I'll post pictures eventually when I have the time (and hopefully ones from tomorrow's game as well). We bought $20 scoreboard porch seats but watched most of the game from the field level, eventually maneuvering down to some nice box seats. Beautiful ballpark, there really are no bad seats.

 

A few Marlins fans were in the house, and they were quite vocal - especially after Burrell errors and bloop basehits. Back-and-forth game the whole time, but a few miscues really cost the Phillies and the Marlins (for once capitalized). After leaving the bases loaded in the first and falling behind, the team was lackluster until it strung together a two out rally to get within one. Abreu's arm cost us two runs in the game - if either of those balls had been hit to center or left, Cabrera and Delgado (?) would have scored.

 

After going up 4-3, I kind of figured Messenger would find a way to screw up (great pitching by Johnson before that). The two HRs set CBP on fire and heading into the 7th inning, I was not looking forward to overcoming a two run defecit against the trio of Madson-Urbina-Wagner. Somehow the Fish found a way to take the lead. There was a bit of a scare in the eighth and ninth - thankfully Alfonseca-Mecir-Jones found a way to slam the door. Not the best performance of the year, but the most clutch.

 

I was impressed all around, except for Hermida. He looked totally overmatched and could not pickup Myers' breaking ball or Madson's change. He's still a bit rough around the edges, but looked confident out there and we're lucky to have him. Vargas was bound to have a bad start, and they really weren't hitting the ball that hard off of him.

 

And one random thing - why does Billy Wagner come in from the bullpen to "Enter Sandman"? He's good, but c'mon, that's Mariano Rivera's trademark. Also seemed weird to play when the Phillies were behind.

 

 

Lets celebrate tonight's victory and let the momentum flow to tomorrow. I'd love to be able to ride the subway back from the game with a bunch of Phillies fans moping about their dwindling chances.

i'm worried about jason vargas.

gonna need a long outing from ismael tomorrow

 

that would be a first

gonna need a long outing from ismael tomorrow

 

that would be a first

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especially on the road.

 

oy.

I don't trust Ismael period. To me he's an all out Bust. He may be able to start in Tampa or for the Brew crew...but here in Florida he should be nothing more than a middle reliever. I been on vacation...Brians not 100%?

Ismael pitching in this ballpark doesn't get me excited in the least bit. Hopefully we can add some popup HR's too to match the Phillies' production.

 

On edit: Moehler's been pitching some decent innings in long relief. After tonight, I'd almost rather have him in the 4th or 5th spot for the time being than Vargas. When Vargas doesn't have it, he's too hittable. He needs another pitch to mix into his arsenal.

Valdez in a hitter's park= Not good. :plain

He's our 5th starter.. we just need him to keep us in the game and hope we have some big innings and some clutch hits.

I don't understand why everyone is doubting Valdez. He's no ace, but a decent #5. He will give us 5 or 6 tomorrow. He knows how to pitch.

Valdez gives up too many 2 strike hits.

Valdez will do fine. Our offense is clicking. Give us another 15 hits and we win the game. Valdez gives up 3....4 runs tops through 5/6 innings. I have a good feeling about tomorrows game.

Valdez will do fine. Our offense is clicking. Give us another 15 hits and we win the game. Valdez gives up 3....4 runs tops through 5/6 innings. I have a good feeling about tomorrows game.

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Lieber hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire either, although he has pitched better the past month. If the team continues to be patient with him we should be OK.

Ismael has done a fine job so far. While I really liked Moehler out there, he was stuggling in his last few starts and things have worked out better for us since he moved to the pen.

I don't understand why everyone is doubting Valdez. He's no ace, but a decent #5. He will give us 5 or 6 tomorrow. He knows how to pitch.

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WHAT IS VALDEZ DOING IN THE MAJORS?

 

shouldn't he be selling milk door to door?

Well Valdez quickly proved me wrong.