It Was Ten Years Ago Today

[EastFallowfield]

7/10/07

It's the All Star Game! NL loses again, Ichiro hit an inside the parker. Utley and Rowand each went 0-2, Hamels had a scoreless inning thanks to A-Rod being thrown out at home by a mile on a single to right by Ken Griffey.

[EastFallowfield]

7/11/07

Off day as All Star break continues. Discussion topic is will the Phils buy or sell? Word is guys like Kyle Loshe may be available at some point, we'll see if the Phils can somehow salvage hope in 2007.

[Philsmania]

7/10/07

It's the All Star Game! NL loses again, Ichiro hit an inside the parker. Utley and Rowand each went 0-2, Hamels had a scoreless inning thanks to A-Rod being thrown out at home by a mile on a single to right by Ken Griffey.

Rowand lined out to end the game with the tying run in scoring position, possibly a preview of how he would perform on a regular basis in San Francisco.

[EastFallowfield]

7/12/07

Last off day of the All Star break. Besides the buy vs sell talk, anticipation/dread continue to build for the Phils' upcoming historic 10,000th loss. Probably happening sometime this weekend vs St Louis.

[EastFallowfield]

7/13/07

Finally back in action.The 44-44 Phils, who've spent most of the season in 3rd place, take on the Cards. Time to see if we're selling or buying. Also if we're getting loss #10,000.

Pitching staff is so strong (league worst 4.91 ERA) that the kid Kendrick gets the first start after 4 days off for every pitcher not named Hamels.

GT 7/13/07: Phillies (Kendrick) vs. Cardinals (K.Wells)

[EastFallowfield]

7/14/07

Nice to charge out of the break with an easy win. Kendrick goes to 4-0. Now it's time for All Star Cole Hamels to face the Cards.

Day Game w/ Cards 7-14-07

[EastFallowfield]

7/15/07

Chase Utley now tied for NL lead with 73 RBIs after yesterday's 2nd straight rout of the Cards.

We've all been dreading the upcoming 10,000th loss for the franchise, but are still hanging around in the race to be the Team That Really Was The Team To Beat in 2007. An Adam Eaton start may be a good chance for that historic loss though in this ESPN game.

Win to keep pace - GT 7/15 - Wainwright vs. Eaton

[EastFallowfield]

7/16/07

Well, we did it, the 10,000th loss. On National TV. In A Rout. To the Cardinals. Ugh.

Moving right along, Phils activate Tom Gordon and send Brian Sanches back to the minors. And we head to LA to start a 7 game west coast trip. Phils are a game over .500 and 5 games out. Former Phil Mike Lieberthal is their backup catcher, doesn't play much for them though.

A Penny for a loss? GT 7/16 - Moyer vs. Penny

[EastFallowfield]

7/17/07

Jamie Moyer's awful July continued last night, maybe he's done. Phils lose by a lot, are back to .500 and the offense seems to have disappeared again, and we probably will need lots of runs with another JD Durbin start looming.

Phillies v. Dodgers 7/17/07 - Durbin's Last Ride

[EastFallowfield]

7/18/07

Nice blowout win for the Phils and JD Durbin. Every game since the break has been a blowout one way or the other. Rubber game this afternoon in LA.

Day Game @ Dodgers 7-18-07

[EastFallowfield]

7/19/07

The string of blowouts is over, it's a one run loss that has us again complaining about the lack of clutchiness of the 2007 Phils. Back to .500, moving on to San Diego for 4. The Padres have some of the best pitching stats in baseball.

Stay hitless San Diego! GT 7/19 Hamels vs. Young

[EastFallowfield]

7/20/07

Hard to believe, we lose a 1-0 game to Chris Young and the Padres. Now a game under .500* and 6 games back things are looking grim. We next face Justin Germano, who many are upset with the Phils about for dumping him back in the spring.

Team Inconsistent chugs on - GT 7/20 - Eaton vs. Germano

*Spoiler alert-this would be the last time the 2007 Phils would be under .500.

[Philsmania]

7/20/07

Hard to believe, we lose a 1-0 game to Chris Young and the Padres. Now a game under .500* and 6 games back things are looking grim. We next face Justin Germano, who many are upset with the Phils about for dumping him back in the spring.

Team Inconsistent chugs on - GT 7/20 - Eaton vs. Germano

*Spoiler alert-this would be the last time the 2007 Phils would be under .500.

You seriously think we can be 17 games over .500 the rest of the season?!

[EastFallowfield]

You seriously think we can be 17 games over .500 the rest of the season?!

Hard to believe, Harry.

[EastFallowfield]

7/21/07

Well, the Phils got to Germano last night and are back at .500.

(Spoiler alert: Germano's ERA would continue to climb after that start and he'd end up being a journeyman pitcher until 2016 with about 20 teams in the US majors and minors, Japan, Korea, and Italy. 2007 was the peak of his ML career and he was out of the rotation by mid-September as his ERA climbed).

Now let's see if Jamie Moyer can get back on track, as he faces the Padres and another old lefty, David Wells.

7/21/07 Game Thread Phila@San Diego

[Philsmania]

7/21/07

Well, the Phils got to Germano last night and are back at .500.

(Spoiler alert: Germano's ERA would continue to climb after that start and he'd end up being a journeyman pitcher until 2016 with about 20 teams in the US majors and minors, Japan, Korea, and Italy. 2007 was the peak of his ML career and he was out of the rotation by mid-September as his ERA climbed).

Now let's see if Jamie Moyer can get back on track, as he faces the Padres and another old lefty, David Wells.

7/21/07 Game Thread Phila@San Diego

I have to admit that it's hard not to have just a little bit of admiration for guys who show just enough to keep getting a chance.

[EastFallowfield]

7/22/07

Big win for Ryan Howard and the boys last night, Howard's catching up to Utley in the race for RBI leader on the team, and possibly the NL too. Phils could take 3 of 4 from the Padres, but now we have a matchup of JD Durbin vs Jake Peavey. Ugh. Guess we'll fall back to .500 again.

7/22/07 Game Thread: Phi (Durbin) at SD (Peavy)

[EastFallowfield]

7/23/07

Well, yesterday's mismatch turned out to be a complete game 5 hitter for one J.D. Durbin. Ryan Howard finished the west coast trip 11 for 22 with 5 homers, 13 RBI, and 10 walks and will be named player of the week. Off day for the Phils, who are 2 games over .500, still in 3rd, and 5 games back.

When Will the Phils Make the Playoffs? (not many of us think it will happen until at least 2009)

[bkeich]

With the way Howard's career ended with the Phils and the multiple season of down play, it is easy to forget just how much fun it was to have him on the team for years. When he was hot I can't think of another player (including Schmidt) that was more dangerous. You literally could not fall behind him in the count, if he even thought the pitcher was going to throw a FB and he did the average had to be about 415 feet. Even if it wasnt a HR he would just flat out smoke the ball somewhere and even with the shift would likely find a hole.

It used to be fun to watch him start his swing, because you could tell the moment the bat started to move that he had correctly guessed the pitch and something impressive was about to happen.

[EastFallowfield]

7/24/07

Back in action against the lowly Washington Nats. They say Ryan Zimmerman is breaking out of his sophomore slump of late.

7/24/07 Game Thread: Wash (Bergmann) at Phi (Kendrick)