Morning Wood: Pissing into the Wind
Wow.
From yesterday’s Wood:
Before yesterday’s game, their numbers were very similar- same ERA and innings pitched, and many other numbers that were nearly identical. One thoroughbred briefly inched ahead in the Cy Young race:
Roy Halladay: 219.2 IP, 2.34 ERA, 211 K, 30 BB, 1.04 WHIP, 8 CG, 1 SO
Cliff Lee: 210.2, 2.44 ERA, 211 K, 42 BB, 1.03 WHIP, 6 CG, 6 SO
Today, Clifton Phifer will have a chance to equal Doc. Should he throw another complete game shutout, they will once again have the same number of innings pitched and an identical ERA.
He came. Oh. So. Close.
With two outs in the eighth inning, our Steed dropped a 75 mph hook on Emilio Bonifacio that gave just a little smooch to the outside corner of home plate. It was Lee’s 11th strikeout of the night (he would end with 12), and sent him into the ninth inning with a chance to throw his seventh shutout of the season. Sadly, with two outs and two strikes, Jose Lopez would smoke a high cutter into the left field seats.
Wow.
Cliff couldn't muster up his usual whatever, just wow. Tie game. A brilliant stream of excellence cut-off with two outs in the ninth- the second time that’s happened to Lee this season.
Some Tweets I received around 10 PM:
A pony weeps.
What's odd here is that for the first time I can ever remember, fans would rather see a pitcher finish off a game instead of a walk-off double. That's what happens when you have like five aces. It’s all about the W, though. Wow led to a walk-off win, the Phillies' second victory of the day. Whatever.
Highlights of his performance here. Lee talked about his misadventure after the game. Video via Calkins Media:
His line: 9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 12 SO, 0 BB, 88-of-117 pitches for strikes. His 0.56 ERA over his last eight starts is the lowest ever by a Phillies pitcher over any 8-start span in one season, and the lowest by a pitcher on any team since Pedro Martinez did it in 2002. That’s excellent.
In the 10th, The Big Piece took his WAR and, once again, shoved it down the throats of the SABR nerds. His walk-off double scored Michael Martinez and allowed Michael Schwimer to get his first win just hours after yelling at me for spelling his name wrong.
With a Braves loss and a Phillies win tonight, the Phillies can clinch their fifth straight division title. Wow.
John Gonzalez writes about seven questions the Phils need to answer.
Jim McCormick writes about getting the bullpen sharp for October.
John Miller says we should laugh at the Philly haters.
This guy:
Finally, I was on 94 WIP last night with Big Daddy Graham. We talked Roenick, Tweeting athletes, and Schwimer’s dig at yours truly. You can listen to it after the jump.
Big daddy audio by crossingbroad
