The Philadelphia Phillies lost their second straight game on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Mets 5-0. Their record drops to 49-50.
- Cliff Lee had a bad start, allowing five runs over six innings.
- In his start before the All-Star break, Lee gave up four solo home runs to the Washington Nationals. Today Lee struggled again to keep the ball in the yard, allowing solo shots to David Wright and Marlon Byrd in the first inning. Lee then gave up a two-out, three-run homer to Juan Lagares in the fourth.
- A five-run lead made things all too easy for New York ace Matt Harvey. Harvey cruised through seven scoreless innings, allowing just three runs and striking out 10.
- Domonic Brown had a rough time at the plate, going 0-4 with four strikeouts.
- Kevin Frandsen started at first base in place of Darin Ruf, and went 0-3.
- Erik Kratz made the start behind the plate for the first time since going on the disabled list over a month ago, but went 0-3 with two strikeouts.
- Antonio Bastardo and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a scoreless inning.
Final Thoughts
Cliff Lee has been off of his game lately, and its a little concerning. Lee has given up 11 home runs in his last five starts, and his ERA has shot up from 2.51 to 3.05 in the last month. Before those last give starts, the ace had surrendered just five homers all year. We’ve seen the lefty go through hot and cold stretches during his time in Philadelphia, and it looks like he’s in the midst of one of his off spells right now. Hopefully the All-Star can get things figured out quickly, the team can’t afford him to pitch poorly every fifth day.
The Phillies are now once again below the .500 mark. That was quick, huh? Just in theory, losing two of three to the Mets is bad enough, but to lose those two games when you have your top two pitchers going back-to-back? It just adds insult to injury. It’s a shame that the team wasn’t able to take advantage of a series against a weak team like New York, they’ve now got to continue a diffcult road trip out in St. Louis.
no bueno !!!!!!! vender rapido!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phil’s have been Shutout 8 Times this Season and I bet 5-6 of the Times were Sunday Games and especially on the Road..
What up with these Guys on Sunday’s, it’s like they are going thru the motions..
(the Reds, Rockies, Mets & other!s have made them look awful bad on Sundays)
Lee appears to be getting the ball up in the Zone and has a little zip on his Pitches.. Something to keep an eye on,
Phils cannot make a run in the 2nd half without Cliff Lee on Top of his Game..
Agree Paul. Include Hamels in that as well. Both of those guys need to come out guns blazing and they both fizzled.
Your right about Lee Paul and he’s one of my favorite players. However, this whole season he’s been a tick slower in velocity and is not pitching as deep into games as he once did. A sign of decline? Fortunately, 85% of Lee is still better than most at 100%. That being said, if the Phils were offered a top prospect or two for him, I would have to at least listen. His value may never be higher beyond July 31 of this year.
as I have stated several times, FIRESALE!
Lee’s value will not be any higher than it is this year……albeit the poor outing, teams will still give up a top prospect or more for him…. …
on the trade block:
Papelbon, Lee, Utley, Young
id trade young, young, paps, chooch and utley not lee. his trade value will be higher in years to come, he is still owed close to $100,000,000 a lot of teams would balk at that contract… but come 2 years from now or a really desperate team next year… dont think cliff gets u much right now but with garza now off the market some teams might get desperate.
not to mention the 2014 phillies are a lot better with him on the team then without. you have uncertainty at #3, #4, & #5 move cliff and you need 4 starters next year
imo trade sign brian wilson asap!!!!!!!! trade papsmear
Rangers Acquire RHP Matt Garza from the Cubs for 3 Highy Rated Prospects
3B/1B Mike Olt, RHP M Edwards and Reliever Grimm
Cumbs will also get 2 more Players to select from their Farm Systrm once the Season is over
This means that Cliff akee will not end up being traded to the Rangers as some were talking or hoping for..
Don’t look now but Cubs will be fielding a talented IF with Rizzo at 1B
Shaun Castro at SS and Olt at 3B
Next the Cubs will trade LF Soriano for a couple of more Prosoects..
Cube are gonna get bird poop for soriano. The sp cubs got looks legit but I don’t think olt is gonna be an Allstar
Olts probably the most overrated prospect in baseball
I think Olt will be a Good MLB Player, not an All-Star of Franhise Type but be a .275 Hitter and produce 20-25 HR & 75-80 RBI’s his first couple of Big League Season and eventually see him more as a 1B & DH down the Road
Olt been behind 3B A Beltre for the last 2 Seasons who is pretty good Player, they had him move to 1B to groom since Beltre has a couple years left on his deal and is not going anywhere
I can see Soriano going back the Yankees, who are desperate for some Offensive Punch in their line-up for Reliver Joba Chamberlin and a PItching Prospect
lmfao cubs dont want joba, cmon paul ur better than this
Joba from the Nebraska , back to the Mid-West, and probably groom as the Future Closer which the Cubs need… Yankees have 3-4 Good young arms in the Bullpen to take over for Rivera (Robinson,Boone, Kelly & Warren) and don’t need Joba..
mhenski, I’m with you trading both youngs, paps and chooch. I’m keeping Utley though, because he he can still hit at a light hitting position and holds value in teaching the young guys how to be a pro. D. Brown has gone on record about how Utley has helped him to become a more professional hitter this season. I disagree about Lee. He is 35 and looks to be on the decline. Can’t see him getting better the second half of this season, or at 36 and 37. IMO his value will never be higher than right now. We shouldn’t trade him for nothing, but if offered a top prospect or two, I’d do it. Look at the haul the Cubs got for a .500 pitcher coming off elbow problems in Garza. As for 2014, you still have Hamels, Kendrick and prospects like Biddle, Morgan and Martin, not to mention millions of dollars to spend on a free agent or two. Remember the only WS we won was with a rotation of Hamels, Moyer, Myers and Blanton, not exactly HOF arms.
The thing about utley is he is probably our most valuable trace asset. You can trade him now then resign him in the offseason and get some prospects in between.
Regarding pitchers Kendrick is a free agent who knows if he is coming back. Biddle and Martin aren’t ready maybe Morgan trade lee and you have to sign minimum 3 starting pitchers
I disagree 100% with Utley being the most Valuable Trade Piece..
SInce his Contract is up, there is no Guarantee that the other Team would be able to re-sign him in the Off-Season, so who would want to trade a couple of Prospects for Utley who may end up a 2-3 Month Rent-A-Player.. SOme Teams would be interested perhaps, but not for Top Prospects
Cliff Lee would return the most Value in a Trade by far, followed by Papelbon since Closers are always in Demand..
Chooch,Utley and the Youngs would have to be packaged together to get any Top Prospects.. I could see a Utley/Chooch to the Dodgers for probably the best Value or a M Young/Chooch combo to the Yankees or a M Young to Oakland for a AA Prospect
Cliff Lee to Baltimore Orioles could be a sleeper Deal
Pittsburgh, dodgers, diamondbacks, rockies, rays, orioles all could use a chase utley for their playoff run. And oakland is especially desperate and has a lot of assets grant green and michael choice would be the players id look at first if im philly.
you can disagree all you want but if chase goes on the market he will be the player most fought over by the buyers no doubt about it.
not too many clubs can afford lee at 25+ million a year for the next 4 years after this year…
chooch and m young will net you next to nothing.
paps may get you a nice prospect but utley gets you a stud. id say watch and see but im not sure our gm is smart enough to pull the trigger and let the utley worshipers down.
regarding rental players trades a few come to mind
carlos beltran for promising zach wheeler
bartolo colon for cliff lee, brandon phillips and grady sizemore
Mark Teixiera for Elvis Andrus and Natali Feliz
I believe you are way overrating Utley at this stage of his Carrer..
2-3 Years ago, sure ,Utley would return a ton back, but now a 120 game a year Player at max and question ? about his his degenerative knee’s and is limited defensively, no thanks..
Utley best case is going to the AL where could be 2B and eventually a DH and just concentrate on HItting which would probably extend his Career a couple of Years ..
paul you are missing the point. teams would be trading prospects to rent him, thats what happens at deadlines time and time again. he has pop in his bat and has been mostly healthy this year. all the teams i noted would be getting a MAJOR addition for their stretch run. If the Os got him I that offense would be absolutely mind boggling. The A’s need him.
I dont think you comprehend MLB trade deadline deals, and supply and demand. Lots of teams need 2nd baseman who are in the hunt, Chase can put a team thats close over the top regardless of his baggage.
I’m not a Chase fan at all but can see his market with clear eyes bro. teams wouldnt be trading for eventual DH or beyond the next few months. They would be giving up a minor leaguer(s) for a legit piece and hoping thats whats needed to contend for the title.
oh jesus cmon, fuck its 1000% over. selllllllllllllllllllll
Phillies recalled LHP Raul Valdes from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
He’ll replace the injured Joe Savery (elbow) on the active roster. Valdes has a 7.65 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 20 innings with the Phillies this season.
Valdes, isn’t he related to the Coffe Bean Guy riding the Donkey..