The Good Phight

Phillies Not Actively Pursuing Roy Oswalt

2012-05-17T14:48:04Z

With the news that Phillies starter Vance Worley was headed to the disabled list, and prior to the apparently good news that an MRI on Wednesday revealed no structural damage to the right-hander's elbow, the name of Phillies' erstwhile fourth ace Roy Oswalt began bubbling up.

Todd Zolecki spoke to Phillies General Manager and noted truth-teller Ruben Amaro, Jr., who said that the Phillies are not actively pursuing the currently unemployed veteran.

"We think he’s throwing," Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Oswalt. "I guess he is. But right now what I’m worried about is our team playing better. That’s my focus right now. I feel comfortable with the starters we have. If we get to the point where we’re not comfortable with him then that might be something we explore. But I will tell you that right now I’m happy with our guys the way we are right now, unless something changes. I think we’ve got other fish to fry right now."

With the apparently good news about Worley, I can't imagine the Phillies looking to acquire more pitching mid-season, unless someone else gets hurt, or if Worley's injury keeps him out longer than expected. Oswalt allegedly spurned offers from at least a couple contenders over the winter, including the Tigers.

Oswalt, 34, struggled with injuries in 2011, posting a 9-10 record with a 3.69 ERA and a career-worst 6.0 strikeouts per nine innings, and 2.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Voodoo Bratwurst: Kendrickrolled: Phillies 9 Cubs 2

2012-05-17T03:56:16Z

Kudos to WL for the working title, which applies win or lose to any Kendrick start:)

There's something magical about Wrigley Field. The Ivory walls; The memories of rivalries gone by; Baseball without lights... most of you are too young to remember Mike Schmidt's 4 home run game in 1976, or The 45 run game in 1979, but almost 33 years to the day, The Phillies returned to Wrigley, sans Schmidt and Kingman, as Kyle Kendrick took the hill for the injured Vance Worley. Weird things happen at Wrigley. Tonight was no exception.

My personal expectations were not too high going in, and I'll admit to having written a recap prior to the game that went something like this:

Kyle Kendrick got creamed in the second inning tonight, as the cubs scored 6 runs, off of three homers, which would surely be enough. The Bullpen is sure to make it even worse, and No Phillies will hit, so I'm just gonna go watch American Idol and maybe get in good with the wife... autopost set for 11:30 pm. Catz out.

The first inning was typical of what we've seen recently. Jimmy Rollins pop up, Juan Pierre reaches base on a yip throw by Garza on some sort of bunt thingy, almost gets thrown out at second base stealing, advances to third, and Pence lumberjacks a grounder and can't score the run.

When David Dejesus roped a double to lead off the bottom of the inning, and found himself sitting on third after a perfectly executed Bunt by Tony Campana, it was as if the polar opposite of what we were trying to do in the first inning was happening. Then a funny thing happened.

Good Kyle showed up. The Kyle You were warned about

He struck out Castro, and got arguably the hottest hitter in the NL, Bryan LaHair to fly out on 8 pitches. He would allow only 2 more hits over 6 solid innings, walking none and striking out 4, with no double plays.

Seriously. No double plays. (I believe unless I missed something, BTW that this was the first start of Kendricks career where he allowed 0 BB and 0 GIDP in the same game.)

Freddy Galvis had an RBI single in the second and that wold have been enough if not for Juan Pierre and his voodoo magic. For those of you who missed it, Pierre had two bunt type hits (I think one was actually an error) which were clearly enchanted with some sort of haitian magic on the ball, because each time Matt Garza picked it up to throw to first he yipped. Like really bad. Like comically bad.

Unfortunately, on the 14th pitch to Bryan LaHair of the 4th inning, that same ball, settling in a routine fly pattern toward LF literally bounced off Pierres glove, and instead of none on, and 2 outs, theres a man on second with one out.

Alfonso Soriano took the mojo deep for his 2nd HR of the year on the next AB and suddenly the cubs were leading 2-1.

Those would be the last base runners Chicago had all day, as Kendrick mowed em down in the 5th and 6th, and the combination of Contreras in the 7th, Bastardo in the 8th and Valdes in the ninth would go 9 up 9 down with 5 K's.

Bullpen looked DAMN good. DAMN good.

In between, Pierre made up for his gaffe earlier by doubling in the 5th, and scoring on a Victorino IF single to tie the game, and Chooch continued his torrid start with a monster blast over Schmidts spot in the LF ivory in the 8th to take back the lead.

Then, just because, we tacked on 6 runs in the 9th, including a Hector Luna Grand Slam.

.500!!

Wrigley field is Magic kids. Its where dreams are made, and where bullshit Aprils and horseshit half Mays turn into dominant no looking back launching pads of WINNING.

Feeling good yet? More reason to celebrate after the break...

Don't say this too loud, but thats 4 in a row... Yay Guys!

Also tomorrow we get Volstad and they get Halladay.

Super Yay Guys!

Someone edit in that Fangraph thing. I'm too old and curmudgeony to figure it out.

Oh, Kendrick!: Phillies at Cubs Game Thread, May 16, 2012

2012-05-17T00:00:20Z

With today's announcement regarding Vance Worley's elbow issues and resulting stint on the Disabled List, it's time to check out our old friend Kyle Kendrick, who'll be taking (hopefully just) a few starts while Worley mends.

Matt Garza, who could have no-hit the Phillies last month, goes for the Cubs.

Discuss the game below.

Next Game

Philadelphia Phillies
@ Chicago Cubs

Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 8:05 PM EDT
Wrigley Field

Kyle Kendrick vs Matt Garza

Clear. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 60.

Complete Coverage >

Kyle Kendrick

#38 / Pitcher / Philadelphia Phillies

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Aug 26, 1984

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Kyle Kendrick	0-3	8	3	0	0	0	1	19.2	31	18	16	3	9	12	7.32	2.03

Matt Garza

#22 / Pitcher / Chicago Cubs

Height: 6-4

Weight: 215

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Nov 26, 1983

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Matt Garza	2-1	6	6	0	0	0	0	38.2	23	11	11	3	15	39	2.56	.98

Congratulations to David S. Cohen, Tenured Professor of Law

2012-05-16T21:51:28Z

Congratulations to David S. Cohen, Tenured Professor of Law

Not baseball related, but great news nonetheless... Blog Lord David S. Cohen is now a TENURED Professor of Law at the Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University!

Everyone join me in congratulating David. Let's all pitch in and buy him a tweed blazer with leather patches on the elbows.

SB Nation Pick 6 Discussion - May 16, 2012

2012-05-16T18:50:36Z

Reminder to make your selections before tonight's 6:30 pm start in San Diego.

Congratulations to dannijd and the rest of yesterday's Top 10 finishers.

Rank	Player	Points
1	dannijd	51.8
2	Michael Levin	50.5
3	PrinceAdamOfEternia	47.7
4	perfectdepth	47.2
5	joshlaincz	46.7
6	TheManKev	43.3
7	njpaNick	43.3
8	Easedel	42.1
9	whv3rd	41.6
10	mentholmoose	41.5

Phillies Trade Rich Thompson to Rays for Kyle Hudson

2012-05-16T18:13:57Z

Philly, Tampa Swap Outfielders With Little Experience

The Philadelphia Phillies have traded outfielder Rich Thompson to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for outfielder Kyle Hudson, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com:

Sources: Phillies have dealt AAA OF Rich Thompson to TB for OF Kyle Hudson#PhilliesTalk
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) May 16, 2012

Thompson, 33, is hitting .307/.390/.398 for AAA Lehigh Valley this season, with 27 hits, 8 walks, and 18 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances. Hudson has exactly one plate appearance in the majors, taken with the Kansas City Royals back in 2004.

Hudson, 25, is hitting .291/.378/.318 in AAA Durham, with seven stolen bases versus four caught. He was in the Baltimore system since 2008, and has since shuffled between several clubs, including the Texas Rangers. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun notes that the Phillies will be his 4th organization in the past six months.

Hudson has just a few more plate appearances than Thompson, seeing 29 last season. He only had four hits, though, going .143/.143/.143. The Phillies will likely use him as a pinch runner, if anything.

Vance Worley to 15-Day Disabled List, Joe Savery Recalled

2012-05-16T15:25:00Z

UPDATE UPDATE: Matt Gelb reports no structural damage shown in today's MRI.

UPDATE: First Tweeted by our own petzrawr/Ryan Petzar.

Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Phillies starter Vance Worley has been placed on the 15 day Disabled List due to right elbow inflammation, and is expected to miss at least three starts. Kyle Kendrick's Zelig-like career continues, as he has been slotted back into the rotation starting tonight. Lefty reliever Joe Savery has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Worley's spot on the roster.

Worley was examined by team physicians on Wednesday morning, but the results of that examination are presently unknown.

Your Comprehensive Citizens Bank Park Beer Guide By Section - In Spreadsheet Form!

2012-05-16T14:02:05Z

Your Comprehensive Citizens Bank Park Beer Guide By Section - In Spreadsheet Form!

From food and drink blog Chocolate Covered Memories. Great stuff. h/t to our friend Grotewold