That’s not a football score, folks!winning pitcher: Jamie Moyer, losing pitcher: Jorge De La RosaHRs: Chris Coste, Chase Utley, Ryan SpilborghsDespite the Phillies only having two home runs for the game, they blasted out of the gate, with Utley’s home run coming in the first inning, after the Rockies had scored 3 off of Jamie Moyer.  What a game I missed!

Friday, May 23rd: Phillies 3    Astros 4winning pitcher: Brandon Backe, losing pitcher: Adam Eaton, save: Jose Valverdehome runs: Pat Burrell and Hunter PenceSaturday, May 24th: Phillies 3    Astros 4winning pitcher: Brian Moehler, losing pitcher: Brett Myers, save: Doug Brocailhome run by Ryan HowardSunday, May 25th: Phillies 15   Astros 6winning pitcher: Rudy Seanez, losing pitcher: Fernando Nieve  (who?)home runs: Pat Burrell, Geoff Jenkins, Chase Utley, Carlos LeeAfter losing two games to the Astros with the same score and different ways of getting there, the Phillies blasted out of the box in Houston today, with their bats going nuts.  It was definitely an eventful series, with Jayson Werth going down with a strained oblique muscle (that’s  to us non-medical types) and the home plate umpire going down with a bat to the head in today’s game.  They will both be okay but the ump thing is pretty scary since they don’t wear a helmet behind the plate.  Maybe they should!And this is an injury thing this year, with pitchers getting nailed by balls off the bat (Chris Young of the Diamondbacks with a broken nose this week as well as Pedro Feliz knocking one back to hit Jose Valverde) and umps getting hit with bats…  Maybe something will be done, maybe it won’t.  I have NO idea what the pitchers could wear that would prevent serious injury from a ball being hit off of a bat back at them.  I remember watching the game where the ball came back and hit the pitcher in the eye on TV.  scary stuff!!!  I hope they do something because this shouldn’t be the way the players end their careers.Then there are months like Brett Myers is having…  He leads the league in runs allowed (46) and is tied in home runs allowed (15) with Roy Oswalt.  He hasn’t won a game since April 17th and is just faltering when he is about to come out of the pitching slump.  The Phillies think he’s got a mental issue of confidence going on.  Maybe a stint on the DL would help him because Philadelphia fans are notoriously unforgiving on players when they’re down.  Maybe he needs that to piss him off or it’ll actually undermine his confidence even more!  It’s frustrating but he’s definitely due for a run now.  I’ve still got him on one fantasy team (on the bench, mind you) and I’m starting him this week, when he’s pitching.  I think he’ll just slam his way out of this skid, in one way or another.  

winning pitcher: Chad Durbin, losing pitcher: Wesley Wright, save: Brad Lidge

home runs: Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard

It really looks like Howard has come out of his slump and is on his way up the ladder to those expected 50 HRs on the year.  From everything I’ve read, he’s a really nice guy and deserves to do better than he has.  And the Phillies need him!

And Pat Burrell had a pinch-hit Home Run in the 8th inning to pull the Phillies ahead.  And kudos to Brad Lidge for really turning things around in Phillie–he faced Lance Berkman in last night’s game, in the 9th.  He got him to pop up to end the game!

Lidge came into the game to a mixed reaction from the Houston crowd as he was their closer for the last 5 years and had his issues the last year or two.  Sometimes that can really turn the fans against you, as was in evidence last night.  But he was lights out and did his job, showing them that he’s still got it!

Tuesday, May 20: Phillies 1    Nationals 0

winning pitcher: Tom Gordon, losing pitcher: Jon Rauch, save: Brad Lidge

Wednesday, May 21: Phillies 12   Nationals 2

winning pitcher: Jamie Moyer, losing pitcher: Matt Chico, save: Clay Condrey

home runs: Pedro Feliz, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard 2!

The Phils really opened up on the Nationals Wednesday night with an 8-run 6th inning.  The Nationals’ pitchers, Matt Chico, Jesus Colome, and Chris Schroder, were pounded by the Phils throughout the game.  They managed to split the series with them despite having some slow games leading up to this batting explosion.  Here’s hoping this is just the indicator of what is to come now and the Phils are out of their general batting team slump!

winning pitcher: Tim Redding, losing pitcher: Brett Myers

Apparently Tim Redding has a run of 13 and 1/3rd innings where he allowed 8 hits this season.  Myers at least didn’t totally implode as the only allowed 3 runs on 8 hits over 6 innings of work.  But guys got on base and Myers pitched himself out of some of the jams.  He isn’t totally satisfied with his pitching and that’s good as I’m about ready to give up on him for my fantasy teams.

Plus the hitting has really slumped lately, minus Jayson Werth, mind you.  I think once they get hot, they’ll ALL get hot and go on a tear.  Waiting for things to get hot now…

The Phillies lost two of three games to the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, not an auspicious start to interleague play for them!Friday, May 16: Phillies 10   Blue Jays 3winning pitcher: Jamie Moyer, losing pitcher: David PurceyHRs: Jayson Werth with THREE  (wowee kazawee!)Saturday, May 17:  Phillies 3  Blue Jays 6winning pitcher: AJ Burnett,  losing pitcher: Adam Eaton,  save: BJ RyanHRs: Rod Barajas with TWO   (traded away for what?)Sunday, May 18:  Phillies 5    Blue Jays 6winning pitcher: Jason Frasor,  losing pitcher: Rudy Seanez,  save:  BJ RyanHRs:  Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard, Lyle OverbayIt looks like once again, pitching is seriously letting the Phillies down.  When will they pull out of this so-so season and move up into the really good part of the season?  They keep trying to put it together and pitching just lets them down.  The hitting isn’t at a high point every night and nor should it have to be.  Pitching should be able to step it up and win at least 40 percent of the games as the hitting can easily win 60% for the Phils.  But they can’t be “on” every night and with Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer the only ones who can put it together, that’s not going to work — that’s 40% but with the offense not putting it together all together right now, the pitching needs to step it up.Jayson Werth is kicking some serious butt!  Why are they putting Geoff Jenkins in the lineup?  Shaen Victorino and Werth is an awesome one-two on the basepaths and with Werth knocking them over the wall regularly (3 in one game?  that’s NUTS), they need Victorino’s speed in there as well.  Is Charley Manuel making the right decision here?  He (or whomever makes this decision) didn’t do right with Rollins but that could be a matter of how Jimmy Rollins was presenting how he felt with the ankle sprain.  Communication is key here and they’re just not putting it together as a team, from the top down, right now…

winning pitcher: Cole Hamels, losing pitcher: Chuck James

home runs: Ryan Howard, Pedro Feliz, Shane Victorino

Cole Hamels kicked some serious Brave butt tonight and pitched the Phillies’s first complete game of the season.   He has to step up and be the ace since Brett Myers is having such a disappointing season.  Jamie Moyer is turning in his usual, steady pitching performance and Adam Eaton is, well, Adam Eaton.  One never knows…  And Kyle Kendrick is doing the youngster turn of up and down, though he’s not THAT young.

So it’s up to Hamels to really rock this staff!  And he’s proving that he can without a problem.  And Ryan Howard is slowly warming up, soon to go on a tear, I think.  Hitting the home runs and making things happen!  Hurray for today’s win!  The Phillies are still behind the Marlins by 1 game in the standings but that’s great news in May.  Go Phils!

winning pitcher: Tom Glavine, winning pitcher: Brett Myers, save: Blaine Boyer

home runs: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Chipper Jones

Brett Myers still isn’t putting it together.  I’m not totally giving up on him but I’m seriously considering cutting him from my fantasy teams–yes plural.  I don’t have Justin Verlander but I sure have the Phillie version of him…  His fantasy value is plummeting fast and I’m just at a loss as to when I should ditch the guy!  Anyone with any comments?

Jimmy Rollins, on the other hand, is looking good!  Getting better daily so I can live with that type of performance.  And at least the Phils are staying right in the mix and the NL East goes up and down and all around, with the surprise of the season so far being the Florida Marlins, keeping the winning going on a shoestring budget!

winning pitcher: Kyle Kendrick, losing pitcher: Jo-Jo Reyes, save: Brad Lidge

An excellent game won in the 9th inning after Atlanta tried to come back but that was just a little excitement for the fans…

Ryan Howard now has a 5 game hitting streak so rest easy, fans.  He’s doing fine.  Okay, he didn’t come roaring back but he’s hitting and he’ll hit his groove soon enough.  And I am still suffering with Jimmy Rollins since his return–first night hits and none since then.  So goes my fantasy team…  But this is the heartbreak of being a fantasy owner!

Jimmy Rollins is BACK!  or sort of.  First game back, Friday, May 9th, gets a home run and gets things going.  Ever since then… oh-fers.  sigh.  I activate the guy a day late and get nothing for it so far.  Come on Jimmy!

Friday, May 9:  Phillies 7    Giants 4

winning pitcher: Cole Hamels, losing pitcher: Tyler Walker, save: Brad Lidge

home run: Jimmy Rollins

Saturday, May 10: Phillies 2    Giants 8

winning pitcher: Tim Lincecum, losing pitcher: Jamie Moyer

home runs: Chris Coste, Ryan Howard, Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn

Sunday, May 11: Phillies 3    Giants 4

winning pitcher: Jack Taschner, losing pitcher: JC Romero, save: Brian Wilson

home run: Steve Holm

I think until Jimmy Rollins gets his pop back and hits his hot streak, the Phillies will lose to the bad teams like the Giants.  Ugh.  Tonight they face the Braves, with Kyle Kendrick going for the Phils and Jo-jo Reyes for the Braves.  Lets hope the bats of the Phillies can get moving against the lefties on the Braves or they’ll be going on a losing streak, started against the Giants…