It was a rough day yesterday for the Phils. A heartbreaking loss to the Mets in fourteen twelve innings (it just felt like fourteen) gave us an anti-climactic conclusion to a rain-delayed, thrilling comeback in the ninth inning on a two-out, two-run blast by Jayson Werth off of Billy Wagner.
(So that’s — what, six blown saves for Wags now? Not that I’m counting or anything.)
To make matters worse, the Daily News reports that Tom Gordon has been placed on the 15-day DL following yesterday’s game. So, yeah… tough day.
As is often the case with me, when the major-league teams come up short, I look to our minor leagues for a morale boost. The Soul beat the New York Dragons in the AFL playoffs Saturday, and yesterday Les Walrond of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs made team history. Walrond struck out seventeen batters in nine innings of shutout baseball as the ‘Pigs triumphed over the Louisville Bats*, 2-0.
Les Walrond: Call-up material? Let’s examine why and why not.
Why: In his last week of pitching, these are Walrond’s stats: 2 starts, 15 IP, 11 H, 3 ER (1.80 ERA), 4 BB, 21 Ks. He has some big-league experience (2 call-ups for a total of 17 games). His repertoire of pitches includes a fast-ball, a curve, a slider and a change-up that he’s now improving. Did I mention he’s a lefty? No? He’s a lefty.
Why Not: Despite his recent excellence, Walrond is 3-7 on the season. He’s averaging less than six innings per start (13 GS, 73.1 IP). The sum of his major-league experience (one year with the Royals, one with the White Sox) resulted in a record of 0-3, with an ERA of 7.46. Did I mention he’s 31 years old? No? He’s 31 years old.
[PHOTO CREDIT: RICH SCHULTZ, Allentown Morning Call]
*Why didn’t they just call themselves the “Louisville Sluggers?” Must have been a trademark issue.
7 Comments on “A Little Positivity for A Crappy Monday Morning”
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General
July 7th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The fact that Tom Gordon can’t fuck up another game for a while is GOOD news in my book.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I suppose you can look at this in a “glass half full” kind of way. Considering Flash has given up eight runs in his last six appearances, this is probably as good a time as any to let the old man rest up for a while.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
The ending to the Soul game was tremendous. They scored the go-ahead TD with no time remaining. The officials had to review the play and claim the ball crossed the goalline before his knee went down (and they blew the call horribly). I think the AFL Commissioner wants the Soul to win it this year.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
At first I thought that was Gordon in the photo. I was going to admire your photoshop skills. Then I realized Gordon isn’t a lefty and now he would never put up those numbers…Here’s to Swindle, who hopefully surprise everyone and become a bullpen rock.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Rest assured, Robert, that my PhotoShop skills are never worthy of admiration.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
baseball is an odd sport
July 13th, 2008 at 4:50 am
I know I’m amazingly far behind on the blog, and I’m ashamed of that. Because you guys give me some serious LOLz!
But, as a Lehigh Valley resident, I can only hope that the ‘Pigs pick it up. Not only are we living with the Phillies epic fail as of late, but the Piggies just… ooze it. At 39-58 (which puts them at .402) they are the worst team in the IL. And man, does that sting.
Here’s to hoping it’s just them getting used to being in the Valley, with the new ballpark, in front of new fans. Because some of those boys are amazingly talented. Jason Jaramillo, TJ Baun, and J.A. Happ for the win!