Skip to main content

Blanton Sharp in Phils Win, Lidge News is Bad News

In Clearwater on Friday, the Phillies continued a hot spring and beat the Braves 3-1 to continue leading National League teams in the Grapefruit League in wins with 18.

Joe Blanton shined in the contest, throwing scoreless inning in which he allowed just 5 hits, no walks and struck out 4 batters. In addition to dominating on the mound, Blanton added a single at the plate for the defending NL East division champions.

The Phillies took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when, with Luis Castillo on base, Jimmy Rollins mashed a pitch from former Phils hurler Rodrigo Lopez deep to right and out of Brighthouse Field.

Ryan Howard added a run in the 3rd inning, when he drove a towering fly ball off the top of the left-center field wall for a triple, plating Rollins.

Placido Polanco played three innings for the Phils at third base and went 0-for-2. Polanco had missed time over the past week with left elbow soreness.


Additionally, the Phillies announced Friday that, for the third time in four seasons as a member of the team, Brad Lidge will begin the season on the disabled list. Lidge has been experiencing recurring pain in his right shoulder and is targeting a period of rest, in order to allow some time to heal.

The right-handed closer pitched against the Twins in the Phillies' exhibition game on Thursday, after sitting out roughly a week, and allowed an earned run in 2/3 of an inning. With Lidge's ERA sitting at a hefty 9.53 in six Grapefruit League games, it is clear that the 34-year-old likely hasn't been at 100% throughout spring training.

Unsure of when the issue initially began, Lidge speculated that he first injured the shoulder early in spring training.

"I don’t know where I did it," Lidge said, when speaking of his ailment. "I’m sure it was in those games early."

Lidge joins all-star second baseman Chase Utley and prized rookie outfielder Domonic Brown as Phillies that will be out of action next Friday for opening day. Lidge is scheduled to be examined by team doctor Michael Ciccoti on Saturday and have an MRI on Tuesday, when the team returns to Philadelphia.

Lidge is hopeful that he'll be ready to see game action before too long and expressed optimism to only miss a couple of weeks of the season.

"Hopefully it’s a mid-April thing," Lidge told the media. "The MRI and Dr. Ciccotti’s review will tell us what we need to know."

If Friday's victory against the Braves serves as any indication, Phils' manager Charlie Manuel could be leaning toward using right-hander Jose Contreras as the substitute in the closer role, as Ryan Madson was used in his usual role of set-up guy in the 8th inning and "The Big Truck", Contreras, pitched a perfect 9th inning to earn the save.

Additional game notes...

-Blanton's spring ERA of 3.21 is second to Roy Halladay's 0.48 among Phillies starting pitchers.

-Luis Castillo notched his first hit in a Phillies uniform. Castillo went 1-for-2 in the contest with 2 walks and a run scored. He is now 1-for-10 with the Phillies in 3 games.

-Despite going 0-for-4 on Friday, Shane Victorino is batting .309 in Grapefruit League play.

-Polanco's .179 batting average this spring is second lowest among returning Phillies regulars. Catcher Carlos Ruiz is batting .176.

-Contreras has struck out 9 and walked NO batters in 8 innings pitched in Grapefruit League games this spring.

__________________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Connect with PhoulBallz.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...