Tag Archives: Spring Training

Gameday Preview: Game 17 Phillies vs Diamondbacks

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The Philadelphia Phillies look to end there two game losing streak tonight at 9:40 Pm EST in Phoenix Arizona at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Skipper Charlie Manuel again pencils in a different looking lineup tonight in Phoenix.

The slumping Hunter Pence will sit tonight, Pence is in a 0-for-15 funk. Skipper Charlie Manuel also said Pence is dealing with an arm injury, Pence hurt it last week when he ran into the fence in San Francisco.

Cliff Lee was the scheduled starting pitcher for tonight a week ago but since he went the DL Kyle Kendrick the long man out of the bullpen will take the hill for the Phillies tonight.

Wade Miley will pitch for the Diamondbacks tonight, he has only started seven game in his short career thus far, in those seven games he had a record of 5-2 and an ERA of 4.25.

Some good news today at the ballpark was Chase Utley was shagging some balls and hitting in batting practice.

Can the Phillies have an offensive miracle tonight and score more than one run?

Go Phillies!

Phillies Lineup (7-9)

1. Pierre LF

2. Polanco 3B

3. Rollins SS

4. Wigginton 1B

5. Victorino CF

6. Ruiz C

7. Mayberry Jr. LF

8. Galvis 2B

9. Kyle Kendrick P

Arizona Diamondbacks (8-8)

1. Parra CF

2. Hill 2B

3. Upton RF

4. Montero C

5. Kubel LF

6.  Ransom 3B

7. Overbay 1B

8. McDonald SS

9. Miley P

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Phillies Pull Out A Much Needed Victory

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It was one of those on the edge of your seat all game long kind of games today at Citizens Bank Park against the Mets, the Phillies really needed this win to avoid getting swept at home by the New York Mets.

Cole Hamels pitched a great game as he usual does but was the offense going to help him out at all today? Through the first six innings it looked like Hamels was not going to get any run support at all but something sparked the Phillies bats in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to rally to the win. Cole Hamels was dominant after the first inning today when he gave up a two run home run to Ike Davis, after that home run Hamels gave up you almost start doubting a comeback with this Phillies team because of the slight lacking of power with this offense. Hamels would not allow a run the rest of his seven innings of work, Hamels struck out 10 Mets batters.

Give a lot of credit to Hamels for keeping the Phillies in the ball game this afternoon.

The Phillies would only have one run through the first six innings of play today, Phillies offense was facing Mike Pelfrey and he was making his pitches against this Phillies offense. The Phillies had some opportunities to knock in some runs early in the game but they could not take advantage. Something popped the top off of the offense in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Phillies the lead, Wigginton flew out to deep right field which scored a run to tie up the ball game, next batter was Laynce Nix and he doubled to left field and that would  score the go ahead run, it was a sigh of relief at Citizens Bank Park after that double by Nix.

The Phillies would take advantage of some errors and some walks in the bottom of the eighth to score 5 important insurance runs.

Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Phillies and that set it up for Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth, Papelbon came into the ninth inning to try to hold a six run lead. He would not allow a run in the inning but I guess he had to make it interesting for the fans. Papelbon got two quick outs in the inning but then allowed the next three runners on base, Papelbon would however get the next batter out and strand the bases loaded for the victory.

Juan Pierre had a great game hitting today but he continues to piss me off, with two outs and the Phillies down by one he attempted to steal third base and he was thrown out, I really hope Pierre is not allowed on the plane to San Francisco.

Everybody in the Major Leagues wore number 42 today to honor Jackie Robinson, so it was a little hard to know which players were which at times on the field. A nice patch on the jersey would be a lot better than changing everybody’s number to 42.

The Phillies go 3-3 on this home stand and salvage the final game of the weekend series, Phillies improve their record to 4-5.

After the game today the Phillies made some moves, RHP José Contreras activated from the DL. LHP Joe Savery optioned to Lehigh Valley.

The Phillies will now head to the airport and board a plane to San Francisco.

Phillies next game is tomorrow night in San Francisco, this will be at 10:15 Pm EST and it starts a ten game road trip for the Phillies on the west coast. If you like pitching duels you will likely see one tomorrow night as Roy Halladay goes for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants, seems like when the Phillies and Giants play each other it is always a good game, just some of those games over the past years went real bad for the team in red pinstripes.

Gameday Preview: Phillies vs New York Mets

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Tonight in Philadelphia Pennsylvania the Phillies start a three game weekend series with the New York Mets before the head out to the west coast for a 10 game road trip.

Cliff Lee will take the hill at Citizens bank Park tonight at 7:05 Pm EST for the Phillies, he will be opposed by junkball pitcher R.A. Dickey of the Mets. Ricky Dicky is a frustrating pitcher to watch, when I use the Phillies against Dickey in MLB 12 The Show (which is a video game I play) he just uses his knuckleball about 90 percent of the time and you really have to wait back on it. The Phillies hitters tonight will really have to wait back on it, Dickey is much like Tim Wakefield who played for the Red Sox. He is just a junk pitcher, he will never over power you.

R.A. Dickey has pitched ten seasons in the Major Leagues, he has really never had a standout year. Dickey has a career record of 42-50 and an ERA of 4.33.

Is there still offensive concerns with the Phillies offense? Those concerns have sure been pushed to the back-burner after the last two games.

This game will be televised on PHL 17, 1210 WPHT for radio.

Lets Go Phillies 

Phillies Lineup (3-3)

1. Victorino Cf

2. Polanco 3B

3. Rollins SS

4. Pence RF

5. Thome 1B

6. Mayberry LF

7. Ruiz C

8. Galvis 2B

9. Lee

Gameday Preview: Phillies vs Miami Marlins

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The Philadelphia Phillies will try to win their first series of the 2012 season tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia Pennsylvania against the Miami Marlins. This game is at 7:05 PM EST

Joe Blanton will take the hill tonight for the Phils in his first start of the season, the Phillies used a four man rotation through the first five ball games but now extend it to the five man starting rotation tonight.

Newest Miami Marlins Starting Pitcher Mark Buehrle will start for the Marlins tonight, before joining the Marlins this past offseason Buehrle spent his first 12 years of his career with the Chicago White Sox, won the 2005 World Series with the White Sox. Buehrle has a career record of 161-120 and an ERA of 3.82.

The high in Philly today is 59 degrees and there is a 20 percent chance of rain.

This game will be televised on CSN and the MLB Network, 1210 WPHT for radio

Lets Go Phillies

Phillies Lineup (2-3)

1. Victorino CF

2. Polanco 3B

3. Rollins SS

4. Pence RF

5. Mayberry LF

6. Wigginton  1B

7. Ruiz C

8. Galvis 2B

9. Blanton P

Miami Marlins Lineup (2-4)

1. Reyes SS

2. Bonifacio CF

3. Ramirez 3B

4. Stanton RF

5. Morrison LF

6. Sanchez 1B

7. Infante 2B

8. Buck C

9. Buehrle P

Gameday Preview: Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates

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Tonight at Citizens Bank Park the Phillies play the final pre season game of the year against the Pittsburgh Pirates before the regular season begins on Thursday.

Tonights Phillies game is at 7:05 Pm Eastern time and is not on tv, which saddens me a tad bit so I will have to listen to it on the radio like the old days.

It seems like it has been years since baseball was acutally playing meaningful games but we have a meaningful game on Thursday afternoon when the season begins in Pittsburgh.

Cole Hamels makes his final pre season start tonight before his home opener start on Monday.

Phillies Lineup

1. Victorino CF

2. Polanco 3B

3. Rollins SS

4. Pence RF

5. Nix 1B

6. Mabes LF

7. Ruiz C

8. Orr 2B

9. Hamels P

Pirates Lineup

1. Tabata RF

2. Navarro LF

3. McCutchen CF

4. McGehee 3B

5. Hague 1B

6. Walker 2B

7. Barajas C

8. Barmes SS

9. McDoneald P

Bye Bye Florida

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The Philadelphia Phillies are finally done with spring training in Clearwater Florida and now head up north to Philly to a real Major League Stadium Citizens Bank Park before the regular season starts up on Thursday afternoon.

Phillies had a record of  12-16-4 this spring training.

The Phillies head to home sweet home to play two games against the Pittsburgh Pirates which is called the ‘On Deck Series” which is basically two preseason games for the players to get used to their home stadium before the real games start. Phillies will have Wednesday off and will fly to Pittsburgh on that day to get prepared for opening day on Thursday, Phillies have Friday off and then resume the series on Saturday and Sunday.

Roy Halladay will pitch on Thursday, Lee on Saturday and Vance Worley on Sunday.

Phillies home opener is Monday against the Miami Marlins, Cole Hamels will start.

Phillies sure do have a lot of unanswered questions going into the new season and maybe a little bit of worry, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are both injured and we do not have a timetable on when they will return. The Phillies had trouble hitting when both of them were in the lineup last year, who knows what’s going to happen when both are scratched from the lineup a good part of the season.

Freddy Galvis will be the starter at second base for the Phillies on opening day. Galvis is truly a shortstop but has shown a great deal of athleticism this spring at second base and the Phillies will reward him with the spot. Seems like Jim Thome, John Mayberry Jr., and Ty Wigginton will all split time at first base in the absence of Ryan Howard.

So we have two relaxing games at Citizens Bank Park before the nerve-racking season begins on Thursday.

Gameday Preview: Phillies vs Braves

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Thee Philadelphia Phillies play their last spring training matchup in Florida today against division rival Atlanta Braves before they head up north to Philadelphia to play a couple of exhibition games against the Pittsburgh Pirates before the real season begins.

Thank goodness we are just four days away from the start of some meaningful baseball for once, it sure has been a long offseason and I’m just ready to get this season started. I really think I’m more excited about opening day then I’m for Christmas.

Cliff Lee takes the hill to start for the Phillies.

Phillies Lineup

1. Juan Pierre LF

2. Placido Polanco 3B

3. Jimmy Rollins SS

4. Jim Thome 1B

5. Hunter Pence RF

6. Shane Victorino CF

7. Carlos Ruiz C

8. Freddy Galvis 2B

9. Cliff Lee P

GameDay Preview: Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays

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The Phillies play another spring training matchup today against the Toronto Blue jays at Brighthouse field in Clearwater Florida, this is the final game at Brighthouse field for the Phillies this spring. The Phillies will head up north to Philadelphia after tomorrows game against the Atlanta Braves.

Roy Halladay takes the hill today and makes his final spring training start of the year.

Phillies Lineup
1. Victorino CF

2. Polanco 3B

3. Rollins DH

4. Pence RF

5. Wiggington 1B

6. Mayberry LF

7. Luna 2B

8. Ruiz C

9. Galvis SS

Game Story And Some Notes From Today’s Phillies 2-1 win

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Cole Hamels retired the first 11 batters today at Brighthouse Field in Clearwater Florida but then Evan Longoria hit a home run for the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the fourth to give the Rays there first hit of the game and score the first run of the game.

Cole Hamels was justifying his case for a big money contract today after pitching 5.2 innings and only allowed one run off of three hits, Hamels struck out seven Rays today.

Chad Qualls, Joe Savery, and Jonathan Papelbon all pitched scoreless innings out of relief today for the Phils.

Phillies got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth off of a home run from a guy you would not expect to have power, Brian Schneider the backup catcher hit a leadoff home run to right field to tie the game. Schneider had a total of four home runs last year for the Phillies and has hit a total of 65 home runs in his twelve-year career.

Phillies had a opportunity in the bottom of the sixth to break the game wide open with runners on first and second no outs but could not get anything out of it, that inning is the perfect example of how this Phillies offense worries me. The Phillies just can’t keep getting the leadoff runners on base and then not be able to move them up or score them if they want to win.

Hector Luna hits a walk off single in the bottom of the ninth to win this game for the Phillies

Phillies scored two runs off of nine hits today.

Some Other Notes

According to Todd Zolecki from Mlb.com Phillies reliever Michael Stutes will not pitch in tomorrows game against the Yankees, he was penciled in to make an appearance out of the bullpen. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said Stutes had a little inflammation in his arm and he is really not worried about it. I really hope this is nothing to worry about because the Phillies really don’t have a lot of great pitchers coming out of the bullpen other than closer Jonathan Papelbon, so losing Michael Stutes who is likely going to be the seventh inning guy would be a major loss.

Freddy Galvis who fouled a ball of his foot earlier in the week is still day-to-day on his return to the diamond, Galvis is going to be the starting second basemen for the Phillies in Chase Utley’s absence.

Phillies must decide by tomorrow by noon if they want to keep Juan Pierre or get rid of him, I choose the second option.

Phillies next spring training game is tomorrow at 7:05 Pm Eastern time against the New York Yankees.

We are just one week away from opening day for the Phillies in Pittsburgh.

GameDay Preview: Phillies vs Tampa Bay Rays

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The Philadelphia Phillies play the Tampa Bay Rays today in another spring training game at Bright House Field in Clearwater Florida.

Cole Hamels will take the hill for the Phils today.

The Phillies just have a few games left to figure out the offense before the regular season begins, the offense has been productive at times but at other times they have been shutout. With the absence of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley the first couple of months the offense is going to struggle unless someone like a Hunter Pence or a Jimmy Rollins has a breakout first couple of months, which is what I hope can happen.

The problem with both Utley’s and Howard’s injuries are we really don’t have timetable on them, they could be back in a month or could be out most of the year, the Phillies really have no clue at all.

Phillies Lineup

1. Pete Orr SS

2. Placido Polanco 3B

3. Hunter Pence RF

4. Jim Thome 1B

5. Shane Victorino CF

6. Laynce Nix LF

7. Ty Wigginton 2B

8. Brain Schneider C

9. Cole Hamels P