Philadelphia Phillies storyline: the opponent’s value

Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies is headed for rehab in Clearwater. However, in Atlanta and Washington, the so-called punch-challenged locals have looked quite different. Was this to be anticipated, if not expected?

TAL'S HANDY CAPS

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT:

Penthouse Occupancy for the 5-4 final: 3

The Crystal Champagne Toast is a salute to Chooch Ruiz.

Vic Confronts The 3B Ump In The 7th After Another Bad Call

He was applauded at the Animal House after his straightaway centerfield poke near the 401’ sign in the 5th during his 2 for 4 night. In the 7th he was robbed of a game-winning RBI twice by the 3B blue. He was joined on the top floor by Hunter Pence and Jimmy Rollins. Hunter rocketed a 2-RBI blast in the 4th, and Rollins accumulated 2 fielding gems.

The House Of Blues featured 2 umpires in a 3-man crew. The one at third blew 3 calls and wasn’t in position for another, while the other behind the dish had a short fuse and a tight strike zone.

The Outhouse was filled by HP ump Rob Drake for immediately ejecting Cholley Manuel, who wanted a 2nd opinion on an unchecked swing in the 1st. Cholley asked for another impression, complained from the dugout, and he was abruptly tossed.

The Big House Key locked in 3B umpire Andy Fletcher for missing 2 plays that would have plated a 4th tally. A 4-3 regulation triumph became a 5-4 defeat in the 11th, when Michael Schwimer ran out of gas after 58 bullets over 2.2 frames. Fletcher ruled a double over the hot-corner sack foul, when it caught 6” of the pillow in the 7th. He rang up Shane Victorino for a caught stealing before the inning ended, but the tag was applied on his back foot, which was followed by a single that would have knocked in Vic from 2nd.

Natitude Is A Good Reason To Take The Series From The Natitudes

The Glass House in the 6th welcomed Joe Savery, who coughed up a walk and a two-bagger with only 1 out against 3 left bats. That is not a way to stick with the parent club.

The Leather Warehouse showcased J-Roll’s glove. Freddy Galvis and Vic had their defensive skills lauded as well. Jimmy saved the bullpen with a 1st-class stop before catching a wayward runner at 3rd to finish the 6th. After the 8th-frame infield came in, J-Roll nipped the runner at home with a laser throw during a one-out, bases-juiced 3-3 tie. Vic converted a running, leaping, crashing-the-fence catch for the final out in the 9th. Galvis turned a slick fielding-and-tag play to stop a thief at 2nd in the 10th.

House Cleaning appeared in the 7th with a 1-2-3 frame from Antonio Bastardo, holding a 1-run lead.

WELCOME, NEWCOMERS:

I will publish after every battle that is not washed out. The Phillies finished last summer 42 games over .500, which equaled a year of many positives. I will have many season-long highlights of puzzle pieces, especially important after drubbings and defeats.

SPECIAL REQUEST:

If you were directed here by a feed and this review does not mention yesterday’s contest, please go to my author archives or Phillies page for my most recent coverage. (Early morning readers may arrive before the latest post.) Scroll down to Tal’s Handy Links at the bottom. Thank you.

Cholley Gets His Money's Worth In The 1st

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Height Of The Wall:

I had planned on writing about this concept before these 6 battles began. Unfortunately, I was engaged in mind-to-circuitry combat, which took on a life of its own. My thinking is that the red pinstripes are playing up or down to the level of their competition. I felt that they would either go 3-3 or 4-2 against these two rivals.

Pete Orr Readies A 2nd-Inning Tag To Catch A Thief

The Phils were clearly victorious in 2 contests, and the 2 losing efforts were extra innings. Doc Halladay with a 6-0 advantage was as close to a sure thing in the realm of the possible. Last night it was after the bad omen of 2 blown run-costing calls that I first had that uneasy feeling. That is when you first realize that the outcome is not going to be favorable. I experienced it again when Schwimer took the mound. Because he doesn’t pitch frames, he escapes them. Then, he was gassed with no relieve in sight, and you could only hope he had a couple bullets left.

The hometown 9 could easily have won all 4 games. You can expect more of the same, because they are making a statement to the Nats and Braves. The message is that they are a fierce foe even without Cliff Lee, Ryan Howard and Utley. My concern is their upcoming schedule of the Mets (3), the Pads (3), the ‘Stros (2) and 2 in Chicago. Hopefully, they are re-energized and ready to provide a spell of place-climbing excellence.

The Vanimal Hurls 7 Sterling Innings At The Bank Against The Cubs On April 30

PRECAP PITCH

Vance Worley:

He has passed the point of being an unknown in the league, and continues to dazzle the other teams. This could turn out to be a duel with these 2 potent hurlers.

	STARTER	RECORD	TM	STARTER	RECORD	DAY & TIME
2	RHP Vance Worley	3-2, 3.38 ERA	@ O's	RHP Tommy Hunter	2-3, 5.59 ERA	Saturday, Late Day
3	LHP Cliff Lee	0-3, 2.92 ERA	@ O's	RHP Jason Hammel	6-2, 2.97 ERA	Sunday, Night
1	RHP Kyle Kendrick	2-5, 4.44 ERA	@ Twins	RHP Nick Blackburn	2-4, 7.75 ERA	Monday, Night

Gio Gonzalez Pictured In LA On April 29

Gio Gonzalez:

He has been outstanding, so far, but he hasn’t been exposed to the NL, which will be around the end of June or July. He will have the advantage as a new-league arm after 2 MLB campaigns, which has already produced a scoreless streak of 20 innings with 6 scattered hits.

DELIVERY = PITCHER’S 2012	DEFINITION OF SEASON
Over The Top	Excellent
3-Quarter Sidearm	Good
Sidearm	Above Average
Short Arm	Approximately Average
Submarine	Below Average

Quality number of the pitcher: 1 – 5

Slot on his club: 1 – 5

Ranking is 1 to 5 & 15 for the less adventurous.

HURLER	B.J. Rosenberg	Gio Gonzalez
NUMBER	A Five	A Two
CLUB SLOT	Five	One
FOR 2012	1st Start	Over The Top
'12 RANKING	-- of 5 Categories	1st of 5 Categories
LAST START	1st Start	Changeup
LAST HIGH OR LOW	-- of 15 Categories	8th of 15 Categories

DISPLAY NOTE: Non-listed results can go up or down by

* 1 notch & ** 2 clicks (This note will only appear when it’s relevant.)

* 1 Tick UP

	PITCH	INN	ER - R- H		PITCH	INN	ER
1	Gyroball	9 (CG)	0 - 0 - 3	10	Screwball	6	4
2	Fastball	9 (CG)	0 - 0	11	Knuckleball	5	3
3	Cutter	9 (CG)	3	12	Forkball	0 - 4.2	Monstrosity
4	Split Finger	7	2	13	Eephus Pitch	0 - 2.2	Disaster
5	Curveball	7	3	14	*Palm Ball	Ejected
6	Sinker	6.1	3	15	*Spit Ball	**Ejected+
7	Slider	6	2		*Breaking Ball	Injured
8	Changeup	6	3		*Fosh	Rain Interrupted
9	Slurve	5	2		*Knuckle Curve	Pitch Count
	** = Suspended				* = A 2nd Pitch Also

MAC:

The program acronym is for Methodical Algorithmic Computerization or Mac. That is the feed system that has dogged me the entire month, but it allows me now to probe for a compatible solution. This only involves readers who were directed here from Fox Sports. The 2 links–Radar updated to May 2– in this section were recently passed over by a computer’s judgment. Does the national-and-all-major-sports machine understand Phillies commentary better than local fans? I discovered that the buttons and lights objected the most to the storyline when I submitted only that part. So, when the electrodes decide a Nitecap Insight isn’t to their liking, I’ll give my transferred readers a viewing opportunity the next day. I’ll keep score of acceptable to rejected submissions, because I don’t want a large readership excluded or my time wasted.

TAL'S HANDY SCOREBOARD

COMPUTER ALGORITHM VS. TAL:

TAL 1 – MAC 0

Philadelphia Phillies storyline: under the radar

Philadelphia Phillies storyline: burn rate

ROUND TWO:

If the algorithm okays this article for a full audience, Philadelphia Phillies storyline: first and last is tomorrow’s review.

LINK-UP BELOW:

There are previews–time permitting–of my next storyline at Tal’s Handy Caps on Facebook. Join for notification of future glimpses, which will be almost daily. You’ll also know immediately when my isportsweb post goes up. It might be worth your while because I have seen delays of 2 hours on feeds.

Check out my previous publication (Ruth Or Mays) and the 42 storylines–so far–for 2012 on the Phillies page or my author archives, where there is an excerpt photo. The Apocalyptic Horsemen Stats are in my recent review.

Tal’s Handy Stats is daily coverage. I am alternating the 2012 ERA For The NL East and the 2012 ERA For The MLB 5. Thank you, to all who bookmarked the Phillies page, because feeds are erratic at times.