Friday, May 30, 2008

Marlins-Phillies Commentary: TSFF and Liberty Ball

Follow the Liberty Ball thread here!

10:01PM:
Well, it's a 12-3 Phillies victory. Good game for the Phillies fans, not so much for us. Either way, Liberty Ball was a class act all the way. We'll be back on tomorrow for a hopeful Marlins victory.

8:22PM:
11-3, on one of the worst-hit HRs I've ever witnessed. Howard essentially slapped a homer into left field. Crazy.

Any way you look at it, the Marlins have the misfortune of playing a red-hot Phillies offense in a tough tough park. This game is quickly getting far out of reach. Big inning needed.

8:22PM:
Two poor plays in the field make it 8-3. First Treanor puts So Taguchi (whom I hate) on third with an errant throw, then a Rollins pop fly manages to drop. My reaction went from "yes! too shallow for a sac fly" to "oh sh*t, Luis Gonzalez is really slow." Yeah...not much going right for the Marlins right now. And Hanley just got hurt. Oh great.

8:06PM:
Tough break for the Marlins. They get two on but couldn't convert. The difference in this game so far are the two HRs. If the Marlins had two, we'd probably be even.

Side Question: Why isn't Cody Ross starting every game in this ballpark? The guy is on an absolute HR tear, and the Marlins need a bunch of runs. Anyone agree?

7:54PM:
Mark Hendrickson has just stunk up the joint in ways I didn't even think he could. He's thrown a few good pitches, but then he makes the mistake pitch. Chase Utley is probably getting some celebratory cheers from the Phillies faithful as the Phillies take a commanding 7-3 lead.

The key for the Marlins will be to stay patient. They don't have to come back in one swing. Myers is hittable...be patient and wait for the right spots.

7:40PM:
Dan Uggla isn't making a strong impression so far. He popped out and then threw a ground ball into the wall. And now it's 3-3. HR Chris Coste. Prepare for a slugfest.

7:26PM:
Hendrickson looked good through 1. Side Note: I CAN'T STAND these Blue Cross/Blue Shield "speak out and be heard on healthcare" commercials. They're an insurance company looking for business!!!

7:19PM:
An excellent top of the first for the Marlins. A few notes:

1. Hanley Ramirez may be getting out of his slump. It would really help his all-star chances if he could play well in this marquee series.

2. The Marlins got some shocking assists from Brett Myers and Pat Burrell. Myers couldn't throw a strike to save his life, and Burrell horribly misplayed a ball in LF.

3. The Marlins could have scored more if they had shown more patience. Dan Uggla had the worst AB of the inning, swinging away after Myers threw four straight balls to Jacobs. Jacque Jones gets the same criticism.

Even so, I'm happy with the 3-0 lead, but watch out. Philadelphia can score quickly.

7:15PM:
From Liberty Ball: I’m going to try to keep an update going throughout the game. I’ll probably be updating in the comments so that anyone else can join in. I’ll also be updating with ASponge here.

Meanwhile Myers has already given up a run in the first. A single, a walk, and a double without an out is not the start he needed. Sadly it’s the start I expected. He always tries to get his fastball accross early but it doesn’t work.


6:57PM:
Hey everyone. We're going to be experimenting with a new project this weekend. Our good Phillies friend (and sworn enemy...but friend too) Liberty Ball, will be exchanging back-and-forth comments throughout the series. We'll be posting them up on our sites as the games go along.

I don't think I need to reiterate how important this series is. Tonight's game is of particular significance for the Marlins, since it's the only clear pitching advantage of the weekend. Mark Hendrickson has really struggled of late, but Brett Myers has been far worse. Even Liberty Ball is predicting a slew of runs tonight from the Fish.

So strap your seatbelts and follow along our thread!

32 comments:

libertyball said...

I told you Myers slots fastballs early. Uggla just happened to get under it. Has he been batting 5th all year?
And wow, the wind is blowing out big time. We might get 12 homers tonight.

ASponge said...

Dan Uggla used to bat second. Fredi moved him down to try and shake things up about a month ago, and it paid off bigtime. Now Uggla doesn’t have to worry about contact swings, etc.

And yeah, the wind seemed pretty potent on that Luis Gonzalez fly ball…still think Burrell should have caught it though.

libertyball said...

Burrell isn't known for his D. In fact, he will probably get subbed out for Bohn sometime in the 7th or 8th. He hardly ever finishes a game.
I don't think I've seen more pop-ups to start a game. Marlins might be a little excited to jack one?

ASponge said...

That's the view of the Marlins' TV announcers. They're thinking HR park, so they're swinging a little too hard.

libertyball said...

Howard is not a smart player. Apparently that was Uggla's first error this month.
There it is!
Chris Coste! Good looking on not being safe with a 3-0 lead.

ASponge said...

There's definitely an epic feel to this game...this feeling that you can score and score and score.

Hendrickson is up to his antics of late. I guess the 1st inning was an aberration.

libertyball said...

We have been making a habit of batting around the order. It's torture to keep score lately.

ASponge said...

Ugh...terrible pitching by Hendrickson.

libertyball said...

How is his record so good then? I haven't exactly followed the team. And Myers is doing exactly what we all thought he would. We think he should go back to the bullpen.

libertyball said...

Well I was right. HUGE inning! Wonder if he said anything to Uggla while he was rounding the bases!

ASponge said...

Hendrickson has gotten the benefit of some good fortune and run support lately.

The first few games, he was legitimately good. It seems the tides are turning on him.

Anonymous said...

Amen to the blue cross commercial thing...i mean...c'mon it's an insurance company, and there's random people crying trying to talk through some out of place microphone...terrible inning by hendrickson, 7 runs for the phillies...luckily we can hit too.

libertyball said...

Well my mlb.tv just went out in time for Uggla's at bat.

ASponge said...

He singled. Maybe he's on the road to redemption.

libertyball said...

Back just in time to see strike 3. I bet Uggla gets a double before the game's up.

libertyball said...

Thank you for taking Jacque Jones btw. I can't believe he's starting in CF already and not still in the minors. And I agree about Ross. He's been on a tear lately. Maybe they figured the lefty Jones would fare better tonight.

ASponge said...

Cody Ross should be the starter, no question.

A very poor 4th for the Marlins' offense. The 5th will be critical with the 2-3-4 coming up and Myers still in the game.

libertyball said...

Strangest sac bunt I've seen in awhile. Looked behind the plate. Still worked I guess.

libertyball said...

Hopefully he's going to be okay. I hate seeing games get affected by injuries. And guys going on the DL.

ASponge said...

Appears to be fine, which is more than can be said for the Marlins as a team, lol.

libertyball said...

good thing they pulled Hendrickson...Ha. This game is getting pretty fun.

ASponge said...

Phillies 3, Marlins 0 (In HRs). That's the difference. At 11-3, the Marlins need a rally soon or this one's a forget-it game.

libertyball said...

Almazega ever play short?

ASponge said...

Yes, as a matter of fact he's a great shortstop.

Amezaga is a real fan favorite, because he not only plays 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, RF, CF, LF, but plays them better than anyone else (1B probably the exception).

libertyball said...

Talk about utility. I only know him as an OF.

libertyball said...

So far the Phillies have gone every other inning 1,2,3, or a big inning. Last time it was 1,2,3...so watch out next inning. Myers seems to have really gotten into a groove now.

ASponge said...

Yes, if I were a Phillies fan, I would be very pleased with the Myers transformation.

The Marlins needed that knockout blow in the first inning. Now he's settled in and looks great.

ASponge said...

According to Marlins TV, Cody Ross will start tomorrow and Sunday. I think he should have started today too.

As for the Marlins bench, it should be interesting to see how Wes Helms gets received in his first AB.

libertyball said...

I think Helms' reception will be a combination of indifference to booing. He didn't really ever do anything for us and he was pretty much forced out by fans.

libertyball said...

And I figured they would save Ross for the lefties, Hamels and Moyer.

libertyball said...

Great game by Myers. Hopefully Hamels will be better tomorrow.

ASponge said...

It was a pleasure everyone, despite the outcome. Thanks for the wonderful participation, Liberty Ball. Looking forward to tomorrow!