Another dominant pitching performance by the Braves silenced the Phillies bats, as the Braves topped the Phillies 4-0. The Phillies now find themselves two games out of first place at 0-2. No need to panic Fightins’ fans, the team also started the 2008 campaign 0-2, and finished the year up with a parade down Broad Street.
The Good:
- Chase Utley and Ryan Howard both went 2 for 4, each with a pair of singles.
- The bullpen was strong, throwing a combine four hitless innings. Jack Taschner (who pitched his second consecutive game), threw two, while Chan Ho Park (making his Phillies debut), and Clay Condrey each pitched a perfect frame. Condrey also picked up two strikeouts.
- Raul Ibanez went 1 for 4 with a double. He also picked up his first outfield assist in a Phillies uniform throwing out Casey Kotchman at home in the fourth.
The Bad:
- Jamie Moyer’s season debut looked more like he did in this spring then he did last …
Cole Hamels made his return. The Phillies ace, who missed a week due to a sore elbow, took the mound this morning in a minor league game against the Yankees.
Hamels threw 64 pitches over four innings where he allowed three runs on ten hits. He also struck out five. While this isn’t a line we’re used to seeing out of the World Series MVP, this start had nothing to do with stats. It’s all about stretching Hamels out, and more importantly pitching pain-free. Hamels felt good after the start, so it leaves one more start, on April 4th against the Rays, before he’ll make his season debut against the Rockies on April 10th.
“I think that’s going to be a big start for me — that exhibition game — to really prepare me for the season,” Hamels said. “I really do think that will really get me ready, going out there and competing at the big league level and starting off the season right.”
With Hamels …
Today was a big cut day for the Phillies. Aside from giving second baseman Marcus Giles his release, the Phillies sent pitcher Carlos Carrasco and outfielder John Mayberry Jr. to minor league camp. Although a log shot, Carrasco was in the mix for the Phillies fifth starter and went 2-2 with a 5.95 ERA. The future is bright for Carrasco, and he’ll begin the season anchoring the Iron Pigs staff at Triple A. Mayberry started the spring hot, and talk started about him making the team out of camp. Then Mayberry cooled off some, and began to start swinging for the fences. Mayberry will also start the season as an Iron Pig and will get to play every day; something he needs at this stage in his career. Both of these players should be with the Phillies as soon as sometime this season.
The Phillies also informed Pablo Ozuna, Jason Ellison, and Mike Koplove that they didn’t make the 25-man roster, but would accompany the Phillies to …
When the Phillies signed Marcus Giles to a minor league contract this winter, it appeared to be a win/win situation. With Chase Utley potentially missing the first month of the season while recovering form hip surgery, it gave the Phillies veteran experience at second base, while also giving the former All-Star (who missed the entire 2008 campaign without a contract), a chance to return to the spotlight, and contribute on a championship team.
Giles attempt to return to the major leagues has ended; at least in Philadelphia. The Phillies released the 30-year-old second baseman this afternoon, instead of giving him an offer to report to minor league camp.
“I’m not going to get the at-bats I need there,” Giles said. “So in a nutshell, I think they did me a favor by giving me my release instead of sending me to Triple-A to play once or twice a week. I just need some consistent AB’s. I think I can make it back to this level.”
Giles …
- J.A. Happ made a minor league start in Dunedin yesterday. Happ struggled in the first inning allowing three runs, but then settled in to retire 13 of the next 14 batters he faced. Happ’s final line was five runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out four. These stats don’t count against Happ’s Grapefruit League stats, which are 0-0 with a 3.15 ERA. Although Happ’s competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, Chan Ho Park, has better numbers (1-0, 2.87) this spring, the rotation spot belongs to Happ. With the acquisition of Jack Tascher, Park’s true value is in the Phillies bullpen.
The only way I can see Happ not claiming the final rotation spot is if the send him to AAA, move Park in the rotation, and keep Mike Koplove or Gary Majewski for the final bullpen spot. That seems highly unlikely.
- Ryan Howard hit his spring-leading 8th home …
The Ronny Paulino era was short lived in Philadelphia. Last night the Phillies sent the catcher to the San Francisco Giants for relief pitcher Jack Taschner.
Taschner, who is left handed, went 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA for the Giants last season. Taschner signed a one-year deal with the Giants this past winter, and has had a terrible spring going 0-0 with a 6.23 ERA. He also has walked 12 batters in less than 9 innings. Taschner did blame his poor spring on working on a new pitch (a two-seam fastball), but he’s never had any history of being a strong reliever. Obvious hopes are that pitching coach Rich Dubee will be able to help Taschner turn things around, make him a useful second lefty out of the bullpen. At least until June, when J.C. Romero returns from his 50-game suspension.
This move also mean Chris Coste has no worries about losing his role as Carlo Ruiz’s backup, and gives a strong indication that J.A. Happ will claim …
Cole Hamels returned to the mound yesterday and threw three and two-thirds shutout innings in minor league game. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five. His fastball only topped out at 86 MPH, but the speed will return. No one expected Cole to throw real hard in his first return to the hill.
He said he felt great after the game, but how the elbow feels this morning will be telling. As of now, all indicitions are Hamels will start the Phillies fourth game of the season in Colorado against the Rockies.
Since Hamels will not be ready for Opening Night, it’s looking more and more like Hamel’s recommendation, Brett Myers, will be getting the start. Myers has had a good spring so far going 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in three starts. Although still early to tell, this spring Myers has looked a lot more like the pitcher who went 7-2 with a 1.80 ERA down the stretch last year, than the jumbled …
The Phillies made another round of cuts today. Andrew Carpenter, Drew Naylor and Scott Nestor, left-hander Sergio Escalona and catcher Joel Naughton to the minor leagues. Meanwhile, right-hander Blaine Neal, left-hander Antonio Bastardo, catcher Tuffy Gosewisch and Paul Hoover and infielders Mike Cervenak, J.J. Furmaniak, Jorge Velandia and Andy Tracy were reassigned to Minor League camp.
No real surprises here in these round of cuts, as they all (outside of Naylor, Gooswich, & Naughton), will open the season at Lehigh Valley.
Pitcher Cole Hamels is on a Philadelphia-bound flight this evening, as he left camp to see the doctor. Hamels, who has only made one official spring training appearance has had some tightness in his elbow, and wants Dr. Michael Cicotti to take a look at it.
While Hamels has said he hasn’t had any pain while pitching, or the day after, he’s experiencing tightness and stiffness between innings. Hamels has had a history of elbow problems (he missed a month of the season in 2007), but according to him this isn’t like his past discomforts.
“That was pain,” Hamels said. “That was I-couldn’t-even-do-anything [pain]. That was the type of pain that when I threw a ball, I didn’t know how it got to home plate. I threw the ball pretty well [Sunday in a Minor League game at the Carpenter Complex]. That’s the thing that is unusual. Normally, I’ll feel it when I play catch every once in a while, but I don’t feel it at …
We’ve all booed him. We have all heard the stories about his love for the Philadelphia nightlife and how he enjoyed making time with the ladies. It even got to the point where one local sportswriter nicknamed him “The Mayor of Midnight”. While everyone has their own stories and opinions of the man, my feeling on Pat Burrell can be summed in two words:
Class act.
In case you missed it (and if you don’t read print media, there’s a good chance you did), Burrell took out full page ads in yesterday’s editions of both the Philadelphia Inquirer & the Philadelphia Daily News. The ad was a photo of Burrell with a letter to the fans, thanking him for their nine years of support in Philadelphia.
“To the fans. I write to let you know how much I appreciated your support over the years. Through the good times and bad, I never doubted the support that all of you had for my teammates and me. That support was never …
Fans in Clearwater were given a treat today. The Phillies were clicking on all cylinders as they powered their way past the Detroit Tigers 8-2.
The Good:
Starter Jamie Moyer pitched four strong innings, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out five. Moyer’s lone run came on a Scott Sizemore home run.
Moyer was replaced by J.A. Happ who came dealing. Happ, who’s a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and struck out seven, lowering his spring ERA to 2.25.
Local product Mike Koplove finished the game for the Phillies, throwing a perfect ninth inning.
John Mayberry Jr. got the Phillies on the board early with a three-run home run off Edwin Jackson. Mayberry continues to make a case to claim the final bench spot. He now leads the Phillies with eight RBI’s.
Ryan Howard looks to already be in mid season form as he had a three-run home run of his own (his third of the spring).
Eric Bruntlett is making …
The saga of Flyers center Danny Briere’s groin continues. The all-star center, who has missed 51 games this season with groin and abdomen injuries made his return to the lineup Sunday in a 3-0 loss to the Devils. Briere’s return was short-lived as he exited Thursday’s game against the Flames (his third game back), with another groin injury.
It was initially unknown how long Briere would be out (this time), but reports this morning are positive. He will be unavailable tonight against against the Predators, but he will likely be back on the ice Tuesday in Buffalo.
“It’s a big relief this morning, no doubt about it,” Briere said. “It wasn’t as bad as we thought [Thursday] night. I had a little workout this morning and I’m hoping to get back on the ice [today] skating.”
Maybe I’m a little skeptical, but haven’t we read this book before?
In late October Briere missed two weeks with abdomen injury. His return lasted a whole two games, before injuring the …
