The Giants took 3 out of 4 games from the Phillies this weekend and probably would have swept them if they hadn't pooped all over themselves when they faced Cliff Lee on Friday. The best part of this series though, was that the Giants grinded out each victory. Pablo Sandoval hit the only home run of the series for the Giants. Besides that home run, the Giants beat the Phillies with small ball. They grinded out each run and then shut down the Phillies with pitching.
But that didn't stop the Phillies from blaming AT&T Park for their loses.
"Quite a few balls we hit were homers in Philly,'' said outfielder Jayson Werth, who went 6-for-16 in the series and hit one of the team's three home runs. "This place is big. The ball doesn't carry. Even though the wind blows out, it's kind of strange. They've got a good club, but I don't think we played as good as we can play."The Giants beat you guys far and square, Jayson. Don't blame the ballpark. Just because the Giants don't play in a little league park like you do in Philadelphia means you can use that as an excuse. The Phillies went 2 for 6 with runners in scoring position yesterday. Is that the ballpark's fault? I don't think so. Jeremy Affeldt shut you guys down in the eighth inning with two runners on base and one out. Even worse than Werth's comments where Purt Plus' comments after the game.
"If we play at our field, I think it will be different," said Cole Hamels,who allowed seven runs in five innings but suffered several bad breaks. I think just because you see where we hit the ball, those are definitely out of ourballpark. The score could definitely be a little bit different. But then again, they can hit balls just as well as we can . . . They definitely have the type of team that will go to the postseason because they have really strong pitchers. It'll be interesting. It'll be fun. It'll definitely be interesting to watch what goes on."Hamels is just upset because he allowed Barry Zito to start a three-run rally in the fifth inning with two outs. But at least he could recognize the Giants pitching staff for what it is. Really good. And the Phillies didn't even face Matt Cain in the series. And Cain could very easily win the Cy Young this year.
Look I know the Giants aren't world beaters. They don't have a roster full of all-star players like the Phillies. But they can beat teams like the Dodgers and Phillies with small ball. That's the problem with home run hitting teams. They can become increasingly frustrated. The Phillies became frustrated yesterday with the Giants. The Giants knocked in runs by singles, doubles, and a Ryan Howard error. They frustrated the Phillies, took them out of their comfort zone. That is what the Giants can do best.
I'm not saying the Giants could beat the Phillies in a five or seven game series in the playoffs, but you are crazy to think they will sweep the Giants. You think any team can sweep the Giants with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain at the top of the rotation? And what about Barry Zito? Sure he's not the Cy Young pitcher he used to be, but he has become a crafty left-handed veteran much like Jamie Moyer. And what about Randy Johnson? He is suppose to return to the rotation by September. He brings big game experience with him. And how about Jonathon Sanchez? He did throw a no-hitter in July and can be great when he has control over his pitches.
And what about the Giants lineup? Freddy Sanchez immediately made an impact at the top of the lineup. Eugenio Velez has found his stroke. Pablo Sandoval is still young and learning. Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand give the Giants veteran bats at the end of the lineup.
All I am saying is, don't count out the Giants. Especially at home where they have the best record in the Majors. Is this a world series team? No, but they are a team that believes in one another and they can give the Phillies, Cardinals, and Dodgers a run for their money.
Here's what I took out of from the Giants-Phillies series this weekend.
- Ryan Howard is a one-dimension player. He strikes out way too much and he isn't the best fielder. He can be easily taken out of his comfort zone. He's just Dave Kingman in disguise.
- Half the Phillies lineup is just ordinary when taken out of Philadelphia. Besides Rollins, Utley, and Howard this lineup is just another ordinary lineup.
- The Phillies still don't have a great pitching staff. While the Cliff Lee trade helped, they still can't compete on the level with the Giants and their pitching staff. The Giants even have a better bullpen and closer.- Freddy Sanchez gives the Giants lineup a complete overhaul. The Giants can place him at the front of the order and put Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand in the back of the lineup where they are more comfortable. The lineup is just more complete with Sanchez.
- Tim Lincecum is a beast. Want more proof? Then watch his Saturday's performance against the Phillies. He shut the Phillies down every inning on his way to a shut out. Even better was that Lincecum allowed base runners almost every inning and didn't allow the Phillies to score. Then as the game went on, he became stronger. He shut down the Phillies toward the end of the game.
Update!: I find out that the Phillies play the Rockies this week. So I'm back to being a Phillies fan. Go Phillies!!!! The Giants need you to at least take 2 out of 3 from Colorado.
Phillies Notebook: Phillies not big on Giants' spacious ballpark (Daily News)
Excuses, excuses. Remember Phillies, it didn't help that your big sluggers(Utley and Howard) struck out.
ReplyDeleteAgree about Howard. He showed me a lot this weekend. Too one-sided and strikes out way too much.
ReplyDeleteSome rebuttals from me: first of all, the Phillies do still have the best road record in the majors (even though it is not nearly as impressive as it was earlier in the year).
ReplyDeleteAT&T Park is not an ordinary, middle of the road, ballpark. In fact, it is on the exact opposite part of the spectrum as Citizens Bank Park (CBP). AT&T Park has allowed the second fewest home runs this year (only Turner Field in Atlanta has lower). And you said it, Keith, only 1 homerun was hit in that 4 game series. Now I'm not saying that every ballpark should be a Citizens Bank Park/Yankee Stadium/Coors Field bandbox, but there is a point to be made about AT&T Park. And just like the Phillies complain about AT&T now, fans will be complaining about CBP in a month
The Giants do have an awesome pitching staff, there's no doubt about that. In fact, out of respect for the pitching staff, the Giants are at this point the one team that I do not want to face in the playoffs as the Phillies bats can be inconsistent and with Lincecum, Cain, the return of Johnson, and Zito/Sanchez, they would be one tough team to beat. However, just like Citizens Bank Park plays to homerun hitting teams, AT&T Park plays to small ball, pitching teams, such as the Giants. And I'll give credit where credit is due, the Giants are better than the Phillies at small ball. And there were numerous times during the series where I was thinking to myself that a fly out would have been a homer at CBP. Of course, myself and the Phillies are the ones being unfair, but there is a stark contrast.
Now when the series comes to Philadelphia in September, I think we can expect the opposite. Not because the Giants are a bad team and CBP is a true ball park (2nd highest in terms of HRs per game, literally the opposite of AT&T Park), but because it plays to power hitting teams such as the Phillies. If the Giants can take 2 of 3 in that September series, regardless of the combination of pitchers and pitching match-ups, the Giants will have a whole lot more respect from me even more than they already have, and I do have a lot of respect for San Fran (all the trash talking during the live blogs was just for fun ;-)). I'd actually go as far to say if the Phillies can't win the World Series this year, I'd probably end up rooting for the Giants to take it all.
Go Phillies!!!
Source for stats on ballparks: http://www.hittrackeronline.com/stadiums.php
I was just more mad at the facts that the Phillies players basically gave the Giants pitching staff virtually no credit. Cole Hamels kind of did, but not Werth.
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