Chase Utley ignited the Philadelphia Phillies with his presence, he led the regulars to their fielding positions, and the team responded in the 10-3 triumph. This article covers the degree of his influence that started before he arrived.
Tal's Handy Caps:
First, however, I’ll briefly cover the game in a few sentences. There were 4 bombs that accounted for all but 4 of the runs, which were all from The Phils. They banged out 14 hits for those 10 runs, which had diverging elements: the ineffective showing from the opposing pitcher, the warmth in the air, and the adrenaline rush with the cavalry’s arrival.
How do The Giants compare to The Phillies in their starting rotation? How good are the bullpens of The Phils and Braves? I am doing a game-day 2011 ERA For The NL East, and 2011 ERA For The MLB 5. Check out The Phillies page by placing the pointer over MLB at the top, and click on the team name. The latest MLB 5 ERA is at the bottom, or can go to my page ( Tal Venada ) for both.
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NITECAP INSIGHT:
The Ut In But:
2nd-Inning Out?
The Phillies touched the plate 10 times but it wasn’t all due to Utley. They will score more during hitting season, but so will their foes. The difference would be the aces, who will mostly allow solo shots except during their clunkers and gut-it-out adventures, like last night. The locals will have a distinctive advantage with long-ball RBI, but it evens out due to less-powerful sticks. For the most part, the hometown heroes will see a bump in their production to 4-5 runs, when they are not slumping. This week we’ll see a sizable bounce in offense, because the bats are spreading the fire.
This started before Utley was rumored to be here during the home stand, and it was initiated by Raul Ibanez, Polly Polanco and the opportunity for John Mayberry Jr. Ibanez owns a .353 average after May 1, getting aboard twice in 10 of 19 contests–9 were multi-knock results. Polly has 3 two-hit games during the last 5, is 8 for 20, and he has knocks in all 5. Mayberry has 3 RBI on 2 singles for the last 3 contests, had 3 pilfered bags in St. Louis, and he has made his offense noticeable.
Yesterday, every regular of the fielded nine had hits except for Chase. Without Utley the 1-6 holes had 11 knocks (2 plus apiece) with 7 RBI, while the bottom 3 had 3 hits and 3 RBI. Clearly, there was abundant enthusiasm that even Utley acknowledged feeling himself. The Ut in but is that part of yesterday’s stats were from that energy; however, this is not the 2008 offense with 4 number ones. There are many 1-run decisions down the road, which are mostly heart-stopping victories.
Vance Worley vs. Johnny Cueto
Vance Worley In His Last Start On May 4 At The Bank
THE PRECAP:
This is a battle of 2 throwers with only a few stints behind them. Worley will have the advantage of limited exposure that has benefited him so far. Cueto comes to Philly at an unfortunate time with the bats heating up after the 2011 debut for Utley, and he is a right hander also.
The Phillies:
Worley is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA for 16 complete, managing 9 hits, 2 both-earned runs and 6 walked to 15 retired on strikes. In his most recent outing, he finished 6 frames on 94 darts, scattering 4 hits, 1 run (earned) and 0 BB to 7 fanned. As a starter, he has an 0.75 ERA with both wins over 12 full, dealing out only 6 hits, 1 run (earned) and 4 bases on balls to 12 whiffs.
Game 2: RHP Vance Worley (2-0, 1.13 ERA) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (2-1, 1.45 ERA) on Tuesday Night
Johnny Cueto At Home On May 19
The Reds:
Cueto is 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA, going 7.2 innings in 1 of 3 attempts. He has accumulated 18.2 total, permitting only 13 hits, 6 runs (3 earned) and 6 free passes to 14 strikeouts. He went 5 frames on Thursday (94 tosses), giving up 5 hits, 3 all-earned runs and 3 walks to 5 K’s.
Upcoming Home Precaps:
Game 3: RHP Doc Halladay (6-3, 2.21 ERA) vs. LHP Travis Wood (3-3, 5.17 ERA) on Wednesday Night
Game 4: LHP Cliff Lee (3-4, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Homer Bailey (3-1, 2.08 ERA) on Thursday Afternoon
The Apocalyptic Horsemen: Stats
The Apocalyptic Horsemen:
Cole Hamels struggled with his command during the second half of his 102-pitch effort for 6 complete, surviving 5 hits, 3 all-earned runs and 2 passed to 4 fanned. Since his season-opening debacle, he is 6-1 with a 2.35 ERA, achieving 7 innings plus in 7 of 9 performances. He has hurled 65 full, negotiating through 47 hits, 17 all-earned runs and 14 BB (2 intentional) to 65 punch outs
| ACE | W | L | ERA | IN+ | CONV | CG | SO | STOPS |
| Total | 18 | 11 | 2.84 | 6.1+ | 24 of 37 | 6 | 1 | 8 of 11 |
| Halladay | 06 | 03 | 2.21 | 6.2+ | 09 of 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 of 03 |
| Lee | 03 | 04 | 3.38 | 6.1+ | 07 of 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 of 01 |
| Oswalt | 03 | 02 | 2.77 | 7.0+ | 01 of 07 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 02 |
| Hamels | 06 | 02 | 3.06 | 7.0+ | 07 of 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 of 05 |
| ACE | IN | H | R | ER | BB | IBB | SO |
| Total | 250.2 | 219 | 82 | 79 | 51 | 1 | 253 |
| Halladay | 077.1 | 064 | 20 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 080 |
| Lee | 066.2 | 065 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 078 |
| Oswalt | 039.0 | 036 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 027 |
| Hamels | 067.2 | 054 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 1 | 068 |