Gabe Kapler pushed all the right buttons yesterday in the Phillies intense 2-1 victory over the Rockies. The Phils have taken the first two games of the weekend series, and are 3-3 on the current home stand.
Kapler allowed Hector Neris go two innings and he was perfect, picking up the save. Neris has mostly pitched well this season so far. I still think the team needs a 9th inning, reliable closer.Neris and Adam Morgan have been two of the more dependable relievers out of the bullpen this season.
The manager also let starter Aaron Nola start the 7th inning, despite the fact that Nola had thrown 99 pitches already. He had given up no runs at that point.
Nola surrendered a couple of hits and a run before being lifted. I don't blame Kapler. I would rather Nola go that extra inning if possible.
Nola looked like the Nola of 2018, striking out 12 Rockies. Nola was controlling his fastball and crisply snapping off his curve ball. Maybe the warmer weather suits Nola, since he is from muggy Louisiana. He threw free and easy against Colorado, pitching into the 7th inning.
Bryce Harper hit a titanic home run onto Ashburn Alley, completely over the center field brick wall. It went 466 feet, one of the longest homers ever at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch fastball in the first inning. Harper also doubled later in the game.
That's why Harper makes such a difference. Even when he's not hitting he is always a threat. He effects the batters around him in the order. He strikeout too much but he also walks a lot and he leads the team in doubles. We knew what we were getting in Harper. If you accept the power you must accept the strikeouts too.
Harper should stay is the third slot in the order. As the weather heats up so will Harper.
Cesar Hernandez continues to hit, even though he has miscues in the field. Scott Kingery should be activated soon. He will push Hernandez, and even Franco for playing time. That's good. It motivates those guys plus it makes the bench deeper.
Odubel Herrera continues to kill the club. Problem is, right now, there is no one to replace him in center field, other than Andrew McCuthen shifting from left to center. In the long term, Mickey Moniak and Adam Heasley can play center field but they are still in the minors.
Herrera gets into a funk at the plate. With his pronounced leg-kick much of Herrera's problems is timing. Herrera sometimes doesn't hustle, such as running out a single into an easy double in Kansas City last Sunday. He hasn't learned form his laziness basically because no one has called him on it. Managers have "talked " to Herrera about his lack of hustle, but no one has immediately taken him out of a game or sat him a few games after an incident.
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Chris Long retired from football yesterday after an 11-year career. Long spent two years with the Eagles, and was the author of the "underdog mask" along with Lane Johnson that rallied the team and Eagle fans during the 2018 championship playoff run.
Chris, the son of Howie Long, added depth to the defensive line and when he did play, offered a fierce pass rush. He will be missed, both on the field and in the locker room.
As mentioned, I got my Eagles tickets for this upcoming season. The season opener vs Washington. DeSean Jackson's revenge. This should be a win but it is a division game. It will be warm, a 1:00 start.
I have the second home game, Sept. 22 vs the Lions. Should be another win, taking on the dome team, but it won't be cold yet. The lions always seem to give the Birds trouble. The last time Detroit played in Philadelphia was the famous "Snow Bowl" game when LeSean McCoy ran through a snowstorm on the way to over 200 yards and an Eagle victory.
My third game is The Game of this home season- Nov. 17 against the defending champion new England Patriots. It will probably be Tom Brady's last game in Philly, and maybe against the Birds. It's a 4:25 game in mid- November. It could be flexed but won't be, as it is a network game.
This is almost a rubber game of the series, as the Pats won in 2004 and the Eagles won in 2017. Who knows what the records will be by then, or if there will be injuries that change the outcome. But it should be a hell of a game, no matter what.
The New England game, six month out from kickoff, is going for over $400 a ticket on the second market. I'm sure that figure will increase as game time nears in the fall.
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