Left Field Lite: Say Goodbye to the Beard?

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=jayson+werth&iid=9365456″ src=”http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9365456/philadelphia-phillies/philadelphia-phillies.jpg?size=500&imageId=9365456″ width=”500″ height=”393″ /]

Jayson Werth could soon find himself on another team if the Phillies get the right deal

When you’re a defending NL Champion seven games out of first place, it’s time to make a trade.

Right now, Ruben Amaro, Jr. and the Phillies’ front office are looking to get some pitching, preferably someone who will be more than a rental player. As of today, the only two people who fit those guidelines are the Astros’ Roy Oswalt and the Diamondbacks’ Dan Haren. Both of these players are top of the line pitchers, which means the Phillies will once again have to sacrifice some of their top prospects in order add rotation strength.

What this means for fans, however, is that one of the Phils’ prominent players will be saying goodbye in the near future. The man I’m speaking of is outfielder Jayson Werth.

Left Field Lite: Don’t Call it a Comeback

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=jamie+moyer&iid=1859009″ src=”http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/1859009/mlb-phillies-brewers-oct/mlb-phillies-brewers-oct.jpg?size=500&imageId=1859009″ width=”500″ height=”325″ /]

With his win on Sunday, Jamie Moyer tied Roy Halladay as the Phillies’ wins leader.

You know, for a little while there, things were a little scary for Phillies fans. While the Phillies offense has slumped in seasons past, this year anemic didn’t even begin to describe it. Normally the “June Swoon” comes during interleague play. This year, the Phils were slumping entering interleague play. Within a week, the Phillies dropped from being right behind the Braves in the standings to 5.5 games out of first place.

Well, with a solid win against the Blue Jays today, the Phillies look to be back on track, averaging 7 runs a game in their last 5 games, finding themselves now only 2.5 games back and closing in on an early July showdown with the Braves. But as the great LL Cool J once said in his song “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.”

Philly fan thrown up and out of game

If you’ve ever been sickened by Phillies fans, here’s another one that should earn this South Jersey resident a bronzed urinal from the Vet.

At Wednesday night’s Phils-Nationals game, Matthew Clemmens of Cherry Hill, NJ (oh, South Jersey!) was ejected and arrested for a very peculiar reason (and check out the photo tab for his mugshot; he kind of looks like Rosanne Barr after a hockey game). His friend had been ejected from Citizens Bank Park earlier, and deciding that revenge was a dish best served after it had already been digested, forced himself to vomit on a family of nearby spectators, including an 11-year-old girl.

But the joke proved to be on him, as the young girl’s father, Easton, Pa. police captain Michael Vangelo, took umbrage and punched the refunding Clemmens in the face before helping Philadelphia police arrest him. The newly black-eyed Clemmens still had a little guts left, literally, which he shared with the arresting officer.

He was charged with assault and harassment, and has also been recognized by the honor of a “Matthew Clemmens is a Douche” group on Facebook. No word on whether or not he also has ever booed Santa Claus or cheered at opposing players injuries.

– Matthew De George ’10

A Welcome Return of the Old Raul

As the bleeding finally stopped with last night’s win against the Nationals, the Phillies looked to start up a winning streak tonight in the second game of a three game series against the Nats. With the help of Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz’s solo home runs, the Phils were able to pull out a win in Washington by a score of 5 to 6.

After two tough starts, Cliff Lee looked much better tonight, throwing seven-plus innings, giving up 10 hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out four and not allowing a walk. His command looked much better tonight, and despite some bad luck with hits dropping in, he was able to stay in control of the game.

Time to Worry?

After another Brad Lidge blown save last night, the Phillies needed a win this afternoon to split a four-game series at the Houston Astros. However, the offensive funk struck again for the Phillies as they lost their third straight game to the Astros, 3 to 4.

Coming off of 19 straight scoreless innings, fans were hoping Cole Hamels would able to complete his third straight shutout. While he looked good early on, Hamels was roughed up with a three-spot in the fifth inning, and ended up lasting six innings, allowing four earned runs, striking out six and walking two on his way to earning the loss. Former Phillie Michael Bourn proved to be the bane of existence for the Fightins’, as his stolen bases in the fourth and fifth innings led to two runs that were the difference in the final score. There were a few bright spots in today’s game however, as Jimmy Rollins, Ben Francisco, and Jayson Werth all had solo home runs today.

What’s that line about if it ain’t broke?

After Cole Hamels’ stellar pitching performance last night, the Giants proved that turnabout’s fair play as the Giants took advantage of their own good pitching and took one from the Phils by a score of 4-0.

Tonight’s loss revealed the offensive drought that the Phillies have been in for the past three series. Since the beginning of the series against the Pirates, the Phils have only scored three or more runs twice, as high-quality starting pitching has kept the lead in the NL East comfortably at seven games.

Toronto’s ace ice cold

What kind of an ace is Roy Halladay? With a 144-73 career record, a lifetime ERA of 3.47, and only being 32 years of age, it’s hard to find many—if any—more qualified pitchers to build a staff around (and keep in mind these stats come on a team that has to the Yankees and the Red Sox a combined 38 times each season).

By June 7, Halladay was on track to have a career year.  His complete-game shutout of Kansas City that day ran his record to 10-1, and dropped his ERA to a tidy 2.52.

On July 6, Halladay’s season was turned upside-down.  Blue Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi announced that day that he would listen to offers for the 11-year veteran.  Even the typically cool-under-pressure Halladay was not able to pitch out of the off-the-field jam his GM put him in.

Martinez to Rotation, Moyer to… Bradenton?

In a move that hasn’t surprised most Phillies fans, Pedro Martinez is slated to make his Phillies debut tonight against the Chicago Cubs. What may be shocking is the amount of influence Phillies’ general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. had in the decision.

Amaro stated publicly last week that lefthander J.A. Happ will remain in the starting rotation. It is difficult to argue with Amaro, considering Happ has been the team’s most consistent starter this season, with an 8-2 record (6-2 as a starter) and a 2.74 ERA.

Martinez has been average in his rehab starts. He is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in three starts since being signed by the Phillies, with 16 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. But 11 of those strikeouts came in the final rehab appearance over five innings for Double-A Reading.