BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: MLB.com: Hamels outstanding, but ‘pen falters

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, August 28, 2008

MLB.com: Hamels outstanding, but ‘pen falters

[Aramis] Ramirez’s mammoth drive traveled well out to deep center field, beyond the ivy, the bushes and almost to Pennsylvania. The result, a grand slam that gave the Cubs a 6-4 win over the Phillies, erased a brilliant Cole Hamels outing and further exposed a bullpen that is becoming increasingly tired and unreliable.
...
The lefty quieted the Wrigley Field faithful with seven dominating innings, allowing one run, but left after throwing 108 pitches.

Already worried about his overworked trio of Durbin, Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero—all three rested in Wednesday’s loss to the Mets—manager Charlie Manuel used Madson to start the eighth.

Infielder Mike Fontenot greeted him with a pinch-hit home run, and Alfonso Soriano doubled and went to third on Ryan Theriot’s single. Durbin relieved and walked Derrek Lee, then surrendered the slam to Ramirez on a 1-0 pitch.

The loss pushed the Phillies a full game behind the idle Mets in the National League East.

After seeing the Phils’ bullpen fall flat since being exposed to the Mets bullpen, currently urgent meetings are being held in Washington to determine how to stop the Mets relievers from infecting anymore innocent victims. If you see the likes of Luis Ayala or Pedro Feliciano walking down the street, DO NOT APPROACH them.

Instead, please contact the authorities immediately so containment procedures can begin.

NTNgod Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:25 PM | 20 comment(s)
Related News: General, Chi Cubs, Philadelphia, Game Recaps

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

1. franoscar Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:39 PM (#2921178)

Aramis for MVP!

2. Hey, it's what Johan uses (Matt) Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:51 PM (#2921185)

It's an epidemic.

3. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:53 PM (#2921187)

The Phillies are in a stretch where something like 17 out of 20 games (including this and the two Mets games) are against the top 4 or 5 teams in the league. This is it, everyone.

4. retro-shiite Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:27 AM (#2921215)

That's pretty much the Cubs' entire remaining schedule. Other than a series at Cincy and a home/away with the Astros, it's all Brewers, Cards, Phils and Mets.

5. Dag Nabbit Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:31 AM (#2921216)

That's pretty much the Cubs' entire remaining schedule. Other than a series at Cincy and a home/away with the Astros, it's all Brewers, Cards, Phils and Mets.

And heading into tonight's game the Astros have won 20 of their last 30.

6. Russlan is an overhyped Met BTFer Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:35 AM (#2921218)

I said this when the Mets blew their 7-0 lead and I'll say it again here.

There's no real reason why the Met bullpen has been so much worse than the Phillies bullpen this year. It's filled with the same type of guys, some talented and others not so talented. There's no reason Chad Durbin has been lights-out this year when he has generally sucked for most of his career. Having a great bullpen is fun but it's always a little worrisome when part of the reason it's doing so well is the good performance of mediocre pitchers because they can always turn into pumpkins.

7. a bebop a rebop Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:36 AM (#2921219)

Is it common to see pen apostrophed in headlines like that? I realize it's technically an abbreviation but it looks weird.

8. I can out-debate Joe Biden; Nieporent said so Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:40 AM (#2921223)

That's pretty much the Cubs' entire remaining schedule. Other than a series at Cincy and a home/away with the Astros, it's all Brewers, Cards, Phils and Mets.

And heading into tonight's game the Astros have won 20 of their last 30.

I hear that ESPN is planning on sending the BBTN crews live on location to Wrigley and Minute Maid for those showdowns for the NL Central Crown.

"Harden! Wolf! Live tonight here on ESPN!"

(Yes, I stole that last one from Simmons. Sue me.)

9. NTNgod Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:48 AM (#2921229)

'stros are only a half-game off the NL West lead! Unfortunately, it's 2008, not 1988.

10. Moses Taylor didn't fall far from the awesome tree Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:12 AM (#2921239)

The story is the Phillies pen blowing it? Ok, I guess I accept that.

11. NTNgod Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:15 AM (#2921240)

Mets & Phillies are in a dogfight, so it does have bigger playoff implications from that vantage point.

12. jolietconvict Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:17 AM (#2921241)

Ramierez is the ####### man! A huge cheer went up in the bowling alley when he hit it. I almost didn't believe it for a second.

13. Moses Taylor didn't fall far from the awesome tree Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:21 AM (#2921244)

Good point, NTN. I didn't notice you were the one who posted this article. :)

14. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:28 AM (#2921245)

I didn't get to see the inning, but was able to catch the highlights on the radio after. I don't think anyone will argue that Santo is a good color guy, but his reaction to the slam gave me chills. I knock Hawk for his blinded homerism, but there's something naive about Santo's homerism that makes him endearing.

15. retro-shiite Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:30 AM (#2921246)

A huge cheer went up in the bowling alley when he hit it. I almost didn't believe it for a second.

It was surreal in a way--because Ramirez paused before leaving the batter's box, and Victorino didn't move at all as it sailed out, it almost felt like I was watching it in freeze frame. I couldn't believe how effortlessly Ramirez hit that, and it cleared the center field wall by plenty. Probably 15 rows deep.

16. VoodooR Posted: August 29, 2008 at 02:19 AM (#2921263)

This just in:

I love this ####### team!

17. Fred C. Dobbs Posted: August 29, 2008 at 02:28 AM (#2921265)

BLEEDIN CUBBIE BLUE THIS IS R YEAR !

18. VoodooR Posted: August 29, 2008 at 02:30 AM (#2921266)

Here is Pat and Ron's radio call of the GS.

19. Bad Doctor Posted: August 29, 2008 at 09:38 AM (#2921326)

There's no real reason why the Met bullpen has been so much worse than the Phillies bullpen this year. It's filled with the same type of guys, some talented and others not so talented. There's no reason Chad Durbin has been lights-out this year when he has generally sucked for most of his career. Having a great bullpen is fun but it's always a little worrisome when part of the reason it's doing so well is the good performance of mediocre pitchers because they can always turn into pumpkins.

Agree in principle, Russlan, but I called Kendrick and Romero pumpkins all last year, and their smoke and mirrors appear to still be in effect ... and I'd say the same about Durbin, good peripherals and all, but the other shoe hasn't dropped there yet either (unless you think one bad outing (and it's not like all 5 runs were his) portends bad things to come).

If you want to find a "real reason," well, maybe it's time to give some kudos to Rich Dubee.

20. Charles S. for art collecting and yelling Posted: August 29, 2008 at 10:28 AM (#2921358)

Wrigley was the only place in America louder than Invesco Field last night. Not only did Victorino not move, he didn't even turn around. I haven't seen very many hit like that in the post-steroids era. The place was absolute pandemonium. Congrats to NTNgod for putting the Mets hijack in the intro instead of relying on someone doing it in the comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Thursday, August 28, 2008

MLB.com: Hamels outstanding, but ‘pen falters

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

My Bookmarks

Hot Topics