The Phillies were off on Memorial Day while most of major League Baseball played day games on the holiday. Seemed weird for the Phils to be idle, but I'm sure the players loved it, spending time with the families and finally having an off day in the midst of a long stretch of games.
The Phillies remain in 1st place atop National League East by 1 1/2 games over Atlanta. Philadelphia is at home tonight- weather permitting- against St. Louis while the surging Braves host the fading Nationals.
J.D. Hammer, the newest Phillie rookie reliever, made his debut over the weekend and was impressive. Wearing thick, Coke-bottle glasses and long, shaggy, curly brown hair, Hammer ( what a great name for a reliever!) could catch on as quite a character on the team-if he is good.
I can see it now.."It's Hammer time! .."Time to put down the hammer!" ..while the P.A. system at Citizens Bank Park plays music by M.C. Hammer ("Can't Touch This!"). Let's hope he is eventually the closer the bullpen needs.
Vince Valasquez, after an impressive bullpen appearance on Saturday, came back Sunday and gave up four runs in only 2/3 of an inning. Valasquez all but said "I don't want to be a reliever." He's been an inconsistent starter, plus Nick Pivetta has grabbed the only opening in the rotation. If Valasquez doesn't adapt and accept coming out of the bullpen I can see management giving up on him and trading him during the off-season.
Speaking of Pivetta, he gets another shot tonight vs the Cardinals, after pitching well in Lehigh Valley. Let's hope he has learned to pitch to contact and throw strikes.
Another young hurler, Zach Eflin, got torched on Sunday at Milwaukee. Supposedly Eflin had a stomach bug yesterday which may excuse his performance. So why was he even on the mound if he was that sick?
Brandon Woodruff, the Brewers' ace, shut down the Phils, striking out 10 in 8 innings, surrendering one hit all afternoon, a solo shot by Andrew Knapp. The offense remains inconsistent but credit Woodruff in pitching a masterful game.
Bryce Harper continues to struggle. He's on a pace to strike out more than 200 times this season. He is stuck at 9 home runs and is hitting around .230. Yet the team is in first place. The other additions: Segura, Mccuthen and Realmuto, so far are carrying the load. Hopefully Harper heats up as the weather does.
After the quick three-game series with the Redbirds, the Phils fly to the West coast for games against the Dodgers and Padres. Their schedule lightens up a bit in June with more games against weaker foes like the Reds, Marlins and Nats.
The NBA Finals start on Thursday night in Oakland. The defending champion Golden State Warriors face the upstart Toronto Raptors in Game 1. even though Toronto's Kahwi Leonard had played brilliant basketball through-out the playoffs, he has little help, whereas the Warriors come at you with Steph Curry, Keven Durant and others.
Golden State knows what it takes to win. I think the Warriors win the series in five games.
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