Here are some updates on my post from yesterday:
Pitching Matchups:
Brundage re-set his rotation to start the after-break campaign, and it wasn’t announced until Michael LoRe of the Express-Times tweeted it later in the afternoon. Here are the projected starters for the remainder of the series:
Friday: Raul Valdes vs. Diasuke Matsuzaka
Saturday: Tyler Cloyd vs. Carlos Carrasco
Sunday: Greg Smith vs. TJ House
..
About Last Night:
It’s tough to lose the close ones, especially when you get a good outing from your starting pitcher. I’ve been critical of Brundage at times, but the fact is 13-10 in one-run games, and 31-25 in games won by 3 runs or less. It’s not the Ryne Sandberg days when we lead the league in 1-run wins, but it’s not the Huppert years, either, when we were perennially last in the league in that category.
It’s also the kind of thing that happens when you make decisions on the lineup and positions that aren’t designed specifically for winning baseball. I tweeted my feelings last night about Cesar Hernadez in CF. I’m not sure he’s going to be ready to help the Phillies there in the next 6-8 weeks. Play like last night will get him eaten alive in Philadelphia. He’s a good guy and an outstanding second baseman. But I’m ready to end the experiment now. Or, if you want him to have some positional flexibility, then have him play there only part time. Otherwise, it’s costing us games. I’m referring to the error–and another that could have been if it weren’t for Tyson Gillies’ heads-up play and hose to second. (Aside: Tyson’s made some mighty nice throws of late!) I’m referring to lackadaisical play that costs extra bases. And I’m referring to the inability to even try to make a throw to home to get a runner tagging on a mid-range fly ball. I’d rather see him try to play shortstop. I know, the arm. But how is that looking in CF, huh?
In other news from last night, Pete Orr launched a homer. I know he got off to a slow start this season, but if Cesar is in CF, or in Philadelphia, or gets traded–I’m perfectly happy with Orr at second base.
Cameron Rupp had a double. I’ve been calling him “Ruppy.” I think he’s doing a fine job. He managed to keep all of Aumont’s pitches from hitting the backstop. I’d like to see a little more consistent, solid, contact. But it’s coming along for him, alright.
I mentioned the quality start. Ethan Martin’s ball-strike splits don’t look overly impressive–and he did have a couple walks. He probably throws too many pitches, still. But I felt like he kept his concentration up all through his innings and that he wasn’t really laboring to throw the strikes. That pitch he throws 89-91MPH be it a cutter or a two-seam, really got a ton of swing and miss. No one really hit it hard at all that I could see. Add in his 94MPH fastball and the improving curve and he’s doing just fine. Baseball cognoscenti still have him labeled as a future reliever, but I’m having a lot of fun watching him pitch as a starter right now for the IronPigs. I don’t feel frustrated watching him like I did in the days of Savery starting, or when Vogelsong was here, or even that dude Carrasco who we’ll see tomorrow night. (Aside: my memory is, if we can get some guys on base and create some discomfort, he’ll crumble).
I wasn’t initially a big fan of those Astros-like jerseys, but they did look sharp on the players on the field to go along with the white baseball pants (with the blue piping…)
BJ Rosenberg sporting the Astros-like Throwbacks.
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
..
Reminders:
- Free umbrellas and Friday Fireworks tonight
- Susdorf Charity Auction/Raffle tonight on the main concourse
- Velodrome tonight if you’re not in the mood for baseball. Lots of good eats and drinks out there, I hear.
- Saturday post-game Tiki party?
- Sunday tailgate! 2:30 tailgate in advance of late start: 5:35PM first pitch!
See you at the park!
@Kram209
noisenation.mlblogs.com 