Phillies fail to capitalize on bases loaded walks
The Phillies were unable to capitalize on several early scoring opportunities against the Dodgers on Tuesday, including a scoreless first inning that featured three bases loaded walks.
“The Dodgers literally gave us three runs there in the first inning and we couldn’t do anything with them,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I didn’t think it was possible to face a guy that throws 16 straight balls and you can’t score. But, we found a way. We always do.”
The Phillies would later stumble upon two runs but went on to lose 6-2 after the Dodgers capitalized on several scoring opportunities without even swinging the bat.
Phillies use first pick to draft a linebacker for Eagles
The Phillies used their first pick in Monday’s First-Year Player Draft to select Larry Greene, a 6’1″ 230-pound linebacker that should be able to compete with Stewart Bradley for a starting job with the Eagles this season.
As a senior in high school, Greene hit .562 with 18 home runs in 30 games and has the power and agility needed to stop the run, something the Eagles have lacked the past few seasons.
“He’s a solid ballplayer, but the Eagles need him a hell of a lot more than we do,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said of Greene. “Maybe [Andy] Reid can pay us back next season by drafting a leadoff hitter with some plate discipline.”
Greene said that while he is waiting for the NFL lockout to end, he would consider signing a deal to play baseball with the Phillies.
Cliff Lee temporarily saves job with seven shutout innings
Cliff Lee helped his cause in maintaining his spot in the Phillies rotation on Monday by hurling seven shutout innings against the Dodgers with 10 strikeouts.
Charlie Manuel said that Lee’s impressive start earned the former Cy Young winner another turn in the rotation, but another bad outing could mean a demotion to the bullpen, or worse.
“I don’t know what this guy’s problem is, but he better fix it quick,” Manuel said of Lee, who currently leads the majors in strikeouts with 100. “This last start saved his ass, but I don’t know how much longer I can put up with him and his 3.62 ERA or whatever it is right now.”
Team sources indicate that the Phillies currently have a deal in place to trade Lee back to the Mariners for another trio of can’t-miss prospects in the event that Lee allows a hit in his next start.
J.C. Romero walks 62 batters in scoreless 7th inning
Phillies relief pitcher J.C. Romero was bailed out of yet another late-inning jam on Wednesday after walking 62 consecutive batters before David Herndon came in to record the final out of a scoreless 7th inning, stranding all 62 runners on base.
“He seems to get himself into these jams all the time, but I don’t mind putting him out there again because he always finds a way to let someone else bail him out,” said manager Charlie Manuel. “Plus, I’m not ready to give up on J.C. just yet. You know what I always say: ‘If it ain’t broke beyond any hope of repair, just keep sending it out there.’”
By recording one out before walking the 62 consecutive batters and getting bailed out for the 18th time in 18 appearances this season, Romero was able to lower his ERA from 3.86 to 3.75.
Utley downplays loud grinding sound coming from knee
While Chase Utley made his return to the Phillies lineup on Monday after missing the start of the season with patellar tendinitis, the second baseman continues to downplay the sound of bone grinding on bone coming from the his right knee and insists he is OK to play.
“Seriously, it’s nothing. I’m good,” Utley shouted to reporters over the loud, chilling sound his knee made as he sat down in front of his locker. “Charlie [Manuel] said to let him know if it starts to bother me and that’s what I’m gonna do. But for now, it feels awesome.”
Utley also responded to reports of hearing several loud popping noises from his knee by saying that he would play through it and “get that checked out at some point.”
Phillies recall star pinch-hitter Domonic Brown from minors
The Phillies placed center fielder Shane Victorino on the disabled list and recalled top prospect Domonic Brown, who manager Charlie Manuel has touted as the organization’s “pinch-hitter of the future.”
“This kid has shown the ability to hit at every level in the minors and hopefully he’ll have the same success up here when and if I decide to use him,” Manuel said of Brown, who primarily played outfield in the minors, but is currently listed as a left-handed pinch-hitting decoy on the Phillies roster. “He might be the only five-tool bench player in the majors right now, and that’s saying something.”
Manuel went on to say that he will start Brown in right field against the Rangers on Saturday and ease him back into his role on the bench.
Phillies release Roy Oswalt after fastball drops to 91 mph
The Phillies cut ties with pitcher Roy Oswalt on Friday after the velocity on the former ace’s fastball dropped to a mere 91 mph during a rehab start with the Clearwater Threshers on Thursday.
Out since April 26 to tend to his family after tornadoes swept through his home in Mississippi, Oswalt allowed an unprecedented seven hits and three earned runs in just five innings of work, signaling the end of his brief Phillies career.
“We hoped Roy would be back to pitch for us at some point, but obviously he is no longer fit to play professional baseball,” said Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro. “We wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to do with his life, but with a pathetic 91 mph fastball, that doesn’t leave him very many career options.”
The Phillies also announced that Chase Utley survived a harrowing jog to first base during a rehab game on Thursday and while the infielder was visibly shaken, he is now resting comfortably at a local hospital.
Phillies prepare for Josh Johnson by acquiring Josh Johnson
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel spoke to reporters on Tuesday about the team’s preparation for tonight’s matchup against Marlins ace Josh Johnson, which included using a left-handed heavy lineup and acquiring Johnson in a trade.
“We came into this game watching a lot of video on Johnson and decided the best way to approach him is to be aggressive and trade for him as quickly as possible,” said Manuel. “Some of our guys have had success against him in the past, but we think these adjustments of moving him from the Marlins to our team will give us a significant edge.”
The Phillies also acquired Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison in the deal for Johnson and sent five no-named, garbage minor leaguers that will somehow turn into major league stars to the Marlins.
Raul Ibanez caught using performance-enhancing Nationals
Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez admitted Friday to using “a number of different” performance-enhancing Nationals over the past three days in an effort to snap out of his recent 0-35 slump.
Ibanez went 8-for-12 in this past series with two home runs and five RBI and the rumors started to fly about whether the 38-year-old’s sudden boost in production was related to PEN use.
“I just want to apologize to my teammates and my family for foolishly trying to use performance-enhancing Nats just to inflate my stats,” said Ibanez, who attributes his recent power surge to a PEN called Lannan and another named Marquis. “I wanted to prove that I could still play at a high level and instead of doing it the right way, I started using Nats. It was a dumb thing to do.”
Some reports estimate that as many as 90% of current major leaguers use PENs to help with on-field performance. Though Major League Baseball has done very little to combat this issue, Congress may soon get involved to stop PEN use by contracting the embarrassment of a franchise from the league.
Phillies fans cheer the death of elderly man
In what may be the most heinous act in the long, sad history of disturbing behavior by Philly fans, the death of an elderly man was cheered loudly by thousands of fans during a Phillies game against the Mets on Sunday.
Osama Bin Laden, a 54-year-old Saudi man who was the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, was shot and killed Sunday which set off a chorus of cheers and chants of “USA! USA!” from the callous and barbaric Philadelphia crowd.
“It was possibly the worst thing I had ever seen in my life,” said ESPN analyst Buster Olney. “It’s that typical Philly fan behavior and it’s disgusting. You give them the chance to act like normal human beings after hearing that a guy was shot and killed, but they start cheering like animals. Braves and Giants fans would have sat quietly in their seats and said a prayer for this man’s family, but not in Philly. And by the way, if I haven’t mentioned him yet…Santa Claus.”
Following the game, one Phillies fan, Rob Bailey, took it upon himself to apologize on behalf of the entire fanbase for what took place Sunday night.
“It was pathetic. We should’ve cheered a lot louder than that,” said Bailey.