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

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.

zambonir 2017-04-04 00:56:28 UTC #53

I don't want to watch relievers put guys on base, but Gomez had 37 saves in 43 opportunities last season, and none of blown saves were in the same month until September (when he had two). In terms of saves, that's a perfectly reasonable performance. Kenley Jansen had six blown saves too (albeit in more opportunities).

What I like about having Gomez as the closer is, yes, saves are dumb and your best pitcher doesn't have to be the closer. Should he ultimately be pitching in the highest-leverage situations? Probably not, if his stuff isn't working. But a three-run lead in the 9th with no men on base isn't necessarily high-leverage. Which is also why even the best closers put guys on, depending on their repertoire they are pitching to contact or trading walks for strikeouts by design.

On opening day though, I'd say he's just rusty, and his stuff does have to be perfect. Anyone remember the bullpen a year ago today?

LoneStarPhan 2017-04-04 03:10:50 UTC #54

I am probably being unfair to Gomez today. With a 3 run lead, I want a pitcher going after the hitters. Today, the 2 runs and the homer didn't cost the game. In the end, he did get the save, meaning a Phillies' win. Gomez was very successful last year until he faultered near the end of the season. I have always favored a less role rigid bullpen and would have gone with Neris in the ninth when Gomez looked burned out. IMO, the bullpen is stronger now than this time last year, but bullpens are always hard to predict.

I watched the Rangers blow a 5-1 lead tonight. Bush gave up a run in the top of the 8th to allow the Indians to tie the game at 5-5. Then the Rangers' closer (Dyson) gave up 3 in the top of the ninth and Cleveland won 8-5. It made me appreciate Gomez.