Chan Ho "It's Outta The" Park Gives Up 7; Phils Lose to Rival Mets

First off, I'd like to welcome myself and viewers to my first post in this blog...It's truly a priviledge to be able to do this. 

With that out of the way, Chan Ho Park took the mound tonight for the Phils- in an attempt to earn his first win with his new ballclub, since signing with them in the off-season.  Park, in his first inning of work tonight, gave up a homerun to deep right to Mets utility player David Murphy and was down 2-0 before Philadelphia even had a chance to come back or take a lead themselves.  Park's ERA didn't skyrocket because he's had a rough first 3 starts; leaving tonight's game at Citizen's Bank Park with an Earned Run Average of 8.57, after 4.2 innings of work.  

To me, it seems like Park overexerted himself, even before the regular season began- competing with left hander J.A. Happ, for the 5th spot in the World Series champs rotation.  Before getting the nod to be the last starter- CHP posted outstanding numbers in Spring Training. In 5 games, the Korean born right hander posted a 2-0 record, complimented by a 2.53 ERA in 21.1 innings of work (lvironpigs.wordpress.com).

Ironically enough, not including tonight's start, and in 3 starts this season, Chan Ho hadn't lost a game- with 13 earned runs given up in those 3 respective starts- vs. Colorado, San Diego & Florida. Don't forget about those Mets Mr. Park- because you/he will look to bounce back in his next start on May 6th vs. New York @ Citi Field.  The problem is, can he adjust, and fast- before the Phils give him the boot out of the rotation and introduce JA Happ or Kyle Kendrick from the minors instead? (Hypothetically speaking).

Looking ahead, the NL East Champs are now 11-10, and 0-1 in May after another successful, winning record in April.  So if April showers bring May Flowers, I look for the Phils to fully blossum into the champs they were last October, and come out swinging for the fences in the next few series & weeks upcoming.  After all, they can mold themselves into a great team when they want to- but need I remind you that it all starts with the leadoff man, Jimmy Rollins. Rollins play and start so far will not be acceptable and the team will need more from him to get it done- coming off of a .200 Mendoza line Batting average after 20 games in April. I can only hope fellow Phillies Phans can agree with me & I will borrow a term from Rollins' nickname that if he doesn't get on a "(J) Roll," that the team will have a hunch on it's back, in attempting to keep ground with the much improved Mets throughout this season.

Injury Update(s): Phillies Starting Catcher Carlos Ruiz is still rehabbing a strained oblique (currently on 15-day DL) at Triple A Lehigh Valley. Ruiz's suffered a setback this past Wednesday, due to oblique tightness during batting practice and won't be ready to go for at least 2 more days (Philadelphia Daily News).

-Brad Lidge- Lidge hasn't pitched since April 25th, in a save at Dolphin Stadium, and was nursing an inflamed right knee. Lidge was day to day, but says he is ready to get back out on the mound to pitch. UPDATE: Lidge, before tonight's game threw a 30 pitch bullpen session, without pain and still says he is ready to resume closing games. He should be back out their on Saturday or Sunday's games, dependent on if the Phillies have a lead or not in these games.

-Cole Train Damaged? It appears that Hamels too will be alright, and will not need a stint on the DL like Lidge. Hamels suffered a scare after rolling his ankle in a April 28th start vs. the Nationals & getting hit in the elbow by Brewers slugger Prince Fielder on April 23th.  Hamels pitched 4.2 innings of no run ball in his last start, and has a 2.50 ERA in these 2 respective starts.

The Rest of This Series:  Saturday, May 2nd vs. NYM- 3:40pm EDT- FOX- Odalis Perez (NYM) at Jamie Moyer (PHI)
                                             Sunday, May 3rd vs. NYM- 1:35pm EDT- WPHL 17- John Maine (NYM) at Joe Blanton (PHI)

-Predictions- With 28 games to be played this month; and with one down, 27 to go- I predict the Phillies will go 18-10 (given their are no rainouts of course). What do you think? Too high, too low- too early to be making predictions in general maybe??

-You have to factor in no JC Romero for another month; but that he will be back as we approach June....Can't wait to have
that guy back...a big asset to the success of our bullpen  ..

This Day In Phillies History 

1977- Greg "Bull" Luzinski hits his 1st HR in Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego; giving him AT LEAST one in every National League park. The Phightins lose though, 4-3.

1989: 3rd Baseman Mike Schmidt hits his 548th and final Homerun of his career, off of Houston's Jim Deshaies- but the Phillies lose 12-4.

2007- Phila. loses 4-3, but Shane Victorino guns down Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the plate in the game, to keep it close. Saltalamacchia debuts in the game as the player with the longest name in Major League history. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

Happy Birthday Don Hasenmayer (1945) 

---Stat(s) of The Night: 

.471- The Phillies have a .471 Winning Percentage on games played on May 2nd in their history (41 wins, 46 losses, 0 ties)

.819- Percentage of our comeback wins this season (9) over our total amount of wins so far (11)- .819

Questions For the Phans:

Who will hit the next GRAND SLAM for the Phils this season? And what are your thoughts/what did you think of the Harry Kalas eulogy at CBP?

Cheers, and "I'm Outta Here",

Kyle---SportsPhanatic