The reaction from fans last night seemed to be the same after the Phillies suffered a 13-2 blowout loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park:
Wow. Who was pitching?
Moyer.
Wow. Moyer? Really?
Yes, Moyer.
Jamie Moyer has been so good for the Phillies since he joined them last August that people had come to expect a good start from him every time he stepped on the mound (although he allowed five runs in six innings in his previous start, he still kept his team close enough to win). The Phillies entered last night 12-4 in his starts. He had pitched six or more innings in 15 starts. But last night wasn't a good matchup. Almost everybody in the Blue Jays lineup had pounded him in the past, and that form held true last night.
Moyer gets a chance to redeem himself Friday in Atlanta.
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The Phillies started their 10-game homestand against Chicago, Milwaukee and Toronto well -- they even got a buzz back in their skeptical fan base with some late-inning dramatics -- but need a victory today in the series finale against the Blue Jays to win the three-game series and hit the road with a .500 record. It would be a momentum killer for the Phillies to win five of their first six games at home, but lose three of their last four.
It's up to Adam Eaton to help the Phillies finish the homestand 7-3.
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The Inquirer's Sunday baseball column.
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In this week's Sports Illustarted, Barry Bonds is on the cover (they got his whole head in the shot), Baseball Prospectus writes how the Phillies have a clear advantage over the New York Mets and Braves this season in interleague play. The Braves' interleague opponents (Twins, Indians, Red Sox and Tigers) have a projected winning percentage of .577. The Mets' opponents (Tigers, Yankees, Twins and A's) have a PWP of .537. The Phillies' opponents (Blue Jays, Royals, White Sox, Tigers and Indians) have a .493 PWP.
In case you have not heard, Chipper Jones isn't happy about this. Funny, didn't hear him complain last season when the Phillies played the Red Sox six times, while the Braves got to play the Devil Rays three times.
