Top 10 Philadelphia Sports Games In 2010

Now that everyone has annoyed me to death by airing out their grievances on this so-called holiday stemming from a TV show that has been canceled for 12 and a half years (I was forced to do this), I say it's time to celebrate the year that was! And by doing so, I will post after the jump my list of the Top 10 games Philadelphia sports teams played in 2010. Not that this needs to be re-stated, but this is just one man's opinion on how they should be ranked and this is by no means anything authoritative. Feel free to disagree in the comments.

Honorable Mentions

The Capital Mud Bowl: January 1. Playing on a football field that most high schools would call inadequate, Penn State battled the always entertaining Les Miles and his LSU Tigers on a New Years Day Bowl, winning it on a last minute field goal. Penn State 19, LSU 17. (click here for highlights)

Michael Vick Starts His 1st Game Since Release From Prison; Throttles Lions: September 19. Even though it was the Lions, they have been more of a hard luck team not quite as bad as their record indicates. Regardless of that, Vick tore apart the Lions defense in this game, not really remarkable in anyway other than for the resurgence of Michael Vick's career as a starter. Eagles 35, Lions 32. (click here for highlights)

Old Man Pitches Historic Gem: May 7. To Jamie Moyer, age is only this random annoying number. At the age of 47, the old man became the oldest pitcher to ever throw a shutout in MLB history when he allowed only two hits against the Atlanta Braves. Phillies 7, Braves 0. (click here for highlights)

Follow the jump for the list of the Top 10 list.

Who Wants To See Cole Hamels's Ass?

I hope you answered yes.

(Hat tip to The Fightins and Marisa Magnatta on Twitter)

OMGAGNE!

On a night where Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher to ever throw a complete game shutout, Simon Gagne pulled some of his 2004 magic in Game 4 of the Bruins-Flyers series. After giving up the game-tying goal with less than a minute in regulation, a certain returning Philadelphia Flyer had a little something to say about that.



The series may still be 3-1 Boston, but that is just flat out awesome. The Flyers have played well in this series despite losing the first three games, so a stronger run is certainly not out of the question.

Anyway, regardless of what happens in the future, tonight was a good night to be a Philly sports fan.

Party Like It's The 2008 NLDS!

At the start of the season, when asked if Roy Halladay was the best pitcher in the NL East, Johan alluded that he was the top dog in said division. Well, one day after Halladay pitched a complete game 3-hit shutout, Johan had his chance to prove his case. Unfortunately for him, the Phillies made sure that tonight would be the worst start in Johan's career.

The climax of Johan's disaster was in the midst of what would be an 8-run 4th inning against the Mets true ace. It started innocently enough with a run and a few men getting on base. But then there were bases loaded on with 2 out. And Jamie Moyer was at the plate. At which point, a sequel of the 2008 NLDS was instantly shot. I give you your cast:

Johan Santana as CC Sabathia
Jamie Moyer as Brett Myers
Shane Victorino as himself

Because MLB is the absolute worst when it comes to pulling videos from YouTube (I get that it's illegal, but really MLB, embrace the free publicity like the NHL does), I am just putting links up to the highlights at MLB.com

Jamie Moyer draws a bases loaded walk

Next at-bat: Shane Victorino launches a grand slam

Utley puts the exclamation point on the worst day in Johan Santana's career with a 2-run bomb that is still flying somewhere

Now if only the Phillies could hit all of the 5th starters and/or other schmucks they face, this team would be unbeatable, in spite of the iffy starting pitching!

Just When You Thought The Phillies Starting Pitcher Controversies Were Over.....

....Jamie Moyer comes in in relief of Pedro Martinez after a long rain delay and pitches the last 6 innings of the game, giving up only 2 hits in the process and no runs. And that's not to say that Martinez was necessarily bad, as he allowed 1 run and 2 hits in 3 innings, a pace that if kept, the Phillies would be giddy if he kept through 9 innings of play, but Moyer tore the house down. Now in all likelihood, Jamie Moyer won't get called back to the starting rotation unless there is an injury to a starting pitcher, but regardless, even though he is now a member of The Pen, tonight was Old Man (or GrandPaPa as we call him in the JFein household, even though he is not actually a grandfather) Jamie Moyer's night as the Phils won 5-1, in large part thanks to Moyer.

Moyer relieves Pedro in rainy Phils win (Phillies.com)

Jamie Moyer On Being Demoted To The Pen

I've said this before and I'll say it again, I think Jamie Moyer is a great guy and despite his recent struggles and inconsistency, I still really like him as a pitcher. That being said, I am in fact eager to see Pedro Martinez pitch tomorrow. It's a shame that Moyer had to leave but with the rest of the group, there really was no one else the Phils could reasonably take out of the starting rotation. Naturally, Jamie Moyer feels a little disheartened by the demotion but perhaps not for the obvious reasons. He claims he feels "misled" and had these words to say on the subject matter.

"I'm really not happy with this decision that the Phillies have made," he said, sitting in the stands behind the first-base dugout. "I will take what they've asked me to do, but I'm not really excited about the decision that has been made. Ultimately, I'm a little dishearted because this past winter when I was negotiating with the Phillies this was a sore thumb, if you will, about this potentially happening.

"You can't promise anything in this game, but I really felt that Ruben (Amaro Jr.) parlayed to me that this type of situation would not happen. Actually, even had some discussion with David (Montgomery) with them reassuring me that this type of situation wouldn't happen. Again, I'm a little disheartend by the way it's happened, how it's happened. We're still in first place. I probably feel like I haven't contributed as well as I could have, but I think if you go around to the other 24 players on our club they would probably say the same type of thing.

"Whether I like it or not, this is the situation I'm in. I will deal with it. I will deal with it in a respectful way. I'll be respectful to my teammates. Like I said at the beginning, I do not want to be a distraction and I refuse to be a distraction. It's about the 25 players that are here. We all have to pick each other up. We all have to support each other. We all have to be professional about what we do. This is job that sometimes you're in situations that you like or dislike and you have to deal with it. That's why for me dealing with this like a man and taking whatever they choose to do. I'm an employee here, but I don't always have to like the situation that I'm in. And that's OK. Life goes on. But like I said, I feel a little disheartened. I feel a little bit like I've been misled. I feel like I've played this game long enough that the respect factor should be there."

Maybe he's just upset that he arrived too late for the MLB Network reality show, The Pen...

Seriously, though, I can't say that I disagree with anything he says. Let's just hope that Moyer can channel his anger in the bullpen and pitch well enough where if disaster strikes the starting rotation (and we know how injured the Phils starting rotation has been throughout the year), he can fill in on a moments notice. Curt Schilling may be famous for the bloody sock, but Jamie Moyer will now be remembered for his Toilet Bowl Performance in the World Series.

Pedro Martinez To Start Wednesday; Jamie Moyer To The Pen

All things considered, I guess this really is not much of a surprise. With the announcement last week that J.A. Happ would remain in the starting rotation, it was only a matter of time before the Phillies officially announced that Martinez would be in the starting rotation and Old Man Jamie Moyer would move to The Pen. And that is exactly what happened. From ESPN.com

The Philadelphia Phillies announced that Martinez will make his first start of the season on Wednesday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Manager Charlie Manuel informed Moyer on Monday that he will move to the bullpen.

Martinez, 37, last pitched for the New York Mets in 2008, going 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts before injuries put him on the shelf. The Phillies signed him on July 15 and immediately put him on the disabled list with a shoulder strain.

In three rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues, Martinez went 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA.

"Based on our reports on how Pedro has pitched in his rehab starts, we felt it was time to move him into our rotation," Manuel said. "Jamie was a total professional and team player when we let him know of the decision to move him to the bullpen. He has been and will continue to be a very important part of this team."

In addition, Rodrigo Lopez has now been optioned back to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (I seriously doubt that there is any minor league affiliate period that has a team name than the Iron Pigs). And while I am certainly open to giving Martinez this chance, I am a little worried about Moyer in The Pen just because this is not really his style. Moyer is the type that typically struggles early and gets into a groove later (although he did the opposite yesterday), and that style may not play out so great in a bullpen. Alas, we'll just have to wait and see.

J.A. Happ To Remain In The Phils Starting Rotation; Possible 6-Man Rotation???

Ever since the Phillies signed Cliff Lee there was rampant speculation as to who would be the latest member of The Pen. The likely candidates at the time were Pedro Martinez and J.A. Happ with an outside shot of Old Man Jamie Moyer being demoted. Well, it looks like we can scratch one of those names off the list as Ruben Amaro, Jr. has stated that J.A. Happ will remain in the Phillies starting rotation. Via CSN Philly.

Call it a crazy convergence of unnatural forces. No one thought a three-time Cy Young Award winner and one of the best pitchers of a generation would be vying for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation along with a 23-season veteran with more career wins than Bob Gibson and Happ, who very well could be the NL Rookie of the Year.

Of course no one thought the Phillies would have another Cy Young Award winner fronting the rotation in Cliff Lee, either. So if the Phillies have been caught a little off guard, it’s understandable. Besides, it’s not the planning anyone cares about – it’s the result of it all.

So thanks in part to the 10-strikeout performance in Wednesday night’s shutout as well as the most consistent work of any starter on the club all season long, Happ and his 8-2 record and 2.74 ERA will remain in the starting rotation.

“Happ’s not going anywhere. He’s not going out of the rotation,” Amaro said. “He deserves to stay in the rotation. He’s pitched very well. He’s probably been our most effective starter.”

With Happ in the starting five, the Phillies have lefties Lee and Cole Hamels as well as the resurgent Joe Blanton. The final spot is currently taken up by veteran lefty Jamie Moyer, which is the biggest point of contention. Since Martinez is ready to be activated whenever the Phillies give the OK, the question is what to do with Moyer?

Though he leads the team in wins with 10 (and losses with eight), Moyer is the weakest link of the current five starters. His ERA is the second-worst in the league amongst the 49 starters that qualify for the ERA title with a 5.55 mark that explodes over 6 when his three starts against the Marlins are eliminated.

However, Moyer’s soft stuff likely won’t play well in the bullpen. Neither will the fact that he needs ample time to warm up before pitching. Plus, to be fair, the Marlins are the Phillies’ closest competitors and Moyer has owned them (13-2 in 15 career starts).

Aye, there’s the rub.

“We still haven’t made a decision,” Amaro said. “But it’s not out of the realm of possibility that six guys could pitch in our rotation.”

Well then! That last part certainly caught me a bit off guard. I was not quite expecting to read that, I guess because a 6-man rotation is unheard of, but at this point it might actually make some sense. Jamie Moyer, and I truly love the guy as a player, is not a bullpen pitcher. His struggles frequently come in the early innings of games, and when you are a bullpen pitcher, you need to come off the bench and get out of the inning. The Pen would be more suiting for Moyer say if he could generally go the 1st 4 innings fine and had his struggles then. But the other side of that coin, is how in the blue hell do you go out and sign shoe-in future hall-of-famer Pedro Martinez to a 1-year deal, have him do numerous minor-league rehab starts, only to place him in The Pen? He's at the end of his career, obviously, and while on paper it is not a bad idea at all, there would no doubt be questions of how Martinez can adapt to such a situation.

What will actually happen, I have no idea, but this is probably without a doubt the best damn problem that the Phillies have had all season.