KTE - Philadelphia Philles (April 16 - 17)

[Gwreck]

Was stuck in Florida last night due to weather-related flight cancellations from the weekend. Sorry 'bout the delay...

What's New Since Last Time:
Phillies split with Houston on Friday and Saturday before being rained out Sunday. They are still last in the division, with a 3-8 record.

Starting Pitcher Matchups
Monday: Rained Out.
Tuesday: Freddy Garcia ® vs. Tom Glavine

This is Garcia's first start of the year, having been acquired in the off-season from Chicago for key prospect Gavin Floyd. He was injured in late March in Spring Training. He's made two rehab starts before getting activated. Garcia is a hittable pitcher but over the past 6 years has turned in minimum 200 innings and 31 starts per year. His K:BB ratio stays around a fairly good 2.5 : 1. Garcia will give up the homer (32 last year) fairly frequently and this of course remains a concern given his home ballpark.

Phillies Lineup
No Changes:
Jimmy Rollins (S) SS
Shane Victorino (S) RF
Chase Utley (L) 2B
Ryan Howard (L) 1B
Pat Burrell ® LF
Wes Helms ® 3B
Aaron Rowand ® CF
Carlos Ruiz ® C

Phillies Bullpen Update
Ryan Madson ®
Pitched a scoreless inning against the Mets but then gave up Carlos Lee's third homer on Friday night.

Antonio Alfonseca ®
Still solid and basically has the set-up man job locked in as his.

Jon Lieber ®
Didn't do real well in his second turn as a reliever, either.

Who's Hot
Rollins leads the NL with 6 homers. He had 2 off Glavine last week.

Aaron Rowand is hitting .342. He's been on base 22 of 48 plate appearances...but only has 3 runs scored (a common problem for the Phillies to date).

Who's Not
Howard is walking a ton but hasn't gotten the power going (only HR to date was the opening-day shot vs. the Mets) or the average (.237) either.

[smg58]

The Phillies also gave the White Sox back Gio Gonzalez, the pitching prospect that they'd gotten in the Thome deal, for Garcia.

It will be interesting to monitor the deals for starting pitchers that went down in the offseason. The Astros' deal for Jason Jennings just took a wrong turn, as Jennings appears headed for the DL. Jason Hirsh is already pitching for the Rockies, and so far doing all right.

[Frayed Knot]

The word on Freddie Garcia is that his velocity has been plummeting in recent years and especially during ST this year.

]Antonio Alfonseca (R) Still solid and basically has the set-up man job locked in as his.

You forgot to mention that he also appears at the moment to be at least 22 months pregnant.

[Gwreck]

Frayed Knot wrote: ]Antonio Alfonseca (R) Still solid and basically has the set-up man job locked in as his. You forgot to mention that he also appears at the moment to be at least 22 months pregnant.

If true, we can expect another 12-fingered and 12-toed Alfonseca (apparently it's genetic -- many members of his family have the same condition).

[Guest Edgy DC]

Anybody curious about Antonio's hexadactyl may want to check their recording of the Mets home opener. He flashes a peace sign when he's introduced.

[nymr83]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2841584

Manuel flips out on a philly sports radio guy, challenges him to a fight,

Its not even May 1st and the Phillies are looking like they want to implode already.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Get Charlie Manuel and Joey Crawford in the octagon NOW!!!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, it underscores Randolph's tolerance.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

If you were going to choose a guy to rally people's hate around you could do worsse than Eskin who you ought to be able to tell from that interview clip, is a loudmouthed smug knowitall who deserves a punch in the face.

[metirish]

I feel bad for Manuel,he seems like a decent sort,and he is probably not doing himself any favors with that behavior.

[Frayed Knot]

From what I've heard of WIP, their high points make the low points of WFAN sound like Masterpiece Theatre.

[metirish]

Phillies are an NL worst 3-10 after losing last night to the Nats in 13,Howard got hurt his left leg while running out a ground ball in the 10th,having an MRI today...

] "Everything is bitter around here." --

Shane Victorino.

[smg58]

And in what has to be one of the most bizarre panic moves I've ever seen, Brett Myers is now a set-up guy. Lieber takes his spot in the rotation. Yes, I'm serious.