Phillies vs. Giants

3:45 PM EST at AT&T Park

Tim Lincecum bro

If you asked a Mets fan two weeks ago about the Phillies extravagant play, you got a response that mocked how it was the beginning of the season. Now the Mets are in first (and their is no denying they’re playing exceptional baseball), however, even our friends at TRDMB are buying the Kool Aid.

But my role here isn’t to comment on my jealousy of having to watch this apathetic team drop in the standings. My role is to tell you about how the last guy you want your team to face when they’re on the verge of getting swept and a four game losing streak, all while scoring less run than the Pirates…is Tim Lincecum. “The Freak” is a freak. The reason you haven’t heard much about is 4-0 start and meager 1.00 ERA, is because those are the standards which have become expected of him. The Phillies currently score runs like a team with a third of their payroll, and that’s bad news facing a guy who hasn’t had above a six hit game all season.

The good news is that we’ve got California boy Cole Hamels taking the mound tonight (#sarcasm). He got rocked a little bit in the Arizona desert last start (6 IP, 6 ER), so hopefully he can rebound with a solid showing similar to his earlier form.

I’m not even going to mention that Howard has a good track record off of Linceum, including two homers, because at this point history doesn’t matter. Just go and score some runs somehow…please.

Lineup today goes Victorino, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Castro, Ruiz, Hamels.

Fun Phact – The Phillies haven’t been in second in the NL East since May 29, 2009

Thursday, September 3rd

Phillies 2, Giants 1

Well, if you missed this one… I’m sorry.

Pedro Martinez pitched seven dynamite innings and Tim Linceum countered with a masterful seven-frame performance of his own. The Phillies, however, came out on top thanks to a clutch hit by Ryan Howard in the sixth inning.

Chase Utley reached base with two outs when Lincecum lost control of an inside faceball, hitting Utley square on shoulder.

Moments later, Howard shot one to the gap in right-center field and Utley charged all the way home from first.

Lincecum’s only other mistake was a 3-2 hanging curveball thrown to Jayson Werth, who blasted it into the upper deck near Harry The K’s restuarant in left field.

Lincecum finished with 11 strikeouts and Pedro fanned a season-high nine. Martinez’s only blemish was a home run off the bat of Eugenio Valdez to start the game.

It was a pleasure watching two of the best pitchers in the game battle in out. Well, Pedro isn’t the old Pedro, but he certainly showed flashes of it tonight.

The Phillies and Giants combined for eight runs in the three-game series.

Good to win two out of three against arguably the best pitching staff in the NL. I just hope to hell we don’t face the Giants in the first round of the playoffs… Here’s my vote for the Rockies.

Player of the Game

Pedro Martinez (7IP, 5H, 9K)

Phillies vs. Giants

7:05 p.m. EST at Citizens Bank Park

Pedro Martinez (2-0, 4.50 ERA)

What the Phillies don’t need right now is Tim Lincecum.

Tim Lincecum (13-4, 2.33 ERA)

Mired in a terrible offensive slump, the Phils look to take two out of three against the Giants. They’ll have to find a way to beat Lincecum to make that happen.

The Phils have mustered only 11 runs in their last seven games.

Lincecum pitched eight shutout innings Aug. 1 against the Phils. He’s clearly the favorite to win the Cy Young Award for the second straight season.

Pedro Martinez is looking to get in a full start at CBP. Rain has shortended his first two home starts. He’s combined for only five innings pitched in those two outings.

THREE Qs tackles the most pertinent questions entering the Phillies’ upcoming series, from now to the end of the season. If you have questions, shoot an e-mail to msmith@nleastchatter.com.

Can the Phillies solve “The Freak” Tim Lincecum?

Last month, Lincecum beat the Phillies in San Francisco … and it wasn’t pretty. In order to be successful, the Phillies will have to make adjustments. He’s the best pitcher in the league for a reason. At times, the Phillies can’t seem to get going against top-of-the-line starting pitchers, and Lincecum has had their number. Whatever mistake(s) Lincecum makes, they must take advantage. I think the Phillies will take an aggressive approach. Practicing patience against a strike-thrower of Lincecum’s ilk is probably not the best idea…

Will the Phillies find consistency on offense?

I’ve wrote a lot recently about the Phillies’ struggles to produce runs without the benefit of a home run. I liked what I saw Sunday night against the Braves. Yes, the only big hit came off the bat of Carlos Ruiz, a two-run double that gave them the lead for good. Unfortunately, the Phillies are not built to play small-ball. They are a streaky offensive team and there’s not much we, the fans, can do about it. I feel a hot streak coming along, however, where everybody is hitting and driving in runs. While hitting with runners in scoring position has been a big problem the last two months or so, the Phillies seem to turn on the switch at the right time. I think they’ll have plenty of chances to snap out of their slump against Jonathan Sanchez and Brad Penny, who are starting Games 1 and 2 of the series.

Is Brad Lidge back?

He tossed a pair of spotless ninth innings Friday and Sunday, but I won’t say he’s out of the woods yet. Every time he’s had one or two strong outings, he’s reverted back to Bad Lidge is a hurry. I like the way he was locating his pitches over the weekend. He’s showing signs of last year’s perfect closer, but he needs to prove it a little more. A nice run of five-six saves would convince me…

According to Ryan Lawrence of the Delaware County Daily Times, Cliff Lee will make his first start in a Phillies uniform Friday night.

…Not against Tim Lincecum, unfortunately…