were greeted on the field and Pierre coddled and played with the infant, which was adorable.
And luckily, the warm fuzzies before the game translated into a win as the Phillies took 2 of 3 from the Padres.
The schedule for the remainder of May gets a little weird now. The Phils will play 2 against the Astros then fly to Chicago for 2 games with the Cubs and return home again to face the Red Sox and Nationals before hitting the road again. Game 1 with the Astros starts at 7:05pm Monday night.
Here is the full Photo Album from today’s game and pre-game warm-up’s and ceremonies.
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
The Downhill Trend
Things have been headed steadily downhill for the Phillies this season. A loss to the Mets last night by a 5-2 score simply added emphasis to that fact. Roy Halladay had a solid start, allowing just 2 runs in 7 innings. But the offense left 10 men on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
In a tie game in the 9th, closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up a 3-run homer to a rookie, Mike Nickeas. It was his first major league hit. You cannot pin the loss on Papelbon, however, I am tired of the excuses for closers in a non-save situation.
I understand the mental part of the game, the lack of adrenaline in a non-save situation, yada, yada, yada… Whatever. But for the amount of money these guys get paid, I personally feel I could overcome any mental obstacle thrown my way. These guys want an adrenaline boost? Tell them to look in their checkbooks before taking the mound. That would certainly fire me up.
Before the game, Cole Hamels was suspended 5 games for hitting Nationals rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch and then admitting he did it on purpose. Let me get this out of the way: Hamels was honest, but it was the wrong thing to do for his team. Entertaining maybe, but still wrong.
However, as wrong as he was, many others added to the pile of wrong-doing afterwards as well. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo blasted Hamels saying, “I’ve never seen a more classless, gutless chicken [bleep] act in my 30 years in baseball.” Really? Isn’t publically calling someone a classless, gutless chicken via the media just as classless and gutless? Be a man and tell it Hamels’ face. Rizzo is just as “fake tough” as he proposed Hamels is.
And how about the retaliation when pitcher Jordan Zimmermann hit Hamels with a pitch? Was that not also childish, classless and gutless? Zimmermann refused to admit he did it on purpose, so he did not get suspended. But everyone involved knows the truth.
These guys are like children in a sandbox. And all of them are wrong. Their mama’s must have missed out on teaching them some important lessons.
So just for fun, here is the conversation I imagine between Hamels & Rizzo, spoken solely in “old school” parental clichés:
Hamels: If you keep frowning, your face will get stuck like that!
Rizzo: This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.
Hamels: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Rizzo: You bit off more than you can chew.
Hamels: No use crying over spilt milk.
Rizzo: One bad apple spoils the bunch.
Hamels: You are full of piss and vinegar.
Rizzo: Revenge is a meal best served cold.
Hamels: Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Rizzo: What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Hamels: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Goodbye.
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Four Games, Three Loses and a Whole Bunch of Questions
The start of the 2012 season has not gone well for the Phillies. And that is putting it nicely. Losing 3 out of the first 4 games with the ugliest one coming Monday afternoon at the Home Opener has many people worried about this team.
It could just be a slow start…or it may be a glimpse of the future Phillies. Let us all hope it is just a slow start.
The Phillies offense wasted good pitching performances from Cliff Lee and Vance Worley in back-to-back games against the Pirates. Then yesterday against the Marlins, Cole Hamels was not sharp and basically, the entire team sucked.
Home team fans looking for some home run excitement got it…only from the wrong team. The Marlins took Hamels, Joe Savery and even closer Jonathan Papelbon deep. As for scoring, most of that came from the Marlins as well.
The worst thing I can say about the new Miami Marlins after that performance is that their uniforms are hideous. Take that, you dreaded fish!
The only bright spot in the game was seeing rookie Freddy Galvis finally get a hit. His first major league hit was an RBI-double that knocked in both Shane Victorino and John Mayberry Jr. But that was literally the only offense in the game from the Phillies.
I am stretching to find the positives here so I will add that I approve of Papelbon’s entrance music. His selection was a great mystery until the home opener yesterday. He chose “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains, which is in my personal top 10 of the greatest rock songs ever. So there, another positive ;o)
But sadly, that is where the fun ends. Just keep telling yourself, it is only 4 games…
Here are ALL my photos from the Home Opener! There are a lot..enjoy!
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
Phillies Opening Day: One Game, One Win
In the 10th straight opening day start of his career, Roy Halladay was nearly perfect. Through 8 innings against the Pirates, he allowed only 2 hits, both of which came in the 1st inning. After the 1st, he was unhittable.
And it is a very good thing, too. Because the Phillies offense got off to a bit of a slow start with a few exceptions. Carlos Ruiz went 3 for 3 and drove in the only run of the game in the 7th inning. John Mayberry Jr. help set up Chooch with 2 hits and made several key plays in left field.
The only other offense was a bunt single from Jimmy Rollins and a single from Mr. Fantastic himself, Halladay. There was little else the Phils could have asked from Halladay today.
The sad story of the day was rookie Freddy Galvis. In his first major league game, Galvis started his career with 2 straight double play balls. His third at-bat would have been a double play as well if there had been a runner on 1st at the time and less than two outs. For the finale, Galvis struck out.
It was not pretty, but give the rookie some time. Hopefully, he will bounce back in game 2.
Not wanting to drain his ace too early, manager Charlie Manuel pulled Halladay after the 8th and gave their new closer a shot in the 9th. Jonathan Papelbon was as advertised. He reached 95 on the gun and sent the Bucos down in order.
The Phillies sauntered off with a slim 1-0 win over the Pirates. If this is any indication of the season to come, hang on Phillies fans, it is going to be a nail-biting 161 games remaining!
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
Spring Has Sprung: Phillies 2012 Edition
The start of spring training is always an exciting time. It means a new year, new players and another shot at the World Championship. For me, the day pitcher’s and catcher’s report does not exactly conjure the urge to cheer out loud; it is more a feeling of relief. It is time to exhale…
Because all winter long, I have been holding my breath waiting for spring to arrive and it is finally here! Winter is the worst season for baseball addicts. You can try to distract yourself with the holidays, football, hockey and hoops, but it is just not the same. And there are so many down days and so much time to fill.
Now, like a child on Christmas morning, we all feel the anticipation of the new season upon us. Just as excited must be Roy Halladay, who arrived to spring training in style. This appears to be a 1932 Ford Roadster; the photo was tweeted by Matt Gelb:
As spring training rolls forward, here are a few things to keep your eyes out for:
Who’s on First? – After Achilles surgery, Ryan Howard will be out of the line-up until at least May, probably longer. Will John Mayberry take over? Or, will he start in left and leave 1st base to new Phillies Laynce Nix and Ty Wigginton? My preference is the latter.
What’s on Second? – The “who” here is Chase Utley. The “what” is what shape will he be in after nursing a bum knee throughout the 2011 season.
Juggling of the Bullpen – There are some significant changes to the pen this year starting with new closer Jonathan Papelbon. But that role is set, so what about the rest of the pen? What role will Kyle Kendrick fill? Will Dontrelle Willis be a real contributor? And can Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes move past the awful ending to an otherwise solid 2011 season? Add Chad Qualls and a possible return from Jose Contreras and this has the makings of a huge soap opera.
The Infirmary – One of the biggest question marks on an aging team is can they stay healthy? Many players had off-season surgery including Cole Hamels, Placido Polanco, Hunter Pence and, of course, Ryan Howard. Jimmy Rollins has only played around 1/2 of the last two seasons due to injuries. And this year, he has a brand new contract, making his continued health a real priority.
The Contract Situation – Cole Hamels is on board for the year. But unless the Phillies ink a long-term deal with him this spring, they are likely to lose him in free agency next year. The question is, how much of a distraction will this be? Personally, I think the Phillies need to cut a deal now and be done with it.
Luckily, this year fans will have more opportunities to see these dramas play out thanks to expanded TV coverage of spring training. Comcast has published a list of all 14 games that will be aired plus many news and social media events. This is the first time EVER that you can see every Phillies spring training game without travelling to Clearwater.
Of course, I would rather be in Florida. However, this is a great alternative. With the early March games being aired, you can see a lot of young guys and prospects play that without the TV coverage, you normally would not. In prior years, those players were already sent back to the minors by the time games began to air.
Changing the subject to a more personal note, many of you who follow my blog regularly know that I generally post new content frequently. However, this off-season has been a tough one for me. It seems like life keeps tossing me curve balls. I have been quite ill all off-season. Then a short time ago, my cat of 15 years passed away in my arms. I had to have surgery just 6 days after that happened and am still recovering with another surgery on the horizon.
I will live, but it has been a rough go for a while here. So I thank you all for continuing to follow my silly little blog :O) I hope to be back on track with regular postings and some fun photos real soon. And what could be a better cure for that which ails me than baseball?
Thank goodness, Spring Training has sprung!
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Questions That Loom Over the Phillies 2012 Season
A new year is upon us and a new Phillies season is almost here, with Spring Training to begin in just over a month. A few off-season signings have solidified some areas, where other areas may still be of concern. Here is my list of Phillies looming questions by position:
The Starting Rotation - The projected starters and order are Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Vance Worley. Halladay and Lee are no brainers. Hamels is recovering from elbow surgery but reports are that he is throwing and feeling fine.
This means the two questions remaining are Blanton and Worley. Blanton sat out most of 2011 with a bum elbow and chose not to have surgery this offseason. How he will respond in 2012 is a mystery. However, Kyle Kendrick will be waiting in the wings to fill in should Big Joe go down.
And the question for Worley is simply, will he suffer the sophomore slump or pick up where he left off in 2011. Either way, the Vanimal will be fascinating to watch.
Catcher - Carlos Ruiz returns as Batman with Brian Schneider backing him up as Robin. Choooooch! No questions here.
1st Base – The sight of Ryan Howard tumbling to the ground in agony to end the Phillies 2011 season still burns in our collective memories. Beat-writer Todd Zolecki reports that Howard is recovering well from Achilles surgery and is now beginning a light exercise program.
Still, Howard will miss some time. Experts predict that John Mayberry Jr. will pick up most of the time at 1st with an occasional appearance from Jim Thome. This seems like a terrible shame for Mayberry who should simply be handed left field and allowed to get comfortable there for the long haul. Instead, the Phillies will probably platoon Laynce Nix in left with someone like Scott Podsednik.
My suggestion? Give Nix a shot at 1st base and leave Mayberry in left. Nix has played 1st before and with some work in Spring Training, he could work his way into the role easily. Of course, I have no real say in the matter.
2nd Base – Can Chase Utley start and end a whole season at 2nd with his health intact? We shall see…
Shortstop – Jimmy Rollins returns with a fresh 3-year deal. The question here is that same as that of the other Phillies aging players…can he stay healthy?
3rd Base – I hate to beat a dead horse, but can Placido Polanco stay healthy at 36 years of age, coming off sports hernia surgery? We hope so. Polly’s contract is up after 2012, so who will be our 3rd baseman in 2013?
My suggestion? Glad you asked. Have minor league prospect Freddy Galvis spend the year working on a move from SS to 3rd. Galvis is almost major league ready but out of options with J-Roll resigned at SS for 3 years. Either Galvis becomes trade bait or he finds another way to be useful to the Phils.
Outfield - As I mentioned before, Mayberry should be the left fielder but it may wind up being Nix until Howard gets healthy. At least center and right are set: Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence will both be back and ready to play.
The Bullpen – Once again, the Phillies pen is a huge question mark. The Phils saw rookies and younger, less experienced players, like Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo, rise and fall throughout 2011. The status of veteran Jose Contreras is mostly unknown since having elbow surgery. Other veterans, like Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson are gone (for now). However, neither Lidge or Madson have found homes. Could they return? It’s a long shot….but not impossible.
Spring Training is going to be huge in determining the make-up of this bullpen. There will be a lot of opportunities for younger guys to step up and steal a spot. It will also be interesting to see if Dontrelle Willis can conjure up some of his early career magic or if he will slide back into oblivion.
And of course, the closer question was answered with the signing of Jonathan Papelbon. The only question here is will Papelbon play up to his huge salary?
The Bench – Both Thome and Wilson Valdez are set. The rest of the bench could consist of any number of new signings or guys like Michael Martinez and Pete Orr. Again, Spring Training should be very interesting.
FYI - Totally off topic, if anyone has noticed some of my photos and albums mysteriously gone missing, this is due to an unexpected issue with the site I was using to store them. I am in the process of getting it all loaded to a new site and will be working on updating older blogs as I am able to. For now, all 2011 albums are back up and can be found under my 2007 – 2011 Photo Archives. Thank you for your patience while I get everything back up and running :O)
I would like to thank all of my loyal readers for stopping by and helping to make Phillies Phollowers the #1 Phillies Fan MLBlog for the 4th straight year. Among all team MLBlogs, I ranked #10 in 2011.
Many thanks to everyone in the MLBlogs community and congrats to all the leaders!
“LIKE” us on Facebook for more updates & photos!
Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
The Phillies Night Before Christmas 2011
The Phillies Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all over the field,
Not a player was stirring, as the 2011 season had been sealed.
The bats were stacked in the clubhouse with care,
In hopes that a Championship soon would be there.
-
The Phillies were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of trophies danced in their heads.
And Ruben with his new closer contract tucked under his cap,
Had just settled down for a long off-season nap.
-
When out in Charlie’s house, there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he stumbled, half asleep,
Having woke from a nightmare of his bullpen being taken deep.
-
The moonlight lit up the old ’08 trophy, causing it to glow
And gave the illusion of a night game on the grass down below.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh filled with ballplayers in good cheer.
-
With his General Manager, ace pitchers in tow,
He knew in a moment it must be Ruben Amaro.
More rapid than the trade deadline, forward they all came,
And he grumbled, and shouted, and called them by name!
-
“Now, Utley! Now, Howard! Now, Rollins and Victorino!
On, Ruiz! On, Halladay! On, Pence and Polanco!
To the top of the National League! To the top of them all!
Now run away! Run away! And play some baseball!”
-
And then, in a twinkling, Charlie heard, “You The Man!”
From the shouting and cheering of each happy fan.
As he drew in his head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney J-Roll came with a bound.
-
He was dressed all in pinstripes, from his head to his foot,
Having tossed his old contract, which was tarnished, with ashes and soot.
But he arrived with a smile and Charlie gave him a pat on his back,
Surely the new 3-year deal would put this team right back on track.
-
J-Roll spoke many words, but getting on with his job,
He welcomed Jonathan Papelbon, whose new deal has him living high on the hog.
And with thunderous joy, the fans clapped their hands,
With a few shiny new toys, 2011 is sure to be grand!
-
J-Roll then sprang to the sleigh, and to his team gave a call,
“You guys are the best ballplayers of all!”
But Charlie heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Happy HoLEEday’s to all and to all a good night!”
-
Re-wording & photoshopping by Jenn
Phillies Phollowers
Recent Comments