Midnight’s Children

The Phillies completed a 3 game sweep with a 6-3 win in Atlanta yesterday. Ryan Howard led the offense with 3 doubles and 4 rbi’s. To my surprise Adam Eaton had his team leading 8th quality start pitching 6 innings and allowing 3 runs on 8 hits. Eaton has been really good in his last 4 starts and is impressing manager Charlie Manual along with the rest of his team. I for one am a serious anti-Eaton fan. I just don’t think he has the quality pitches to make it in the big leagues. I hold my breath every time he walks to the mound for his warmups. The fear of impending doom and self destruction looms when he pitches. He is currently proving wrong and I hope it continues but don’t expect the success to be a constant in the starting rotation. The Phils are off to Florida for a 3 games series starting tomorrow night with Brett Myers on the mound. Another inconsistent starter in the rotation. I’m just glad the bullpen and offense has ben extraordinary so far allowing the Phillies to lead the National League East by 4 games.

The Phillies came back from 3-0 1st inning deficit to beat the Braves 5-4. Kyle Kendrick had a rocky first inning allowing 3 runs and then settled down to pitch 6 innings to improve his record to 3-2. Brad Lidge pitched the 9th inning to get his 10th save of the season. He allowed his 1st earned run of the seson tonight. Jayson Werth was the offensive hero with 3 hits and 4 RBI’s. Ryan Howard had the other RBI for the Phillies and was 2-4 on the night to raise his average to .181. He did manage to strikeout his other two plate appearances. The win improved the Phillies to 22-18 and the same two teams will do it againg tomorrow night in Philadelphia.

Tommy Glavine signed a 1 year deal with the Braves. He is one of the last of the real good guys still palying professional ball. He took less money ($8,000.000) to go back to Atlanta than he could have made elsewhere. He said he did it because he didn’t want the pressure that goes with being the number one guy on a staff. He would rather take less and just go out and have fun pitching. I don’t know of too many players at his age that would do that. he really isn’t a number one guy anymore but his prsence on a team is worth much more.

The Phillies control their own destiny for the Playoffs! They split the games this week 3-3. If they win tomorrow on the last game of the season and the Mets lose the Phils take the Division! The Mets have made a historic collapse!

Coming off a great sweep of the Mets at home the week before the Phils sputter when they meet the Braves and Marlins going 2-4 this week. The bullpen took a beating playing a large part in every loss. This unit has to tighten it up or we can forget about the Playoffs.

Another 4 win week of the Phillies as Moyer, Hamels and Durbin picked up wins. The offense has been steady and the pitching good. the bullpen has been a surprise with their reliability. Another west coast swing is up next week.

This week the Phiilies have won 4 out of 6 games. They save face against the Brewers taking the last game of the series late, Moyer and Lohse get wins against Florida and Hamels picks up the in on the 10th vs Atlanta. All in all it was a good week. The Phillies are now 9 games above .500.

Well Atlanta made it look easy taking all three from the Phillies. The game was close at 2-1 until Atlanta exploded for 6 runs in the top of the 5th. The Philles left a wopping 27 on base led by 6 from Howard and 5 by Rowand. A little small ball will go a long way.

W: C. James
L: A. Eaton
S: R. Soriano

Once again the Phillies lost in extra innings on a home run. This time it was in the 11th inning. Tom Gordon blew the save and Pat Burrell continues to hear the boos. The final score was 3-2. In the first two games Chase Utley has left 8 men on base, not a good start. he should bounce back.

W: M. McBride
L: R. Madson
S: B. Wickman

Well the first game of the season went the distance and them some into the 10th inning. Unfortunately the Phils came up short and lost to the Braves 5 to 3. Edgar Renteria hit two home runs including the game winner. Its a loss but its also a long season.

W: B. Wickman
L: R. Madson
S: C. Paronto

You can read the recap, box score and stats here.