[dc 21]

PLAY BALL! Phillies open the season today vs the Reds. 4:10 PM is game time.

They open at home on Friday vs the Nats.

 

[dc 21]

PHILS WIN! 4-3 over the Reds. They are in a three way tie for first place. Don't go buying your playoff tickets yet. 161 more games to go.:lol:



BTW, I was wondering if Pete had a bet on today's game between his two former teams.:jestera:

 

[RonM]

Played 3 games so far...lost 2 of them.. seems much like a 2016 repeat, Ryan Howard signed wwith Atlanta,,,

 

[dc 21]

Last night they had a four run lead and couldn't hold it. In game two their bats were dead.

This is the story on Howard rom USA Today.......

Ryan Howard is willing to play almost for free for another shot at the major leagues.

The Atlanta Braves signed the slugger to a minor league deal, and he will make $750,000 if he earns a call to the major leagues.

That’s a far cry from the $25 million he earned in 2016, the final season of a five-year, $120 million deal he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. They’re also paying him $10 million to buy out the 2017 option on that deal.


But this is clearly about opportunity, not money. Howard will report to extended spring training before taking a minor league assignment at Class AAA Gwinnett (Ga.) when he is ready.

The Braves don't have much to lose. Howard could provide a power bat off bench and can DH in interleague games.


Howard, 37, spent 13 seasons with the Phillies where he earned National League Rookie of the Year (2005), NL MVP (2006) and League Championship Series MVP awards. The three-time All-Star slugged 382 career home runs, but endured a steady decline after suffering a blown Achilles tendon in the 2011 NL Division series.

Last season, he hit 25 home runs in just 362 plate appearances, but batted .196.

Howard often victimized the Braves during his Phillies career. His 52 career home runs against Atlanta are Howard's most against a single team.

The Braves play at Citizens Bank Park later this month, April 21-23. But Howard is more likely to square off against his former team in June when the Phillies travel to Atlanta for a four-game series (June 5-8).

Contributing: Meghan Montemurro

 

[yellodog]

Good luck to him.

 

[dc 21]

In game four they fell behind by seven runs but came back and scored six. Final score was 7 to 6. Another loss.

 

[LostAgain]

I'm predicting a worse year than last year, they did nothing to improve the team over the winter.

 

[dc 21]

Right now, I don't see anything about the Phillies that excites me. There is no core group/leadership that is going to propel this team to the top of their division. No, Schmidt, Bowa, Luzinski, Carlton. No Utley, Rollins, Howard, Hamels.

Time will tell if these guys are up to the challenge of being a top of the division team or they simply collect a paycheck and wallow in the basement.

 

[RonM]

Not much stock, even Tommy Joseph is 0/10....not a hit yet this year..

 

[Birch812]

I think the first change you will see with this team will be the firing of Pete Mackanin well before Memorial day

 

[RonM]

Who will they get that does aa better job, I dont blame him, just mediocre players...

 

[RonM]

Boys looking good right now, real good... leading 13-3

 

[RonM]

Wow 17-3 final

 

[dc 21]

The bats came alive last night as the Phils scored 12 runs in the first inning. A franchise record. Tommy Joseph posted two hits in the first to get him off the 0 fer list. It was a night where......EVERYBODY HITS.....WAHOO!

Nats starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie recorded only two outs in the first before getting yanked. His ERA is 135.00. A real tough night for him.

Phils starter Aaron Nola pitched six strong innings. A good night for him. :thumbs:

 

[Birch812]

Its great they had a game like last nights, but when you get off to a 12 run lead over someone in the first you better win.
Would be better to win most of your games by 1 than to lose 3 in a row than have a rout like last night.

It is early in the season but this shows the continued inconsistency that plagues the Phillie's year after year.
This is why I think the manager is on a very short leash, a reason he's contract hasn't been extended already.
Get after them again today:thumbs:

 

[dc 21]

Phils win today 4-3 over the Nats. They take 2 of 3 and win the series. The Phillies were coasting with a three run lead until Gomez gave up three runs in the ninth to tie. Hernandez bailed out Gomez with a RBI game winning single in the bottom half of the inning and sent the fans home with smiles.

Always good to beat Werth and the Nats. :thumbs:

 

[jimsdad]

:sleeping:

 

[RonM]

I thought I would crap when Zimmermen hit that HR to tie it, but luckily they pulled it out in the 9th, too close for my nerves...

 

[dc 21]

I groaned as soon as Zimmerman smacked it. I knew it was gone and the game tied. It seems to me like Gomez was trying to be too fine with his pitches. Not a good ninth for him but........the baseball gods gave him a win. That stat is a joke. He gives up a three run homer, the game gets tied up, the Phils score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and Gomez gets the win because he is the pitcher of record. Go figure.

 

[LostAgain]

That wasnt the first time Gomez blew up in the 9th inning. Time to end his stay as a closer and bring in a new body