Grandpa goes phishing

Jamie Moyer 9-0 against he the Marlins.

I don’t how to describe him anymore – old, wise, crafty. All cliches. Let’s just say: 8 innings, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk. And a no-hitter into the 6th. Moyer has 237 career wins. I don’t think he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but I bet he makes it in eventually. He’s a great guy, and I think he deserves it. Never underestimate a player’s personality and how that affects voters.

The Phils offense just wasn’t getting the breaks against he Marlins. 22 men left on base last night! 12 on Wednesday and 14 on Tuesday. Considering the explosion they had the week before, I’ll let it slide. But I hate streaky teams. Consistency is key to success. Explosive or anemic won’t take you very far.

Scott Olsen pitched great for the Marlins. But his best play of the night was probably breaking up Moyer’s no-no with a liner off of Chase Utley‘s glove.

Brad Lidge pitched a much more Lidge-like save, only letting one man on base. Make that 18/18. What’s that Billy?

-Greg Berlin

Phillies comeback and win again…err, not this time [BEAST-OFF]

I was dotting my I’s when Jimmy Rollins flied out on the first pitch to left and I was crossing my T’s when Shane Victorino grounded sharply to first for the final out. What looked like yet another comeback win was not to be. Marlins win this one 5-4 to open a three game set against the Phils.

Let’s start with the obvious. Brett Myers reverted to fecal matter tonight. After a series of somewhat respectable starts and then finally a great one last week, Myers let up 5 earned runs in only 5.1 innings pitched. 7 hits, 4 walks, 3 strike outs and 3 home runs.

I was beginning to think he was making progress but who knows? One thing is for sure, this team needs STARTING PITCHING. (ATTN: Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro Jr., See: reality, attached). Okay, okay, let’s just blame the heat and move on…

Marlins Beast (and least) of the Week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

Jorge Cantu, 3B. Cantu had a monster of a week, hitting .407, .379, .889 with 3 HR and 7 RBI. He is an important part of the Marlins’ lineup, hitting .287, .340, .494 for the year with 11 HR and 34 RBI.

Runners-Up: Dan Uggla, Justin Miller, Scott Olsen

And the Marlins least of the week is…

Jacques Jones, OF. NL Beast praised the Marlins for picking Jones up off of waivers last month. But Jones has not come through since then, and had a terrible week for the Fish, hitting .083, .214, .083 in 12 at-bats. That won’t help his .153 batting average on the year.

Runners-Down: Ricky Nolasco, Matt Treanor, Jeremy Hermida

And all the men in attendance cringed

This is what happens when Matt Treanor takes a Kevin Gregg fastball where it hurts. Ouch.

 

ESPN power rankings

Completely worthless to interpret anything from.  But the Phils are #2, behind the Cubs.  The Marlins are 7, the Braves 10, the Mets18 and the Nats 26.

-Greg Berlin

Phils go phishing at cbp

The Phillies want first place.  They’re going to have to get it tonight against the Marlins.  Jamie Moyer tries to win the fifth straight for the Phils and continue his strong 45 year old season.  Mark Hendrickson tries to take his surprising season one more game against a blazing Phillies lineup.

It’s the bottom of the lineup truly carrying the Phils though.  Pedro Feliz, Geoff Jenkins, and even Carlos Ruiz (and of course Chris Coste) are contributing.  Time to take it into June.

-Greg Berlin

Matt Lindstrom, future closer?

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com takes a look at Marlins’ hurler Matt Lindstrom, who throws a 100-mph  fastball and looks to ease into the set-up role in the Fish ‘pen this year. In his second year, Lindstrom says he’d like to close some day (of course, the Marlins have a good closer in Kevin Gregg at present).

“That’s something I’d really like to do in my career,” Lindstrom said of eventually closing. “I’d jump at the opportunity. It means a lot. I think first and foremost is to get those innings under me, and learning how to pitch to Major League hitters. Being smarter. A lot of things factor into it. But yeah, I’d love to close one day.”

Lindstrom is 1-0 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.27 WHIP this season. He has walked 8 and struck out 12 in 19.2 innings pitched over 23 appearances and has 5 holds on the year. Formerly a Mets prospect, Lindstrom was traded along with Henry Owens for Adam Bostick and Jason Vargas.

A Character Win

When people speculate what can spark a team’s turn-around, they often look to an extra-innings win as a catalyst. It’s impossible to say that one game can remedy a season of mediocrity, but the New York Mets certainly made a statement Wednesday night, winning in the 12th inning on a Fernando Tatis walk-off double.

On the back of Tatis, an unlikely hero, the Mets take the series from first-place Florida, making a strong statement in the first series of the homestand after a roadtrip to forget. Of course, taking two from the Yankees elicited the same sort of “turn-around” talk from Mets fans.

But what was different last night was the fact that every part of the Mets team contributed to the victory. Oliver Perez wasn’t dominant, but still struck out seven despite giving up four earned runs in six innings. Aaron Heilman looked brilliant in two innings of work, striking out four in two innings. Scott Schoeneweiss and Billy Wagner were phenomenal in an inning each. Endy Chavez forced extras with a pinch-hit home run. Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes also homered. David Wright walked twice. And then there was Tatis, the forgotten star, who is to the Mets right now what Angel Pagan was in Spring Training–invaluable.

Sure, there were faults. The Mets left ten on base, to start. That’s been a problem all year, and it continues. The Mets are a talented team. What they have needed all year is a spark, something to start the engine of a lineup that should be producing a heck of a lot more than it has. Only time will tell, but a win like last night’s, a series win like this one, might be what it takes to jump-start this team.

-Jonathan Kraft

How ’bout those standings

Another week has passed and the Florida Marlins are still in first place. We’ve talked again and again about how surprised we are here at NL Beast that the Marlins have continued to overachieve as much as they have so far this season. We’ve said that the Marlins have the pieces to achieve and that they should be a real contender as soon as next year. We’ve said it can’t last this season, and that it’s a nice story until the Phillies, Braves, or Mets step up and regain the top spot in the division.

 

But every week proves us wrong as the Marlins keep winning. They’ve been criticized for beating up on the bottom of the barrel. Then they sweep the Diamondbacks. Their pitching has been criticized as young and inexperienced. Then Andrew Miller outpitches Brandon Webb. Their offense has been described as resting on Hanley Ramirez. But it is Dan Uggla who is setting the pace not just for Marlins hitters but for Major League Baseball. Make no mistake about it, the Marlins are a dangerous team.

Marlins Beast (and least) of the week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

2B Dan Uggla, again. We’ve spent enough time explaining why this former Rule-V draft pick is a Beast (he won the distinction of Beast of the East the last two weeks running), so here are his stats from the last seven days: .333, .417, .905, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 1.321 OPS (ridiculous).

Runners-Up: Jorge Cantu, Kevin Gregg, Andrew Miller

The Marlins least of the week is…

1B Mike Jacobs. Nine strikeouts in 19 at-bats is just not going to cut it. Jacobs’ stats for the week: .158, .158, .158 (is this possible?), 0 HR, 0 RBI, .316 OPS. Jacobs is a crucial bat for the Marlins; he needs to improve for the Fish to stay hot.

Runners-down: Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez

Around the Beast

Nationals 5-Brewers 1

Jeff Suppan pitched well for Milwaukee until the sixth, when the [long-absent] Washington offense came alive. After J.J. Hardy mishandled a double-play ball, the Nats broke through, scoring on doubles by Ryan Zimmerman and Jesus Flores and on a Lastings Milledge sacrifice ground ball. Wily Mo Peña his his first home run of the year earlier in the first inning, and Suppan drove in the Brewers’ only run of the game.

Odalis Perez pitched well for the Nationals (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 84 P) but left with a no-decision. Brian Sanches, just called up from Triple-A Columbus, struck out the side in the sixth and was credited with the win. Saul Rivera, Luis Ayala, and Jon Rauch closed the door for Washington.

Rockies 5-Mets 4 (F/13)

The Mets dropped their fifth straight game as Matt Holliday hit a walk-off single in the 13th off of Aaron Heilman after homering off of Billy Wagner in the ninth to tie the game (Wagner’s second blown save of the year). It was a back and forth game as neither team dominated on the mound.

Oliver Perez was all over the place for the Mets, going 5 innings allowing 6 hits for 4 earned runs, walking 8 and striking out only 2, and allowing a home run on 110 pitches (just 56 for strikes). Rookie starter Greg Reynolds never dominated for the Rockies, going 6 full innings allowing 4 earned runs on 4 hits, walking 3, striking out 5, and allowing 2 home runs on just 84 pitches thrown. He left the game after allowing back-to-back home runs to Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis (who replaced the injured Marlon Anderson) in the 6th.

Driving in runs for the Mets were Luis Castillo, Delgado, Tatis, and Jose Reyes, who got in the home plate umpire’s face after being called out on a very low strike three in the 13th. Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, and Holliday drove in runs for the Rockies.

Astros 5-Phillies 4

Brandon Backe was superb for the Astros, giving up just one run in 7.1 innings pitched, striking out 6 and walking one. Adam Eaton didn’t pitch terribly for the Phillies (7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO,2 HR, 96 P), but couldn’t keep the ball in the park, giving up two home runs to Hunter Pence.

Also driving in runs for the Astros were former Phillie Michael Bourn (who also stranded three on base), and Carlos Lee (his 36th of the season). For the Phillies, Pat Burrell homered in his second-straight game and Pedro Feliz and Jimmy Rollins also drove runs in.

Diamondbacks 11-Braves 1

Doug Davis returned from cancer surgery in unbelievable fashion, shutting the hot-hitting Braves lineup down for 7 innings, allowing just one earned run on 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4 on 89 pitches. His team responded, taking batting practice off of Jo-Jo Reyes (5.0 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 3 HR) and Chris Resop (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR).

Homering for the D-Backs were Stephen Drew, Eric Byrnes, Conor Jackson, Chris Young, and Mark Reynolds. Whew. Kelly Johnson drove in the only Atlanta run of the night.

Giants 8-Marlins 2

Scott Olsen finally came back down to Earth, surrendering 5 earned runs off of 8 hits in just 3.1 innings pitched, walking 3, striking out 2, and allowing a home run on 81 pitches. Olsen drops to 4-2. He was relieved by Doug Waechter, Renyel Pinto, and Tyler Tankersley, who all pitched much more effectively. Dan Uggla homered for Florida (his 15th of the year) in the ninth, driving in both Marlins runs of the evening.

Barry Zito finally got his first win of the season, giving up just one earned run in 6.1 innings of work, walking 4 and striking out 5. Bengie Molina and Jose Castillo homered for the Giants. Aaron Rowand drove in three runs, and Rich Aurilia drove in two more for San Francisco.

Brett Carroll had to leave the game in the fourth inning after separating his right shoulder. He’ll be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

 

Around the Beast

Braves 4-Mets 2

Atlanta starter Tim Hudson pitched masterfully, surrendering just 2 earned runs in 8 innings, striking out 4 and walking none on 100 pitches. Hudson got the win and is now 7-3 on the year. His only mistakes came in the second inning, when he served up home runs to Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.

The Mets needed Johan Santana to pitch a gem, but their ace didn’t come through, allowing 3 earned runs on 12 hits in 7 innings on just 90 pitches, walking none and striking out only one. He drops to 5-3 on the season.

The damage came in the 7th, when Beltran misplayed a ball hit by Kelly Johnson, leading to RBIs by Omar Infante (who had been 0-19 against Santana), Chipper Jones, and Mark Teixiera. Willie Randolph didn’t take Santana out of the game, and the inning was only finished by a beautifully executed 1-6-3 double play.

Talk about teams headed in different directions; the hot-hitting Braves have won four in a row and are crusing while the mediocre Mets have lost 7 of 10 and are reeling.

Phillies 7-Astros 5

The Phillies scored early but almost blew it in their first game of the year at Minute Maid Park. Starter Kyle Kendrick did not pitch a great game, giving up 5 earned runs on 8 hits in just 5 innings of work on 91 pitches, walking one and striking out 2. But Astros ace Roy Oswalt was not much better, also giving up 5 earned runs on 11 hits in 6 innings of work, walking 2 and striking out 4 on 95 pitches.

Ryan Howard had a very good night, going 3-5 with a home run (his 14th) and 2 RBIs (and 2 strikeouts, as well). After the Astros had tied the game in the 6th, Pat Burrell hit a go-ahead pinch-hit home run in the 8th off of rookie Wesley Wright. Also driving in runs for the Phillies were Carlos Ruiz, Pedro Feliz, Geoff Jenkins, and Chase Utley (his 33rd of the year). Chad Durbin picked up his first win of the year, and Brad Lidge notched his 12th save of the year, this one against his former team.

Driving in runs for the Astros were Berkman, Brad Ausmus, Ty Wigginton, and Geoff Blum. Wright took his second loss on the year.

Marlins 4-Diamondbacks 0

The red-hot Marlins completed their sweep of the Diamondbacks in an outstanding performance by young Andrew Miller, who shut Arizona out in 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, striking out 9 and walking just one batter on 107 pitches. Miller, who picked up his 4th win, was opposed by Dan Haren, who allowed 4 runs on 8 hits, striking out 8 and walking none on 94 pitches.

Wes Helms drove in two on a pinch-hit double in the 7th to drive Haren from the game. Jorge Cantu also drove in two runs for the Marlins.

 

Marlins beat Dan Haren [Flying Fish]

Every day, it gets harder and harder to discount the Florida Marlins as a fluke. Yes, their pitching is thin. Yes, their team is young. Yes, one of their best players is on the DL. But the team keeps winning, somehow. Tonight, young Andrew Miller and the Marlins shut out Dan Haren and the Diamondbacks 4-0. Miller, who struggled in the beginning of the year, allowed 5 hits on 107 pitches in 7 innings, walking 1 and striking out 9. That’s pretty remarkable stuff against a hot-hitting Arizona team. The Marlins continued to capitalize from unlikely contributors, tonight’s being Wes Helms (who drove in 2 on a pinch-hit double in the 7th) and Jorge Cantu. Does NL Beast think this team is going to peak at some point in the not too distant future? Absolutely. But the Marlins have proven NL Beast wrong for about the last month on that call, so who knows?

Ugly Mets

More to come on this in the morning, but the Mets lost their fourth straight tonight in Atlanta as Johan Santana couldn’t prevent the surging Braves lineup from overtaking the struggling New York club. The Mets have now lost seven of their last ten, have a losing record, and are 4.5 back of the Marlins (who beat Dan Haren tonight after beating Brandon Webb yesterday). It may not yet be time to panic, but it’s getting close. The fans are frustrated, the players are frustrated, the manager is frustrated, and one has to believe that the owners are frustrated, as well.

The Mets head to Colorado now to take on the struggling Rockies. The fate of Willie Randolph could very well rest on how the team performs in the next three games. Let’s not forget that the only reason why the Mets are still competative in the division is because of similarly mediocre play by the Braves and Phillies. Both of those teams seem to be turning a corner. The Mets are not following suit. A change has to be made, and the manager is the first one to go. Ultimately, the blame might rest on Willie, it might rest on Rick Peterson, it might rest on Howard Johnson, it might rest on Omar Minaya. But the manager is the one who is held accountable at the end of the day for the performance of his team on the field. Right now, that performance is unacceptable. As much as I like Willie, he’s a lame duck in my eyes. The blame might rest elsewhere, but it’s time for a change, and the first step has to be replacing Willie Randolph as manager.

-Jonathan Kraft

Marlins Beast (and least) of the Week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

Dan Uggla, 2B. Whatever Dan Uggla is drinking, the entire team needs to start following suit. For the past week, Uggla hit .545, .615, 1.000 with 2 HR and 4 RBIs for an OPS of 1.615. He is now fourth in Major League Baseball for OPS on the year (1.066). How do you describe Dan Uggla? Beast.

Runners-Up: Wes Helms, Matt Lindstrom, Mike Jacobs

And the least of the week is…

Alfredo Amezaga, Util. Amezaga, who is platooning with Cody Ross in center field, did not have a good week (.211, .211, .263). It has been speculated that Jacques Jones could win the starting job altogether, shifting Amezaga back to his role as utility infielder off the bench. That would probably be better for everyone.

Runners-down: Hanley Ramirez, Taylor Tankersley, Mark Hendrickson

Jacques Jones signs with Marlins

As was predicted, FA OF Jacque Jones has signed a deal with the Marlins, and will report to Extended Spring Training soon. Ken Rosenthal says Jones, who was recently released by the Detroit Tigers, will serve as a left-handed bat off of the bench. However, according to Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald, Jones could replace the platoon of Cody Ross and Alfredo Amezaga and start at center field. Jones was hitting .165 with Detroit, but is a career .278 hitter.

Around the Beast

Here are last night’s wrap-ups from the Phillies, Braves, and Marlins.

Braves 8-Phillies 6

Tom Glavine picked up his first Braves victory since 2002 as the Braves rolled over Brett Myers. The opening-day starter drops to 2-5 after surrendering home runs to Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar in the first, just a couple of the 6 earned runs he would give up on the night (4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, 3 HR, 75 P). For the Braves, Kelly Johnson added a home run, Gregor Blanco drove in two runs, and Brian McCann added another.

The Braves bullpen could barely contain the Philadelphia offense, allowing two earned runs in the last two innings, including a 2-out Ryan Howard home run in the 8th. Chase Utley also homered for the Phillies (2 runs in the 6th off of Glavine), Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs on the night and Shane Victorino drove in one. The bright spot for the Phillies was their bullpen, with Ryan Madson, Clay Condrey and Rudy Seanez combining for 4.2 scoreless innings in relief of Myers.

Reds 7-Marlins 6 (F/10)

Rookie shortstop Paul Janish hit a walk-off single in his Major League debut as the Reds defeated the Marlins in the 10th inning. That came after Cody Ross tied the game on a three-run longball off of Reds closer Francisco Cordero in the ninth. Cordero’s first blown save of the year was an ugly one–the Marlins scored all six of their runs in the top of the ninth. Reds pitcher Mike Lincoln was charged with four runs, Cordero with two. This after Bronson Arroyo shut the Marlins down, going 7 full innings allowing no runs on 5 hits, striking out 5 and walking 3 on 111 pitches.

The Marlins were plagued by ineffective pitching all night, first from starter Ricky Nolasco (4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 97 P), then from relievers Logan Kensing, Justin Miller, and Renyel Pinto. NL Beast has said it over and over again, the Marlins are only as good as their pitching.

Ross, Luis Gonzalez and Matt Treanor drove in runs for the Marlins. Adam Dunn homered and Jerry Hairston Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Brandon Phillips, Edwin Encarnacion and Janish plated runs for the Reds.

NYT profiles the Marlins

Jack Curry asks why the Marlins are winning games in an article in today’s New York Times.

How did this happen? The young, pressure-free Marlins have exhibited a lot of power and a lot of passion, and they have also displayed just enough pitching. When the Marlins thrive, it is usually because they overpower teams, and because they beat the teams they are supposed to beat.

“They can hit, man,” Manny Acta said Monday at Shea Stadium after being swept by Florida over the weekend. “They can slug with anybody.

“It all comes down to their starting pitchers,” said Washington’s Aaron Boone, who played for Florida last year. “Miller, Nolasco, Olson and Badenhop, are those guys going to become good pitchers?”

This comes down to what I’ve talked about numerous times in the past; Florida will only continue to win as long as their starting pitching keeps overachieving. But this is a team to be taken seriously, if not for this year, then for the next few.

-Jonathan Kraft

Around the beast

Marlins rally not enough against Reds

Despite three early homers by Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez, and Dan Uggla, the Marlins were not able to hold a lead against the Reds.  The Reds scored a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-3 lead, but Uggla tied it up with a sac-fly in the 7th.  In the top bottom of the 7th Taylor Tankersley gave up two 2-run home runs to Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips.

In the top of the 8th the Marlins gave their best effort to tie the game, rallying with two outs.  Luis Gonzalez scored two on a single to center and Mike Rabelo knocked in another after an error by Ken Griffey Jr. But that would be all for the Marlins, who left two on base to end the inning.  Francisco Cordero notched his sixth save of the season, securing the Aaron Harang‘s first win since April 10th.  Tankersley picked up the loss, breaking a 7 game winning streak for the first place Marlins.

Final score: Reds 8-Marlins 7

Braves split double header against Pirates in two lopsided affairs

In game 1, the Pirates shutout the Braves, needing only a Freddy Sanchez bases clearing double in the 3rd to get the job done.  Despite 5 walks and 3 fielding errors, Zach Duke let up no runs and only 5 hits in six innings of work to get his second win of the year.  Jair Jurrjens only lasted five innings and recorded his third loss of the year.  Adam LaRoche knocked a ball out of the park in the 8th inning against Jeff Bennet, icing the win.  It was the sixth in a row for the the streakingPirates.

Final Score: Pirates 5-Braves 0

The Pirates would not have as much luck in game 2.  Tim Hudson pitched a gem, going 7 innings, allowing no earned runs, only 2 hits, two walks and striking out 5.  The only runs the Pirates managed all day was on an error in the first inning Braves first baseman Greg Norton. The Braves shook off their offensive struggles from game 1 and crossed the plate 8 times in the win.  Steady hitting throughout the lineup helped the Braves break a three game losing streak; a streak that came right after winning 6 in a row at home.

Final Score: Braves 8-Pirates 1

-Greg Berlin

How ’bout those standings

It’s May 12, and the Florida Marlins are in first place.

That’s right, for the second week in a row, the team that just unloaded its sensational third baseman and its pitching ace is atop a division that includes the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.

A fluke? Not at all.

This is just one of the surprising storylines that has made this start to the 2008 season one of the more interesting that I can remember. Here are the storylines, one per team, that are making baseball fans scratch their heads right now: