One Day To Go!

GAME RECAP: No Game Yesterday!

The Phillies take the day to reflect on a successful spring and prepare for a long regular season. Of course, it is not too early to make plans for the postseason (i.e. where to watch the games).

NEXT GAME:

Veteran right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will make the first Opening Day start of his career Monday when the Phillies play the Reds at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. "It's definitely going to be different," Hellickson said. "The emotions are going to be high. The atmosphere is going to be crazy. The adrenaline is going to be flowing, and I'm going to be really excited. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'm looking forward to it." Outfielder Cedric Hunter, 28, is expected to make his first big league start after coming to camp as a non-roster player.

PHILS PHACTS:

First And Last - The Phillies called Veterans Stadium home for over thirty years beginning on this day in 1971 when it was officially dedicated. And when Jim Bunning threw out the final opening day first ball on this day in 2003, Chase Utley was on the roster for the first time. While there were coountless debuts after on this day such as Kenny Lofton in 2005 and Jayson Werth in 2007, the latter years of the Vet were marked by the promise of young talent such as Eric Valent and the actualization of talent like that of Scott Rolen both of whom were born on this day. Another home grown talent, Ryan Howard, never played at the Vet but did spend some time in Scranton during his career when he made a guest appearance on The Office in an episode that aired on this day in 2013. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record. Let the rebuild begin!

Royals Return To World Series

YESTERDAY IN POSTSEASON PLAY:

When looking up at the executive box one would think that George Brett was being called out for using too much pine tar as the intensity of the moment was released by the Hall of Famer for the second year in a row. The Royals once again faced a formidable opponent and prevailed as a team to secure their second consecutive trip to the World Series where they will face a team equally young and talented in the Mets. Thanks in large part to the ALCS MVP performance of Alcides Escobar batting nearly .500 in the series out of the leadoff spot and turning in his usual spectacular defense the Royals find themselves in prime position to end their 30 year Championship drought. Maybe this will be a trip back to 1985 after all.  

Royals Roast Blue Jays 4-3

Just as the Royals have been saying all season, last year was no fluke. While few prognosticators even picked them to win the American League Central, the Royals advanced to their second straight World Series for the first time in franchise history with a pulsating 4-3 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. Lorenzo Cain scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, scoring all the way from first on Eric Hosmer's single down the right-field line. When right fielder Jose Bautista's throw went to second base, Cain, who was tracked by Statcast™ at 20.694 mph, was sent home by third-base coach Mike Jirschele, and Cain easily beat shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's relay throw home. Cain went from first to home in 10.469 seconds. The Royals move on to face the Mets in Game 1 of the World Series, set for Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium. "This year, from the first day at Spring Training, we expected to be here," Royals manager Ned Yost said on the podium on the field during the postgame presentation of the William Harridge Trophy, for winning the AL. "Our players, they had such a great season, they would never quit, they continued to battle, even when the chips were down a little bit. And it enabled me to put on this new hat here today that has World Series on it, and I'll see you guys on Tuesday." Kansas City struck early on solo homers from Ben Zobrist (first inning) and Mike Moustakas (second), and after Yordano Ventura turned a 2-1 lead over to the bullpen after a solid 5 1/3 innings, Alex Rios made it 3-1 with an RBI single in the seventh. Kelvin Herrera followed Ventura and retired all five batters he faced. But then Ryan Madson gave up a one-out, two-run bomb to Bautista that made it 3-3 in the eighth before Wade Davis came on to get the final two outs of the frame. At that point, rain had begun falling heavily and the game was delayed for 45 minutes. The Royals wasted no time once play resumed, with Cain giving them a lead before an out was recorded. A Blue Jays double play kept it a 4-3 game heading to the ninth, and Davis returned to the mound despite sitting for over an hour. He allowed a leadoff single and a walk, but struck out Dioner Navarro and Ben Revere before Josh Donaldson's groundout with runners on second and third gave Kansas City the AL pennant. "I knew we would, as far as fighting to the end, because that's what we do. That's who these guys are," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We were sitting in that position, we just couldn't get it done. Wade Davis stepped up, like he's done the last few years." David Price started for Toronto and was solid, throwing 6 2/3 innings and giving up just three runs. "He stepped up tonight, he really did," Gibbons said of Price. "A couple solo home runs early, and he's really as good as we've seen him. He kept us right there, gave us a shot. Jose had a huge night, too."

POSTSEASON PREDICTIONS: Read my post from October 6^th to see how many I have gotten wrong!

CURRENT POSTSEASON PICTURE:

World Series

New York at Kansas City

Game 1: Tuesday, October 27, at 8:00 PM

PHILS PHACTS:

If you have an iPhone ask Siri “Siri, what is your favorite baseball team?” Enjoy!

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies finally put an end to the season finishing in last place in the NL East with a record of 63-99. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! However, there are some former Phillies still making headlines in the playoffs this year.

The Phillies Keep The Streak Alive!

GAME RECAP: Pirates Edge Phillies 4-3

Right-hander Gerrit Cole became the first pitcher in the Majors to compile 10 wins, as he threw six strong innings and led the Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Phillies at PNC Park on Saturday. Cole held Philadelphia to two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven, lowering his Major League-leading ERA to 1.71. He retired the final nine Phillies hitters he faced in order and 12 of the last 14, needing only 18 pitches to get through his last two innings. "As the game got going and as I got some runs and we continued to play good defense, I was able to get more in the zone, get more on the black," Cole said. "[Catcher Chris Stewart] kind of switched the way we were attacking hitters. It kind of helped me find a groove, and it worked from there." It was the 24-year-old right-hander's fifth straight win and his seventh straight quality start. The Pirates' lineup, meanwhile, supported Cole with four early runs against Phillies right-hander Sean O'Sullivan, improving to 29-6 this season when scoring at least four runs. The Pirates (34-27) didn't reach seven games above .500 last season until their 101st game, on July 23. The Phillies have now lost 18 of their last 23 games since a six-game winning streak last month, falling to a season-low 19 games under .500 as they lost a series at PNC Park for the sixth time in their last seven trips to Pittsburgh.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• It took 13 innings and more than four hours for the Phillies and Pirates to muster one run on Friday night. That wasn't the case Saturday. Just six minutes into the game, Philadelphia scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley. It was the first run the Pirates gave up since Tuesday, snapping a 22-inning scoreless streak by Pittsburgh pitching.
• After needing last night's extra innings to extend his hitting streak to double digits, Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco wasted no time Saturday in moving his run to 11 consecutive games. In his first at-bat of the game, Franco singled on a ground ball to right field in the second inning. It's the longest streak by a Phillie this season.
• With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Pirates left fielder Marte attempted to steal second base, and he was originally called safe. Phillies second baseman Utley, who gloved catcher Carlos Ruiz's high throw and applied the tag, kept his mitt on Marte, who briefly lifted his foot off the bag. After a review lasting two minutes and 37 seconds, the call on the field was overturned.

NEXT GAME:

Left-handed ace Cole Hamels, coming off a rough outing, will try to rebound as he and the Phillies take on the Pirates at 1:35 ET on Sunday at PNC Park for the series finale. Hamels (3.19 ERA, 5-5 record) has recovered well from every uneven start this year, allowing just four earned runs combined in the four starts following losses. After giving up five runs in his last start, the southpaw will have another chance at redemption. Right-hander A.J. Burnett will make his second start of the season against the Phillies, for whom he pitched last season, as the Pirates seek a three-game sweep. Burnett has won six of his last seven starts after beginning the year 0-1 with a 1.45 ERA in his first five outings. Burnett held Philadelphia to two runs (one earned) over seven innings on May 12 at Citizens Bank Park.

PHILS PHACTS:

Phillies Can’t Cash In – Down one run with the bases loaded, no outs and their hottest hitter at the plate, the Phillies couldn't have asked for anything more. It was the perfect setup to not just tie Saturday's game with the Pirates at PNC Park, but potentially grab a few runs and the lead. Eight pitches later, Pittsburgh's fielders were trotting back to their dugout to a raucous applause from the sellout crowd: they held the Phillies scoreless -- and effectively ended the 4-3 Phillies loss to the Pirates. The Phillies faltered Saturday when they absolutely could not. Lacking the key hit with runners in scoring position plagued them in a one-run, 13-inning loss the evening before, and it haunted them once again. "We put ourselves in a really good position not only to tie it, but possibly win," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Really the game came down to that." Tony Watson, Pittsburgh's shutdown left-handed setup man, took the bump to start the eighth inning. Watson isn't accustomed to hitters getting on base often -- he entered Saturday's game with opponents hitting .186 off him. But Ben Revere doubled to lead off the inning, Jeff Francoeur scored Revere with a pinch-hit single, and Chase Utley followed up with a base knock of his own. And after walking Ryan Howard, Watson was in a precarious position. "It was an ugly inning, definitely," Watson said. "Things got a little crazy there." It was, until Watson got Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco reaching. Franco, a 22-year-old rookie, extended his hitting streak to 11 games and, after Saturday, has hit .432 in that span. But Pirates catcher Chris Stewart figured the youngster would be "geeked up" and ready for a fastball, so he and Watson went with a changeup. Franco attacked it and rolled over, sending a grounder to third baseman Josh Harrison, who made the force play at the plate. "He did exactly what we wanted him to," Stewart said. After Franco, 24-year-old left fielder Cody Asche grounded out to Watson, who flipped it home for the out, and Freddy Galvis rolled one to second baseman Neil Walker to end the frame. Franco said that in that situation, you have to be aggressive at the plate, and Sandberg agreed to an extent. The manager said he thought Franco, Asche and Galvis might have been too overanxious to do too much, like driving in a few runs as opposed to getting just one. The Phillies' inability to push a run across in that sequence was what kept them from a win, but Sandberg hopes, at the very least, that his younger hitters learn from their mistakes. "It's a situation where young players were up there," Sandberg said. "It's something that they'll experience, that they'll grow from."

The Day After – The day after a heated dugout exchange between reliever Ken Giles, manager Ryne Sandberg and pitching coach Bob McClure, the righty said the three have resolved their differences. "Everything's buried in the dirt. Nothing to worry about," Giles said. "It's never going to happen again." With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning of Friday's 1-0 loss to the Pirates, Giles seemed irritated following a mound visit, after which he intentionally walked Bucs first baseman Pedro Alvarez. The right-hander issued another free pass before putting away the inning. "I'm just out there to compete," Giles said. "I just don't like giving freebies. That's about it. ... My emotions just got the best of me." What increased Giles' frustrations was how well he felt he was throwing. The 24-year-old was topping out at 98 mph with his fastball and locating it well. Giles made a hand gesture walking off the bump, put his head down, and took a seat in the dugout, where Sandberg was waiting to voice displeasure with how his player had behaved. Giles said he got "a little too fired up" about the decision to walk Alvarez, and he smoothed things over with Sandberg and McClure following the game. "We're players, too. We're all the same. We have the same mentality," Giles said of Sandberg, a Hall of Famer who played for 15 seasons. "He understands, and I also have to understand the situation and his position, as well."

Rupp Looks For Increased playing Time – As temperatures rise, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg foresees increased playing time for catcher Cameron Rupp. Sandberg said the daily grind behind the plate can be tough, so the heat certainly plays a factor. But so does Rupp's hot hitting. In his last 11 games, the 26-year-old from Texas is hitting .367 (11-of-30) with four doubles and four RBIs. Rupp added two more hits in Friday's 1-0, 13-inning loss to the Pirates. "In the way that he's performed as of late, I can see him getting some more looks," Sandberg said. "He's swung the bat well. He's showed a very strong arm. It looks like he's coming along behind the plate." After starting 18 games last year for the Phillies, Rupp has already started a career-high 19 games this season. He has reached base safely in 14 of those games. Rupp has filled in for Carlos Ruiz the last two games, getting two hits in each game. And with Philadelphia opening its series against southpaw Jeff Locke and the Pirates, Rupp also provides solid numbers against left-handed pitchers. It's a small sample size, but in 30 career plate appearances against lefties, Rupp totes a .259 batting average and .333 on-base percentage. Even though Ruiz's season averages against southpaws are better (.350 average, .409 on-base), Sandberg is riding the hot stick as the summer -- and competition -- heats up.

Trading Places – The Phillies recalled outfielder Domonic Brown after optioning Darin Ruf to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, manager Ryne Sandberg announced after Saturday's 4-3 loss. Brown will join the team for Sunday's 1:35 p.m. ET series finale at PNC Park. Brown, who played in 144 games last year, will mostly play right field when seeing his first time in the big leagues this season. In 52 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the 27-year-old left-handed hitter hit .257 with two home runs and 26 RBIs. "He'll get some chances to start," Sandberg said. "I'll try to mix and match and rotate the guys as I see fit." Ruf, hitting .235 with a .279 on-base percentage this season, said he was shocked by the move. "You never know with things like this," Ruf said. "Hopefully I can go down and swing the bat well." Ruf has served as an on-and-off starter recently. After starting the first seven games of May, the 28-year-old first baseman started in just six of the 19 games since. Sandberg said the intent of sending down Ruf is to get him more steady at-bats. "It is what it is," Ruf said. "Everyday at-bats don't really matter if I'm just going to come up and resume the same role."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 22-41. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 42-57-0 on this day.

Phillies Return To Philly In Walk Off Fashion

GAME RECAP: Phillies Shock Pirates 7-5

In the first of a two-game On Deck Series at Citizens Back Park between the two teams from the Keystone State, it was the Phillies who walked off with 7-5 victory on Friday night. The hometown fans, at least those who remained from an announced crowd of 16,609, went home happy when Ben Revere lined a two-run home run off Angel Sanchez into the first row of seats in right field in the bottom of the ninth. The Phillies entered the inning trailing 5-4 when Cesar Hernandez led off with a double off Sanchez. He scored the tying run when catcher Tony Sanchez picked up Angel Blanco's bunt and threw the ball down the right field line with Blanco taking second and setting the stage for Revere three batters later. "It shows that this team has a lot of heart in coming back," said Revere, who homered twice in 601 at-bats last season. "Last year there were quite a few games when we were down three or four runs and came back in the ninth or [extra innings]. We played small ball tonight, did a lot of key things and hopefully we can win like that during the season." The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning when Corey Hart singled home Jung Ho Kang, who led off with a double against Phillies reliever Justin De Fratus and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Pittsburgh threatened to break it open by loading the bases with one out, but De Fratus was able to escape without further damage. "It was nice to be here at home, and I like the way the guys battled back after getting down early and getting some big hits at the end," said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg. "We put some numbers on the board after falling behind and I thought that was a good sign." The Pirates wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard against Aaron Harang, the Phillies' No. 2 starter. After Josh Harrison led off the game with a walk, Gregory Polanco drove him home with a double to the wall in center and Andrew McCutchen followed with a single to drive in Polanco to make it 2-0. "I think we're in a good spot right now," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "I definitely think we're healthy and ready to start the season." With the help of two Pittsburgh errors in their half of the first, the Phillies scored three times off Jeff Locke to take the lead. Odubel Herrera, a Rule 5 pick and the team's new centerfielder who entered the game hitting .355, got things going when he led off with a dribbler in front of the plate and raced to second base when Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli's wild throw went down the right field line. Herrera scored when Ryan Howard hit into a fielder's choice. Jordy Mercer led off the second with his third home run of the spring to pull Pittsburgh even. Locke then became the sixth Pirate in the first turn through the order against Harang to reach safely via a hit or walk when he followed with a single. Locke also singled in the fifth to drive in Starling Marte and knot the score at four and put an end to Harang's evening. Harang allowed 14 (nine hits) of the 27 batters he faced to reach safely in 4 2/3 innings in his final tune-up before taking the mound Wednesday against visiting Boston. Locke, the Pirates' fifth starter, threw 49 strikes among 71 pitches in five innings. He allowed four hits and four runs, three earned. "He managed the game very well," said Hurdle. "He had a good two-seamer and was very efficient. He also swung the bat well."

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies and the Pirates complete their two-game series and conclude the spring training schedule Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park. Charlie Morton will get the start for the Pirates and he will be opposed by David Buchanon.

PHILS PHACTS:

Stretching Out – Aaron Harang made his final start of the spring by throwing 104 pitches in 4 2/3 innings against the Pirates on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. The 36-year-old right-hander, and the Phillies No. 2 starter, will make his Philadelphia debut on Wednesday against visiting Boston. While the results against Pittsburgh left much to be desired -- nine hits, 4 earned runs, three walks and a hit batter - this outing was about making sure he is ready for the Red Sox after missing two starts earlier this spring due to discomfort in his lower back. "It was about being safe than sorry," said Harang, about the missed assignments. "Arm-wise I feel great and I feel like everything is good. Obviously, this last [start] is like a fine tune-up to make sure everything is working and my off-speed pitches were working. I felt well tonight and I was just pitching behind in the count and missing with my location a bit with the fastball. Other than that I was able to get through those tough innings without too much damage." Harang threw 99 pitches in his last outing on March 29 against Detroit and heavier pitch counts have gotten him stretched out while providing the confidence that his back issues are behind him. "I know what I need to do in order to make sure I am ready for my first start of the season," he said. "I felt good [tonight] and told them I wanted to come back out for the fifth and try to get through it. They trust what I am telling them whereas if I were a younger guy it is probably a different scenario."

Staying In The Moment – Cole Hamels will be starting Opening Day for the Phillies against the visiting Red Sox on Monday, but on a rainy Friday afternoon, he was the center of attention as he faced the media in the bowels of Citizens Bank Park. The 31-year-old lefthander was the focus of much attention during the Grapefruit League season as speculation about his immediate future in Philadelphia was as heavy as the passion of the fans in the City of Brotherly Love. That was especially the case following his pronouncement in a USA Today piece in February that the Phillies and winning are not exactly going to go hand-in-hand. "I think we have to enjoy the moment," he said Friday when asked how he can feel upbeat about the coming season. "I know everything is defined with wins and losses, but right now we are 0-0 and we decide our own destiny and decide our own fate. We're going to compete for the next six months and things are going to be more enjoyable." What was not enjoyable for Hamels a year ago was a season in which he consistently received very little offensive support while going 9-9 in 30 starts despite an ERA of 2.46, good for fifth in the National League. There is seemingly nothing new with a club that hit .233 in Grapefruit League play, an average that is last among all 30 teams. "It has taught me to play a game within a game," he said when asked how the lack of support can impact his outlook. "It's taught me how to go out and pitch. There's a game within a game. If I can go out there and focus with what I'm trying to execute, everything will take care of itself." According to many projections, very little will take care of itself for the Phillies this season. Depending on where you look, Ryne Sandberg's team is certain to lose far more than they win, with several predictions calling for 100-plus losses, something a Phillies team has not done since 1961. "Ultimately, it's about trying to win as many ballgames as we can and hoist a trophy at the end of the day and have a parade," he said. "We get to decide what we do this year and it all starts on Monday." Hamels may very well hoist a trophy at season's end. If so, it most likely will not be in a Phillies uniform.

Moyer Gets Stuck – While visiting Southern California to watch his son, Dillon, play for the Dodgers, 25-year Major League veteran Jamie Moyer decided to head down to Disneyland with his family. Turns out it may not have been the greatest of decisions.  Moyer and about 100 other passengers were stranded on the California Screamin' roller coaster on Friday afternoon due to a mechanical issue. Naturally, Moyer tweeted a selfie, looking like he could probably step on the mound for some team tomorrow. Stuck on California Screamin' at Disneyland. Not sure what is more difficult, pitching in a Major League game or this pic.twitter.com/gM6qwZ2kPs - Jamie Moyer (@jmo50Moyer) April 3, 2015 We can only imagine what other thoughts he had while he was stuck up there: - "This ride tops out at 62 mph? Even I can throw harder than that." - "I pitched 752 1/3 innings in the Minors and this is the longest wait of my life." - "What's going on? A rain delay? There's not a cloud in the sky." - "Why'd the ride stop? Are they making a ride operator change for a left-handed specialist?" - "Talk about a hanging curve. Am I right? Am I right?" Though Moyer was soon off the ride, something tells me he won't be heading back to the park anytime soon: Glad we weren't there! All r safe! 1st offer was more tix while stuck! Not sure I want them! @Disney @jmo50Moyer pic.twitter.com/zyC5CrYEsn - Jamie Moyer (@jmo50Moyer) April 3, 2015

Phillies Appear On Jeopardy – Quick, you're on "Jeopardy" and all that stands between you and earning Alex Trebek's eternal respect (and avoiding his cold-eyed disapproval) is the $800 clue you see above: Did you say "Who are the Phillies?" Cool, I did too, but here's the thing: I was actually on "Jeopardy" and, unfortunately, this was not my episode. Look at me: I was so happy! That's before I got categories like "Harlequin Romance Novel Titles 2014" and "17-Letter Words." Since none of Thursday night's contestants got this one right (just you and I, reader), it was definitely hard. Maybe it should have been Final Jeopardy on my show, and then I could have taken you all out for ice cream on Opening Day. But it wasn't, I lost, and now no one gets ice cream.

THE BEGINNING

After ending 2014 with a 73-89 record, there second consecutive losing season, the Phillies are currently tied for first place for the 2015 season. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 7-8-0 on this day.