Josh Fields‘ bags were packed and he was getting hugs. Asked if he was heading south, said with smile, ‘Not the man to ask that question.”

— jeff schuler (@jschulermc) May 21, 2013

Dave Brundage on potential Fields move: “I can’t comment on that right now.’ Best guess: look for Howard to go to DL

— jeff schuler (@jschulermc) May 21, 2013

Connecting the dots, it appears that INF Josh Fields, who went 3-4 and was a HR away from the cycle tonight in a 14-5 IronPigs win, and not Darin Ruf will get the call if/when Ryan Howard heads to the DL. Fields entered today’s game with a .272/.340/.457 triple-slash and undoubtedly raised that tonight with an outstanding night.

We will have more as this develops.

Hamels has been a victim of poor run support all season. (Photo: AP)

The Marlins now have 13 wins on the season.  Four have come against the Phillies.  After showing signs of life against some of baseball’s best teams in recent weeks, the Phils offense laid an egg on Monday night in Miami, losing 5-1 to the Marlins and again leaving an effective Cole Hamels out to dry.  Alex Sanabia notched the win for the Marlins and Justin Ruggiano provided two key RBIs.

HAMELS RETURNS TO FORM

- Apart from two mistakes, Hamels, now 1-7, was dominant on Monday night.  He walked none and struck out 10 Marlins in only six innings before being removed for a pinch hitter.  Pitch count (89 pitches) and command (67 strikes) were not an issue, unlike recent outings.  Cole has now allowed three earned runs in 20 innings against the Fish, and has received a grand total of one run from his offense.

- With the free-swinging Marcell Ozuna buried in a 1-2 hole in the first inning, Hamels decided to stick with his fastball, which Ozuna stung up the middle, plating the Marlins first run.  Some say that Hamels has shown an overreliance on the cutter this season… this was just the latest example of his pitch selection costing him.

- Hamels appeared to be very angry with himself after allowing an RBI double to Ruggiano in the sixth that put Miami ahead 2-1.  But Cole really did look good – striking out double digits for the first time this year.  He did it three times last year, fanning 10 each time.  At one point, Hamels recorded eight of nine outs via punch out.

BULLPEN, DEFENSE PROBLEMS FOR PHILS

- Hamels departed trailing only 2-1, but Justin De Fratus and Phillippe Aumont couldn’t keep it close.  In 1.2 innings, the right-handed duo combined for three earned runs on four hits to put the game out of reach.

- Michael Young couldn’t handle a pick-off attempt from Hamels in the fifth, which allowed Chris Coghlan to advance to second.  While the error was charged to Hamels, it did not appear to be a difficult play.  Young also allowed a Dom Brown throw from leftfield to get past him yesterday, but again, he was not charged with an error.

- On Ruggiano’s go-ahead double in the sixth, Delmon Young took an awful route to the ball, spinning his body and his wheels before finally heading in the right direction.  While only a good right fielder makes that catch – which Young is far from – he could have prevented the run from scoring had he been there to catch the ball off the wall.  Coincidentally, Ruggiano tracked down a laser off the bat of Young in the second, making a basket catch just short of the warning track in right center.

OFFENSE SPUTTERS AGAINST SANABIA

- The Phillies’ offense hit a new low on Monday night, getting shut down by the struggling Sanabia.  Entering Monday, Sanabia had allowed 63 hits and 24 walks in 51.1 innings.  The Phils totaled seven hits and two walks, incomprehensibly swinging at the first pitch in 16 of their 35 at-bats.  Marlins pitchers needed only 118 pitches to get through nine innings.  Two double plays killed leadoff singles for the Phils and they were unable to capitalize on a first-and-third with one out situation in the seventh.

- Domonic Brown hit a first-pitch, hanging change-up from Sanabia over the right field wall in the second inning to knot the score at one.  Brown, who now leads the team in homers with eight, has been very patient against right-handers and very aggressive against lefties.  In this at-bat it was the exact opposite, so it’s good to see him keep pitchers guessing.

- Brown stole a bag in the fourth inning, giving him two steals in the past two games.  While replays showed he might have been out, Brown is now two-for-two on stolen base attempts this season.  He notched double digit steals six times in the minors, so it’ll be interesting to see if more will come as he gains confidence.

DID YOU NOTICE?

- Ben Revere, batting second, appears to be back in Charlie Manuel’s good graces, as he was slotted in the top half of the lineup for the third straight game.  After an awful April, Revere entered Monday hitting .406 in May before going 0-for-4 on the night.

- Revere failed to execute a hit-and-run in the first, hitting a ball right at second base (as opposed to the open hole at shortstop), which resulted in a double play.  The speedy Revere has grounded into an unfathomable six twin-killings this season in only 126 at-bats.  He hit into eight in 2012 and seven in 2011.

- Hamels allowed an easy steal to Adeiny Hechavarria in the first inning, which has seemed to happen a lot this year.  He has let up eight steals in 2013, putting him on pace to allow around 29 this year.  His previous totals over the last six years, starting with 2012; 23, 23, 10, 18, 15 and 14.

- After allowing a leadoff triple to Coghlan in the second, Hamels got two pop ups and a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.  After covering what seemed like 40 yards, Ben Revere got his glove on the ball but was unable to make the catch.

Ruiz has seen action in 16 games since returning from his 25-game suspension and has struggled, striking out an uncharacteristically high 16.1%, walking an uncharacteristically low 5.4%, and hitting just .235/.286/.275 in 56 PA. Ruiz left yesterday’s game in the second inning after hearing a pop in his leg. The injury was initially described as a hamstring strain. Catcher Humberto Quintero joined the team today in Miami, filling the roster spot vacated by Mike Adams‘ trip to the DL.

Howard, as reported this morning, has been amongst the worst first baseman in baseball in 2013, ranking 26th in fWAR among first baseman who would qualify for the batting title and 49th among the pool of every player to play first base this year. The lefty-slugger and former MVP is hitting just .245/.282/.430 with just 6 HR in 163 PA. Howard received a cortisone shot yesterday and will see how he responds to it.

Analysis: Will it be a blessing in disguise to having Howard out? I’m not sure I would go that far but I will say this: it is difficult to be a less-statistically relevant first baseman than Howard has been this year. Any combination of Michael Young and Darin Ruf will provide an upgrade in production over what this Ryan Howard has provided. What I won’t do is write Ryan Howard off yet – yes, he has been a declining player who has not executed the proper adjustments to remain an elite player since 2009 but it is entirely plausible that this most recent dip in production has come due to injury.

Philadelphia Phillies (21-23) vs. Florida Marlins (12-32)

LHP Cole Hamels (1-6, 4.61 ERA) v. RHP Alex Sanabia (2-6, 5.00 ERA)

TIME: 7:10, Marlins Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 78, mostly cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook

On Monday night in Miami, Cole Hamels will get his third crack at the Marlins lineup this year.  It has been a disappointing 2013 for the Phillies left-hander, and no starts epitomize his misfortune quite like the first two he’s made against the Fish.  Hamels has pitched 14 innings against Miami, giving up only one earned run, seven hits and three walks.  In those 14 innings – 13 of which came against rookie sensation Jose Fernandez – the Phillies offense was dormant, scoring zero runs for Hamels and leaving him with an 0-1 record despite a microscopic ERA.

To be fair, Hamels’ ERA for the year is an unacceptable 4.61, well above his career mark of 3.39.  He needs to be better.  After getting rocked in his first two starts, Hamels put together six consecutive quality starts and looked to be back on track, despite going 1-3 over that stretch due to the aforementioned lack of run support.  But he struggled again last week against the Indians, surrendering five earned runs.  Unable to put Cleveland hitters away, Cole ran too many deep counts and the result was 106 pitches in only five innings of work.  Hopefully facing a Miami lineup that is last in baseball in runs will help him return to the form that warranted a six-year, $144 million contract extension last summer.

Lucky for Hamels, the Phillies hitters won’t have to face Fernandez again until Tuesday night.  On Monday, they get Alex Sanabia who – surprise, surprise – also has had success against the Phils, with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts.  Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz are both out of the lineup as the team awaits the results of their MRIs.  This gives Phillies fans another look at Freddy Galvis who, after his Sunday afternoon walk-off home run, has an incredible OPS of .864 (he posted a .617 OPS in 190 at-bats last season).  With seven games against the Nationals and Red Sox looming, the Phillies need to take care of business in South Florida.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Revere CF, M. Young 1B, Utley 2B, Brown LF, D. Young RF, Galvis 3B, Kratz C, Hamels P

GAMEDAY BEER: Landshark

Courtesy of Ryan Dinger:  Typically I like to pick a craft beer for these, but the Marlins always remind me of Margaritaville’s Landshark. Partly because of the state of Florida and its tropical climate, but mainly because Landshark Stadium was the name of their former home in their last season there. Landshark is an Island Lager without a lot of flash. It is, in essence, a much-improved version of Corona. Easy on the eyes and even easier on the pallet, Landshark is a beer ideal for a lager fan looking for a quality beer without an overly complex taste. It will compliment literally anything you want to have to eat with it. - RD

———-

Mike Adams has officially hit the disabled list with a right back strain. The move is retroactive to May 11, the day after last time he pitched, so he’s eligible to come off the DL on Sunday.

Adams, 34, hasn’t been the same Mike Adams, but he actually hasn’t been terrible. He’s 1-3 with a 3.00 ERA, but his walking batters at the highest rate of his career, 3.6-per-9. Although he is putting more men on, he’s striking out 11.4-per-9, also a career high.

It remains to be seen if Adams is still dealing with the lingering effects of offseason surgery. Thoracic outlet syndrome kept Adams in pain all of last season, then forced him to have a rib removed.

After Carlos Ruiz pulled up lame in yesterday’s win over the Reds, Humberto Quintero has gotten the call from Lehigh Valley. That almost assures you Chooch will see the DL, as well. We also await news on Ryan Howard from Miami.

When I spoke to Joe Jordan in January at the Reading Fightins awards banquet, I asked if the recently-signed Dalles had a chance to compete for a starting role in the organization. Jordan responded by identifying Dalles as a player to watch this year in the Phillies’ minor league ranks. Dalles has an athletic frame behind the plate and a strong throwing arm – he has thrown out 31% of the runners that have attempted to steal on him professionally. He has hit only .228/.293/.334 across his minor league career, but excels at finding gaps with doubles.

Dalles is anticipated to be Steven Lerud‘s back-up while Humberto Quintero fills in for Carlos Ruiz with the Phillies and Tommy Joseph recovers from a concussion.

The Queensland native, who pitches for the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League during the off-season, was signed by the Phils as an amateur free agent in 2010. Combined over the past two seasons, since making his affiliated pro debut, Warner has split his time with the Gulf Coast League Phillies, the Williamsport Crosscutters and Lakewood, posting a combined 7-13 record along with a 5.28 ERA.

Early this season I spoke with Josh for Phillies Nation TV, but the interview went unused on the television program. During the interview, Josh spoke about the growth of baseball down under, his time in the ABL and more. Check out the interview in the media player below and tune into Phillies Nation TV every Tuesday at 6 PM on The Comcast Network.

Ruf could be on his way if Howard sees the DL. Photo by: Ian Riccaboni

Ryan Howard is getting a precautionary MRI on his left knee and will likely be out for Monday’s game against the Marlins. John Finger and John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly are saying Howard’s knee, according to Howard, is a day-to-day issue. Of note, however, Howard also said his knee has been bothering him since Spring Training and that it “kicked in a little bit more than normal” on Saturday.

All was going well for IronPigs’ outfielder, and part-time first baseman, Darin Ruf going into May 16. Earlier that week, he got defensive praise from the Phillies Farm Director Joe Jordan, saying “The left-field play has been very good.  It’s not a concern for me. It’s not a concern at all.” And then the bat caught fire: he was suddenly hitting .290/.367/.486 after a slow start with 12 2B and 5 HR in 138 PA heading into the morning of May 16.

It is a shame the Phillies now need a first baseman instead of an outfielder – Ruf would have fit right in. I kid.

A lot of folks will get excited and call for Ruf to get called up. I will be one of them. Ruf should have a shot to play every day in left field, moving Domonic Brown to right field and excommunicating Delmon Young (.208/.298/.333 in 57 PA), but now that there may be an opening at first base, he should absolutely get first dibs.

Don’t get me wrong, Ruf has recently gone ice cold (0-17 with nine Ks). But anything to add a little patience, Phils are tied for 24th in OBP, punch, Phils are tied for 26th in SLG, or both, Phils rank 27th, would be very much welcome. Ruf could conceivable add a little bit more of both.

Ruf’s current .349 OBP in Triple-A Lehigh Valley would rank ahead of all Phillies with over 100 PA not named Michael Young. Obviously, the jump in level would shave down a portion of that number but consider this: John Mayberry Jr. has the third highest OBP on the team, after Young and Chase Utley, at .304.

It would be hard to get much worse than what the Phils have had at first base this year. Howard ranks 26th in fWAR among first baseman who would qualify for the batting title and 49th among the pool of every player to play first base this year. The Phillies first base brigade ranks 26th in getting on base, 18th in slugging, 23rd in wOBA, and 22nd in wRC+.  While I wish Ryan Howard a speedy recovery, the Phillies have a player capable of producing at least as well ready should he need to see the DL.

Perhaps the most remarkable feat, however, was the fact that, by winning, the Phillies had a won a series two games to one despite being outscored 8-15.

Yesterday’s game wrapped up a what can only be described as a remarkable stretch for the Phils. The Phillies have not lost a series since May 1, posting, what feels like, a pedestrian 9-7 record. Two of those losses came against the lowly Marlins, but since then, the Phillies played four teams who are a combined 27 games over .500 in what was arguably their toughest stretch of the season and posted a 7-5 mark, winning series against the Wild Card-leading Reds and the half-game-out-of-the-West Giants and split with the first place Diamondbacks and Indians.

Coming off possibly the low-point of the season, where Roy Halladay gave up nine earned runs against the lowly Fish and revealed that he was injured, the Phillies answered the bell against four teams with among the top records in baseball. Is this the stretch of the season that changes the course of the Phillies season?

The Phillies would first have to get a handle on consistently preventing runs. Or at least holding the opposing team under six. For instance, as Joe Catz points out, the Phillies are 20-12 when the opposition scores less than six runs. The Phillies’ actual record of 21-23 and run differential of 156-190 translates into a Pythagorean record of  17-27. The Phils are outperforming their Pythagorean projection based on ten blowout losses of five runs or more compared to only four of their wins being of five runs or more.

Now a lot of the Phillies losses of five or more runs were already decided and the wonderful bullpen performances of Chad Durbin, Jeremy Horst, and Raul Valdes exacerbated games that were already out of hand. The starting pitching ranks 16th in ERA and 16th in xFIP. While that’s solid, there is absolutely room for the starting pitching to improve, and anyone, Tyler Cloyd or anyone else for that matter, is an upgrade of an injured Doc.

But a solid starting staff can only take a team so far: a majority of the issue rests with the offense that ranks 26th in the MLB in runs scored, 26th in on base percentage, and 26th in slugging. I’d bring up the bullpen but a lot of the bullpen’s troubles came in the ten blowout losses and it is hard to pull those apart.

Friend of the site Spike Eskin asked if it was “still early” for the Phillies season. My answer? With 118 games left, or about 73% of the season left, and with the Phillies just 4.5 games back, it is definitely still early. And with a winning record against teams with four of the best records in baseball in a 12 game stretch, the Phillies certainly look like they have started to put things together. But where will they end up? Only these wild and crazy guys know for sure.

The Ninth Inning

Delmon Young led off the ninth and promptly drew a four pitch walk from the flame-throwing Chapman. As we all know, D. Young is not the fleetest-of-foot; but still the choice to pinch-run with Cliff Lee is always a questionable one. Lee got caught in a rundown after Chapman attempted a pick-off. It was a poor baserunning move and Cliff knew it. He was visibly frustrated in the dugout as Erik Kratz stepped to the plate. After Chapman threw a few of his signature high-90s fastballs, Kratz zeroed in on one and delivered it to the left field seats. The crowd celebrated, but Lee’s pickoff was still fresh in their minds. Lee’s reaction said it all after the Kratz homer – he knew that would have been the win.

Nonetheless, the game was tied and Freddy Galvis was up. He had started the game at third base, with Michael Young at first, so that Ryan Howard could have the day off (more on him later). Galvis took a 99 mph fastball for a ball and fouled off the next pitch. The third pitch, a slower 95-mph fastball, landed just over the left field wall inside the foul pole for Galvis’ first career walk off homer. For the 15,000-or-so fans remaining in the stadium, it was well worth the patience required to watch an anemic offense play on a misty Sunday afternoon. The low scoring and high drama made it feel almost like a soccer game.

Pitching

Jonathan Pettibone had another solid outing, going seven innings with just one earned run coming off a Joey Votto blast to centerfield. The Phillies are 5-1 when he starts. Justin De Fratus and Antonio Bastardo each allowed a hit in relief, but kept the Reds from scoring any more runs. Bastardo got the win and becomes the only second Phils reliever with multiple wins on the season.

Injuries

There’s some bad news on the injury front. As mentioned, Ryan Howard had the day off due to soreness in his left knee. After the game, it was announced that he will undergo a precautionary MRI on Monday. He mentioned that his knee has “been acting up”, and some speculate he may be overcompensating for his previously injured Achilles. If Howard does see time on the DL, it may indirectly give Galvis an opportunity for more playing time.

Carlos Ruiz left the game after the second inning today. He tweaked his right hamstring while running first-to-third on Freddy Galvis’ first hit of the afternoon. Chooch said he felt something “pop” and, like Howard, will have an MRI on Monday.

Game Notes

The Phillies are off to Miami for a 3-game series before heading to DC then Boston…Ben Revere is now batting .406 in the month of May…Tyler Cloyd was recalled to pitch Tuesday…This was the first time ever the Phillies won a game on back-to-back HR’s in bottom of the ninth inning.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (18-24, 4th place, North Division International League)-

Hot list…

Cody Asche with Reading in 2012

Third baseman Cody Asche has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 contests.  In his last 10 games, Asche is batting .326 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI.  The 22-year-old was the Phillies’ 4th round pick in 2011 out of the University of Nebraska.

Cold list…

Joe Savery has allowed nine earned runs in one total inning over his last two appearances with the IronPigs.  Savery, whose season ERA in the International League sits at 5.87, sported a 0.63 mark this season prior to his most recent two appearances.

Lefty starter Adam Morgan has a 0-4 record along with an 8.33 ERA over his last five games.  The University of Alabama product was the Phillies’ 3rd round draft pick in 2011.  Morgan, a Georgia native, is 23-years-old.

Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (15-25, last place, East Division Eastern League)- 

Hot list…

Reading OF Tyson Gillies

OF Tyson Gillies went 9-for-23 (.391 avg) with six RBI over a stretch of six starts this week.  Overall through 13 games with Reading, Gillies has a .244 average with three doubles and a stolen base.

First baseman Jim Murphy is 13-for-30 (.433 avg) with four doubles, a triple, three homers and nine nine RBI over his previous nine games.  Murphy, 27, leads the Eastern League in total bases with 88.

Cold list…

Right-handed starter Seth Rosin is 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts this month.  The 23-year-old, who was acquired in the Hunter Pence trade with the Giants last year, is 1-3 with a 3.95 ERA in eight starts this season.

Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers (21-20, 3rd place, North Division Florida State League)-

Hot list…

Maikel Franco with Lakewood in 2012

Third baseman Maikel Franco is 8-for-25 (.320 avg) with a double, a triple and two homers over his last six games.   Franco, a Dominican native, is 20-years-old.

Righty reliever Chris Nichols, who was added to the Threshers’ roster this week out of extended spring training, has made three scoreless appearances since joining the active roster.  The 22-year-old University of Sioux Falls product was a 31st round draft choice by the Phillies last year.

Outfielder Cameron Perkins leads the FSL in hits with 56 and ranks second in the league in average with a .354 mark. The 22-year-old was the Phils’ 6th round draft selection last year out of Purdue University.

Cold list…

Shortstop Jose Mojica has gone 3-for-26 (.115 avg) over his last seven games.  Prior to his recent slow stretch, the 24-year-old Mojica was among the Florida State League’s top hitters with a .354 average.

Following a four-game stretch in which he went 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA, lefty starter Hoby Milner has thrown back to back outings with no decisions while allowing six earned runs in 11 innings (4.91 ERA).  Milner was a 7th round draft pick out of the University of Texas last year.

Class A Lakewood BlueClaws (17-24, 6th place, North Division in South Atlantic League)- 

Hot list…

Lakewood OF Larry Greene Jr.

Larry Greene Jr. posted a seven-game hitting streak that ended on Saturday.  During the streak, Greene was 10-for-23 (.435 average).  Overall in 23 games, Greene, the Phils’ 1st round draft choice in 2011, is batting .227 with four doubles and eight RBI.

Outfielder Zach Taylor is 11-for-25 (.440 avg) with four doubles, two home runs and six RBI in his last seven games.  Taylor, who is batting .306 in 22 games, was selected in the 12th round of the 2012 draft by the Phillies.

Cold list…

Infielder Angelo Mora is 1-for-19 (.053 avg) in his last six games.  The 20-year-old Dominican is batting .109 in 13 games this month.

Venezuelan Summer League Phillies (4-0 record, 1st place)-

Hot list…

Catcher/first baseman Wilson Garcia is 9-for-17 (.529 avg) with a double, a homer and eight RBI thus far.  The switch-hitting 19-year-old is in his third season in the VSL.

Gregori Rivero, a 17-year-old, is 7-for-17 (.412 avg) with a double and a triple.  Rivero, a catcher, was signed by the Phillies last July.

Kyle Kendrick was due for lackluster outing, and that’s just what he had today. (Photo: AP)

On April 15, Bronson Arroyo dominated the Phillies for eight innings in Cincinnati, allowing just two runs and five hits in a deflating 4-2 defeat. Today’s ballgame felt eerily similar to the one that took place at Great American Ballpark last month, only this time the Reds more than doubled their output, while the Phillies didn’t bother scoring any runs–though they did equal their five hits–in an 10-0 defeat. The damp weather was a perfect accompaniment to the sleepy feeling this game had, a long and painful loss.

The game got away from the Phils quickly. The Reds went up early, and the bats never had an answer for Arroyo. It was the perfect formula for a dull drubbing, the Reds asserting their will over an overmatched Phillies team.

KENDRICK’S STREAK COMES TO AN END

Kyle Kendrick hadn’t allowed more than two runs in any start since he allowed five to the Royals in his 2013 debut. That streak swiftly came to an end today when he served up a second inning meatball to Ryan Hanigan, who sent it into the seats in left to give the Reds a 3-0 lead. The homer looked to be a portentous sign of how things would go for Kendrick today.

He would calm down, though. And while Kendrick didn’t pitch a great game–the Reds hit a lot of balls hard off him–he did manage to limit the runs after Hanigan’s long ball. In fact, I’d even argue that the fourth run Kendrick allowed was more on bad managing than Kendrick himself.

It looked like he’d be lifted for a pinch hitter after five when he had over 90 pitches, but Charlie Manuel inexplicably let him hit with a runner on first and two outs in the fifth. Kendrick struck out to end the inning, and went on to allow another run in the sixth. There was absolutely no reason to let Kendrick pitch in that spot and it cost the Phils a run–not that it would matter in the end. Kendrick’s final line looked like this: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. It was no doubt a battle for KK, as he failed to record a single 1-2-3 inning. A definite throwaway game.

BLAME STALE OFFENSE ON THE RAIN…

…or bad at-bats and a complete lack of power. Whichever you decide is the culprit (it’s the latter), one thing is for sure: This Phillies offense has not been getting the job done, and it’s become quite a nuisance. So far this season, the Phils have been shutout a whopping six times–as many as they had all of last season. That’s simply not acceptable, especially because in three of those shutouts, the other team scored four runs or less.

Arroyo is the latest pitcher to find success later in his career by becoming a softballer, and it’s a technique the Phils really struggle with. For the second time this season, he dominated them deep into the game, unleashing a plethora of curveballs and sliders to keep the fastball-inclined Phillies off balance. It wasn’t as though Arroyo was unhittable– he threw strikes, but the Phils just couldn’t square any balls up. The hardest hit ball of the day came from Domonic Brown–who went 2-for-4, making him the only Phillie with multiple hits–on a double down the right field line. Brown was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. That was about as exciting as it got for the offense.

The Phillies one through five hitters went a cool 3-for-15 with two singles and a double. That statistic pretty much speaks for itself.

BULLPEN LETS REDS PILE ON

A combination of B.J. Rosenberg, Phillippe Aumont and Chad Durbin would be the bullpen goats on this day, combining to allow six runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively. The extra runs were painful to watch, the bullpen clearly not capable of consistently getting outs. Today’s loss was a complete team effort, every facet pitching in to ensure a negative outcome.

UP NEXT

- The Phillies try to scrap out a series win against a very good Reds team behind the right arm of Jonathan Pettibone (3-0, 3.41). Homer Bailey gets the start for Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Reds (25-17) at Philadelphia Phillies (20-22)

Bronson Arroyo (3-4, 3.76) vs. Kyle Kendrick (4-1, 2.47)

TIME: 4:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Fox
Weather: 70, cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook

BIG Z UPDATE: Carlos Zambrano made his debut in extended Spring Training today, throwing two innings, allowing one hit and striking out five. A pretty good return to professional baseball for Big Z.

With last night’s win, this series is already going better for the Phillies than the one they played last month, when the Reds swept them out of Cincinnati. It’s been a struggle to get back to.500 for the Phils, but with ace Kyle Kendrick on the mound, they could actually pull to within one game of that mark for the first time since April 15 when they were 6-7.

Kendrick has pitched at least seven innings and allowed two runs or less in his last four starts, and five of his last six. In fact, since his rocky 2013 debut, he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any start. Against the Reds, he has posted a career 4.19 ERA, but much of that came when he was a less seasoned pitcher. He hadn’t started against the Reds since July of 2010 before this season when he held them scoreless of seven innings on April 16 in a 1-0 loss. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a Reds lineup that is third in the NL in runs scored.

It’s the rock star, Bronson Arroyo, on the bump for Cincy. Hard to believe the 37-year old is still pitching the way he is, as he’s consistently given the Reds solid seasons over the course of his 30s. But even at 3.76, Arroyo has the highest ERA of any Reds starter. The Phils need to get to this guy. Over the course of his career, Arroyo’s had trouble when facing Philly, posting a 6.00 ERA. Surprisingly, much of that has been done is his home ballparks, as his ERA is a very respectable 3.33 when pitching at CBP.

John Mayberry gets the start in center for the fourth consecutive game, while Erik Kratz gets a look behind the plate.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C, Kendrick P

GAMEDAY BEER: Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre

The box on this brew from Dogfish Head proclaims, “American beer of the year!” I’m too lazy to verify whether that’s actually true or not, but I can tell you the Raison D’Etre is one hell of a craft beer. It’s a mahogany ale, brewed with Belgian beer and green raisins. Like most Dogfish Head selections, it’s got a rich flavor and is quite heavy. At 8% alcohol by volume, it’s a great beer to get your night started. Enjoy! – RD

PHOTO: AP

Cliff Lee pitched a good game, but a home run given up by Antonio Bastardo in the top of the eighth inning not only stripped Lee of a win, but in my opinion severely lowered the Phillies chance at a win. Fangraphs had the win probability at 50/50 after Joey Votto‘s home run, but the game looked like it was headed for extras, and with a diminished bullpen, the Phils would’ve been in a tough spot.

But an eighth inning rally by the Phils propelled them past the Reds, 5-3. The win is a big one, considering the Reds were 25-16 coming into tonight’s game and had already smacked around the Phillies this year. Additionally, at the time of the last out, the Phillies were three game back in the NL East.

LEE SOLID AT THE PLATE AND ON THE MOUND

Cliff Lee pitched well–a line of 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K–but he also hit well. He got on base twice via a fielder’s choice and a double, and scored both times. Sometimes, you get the feeling that Lee is seeing the ball better than some of the full-time hitters in the lineup. Or that he’d be a viable option to pinch hit at times. The man is a treat to watch.

His opposition, Tony Cingrani, pitched just OK. He tossed five innings while giving up three runs and scattering five hits. The 23 year old lefty held the Phillies hitless in the first two innings, and, aside from J-Roll’s home run, actually threw the ball well.

J-ROLL HEATING UP

Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to six games with a two run home run in the third inning. He’s hitting .375 over that span (24 AB) with 8 RBI. A significant improvement over his previous 40 at-bats where he hit .150 with just two RBI.

He also scored his 1200th run of his career with the home run.

Michael Young, arguable the Phillies best hitter so far this year, was 1-1 with a double and three walks. If J-Roll, Young, and Chase Utley can all get (and stay) hot at the same time, the top of the order will actually be something to fear again.

BROXTON HELPS THE PHILS AGAIN

We remember 2008. We also remember 2009. And Friday night, Jonathan Broxton again came up short in a big situation against the Phillies. With one out and runners on first and second, in a tie game Broxton came in to try and get out of the jam created by Sean Marshall. He then plunked Delmon Young, and gave up a ground ball up the middle that resulted in no outs when the play at second was bobbled.

Then he gave up a sac fly to Carlos Ruiz (that was admittedly a blown call at the plate). Thanks, buddy. :)

Cincinnati Reds (25-16) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (19-22)

Tony Cingrani (2-0, 2.89) vs. Cliff Lee (4-2, 2.86)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: PHL 17
Weather: 68, sunny
Media: Twitter and Facebook

News and notes:

-Mike Adams had an MRI and is considered day-to-day, although a DL stint is not quite out of the woods. He has a mild back strain, and if he does do to the DL they can retro him to 5/11.

-Ruben Amaro Jr. gave an update on Carlos Zambrano. Big Z will throw two innings in an extended spring training game, or somewhere around 30-40 pitches tomorrow. They will then ramp him up to 50 pitches his next outing.

-John Lannan will throw a bullpen session on Monday or Tuesday according to Amaro, but he’s still not all that close to being ready.

As for tonight’s game, the Red hot Reds are in town and looking to get on base. That’s what Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto do. They are 1-2 in the NL in OBP, with Choo getting on at a ridiculous .458 clip this season. As Corey Seidman pointed out today on twitter, Joey Votto and Shin-Soo Choo have reached base 177 times … which is the exact same number as Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Domonic Brown and Ben Revere combined. Wow.

Cliff Lee will have his work cut out for him as Votto has hit him well. He is 7-for-16 with a HR off the fellow lefty.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Mayberry CF, Lee P

GAMEDAY BEER: Stone Levitation Ale

This deep amber brew has a rich maltiness, big hoppy character, citrus overtones, and an impressively modest alcohol content for a beer with so much flavor packed into it. It’s at 4.4%, so it’s not overbearing. Beer Advocate has it highly ranked with a score of 88. And Stone Brewing Co. rarely let’s anyone down. Enjoy!

Rosenberg, 27, has been mildly effective as a starter this year for the IronPigs, going 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in seven starts. As Matt Provence points out, Rosenberg was sharp in his most recent start, picking up the win after seven scoreless innings pitched on 5/12 against Durham.

Frandsen had the best season of his career in 2012, and in the early going this year, both his wOBA and wRC+ are even better. His walk rate, isolated power and slugging percentages are also higher than they were last year. His .361 on-base percentage is great, especially in a reduced offensive environment, but it would look even better if not for a .231 BABIP. Just like last year’s .366 BABIP wasn’t likely to be sustained, Frandsen isn’t very likely to continue struggling to convert balls put in play into hits this season.

If his current true talent level falls somewhere in between the last two seasons, the Phillies have a very valuable bench player and someone who deserves legitimate consideration for an extended platoon role. His defensive versatility should enable him to spell any of the four infielders at any given time, and he could likely handle corner outfield activity as well.

What stands out in analyzing his numbers over the last two seasons is how he compares to the recent gold standard of pinch-hitting: Greg Dobbs, circa 2007-08. From 2012-13, Frandsen has logged about half of Dobbs’ playing time from 2007-08 and has essentially matched his overall productivity. Frandsen’s production has been seemingly less important than Dobbs, given the overall performance of the 2007-08 Phillies in conjunction to this current iteration, but that doesn’t make him any less valuable.

Since the start of the 2012 season, Frandsen has a robust .327/.380/.460 batting line, a .365 wBA and a 130 wRC+ that suggests his offensive production has been 30 percent better than a league-average hitter. He has 1.5 WAR in this span. He has played the vast majority of his innings in the field at third base, where he essentially has a break-even fielding rating, and his baserunning is right around the league average as well.

He has a very solid 23% line drive rate and has put 55% of his balls in play on the ground. Batted ball profiles that are lower on flyballs give the player more of a chance to see his balls in play turn into hits, which is a big reason for his .348 BABIP in this span. Additionally, he has a .413 BA and .625 SLG against lefties since the start of last season.

Dobbs hit .284/.331/.467 from 2007-08, with a .342 wOBA and a 102 wRC+. His fielding and baserunning marks are virtually identical to Frandsen’s, and while his isolated power is higher, his strikeout rate is practically twice as high. Dobbs played far more than Frandsen has, and basically put together a traditional full season of stats over those two years. Despite twice the playing time, he had 1.7 WAR, a mere two-tenths of a win better than Frandsen.

Dobbs logged 598 plate appearances and added 19 home runs, 95 RBIs and six steals. The Phillies used Dobbs more often because of his productivity and that decision paid dividends.

But before he came to the Phillies, there would have been no tangible reason to suspect he was capable of that type of production.

It was easy to look at Frandsen’s numbers last season, write them off as flukish, and not consider him for a starting or platoon role this season, while Dobbs was lionized after his clutch 2007 campaign and thrust into a more prominent role.

His role was made that much more important when the Phillies were launching their comeback in the standings against the Mets in 2007 and vying for a World Series the next season. Frandsen has performed even better but his production hasn’t been nearly as important. If the season continues down the path it seems destined to head, the Phillies would be wise to consider moving a cheap and productive Michael Young and installing Frandsen at third base to see if he really could handle a larger role moving forward.

Domonic Brown may be walking less, but he’s hitting the cover off the ball. Photo: AP

This past offseason, Ruben Amaro drew quite a bit of criticism when he told reporters that he didn’t value walks very much. The quote, taken from Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb, went like this:

“I don’t care about walks. I care about production. To be frank with you, I’ve said this all along. All of the sabermatricians and all of the people who think they know exactly what makes a good club… to me, it’s more about run production and being able to score runs and drive in runs.”

If you’re anything like me, you had a good laugh after reading that one (laughter to keep from crying). After that laughter subsided, though, I was left wondering how Amaro could say he doesn’t care about walks and then go on to say winning is about driving in runs, something that is made possible from teams getting baserunners, which sometimes come from–you guessed it!–guys getting walked. Logically, Amaro’s statement just didn’t add up.

By now, you’re probably beginning to wonder what exactly this has to do with Domonic Brown. So, I’ll get there: Amaro’s quote above was particularly alarming for Brown supporters like myself. This is because, as Brown has struggled the last few seasons to catch on full-time, many of his believers (again, me) would point to his excellent plate discipline and ability to draw walks as a reason for optimism when there was little else to be encouraged by.

Finally, it seems Brown is beginning to “get it.” His success over the last few weeks has been widely reported, and with good cause. Check out his numbers since April 24: In 79 plate appearances, he’s hitting .286 with an .811 OPS, 5 home runs, 3 doubles, 9 runs, 13 RBI and 17 strikeouts.

Compared to his first 20 games, in which he hit .206 with a .623 OPS, 2 home runs, 1 double, 6 runs, 6 RBI and 13 strikeouts over 72 PAs, Brown’s recent stretch has been a revelation.

You’ll notice that there is one statistic conspicuously missing from Brown’s lines above. That is the number of walks he’s had. One would assume that because he’s been hitting better, Brown has been walking more since April 24. That is far from the case. From the beginning of the season through April 23, Brown walked eight times, with two intentional walks and one hit by pitch for a grand total of 11 walks of some form. Since April 24, he’s walked one time, period. No IBBs, HBPs.

As much as I don’t like to admit it, because I still think walking is a very valuable tool (you only need to check the Phillies walk rates since 2007 and how their decline has coincided with a steep decline in offense to see how important patience is at the plate), but maybe this is what Amaro meant when he said he doesn’t care about walks.

Brown’s success seems to be more approach-based than anything else.

It’s not as though Brown is expanding the strike zone more often (his current 32.8% swings at pitches outside of the strike zone rate is only 2.8 percentage points higher than his career average of 30.0%). Instead, he is recognizing hittable pitches when he gets them, and he’s not missing them. Some might say he’s going up there looking for a hit instead of waiting out a walk, something he seemed to be in the habit of doing in his younger days. He’s being more productive.

And while I still think patience is something every lineup needs to exhibit, I’ll take a lineup full of guys who OPS over .800 if it means they walk only once every 20 games or so, the way Brown has done since April 24.

Still, with an OBP of just .291 in his last 20 games, imagine where Brown’s OPS would be if he got back to walking the way he knows how. If he can get there, then we may finally see the special player we all expected Brown to be three years ago.

AT&T Park in San Francisco.

The Phillies just returned from a trip at two of the nicer parks in baseball (AT&T Park in San Francisco and Chase Field in Arizona). With a visit to Boston’s Fenway Park coming up over Memorial Day weekend, we wanted to ask our writers: Of the stadiums you’ve visited, which is your favorite? And what stadium do you most want to check of your bucket list?

Don’t forget to check out the “2013 Phillies Nation Road Trips” page, for info on visiting some great ballparks with lots of fellow Phillies fans!

Writer’s Roundtable responses:

Alex Lee: I was at Comerica Park in Detroit last spring which was very cool. The left field seats are right on top of both bullpens and there are a couple of patio areas above the bleachers in right field that offer some nice views. For a day game in May, the energy in the park was outstanding…especially if you consider how empty and depressing Detroit has become as a city. Upon walking through the gates, I vividly remember thinking, “So this is where all the people are!”

Pat Gallen: PNC Park I think is a great stadium. It has beautiful scenes of downtown Pittsburgh in the background, with the Roberto Clemente Bridge playing a large role in the scenery. It’s also a great place to watch a game, where tickets are super cheap in the left field bleachers. Although, when it’s 95 degrees during a day game, your ass is on fire. The concourses are very nice, and overall it has almost a minor league feel to it in a major league park.

Amanda Orr: Wrigley Field was my favorite stadium that I visited so far. It was a complete baseball atmosphere. The area surrounding the stadium was all baseball oriented. The fans were friendly, despite what some might say about the reputation of Cubs fans. The old time feel just put the focus on the game, creating the Ultimate baseball experience. In my opinion, I thought it beat out Fenway. On the bucket list is PNC (Pittsburgh) and AT&T (SF). I’ve only heard great things about them.

Don McGettigan: I’ve had the good fortune of seeing quite a few stadiums over the years. I’ve seen games in Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, PNC Park, Oriole Field at Camden Yards, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and AT&T Park. Like Amanda, my favorite is Wrigley Field (in a close contest over Fenway). While I think the playing-field at Fenway is more interesting with the Green Monster, Pesky Pole, etc… the overall atmosphere with Wrigley is second to none. The home fans were friendlier, the bars seemed much more reasonably priced, and there was an excitement in the air that is simply indescribable. I will also suggest if you’re going to Chicago, you absolutely MUST do the Rooftop Bleacher Seats! I love AT&T Park and PNC Park too, but I’m a sucker for the old-time feel at the classic stadiums. (I’m heading to Boston on Memorial Day to see the Phillies at Fenway again, so I’ll see if my opinion changes after that trip.)

The one that I most want to check off my bucket list…is probably Jacob’s Field in Cleveland, though I’m not sure why.

Ryan Dinger: Like a lot of baseball fans, my passion for the ballparks around the league is almost as intense as my passion for the game. In my relatively short lifetime, I’ve made my way to 13 different ballparks as a fan, with the intention to visit many more. Thus far, the best I’ve seen is Fenway Park–it’s a slice of classic Americana. Amenities-wise, the ballpark itself isn’t particularly impressive. But Fenway’s quirky design and rich history–it opened the same month the Titanic sank!–make it a great experience. They’ve done a great job in Boston of keeping the old time feel intact, with the atmosphere around the concourse having a carnival-like feel.

As for ballparks I’d love to visit, there are two that top my list. Number 1 is Wrigley Field, for reasons similar to why I was so captivated by Fenway. The other is AT&T Park in San Francisco. A jewel by the bay, the stylistic architecture is some of the best I’ve ever seen, and, from afar, it seems like an absolute can’t-miss.

Eric Seidman: I’ve never been one to romanticize stadiums — I’d watch baseball if it was being played a dark dungeon somewhere, as long as it’s being played — but AT&T Park in San Francisco is my favorite stadium. It just has the perfect atmosphere. The weather is great, the food is great, the stadium is very open and airy, and it’s just a very laid-back experience.

Ian Riccaboni: I’m going to go off the beaten path –Toronto’s Rogers Centre (originally known as SkyDome) is my favorite stadium. Sure, it was the site of one of the most disappointing moments in Phillies history but it is one of the last remaining artifacts of the concrete-age of stadiums, has terrific sight lines, and the world’s first retractable roof is one of the most impressive sights of architecture I have ever seen. The people are friendly, the food is cheap, and the city is beautiful, an easy choice for me.

Jay Floyd: I’ve been to no less than 10 big league parks, along with plenty more minor league facilities, and of the places I have taken in a game there is none more enjoyable for ambiance, history and full fan experience than Fenway Park. It’s everything you expect a historic landmark type venue to be and yet still thrives as a tremendous stage for today’s game.

My bucket list park has got to be Wrigley Field. I’ve heard endless outstanding feedback in relation to the Cub’s home stadium and I look forward to getting there some day.

Corey Seidman: Citizens Bank Park is underrated. Rather than touch on another stadium (it’d be Safeco Field in Seattle) I’d rather just talk about our park, which must be fun for fans in other cities to look at, honestly.

The wall in center, Harry the Ks, all the aesthetics and alternate areas to watch the game…it’s a great park. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to see it only a few times a year, the way we see PNC or AT&T Park.

…
Take a look at USA Today’s picture gallery of all 30 MLB stadiums and tell us what your favorites are.

Jonathan Pettibone has been a revelation for the Phils. But how long can it continue? (AP Photo).

As I wrote in my recap on Tuesday night, Jonathan Pettibone deserves a lot of credit.  He has started five games so far this year and the Phillies have won four.  He has shown a veteran’s ability to battle through jams.  He has displayed a pretty good fastball, which at least through his first three starts, he routinely threw for strikes and forced opposing batters to put the ball in play.  But before we all get carried away, it’s important to note that Pettibone is not the first marginal Phillies pitching prospect in recent years to enjoy immediate success upon his big league promotion.

Consider the statistics for the following Phillies starters, past and present, compared to Pettibone through five starts:

Jonathan Pettibone:  3-0, 3.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 5.3 K/9 in 29 IP

Vance Worley:         2-2, 2.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 in 27 IP

J.A. Happ:                1-1, 3.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 in 27.2 IP

Kyle Kendrick:        3-0, 4.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 2.9 K/9 in 30.2 IP

While the numbers are different, each former farmhand was able to have a certain level of success right away.  Pettibone’s rookie predecessors were also able to sustain their effectiveness beyond their first start.  Worley was a huge part of a playoff team in 2011.  Ditto for Happ in 2009 and Kendrick in 2007.

But each pitcher’s success came to an abrupt end after one season’s worth of starts… or about the amount of time it took for the majority of the league to get another look at them.  For the most part, that is what happens with mid-level pitching prospects that are, at best, projected to be back-end of the rotation starters.  And the odds are, it will likely happen with Pettibone too.

I point this out not to throw cold water on Pettibone’s promising start, but simply to temper the expectations on a pitcher who has displayed guts, but only mediocre stuff.  Anytime a prospect comes up and hits the ground running, it is easy for fans to excitedly pencil him into the lineup or rotation for the foreseeable future.  Hell, it is easy for players to do it too.  Here is Kevin Frandsen on Pettibone after Tuesday’s performance, courtesy of Mandy Housenick of the Allentown Morning Call:

“He never gave in.  He could have let it go when we were down 2-1 and he kept fighting and fighting and made great pitches. … That’s a stud right there. He didn’t back down. That’s awesome.”

Pettibone has certainly been resilient and shown a comfort level pitching in sticky situations.  And it is great that his teammates are excited for him.  But what Frandsen sees as moxie, I see as a caution sign.  Although he has battled out of them, Pettibone’s been in those jams for a reason.  His WHIP of 1.28, while not bad, indicates that his ERA is due for a correction.  And after issuing four free passes in each of his last two starts, his walk rate is headed in the wrong direction.

While Phillies Nation graded Pettibone as the organization’s sixth best prospect headed into this season, that ranking needs to be taken with a grain of salt in the grand scheme of things.  The Phillies farm system has been decimated by trades, and – Domonic Brown’s development excluded – hasn’t produced a single impact player in more than five years… an assessment that stands even if you count the top prospects they’ve traded.

Given the history with Phillies pitchers of his ilk, it is possible, and maybe even likely, that Pettibone’s effectiveness continues well into the summer.  Credit him for working hard to get this far… and credit Rich Dubee for getting these guys acclimated to the big leagues so quickly.  Just don’t bank on it lasting.

While Kendrick has miraculously transformed himself from a Pettibone-type into a trustworthy middle of the rotation starter, it took him several years and countless ugly starts to do it.  He is the exception.