The Fightins’ extended the losing streak of the Fish to six yesterday with a 13-2 whooping. The Phillies have exposed the Marlins as being able to whoop up on the “Natinals” but not being able to do anything against everyone else.
This series really had the potential to be make or break for the Phils. Yes, I know it’s not even May, but there was no way that the team could afford to go down too many games to the Marlins this early in the season. The Phillies hadn’t really established any momentum yet and they really needed a series like this in order to get things rolling.
Two major milestones were reached yesterday as well. The win was the first this season in which the Phillies didn’t have to come from behind. They also didn’t allow a HR in a game for the first time. That was a crazy streak they had going on. It finally took Jamie Moyer, who improved to 11-1 against the Fish lifetime, Chad Durbin, and J.A. Happ to end that streak today. Moyer also improved to 3-1 on the season, winning 3 straight starts after losing the first.
Jamie Moyer also reached base all three times he came up to the plate. At this point, he’s going to have a higher OBP at season’s end than J-Roll, who was given another day off by Charlie Manuel yesterday.
On a related Jamie Moyer note, I’m going to make it my personal goal in life to get other pitchers on the Phillies’ staff to wear the gorgeous Liberty Bell stirrups. I know Heavy Joe Blanton goes high cuffed, but he doesn’t wear the stirrups. Moyer is the only player on the team to wear the team’s official stirrups.
As an unabashed Chris Coste fan, his recent struggles at the plate have really worried me. He’s playing well behind the plate, but at it, Coste es no bueno. He’s a good backup catcher, but his increased playing time recently has exposed his flaws as an everyday guy. He’ll stick around for the rest of this season, but I doubt he’ll be here next season. Carlos Ruiz will be back from the DL this week and Lou Marson will go back to being an IronPig. Marson needs to play every day in order to continue his development and he won’t get enough time up in the big leagues with Ruiz around.
Phillies get back at it today with the first game of a series with the aforementioned “Natinals” coming into the Bank for the season’s first Dollar Dog Day. Follow the link to see Dollar Dog Day’s secret weapon. I can’t wait for this game. I’ll be there and I love seeing grown men challenge teenagers to a hot dog eating contest. Only in Philly.
Follow me on Twitter at @kierankelly
-KK
