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Which Volcano Will Blow First?
I’d like to congratulate the Florida Marlins for compiling the craziest cast of characters since Jack Nicholson flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. With Jose Reyes, Carlos Zambrano, Hanley Ramirez and Ozzie Guillen all in the same clubhouse, I am looking forward to the fireworks. Can you say powder keg?
Cast your Vote!
Tags: Carlos Zambrano, cuckoo nest, florida marlins, hanley ramirez, Jose Reyes, Ozzie Guillen
Jimmy Rollins double wins Game 4
Was that a great, clutch hit by Rollins on Monday night, or what?
Before that missile, Rollins was hitting .167 (3-for-18) in the NLCS. Despite an off year, Rollins is a big-game player, who shines brightest on the biggest stage.
Game 4 will be a tough loss for the Dodgers to rebound from. Only two teams have recovered from a 3-1 deficit to win the NLCS: the 1996 Atlanta Braves against the St. Louis Cardinals, and the 2003 Florida Marlins against the Chicago Cubs.
Tonight the Phillies try to become the first NL team to make two consecutive World Series appearances since the 1996 Braves.
If they win tonight, they’ll try to become the first NL team in 33 years to repeat as champs, duplicating a feat by a team they remind me a lot of: the 1976 Cincinnati Reds.
Cole Hamels goes for the series clincher. In his career, Hamels has started 7 games against the Dodgers. He’s 5-0 with a 2.19 ERA.
Tags: 2003 florida marlins, atlanta braves, Baseball, cincinnati reds, Cole Hamels, consecutive world series, florida marlins, Jimmy Rollins, Phillies, playoffs, st louis cardinals, World Series, world series appearances, world series fever
Jimmy Rollins
The Phillies reduced their magic number to six on Sunday, by defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
Jimmy Rollins led the offense, scoring two runs on a walk and a double.
On Tuesday, the Phillies open a three game series with the Florida Marlins in the sunshine state. The Marlins are currently in second place in the NL East, eight games behind the Phillies.
Tags: atlanta braves, Braves, eight games, florida marlins, game series, Jimmy Rollins, magic number, nl east, number 6, Phillies, sunshine state
Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martinez was magnificent Sunday night, dominating his former team, as the Phillies completed a sweep of their day-night doubleheader against the NY Mets.
Martinez threw 130 pitches through eight innings, striking out seven.
With two outs in the eight, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel came to the mound after Martinez surrendered a double to Mets first baseman Daniel Murphy. Instead of taking him out of the game, however, Manuel let Martinez continue, and the sellout crowd erupted in delight. Murphy was thrown out at third two pitches later by catcher Carlos Ruiz, trying to advance on a pitch that momentarily bounced away from Ruiz.
The Phillies lone run came in the first inning, when Chase Utley doubled in Jimmy Rollins. Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his eight save.
Earlier, the Florida Marlins lost to the Washington nationals, 7-2, so the Phillies now lead the NL East by 6 1/2 games.
Tags: Charlie Manuel, Chase Utley, first baseman, florida marlins, Jimmy Rollins, Mets, night doubleheader, ny mets, Pedro Martinez, Phillies, ryan madson, sellout crowd, Washington Nationals
Matt Stairs
Trailing 8-2 in the ninth inning, the Phillies almost pulled off an incredible comeback. They scored five runs in the inning – four on a Matt Stairs grand slam – only to come up one run short to fall to the Nationals, 8-7, in Washington.
Joe Blanton struggled against the Nats again, giving up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings.
The Florida Marlins moved to within 5 games of the Phillies, with a 13-4 victory over the NY Mets.
Tonight, the Phils open a four game set against the Mets, which includes a doubleheader on Sunday.
Tags: 163, doubleheader, florida marlins, Joe Blanton, Matt Stairs, Mets, Nationals, nats, ninth inning, ny mets, Phillies
Former Phillie Michael Bourn stole two bases and scored two runs, sparking the Houston Astros to their third straight win over the Phils in Houston. Cole Hamels gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings.
The Phils maintained their 6 1/2 game lead in the division, though, as the Florida Marlins gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose to the Nationals.
The Phillies try to salvage the final game of the series today at 2:05 p.m. ET, with J.A. Happ on the mound.
Tags: Astros, bourn supremacy, Cole Hamels, final game, florida marlins, happ, Houston Astros, Michael Bourn, Nationals, Phillies, salvage
Brad Lidge gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to blow his tenth game of the season, 4-3, to the Houston Astros. Kaz Matsui hit a walk off, two-run single to end the game after Lidge had loaded the bases.
Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel cited control problems, “He had trouble getting the ball over the plate and that’s command issues. He got behind with the bases loaded and he had to try to throw something over the plate. Making him hit the ball is better than a walk, but at the same time, if he gets a hit, then the game’s over. That’s what happened.”
Cole Hamels takes the mound today at 2:05 p.m, ET. The Phillies lead the NL East by 6 1/2 game over the Florida Marlins.
Tags: Astros, Brad Lidge, Charlie Manuel, Cole Hamels, florida marlins, Houston Astros, Kaz Matsui, loaded, nl east, Phillies, tenth game
I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.
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