The Deitch Pit


Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Phils-Braves, 9/5, Getaway Day

Charlie Manuel didn't waste time in getting Kyle Kendrick in the sixth inning. It worked out, as J.C. Romero and Kane Davis got the Phils out of a jam. Now they have to find pitchers to get the last nine outs.
We're wondering who will pitch the seventh. It's like trying to choose between executioners.
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So much for that issue ... show me JohClaSisco Enndreysario!
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Pete LaForest welcomes himself to the team with an RBI pinch single ... Rod Barajas is now a $3 million fourth-string catcher.
LaForest needed to make a splash as the left-handed bopper off the bench, since what made him a need was the trade that sent Russ Branyan to the Cardinals. Big Russ started Tuesday and hit a long ball for St. Louis.
Remember, the Phils still have three games at St. Louis ... so aren't we all ready for Branyan to hit five homers that series?
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Wow, I combined three names and none of them is the big seventh-inning winner ... it's Geoff Geary, who has regained his nickname "The White Flag" with his '07 meltdown.
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In Bullpen We Don't Trust: Flash Gordon is pitching the eighth with the Phils up six runs. Apparently a save situation for the Phils is any game where the lead is 3x2 runs or fewer.
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Mets lose, 7-0 to the Reds, so the Phils should whittle the lead to four games with 23 to go. The Phils need a 5-2 (or better) homestand and a series win against the Mets in New York to have a reasonable opportunity to win the N.L. East.

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Well, thanks to three straight bloop singles (two of which fell in front of Chris Roberson, who is supposed to be fast enough to chase those puppies down) it really is a save situation. It's 8-3, sacks full, and Brett Myers is trying to get the five-out save .... oops, 8-4, wild pitch. Nice.
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I can't ever remember a team getting this many chintzy hits in such a short span ... someone order a six-pack of Tums.
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I know there has been a little uproar over Cole Hamels' comments Tuesday, in particular one where he said that if the Phils were out of the playoff race in the season's final days, he wouldn't expect to pitch. My opinion is that Hamels was speaking from a position where he still isn't sure his elbow is going to feel good enough to pitch, period, and he is well aware that the team won't pitch him in meaningless games at this point. That said, it would take a pretty significant collapse over the next two weeks for the Phils to fall out of contention in the final week. I think everyone is bellyaching over something that isn't going to happen - and what the hell is the point of that?

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