Archive for August, 2009
The Drabek Machine is Now in Safe Mode
Posted by Even Stevens in General Thoughts, Minor Leagues on August 31st, 2009
Kyle Drabek, arguably the Phils’ best minor league pitcher, has been shut down for the season. As we’re sure you’ve heard by now, he is coming off of Tommy John surgery and has pitched a career high 158 innings this year. Since the minor league season is coming to an end, so is the Cinderella season of 21-year old Kyle Drabek.
"Check me out yo, I look like Nick Hogan."
Many fans were hoping the kid would be a September call-up so that we could get a glimpse of his stuff before he fights to become a part of the 2010 Phillies rotation. Such is not the case, as the Phillies are making the RIGHT move and protecting the golden arm from harm (you like that?). The youngster would be putting his health at risk by continuing to throw after posting nearly 160 innings about a year removed from elbow surgery. He has been a machine at the Single-A and Double-A levels, posting an ERA that I can’t quite locate (trust me though, it’s good bro). For now, that machine is in safe mode – and that’s a good place to be.
There are reports out there that suggest Drabek has been worrisome to the Phillies’ brass lately. He got lit up in his last start, and hasn’t quite been as sharp as usual since the All-Star Break. While the Phillies maintain that he is not hurt, the fact of the matter is that they are shutting him down before he becomes hurt due to extreme stress on his arm. Let’s hope that the added time off heading into the off-season is just what the doctor ordered for the young flamethrower. I don’t want to see him pull a Cole Hamels in Spring Training next year, throwing Rick-Vaughn-for-most-of-Major-League-II-type shit up to the plate.
This site was founded on an important ideology that still holds true today. Whether it’s Cole Hamels or Kyle Drabek, it’s really all about the rest.
What I Want to See in September
Posted by WTT in General Thoughts, Phillies Rants, Playoffs and World Series on August 31st, 2009
Basically, the Phillies steamrolled through August like a fucking Mack truck, compiling a stellar 16-11 record, and will officially close the month 7.5 games ahead of their closest competitor (pending the completion of FLA/ATL tonight). That’s hot.
While it is no guarantee, it appears the Phillies sit on the precipice of their third consecutive NL East crown as the calendar turns to September. It will take only a .500 record (17-17) for the remainder of the season for the Phillies to equal last years’ 92 wins. While most of the attention, for the fans, has turned to monitoring potential postseason matchups,there is still some work that needs to be done on the field. So, with just a little over a month remaining in the regular season, we take a look at what we should keeping an eye on.
New T-Shirt!
Ryan Howard’s Numbers: Part of us wishes the playoffs were starting tomorrow because Howard is on the type of streak right now that could single-handedly carry the Phillies through a playoff series. Historically, Howard turns his shit on during the months of August and September, so we’d like to see that trend continue here. What would a successful September for Howard be in terms of numbers? If he finishes with 45 homers, 140 RBI, and an average somewhere in the .265-.275 range, that’d be good. Real good.
The starting pitching: The starting pitching has been nothing short of outstanding since the All-Star Break, which makes the horrendous efforts of April and May seem like an entirely different staff was out there. Wait, that’s because an entirely different staff was out there. The additions of J.A. Happ, Pedro Martinez, and Cliff Lee have helped to stabilize a rotation that early appeared to be so bad that it would almost certainly prevent any run at a repeat. Lee, Blanton, and Happ have been phenomenal, and if Cole Hamels can build on his eight shutout innings against Pittsburgh, it would give me the best wood. Ever.
Brad Lidge. No shit, right? Lidge does have four 1-2-3 outings over his last six. He did, of course, blow a save on five pitches, so I guess that is going to get overlooked. Still, his performance in the Atlanta series was at least somewhat stabilizing. Lidge is a streaky pitcher, so what the Hell, maybe beyond all conventional wisdom he gets on a streak going into October. His progress, along with the return of Brett Myers, is certainly something to pay close attention to throughout the month, as the performance of these two will have huge playoff implications. My guess is that, at some point in September, Brett Myers will be afforded the opportunity to save a game, and he will successfully do so. And then I’m going to make a t-shirt with his face (black-eye included) with some catchy little pun and then I’m going to sell it. Holla.
The Giants Series: Everyone, including myself, is like, “OMG. Anyone but the Giants.” And rightfully so. I’m not sure I want to see Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, Zito, Lincecum in a five-game series. Still, the Giants can’t hit. At all. And if the Phillies do happen to pair up with the Gigantes, it would be really nice to put them on notice this week that there is no fucking way they can come into Philly and win.
And one other thing…
More wins than last year: I’m trying to fucking clinch on like September 18th. I don’t need any heroic double plays or dramatic ninth inning strikeouts to wrap it up this year. I don’t care if they win 93 or 98 games, but I’d like to see them improve upon last year’s total of 92, particularly because…well, this team is just better. Let’s save the nervous moments for the playoffs- I’m sure there will be a few.
NL East Review 8/24 – 8/31
Posted by Bay Slugga in NL East Reviews on August 31st, 2009
Braves: The Atlanta Braves (68-62) suffered a blow to their playoff chances with a rough week. The Padres came into Atlanta and took two of three from the Braves, which included a 12-5 beating during the second game. The Braves didn’t have much better luck in Philadelphia this weekend either, as they again dropped two of three to the fightins.
The thing that really pisses me off about the entire Braves team is how they bitch about the park.
“OMG Howard is just fat, and he plays in a high school field.”
Bobby Cox also likes to use Turner Field as an excuse for sucking.
“We lost, but that fly ball in the 9th would have been a HR in that little-league field in Philadelphia.”
Here is some advice for you – shut the fuck up and play. Stop whining and bitching like Cole Hamels faggots and play the damn game. It isn’t as if the walls suddenly move in when the Phillies’ are up to bat, so stop using it as a excuse for getting your ass handed to you.
Marlins: The Florida Marlins (68-62) didn’t fair much better than the Braves this week. Just as everyone else does, the Marlins managed to take two of three from the Binghamton Mets during the week, but dropped two of three to those pesky Padres this weekend. After another tough outing, the 22-year-old Volstad was optioned down to Triple-A – so much for that “young and dangerous” rotation ESPN raved about.
Mets: It seems like every week I have another major injury to report about the Mets in this column, and this week is no different. Where do I start?
Johan Santana – Elbow Surgery
“Frenchy” – Fucked up thumb. Pussy.
There is, however, a sliver of good news for Mets fans– Jeff Wilpon probably needs to sell the team this offseason! Ponzi Schemes!
In baseball related news, the Mets dropped a series to both the Marlins and Cubs, and now sit 17.5 games out. You gotta believe!
Nationals: Nothing to see here, move along.
OMG BRAD LIDGE – LIGHTS OUT – YES!! WORLD SERIES HERE WE COME!!
Posted by Even Stevens in Game Summaries on August 29th, 2009
What went down: First of all, I’d like to point out that anybody who’s all fired up about that win tonight is justified. If you’re all fired up about the Brad Lidge save though, let’s give it a minute before we anoint him as our savior again. Yes, he looked good, but it’s one save. He’s been more inconsistent lately than myself in bed with a LADY.
Now that I’ve gotten that off my tits, a little more light housekeeping before we get to the game: I apologize for my lack of posting lately, but I now have a job that completely owns my life and my posting abilities are crunched to a minimum because of that. We missed the recap from last night’s loss because WTT and I were at the Blink 182/Weezer concert. And according to Tom Delonge, we were so fucking awesome. But I digress. We’re back tonight, and you’re welcome.
The Phillies hung on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 behind Ryan Howard and Jamie Moyer. “Wait…didn’t Pedro Martinez start the game, though?” Yes, he did, internal voice. But then a rain delay disallowed him from coming back out (again) and Jamie Moyer was all like “1-2-3 DOMINATE!” Ryan Howard belted two home runs (36, 37) to continue his torrid pace through August. Then Ryan Madson almost ruined everything before escaping a 2-out bases-loaded jam in the 8th after he had just let up a run to make it 4-2. Brad Lidge came on in the 9th and was like “Fuck ya’ll haterz,” tossing a 1-2-3 inning and locking it down.
What I liked: Pedro Martinez. Once again, you looked good early on before being bitten by the rain bug. I know it’s frustrating, and it’s hard to get stretched out and get your real-game innings in, but you need to hang in there.
Ryan Howard. MEH! Everything that comes off your bat lately is a homer, which makes me think that you’re productive in all facets of life at the moment as well. Every shit you take is probably a full, solid log. Every cum shot you shoot on your white girlfriend’s ass is probably a 7-rope, Peter North-sized load. And every rhyme you write is probably golden, ready to be pressed and sealed at the Bay Slugga Records factory.
"PEACE, BITCH!"
Jamie Moyer. You tossed 4.1 very effective innings tonight. Once again, you have proven that Ruben Amaro made the correct decision in moving you to the bullpen for the long-man role. It has worked out in both of Pedro’s rain-shortened starts. You’re pitching better out of the bullpen than you were as a starter, so why ruin a good thing? Stay where the fuck you’re at, old man.
Brad Lidge. I guess I’m supposed to put your name here since you did your job for once. Nice shaved head too, man. Watching you warm-up tonight felt like a bad imitation of Major League II. “New haircut, same dead arm.” But you got it done, so whatever works. Still, I’d like to point out that Brad Lidge is doing his job at a rate of 74% effectiveness. If I had a 26% failure rate at my job, I’d have been fired on day one. If a Michael Vick had a 26% failure rate, he wouldn’t even have gone to jail for those two years because he would have killed fewer dogs, making the crime only a misdemeanor. Hey — don’t get mad at me, the numbers never lie.
Who and what pissed me off: The rain. Can you fucking chill out? I’m trying to see Pedro do work and get stretched out. It’s difficult to judge his starts when every other one is 2 innings of work.
Raul Ibanez. Ra-ra holy shit you had a triple tonight! Congratulations! Oh wait, I don’t care? Until I start seeing some more productivity out of this guy, I’m going to kill him in this section. Double-plays and strikeouts are BAD, Raul. Remember what April was like when you did the opposite of eat chaffing dickmeat?
Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. Combined 0-for-8? Come on, brah.
Can somebody please explain to me: Why it’s so wrong to want to bang 17-year olds? I’ll tell ya, I was at this concert last night and there were so many hot little…ya know what, I’ll just cut myself off here before I get a knock at my door by the local police.
Now what: CLIFF LEE, bitch. Derrick Lowe and his pock-mark stamped skin can suck it tomorrow night. The game doesn’t even start for another 20 hours but the Braves are DJ AM (see also: dead) already. What…too soon?
Good Luck Tonight, Eagles!
Posted by WTT in General Thoughts on August 27th, 2009
Hey, we know we are a Phillies blog. And we like to stick exclusively to baseball, but we are also huge fans of that football team that plays across the street, too. Things haven’t gone too well for the Eagles yet this season, with all of the injuries, legal troubles, and other drama, but we think that the Eagles will be all right when it’s all said and done. Tonight, the Eagles play their third preseason game and we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the extraordinary circumstances that will unfold at Lincoln Financial Field. The NAACP and various animal rights will be protesting on behalf of and against Michael Vick, respectively. That should be worth the price of admission by itself.
Now, you may remember the Brian Dawkins “Weapon X” video. I know that it always fired me up, but with Brian gone, I’ve needed to find other videos to get ready for the game. Check out this one below, I know it gets me going. E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!!!!
Jimmy Rollins likes Drake, Ryan Howard can Dance, and Greg Dobbs Slaps the Bass
Posted by WTT in Ballplayer Lifestyle on August 27th, 2009
I was snooping around ESPN.COM this morning and found this video hidden in a clutter of garbage on the front page. Below, J-Roll talks about Michael Jackson, his company, his love for rap, and tells us which teammates would be in his band.