Mets at Phils - Aug 22-24 Group KTE

[Frayed Knot]

The Phils are coming off losing two of three to the Nationals in DC (despite having a reported home-crowd advantage) where both losses came via walk-offs.
On Friday it was via a Grand-Slam as Ryan Madson gave up six in the 9th. Yesterday Anthony Bastardo served up a game-tying two-out 9th inning HR to Ian Desmond before Brad Lidge 'pulled an Izzy' in the 10th and eventually HBP'd the winning run in.

Game 1 -- Monday, 7:05 EDT
Gee vs Lee is the key game to see and those out of town can see it for free on MLB-TV
I believe Lee has an ERA in August that's a negative number [actually 3 starts, 24 IPs, 2 ER, 14 hits, 25/4 K/BB] and is as likely to hit a HR these days as serve one up. IOW, he's going pretty good right now.
We faced him back on the 1st of May at CBP where he held us to 1 run on 8 hits over 7 innings in a game the Mets won 2-1 in the 14th on a Ronnie Paulino 2B

Game 2 -- Tuesday, 7:05
Niese vs Worley
I don't know where this Worley guy came from but he's 8-1 overall with a 2,76 ERA and has beaten us two of the three times we've faced him this year.
His biggest problem is that he doesn't seem to last very long each time. Not sure if he has the same problem with Mrs Worley.

Game 3 **Gay Dame Alert** -- Wednesday, 1:05
Pelfrey vs Kendrick [7-5; 3.24]
Kendrick's been shuffled from the pen to a starter and back again all year. Coming off a starting ND to Washington on Friday [6 IP, 2 ER]. Prior to that he hadn't pitched at all in a week and hadn't started in three.



Somebody tell us how their lineup is doing lately.

[G-Fafif]

Case made for the most annoying fucker in baseball winning MVP here.

No longer is he a supporting player in the shadows of his more famous teammates. Instead, he has quietly stepped into the spotlight and led the Phillies to the best record in baseball. Well, at least figuratively speaking. One would think being the best offensive player on the best team would lead to greater levels of visibility, but in Victorino�s case it hasn�t.

[Gwreck]

According to the Baseball-reference method of calculating WAR, Halladay is about a win more valuable than Victorino.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

F these guys.

[Gwreck]

Frayed Knot wrote: Somebody tell us how their lineup is doing lately.

They're winning because of the pitching. Their offense isn't what it used to be.

Hunter Pence has been hot since coming over from Houston in the deadline trade (23 for 75, 4 homers).
Howard's down to a 122 OPS+, his lowest for a full season, but he's still dangerous.
Utley's done ok (.819 OPS) since coming back from injury.
Rollins has 14 homers and is 28-35 in steals (.743 OPS).
Ibanez is old but still hits some homers in that stupid minor league ballpark of theirs.

---

Would you believe: the Mets have scored more runs than the Phillies this year. The gap used to be even bigger before the Mets went 5-16 in our last 21 games.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rollins strained his groin over the weekend and might not play.

Like I said, F these guys.

[Frayed Knot]

Rollins goes on DL, Polanco comes off it.

[Gwreck]

You can count on Wilson f-ing Valdez (filling in for Rollins at short) to get some key hit in this series that costs us one of the games.

[G-Fafif]

How strange it must be to have one's groin reported on.

[Frayed Knot]

They brought up a new reliever this past weekend: Michael Schwimmer
Second pitch of his ML career he served up a HR to Danny Espinosa. Of course he then went on to pitch three scoreless innings including 4 Ks so I don't know what to make of him.

[Fman99]

Their fans are a bunch of fuckholes.

[MFS62]

From the play 1776. (The paranthetical expressions are mine)

John Adams: At a stage in life when other men prosper, I'm reduced to living in (foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy) Philadelphia!

Later