The Phillies completed a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon, completing a third straight come-from-behind victory over the Brew Crew with another 7-6 victory.
- This may have been the most enjoyable series to watch the Phillies all year. Seeing them rally from late inning deficits hasn’t been the 2012 team’s strong suit, and to see them pull off three consecutive dramatic victories brings back memories of the 2008 team; a team that was never out of a game until the final out was recorded.
- The Phils have now gone 8-4 since the All-Star break, and beginning to find more ways to win than to lose. The way they’re playing now inspires confidence, but they still have a huge hole to dig themselves out of.
- The Phillies are starting to have a number of players step up for them. Chase Utley turned in one of his strongest performances of the season, going 3-4 and driving in three runs. Erik Kratz was also one of the game’s heroes, going 3-5 with two doubles (one of which came in the 10th inning to help set up the tying and winning runs).
- Kyle Kendrick was excellent out of the bullpen once again, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings. He hasn’t allowed a run since returning to the bullpen.
- Just when you thought Antonio Bastardo might be regaining some confidence and composure, he gives up a two-run shot to tie the game in the eighth inning.
- Starter Vance Worley wasn’t particularly strong today, giving up three runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings, but he was able to survive out there and give the team a chance to win.
- The Phillies now face a huge test this weekend with a three-game series against the Braves. The outcome of this series will likely determine the direction the team heads before the trade deadline.
Remeber that these 3 Wins came against the Brewers who have one of the worst Bullpens in the NL.. Simmilar tothe Phils, Therie Starting PItching and Hitting has underachieved and they have lost a ton of games like the Phils have from the 7th Inning on.. either way, it’s always better to win and at least with Howard and Utley back, they are starting to get their swagger back and can finish the remaining 50 games or so on a roll and make some teams nervous that are ahead of them as they point to a sucessful 2013 Season
Of note mike Martinez has been playin a ton of outfield for lehigh valley lately. Looks like some1 is gonna get moved. Hopefully it’s pence because he will get you the most value in return and he isn’t worth 15 mill next year.
Bourne & melky would be better fits than pence.
I got a prediction many may like – joe Blanton will be moved at the deadline and cloyd will replace him.
Step 1 of the rebuild is complete in the Hamels signing. Now, Lee to Texas for 3B M. Olt and possibly OF L. Martin and Olt immediately is your 3rd baseman going forward. Victorino goes for bullpen help, as well as the likes of several bit parts; Pierre, Nix, Wiggington, Polanco and Mayberry. Listen to offers for Pence that include SP, 2B, and OF prospects and if your blown away, trade him. Bring up Brown and give him the same shot that Mayberry (who is terrible) has been given to be an everyday player. Maybe he can maybe he cant, but at least we know what he is. Play the year out and see what happens by dumping some salary and getting younger (similar to the year we traded Abreu and some other core guys and made a run in the second half). In the off-season make a play for Bourn and bullpen arms. It is possible to slowly rebuild without going through 5 years of pergatory. If memory serves, in 2008 Phils won the series w/ Hamels, defense, timely hitting with a relativley young, hungry core, there was no Lee or Halladay.
the problem with this site is we have too many gm wanna bees and not enough fans, paulman, stfu about next year, let this year play out, you never know….
This Season was over before it started Jake like I said back in Feb/March.. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but who else is going to tell it like it is…
jake all of these GM’s also KNOW exactly what it would have taken to sign Cole in the off season and blame the real GM for waiting till now because they KNOW for a FACT that cole would have taken less in January…. I call bullshit on them and they start cussing with (@$$^@^@&) and call me names. they make up stuff. As amaro said yesterday signing your own before they go out on the market is the best way yet the gcobb gm’s know better. They are blow hards who are typically very insecure about their position in life and sit on the sidelines and criticize those that actually work in the trenches.
as for this year mike and ike asked this question the other day “its a long shot for the phils, would you rather see them play out the season well and make a RUN but fall short or stick a fork in them now”… i for one say make a run and if you fall short you fall short but you send a message to the young upstarts in Washington (who is very good) that they won’t run away from us again!
I suppose that I am being referred to as a wannabe GM. Ironically, I believe Amaro has done a fine job. When we were annually on the cusp of the post-season he went out and traded or signed guys like Oswalt, Lee, Halladay and Pence. Now that the team is aging and has more holes than in the past he needs to show his mettle, in so that he can re-tool this team by getting younger and still being competitve. So far, he has done that with the re-signing of Hamels. I apologize being supportive and posting legtimate ways to make the team better without blowing it up, I will go back to my insecure sideline.
I think what cig is referring to is the same tired wannabes who waste no opportunity to whine and bitch about the team. Anytime a Phils article is posted you can damn near cut and paste their responses.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Phillies will not trade Cliff Lee before the deadline.
Heyman was told by someone with Phillies’ ties that trading Lee would “potentially undo most or all the good that was done by extending Cole Hamels,” and that the team’s plan is to “build around its trio of great starters.” Some believe that the Phillies might not end up being sellers, as they still fancy themselves as playoff contenders.
Tyler cloyd is just killing tripple a this year. I’m hopeful he will be coming up to the big show very soon.