Baseball Comes Second Today

Philadelphia Phillies (82-60) at New York Mets (69-72)

Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.86 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (13-9, 3.96 ERA)

"From the cradle of liberty, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Do we have closure? No. No, the heinous acts of terrorism last Tuesday will be with us for as long as we all shall live." -- Harry Kalas, 2001.

The Phillies are in the midst of a pennant race, but let's put baseball aside for a minute and remember those who lost their lives nine years ago. The tragedy on September 11, 2001 put America's pastimes on hold, but baseball eventually started the healing process.

The Phillies were one of the first teams to resume play, beating the Atlanta Braves 5-2. However, the most memorable moment from that game was a fan who carried an American Flag throughout Veterans Stadium. When the Mets returned to Shea Stadium, Mike Piazza's go-ahead home run gave everybody an unforgettable chill.

Here we are today: nine years later. The two teams meeting both helped the healing process in the United States. Today might not be about the matchups; it's about patriotism and pride for our country. We will never forget what happened on that horrible day, and we will never forget those who lost their lives.

Kendrick, Pelfrey Finish Out Series

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Philadelphia Phillies (65-51) at New York Mets (58-58)
Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 4.60 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (11-6, 3.95 ERA)

Tonight, the Phillies and Mets wrap up a three-game series that is currently split at a game apiece. On Friday, Cole Hamels fell on the short end as R.A Dickey one-hit the Phillies. Roy Halladay was the stopper in last night's victory, shutting out the Mets in eight frames.

Kyle Kendrick has been all or nothing in most of his starts this year. He has either dominated, or been lit up. In six starts against New York, Kendrick has fared well posting an ERA of 3.34. It is never really certain on what Kendrick will do.

Kendrick will be opposed by Mike Pelfrey, who has had a solid year with the Mets. Against the Phillies, he has been very up and down. Sometimes the Phillies can pound him; other times he pounds the Phillies.

If the Mets end up getting into a save situation, Francisco Rodriguez would likely be asked to close. Today, K-Rod returns from his two-game suspension due to a third-degree assault. It would be nice if the Phillies could score many runs and avoid a potential K-Rod animated celebration.

Santana & Hamels Face to Face

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New York Mets (54-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (61-48)
Johan Santana, LHP (8-6, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56 ERA)

A huge eighth inning rally helped lead the Phillies to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets last night. Tonight, the ball will be handed to Cole Hamels, who can hopefully go deep into tonight's game after a rocky bullpen performance yesterday. Hamels will be opposed by Johan Santana, who hasn't had quite the year many expected, although still having a solid season.

In his career against the Mets, Cole Hamels has lacked support from his offense, falling 2-5, despite having an ERA in the threes. On the other hand, Santana has gotten run support, posting a 4-2 record with an ERA above four in games against the Phillies.

Placido Polanco has the best numbers against Santana throughout his career. He has a .386 average with a home run. David Wright has the best numbers against Hamels, having a .345 average against him.

The Phillies look to continue their hot steak, both at home and on the road. Even though this team is plagued with injuries, the replacement players are doing their part to help the team win. Good teams need non-star players to step it up in key situations.

Mailbag: Who's the Phillies Biggest Threat?

In this post, I answered a question that was presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation.

The Phillies play the Mets, Marlins, and Braves this week. The Braves were looked at as the 2nd best team in the NL East before the season started but haven't quite lived up to that hype. The Marlins are who they are. The Mets are the bottom feeder right now, but have had an up and down season. Who of these three teams do you believe will give the Phillies the closest race in the NL East and why?

This is a tough question. So far, the Phillies have been superior in most categories, but you can never count any team out. They can all be a threat.

Entering Sunday, the Marlins were 11th in baseball in overall ERA. However, they have a better rotation than the Mets and Braves. From Josh Johnson to Anibal Sanchez, all five guys in their rotation can get the job done. However, their bullpen is a little worrisome. Leo Nunez has been a solid closer, but they don't really have anybody other than him.

Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla can get the job done offensively. Even Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu have done well. Chris Coghlan hit a sophomore slump, and Cameron Maybin has yet to play to his potential, but you have to like the Florida offense. However, I think the Mets have more offensive potential than the Marlins.

The Mets are last of the four teams in runs scored, but with players like Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Jason Bay, you'd have to imagine that they will snap out of the funk.

The thing that will hold the Mets back is their pitching. Entering Sunday, the Mets were 8th in the majors in ERA, but they've had all kinds of problems, from injuries to moving Oliver Perez to the bullpen. Johan Santana hasn't been "the best pitcher in the NL East" as he proclaimed, but you'd have to figure he'll come around. Francisco Rodriguez can close the doors, but they have to get to him. Pitching is not something the Mets can rely on right now.

The Braves have yet to play to their expectations, but they still can't be counted out. Every pitcher hates facing Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, and Jason Heyward is finding his way onto that list.

The Braves have the better bullpen of all the teams in the National League, but other than Tommy Hanson, they haven't gotten much from their starting rotation.

Of course, there are the Nationals, who can't be counted out. They've been streaky, but I don't see them contending this year. Much improved? Absolutely. Stephen Strasburg is going to make his debut soon, but I still give them two more years, maybe when Bryce Harper is on the team.

So, after all this, I have yet to answer the question, but I really had to think it out, and break it down. I think I'm going to have to go with the Marlins, but it is very close. They have the NL East's best rotation, plus a solid offense.

Blog of Note: WhatIfSports put together an all budget team, comprised of the biggest bargains and revenue risks. They also interviewed general manager Jim Bowden about his thoughts on small market baseball.

Halladay Throws Another Shutout

When Roy Halladay has a rough start, there is a good chance he will rebound in his next outing. Halladay bounced back from a tough game against the San Francisco Giants by tossing a complete game shutout over the New York Mets.

While Halladay dazzled and struck out six, the offense finally came back to life. The Phillies threw up a six spot on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Jayson Werth opened the scoring with a RBI single on a pop-up over the second baseman. Juan Castro's two-run double extended the Phillies lead to three. Shane Victorino broke the game wide open with a three-run home run. The runs would not stop there as Raul Ibanez chipped in with a two-run triple.

The Phillies were able to halt the Mets' eight game winning streak with their 10-0 victory. The offense finally clicked, but it was Halladay who stole the show with his second complete game shutout as a Phillie. Johan Santana and Jamie Moyer face off tonight in the series rubber-match.

Phillies Sign Wilkerson

The Phillies signed Brad Wilkerson to a Minor League contract. The move was a minor addition, as the outfielder and first baseman did not receive an invite to spring training.

Wilkerson last appeared in the Major Leagues in 2008, but previously played with the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2009. He went 1-for-9, then decided to retire. In a Brett Favre type decision, Wilkerson changed his mind.

Wilkerson is a career .247 hitter, but was a Phillies killer throughout his eight year career, especially during his time with the Montreal Expos. Wilkerson hit for the cycle twice in his career, including his 2005 cycle against the Phillies.

In other Phillie killer news, the Mets signed Rod Barajas. Barajas killed the Phillies in a few games with the Toronto Blue Jays last year and during his time with the Diamondbacks. However, he also killed the Phillies when he was with the team. He batted .230 for the Phillies in 2007, before getting booted out by Chris Coste. Guess what? It's another similar situation. Coste will be fighting for a backup catcher's position with the Mets.

Quotes & Notes: Spring Training Day One

The first official day of spring training is over. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp and took part in their first team workout. Position players were also in attendance. Here's the stories from day one, including quotes:

• "Being the perfectionist that [Cole Hamels] is, he took [his 2009's struggles] to heart, and he did the work that he had to do. So he's in a much better position right now. He could have gone home and sulked again and said, oh, what do they know. He didn't do that. He went home and did what he had to do." -- Rich Dubee, Phillies pitching coach.

Hamels put a lot of work in this off season, and says that he did not stop throwing over the winter. Over the break, Hamels experimented with a cutter, and even talked to Steve Carlton and Cliff Lee about the pitch. During spring training, Hamels will work on improving his curveball.

• "[Jamie Moyer]'s probably ahead of schedule in what we thought he might be able to do." -- Dubee

This is good news, especially if Jamie wants to keep the fifth starter's job. J.C Romero also felt that he was ahead of schedule. A healthy team is always key. However, rushing back from an injury can make it worse.

• "I don't necessarily expect myself to have '08, but I expect myself to be a hell of a lot closer to '08 than '09, that's for sure." -- Brad Lidge, Phillies closer

That's a confident Brad Lidge. And that's what he needs: confidence. Over and over I have heard that Lidge's problems were mental. Perhaps he has his mind straight. After all, "baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical" (Yogi Berra).

• "[ Placido] Polanco has quick feet at third base. Third base is a reaction kind of place. Polly definitely can do that. Polly does throw good. He is accurate. All around with the bat and everything, he's a better player than [Pedro] Feliz. I don't see where we're going to get hurt there." -- Charlie Manuel, Phillies manager

I can't argue that Polanco is an overall upgrade from Feliz. He's not going to be as solid defensively, but as Manuel said, he's no slouch when it comes to defense. His transition to third should not be a huge problem.

A Renewed Rivalry?

• "We're expecting to go out there and win the National League East, go deep in the playoffs and win a World Series." -- David Wright, New York Mets.

Ever since Jimmy Rollins proclaimed the Phillies to be the "team to beat" in 2007, there has been bantering back-and-forth between the Phillies and Mets. An injury-plagued Mets ball club only won 70 games last year, and their rivalry with the Phillies fell apart towards the end of the season. While this isn't a direct shot at the Phillies, it still adds to the rivalry.

• "Santana." -- Johan Santana

In the quote above, Santana, answered a question. However, the question wasn't "what's your name?" He was asked who the best pitcher in the National League East is. He simply replied with his own name.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to a renewed rivalry between these two teams.

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Lidge, Contreras, Fans, NL East News

As seen on Phillies Nation.

There's eighty days until Roy Halladay (I'm already penciling him in as the Opening Day starter) throws the first pitch of 2010. There's 35 days until pitchers and catchers report. The season is quickly approaching, and soon we'll be hearing more Phillies news on a daily basis. There was still plenty of baseball news today:

• The Phillies announced that Brad Lidge had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and his status for Opening Day is questionable.

"The surgery went well, and Brad is expected to begin his throwing program in 10 days," head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said. "We're not sure if he'll be ready by Opening Day, but we don't expect that he'll be too far behind. This surgery was not directly related to any previous surgeries."

Loose bodies and a portion of his meniscus were removed. This is Lidge's second surgery this off season (elbow). This is his third surgery on his right knee since 2007. Lidge missed opening week in 2008 due to knee surgery, and also missed part of 2009 due to knee pain.

• The Phillies, along with four other teams, are interested in Jose Contreras.

Contreras, 38, had a 4.92 ERA in 131.6 innings with the White Sox and Rockies last year. Contreras would likely relieve, despite spending some time as a starter last year. If you were hoping for a reliever like D.J Carrasco, cross his name off the list. He reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Phillies need bullpen help, but personally I don't think Contreras is the answer.

• Smile! The Hardball Times named Phillies fans "the happiest in MLB."

Honestly, I was kind of surprised to see the Phillies listed as number one. I was expecting the 3-5 range, thinking Philadelphia would recieve the usual Philly fan stereotypes. A championship, two pennants, and three division titles in three years; yeah, that makes me happy.

• Brandon Duckworth and Jason Standridge sign minor league deals with the Phillies.

The Duck Pond is back!! I can’t believe I missed this news. Honestly, Duckworth was one of my favorite players in the early 2000’s, despite his struggles.

Since leaving the Phillies, Duckworth, 34, has spent time in the Astros’ and Royals’ system. Standridge, 31, was a first-round draft pick in 1997.

National League East news:

• The Atlanta Braves are pursuing Johnny Damon.


• Carlos Beltran had surgery on his knee without asking the Mets for permission.

The Mets' injury woes continue into 2010. Beltran is expected to miss at least twelve weeks.

In other Mets news, the Mets are close to signing catcher Bengie Molina. Molina batted .265 with 20 home runs with the San Francisco Giants last year.

• The Washington Nationals are interested in Orlando Hudson.

The Nationals could offer Hudson a two-year deal -- at the right price. Hudson could want as much as $9 million, which may be too much for the Nationals.

• What about that other team in the National League East?

The Marlins? You may have noticed that they haven't been spending a lot of money. Well, they reached an agreement with the players' union to increase spending due to complaints about the team's payroll violating baseball's revenue sharing provisions.

Blog of Note: We Should be GM's has a nice motion picture of the man, Chase Utley.

Mets Sign Bay; Giants Sign DeRosa

With the holidays, there was a lack of baseball news throughout the week. When Eric Bruntlett signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, that was the biggest headline in Philadelphia sports. With the new year approaching, a few more moves were made.

The New York Mets signed free agent Jason Bay to a four year, $66 million contract. The Mets were desperately in need of a left fielder. They got one. However, like so many major league contracts, Bay was given too much money.

Bay is a great player, but has been extremely over rated since his departure from Pittsburgh. The money shows.

In addition, Bay was a better fit for Boston. Bay, not known for his defense, will go from a very small left field in Fenway to a very spacious outfield in Citi Field. In addition to potential defensive struggles, Bay's power numbers will go down. Citi Field has taken a damper on home run numbers; just look at David Wright's decrease in home run totals from 2008 to 2009.

In other baseball news, the San Francisco Giants signed Mark DeRosa to a two year, $12 million deal. DeRosa, an extremely versatile player, will likely spend the majority of his playing time at third base, with Pablo Sandoval moving to first. DeRosa may spend time in the outfield as well.

The Giants need a bat badly. DeRosa probably won't be the answer, although he will help a very weak hitting ball club. The Giants have pitching, but if they can improve their hitting, they could be the favorites in the National League West.

There's not much left of the free agent market. Matt Holliday seems to be the only big name remaining. The Cardinals are rumored to have offered him a $100 million contract.

In minor moves, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Kelly Johnson and the Oakland Athletics signed Justin Duchscherer.

Moyer Starting Game 2

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New York Mets (62-79) at Philadelphia Phillies (80-59).

Mike Pelfrey (10-10, 4.83 ERA) starts vs. Jamie Moyer (12-9, 4.98 ERA).

With tomorrow's double header and J.A Happ's oblique injury, Jamie Moyer will make his 23rd start of the year. On Monday, the crafty veteran filled in for Happ nicely, despite the short notice. Since his bullpen demotion, Moyer is 2-0 with a 1.41 ERA. However, Moyer is 1-1 with a 7.08 ERA in 20 innings against the Mets this season. Mets hitters have batted .342 against the lefty.

Moyer will be opposed by Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey is 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA in four starts against the Phillies this season. Ryan Howard is batting .400 with a home run in his career against Pelfrey. Chase Utley has a .300 average and three homers off Pelfrey.

The Mets elimination number is four. The Phillies can officially eliminate the Mets from the division this weekend.

Call of the Day: Chase Utley makes a potential game saving play.

"Ground ball... oh, great diving play Utley. Utley saved a lot of
trouble there, with a fine play diving to his left."

Howard Blasts Past Phillies

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The closer it gets to October, the hotter Ryan Howard gets. In August and September, Howard takes hitting to a whole new level. He showed his power with two monster home runs to help the Phillies win their third straight game.

Yesterday, Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz each hit three-run home runs in the first inning. Today, it was Howard's turn. Howard smoked a 2-2 pitch the opposite way, over the 16 foot tall left field wall. The Phillies quickly jumped to a 3-0 lead.

On Sunday, Angel Pagan led off with an inside the park home run. In Pagan's first at-bat today, Cliff Lee jammed him, and it was an easy play for Chase Utley. Utley settled under it, but in his best Luis Castillo impression, dropped the ball. Utley fired to second, but the ball scooted to left field. Angel Pagan took advantage of the two errors and circled the bases. It was the first time in Utley's career that he made two errors in one game, let alone during the same play.

Fernando Tatis' sacrifice fly made it a 3-2 game, but both runs were unearned for Lee. The defense was not pretty-- for either side. There were a total of five errors before the fourth inning.

Howard wasn't finished with Bobby Parnell. He already took him deep to the opposite field, now it was time to pull the ball. Howard clobbered the 3-2 offering to the upper-deck porch in right field. The two-run shot gave the Phillies a 5-2 lead.

With the home runs, Howard surpassed the 100-RBI mark (104) for the fourth straight time in his career. He joins Chuck Klein as the second player in franchise history to have four consecutive 100-RBI, 30-home run (34) seasons.

The run support was plenty for Lee. Lee gave up more runs than he has in any other start in a Phillies uniform: two, both in which were unearned in his seven innings of work. He gave up six hits, struck out five, and did not walk a batter.

Raul Ibanez added a RBI double in the ninth inning. With the 6-2 victory over the Mets, the Phillies won the series three games to one. The Phillies now have a 16.5 game lead over the fourth place Metropolitans. The dog days of summer are quickly coming to a close, and the Phillies have a hot hand in Lee, and a hot bat in Howard. They're just getting started.

Lee on the Mound for Series Finale

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Philadelphia Phillies (71-50) at New York Mets (57-67)
Cliff Lee (11-9, 2.72 ERA) vs. Bobby Parnell (3-5, 4.74 ERA)

In the final game of a four game stint, the Phillies will look to take three out of four from the New York Mets. Thus far, the games have been close and exciting between these two rivals.

Cliff Lee has been outstanding since joining the Phillies. He is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA and opponents are batting .161 against him. With Lee on the mound, the Phillies expect him to go deep into the game and get a win.

Lee will be opposed by Bobby Parnell, who is making his fourth start since moving from the bullpen. Parnell is coming off a poor start in which he allowed nine runs in three innings versus the Braves. Against the Phillies, Parnell is 0-2 and gave up a game-winning home run to Chase Utley.

The Mets will likely be without Jeff Francouer, who was taken to the hospital for an MRI on his thumb. After going 3-for-5 and completing an unbelievable, game-ending unassisted triple play, Eric Bruntlett will get another start. Today, he will give Jimmy Rollins a rest at shortstop.

Today's lineup: Victorino (CF)/ Werth (RF)/ Utley (2B)/ Howard (1B)/ Ibanez (LF)/ Feliz (3B)/ Bruntlett (SS)/ Bako (C)/ Lee (P).

Call of the Day: Del Unser wins the game.

"Swing and a well hit ball to deep center field! Richards back!
It is outta here! Home run! Del Unser, has won the ballgame! Veterans
Stadium is going wild! His third consecutive pinch hit home run!
Unbelievable!"

Hated To Hero

Baseball is a crazy game. The totally unexpected happened from an unlikely source during the Phillies 9-7 win over the New York Mets. Eric Bruntlett had quite the eventful day, including a game ending unassisted triple play.

Before Pedro Martinez could take the mound, the Phillies threw up a six spot. Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz each hit three run home runs in the first inning against Oliver Perez.

Bad Ollie showed up. After allowing six earned runs on four hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning, Jerry Manuel had enough. He pulled Perez in the middle of an at-bat, after falling behind 3-0 to Martinez.

Pedro wasn't completely dominant either-- at least to start. Angel Pagan led off with an inside the park home run. Unsure about Citi Field's ground rules, Shane Victorino raised his hand after the ball wedged under the padding. The umpires did not make a call, and Pagan rounded the bases. Raul Ibanez picked up the ball and threw it in, but it was too late. Even though it was beneath the padding, the ball was in play, according to the official rules. The Mets added another run on Jeff Francouer's RBI triple.

The Phillies tacked on runs with Martinez's RBI single, Jimmy Rollins' sacrifice fly, and a run scored by Matt Stairs on a couple wild pitches. But, the Mets kept adding on runs as well. Pagan homered again (this time over the fence), Daniel Murphy hit a RBI single and Anderson Hernandez's double kept it a close game, 9-6.

Pedro allowed four earned runs in six innings. He allowed seven hits, walked one, and struck out five of his former teammates. Pedro settled down after a rough first few innings; he retired the last six batters he faced.

With Chase Utley getting a regular day off, Eric Bruntlett got the start at second base. Not much is expected from Bruntlett, who entered today with a .128 average. He started off by going 3-for-3 and made some solid defensive plays.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bruntlett was robbed of his fourth hit. Jeff Francouer made a diving catch, but the umpire originally called it a trap. Heads up, Bruntlett hustled his way to third for a triple, but the play was overruled by third base umpire. It would have been a new career high for Bruntlett for most hits in a game.

Coming off a 1-2-3 save last night, Brad Lidge looked to make it back-to-back. Pagan grounded a single through the legs of Ryan Howard. On the error, Pagan advanced to third. Then, Bruntlett committed an error which scored Pagan. Next, Murphy grounded a single up the middle, booted by Bruntlett. Both of Bruntlett's miscues were plays that Utley would've made easily. The Mets were down two with two men on base and nobody out. With Lidge's struggles, the Mets were on their way to winning this thing.

On the 2-2 pitch, Castillo and Murphy were off. Covering second, Francouer lined a drive right at Bruntlett. Bruntlett stepped on second base for out number two. With Murphy on his way to second, Bruntlett applied the tag for the third out. An unbelievable, game-ending, unassisted triple play!

The last Phillie to turn an unassisted triple play was Mickey Morandini in 1992. Bruntlett's was the first in National League history that ended the game. The last game ending unassisted triple play was turned by Johnny Neun in 1927.

The Mets keep finding new ways to lose and today was no different. Eric Bruntlett went from hated, to hero, back to hated and hero again. Who knows, maybe he can do something shocking again tomorrow. After all, Charlie Manuel has already stated he'll play tomorrow giving Jimmy Rollins a break.

Originally posted on Phillies Nation.

Call of the Day: The Phillies turned a different type of Triple Play in 2007.

"Smashed. Ooh, that's a double play ball. That's a triple play! That's a triple
play, DiNero called him out. DiNero called him out at third base. He didn't have
to re-tag him. And that is a triple play! What a way to start a game! Here it is
again, take a look. Now DiNero immediately raises his arm saying that he
caught it, so it's an out there. Now, he-- Dobbs didn't have to re-tag him
here. But at any rate, nothing caused for Colorado."

Pedro's Return

Philadelphia Phillies (70-50) at New York Mets (57-66)
Pedro Martinez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Oliver Perez (3-3, 6.06 ERA)

Pedro Martinez will be making his first start against his former team. Martinez spent four season in New York, winning 32 games and posting a 3.88 ERA. Pedro's last outing was cut short due to a rain delay.

Pedro will be opposed by Oliver Perez. Perez is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts against the Phillies. Sometimes Oliver Perez will dominate. Other times he will get lit up. Perez faced the Phillies earlier this year and lasted 1/3 of an inning. He gave up four runs on five hits and six walks.

Chase Utley will not be in today's lineup, recieving a day off against the left-hander. Lefties are hitting .205 against Perez this season. Eric Bruntlett will start at second base.

In injury news, Greg Dobbs was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a minor tweak to his right calf. Miguel Cairo was called up from Triple-A. To make room for Cairo on the 40-man roster, Antonio Bastardo was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

In other injury news, Brett Myers is scheduled to pitch in a rehab appearance today. J.C Romero and Clay Condrey are scheduled to throw tomorrow.

Utley’s Homer Diminishes Redding’s Outing

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The most home runs a Met has at Citi Field is five (Gary Sheffield, David Wright, and Fernando Tatis). Chase Utley, a visiting player, now has four. Chase's home run into "Utley's Corner" put the Phillies ahead after Tim Redding continued his dominance against the Phillies.

In the second, the Mets took a 1-0 lead on Omir Santos' RBI single. J.A Happ was not electric, but that was all he allowed in seven innings. He gave up eight hits and walked two, but stranded runners. The Mets abandoned seven men on base and were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, thanks to Happ's composure and poise. He does not get ruffled when batters reach base.

While Happ stranded runners, Redding barely allowed any. Redding has killed the Phillies over the years, including shutouts and one-hitters. He was just as controlling today. In five scoreless innings, he allowed one hit and walked three. Because of a high pitch count (81) and a previous injury, Jerry Manuel decided to pull him after five. It worked out for the Phillies.

Pat Misch, who replaced Redding, walked Shane Victorino to lead off the sixth inning. He left a 1-1 fastball middle-in to Utley, who knocked it into the right field seats. The two-run shot gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead, and they didn't look back.

The Phillies extended the lead on back-to-back doubles by Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz. Carlos Ruiz's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning made it 4-1.

With a three-run lead headed into the bottom of the ninth, it was Brad Lidge time. Blowing eight saves and having an earned run average over seven this season, save situations haven't been easy for Lidge. But, Lidge showed his 2008 form with a 1-2-3 save, his 24th of the year. To start the inning, Lidge struck out Daniel Murphy; it was his 700th career strikeout and it set the tone.
Cory Sullivan chased a slider in the dirt and Ruiz fired to first on the drop third strike to end the game. The Phillies took game two of the series, 4-1. There were plenty of Phillies fans in attendance to witness the victory, including Phillies Nation's buses of fans, who represented Philadelphia well with plenty of "Let's go Phillies!" chants.

Happ on Hill for Game 2

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Philadelphia Phillies (69-50) at New York Mets (57-65)
J.A Happ (9-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. Tim Redding (1-4, 6.53 ERA)

As shown in game one of the four game series, the Mets aren't a team to take lightly, even though they are 13.5 games out and depleted with injuries. It's a true rivalry, and both teams want to beat each other.

Happ's last start started two hours late because of rain. In that outing against the Braves, Happ pitched 7.2 innings. He allowed three hits, but walked six. No Phillies starter has walked a batter since Happ on Sunday.

Happ will be opposed by Phillie-killer, Tim Redding. In the last two seasons, Redding is 3-1 with a 3.50 earned run average against the Phils. That ERA is high-- he only had one bad outing against them. He has shut them out twice, including a one-hitter against them.

Call of the Day: Before Nolan Ryan went onto strike out 5,714, Steve Carlton moved ahead of him.

"Struck 'em out! Number 3,522, Steve Carlton! He has surpassed Nolan
Ryan for the all time Major League strike out king!"

Hamels Can't Find Location In Loss

Also seen on Phillies Nation.

Location, location, location. Cole Hamels' problem haunted him as he continued to struggle with his command in the Phillies 4-2 loss to the New York Mets.

After an hour and sixteen minute rain delay, baseball was underway. Ryan Howard continued his hot hitting with a RBI single in the first inning. The Mets tied the game at one on Daniel Murphy's ground out.

Hamels can't seem to find control of his fastball. Carlos Ruiz set up down and in to Angel Pagan. The pitch was right down the middle, resulting in a run batted in for Pagan. For Jeff Francouer, Ruiz's glove was positioned high and out of the strike zone. Again, the pitch was down the middle, and Francouer took advantage. Francouer (3-for-4) homered and the Mets had a 3-1 lead. The Mets added another run on Omir Santos' sacrifice fly in foul territory, in which Howard made a terrific catch on.

Because Hamels is unable to locate his fastball, he can not throw his changeup effectively. His velocity is there, he just needs command of his fastball to set up his off-speed pitches. It isn't that he is close; he is missing his spots badly. Once Hamels gains command of his pitches and stays away from the middle of the plate, he'll be the successful pitcher he once was.

Hamels lasted five innings. He gave up four earned runs on ten hits. At least he made them hit their way on. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. No Phillies starter has walked a batter since Sunday. Chan Ho Park's walk to Jeremy Reed ended a 33 walk-less streak by the Phillies staff.

The Phillies had plenty of chances to score, but did not capitalize. They were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. After Pedro Feliz's RBI single, the Phillies had a golden opportunity to score in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Ben Francisco and Jimmy Rollins each popped out to the infield, ending the threat.

Down 4-2, the Phillies made some noise in the ninth. With one out and runners at the corners, Francisco Rodriguez struck out Chase Utley and Howard to end the game. Even though the Phillies have a 13.5 game lead over the Mets, this series isn't one to take lightly. As shown in K-Rod's game ending strikeout celebration, the Mets want to beat their arch rivals.

Home Runs (or Lack of) Will Effect Series at Citi

For full gameday, visit Phillies Nation.

Philadelphia Phillies (69-49) at New York Mets (56-65).
Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.69 ERA) starts vs. Mike Pelfrey (8-8, 4.75 ERA).

The rivalry is renewed. Even though the Phillies have a comfortable 14.5 game lead over the Metropolitans, this is a big series.

The Mets have been depleated with injuries, missing Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. The newest addition to the disabled list is David Wright, who was beaned in the head, suffering a scary concussion.

Cole Hamels' roller coaster season continues. He last faced the Mets in June, and was roughed up for four runs in five innings. The home run ball hurts Hamels, who has allowed 21 bombs this season. Luckily, the Mets are not a home run hitting club, especially at pitcher friendly Citi Field. In fact, the Phillies (171) have exactly 100 more home runs than the Mets (71). And if Hamels does give up deep flies, they are usually solo shots. Hamels needs control of his fastball to help return his 2008 form.

Mike Pelfrey is 2-0 against the Phillies this season, but Chase Utley has him in his book. Unlike Hamels, Pelfrey keeps the ball in the park, but Utley has taken him deep three times in 18 at-bats. Chase will try to hit one into "Utley's Corner," dubbed by the Mets broadcasters.

When the Phillies and Mets meet, the games are usually intense and down to the wire. The Phillies can not take this series lightly even with a marginal lead.

Tonight's lineup: Rollins (SS)/ Victorino (CF)/ Utley (2B)/ Howard (1B)/ Werth (RF)/ Ibanez (LF)/ Dobbs (3B)/ Ruiz (C)/ Hamels (P).

Call of the Day: Sarge hits a HR in the 1983 NLCS.

"Well hit to deep left. Goodbye! Way, way, outta here! Gary Mathews! What a
League Championship Series he's having."

Survivor: Mets Edition

In order to make money to help pay for their new stadium, the New York Mets agreed to do a reality show to help pay for funds. The show-- Survivor: New York Mets Edition-- is schedule to air on SNY at the end of the season.

Originally, none of the players agreed to do it, until it was decided that the winner would get traded. Once David Wright heard this, he was on a mission. He wasn't about to win a championship in New York, so why not win this tournament.

Wright thought everything through. He was smart enough to know that performance enhancing drugs weren't going to work; it'd just lead to disqualification. He researched hard, and hired a team of professionals to create a plan.

Before the season started, Billy Wagner, Angel Pagan, and Tim Redding were already on the disabled list. David knew they weren't a threat anyway, but it still helped. Not much happened in April, other than Brian Schneider straining a muscle. One player gone wasn't enough for David, so he fired the crew that he had been working with.

"Hmmm... injury," David mischievously thought regarding Schneider. He did not want to hurt his teammates. He knew he'd feel bad, but it was the only way he'd be able to seek victory, and a new ballclub. He looked toward his own, the Mets athletic training staff.

"I have to win this thing! I'm already trying my best to get traded by not hitting home runs! This is my only hope. I need you guys to help me out," David said to Ray Ramirez, the head of the training staff.

"I don't blame you for wanting to go. We already know what the outcome is," Ray replied.

"Okay, I wa--" David was cut off.

"On one condition. You must give me $100 for each player that goes down."

"Deal."

"Just tell me who you want voted off Citi Field first?"

The answer was easy, Oliver Perez. He never returned to his 2004 form when his ERA was under 3.00 with the Pirates. Fed up with his 7.03 ERA, David wanted him gone. "He's so unpredictable. I'm so fed up with this 'Good Ollie,' 'Bad Ollie' bull. Just be good for crying out loud!" Next thing ya knew, Perez was on the DL with knee tendinitis.

The DL grew. Carlos Delgado (hip), Alex Cora (thumb), and Ryan Church (hamstring) were added. But the Wright's biggest competition was still on the island; Jose Reyes. Wright was always good buddies with Reyes. They'd pose for magazines together, they'd dance in the dugout. Many thought they were soul mates.

But David was always jealous that he didn't have a fancy chant for when he stepped to the plate. Reyes was the most popular Met and the favorite for the competition, and David wasn't down with that.

David had a serious talk with Ray, and soon enough, Reyes was placed on the disabled list. Just when Reyes was about to return, the training staff "forgot" to stretch out Reyes during a rehab assignment. First calf tendinitis, now a hamstring injury.

And the DL grew. Once a guy returned, another one fell down. Ramon Martinez, J.J Putz, John Maine, Fernando Martinez, Fernando Neive and Gary Sheffield were on put on the DL.

Even after Church returned, Wright convinced Omar Minaya to trade him to Atlanta because he felt that Jeff Francouer would be a better "fit for the team." In other words, less competition for David.

But David wasn't done. The season far from over, players were becoming closer to returning. Tired of seeing the instant replay of Luis Castillo dropping a ball that would have ended the game, David placed a banana peel on the dugout step. Castillo tripped over it, and was significantly hurt.

The next day, Jon Neise left the game because he was injured. He's done for the year. Sheffield was just coming back, and he left the game because of another injury. The Mets are dropping like flies.

The Mets have used 47 different players this year. "Wright" now, David is currently the leader of Survivor: New York Mets edition.

Another Mets Fail

It doesn't take long for new Met, Jeff Francouer, to fit in with his new team.

Courtesy Walk Off Walk.

The Mets are now 44-50, and 10.5 games behind the Phillies.