The Zo Zone

Nobody, was tight or nervous, its just baseball. Every team has these nights, you just hope this doesn't happen in play-offs. It did , now lets move on. In baseball, you can't look back and look for reasons, why ? I work nights and these radio experts, are driving me nuts. They need someone to blame. How's this sound ? (4) hits, case closed. Helms new wipping boy. Talk radio, a breeding ground, for miserable people...

Given that the Rockies are throwing another lefty today (Morales), I sure hope that Charlie reverts to a lineup that looks more like this: Rollins, Utley, Burrell, Howard, Rowand, Werth, Helms, Ruiz, Kendrick. If Utley and Howard struggle, we should at least break them up in the lineup.

I worry that Kendrick could have a case of the nerves...but I suppose that's possible for Morales too (8 career starts - period). Of course, the way the Phils were hacking yesterday, Morales may be able to blow through the lineup. They either win this game or the season is going to be over in a hurry. I don't see Lohse or Moyer throwing shutout ball in Denver....

The Phils accomplished so much in their stretch run with Burrell hitting 3rd (against lefties at least) and Werth in the lineup... It was a surprise to see Victorino in the lineup batting 2nd against a LHP.

When Bourn came in as a PR, he didn't try to run - did that surprise anyone else? It would have been nice to have at least one crack at tying the game there with a runner on 2nd.

Helms was in the lineup because he was 4-for-6 lifetime against Francis. Didn't help I guess.

Good game by Hamels after that 2nd inning. Both starters had one bad inning. Hamels' was one run more bad, that's all.

Get 'em today.

Why the Helms bashing? With the exception of 2 at-bats, the entire offense was awful yesterday. Utley saw 13 pitches in striking out 4 times. Wow.

Hopefully Kendrick will check the forecast, not come out in long-johns and a wool dickie. "Sleevegate?"

I'd also like to see Burrell hit third, with Dobbs and Werth back in the line-up.

We'll know in a few hours. Need to get the fans pumped early, keep them constant throughout the game. Let's go Phils!!!!

I agree with the call for the lineup change. It didn't work on Saturday vs. the Nats and it didn't work yesterday.

Helms suprisingly played decent yesterday, making one great play in the field and driving the ball to deep left/center field.

It all starts with 1 through 4 and they just didn't get it done.

Hopefully they can come out today with a little more fire without pressing.

The Rockies have won 14 of 15. They are due for a few losses.

Go Phils!

I have confidence in Kendrick, I think he will do fine today and we right the ship. But why Bourne wasn't running is a mystery. Lopes body language seemed to indicate he wasn't understanding why either. But that's not why we lost. A minor detail on a bad day.

My fun theory (and anyone here in Philly listening to radio or TV has a theory, blah, blah, blah) is the shadow talk got into OUR players heads. So much talk about shadows...seems to me the Phils have done fine on Sunday's and BP specials all year playing in shadows at 3 pm, why is it a issue now? I remember we beat the Mutts late in the afternoon during that keystone sweep. The Shadow knows.

Coolest thing I ever saw at CBP...Asburn Alley was pretty deserted the whole game as were the concourses, everyone pretty much stayed in their seats. You could actually run up between innings, buy a beer or hit the head and be back in your seat before the first batter, at least on the first level.

Have faith, we win today, assuming the bats show up. Go Phils!

GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random reactions...

Jimmymack, you are right about Ashburn Alley! My buddy and me decided not to go for a Tony Luke's pork sandwich 'cause we didn't want to get stuck in the usual long line. So we went with some quick food from the stand behind our section. Once the game started, we could see Tony Luke's with no line at all... the whole game! (PS- Don't get the stromboli from the pizza stands. Still with me...)

Agree on the lineup. Need to get back to what worked during the heart of the stretch, which was Burrel hitting 3rd. I have been commenting to my wife for 3 weeks that I thought Chase looked like he was struggling at the plate. I bet if you look at his K's over the past month, they're higher than the rest of the season. Something's off. Normally, the best 2-strike hitter I can think of. Let's hope he can relax and turn it around.

I disagree that the the loss can be placed on Hamels' shoulders. He had a bad 2nd inning, but otherwise was solid. Bottom line is that the Phils should be able to put up 3 runs other than the 2 solo shots. If they're hitting like normal, they win that game 5 or 6 to 4. (Wasn't that a Chicago song?)

As for any talk of the fans, I thought the place had great energy pretty much all day. Sure it's tough to keep it crazy when something bad happens (wow, was it dead silence after Holliday's homer), but I felt the energy level was up and positive otherwise.

Go Phils! We're still in this, babay!

Hey in '93 we had a manager that "went with what got him there" referring to putting Wild Thing in there. Now we have a manager who inexplicably goes against what got him there by not having Werth in against lefties. Victorino is fast and has a cannon of an arm but I could never say he is a tough out for the opposition. Oh well lets get em today

It's ok lets all relax and not forget this team is full of so many young stud players, it was the first postseason game for them mostly all of them so sure they where a little bit nervous for the first few innings, look for a huge afternoon today i am feeling a power surge ready to come on now they know what the feeling is like they are ready to play philly baseball. All the loyal fans and all the bandwagon jumpers now is the time for the city to show this philly team why we support them all along. Go get'em fightin's