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The Phillies inch closer to NL lead.
Tonight the Phillies did something they haven’t done for a while. They won a game while the Braves lost and therefore gained a whole game in the National League East race.
They did this, beating Colorado 12-11, mostly by virtue of a 9 run 7th inning where the team had a serious bataround. Polanco doubled, Ultey singled, Howard homered, Werth homered, Ibanez flied out, Victorino singled, Schneider singled, Francisco pinch hit and singled, Rollins singled, Polanco (in his second at bat) struck out, Utley (in his second at bat of the inning) crushed a grand slam and then Howard (in his second at bat) lined out. It could have gone on for a bit with slightly better luck, but 12 batters, 3 homeruns, a double and 5 singles is about the best inning we have seen out of the Phillies in quite some time.
Utley’s grand slam put the score at 12-8 as the Phillies charged back from a 4 run deficit 2 times, once after Blanton gave the Rockies 4 runs in the second, and then again when the score was 7-3 after 6.
It is a good thing the Phillies got all those runs as Durbin had a rough inning of relief and gave 3 of them right back to Colorado. Every Phillie starter had a hit and every starter except Ibanez scored a run or more.
Howard’s home run was his 25th, and his second of the week, prompting many to hope the big guy has regained his stroke. He had other nice cuts at the ball and looked like he was moving around more naturally and that may mean a lot to the Phillies who are in a division race fighting for their life with 28 games to go.
They end the night 2 games back of the Braves for the division and 2 games up on the Giants for the wild card so they have a solid shot at the postseason. It would be nice to enter the post season as the division champs rather then having the wild card underdog status throughout.
The pitching remains confusing and hard to define. Hamels at 8-10 with 17 quality starts, an ERA of 3.31, and a 3.5 K/BB ratio just puzzles the crap out of me. Oswalt is 4-1 with an ERA under 2 since joining the club mid season, but ranks 5th in the majors in losses overall when you add in his starts from Houston. Halladay should be a 20 game winner who didn’t get a single break this season as he sits at 16-10 on paper even after pitching 22 quality starts with nearly a strikeout per inning and a 2.27 ERA, and Blanton is now just a huge question mark to me after his last handful of starts.
If the starting 3 (Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt) pitch as well as their statistics for the final month, and the Phillies bats stay hot, they still have a chance to threepeat and hit the postseason strong. Even though Hamels and Oswalt have 10 and 13 losses respectively, I don’t think there is a single team in the NL that wants to try a three game series against those three back to back to back. You may win one but not two and never three especially in crunch time. The Phillies may be the sleeper team of the year as ESPN has them ranked at the bottom of the top ten for the past few months and I think they have as good a chance as anybody to go to the show and win it again.
Every game has more meaning this late in the year, and now is when Charlie Manuel should have his chance to shine as the small adjustments and timing of substitutions will make a bigger difference in the outcomes of the games, and the teams position heading into October. The games this month will show us just how potentially strong a dynasty we have built here, and for how many years we should compete at the highest level.
Another extra inning affair.
What next for the Phillies ?
Much has been made of Ryan Howard’s performance since his return from the disabled list, and now sources are saying there may still be something wrong with the big man preventing him from playing at 100%.
Last night, the first 6 innings were relatively uneventful as the teams played to a 1-1 draw. The Phillies looked lifeless after being swept by the Astros in a 4 game series that included losses to former Phillies pitchers J A Happ and Brett Myers as well as a 16 inning heartbreaker that saw some offensive players go 0-7. Happ, two years ago the team’s ace of the future, outlasted Halladay in the third game to really rub it in. Of course, for the Astros, this series against last years NL champion and 2008 World Series champion was their post season. At 12 games below 500 and 16 games out with less than a month to go, the Astros are not playoff bound.
The Phillies probably are, which makes the 4 game sweep so confusing and upsetting. They have more to play for but seem to be manuevering into position to win the wild card, instead of pushing the Braves to take the National League East for the third year in a row. At least we aren’t trailing the Mets, that would be TOO much to bear !
Rollins had a good night, going 3-5 with a double, a walk and a run scored.
Ryan Howard did provide a single in the 7th, sandwiched by walks to Utley and Werth, that may have been the catalyst behind the Phillies go ahead score. If Howard’s single was the catalyst, Raaauuul Ibanez came through with the clutch hit, a one out single to right that scored the run. Gregerson came in in relief and got Victorino into a double play fielders choice then struck out Ruiz to end the threat.
Oswalt pitched a masterful game, with 6 strikeouts versus five hits allowed through the first 8 innings. He was pulled for a pinch hitter in the ninth as the Phillies looked to build on that scant one run lead. The Phillies however went down one, two, three, and Lidge came in for the bottom of the ninth with a one run lead.
He pitched a typically ugly half inning, with a single, sacrifice, groundout, intentional walk, hit batsman, than the piece de resistance, the balk to push the tying score across the plate.
Oswalt can’t win a game, no matter how well he pitches !
Maybe Charlie will consider letting him keep pitching next start if he has the same stuff.
Rollins doubled to lead off the 12th inning. Polanco singled to center to score Jimmy and put the Phillies up 3-2. The Phillies FINALLY took advantage of an Atlanta loss and picked up a game on the NL East lead.
A wasted opportunity
The Phillies blew a perfect chance to make up some ground on the division leading Atlanta Braves today.
The Braves looked awful, losing 6-2 to the basement dwelling Nationals.
Cole Hamels was shaky at best, giving up 5 runs in his first 4 innings, allowing 7 hits, striking out 5 and walking 1 while San Francisco’s Sanchez pitched a 1 hitter through the first 4.
Victorino was the only batter to get a hit early, continuing his torrid pace since returning from the DL.
With Victorino and Utley back in the lineup, Ryan Howard is the main offensive piece of the puzzle still missing in action, but expect his return any day now.
Last night’s victory put the Phillies a game up in the National League wild card race but we have gotten spoiled here in Philly, and want nothing less than another NL East title.
Herndon and Baez came in to pitch 4 innings of shutout relief and the Phillies scored a pair in the 9th off a Sweeny double but they were never in this one.
The Phillies at 68-52 remain 2 1/2 behind the Braves and can pick up a half game with a win tomorrow to finish the San Francisco series as the Braves are idle. The good news, Atlanta goes to Chicago to play the Cubs while the Phillies host the Nationals so there is a good chance they can close the gap by early next week.
Halladay gains 15th win.
Halladay threw another strong game today pitching 8 innings, striking out 7, allowing 4 hits and no runs. Madsen mopped up the ninth and maintained the shutout, but with a 4-0 lead, did not earn a save.
Maybe he should have. As easily as the Phillies at times seem to score runs in bunches, they are equally prone to have their pitching staff do likewise. The starting pitchers have actually shone for the most part of late, with Hamels getting an undeserved loss in a 5 hit 1 run 8 inning outing Friday night and Roy Oswalt throwing 7 innings of 5 hit shutout ball in a 2-0 victory over the Dodgers. Of course, in between these pitching gems was the 10-9 come from behind unbelievable game which just goes to show how versatile these guys are when it comes to scoring runs, and in a hurry !
Offensively nearly everyone seems to contribute. The combination is enough to keep the Phillies in the NL East race as they try to inch closer to the Atlanta Braves.
Rollins, Polanco, Werth and Victorino all had hits, as well as Halladay who scored the first run in the third off a Polanco Texas Leaguer.
The Phillies, at 65-51 remain 2 games back with 46 to go.
The team is anxiously waiting for word on slugger Ryan Howard, and his status down the stretch will probably figure in the race as we hit September. Even after missing 10 games this season, he still leads the team in home runs by 7 and RBI by 21.
As intense as the competition is, he still ranks second in the league in RBI.
Victorino seems to have hit the ground running, going 2 for 4 with a run scored today in his second full game back.
It seems there is a good feeling in the dugout; this team that went 14-3 to get back in the race, in the dog days of summer, is not about to give up now, with their eyes so close to the prize. Philly fans are tough, they got a World Series, but now they want a threepeat for the NL and a return to the World Series and to fall short will be unsatisfying for everyone.
I, for one, think they are going to give it one heck of a shot.
Another ninth inning comeback miracle
The Phillies beat the Dodgers tonight by a final score of 10-9.
That tells very little of the whole story.
The whole story is that the Phillies rallied from 8 runs down in the 8th inning, and managed to score 4 runs in the ninth while only collecting 1 hit. Here is how it played out. Polanco was hit by a pitch, then Sweeney walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Werth became the second walk of the inning followed by Francisco hitting in to a fielders choice, but the Dodgers Blake committed an error on the play allowing Polanco and Sweeney to score to pull the Phillies to 9-8. Then Ruiz stepped in and nailed the first hit of the inning, a double deep to left center scoring Werth and Francisco.
So, HBP, BB, BB, FC, E, double = 4 runs and another late inning Phillies win.
I seem to recall Lidge having some days like Broxton did tonight. Check out his final boxscore line. 0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 4 runs, 3 earned, 2 BB, 1 HBP and the loss.
In tonight’s game, Sweeney and Valdez produced more than expected, Polanco remains on a tear, Ibanez finally lost his hitting streak, Werth stayed on fire as he has been since the trade rumors with a 2-4 night with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI’s.
All these things combined for an exciting 10-9 bottom of the ninth victory.
Blanton pitched ok through 5 after a shaky first inning, but his 5.69 ERA is still an issue.
All in all I would say August has been a month of surprises for the Phillies. Brown is a pleasant surprise, and Oswalt is looking like he is finally remembering he was the staff ace down in Houston for the better part of a decade.
With about 6 weeks to go, the Phillies pulled back to within 2 games of the Braves but it appears the momentum may be turning their way. If Polanco continues to hit, Howard and Victorino come off the DL and resume where they left off, and the combination of starting pitching and Lidge hold up, these Phillies have a good chance to threepeat as NL champions.
I can’t wait for tomorrow.
We go back to play the Mets and the Braves get to face the Dodgers in Atlanta.
Phillies win and pick up Sweeny.
The Phillies beat the Florida Marlins for their third straight game 7-2.
Rookie Domonic Brown has been excellent in his first week of work. The Phillies are 5-2 since calling him up and he is played in 6 of those games. He drove in 3 more runs in last night’s victory and is now batting .273 with 5 singles, a double, and a total of 6 RBI.
Ibanez extended his hitting streak to 12 as he drove in 2.
It all started with a 58 minute rain delay, but once the game started Kendrick pitched effectively enough for the win.
The Phillies have now won 11 of their last 13 and are only 2 games back in the NL East race.
They just acquired Mike Sweeny to fill in for Ryan Howard at first base so it appears that with 55 games to go, the Phillies plan on remaining a contender, playing through their injuries and trying for a threepeat as NL champions.
If they suffer no more injuries, and Howard and Utley return shortly from the DL to add thier talents to the stretch run, I believe this team can do it.
Tomorrow we wll find out if they made another strong mid season move as Oswalt returns to the mound, no more first game after the trade jitters, to finish off the series with the Marlins.
If he performs strong, than we have an effective 1-2-3 rotation that will get us through the first round of the playoffs.
If he looks like he did in his first outing as a Phillie, we atill have some holes to plug.
Vick Officially Cleared ?
Today it was reported that Eagles owner Jeff Lurie cleared Michael Vick, stating that he made an error in judgement being there in an effort to appease certain members of his family and people from his old neighborhood-meaning, his dogfighting ring cronys-but that he was not DIRECTLY involved with any wrongdoing personally in regards to the shooting.
Huh ?
I responded to this interview much in the same way I responded to the Eagles acquisition of the historically troubled quarterback in the first place.
Any time I post in opposition to Vick, I get comments about the man having served his time and giving him another chance. I responded then as I do now; If any of us were to repeatedly be involved in legal troubles of any nature, the world would not respond so kindly to our re-introduction as is any athlete or celebrity accustomed.
The Eagles have a strong young quarterback with limited experience in Kerry Kolb. He can carry the franchise the next 5-10 years and possibly do great things, especially if the recieving corps is reinforced. They need a proven veteran who is an asset to the team, in both action and attitude. They need someone who can step in if things get out of control, or Kolb were to get injured (always a possibility for starting quarterbacks in the NFL)
They don’t need Vick. They don’t need the drama.
They can do without his 68 yards passing, his 95 yards rushing, his 3 touchdowns, all at a bargain NFL ticket of 1.6 million. This year he is making 5.2 million. That we know of. That’s more than $1,700,000 per touchdown. Or $31,901 per yard. Or $4 more a ticket you and me and everyone has to pay to see him play. And he is hardly ever a factor, even when on the field.
I don’t see him as ever being a factor and, based on his first year’s performance in Philly, I don’t see why Lurie relaxed his zero tolerance policy, which would of course NOT include looking the other way at any player being present at the scene of a shooting, to make an exception for Vick of all people.
It is sad. The NFL allowed him to return to play after his incarceration. Tony Dungy stood up for him. McNabb and Reid lobbied to get him on the roster. Now Lurie is standing up for him. What more does our young superstar desire ? Why is it he can’t stay away from people who break laws and cause trouble ? He knows he is a celebrity so I would think he would be ultra careful.
I will be rooting for Kolb to be strong out of training camp and eliminate any need to have further Vick discussion. Let’s have him “star” in 50 snaps that gain a total of 200 yards for the season and pay him 3 times as much this year.
Allegations regarding Michael Vick since he was drafted in 2001:
Trade more than just a rumour now.
It is looking more and more like the Phillies will acquire a new pitcher.
With Victorino, Rollins and Utley on the DL, and Moyer apparently done forever, the Phillies are trying to shore up a roster that looked a lot deeper and stronger at the beginning of the year then it does now.
Roy Oswalt may be the missing piece. Oswalt has not yet waived his no trade clause but appears very unhappy with his standing as the staff ace for the Houston Astros, who, at 42-59 look to have no chance at the post season for 2010. Oswalt, a very capable pitcher has seen his numbers drop to match the team, with a 6-12 record and a 3.42 ERA so far this season.
Since breaking into the big leagues in 2001, Roy Oswalt has 143 victories — 28 more than any other NL pitcher. And his 1,593 strikeouts are the most for any NL pitcher with 100 starts since 2001. The combination of Oswalt and Halladay would give the Phillies their first authentic 1-2 punch in a generation.
Halladay held similar records in the AL prior to the trade to Philadelphia and despite a lack of run support in all his starts, he still is second in the league in ERA and 3rd in victories, and in both these categories he leads the Phillies.
The Astros, in turn, are looking to acquire Happ and Singleton as well as a prospect to be named later from the Phillies. While Happ has not yet lived into his potential, Oswalt is a proven commodity. And Singleton IS a hot prospect for the Phillies at a farm league level, but right now, if the Phillies are going to stay in it for the rest of the year and make a run at the Braves, they need pitching.
Wow. It seems like every time we evaluate this team, it needs pitching.
Fielding is covered; the hitting; comes and goes, that is the nature of the game. Pitching, has long been the area in which the Phillies have lacked world championship caliber players. Consider 2008, their World Series winning season. They had 4 pitchers with 10 or more victories.
Moyer led the team with 16, then came Hamels with 14, Kendrick with 11 and Myers with 10. The team ERA was 3.88 and the lowest ERA by a starting pitcher was Hamels at 3.09. So when the possibility exists the Phillies may end up with 2 pitchers who can record 20 wins with an ERA in the 2’s, fans can sense the excitement. If we can win the world series with the above rotation, imagine how much better we can be with a starting group including Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Kendrick
Missing man is Joe Blanton who had several strong years but is posting a 4-6 record with a 5.86 ERA after 16 starts this year. If we can’t trade back for Lee, I say let Happ go and acquire the veteran that has proven he can fill the staff ace role. Let the 2 Roys, Halladay and Oswalt fight it out to determine who will be ace #1, and who will be ace #2.
OK, I am impressed.
Domonic Brown made his first start with the Phillies in right field tonight and immediately made an impact. With the ball. In his first at bat he nailed a ball to deep right scoring Jayson Werth and getting his first hit and RBI in the same at bat.
He didn’t miss becoming another major leaguer to enter the big leagues with a homerun by much, but his double was impressive enough given the Phillies recent offensive ups and downs. Having another .300 hitting contact hitter with the potential to go deep at any time certainly wont hurt the team ! He later hit a sacrifice fly for a 2nd RBI in his first game.
Halladay threw a quality start, the big guy has worked really hard so far this year to be the owner of a 12-8 record with a paltry 2.21 ERA. He ended up with the win in a complete game 114 pitch effort that saw the Phillies win 7-1.
Werth went 3-4 with 3 runs scored, perhaps making a statement to the Phillies front office right before the trade deadline.
Ruiz remained hot with 3 hits and 3 RBI of his own.
Overall a great effort by a team that still has a chance to make a run at the NL East. And a great first game by a much touted farm league player in Brown.
Phillies win a close one
Even though I work and don’t get to watch much of the action, I still try to keep an eye on those Phitens.
They beat the Rockies 5-4 with Lidge on the mound to earn the save. Yes I know, he gave up a two run dinger and made a 5-2 game a closer contest than it needed to be, but after all, we Philly fans are actually getting used to clutching our hearts in the ninth inning and hoping for the best.
Polanco remains hot, and 6 Phillies got hits in today’s game.
Blanton pitched well enough for the win, only allowing 2 runs through 6 innings.
The Phillies retain their hold on second place in the NL East trailing the Braves by 4 1/2 games as of this moment and leading the Mets now by 3 full games until tonight’s contests.
The streaking team has won 5 straight but one wonders which team will show up at the ball park for the next contest, the clutch hitting, base running, no holds barred Phillies, or the lackluster wild swinging offense with baserunning blunders and questionable substitutions in late inning situations.
Either way, I wish I was not at work, but in the stadium, cold beer in hand, soft pretzel in my belly and 40,000 other screaming idiots cheering on the home team Phillies. Since I have not yet perfected living life for free, I will now return to work, and dream of days when the above scenario may be possible.
For today at least, I can be content with a mild winning streak, and a team that seems to be pushing it’s way back to the top of the NL standings, instead of heading the other way.
Now excuse me, after watching Lidge for that brief moment, I need to go locate some TUMS.
Which one of these teams doesn’t belong ?
Philadelphia is one of the few cities in the country graced with 5 full time professional sports franchises.
4 of them are established, of course I refer to the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Sixers. Now we also have a pro soccer team, the Union.
I played football and baseball as a teenager and in college. I played pick up games of basketball, stickball, volleyball, hockey, golf, darts and even horseshoes.
My high school had a soccer team.
Not only did I: 1) Never try out. but 2) Never watched a game nor: 3) was aware of the results of a game.
I have never played soccer.
All that being said, I think I may need to reevaluate the sport, at least from the perspective of being a fan or spectator.
Because, the numbers dont lie.
Let’s look at the average per game attendance of the teams over the past decade.
Philadelphia Eagles 66,302, 66,000, 65,888, 65,670, 67,991, 67,640, 69,209, 68,169, 69,125, 69,144.
That averages to 67,000 + fans per game. Most of these numbers occured at Lincoln Financial, with a seating capacity of 68,532, but several years were recorded at the previous stadium which held about 3,000 fewer people. Suffice it to say, the Eagles attendance is nearly the maximum possible given the venue and their steady level of fan support.
Philadelphia Phillies 22,846, 20,482, 28,973, 40,626, 33,316, 34,200, 38,374, 42,254. 44,453, 45,054*.
That averages to 35,000 + fans per game, but there also is a stadium change, responsible for the first cresting of the 40,000 mark in 2004 when the Phillies moved to Citizens Bank Park. CBP has a listed capacity of 43,651 so the last three years numbers reflect near constant sellouts. The cavernous Veterans Stadium with it’s NL leading baseball capacity of 62,382 at the time of it’s demolition was rarely more than 75% full, and in lean years, 20,000 fans could look pathetic as they frequently did in 2001 and 2002 when the Phillies were out of contention by mid July.
Philadelphia Flyers 19,634, 19,576, 19,569, 19,325, 19,375, 19,653, 19,283, 19,556, 19,081, 19,536.
That averages at 19,675 fans per game which is jammed in like sardines numbers at the Wachovia Center which is designated as holding 19,519 when set up for hockey. Let it be said the Broad Street Bullies always play to a full house.
Philadelphia 76ers 19,651, 20,560, 19,685, 19,222, 17,870, 16,518, 14,843, 14,870, 15,800, 14,224.
That averages 16,000 fans per game in the Wachovia center which, when set up for basketball has a capacity of 21,500. The telling figure here is how the numbers have dwindled from 95% capacity in 2002 to 65% this year.
The brand spanking new Philadelphia Union. So far they have played three home games, 1 at PPL stadium, and in the first 2 they drew 35,000 and 25,000 fans, their home opener in Chester PA they drew 19,000 fans in a park designed to max out at 18,500 so by early appearances they will continue to sell out or near sell out their remaining games. At 3-7-1, they have not made a statement regarding their ability as yet, but still more fans are attracted then fill the Wachovia Center when the 76ers are at work.
To sum up, the Eagles and Flyers hold steady at sell out level. The Phillies are coming off back to back records numbers in attendance and at their current pace this year, they will beat that number again. The 76ers are fading, and if soccer mania gets a grip here, in danger of falling to the fifth biggest sports headline on the local news.
The most obvious reason for this trend is in the results. Since 2000 the Phillies have 3 league titles and a world championship. The Eagles have 5 division titles and 1 NFC title. The Flyers have 3 division titles and 1 conference championship. Philly is Philly so there are not many bandwagon fans. Look at the Phillies five year surge just as the team started to achieve, the same thing happened in the late 70’s and became nationally known as the Whiz Kid movement as the Phillies took it all in 1980, but by 1998, the attendance had dropped by 50%. Why is that ? Because the team stank. Why else ?
If you win, we will come, and pay, and cheer, and fight, and drink.
If you don’t, we won’t. The honeymoon is almost over for the Union. They need to win consistantly to keep their fan base showing up for every game. At least it should be the case, because soccer fans seem to me to be as crazed, and fired up as any other, and the global reputation of soccer fans and what happens when teams lose and the crowds riot just makes me sweat. If the Union finishes at .500 or above, I am considering listing them as the #4 professional Philadelphia team for 2011. Take this as your wakeup call, Ed Stefanski, else Ed Snider and Comcast will be forced to sell the empty seats to concertgoers and have Celine Dion performing at half court during the equally boring Sixers home games next year !!
In the meantime, Soccer may well end up being the #2 drawing franchise. (No team will ever out draw the Eagles in Philly, period) The Flyers are restricted by the Wachovia center and the Phillies success may not last and the numbers may drop. I don’t think so, but I have been wrong before, to be sure, and soccer is the number 1 sport in the world.
If that happens, you can find me out back. I will be throwing horseshoes.
*number is average so far for 2010 season.
Eagles 1999-2009, Phillies 2000-2010, Flyers 1999-2009, Sixers 1999-2009
All sports welcome in Philly.
This weekend, something is occurring in the city of Philadelphia for the first time.
In this re emergence of sports that has seen the Phillies win a world championship, and return to unsuccessfully defend their title and the Flyers with an improbable comeback from the brink of elimination to the Stanley Cup finals, the national spotlight is more aware of Philly as a sports town, and one with a newly found winning mentality.
So I am glad to see the PGA returns to the area for their first tournament since 2002 with the AT & T National being held at the Donald Ross designed Aronimick Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA.
The event marks the first time Tiger Woods has played in a PGA event in the greater Philadelphia area as he defends his title and trys for the 6.2 million purse. Jim Furyk is the hometown favorite.
With football preseason around the corner, and some major changes to the team, the Eagles look to hold a high level of interest early this year as well.
The Union has made their presence known. The Soul are returning, sans Bon Jovi, and the Sixers remain a draw, although a contender they won’t be for quite some time.
Overall, the city of Philadelphia is becoming a well rounded sports mecca.
The city now boasts multiple premiere sports arenas with the new Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and the Wachovia Center with 2 or 3 professional teams playing meaningful games late in the year, strong college teams, and huge attendance and interest from the general population.
Rabid fans, successful programs, new stadiums,the countries fifth highest population with 3rd heaviest population density having annual disposable incomes 30% above the national average. Can you say Philadelphia ?
2020 summer Olympics, anyone ??
Flyers continue their postseason tear.
The Flyers are having a fairytale ride.
Down 3-0 in the Boston series, then 3-0 in game 7, then coming out strong against the Canadians in game 1 to win 6-0.
In Sunday’s game, Michael Leighton was strong in a slow first period and then throughout and finished with 28 saves in his first NHL playoff shutout. Van Reimsdyk, Briere and Gagne scored in 9:23 of the second to turn it into a rout.
To maintain the home ice advantage, they need a win tonight at the Wachovia Center. These Flyers have gone from being a long shot to the real deal.
Philly has won 5 straight and is 5-1 at home but still have their hands full. Montreal has come from behind in each of their last two series.
The 7th seeded Flyers had the home ice advantage for the first time since the second round of the 2004 playoffs and took full advantage of it. Coburn scored his first career playoff goal and, in fact his first goal of 2010. Hartnell and Giroux also scored in the third period to ice it.
Tonight the Flyers came out obviously ready to dish out more of the same. Briere scored a power play goal less than 5 minutes in to give the Flyers the early lead. Leighton continued his stellar job in net turning away nearly a shot a minute throughout the first period as the Canadians pressed every advantage early. Leighton extended his shutout streak to 5 periods by the first intermission.
Gagne scored a power play goal in the second period as the Flyers continued to shut the Canadians out.
In the third period it was Leino’s turn to score. The first even strength goal of the contest put the Flyers ahead 3-0.
Leighton ended the game with his second straight shutout as he made 30 saves and the Flyers won game 2 by a score of 3-0.
Suddenly the Flyers are looking like a team that will be hard to beat 4 out of 5 games. Montreal has got to be feeling the heat. 13 straight unanswered goals by the offense in the playoffs. Go Flyers !!
“Doc’s” docket: Coors field but no Rogers Centre
Halladay is scheduled to start tomorrow as part of a doubleheader to make up for today’s rainout.
Breaking news is that the single interleague series between the Blue Jays and the Phillies has been relocated to Citizens Bank Park in late June. This gives the Phillies 84 home games this year, as if they need any advantage !
Manager Charlie Manual’s initial comment was “I think it’s pretty good. It’s all right.”
Halladay’s return home as the new ace of a 3 time NL champion team was expected to be a huge series in Toronto, but citing security concerns, team management agreed to the move.
They will go on the books as home games for Toronto, and the DH will be in play, but the greatest home advantage, the fans, will not be present. All ticketholders are getting a refund and Phillies fans have will most likely buy out the replacement tickets the second they are offered.
It is evident that Halladay means a lot to this team, to be champion, then have to defend their title, then making the largest off season move in team history is a statement that this team is not satisfied with 3 NL championships and a World Series.
It is equally obvious that the Phillies confidence in him is pushing him to perform better and play harder tham perhaps any time in his career. If he keeps it up, he may win 20 games and have 250 strikeouts before the season is over. And it doesn’t really matter where he plays, when he hits the mound, he is throwing to win.
How does Charlie stack up ?
Charlie Manual is about the most popular man about town when the Phillies win, but contemptible when they lose. Typical Philadelphia.
I figured he has been here long enough, we could compare him to some other managers, many of whom you will recognize by name, just to put it into perpective.
There is no other team in professional American sports that has played so long, in one place, with the same name, as the Philadelphia Phillies. No other manager is under quite the same scrutiny as the NL clubs “manager de jour”, who is to the team what the quarterback is to the Eagles. Tough thing for Kolb that Charlie looks to be steady at the helm, because when NFL preseason starts, the Birds new young leader is going to be on the hotseat !
There have been a grand total of 52 Phillies managers. The longest tenured was Gene Mauch, who compiled a record of 645-684 over 9 years. He was replaced shortly before I was born, so made little impact on me, but, I know the name.
Danny Ozark was the manager I remembered from when I was little, watching ballgames with my Dad, a fan since 1944. Ozark’s record was better at 594-510.
After my school years, Jim Fregosi is the most memorable with the most wins at 431-463 and has a similar winning percentage to Mauch. Terry Francona (285-363), and Larry Bowa (337-308) both had 600 or more games at the helm.
5 others had 600 or more games as Phillies manager last century; Eddie Sawyer on two stints (390-424) , Jimmy Wilson (280-477) , Burt Shotten (370-549) , Art Fletcher (231-378) and Red Dooin (392-270) .
In addition, going back to the 19th century, 2 others, Bill Shettsline (367-302) and Harry Wright (636-566) on two different stints, both managed the team.
So over 128 years, Charlie Manual and 12 other guys have been Phillies manager for 600 or more games.
Charlie Manual 447-363 win percentage of .552 1 championship
Larry Bowa 337-308 win percentage of .522
Terry Francona 285-363 win percentage of .440
Jim Fregosi 431-463 win percentage of .482
Danny Ozark 594-510 win percentage of .538
Gene Mauch 645-684 win percentage of .485
Eddie Sawyer 390-424 win percentage of .479
Jimmy Wilson 280-477 win percentage of .370
Burt Shotten 370-549 win percentage of .403
Art Fletcher 231-378 win percentage of .376
Red Dooin 392-270 win percentage of .592
Bill Shettsline 367-302 win percentage of .548
Harry Wright 636-566 win percentage of .529
In my eyes Manual is looking pretty good. He is the only manager with significant tenure to win a championship here. The other (Dallas Green 1979-1981) coached fewer than 500 games. He also happens to have the best won/lost percentage since Red Dooin who coached 1910-1914, nearly 100 years ago and the second best of any manager in team history.
If Charlie stays and the team wins at their current rate for 2 more years and win another World Series, Manual will have the most wins as a Phillies manager, the best won/loss percentage and the most championships under his belt.
Can we talk contract extension Christmas of 2012 for the crafty old skipper ? Manual has been around a long time, has been criticized for not getting on his players enough, being slow to make a personnel change when a guy is struggling, and being too laid back in general, but somehow he has survived, and is now manager of a team poised to be the best in the country for a good chunk of time.
After their late April stumble, the Phillies have come roaring back to go 8-2 in their last ten and rise back to 5th on the ESPN power rankings lists. The most impressive thing about Charlie Manual in my opinion is the way he stays nearly the same win or lose, first or last, April or October. It is one of the things I believe makes him a great manager and one hopefully, who will will be with the Phillies for years to come.
Congratulations Charlie. We are glad to have you, even after an occassional loss !!
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