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Today, 7:05 p.m. - Johan Santana (7-7, 3.01) vs. J.A.Happ (season debut)
Saturday, 7:05 p.m. - John Maine (8-6, 3.86) vs. Jamie Moyer (7-6, 4.13)
Sunday, 1:35 p.m. - Oliver Perez (6-5, 4.98) vs. Kyle Kendrick (8-3, 4.58)
Monday, 7:05 p.m. - Pedro Martinez (2-2, 7.39) vs. Adam Eaton (3-6, 4.79)
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The turnpike series continues.
Mets come in 4 1/2 games behind the 1st place Phillies.
Phils are heating up after a horrible few weeks during which the American League pwnd em.
Since they beat the Cards 20-2 on June 13th they went 3-10 going into their most recent series, back to facing N.L. foes, vs. the Braves.
Utley suffered a 2 for 29 stretch during that time.
They just swept Atlanta in a three game series and should have momentum from that.
We don't have to face Cole Hamel. YAY!
Phils sent Brett Meyers down to the farm to find his way.
He hadn't faced the Mets yet this season, and I wish they kept him up for the one start he would have had here.
Cause he's been suffering from major suckage.
For info on tonights starter, J.A. Happ see article below.
Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick are at two sides of the age spectrum, 45 and 24 respectively, and both can pitch.
Moyer lost his third straight start despite not allowing more than three earned runs in any of those outings.
Against the Mets he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts this season.
Kendrick is now 5-1 in his last six decisions and has been getting better and better as the year goes on for the Phillies.
Adam Eaton has a 5.16 ERA over his last five starts. He has a 5.73 ERA vs the Mets this season.
Jimmy Rollins coming off a 3-for-26 slump during the Phils interleague games, went 6-for-11 with a triple and 2 stolen bases vs. Atlanta (18 SB total).
Batting .276 with 6 HRs and 29 RBIs.
A quote from my 2005 Phils KTE :
"Rollins in many ways makes the Phils roll, or has in recent years. But he's not having his greatest season.
Still, the Phils have rolled well and he is an important cog in the wheel.
He hurts you when you least expect it, one way or the other. Bat, glove or speed."
That applies well in 2008.
Chase Utley looks to be out of his slump. Boo.
Leads N.L. in homers with 24.
His 67 RBIs is 4th.
This guy just keeps getting better.
Could end up being the 3rd MVP award winner out of Philly in the last three years.
From the 2005 Phils KTE :
" Dont let that little sparkplug Chase Utley ignite rallys or go yard in the clutch."
Ryan Howard leads the N.L. with 72 RBIs and is 4th in HRs with 22.
But, get this: He's only batting .219!! He has struck out 116 time already this year!!!!
He has a six-game hitting streak during which he has batted .292 (7-for-24).
His last few homers have been opposite field shots.
Pat Burrell is having a real nice year with 21 H.R. and 52 RBI.
He has hit in 7 of his last 8 games, batting .308 with 3 HR.
He has hit some big clutch homers this season and as we all know is considered a MetKiller.
Those are the big guns but there are others like Victorino, Feliz and Werth and who are making fine and important contributions to help this team win games.
On May 16th Werth hit 3 HR and drove in 8 vs. Toronto, and he's the least gifted of the three.
Ill include this article release yesterday from Associated press:
Phillies to call up lefty Happ to face Mets
ATLANTA (AP) -The Phillies will call up left-hander J.A. Happ to pitch against Johan Santana and the New York Mets, manager Charlie Manuel said Thursday.
Happ will be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the start on Friday in Philadelphia.
The Phillies announced after Thursday night's 4-1 win over the Braves that LHP R.J. Swindle had been optioned to Lehigh Valley.
Happ, 25, will be making his second major league start, both against the Mets.
He gave up seven hits, including three homers, and five runs in four innings of an 8-3 loss to the Mets in Philadelphia on June 30, 2007.
"I think he knows what it's like now," Manuel said.
Happ is 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 starts for Lehigh Valley.
"He's been pretty consistent," Manuel said. "He's been throwing better and we decided to give him a chance."
Pitching coach Rich Dubee said Happ shouldn't focus on the matchup with Santana.
"He's not pitching to Santana," Dubee said. "Santana's only going to hit, hopefully, just once, depending on how well he pitches.
He just needs to pitch against that lineup."
The Phillies needed a starter after struggling Brett Myers agreed to be optioned to Lehigh Valley this week.
Myers gave up five hits and three runs in five innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night in his first minor league assignment.
He walked two and struck out six.
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AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
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Mets notes: Moises Alou, who was thought to be ready to join the club for this series, will stay on rehab assign. due to some rained out games he was scheduled to play in. Last I read he should be with the team on Monday.
I don't like this. If he's okay enough to play I think he should be up for this series.
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