Box Score Bytes - Game 139

- Game 74 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-43. Starter's record is now 12-31 with 31 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-12.

- With 83 losses Rox should look at this game to wonder maybe it is something more than pitching.  Rox committed 5 errors today.  Two by Nelson, one by Pacheco, and two by Herrera.  Four runs were unearned and of course if these runs didn't score than Rox win by one...

- Phillies take the season series 7-2 (Yikes!).

- Why I hate September baseball?  Phillies use 7 pitchers to get through the game.  How the most important month of the season gets the expansion of rosters which changes how games are managed is beyond me...

Box Score Bytes - Game 138

- Game 73 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-42. Nice start by Chatwood.  Goes 5 innings and throws 75 pitches.  Everything Rox expect from a starter ;)  Starter's record is now 12-31 with 30 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-11.

- Double header due to the rain out last night.  

- Bullpen struggling a bit.  Have to wonder if the innings are starting to wear on the arms.  Importance of pitching stands out on the road when runs aren't as plentiful.  Rox lose another one in the bottom of the ninth...

- Rosario is making a name for himself and his bat but he is also making a name for himself as a terrible catcher.  He allowed four pass balls in the game and has a total of 19 for the season.  The all time record is 6 pass balls in a single game...

Box Score Bytes - Game 137

- Game 72 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-41.  Francis does his job going 5.2 innings and allowing no runs.  Probably best start of the season limiting Phillies to just 6 hits and striking out seven. Starter's record is now 12-31 with 29 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-10.

- Francis made his 200th career appearance.

- Two quick runs in the first then nothing from the offense.  They were 1 for 8 with runner's in scoring position.  

Box Score Bytes - Game 88

- Game 23 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 9-14. Pomeranz goes 5.0 IP. Throws 80 pitches. Gave up 5 runs.  Almost had a 5 x 5 day.  Also gave up 5 hits and 5 strikeouts.

- After Rutledge's awesome debut he has now gone 0-6.

- Interesting how everyone but Rox personnel seem to have figured out what it takes to pitch at Coors.  CJ Wilson had an interesting take.  Huston Street has a take.  O'Dowd's had 13 years and hasn't figured it out...my simple take is good pitching can conquer Coors...

- Another series loss, another series home loss, and Rox lose a series to team that hadn't won a series since Phillies last beat the Rox.

- Fowler is batting .464 (13 for 28) over seven games since July 5.  Once again making his late Summer impression.  Wonder how much money he and Scott Boras will take from a franchise that simply needs pitching?

Box Score Bytes - Game 87

- Game 22 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 9-13. Guthrie goes 4.2 IP. Throws 76 pitches. Gave up 4 runs and got his 9th lost of the year.  Guthrie's last win was May 31!  Maybe what Rox need is two GMs.  O'Dowd can only trade for position players and GM #2 worries about pitchers.  Show me one good starting pitching acquisition that O'Dowd has accomplished?

- Amazing to think how other team pitchers waltz in throw an easy 7-8 innings and go away with win.  Phillies aren't exactly the best in the NL East and yet they seem to get the job done.  Unbelievable how bare our cupboards are with almost no MLB pitching prospect.

- Rox make it close in the 8th but can't seem to keep it close.  Made Papelbon 9th a bit easier.  Still remember that Boston game a few years back when I think Giambi just rocked his world.  This year, not so much...

Box Score Bytes - Game 86

- Game 21 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 9-12. Friedrich goes 6.0 IP. Throws 82 pitches. Left the game with a win and Rox relief corp of Belisle, Brothers, and Roenicke held it for Friedrich's 5th win.

- Youth movement began.  Helton goes on DL.  Rox call up Mike Ekstrom, RHP, and Josh Rutledge for the second half.

- Sounding like a wedding, Rutledge goes with something borrowed (shoes, gloves, and bat) and has a nice debut going 2-2 with two RBIs, sacrifice, and stolen base.

Box Score Bytes - Game 68

- Rox finally find a way to win in Philly.  It will be interesting next year with the schedule.  Due to Colorado not having a natural rivalry (KC anyone?), Rox are forced to play an extra NL opponent.  This year by luck (or not) we get Philly 9 times rather than the normal home and away 6-7 games.  Sometimes seasons just don't set up well.

- Game 3 of the Great Tracy Experiment:  Record 1-2.  Francis, besides the first inning homerun, pitched 5 complete innings (!) throwing 76 pitches (shocking Tracy kept him in past 75...).  Four relievers than pitched 2 hit ball the rest of the way and Rox earn first win under the Experiment.  The blogosphere has been abuzz with this Experiment.  Shockingly most aren't opposed to the ideal although most think the Rox current crop of pitchers aren't the best to try this out with.  Baseball as always been slow to change but with the continued specialization of the modern day bullpen one has to wonder why starter's are asked to pitch long into games. Current thought of saving your bullpen arms is one big reason but my guess with the continuing babying of arms in the minors the day of the dominant long inning starter is over.  

- Nelson, much like Fowler, is one of those mystifying wonder players for the Rox.  High draft pick with high potential who for whatever reason can't stick.  Nelson's problem has always been lack of a position to play.  With his recent surge, 5 homers this month vs none in April/May, and much like Colvin he will be worked into the game.

- Rosario continues to pound the ball.  11th home run this season leading all MLB rookies.  We will see what happens as catching wears on his body and pitchers find his weakness...will he be another long line of high end catchers that fizzle with the Rox?

- For a non-exciting line up last night, there has been some quiet performances this year...Pacheco is batting .294.  Can his defense keep him in the lineup or will he forever be the super-utility player?

Box Score Bytes - Game 67

- Including the playoffs, the Phillies have won 24 of the last 29 games against the Rockies and 13 of the last 15 regular-season matchups at Citizens Bank Park.

- Game 2 of the Great Tracy Experiment:  Record 0-2.  Last night Rox were actually tied after 75 pitches.  Guthrie came in and threw three good innings only allowing one baserunner.  The more things change the more they stay the same.  Way back in 1993 LaRussa tried the same although he limited his starters to three innings each.  Read this article from the Seattle Times.  Oakland's experiment lasted all of five games (?).  As with the Rox, Oakland didn't have much on the mound so it's difficult to determine if the pitcher got pulled or just had a bad outing.  But starting on 7/21/93 and running through to 7/25/93 pitchers threw 4.0 IP, 2.2, 3.0, 4.2, and 4.1.  After 7/25/93 the experiment was over with starter going 6 innings.

Best article written by FanGraphs Dave Cameron

- Wow 17 games below .500 with Tulo on the shelf for the next week.  This season just keeps going from bad to worse...

Box Score Bytes - Game 66

- At 25-41 this is the fourth worse record in franchise history through 66 games.  Only the inaugural year and the '04 and '05 campaigns were worse.  Yeah this year is starting to be GenR2.  Too bad management couldn't be honest with us from the start.

- Yeah on the night Rox announce they are going to a 4 man rotation with starters limited to 75 pitches, Rox got beat by a starter who goes 8 strong and gives up 6 hits.  This is after a the last game when starter went 8 strong and gave up 7 hits.  Let's not coat this "new" pitching philosophy.  It is just a nicely wrapped piece of crap.  Please fire some one and admit this was all an epic fail...

- That is all, I feel a little bit better...

Box Score Bytes - Game 111

1)  Halladay makes his second start at Coors.  He had a no decision the first time and even on the ropes this time around, gives up 6 runs, and yet still wins.  Who couldn't win with the Phillies offense?

2) Lidge, another Colorado product, came in and got the save.  Not terribly nice to treat the hometown fans!

3) Rox get swept for the first time by the Phillies in Colorado in May 1999

Box Score Bytes - Game 110

1) So Rox don't get one of the big three (Halladay, Lee, Oswalt) and still get shut out...again a big giant yikes!

Box Score Bytes - Game 109

1)  Really Street?  You throw eight straight sliders and you think the 9th might sneak by?  Lose a game, one pitch away...ughhhh

2)  Another extra inning lost...tough loss...now 1-6

3)  Think about it...Phillies just moved to 30 games over 0.500...Rox have a long way to go

4)  Strangest name in baseball...Antonio Bastardo

5)  One of the mysteries of Jim Tracy...Smith now has 42nd extra base hit of the year, second to Tulo's 49 and yet he still isn't an everyday player