Phils Recap: Cubs 6 Phils 5

In an effort to bring you the most extensive Phils coverage, the effervescent Phillies Superfan Ballz D. McGuillicuty will be providing you with his insights after every Phils game. Hold onto your butts.

The Good:

• Here's the stat line: CF, 2-4, 1 BB, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB. You think Shane Victorino? Nope. Try Jayson Werth. Werth, formerly known as Werthless, has been money here in the early going, hitting .421 in limited action. I think Victorino's injury is a blessing in disguise. It'll give us a chance to see if this guy is for real and it removes Mr. I swing at every first pitch ever thrown from the lineup for a couple of weeks.

• J.C. Romero continues to be dominant and would've saved the Phils from another Tom Gordon nightmare had it not been for a lucky check-swing single through a drawn in in-field.

• Brad Lidge and his slider were simply filthy. If only we had the lead when he came in...

The Bad:

• I am going to try to do my best to prevent from ever using this space to bash an umpire, but this game does warrant it. The fact that the 3B ump got the DeRosa HR call wrong was not nearly as infuriating as his defiance that he may have seen things incorrectly. At least, Charlie Manuel's fine should be waved. It won't be, but it should.

• Jimy Williams, taking over for the ejected Manuel, decided to twice try and bunt with players who have no idea how to bunt. I know we would all like to think that major league ball players making zillions of dollars each year should be able to bunt. But they can't. The same reason that Shaq can't make free throws. It's just not doable for them. Yet, despite the ineffectiveness of Werth to get a bunt down in the bottom of the 8th innning, Jim-ee decided to try it again with Pedro Feliz in the bottom of the 9th. The only difference here, besides that this awfully overrated tactic (see Moneyball) had just failed the inning prior, is that the batters following Feliz who would be charged with getting the winning run home were a pinch hitter and everyone's favorite backup shortstop, Bruntty.

• Tom Gordon; Still sucks. On a side note, I believe the novel, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, was secretly about a Mets fan.

• Men left on base. 15. 15! Mother f'in 15!!! I mean, seriously? 15? Why do we only hit homeruns when no one is on base and why do we only hit ground balls to the shortstop when the based are loaded.

The Hero:

Derek Lee. Had a good day at the plate and saved the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with his glove. If only there was some way to morph Rico Brogna's defensive ability and Ryan Howard's bat into one super first baseman....oh wait, there is...Albert Pujols.

The Goat:

I hate to do this seeing that this is the first official recap post, but is has to go to Utley. Again, there is no certainty that the Phils would've won had he not thrown the ball away in the top of the 10th, but the Cubs had already wasted their only 3 bullpen arms worth anything and they were out of position players. The odds were in the Phils favor. And remember, the guy running down the first base line was Carlos Zambrano, not exactly a cheetah.

The Bottom Line:
Had to expect a loss after reeling off wins in the first two games of the series. However, as the weather warms up, if you'd give me Jamie Moyer going 5 and giving up 4 earned, I'd take it every time out. Despite all the LOB's, I think the offense is starting to pick things up a little. And 2-3 in 5 games without Rollins isn't the end of the world. Prediction for upcoming series vs Astros: Phils take 2 of 3.