Last night Cole Hamels gave up no runs, five hits and three walks while pitching into the 8th inning.  He dominated start to finish and looked poised doing so, but those three walks and five hits actually hurt his microscopic WHIP, that’s how good his season’s been.

In fact, you could make the statistical argument that he has been the National League’s most dominating pitcher this year.  His 3.01 ERA is 6th in the league (first, easily, in ballpark-adjusted ERA), he’s top five in the league in Ks, K/BB, complete games, shutouts, and first in BAA, WHIP and innings pitched. No pitcher has gone at least seven innings more often (23 in 29 starts) or done so so well.  

So, yeah. Sorry Cole, you gotta face the Mets.

“That’s how you play the game,” said Charlie, on Chase Utley’s catcher-breaking steal attempt, “unless you wanna put some rouge and makeup and lipstick on.”

 

Three lines on their world:

1. Everyone is looking beatable at the U.S. Open (thanks Olympics!)
2. More Olympic athletes were found juicing
3. USC jumped to the top spot in the college polls

Three lines on ours:

1. The Phillies shut out the Nationals in D.C.
2. but failed to gain ground in the East, as the Mets beat the Brewers in 11
3. And Drew Rosenhaus, albeit nobody else, expects Lito to be traded shortly

 

 

Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Flyers and more Olympic hangover after the jump

PHILLIES

The Game: The Phillies got the win despite not hitting a single homerun, thanks to some timely two-out hitting and another dominating performance from Hollywood. Inqy recap HERE, DN HERE, MLB’s HERE, D.C.’s is HERE, and the AP’s HERE, with video.

The Hero: The first hero is obvious; that’s Cole Hamels.  He threw 7.1 scoreless innings before handing it off to the bullpen; but the second, Chase Utley, had what appeared to be a terrible game.  Chase went 1-4, grounded into a double play with two guys on and was caught stealing.  However, that CS was a CS at home where he saw a moment of opportunity, rushed home and bowled over Jesus Flores trying to knock the ball loose.  He was out, but showed the type of energy and leadership that coaches love and playoff teams need. 

The Chase: Because the Mets took down the Brewers in extra innings the Phillies gained a game in the wild card - they’re 4.5 back - but remain two back in the East.  They get a shot at the Mets this weekend.  

Other Notes …

• Nationals SS Cristian Guzman, the reigning NL Player of the Week, was given the night off
• Even with the expanded rosters the Phillies don’t have one player hitting .300 or better this year
• Even with Chase‘ CS the Phils SB% is at 84%, best in the league
• The Phils, as a team, have been intentionally walked more than anyone in the league save St. Louis, who they are tied with
• To match his hit total from last year Jimmy Rollins would need just under four a game, every game, from here on out.
• Jayson Werth hit third in the lineup for the first time all season. He went 1-3 with a walk and a steal.

Now, who said what …

The Reading Eagle on the Phils callups from Double A. SKIP

Rich Hofmann says that Chase Utley just might be the Rowand (he said ‘leader’, but you get the point) the Phillies have needed. I’d like to see him get a clutch hit or two before bestowing labels, but it was hard not to be impressed last night. READ

Murphy’s notes look at the possibility of four-out saves for Brad Lidge, a new batting order around Jayson Werth and more. READ

Zolecki’s check in on Kyle Kendrick’s face and Hamels‘ Sunday start, Shane’s production down in the lineup and more. READ

Sounds like Kyle Kendrick isn’t the only guy who might miss the weekend series.  Pedro is hurting again and might be ruled out. SKIP

Randy Miller says that Kyle Kendrick knows he’s in a funk and knows he can bounce back. SKIP

 

EAGLES

John Smallwood is ruling out the Birds already. SKIP

Bob Brookover, already assuming that DeSean Jackson is a gamebreaker, is now looking at what that means to L.J. Smith. SKIP

NewGuy (John Gonzalez, who is going to lose his name for my nickname of him after this week), who is going to annoy me greatly with his writing style (no offense, NewGuy), makes a legit point about DeSean Jackson: he’s not modest, so he might as well embrace his charisma and give us something to talk about. READ

I love that this got printed.  What NewGuy lacks in subtly he’s making up for in making-fun-of-Eskin-ness. READ

Les Bowen takes his blog to print, which is a trick I need to try. SKIP

Reuben Frank takes a look at Willie Reid, former up-and-comer and current newest member of the Birds’ practice squad. READ

 

SIXERS

Phil Jasner reports that the Donyell Marshall deal is official. SKIP

 

FLYERS

nothing out there

 

TODAY and MORE

By the time you read this it’ll probably be too late, but Bernard Hopkins is giving away free gas in South Philly. Like rightnow.

We’ll be back later with previews and roundups and everything happening in Philly, plus we’ll try to get out a few thoughts on the Mets and the (completed?) Sixers roster.

As always, feel free to email with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.  

 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 am and is filed under Morning Rounds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.