Archive for June, 2009
Phillies head to Atlanta, look to keep it going
Posted by Bay Slugga in Game Previews on June 30th, 2009
The Phillies open a three game series in Atlanta tonight, with Joe Blanton facing off against Derek Lowe. The Phillies will look to continue their slightly improved play, while the Braves will be looking to gain some ground in the NL East which has them five games off our heroes. The Braves have handled the Phillies well this year, even though their record indicates that they are a mediocre team. Atlanta pitching has compiled a 3.89 ERA this year, so it would seem their 35-40 record could be a bit misleading.
I have to be honest. I don’t like this series at all, and would not be surprised to see the Phillies get swept out of town. The Phillies apparently can’t hit sinkerball pitchers, or anyone who can throw a breaking ball for a strike. Well guess what? Derek Lowe is a master of the sinkerball, and Javier Vazquez has racked up 125 strike outs over 106 innings. Not to be a Debby Downer, but the Phillies aren’t going to win these two games. The 2009 Phillies have proven that a strong starting performance can easily silence their bats to the tune of four or five hits over the course of the game. Far more mediocre pitchers have consistently shut down the Phillies this year, and Lowe and Vazquez should see similar results.
More on this series after the jump
NL East Weekly Review 6/22 – 6/28
Posted by Bay Slugga in NL East Reviews on June 29th, 2009
Mets: The New York Mets (37-37) now find themselves at the .500 mark after a 3-4 week. The Mets seemed to be playing decent baseball against St. Louis, but were only able to score three runs this weekend against the Yankees. Jose Reyes has been doing some light jogging, BP, and fielding, but doesn’t seem optimistic about his return time.
Marlins: The surging Florida Marlins (38-39) kicked off the week with a three game sweep of the Orioles, and then headed down to Tampa to be handed a three game sweep of their own. After a tough stretch in May, the Marlins currently sit at 15-11 for June – not too bad. Their improved play has moved them to within three games of the Phillies, and a home series against the Nationals should see them leapfrog the Mets this week.
Braves: The Atlanta Braves (35-40) are fading fast in the NL East. Even with the poor play of the Phillies and Mets, the Braves are five games back and five games under .500. With a home series against the Phillies, a team they have handled well this season, the Braves have an oppertunity to make up some ground in the division this week. Top rated prospect Tommy Hanson now sits at 4-0 with a 2.48 era, after a six inning two hit game against Boston. Fortunately, the Phillies will miss him during this week’s trip to Turner Field
Weekend in Review: Phils Win a Series! Holy Shit!
Posted by Even Stevens in Game Summaries on June 28th, 2009
What went down: The Phillies took 2 out of 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays in the most impractical stadium ever, the Rogers Centre. After Cole Hamels essentially had his period on Friday night and the Phillies were almost no-hit by some little Spanish guy, they turned the tide and the bats woke up. Saturday featured a complete game shutout by J.A. Happ, and the Phillies’ bats exploded for 10 runs. It was never close, and it was one of those games that makes a Saturday afternoon much more enjoyable because it’s stress-free. Today’s game was a little different. The Phillies fell behind early due in large part to Jamie Moyer’s inability to get people out, but then Chase Utley mashed the ball and the other guys were able to manufacture some runs. The bullpen was excellent and locked down the win after Moyer had to depart after 5 innings because he’s terrible.
This is the dumbest fucking place ever built to play baseball. OMG THERE's A HOTEL ON SITE! Cool. All the seats are an ugly blue and there's like a Space Needle rip-off that towers into the sky above it.
Who and what pissed me off: Cole Hamels pissed me off on Friday. He was having trouble throwing strikes for most of the game, and could be seen yelling into his glove and battling with the umpire. He just wasn’t effective, and the Blue Jays jumped all over him. To make matters worse, he threw a little bitch-fit as he was exiting the game and was thrown out by the umpire. What a whiny little girl.
The (lack of) Phillies bats on Friday night. Is Ricky Romero that untouchable, guys? No base hits until the 7th inning? Really?
Jamie Moyer in today’s game. Unless we give you a big lead to start the game and get your confidence up, is it possible for you to actually throw a few shut-down innings to begin the game? I don’t think it is. You couldn’t find the corners today and people were just teeing off on you. Charlie Manuel had such little confidence in you that he removed you after the 5th for fear of you giving our lead back to the Torontonians.
John Mayberry in today’s game. I know you’re a rookie and there’s a lot of pressure on you to play well and stay up here, but today was pretty bad. You had several RBI opportunities, albeit with two outs, that you just couldn’t convert. Your calling card is that you strike out a lot but you have game-changing power. I’ve seen some of the power thus far, and that’s good because I like it, but I need to see a little more from you at the plate. Try hitting the ball where it’s pitched and maybe you’ll convert some RBI opportunities and make yourself a mainstay at the big league level.
Eric Bruntlett in today’s game. Look man, I’d like to give you credit for today’s game because you dropped down an unexpected bunt to load the bases, but I can’t. I’d also like to congratulate you for the great take-out slide at second base to keep the inning alive, but I can’t. You know why I can’t, Eric? Because you almost cost the team the game in the 8th inning with your defensive ineptitude. With a man on first and one out, Madson induced a ground ball to the shortstop that should have been an inning-ending double-play. Bruntlett fields the ball, goes to toss it to Utley, and just muffs it completely. Nice job, dickhead.
Big Boy Things!
Posted by Even Stevens in Site News on June 26th, 2009
If content is light for a couple days, it’s because we are limited on authors. WTT is moving into a house that he just bought and won’t have Internet access for a few days. Expect regular posting to resume from him by mid-next week. Bay Slugga is moving residences as well and will be spotty on the posting.
I might just get lazy, so that’s my excuse. Hang in there until we’re back to full force.
Phillies Do An Unbelievable Magic Trick, Fall 10-4
Posted by Even Stevens in Game Summaries, Phillies Rants on June 25th, 2009
I’m too disgusted to write a game recap right now, but I will tell you that the Phillies lost 10-4 tonight. All of the Phillies four runs came in the top of the 1st inning, before Antonio Bastardo even had to take the mound. His lack of control and pitching discipline meant that the Rays would hit him pretty hard and get those runs back and then some. Bastardo had to leave the game in the 4th with a left shoulder strain.
One interesting tidbit about tonight’s game is that the Phillies managed just THREE HITS after the first inning. Andy Sonnanstine sucks my balls, and the Rays bullpen isn’t that good either. Three fucking hits? God damnit.
I have a treat for all of our loyal readers though! For those of you that could bear to watch the game beyond the 6th or 7th inning, the Phillies performed an unbelievable magic trick that only the Mets can match. Ready? Here’s what happened:
…wait for it…
Pretty cool, right? I couldn’t believe it when I saw it with my own two eyes.
It’s Okay for all the little kids of the neighborhood to come outside and play again
Posted by Even Stevens in Breaking News, Miscellaneous Rants on June 25th, 2009
Now I know this has nothing to do with the Phillies or baseball, but it’s tough to ignore a “monumental world tragedy” and not share some feelings on the situation. Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50 after suffering from cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon. We here at 4DaysRest.com would like to be the first to say, who the fuck cares? I understand that this guy was a musical icon back in the day, but the keyword here is was. This dude was more fucked up in the head than Buffalo Bill, and that guy skinned fat girls and wore their skin.
Jackson hasn’t been at the top of the entertainment world for over two decades. He has, however, been at the center of multiple child molestation cases. He’s a black dude, by the way. You know, just in case anybody was ever confused about what race he was. He’s had more plastic surgery than Pamela Anderson and is just a general mess.
This is the same guy who dangled his baby outside of a hotel window from several stories up. Although he has given us many classics over the years – and some of which I still dance and sing in the shower to, including “Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean” – he has more or less been a big pimple on the face of American culture for the last twenty.
Moral of the story? It’s okay for all the little kids of the neighborhood to come outside and play again. Remember when you were little and that’s what kids did? They knocked on your door to ask if you can come out and play. All of that stopped in the past two decades. Some people blame it on the Internet or video games. I blame it on Michael Jackson.
And with his death, I leave you a video to remind you why you shouldn’t get all caught up in the national mourning process over this perverted goofball: