Phillies Gameday: Let’s Bail

“That’s baseball,” Cliff Lee said of last night’s stupid loss to the stupid Reds. “That happens.”

It doesn’t get any easier, regardless of how much it happens. To our best pitcher. And now we have to rebound with Kyle Kendrick, whose luck has been almost just as “meh” as the guy he’s facing.

Kyle Kendrick, (1-1, 5.40 ERA)

Apr 10, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (38) pitches against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Mets, 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Since his last start, Kyle has been kissed by Cliff Lee.  Initially, this was thought to inject some form of superpowers into his repertoire, but after last night, it may be a transference of dark powers.

“We’re playing good,” Kyle said after his last start, a 7-3, dinger-happy home romp over the Mets.  “We’re scoring a lot of runs.”

If that was the key to his previous success, than these other Phillies, the ones who’ve scored eight runs in four games, will not be much help at all.  Kyle will most assuredly need his wits about him, get that new slider working, and baffle hitters into quick hits so they don’t keep him out there too long and expose his soft underbelly: pitching to other baseball teams.

Homer Bailey, (1-1, 5.73 ERA) 

Entering last Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals, Homer Bailey had allowed two hits and three walks.  Over five innings, he allowed nine hits, three home runs, and three walks, for a grand total of seven earned runs.

So, he’s gettable. Just gotta get ‘im.

Have to hope he’s emotionally vulnerable enough to allow the Phillies to score an incredible 3-4 runs.

Game Notes

Feb 16, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) poses for a photo during photo day at the Reds Spring Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Unless you’re name is Chase Utley, it looks like we’re back in the pits with this offense.  I suppose you could take this on a night-to-night basis, but it seems like the only guy having an “up” period right now is Chase, and even some of his nights aren’t perfect.  Ben Revere can’t get on base, Ryan strikes out, Michael Young and Erik Kratz ground into double plays, and usually strand people like Chase, or maybe Jimmy or Dom if they’re having a decent night, after a leadoff double.

The Reds are having their own troubles, indicated last night as they matched us in ineffectiveness.  The difference was, when the time came for that big hit, they had a Brandon Phillips to deliver.  We had a Chase Utley, who did deliver, but as a pinch hitter could only deliver once.  They’re run totals, even in their past few losses, have been better than the Phils (save that 10-0 loss to the Cardinals), they just can’t keep up or hold a lead.

These are two teams not playing spectacular baseball right now, so it’s fortunate they’re playing each other so they can pick up the two or three games that will be mentioned in the near future when people say “They’ve only won two or three of their last twelve.”