They blew it

October 8, 2011

You can't blame Roy Halladay he pitched an eight inning gem, and only let one run get by. You can't blame Ryan Madson either, he pitched a perfect ninth.

It all falls on the Phillies offense, they didn't hit.

This season held such high expectations for Phillies, but they failed to meet those expectations with a first round exit.

The Cardinals shutout the Phils 1-0, Chris Carpenter threw the complete game shutout.

The Phillies had so many oppurtunities and they couldn't capatilize.

Oh yeah and Ryan Howard hurt himself when he grounded out to end the series (he struck out last year to end the season, isn't that ironic?), but I will discuss him later because I feel he has a lot to do with these hitting slumps the Phillies have went through over the past couple years.

We unfortunately find ourselves in the same situation as last year. The pitchers did all they could, but silent bats is what ultimately led to the Phillies playoff exit.

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_07_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/news/Phils-eliminated-in-shocking-Game-5-loss?blockID=574176&feedID=704

Cardinals at Phillies: NLDS Game 5 Notes

October 7, 2011
It all comes down to this. The series is tied at two games a piece, as the Phillies season comes down to one game. The offense has had some struggles as of late, but the bats have to wake up tonight. Roy Halladay will be on the mound looking to keep the Cardinals' bats silent.

This is it. Game 5. Everything is on the line.

St. Louis Cardinals (NL Wild Card Winners) at Philadelphia Phillies (NL East Champions)
8:30 PM at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
Series Tied 2-2

Pitching Matchup
RHP Chris Carpenter vs. RHP Roy Halladay

Game 4: STL Wins 5-3

- Skip Schumaker (Cramped Hamstring) is not expected to be in the Cardinals' lineup tonight.
- Cliff Lee will be available to pitch out of the bullpen for tonight's game.

Notes Courtesy of Phillies.com and CSN Philly.com

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_07_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=preview&c_id=phi#gid=2011_10_07_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=preview

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/Game-5-notes-Halladay-vs-Carpenter?blockID=573774&feedID=693

Phillies can't wrap series up, on to game 5

October 6, 2011

After jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the Phillies bats went silent yet again as they dropped game 4 to the Cardinals 5-3. With the series tied up now at 2-2, the Phillies will go back to Citizens Bank Park for game 5, where everything will be on the line.

Oh yeah, and there will be no squirrel causing problems in Philly.

Roy Halladay will pitch for the Phillies against St. Louis' Chris Carpenter

The Phillies have never taken a playoff series the distance in any of their postseason appearances, since they started in 2007.

You would have to go back to the 1980 NLCS against the Houston Astros, where the Phillies won 8-7 in the game 5. The Phillies would go on to win their fisrt World Series in franchise history.

Game 5 will be played Friday night.

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111005&content_id=25511108&vkey=news_phi&c_id=phi

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/news/Phils-defeat-sets-up-deciding-Game-5-in-?blockID=572992&feedID=693

Phillies at Cardinals: Game 4 Notes

October 5, 2011

The Phils took game 3 last night thanks to a three-run pinch-hit homer run by Ben Francisco. With a 2-1 series lead, the Phillies can take the series tonight with Roy Oswalt on the mound.

Philadelphia Phillies (NL East Champions) at St. Louis Cardinals (NL Wild Card Winner)
6:07 PM at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
PHI Leads Series 2-1

Pitching Matchup
RHP Roy Oswalt vs. RHP Edwin Jackson

Game 3: PHI Wins 3-2

- Matt Holliday will start for the Cardinals in left field.
- Charlie Manuel might use Cliff Lee out of the bullpen if neccesary.
- The last time Roy Oswalt pitched against St. Louis in the playoffs, he threw seven innings in a win that sent Houston to the World Series.

Notes Courtesy of CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/NLDS-Game-4-Notes-Oswalt-vs-Jackson?blockID=572546&feedID=704

Francisco homers to give Phils 2-1 series lead

October 5, 2011

It was a scoreless afair for six innings as Jaime Garcia was able to keep the Phillies silent, while Cole Hamels did the same to the Cardinals.

But Ben Francisco changed all of that.

Francisco hit a pinch-hit three run homer in the seventh off Gracia, silencing the St. Louis crowd.

Francisco's home-run ended up being the only offense the Phillies needed.

The Cardinals did score two runs to make it a 3-2 game, but Ryan Madson completed a five-ot save to hold them off.

The Phillies now have a 2-1 series lead.

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_04_phimlb_slnmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/news/Franciscos-heroics-lift-Phillies-to-Game?blockID=572358&feedID=693

Phillies at Cardinals: Game 3 Notes

October 4, 2011

The Phillies head to St. Louis with the series tied 1-1. Jaime Garcia will be on the mound for St. Louis, and though the offensive numbers in the past have not been good, the Phillies look to have a big day like in game 1. Charlie Manuel will send Cole Hamels to the mound.

Philadelphia Phillies (NL East Champions) at St. Louis Cardinals (NL Wild Card Winner)
5:00 PM at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
Series Tied 1-1

Pitching Matchup
LHP Cole Hamels vs. LHP Jaime Garcia

Game 2: STL Wins 5-4

- John Mayberry Jr. will start in right field over Raul Ibanez tonight.
- Matt Holliday (Finger) will still not be in the Cardinal's lineup.

Notes Courtesy of CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/NLDS-Game-3-Notes-Hamels-vs-Garcia?blockID=571910&feedID=693

Phillies can't hold on to 4 run lead, series tied at 1

October 3, 2011

The Phillies got off to a quick start against Tony La Russa's Cardinals, who pitched Chris Carpenter on short rest, but the Phils weren't able to sustain their lead. St. Louis won 5-4 and tied the series up at a game a piece.

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/news/Lee-assumes-responsibility-for-Phils-Gam?blockID=571288&feedID=693

Cardinals at Phillies: NLDS Game 2 Notes

October 2, 2011

National League Division Series: Game 2
St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies
8:30 PM at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA.
PHI Leads Series 1-0

Pitching Matchup
RHP Chris Carpenter vs LHP Cliff Lee

Game 1: Phillies win 11-6

Notes courtesy of Phillies.com and CSN Philly.com

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_02_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=preview&c_id=phi#gid=2011_10_02_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=preview

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/NLDS-Game-2-Notes-Lee-vs-Carpenter?blockID=570844&feedID=704

Phillies score 11 runs to take game 1

October 2, 2011

The Philliesbeat the Cardinals 11-6 last night to take game 1 of the NLDS.

Roy Halladay had a rough first inning but quickly settled in.

Meanwhile Ryan Howard hit a 3 run homer to start a Phils rally.

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_01_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/news/Lessons-from-old-friend-help-Halladay-Ph?blockID=570834&feedID=704

Cardinals at Phillies: NLDS Game 1 Notes

October 1, 2011

The wait is over, October is here. The Phillies have had their best regular season in franchise history, but now they start on the road to their ultimate goal.

National League Division Series: Game 1
St. Louis Cardinals (NL Wild Card Winners) at Philadelphia Phillies (NL East Champions)
5:07 PM at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA.

Pitching Matchup
RHP Kyle Loshe vs. RHP Roy Halladay

- The Cardinal's Matt Holliday will not be in the lineup, but is available to pinch hit.
- The Phillies finished the regular season with a sweep of the Braves. The offense hit well during the series, let's see if they can keep that roll going.
- Citizens Bank Park is going to be LOUD!

Notes Courtesy of Phillies.com and CSN Philly.com

Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_10_01_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=preview&c_id=phi#gid=2011_10_01_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=probables

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/NLDS-Game-1-Notes-Halladay-vs-Lohse?blockID=570384&feedID=704