17: OPENING DAY - Phillies (Hellickson) @ Reds (Feldman)

zambonir 2017-04-03 22:19:59 UTC #33

We had the same conversation about Hellickson last year. Not letting your starter go a full third time through the line-up is the new trend. Last year opponents put up a .790 OPS against him in 3rd PA (with a lot of that coming from increased SLG) and I believe he was worse than that in 2015.

Plus, opening day, off-day tomorrow, may as well see the pen.

el-pietro 2017-04-03 22:25:14 UTC #34

Oh! Double! Herrera!

LoneStarPhan 2017-04-03 22:25:49 UTC #35

I agree, even though I have often talked about starters going deeper in the game. The bullpen should be up to a good load of innings. Evidently, several of the pen may be asked to go more than one inning. Exceptions probably Benoit, Neris, and Gomez.

LoneStarPhan 2017-04-03 22:27:05 UTC #36

First IBB for the Phillies, coming on the 2-0 count to Saunders. Runners first and second following a double from Herrera.
Two out.

Joseph ends inning with a weak, broken bat ground out, 5-3.

DurhamBull 2017-04-03 22:27:34 UTC #37

First no-pitch IBB catches Franzke and Anderson off guard.

wcoastphan 2017-04-03 22:30:39 UTC #38

I'll go on record saying that next to the DH, this is the most despicable rule change in Baseball.

LoneStarPhan 2017-04-03 22:30:53 UTC #39

Not the normal IBB, coming on a 2-0 count, making it a two pitch intentional walk.

DurhamBull 2017-04-03 22:37:57 UTC #40

Franzke made the very dry comment that it really helped to speed the game up.

LoneStarPhan 2017-04-03 22:41:06 UTC #41

Ramos in to pitch the 7th.
Walks the lead off batter, Barnhart.
Next hitter, Gennett, lines hard to Joseph, who wheels and tags the runner trying to go back to first for the DP.
Hamilton triples off the base of the right field wall, but Peraza K's on 3 pitches.

Alls well that ends well I guess.

bkeich 2017-04-03 22:45:46 UTC #42

It didn't take the hitters long to forget about there patient approach in the first few innings, but still a good game.

And yea, I know he is on the Reds but it was fun to watch Billy Hamilton run. If he had put his head down and just trusted his base coaches he might have forced a throw home. One little hickup and that was a inside the park HR.

I liked Kruk's comment 'he had to slide into 3rd as he couldn't have stopped and would have ended up in Billy Hatcher's arms'

el-pietro 2017-04-03 22:47:57 UTC #43

Stassi with a walk in his first plate appearance

bkeich 2017-04-03 23:08:53 UTC #44

Jeanmar for some reason is still the closer. Here's hoping he can get it done.

DurhamBull 2017-04-03 23:15:28 UTC #45

Phils keeping it interesting for the phans!

EastFallowfield 2017-04-03 23:16:47 UTC #46

Had 'em all the way, Harry!

el-pietro 2017-04-03 23:17:21 UTC #47

Saves are dumb. Great to get a win to start!

bkeich 2017-04-03 23:18:49 UTC #48

161 to go :).

Lucky_Beagle 2017-04-03 23:19:56 UTC #49

Gives up a 2 run HR with a 2 run lead and he gets credit with a save!

LoneStarPhan 2017-04-03 23:30:12 UTC #50

Great to win the first game but a shame that Gomez puts a damper on my enthusiasm. He was great as the closer last season until he wasn't, but the manager continued to run him out there blown save after blown save. I hope that is not going to be the case this season. In my mind, Gomez was unsatisfactory out of the pen today and I hope he is not allowed to put a damper on this season the way he was allowed to do last year.

Kendrick looked good with the bat and home runs from Hernandez and Galvis. Herrera also good on offense going 1 for 3 with two walks.

Kudos to the pitching of Hellickson, Benoit, Ramos and Neris. All had a good game. Well, Ramos was shaky but got out of the inning with no runs.

Lawman 2017-04-03 23:48:22 UTC #51

Can't win 'em all without winning the first one.

Good way to start a season, even if it is only one game,

Austinfan 2017-04-04 00:24:51 UTC #52

I don't take the first 40 or so games too seriously, takes that long to see if a player is just on a hot (cold) start or there's something there (wrong).
Noticed a few things:

Franco being more patient
Benoit has serious stuff, 96 MPH plus a repertoire of offspeed stuff, nice insurance policy for Gomez
Neris seems to have changed the deliver on his FB, more sidearm, Reds seemed to struggle to pick it up.
Ramos has stuff, but I think 6th inning will be his role until he sharpens it a bit

Hellickson was throwing 91-92, which is a good sign, he doesn't need to blow people away, but when he falls to 89-90 the changeup isn't as effective.