http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/21174 Recent articles about Matt Chico en-us Any time the Phils win I should be happy. However, last night had loss written all over it until Greg Dobbs made some magic happen in the top of the 9th. Dobbs has been an amazing asset as a bench player and occasional starter during his time with the Phils, collecting his league leading 10th pinch-hit and 9th rbi. The pitching was great for both sides last night with Cole Hamels having another dominate performance notching 11 k's over 7 shutout innings. Tom Gordon came in and pitched the 8th to win his 4th game of the season with Brad Lidge taking the 9th inning for his 11th save. I should be happy, I keep telling myself- "Don't worry, be happy.", but I just can't wrap my head around the fact that the Phils offense is scoring less than an amputee playing basketball. Over the past 4 games the Phils have only scored 9 runs, losing 3 of those games and lucky to not have lost all 4. Pat Burrell has gone cold, Pedro Feliz continues to hack at the first pitch, Ryan Howard's average is going downward once again with the k's increasing, Chase Utley isn't the force he was a couple weeks ago, Rollins has been inconsistent, the list goes on. They wait for the homerun, but the homerun doesn't always come, and when it doesn't come the Phils fail to score runs. Situational hitting has always been an Achilles heel for this club, and make that tenfold this season. Entering last night's game they were 4 for their last 32 with runners in scoring position and I know that number probably got even uglier last night with the Greg Dobbs hit being the only hit in that situation. Bottom line, this offense is wasting some damn good pitching performances that they'll wish they hadn't because it's highly doubtful that it'll continue all season long. So, yes I'm happy they won, but I'm also worried about this offense. The time is now for a series win, as the winless Matt Chico toes the rubber for the rubber game of the series tonight against Grand Pappy Moyer. C'mon Phils, show some phight, and knock that baseball so hard it cries. Wed, 21 May 2008 06:05:57 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269260 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269260 Everything started off well for the Nats in the game tonight. Matt Chico came out and dealt strikes and kept the Mets relatively off balance through the first four innings. Batters like Kearns and Zimmerman were able to produce for the team for the first time in what has seemed like too long. Through four and a half the Nats played playoff level baseball showing that maybe this season could take a turn in the right direction. However it's the little things in baseball that will kill you. Little mistakes like a young starting pitcher not constantly hitting his spots causing is pitch count to reach 90 before the 5th inning. Little things like letting that runner on with 2 outs, because even though he doesn't score, it's one more batter you have to face and therefore a few more pitches. The fatigue of Matt Chico is what lead to the big inning for the Mets.... Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:34:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/239634 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/239634 Well, Opening Day is a wrap, and once again, the bullpen is responsible for the Phillies' first loss of the season. You may recall Ryan Madson blowing last year's opener by serving up a two-run home run to Edgar Renteria, then of the Atlanta Braves. Today's culprit is Tom Gordon, responsible for all five runs the Washington Nationals scored in the top of the ninth inning. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:39:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225426 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225426 The Washington Nationals are now in Philadelphia following an exciting Opening Day 3-2 win last night against the Atlanta Braves that saw third baseman Ryan Zimmerman christen new Nationals Stadium with a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:34:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225144 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225144 We've been waiting for this day since the 3 game flame-out last October...and it will be over before many of us get home from work. The challenge for many phans today: avoid the internet or sports radio until the game can be watched on DVR this evening. Good luck to all. As for the game: Brett Myers vs. Matt Chico. The last time Chico took the mound, Sept 29 2007, he threw 6 innings, gave up only one earned run and beat the Phillies. Lightening can't strike twice. And I'm expecting a letdown after the excitement of opening up their new ballpark last night against the Braves. Predictions: Corey - Phils big, 9-3. Carson - Phils barely, 6-5. ------------------------------------- Last week, we predicted the 2008 stats for the Phils main players. Today, we go beyond the numbers and lay out our final predictions and expectations for the 2008 Phillies. Corey DL Leader (Player) - Shane Victorino. He'll be out of right field, so he should be able to avoid bullpen mounds, but many steal attempts, a new position with a centerfield wall that has already claimed one Phillie outfielder, and injuries last year make me think he's due for some DL time. Runner-up: Geoff Jenkins (Brett Favre never missed a start, but he ain't no Favre.) DL Leader (Pitcher) - Tom Gordon. Mathieson and Zagurski don't count and even though Lidge is starting on the DL, I don't think he'll be able to match the total days Gordon will accumulate. Gordon will also lead in "Days Not Available" due to minor injury/fatigue/etc. These days are also known as "Billy Wagner Days." Day I'll Want Manuel Fired - Friday, April 11. The Phils finish up a 3 game series with the Muts on the 10th. If it goes bad and the Phils haven't taken care of Washington and Cincy in the first two sets, it could get ugly around here. WSBGM Posts About How Bad The Bullpen Is - It will get mentioned almost daily, but posts with that as the primary focus will hopefully be limited to fifty or sixty... Day I'll Give Up On Pat Burrell - Never! Not this year....or maybe June 25th at Oakland, when Burrell's slump is so bad Maneul puts Jayson Werth in LF and Eric Bruntlett as the DH. Day Carson Dramatically Declares The Season A Failure And We Have To Talk Him Off The Bridge - Probably tomorrow. Carson Record - 82-80, and a 3rd place finish in the NL East behind the Mets and Braves. I know that's going to make me unpopular, but that's what I'm forecasting. This pitching staff is quite possibly worse than last year with less depth leading to more blown games that even our league-leading offense can't continually bail us out of. *Note- during Manuel's tenure the Phils have a 31-42 record in his 3 Aprils, and I foresee yet another losing one this year. Day I'll Want Manuel Fired - 3 seasons ago. Most Hated Phillie - Adam Eaton will defend his title from last season (although, he narrowly beat out Rod Barajas). Contenders to battle Eaton for most hate cast their way: Tom Gordon and the revolving door of the last spot in the bullpen. Song For The Year - Pennywise's Fight Til You Die: Go ahead and try, Or kiss your ass goodbye. People of society are running for their lives. Get up now and go, Or you're never gonna know. Never gonna make it in your houses lying low. Give it one good try, Give it all and fight till you die! WSBGM Posts About How Disgusted We Are With Gillick - Once again, it will get mentioned nearly daily, as it goes hand-in-hand with Adam Eaton and the atrocious bullpen, but I'm hoping to only mention it days after losses, so around 80. Day I Give Up On The Season - Despite my apocalyptic prophecy of only 82 wins, I will not discount what this team is capable of. I love the Phillies, and I'm fully prepared to eat my words and embrace yet another playoff drive. I'm going to sit back and enjoy the highs and get pissed and rant about the lows, but no giving up the season this year; I'm going to stick it out. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:50:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/224815 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/224815 With the recent announcements today from both the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros I found myself wondering what was worse. Were the Nationals worse off with a bunch of guys who had no big league experience or the Astros who have an ace but a rag tag group of injury prone or other wise long relievers filling out their rotation. The Nationals today announced that former ace John Patterson had been released leaving the team while Cecil Cooper went ahead and announced the first four members of his rotation. While Manny Acta hasn't been as forthcoming as Cooper only announcing that Shawn Hill, Jason Bergmann and Tim Redding had made the rotation it's safe to assume that Matt Chico who was the workhorse of the staff and possibly even John Lannan will fill out the final two spots. Of course with Odalis Perez still in camp the team could choose to go with the veteran to start the season in order to give Lannan, their minor league pitcher of the year, a few more starts in the minors. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:55:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/212940 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/212940 This offseason I've broken down and offered my opinion on the NL East outfields and infields so far, and the Phils have naturally won each of the polls. Now it's time to check out the rotations. However, with the Mets addition of some dude named Johan, this is merely for formality. *Career won/loss record, era, whip, and pitching arm in parentheses. Atlanta Braves: 1. John Smoltz (207-145, 3.26, 1.17, R), 2. Tim Hudson (135-70, 3.51, 1.26, R), 3. Tom Glavine (303-199, 3.51, 1.31, L), 4. Chuck James (22-14, 4.00, 1.32, L), 5. Mike Hampton (138-101, 3.97, 1.44, L), and reserves- Jair Jurrjens (3-1, 4.70, 1.14, R) and Jo-Jo Reyes (2-2, 6.22, 1.68, L). That is a solid rotation with some great veterans at the top. Smoltz joined the 40+ crew along with Glavine, but both can still pitch effectively, especially John-boy. Hudson is a menace when he has his cut fastball is working, and Chuck James is soft-tossing lefty that gets it done. Hampton is a crapshoot because he's always injured, but waiting in the wings is Jurrjens who has tremendous upside. Florida Marlins: 1. Scott Olsen (23-26, 4.86, 1.53, L), 2. Sergio Mitre (10-23, 5.36, 1.55, R), 3. Andrew Miller (5-6, 5.69, 1.75, L), 4. Mark Hendrickson (43-55, 5.01, 1.45, L), 5. Ricky Nolasco (12-13, 4.91, 1.44, R), and reserves- Rick Vandenhurk (4-6, 6.83, 1.74, R) and currently DL'ed Anibal Sanchez (12-4, 3.24, 1.37, R). Being brutaly honest, that's one of the worst rotations in the Majors. There's definite potential in there, but overall that's a whole bunch of high era's and whips...could be a very long season in Florida. New York Mets: 1. Johan Santana (93-44, 3.22, 1.09, L), 2. Pedro Martinez (209-93, 2.80, 1.03, R), 3. John Maine (23-19, 4.19, 1.29, R), 4. Oliver Perez (45-53, 4.43, 1.43, L), 5. Orlando Hernandez (90-65, 4.13, 1.26, R), and reserves- Mike Pelfrey (5-9, 5.55, 1.71, R) and Jorge Sosa (36-48, 4.59, 1.46, R). Wow! Holy Mother of God Wow! I openly weep when I look at this rotation. Santana is quite possibly the best pitcher in baseball, Pedro and Orlando are effectively crafty, Maine is still improving, and Ollie really found himself last season. This is one of the best rotations in baseball. Philadelphia Phillies: 1. Cole Hamels (24-13, 3.68, 1.18, L), 2. Brett Myers (59-47, 4.34, 1.35, R), 3. Kyle Kendrick (10-4, 3.87, 1.27, R), 4. Jamie Moyer (230-178, 4.21, 1.32, L), 5. Adam Eaton (64-55, 4.70, 1.40, R), and reserves- Chad Durbin (25-37, 5.75, 1.57, R) and JD Durbin (6-6, 6.19, 1.83, R). Hamels if healthy could put himself into Cy Young consideration, Myers if mentally capable can be an awesome force in the rotation, Kendrick has moxy, and Grand Pappy Moyer has guile for a 45 year old. However, the 5th spot in the rotation is horrendous with Eaton, and our reserves are disheartening too. Washington Nationals: 1. Shawn Hill (6-10, 4.53, 1.33, R), 2. John Patterson (18-25, 4.32, 1.35, R), 3. Jason Bergmann (8-8, 5.00, 1.37, R), 4. John Lannan (2-2, 4.15, 1.53, L), 5. Matt Chico (7-9, 4.63, 1.54, L), and reserves- Tim Redding (24-40, 4.91, 1.53, R) and Tyler Clippard (3-1, 6.33, 1.70, R). Like the Marlins staff, the Nats' isn't very good. They too have potential, but they're not scaring anyone with those top 5. Click on URL to vote in the poll. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:03:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/126079 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/126079 Washington Nationals' rookie lefthander Matt Chico held the Phillies' slumbering offense at bay while the Nationals registered single runs in the 1st and 4th innings off of losing pitcher Adam Eaton and charged to Geoff Geary and two more runs in the 7th inning off of Kyle Lohse on 2 Phillie errors as the Nationals finished on top by a 4-2 score. Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:01:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/29021 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/29021 The Phillies' All Star ace lefthander Cole Hamels was magnificent in easily the biggest game of his major league career. lst baseman Ryan Howard pounded his 45th homer, a two run opposite field shot to leftfield, shortstop Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs, 2nd baseman Chase Utley had a two hit day and centerfielder Aaron Rowand made an incredible, sliding, backhanded catch of a sinking liner to centerfield with a man on in the 7th inning as the Phils shut out the Washington Nationals by a 6-0 score in the opener of their series. Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:21:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/29007 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/29007 It took the Phillies 159 games to do it, but with sparkling pitching performances by the Kyles, Kyle Lohse and Kyle Kendrick. a gritty offense and more clutch performances by the bullpen "A Team" tandem of J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon and Brett Myers which gave up 4 hits, 2 walks and only 1 run in 5 innings of work over the two games, the Phillies have finally caught the Mets with 5-2 and 6-4 victories over the Atlantic Braves before the charged-up, screaming, towel-waving Phillies fans at Citizen's Bank stadium.. The Phillies and Met stand all knotted up at 87-72 atop the NL East division as the season comes down to the three dramatic final games of the regular season. Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:48:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/28839 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/28839