Philadelphia Phillies Philes Vol 1.9: Pool parties, beer, and baseball

A change atop the power rankings, plus the most impressive win of the season and remembering perfection in this week’s Philadelphia Phillies Philes.

Leading Off

On Friday night, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers in what was the team’s most impressive win of the year. Jerad Eickhoff struggled through three innings, leaving with his team down, 4-2. The Brewers, who just took three of four against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park last week, would be stifled by the Phillies bullpen over six innings, gaining just three hits and no runs as the Phillies fought back for the 6-4 win.

Vince Velasquez, who was initially critical of moving to the bullpen, said later that he was willing to help the team in any fashion. He did just that as he came out and pitched two scoreless innings in relief, earning his second win of the season in the process.

He looked good, too. While it’s still uncertain whether he’ll remain in the ‘pen, the move sure paid dividends Friday night.

And then there was the offense, where every starting bat contributed with a hit.

The victory was a total team effort. After facing early adversity against one of the best team’s in the league and on the road, the Phillies could have mailed it in. But they didn’t, and instead showed just how balanced their attack can be.

This afternoon they look for the series sweep as Zach Eflin (5-4, 2.76 ERA) goes up against Brandon Woodruff (6-1, 3.51 ERA). First pitch is 2:10 PM.

Catching greatness

J.T. Realmuto has had a fantastic start to his Phillies tenure. Whether gunning down runners at second, calling a productive game behind the plate, or delivering timely hits, the Phillies backstop consistently finds ways to positively impact a game.

This week alone he delivered a game-tying, pinch-hit, two-run home run helping the team past the Rockies on Sunday. The next night he’d connect on the game-winning homer as the Phillies beat the Cubs at Wrigley.

He’d also hit the farthest home run of his career, literally out of the ballpark.

On the year, Realmuto is batting .269 with eight homers, 32 runs, and 32 RBI.

A healthy dose of Cole

Cole vs. Cole. Irvin vs. Hamels. Lefty vs. Lefty. Current Phillie vs. Former Phillie.

The story-lines were endless. (Well, not really.)

On Wednesday night, Cole Hamels faced his former team for the first time, the only team he’d never pitched against in his 14-year career. He’d go four innings in a less-than-stellar performance en route to the no-decision.

That performance was still better than his counterpart’s, Cole Irvin, who went 4 2/3 innings while giving up a debilitating grand slam to the Cubs’ Albert Almora with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The Phillies would never be able to recover as the crew from Chicago walked away with the 8-4 victory. Irvin was optioned back to Triple-A the next day.

Ironically, the winning pitcher for the Cubs was righthander Tyler Chatwood, whose middle name just so happens to be…Cole.

As for former players returning…

Monday night marked Jake Arrieta‘s first appearance at Wrigley Field since Game 4 of the 2017 NLCS in which he fueled the Cubs past the Los Angeles Dodgers for his team’s lone victory in the series. It was also his first-ever time facing the Cubs – like Hamels with the Phillies – the lone team he’d never pitched against.

Arrieta would go six innings of one-run ball, scattering eight hits while striking out four. He’d leave the game with a 3-1 lead that the Phillies would eventually squander, before finally winning in 10.

A nice moment came as Cubs’ faithful gave the 33-year-old a standing ovation during his first plate appearance. Arrieta, the league’s 2015 Cy Young winner, played four and a half years with the Cubs, helping the team win the World Series in 2016, the franchise’s first since 1908.

No pat on the back

Yesterday Pat Neshek was placed on the IL. This concluded a turbulent week for the embattled Phillies reliever that saw him seemingly decline to enter Monday’s game, to then be unavailable the next night for rest when the team could have really used him. He’d return Thursday, giving up three runs while only registering two outs.

Neshek, who has a history of delivering conflicting messages, seems more interested in protecting himself than putting forth the needs of the team. (See my story here.) At this point, it may be time for both sides to part ways.

CAUTION: Incoming canon!

During Monday’s game against the Cubs, Bryce Harper unleashed this throw to nail Anthony Rizzo at the plate:

Wow! THe ball traveled 264-feet in the air with a top speed of 96 mph, according to Statcast.

We’re going streaking!

Phillies shortstop Jean Segura has now hit safely in 16 consecutive games after delivering a single up the middle in his final at-bat yesterday against the Brewers. He’d come around to score on Rhys Hoskins‘ two-run dinger.

Most Valuable Phillie Power Rankings – Top 15 (through 5/25/2019):

1. J.T. Realmuto (C) – Previous Rank: 3 (↑ 2)
2. Jean Segura (SS) – Previous Rank: 1 (↓ 1)
3. Rhys Hoskins (1B) – Previous Rank: 2 (↓ 1)
4. Zach Eflin (SP) – Previous Rank: 4 (↔)
5. Hector Neris (RP) – Previous Rank: 5 (↔)
6. Andrew McCutchen (OF) – Previous Rank: 11 (↑ 5)
7. Cesar Hernandez (2B) – Previous Rank: 7 (↔)
8. Jake Arrieta (SP) – Previous Rank: 9 (↑ 1)
9. Aaron Nola (SP) – Previous Rank: 6 (↓ 3)
10. Bryce Harper (OF) – Previous Rank: 10 (↔)
11. Adam Morgan (RP) – Previous Rank: 13 (↑ 2)
12. Maikel Franco (3B) – Previous Rank: 8 (↓ 4)
13. Scott Kingery (OF/INF) – Previous Rank: N/A (↑)
14. Odubel Herrera (OF) – Previous Rank: 12 (↓ 2)
15. Jerad Eickhoff (SP) – Previous Rank: 15 (↔)

“Ring the Bell” Award Winner of the Week

This week the honor belongs to Phillies rookie reliever Edgar Garcia for reminding Gabe Kapler and all of us that baseball is a game, and games should be fun.

After recording two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against the Cubs, the Phils skipper came out to lift the 22-year-old reliever. Kapler reached out his hand for the ball as he does during every pitching change, and rather than handing over the ball, Garcia greeted his manager with a big grin and hand shake! As seen in the video below, Kapler responds, “Nice job,” and with a smile of his own asks, “Where’s the ball?”

Though brief, this lighthearted exchange reminds of just how important it is to laugh and have a little fun.

For that, Edgar Garcia, you get to ring the bell! Congratulations.

(He also had a pretty good week on the mound. Through four games and 3 1/3 innings pitched, the righty picked up his first career win while only allowing a total of two hits and zero runs. Not too shabby!)

Phillie Pholly of the Week

Pat Neshek. (Was there ever really a question?)

Through parts of three seasons with the team, Neshek repeatedly proves himself to be a me-first guy, and quite frankly, I’m sick of it.

There can be debate about how Gabe Kapler has managed the bullpen in the past, but the problems of this week were not on him. A manager can only do so much with the pieces he’s given, and when one of those pieces is Pat Neshek – a player with a history of making himself unavailable for games – that mishap falls on the player, not the coach.

The Phillies won on Monday despite Neshek not appearing. Then on Tuesday when the team could have really used him, he wasn’t available because he warmed up the day before. What a joke!

Pat Neshek, you let the team down and the fans who fund your salary – the one you choose to work for when it’s convenient for you. That’s unacceptable, and for that, you are this week’s Phillie Pholly.

Phillies Phlashback

Roy Halladay‘s first season in red pinstripes was something special. Not only would he go on to unanimously win the 2010 NL Cy Young award, “Doc” would accomplish something that had only been done 17 times prior in the history of baseball’s modern era (from 1900). He pitched a perfect game.

On May 29, 2010, at the then Florida Marlins, Halladay faced 27 batters, retiring every single one in order. The game also marked his first career no-hitter, something he’d accomplish later in the season during the playoffs.

An interesting note, Halladay’s backstop for the perfect game was Carlos Ruiz, who would go on to catch three more no-hitters (including Halladay’s 2010 postseason no-no against the Reds), tying a Major League record for most career no-hitters caught with Jason Varitek (4).

On Deck

After today’s contest against the Brewers, the Philadelphia Phillies head home for a quick three-game set against the Cardinals – from whom they recently took two of three – before heading out west for a pivotal weekend series against one of baseball’s best, the Los Angeles Dodgers and early front-runner for MVP, Cody Bellinger, who has been tearing the cover off the ball all season.