Game 22: Walk This Way

So, today’s Phils-Mets rainout bought me a little more time to write about yesterday’s wild game at Citizen’s Bank Park. I was planted in section 202 for yesterday's game and, to be quite honest, I was far too tired and lazy to post anything last night. Thus, I’m writing now.

Before I get to the game, I will say I had two very pleasant experiences at the ball yard this week. First, I grabbed myself a Charlie Manuel bobblehead on Tuesday night. I also able to get close enough for some pretty good pictures of the World Series trophy that night. I'll post those when I get I can. Then, yesterday, I had the chance to watch the Phils beat the hated Mets in a bizarre, yet extremely exciting game. All in all, a pretty good week for me personally.

You probably know by the now the Phillies beat the Mets 6-5 on a walk-off walk by Shane Victorino. What a marathon. The game clocked in at 3 hours 43 minutes, which could be the longest Phillies game I’ve ever attended. Of course, 18 total walks between the two teams tends to put a drag on the game.

Anyway, this game drives home even further how deep-routed the Phillies pitching problems are this season. The Phils put all sorts of runners on base in the early innings against a ridiculously wild Oliver Perez. In fact, Perez issued six BBs in just 2.1 innings. Yup, six walks.That’s how wild he was. You would think, considering the lackluster Mets pitching, the Phils should have ran away with this one. However, that was not the case as Jamie Moyer allowed 5 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks in 5.2 innings of work. Once again, Charlie had to go to an over-worked bullpen probably about an inning earlier than he wanted. In all, the Phils used 5 relievers over the final 4.1 innngs to finish off the Mets. Like I said before, this bullpen will be fried and utterly useless in a few months unless these starting pitchers can get it together in a hurry. These 4 or 5-inning outing won’t cut it for too much longer.

Well, enough complaining. We did beat the Mets so I shouldn’t dwell on the little things too much. It shouldn’t matter how they do it, but as long as the Phils beat up on the Mets I should remain happy.