Another day, another win for the Phightin' Phillies. That makes five in a row, and for the first time this year, the Phillies reach the .500 mark. By beating the Braves twice, they put some distance between them and the Braves in the standings. The Phillies are 5 games behind the first place Mets [more on them in a bit] and two games ahead of the Braves.
Corey Lidle turned in a Lidle-like performance. As usual, he was by no means overpowering, but as usual, kept the Phillies in the game. He would allow three runs (two earned) in six innings, striking out five and walking three. Aaron Fultz, Geoff Geary, Rheal Cormier, and Arthur Rhodes, who got the save, closed out the game and none of the four relievers allowed a run.
Again, the Phillies defense was just atrocious, most of it due to miscommunications between players. Infield pop-ups dropped and grounders snuck through the infield. Fortunately the Phils were able to overcome the mistakes with several rallies and a pair of solo homeruns by Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. Final score, 6-3.
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There will be no win probability graph today, as the win was not dramatic enough to warrant it. Enrico Campitelli requested a pie graph, but I don't have one handy. So, we will settle for pie. Mmm, pie.
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Even though it was a short series, just two games, it was still a series win for the Phillies, so the bell must ring. I didn't forget to ring it for the two-game series sweep over the Marlins, I just decided that two-wins over a AAA team wasn't much to celebrate.
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As for the Mets, they just signed Jose Offerman to a minor-league contract, presumably in case Julio Franco decides to act his age and start going to bed at 7 o'clock every night.
Seriously though, how is it that the Phillies are trailing a team that employs a 47-year old, Inning-Endy Chavez, and Jose Offerman? We can only assume that the Mets will try to acquire Tomas Perez in a trade in the coming weeks.
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Every time Corey Lidle starts a game, at least one of the Phillies broadcasters mentions who Lidle goes through a lot of mental preparation for each start he makes. Apparently he watches lots of video tape and goes on the internet for statistics. Wait. He goes on the internet for statistics? Shouldn't Lidle have access to databases from the Phillies that the rest of us can't get?
Every time I hear this, I think of a statement made by Steve Moyer of the Lehigh Valley-based Baseball Information Solutions when he was interviewed by the Morning Call. Baseball Information Solutions is a company in the business of supplying in-depth statistics and analysis. Some well known customers include the Red Sox, Bill James, and The Hardball Times. Moyer's take on the Phillies:
''What I don't understand is why a team doesn't come to us and say, ''Let us buy you out.''' Moyer wondered. ''What is a couple of million to these teams? They could say, you just work for us and don't give this information to anyone else.''
He's just as baffled by clubs that want no part of their inside information.
''One of my biggest disappointments is the Phillies,'' Moyer said.
''They keep saying they're not interested. They are working backwards.''
When I first read that, I thought it just might be slightly sour grapes on the part of a man who is so proud of his product (and rightfully so) he can't understand why someone wouldn't want it.
But then when I hear Lidle has to go online for statistics, just like you and me, I can't help but think Moyer was dead right.
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Next up for the Phillies, Barry Bonds & the Giants. The Giants also sit at .500 and just like the Phillies, they have also been outscored by their opponents on the season. Two struggling youngsters will take the mound tonight, Matt Cain and Gavin Floyd.
I'm interested in seeing if the Phillies can keep up the winning ways, but I am also interested in seeing what kind of treatment Bonds receives from our fair city. Yesterday, Paul Hagen of the Daily News wrote a primer on how fans should behave, and there is a website [sorry, I can't find the link at the moment] that is urging phans to either leave their seats for the concourse or simply turn their backs when Bonds comes to the plate.
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Thanks to everyone for stopping by from PhillyFuture.org, where Balls, Sticks, & Stuff was the "Featured Blog of the Week". I was glad to have you over, thanks for using a coaster, and come back any time.
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