Weekend Wins and Pitching Improvements Needed

Joe Blanton gave up 5 earned runs in 6 innings in a loss to the Marlins on Friday

Perhaps the Phillies don't realize that there are still reasons to win these remaining games. If they lose out this weekend and end up with the worst record among the division winners, they will go on the road to face the West division champions in the first round. And surely the Phillies must realize that the Marlins won't roll over, and still have something to play for...second place. For second place teams that don't make the playoffs, bonuses per team member can exceed $10,000. Marlins players and coaches want bonus money. Don't get it twisted.

The forecasted Phillies' first three starters for the post season are Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Joe Blanton. This group of fellows who had been awfully hot in the mid to late summer haven't been so hot lately. Here's a look at recent samples for the top three guys.

Cole Hamels is 2-2 with a 4.19 ERA in his last 5 starts.
Cliff Lee is 2-4 with a 6.13 ERA in his last 7 starts.
Joe Blanton is 3-2 with a 5.52 ERA in his last 5 starts.

Sure, the Phillies offense has carried them for stretches this season, but through August and into September many experts, analysts and fans thought the Phillies' starting pitching could match up to the strong Cy Young Award candidates, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, of the Cardinals. At this rate, the Phils' rotation would have to rely on the offense to carry the team.

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Be sure to check out this tribute video from Macho Row. Solid stuff.

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Comments

OBC said…

Yeah, don't be complacent. Still need winz!

October 3, 2009 at 11:37 AM

Mike McGuire Living a Dream With Favorite Team

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Every young ballplayer grows up wishing he could play for his favorite team. Mike McGuire has an opportunity to do just that after signing with the Phillies organization in July. McGuire was a 43rd round draft pick taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Delaware. Early scouting reports liked McGuire's abilities, despite some arm trouble. He advanced as far as High A Level Kinston last season. While there, he posted an 0-3 record with a 5.46 ERA in 9 games, 8 of which were starts. The Indians weren't happy with McGuire's efforts this spring and released him. McGuire caught on with the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League, where he stayed in shape and pitched against other formerly affiliated minor leaguers. As a starter with the Skyhawks, McGuire went 3-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 8 outings. From there, just as all players in those independent leagues hope for, the 24-year-old McGuire got noticed. The Phillies wer...

Harry's Plaque Has Misprint

At the ballpark today for the first time since Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday, I noticed an error in the text on his plaque. Verbage on the plaque reads like this... Voice of Phillies baseball on radio and TV for 39 seasons. Teamed with Richie Ashburn from 1971 until 1997. Harry was on the air for all of Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, five Phillies no-hitters, seven National League Championship Series, three World Series, the first and final games at Veterans Stadium and the Citizens Bank Park 2004 opener. Received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 for "Major Contributions to Baseball" and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His calls were legendary, especially his signature home run call, "Outta heeere." On October 29, 2008, he brought utmost joy to Phillies fans: "The 0-2 pitch, swing and miss , struck him out. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 Worl...

Series Preview: Braves @ Phillies 5/7-5/9

The Braves make their first visit to Philadelphia this weekend, as the Braves (12-16) will face the Phillies (17-11) in a 3-game series. The series opener will see the 2nd meeting of Derek Lowe and Jamie Moyer this season. The first match up saw Moyer come out on top, when he pitched 6 shut out innings in Atlanta. That win clinched the series victory for the Phils. Off to a good start after winning that series opener against the Phils, the Braves have lost 11 of 15 games since then. The Braves won 5 of the 9 games against the Phils at Citizens Bank Park last season. Atlanta is currently in last place, 5 games behind the division leading Phillies. Read ahead for pitching match ups and other key stats from this series. Friday, 7:05pm. Derek Lowe (4-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (3-2, 5.70 ERA). Lowe is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in five career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Lowe is 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 15 career games against Philadelphia. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-28 (.071 avg) in his career again...

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