5 Sox, 2 Phillies

Well at least we got one.

This game could have been a lot more exciting, but then our friend Adrian knocked Cole Hamels out of the game. Hamels had only given up 2 hits in 4 innings. The Sox then took advantage of the Phillies bullpen as Sutton and Ellsbury both drove in runs in the 5th. Jason Varitek was on point, hitting a solo shot in the 6th, then going back-to-back with Pedroia by following his solo shot with one of the 2-run variety.

Jon Lester came through when the Red Sox needed him the most. Lester threw 120 pitches over 7 shutout innings, giving up only 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 5.

Red Sox @ Phillies Preview

Well, this series has gone bad so far, and it doesn't get any easier tonight with Lester taking on Hamels. Hamels is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA with 21 strikeouts in three starts against Boston, and 5-2 with a 1.85 ERA in his last eight outings. I have always liked Hamels and am actually happy he is having such a great year.

Lester is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Phillies, but has lost two straight. I believe Lester will have a strong game tonight, but I am worried about the Sox being able to score any runs. I would hate to see them fall anymore behind the Yankees, and my hope is Gonzalez, Youk, Pedroia just have enough to get them through this game.

Red Sox win 3-1
Player of the Game: Lester
Game starts at 1:05pm

Red Sox 1 Phillies 2

The Red Sox just aren't hitting right now. Last night Lackey was really their only offense... yea, that's the kind of game it was. This time it was Vance Worley who shut the Red Sox down going 7 innings allowing only 5 hits, 1 run, with 5 Ks. I have been making he excuse that the Red Sox really aren't going to be very good until they have Ortiz and Gonzalez in the lineup, well last night they did starting Gonzalez in RF and Ortiz at first and it still didn't make much of a difference. Maybe it's that Ortiz (0-4) was just out of sink after having to sit so much, or maybe it's just the Red Sox are once again in a funk. They have been an up and down team all year, so it could just be one of the down times.

What is lost in all this is how well Lackey pitched. He went 7 2/3 allowing 2 runs on 8 hits with 5 K's, much better then anything the Sox have been getting from him this year. There were rumors Lackey was going to need Tommy John, but after this performance and Francona and Lackey coming out saying that is false, I would say that it is unlikely.

Lackey was rolling until Ibanez homered to right in the 7th. Still, It's not Lackey's fault the Sox could put more then 1 run on the board. I think they will be fine, and they just need to get out of this NL schedule and back into Fenway. Still, being 2 1/2 games back of the Yankees already the Sox don't want to lose too much ground.

5 Phillies, 0 Red Sox

Cliff Lee is pretty good, huh?

And like our buddy in Hotlanta sent us in a e-mail, thank god the Yankees don't have him.

That's all you can say after Cliff Lee went up against the best lineup in baseball and made them look like a High School team. Lee didn't give up a hit until the sixth to Marco Scutaro. The Sox were completely over matched and this was for his 3rd straight shut out. And on top of it he got an RBI hit, literally beating the Sox by himself. He ends the month of June, going 5-0 while allowing only a single earned run in 42 innings (0.21 ERA).

As from Josh Beckett, he was obviously rusty after the 13 day lay off. giving up 5 runs in 6 innings.

Oh well. Philly is still an awful place.

Red Sox @ Phillies Preview

One of the best pitching matchups you are going to get tonight as Beckett vs. Cliff Lee. Beckett has been out sick for over a week, but is finally feeling better and that's great news for the Red Sox, because he has flat out been their best pitcher this season (6-2 1.86 ERA).

Lee has thrown consecutive shutouts and hasn't allowed a run in 23 innings, but he has struggled against the Red Sox in his career going 2-4 with a 4.06 ERA. Still, with Ortiz most likely out of the lineup tonight he will most likely be tough to score on. Beckett on the other hand has has some success against the Phillies (8-4 3.98 ERA).

The Sox haven't been hitting as well since they have had to start playing NL teams on the road. It's not hard to figure out why. With Ortiz not being able to play much, Crawford out hurt, and everyone in the OF (with the exception of Ellsbury) sucking there just isn't much offense. That could really hurt the Sox tonight, but the Phillies aren't a great offensive team anymore either. I think Boston gets just enough, since they have stepped up against good pitching all year.

Red Sox win 4-2
Player of the Game: Beckett
Game starts at 7:05pm

Surprise, Surprise, Philly Wants To Be Us

Philly.com - If there’s a reason to end interleague play, this is it. The next few days figure to test our collective patience and sanity. Brace yourself: Boston fans are coming. They’ve gotten out of control, these Boston fans. They’ve mutated. There was a time when they took a perverse pride in their suffering, when they romanticized their lack of sports luck. Then the Pats won and the Sox won and the Celtics won and, more recently, the Bruins won. The people in Boston have become obnoxious, arrogant, condescending. After the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, I asked my buddy Flan, who lives up there, whether people were rioting in Central Square – a particularly lawless area of Cambridge where Flan and I once watched two hobos fight in the middle of Massachusetts Avenue. (True story.)”Nope,” Flan said. “We act like we’ve been there before.” Boston Globe and SportsIllustrated.com columnist Dan Shaughnessy – a man who’s written about Boston sports for decades – summed up the vomit-inducing situation perfectly in the first sentence of a recent piece. The story appeared under the obligatory headline you might expect: “Being a sports fan in Boston has become an embarrassment of riches.” “The rest of the country,” Shaughnessy wrote, “must be sick of us in Boston.” Pass the Pepto.

It's so obvious that Philly is the little brother to the best sports town in America, so obviously this guy would come out with a extremely jealous article pointing fingers at fans from Titletown. I have been saying this for a while recently, Philadelphia is a city full of scumbags and they deserve another ringless run. I was happy for the city when they won, now they are trying to play the us against the world card which actually goes to show how actually pathetic they are.

How dare this guy go after our fans, when they have some of the most classless people in America representing their city. They embrace booing little kids, injured players and throwing up on little girls. Maybe they are just upset because their city is a step above New Orleans after the hurricane hit. Honestly have you ever been there? There are 2 cool streets, steak and cheese subs and then a bunch of ugly women. So calm down Philly and embrace the role of the little sister because that's all you'll ever be.

Oh yea Flyers, smooth move, trading 2 of your best players for a ehhh goalie isn't winning you the cup any time soon.

2011 MLB Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

2010 Record: 97-65

Lineup:

1 Jimmy Rollins SS
2 Placido Polanco 3B
3 Raul Ibanez OF
4 Ryan Howard 1B
5 Ben Francisco OF
6 Shane Victorino OF
7 Carlos Ruiz C
8 Wilson Valdez 2B

The Phillies lineup has taken a hit with Werth going to the Nationals and Utley out for the start of the regular season. There is no timetable for Utley's return, and this lineup doesn't look every good without him in it. When he does return they should be OK though. Howard has worked to bring his big stance closer to the plate, which should help lower his strikeouts, which hopefully bringing his power numbers back up. The Phillies are going to need Ibanez to squeak out one more solid year. Overall, even with Utley in this lineup they aren't that great, and are aging by the day (unless Domonic Brown turns into something special).


Pitching

1 Roy Halladay
2 Cliff Lee
3 Roy Oswalt
4 Cole Hamels
5 Joe Blanton
CL: Brad Lidge

Oh shit I must have posted the All-Star rotation instead of the Phillies. What? That's really their rotation? Oh good God. This might be the greatest rotation in the history of baseball. Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. Cliff Lee was the biggest free agent this offseason, and both can with 20 games, and both pitch complete games whenever they damn well please. On top of that Oswalt and Hamels can both win 15 games easy. You add that up that's 70 games one just from 4 pitchers. It's just crazy. One top of that I like their bullpen with Lidge and Madson leading the way.

Overall:

Their lineup is average at best, but when you have the best rotation in the history of baseball you are going to be damn good. Look at what the Giants did last year with no offense, and the Phillies lineup is way better then theirs. I am not going to go too crazy with the prediction, but this is going to be a special year in Philly.

2011 Record: 102-60

Cliff Lee to Phillies

In an absolutely stunning turn of events, Cliff Lee has agreed to a 5 year, $100 million deal with his former team: the Philadelphia Phillies. Reports claim that he declined an offer from the Yankees worth $150M over 7 years. There are reports that there'll be an optional 6th year, or a very heavy buyout.

This is simply unbelievable. The Yankees offered him an average of $21.4 million per year (the Phillis is a $20M average, in case you suck at math), and for 2 years longer. Lee's contract will expire when he's 37 years old. So it's not like he's going to get another massive payday.

He must really love something about the Phillies, and/or dislike something about the Yankees.

As a Sox fan, this is the next best thing to signing Lee. Not only is he out of our division, he's out of our League! The Sox play the Phillies a few times in interleague play, but they won't have to compete with them for a playoff spot. So unless the Sox make the World Series, we don't have to worry about facing Cliff Lee in a truly important game.

Also, the signing of Crawford is looking even better today. The Sox paid a bit extra, but they've gotten him. If they hadn't locked that down as soon as they did, the Yankees might be courting him right now.

The Yankees can't be feeling too good today.

-The Commodore

Breaking News: Red Sox Trade For Joe Blanton (UPDATED)

The Red Sox made a deal for Joe Blanton this morning

Blanton went 9-6 with a 4.82 ERA and 134 Ks, he's under contract until 2012 and makes about 8 million dollars a year. I don't get the deal because Blanton wasn't that great in the American League.

deal doesn't make sense to me

More details later.


***BMack's Take***

I am a Blanton fan, so obviously I like this. Also, I think it is a smart move for the Sox. Every year we use at least 6 pitchers. I know, I know we have Wake, but does anyone really want him starting anymore? No, me either.

So, if Beckett, Lackey, or Dice-K get hurt, or suck the will have a backup plan. Another theory could be that there are more moves on the horizon. What I am about to say here has nothing behind it other then rumors from earlier in the offseason. These are crazy ideas, but in an offseason where anything seems possible why not kick these aroung.

WHAT IF...

The Sox sent Dice-K to the Mets for Beltran. Then turned around and sent Ellsbury, and prospects to Arizona for Upton?

So, Blanton is now the #5, the Sox then have Upton, Beltran, and Crawford in their outfield.

Another theory that DP just texted me was maybe this could be part of a large move to try to pry Felix Hernandez away from Seattle.

Listen, all of this is crazy, but even if they are keeping Blanton I like it because it gives them more pitching depth, and we have all seen how important that can be. The only reason to not like this deal is because Blanton is making like $6 million next year, and that's a lot for a 6th starter, but then again I'm not paying him, so what the fuck do I care?

Oh, and for all you conspiracy theorist out there you'll love this...

There is a rumor that the Sox told the Phillies that if they signed Cliff Lee the Sox would turn around and help them out by taking Blanton and his $6 million off their hands.

Also, it should be noted this deal is not done, and could all be rumors.


***UPDATE***


"No agreement has been finalized, reports WEEI's Rob Bradford. A deal is unlikely, tweets ESPN's Gordon Edes (MLBTradeRumors)."

Roy Halladay Wins NL Cy Young

Halladay was an easy choice after going 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 219 strikeouts. He led the league in wins and topped the majors in innings (250 2-3), shutouts (4) and complete games (9).

Roy Halladay is the best pitcher I have witnessed in my life. The best thing about Halladay is that he seems to get better with age. He controls the strike zone, he is very efficient and very smart.

You just think Imagine if they just gave Dom Brown in the trade rather than Cliff Lee. That pitching rotation would be scary to think about. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hammels and maybe Roy Oswalt. Ridiculous.

"No Chance" Werth Coming Back To Phillies?

ESPN's Jayson Stark reported yesterday that there is "zero chance" Werth will be back with the Phillies next year. I don't know how much I buy into making a bold claim like that this early in the offseason, but Stark for the most part in on point.

I really hope this isn't true, because it will be more and more likely that the Sox are going to get him. It's not that I don't like Werth, I just think they are going to overpay in get caught in another JD Drew type contract. He would add some power to the OF, and he has a pretty good defensive player, but something tells me it will be way to expensive and long of a contract to get him.

Phillies Force Game 6

The legend of Roy Halladay seems to grow with each passing game. Already throwing a no-hitter in the playoffs, now he out dueled Tim Lincecum, who beat him last time and he did it on only one good leg.

Halladay pulled his groin, and had to ride a bike in between inning to keep lose. Yet, he was still able to pitch 6 inning allowing only 1 run. Tim Lincecum also had a great game going 7 innings allowing 3 runs (2 ER) with 7 Ks. Even with these two Aces having solid games, the game ball has to go to the Phillies bullpen up pitched 3 scoreless innings, especially Ryan Madson who struck out the Giants' 4-5-6 hitters in the 8th, and Brad Lidge finished with a perfect 9th for his 2nd save this postseason.

A Huff error in the 4th ended up leading to the winning run for the Phillies, but Werth also put the game away in the 9th with a solo HR. Still, like has been all season the story was the pitching.

Now the series heads back to Philadelphia. Roy Oswalt will face Jonathan Sanchez in Game 6.

MLB Recaps: Choking Phillies?

6 Giants, 5 Phillies

The Giants are a bunch of cast offs that have done nothing but give their former teams a big Fuck You. Cody Ross was the hero in the first couple games, now in game 4 Juan Uribe is the one to put the dagger in the Phillies hearts.

Juan Uribe, who was questionable with a sore left wrist, hit a sacrifice fly off reliever Roy Oswalt with one out in the ninth inning Wednesday night, making the final score 6-5 and creating a gap in the series at 3-1.

Boosted by yet another big hit from late-season pickup Cody Ross, four hits and two RBIs from rookie Buster Posey (he's unbelievable) and a timely double from struggling Pablo Sandoval, the Giants pushed the two-time defending NL champion Phillies to the brink of elimination.

...

Oh yea the Yankees won, series at 3-2 and heading back to Texas.

MLB Recaps: Too Many Roys

6 Phillies, 1 Giants

Oswalt pitched eight superb innings, Jimmy Rollins drove in four runs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-1 Sunday night to even the NL Championship Series at one game apiece.

The Giants did what they needed to do as the split the games in Philly. Jonathen Sanchez has a little Dice K in him with constantly flirting with danger.

Yankees/ Rangers Series 1-1
The Rangers should have won game 1 when they chased CC out of the game, but bounced back when CJ Wilson shut the Yankees down. Series travels to New York now.

DOCtober Anyone?

4 Phillies, 0 Reds

Good thing John Lackey is just as good as this guy or I would be pissed. Roy Halladay just really shut the mouth of his critics who questioned how he was going to do in the playoffs seeing this is his first time out there. Halladay threw the second no-hitter in postseason history, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Wednesday. Unlike many other no-hitters this was a no doubter, there was no drama, no great plays that needed to be made, just Roy and the catcher playing catch all day. What really got me was why the Reds were taking the first pitch seeing how he was starting out 0 and 1 80% of the game. Roy Halladay is one of my favorite pitchers and guys who I respect the most. Anyways, stick a fork in the Reds, no one can overcome the major cockslap that was just done on them.

5 Rangers, 1 Tampa Bay
The guy who was traded for Roy Halladay didn't have a shabby game either. Cliff Lee threw 7 innings allowing 5 hits, 1 run and striking out 10. He completely owned this Rays offense and put the Rangers in a great position to win the series is CJ Wilson can do what he did during the regular season. Meanwhile, Cy Young candidate David Price had a first game that left something to be desired. He pitch 6.2 innings let up 5 runs (4 earned) and struck out 8. It's a shame because with James Shields pitching crappy and Matt Garza being inconsistent the Rays could be in a bit of trouble.

6 Yankees, 4 Twins

I went to bed when the Twins were up 3-0 and seemed to have this game in hand and then I woke up to get reminded by my Yankee fan gf that the Yankees won 6-4. Sweet way to start your day.

Oswalt About To Join Phillies? (UPDATED)

We have been hearing these rumors for the past couple of week, but today reports say that it is a done deal. The only thing holding up the deal is that Roy Oswalt needs to sign off on it (rumor is the Atros will get J.A. Happ and two prospects). This could be a big hold up, as Oswalt wants the Phillies to pick up his $12MM option for 2012. The Phillies have been very hesitant to do this, so it will be interesting to see who (if any) caves.

The Phillies are currently 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta for 1st place in the NL East, and 2 1/2 games behind San Fran for the Wild Card. If they were able to get Oswalt I would put them as the favorite to win the NL East. The Phillies are known for the 2nd half runs, and a guy like Oswalt could really start them on a nice run.

If Oswalt doesn't agree to the trade rumors suggest that they will turn their attention to Carmona.


***UPDATE***

Oswalt plans to OK the deal, but it's not official yet, reports Stark. He adds that the Astros will be sending $11MM. Rosenthal tweets that Oswalt's 2012 option will not be exercised; he'll be compensated some other way. ESPN's Amy K. Nelson tweets that Oswalt will get $1MM added by the Phillies to the buyout of his '12 option. She adds that the details are being worked out now regarding Oswalt retaining his no-trade clause.

Oswalt Making Life Hard For Phillies

Roy Oswalt's contract demands could be on the verge of blowing up a potential deal that would send the Houston Astros ace to Philadelphia. Oswalt is asking the Phillies, or any team that acquires him, to guarantee his $16 million option in 2012 before he would approve a trade.

This certainly will make this deal far less likely to happen. The Phillies were happy to have Oswalt for this year and next, but beyond that they aren't so sure, and they really don't want to be guaranteeing him $16 million 3 years from now when he is already 32 years old.

Still, if the Phillies want to get back in this race then they are going to need at least another front line pitcher. That might not even solve their problems, as their hitting hasn't been all that great either. I would assume now that they will explore what it will take to get Haren (who I think is better), but that will most likely come with a very steep price.

Most reports suggest that the Cardinals are now the front runners to land Oswalt, as St. Louis is where he prefers to play next.

Phillies About To Make Moves

There are a bunch of rumors going around the MLB today, and most of them have to do with the Phillies. Basically they all have to do with the Phillies looking to unload Jayson Werth and/or grab another starting pitcher. The question is what level of pitcher are they looking for.

The hot rumor so far is that the Phillies are making a serious run at Oswalt, but they don't want to take on his contract unless they can move Werth (Oswalt is owed more than $7 million for the rest of this year and $16 million next season, and he has a $16 million option with a $2 million buyout for 2012). The other problem is that Oswalt will have to clear any trade, as he has a no trade clause. He has said he wants to stay more near Texas, but Philly is a proven winner, so I think if it came down to that he would go.

Other names that are being kicked around are Dan Haren, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ben Sheets. I'll tell you right now if the Phillies get Haren they are going to win it all.

In any of these deals (with the exception of Guthrie) the Phillies are going to have to free up some money (according to reports). Most people think that means Werth is on his way out. Werth has been linked to the Red Sox many times over the last month or so. It would be interesting what the Sox would have to give up to get him, but the price could be driven down quickly if the Phillies are able to land a starting pitcher for prospects.

Anyways, I do believe the Phillies will make a couple moves very soon, so keep an eye on this.

Pedro Not Coming Back To Phillies

We know the Phillies want to add another starting pitcher, but the Phillies appear to have written off any chance of a Pedro Martinez reunion. Pedro has yet to throw off a mound, and last year the Phillies felt good about signing him, because he played in the World Baseball Classic and kept up with his workouts throughout the year.

The Phillies will still be on the market for another starting pitcher and I really wouldn't be shocked if they are the ones that pull off a trade for someone like Dan Haren (he just looks like he should be on the Phillies). The Phillies can't be too concerned though, as they are only 4 1/2 back in their division, a 1 1/2 back in the Wild Card, and are known for being a 2nd half team over the past couple of seasons.

Phillies Put Jayson Werth On The Block

Numerous reports say the Phillies are getting more aggressive in their attempts to deal outfielder Jayson Werth. The Phillies have been informed by the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays that they will be interested in Werth. Phillies are open to a deal, since the 31-year-old Werth is a free agent at the end of the season, and the team has made little progress in their efforts to extend his contract.

It will be every interesting to see who makes a run at him. The Sox could use an outfielder, since lord known when Ellsbury will be back and Mike Cameron has been a complete bust (plus who knows how much JD will play). Yet, the Sox aren't the only one who could use Werth services. The Yankees got word that Nick Johnson has yet another setback, so they could be in the market for someone to fill in the DH role, and the Rays have been dealing with problems with Upton, and lack of a solid DH.

I would like Boston to make a run at him if the price is right. If they do sign him they better either not give up much, or be able to sign him past this season.

Werth is currently hitting .278 BA (.365 OBP) with 13 HRs and 48 RBIs.