Jake Diekman of the Philadelphia Phillies will probably join the team on Friday, like Michael Stutes did in 2011. He is the best in stats of all the internal help until the deadline for deals, but this deficiency won’t be a July problem. There are 2 other southpaws at Triple-A Lehigh Valley as possibilities.
TAL'S HANDY CAPS
CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT
Penthouse Occupancy for the 10-6 series finale: 3
The Crystal Champagne Toast is a salute to Freddy Galvis.
Freddy Turns A 6th-Inning DP For Cliff's Last 2 Outs
He was joined on the top floor by Cliff Lee and Laynce Nix. Freddy chopped one to the right side near the hill for an RBI knock (3rd), and blasted an opposite-field RBI two-bagger within a foot of a homerun (6th). He also had an RBI triple (8th) during his 3 for 4 night. Lee used his arm, bat, glove and legs. He helped himself in the 2nd with a 2-out, RBI infield single. Nix drove in an insurance tally, limping to 1st with his balky left calf (a pre-PH strain) during the 6th.
The Leather Warehouse showcased an ace. The General fielded a bunt, turned and fired to 2nd for an unorthodox out, which saved a run in the slightly extended 3rd.
Kyle Kendrick was convicted in the Kangaroo Courthouse for blowing a 7th-inning 4-2 lead, and surrendering two doubles before his no-out, 8th-frame exit.
The Bathhouse was required for the relief corps that was clobbered during the 7th and 8th with a 7 spot.
The Glasshouse experienced a shattered wall in the 9th with Brian Sanches, who must want to pitch at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He resembles the hurler who was here in 2007 and not the one with the Fish last year.
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.
The General Singles For A 2nd-Inning RBI
NITECAP INSIGHT
- Strength For Weakness:
The ‘pen is a temporary, current issue that has solutions in progress. Jonathan Papelbon had 1 bad outing at an inopportune time, but he will clearly be there to convert his 10th save for the fans. Jose Contreras will be ready for the 8th in 7 to 10 days, if not sooner. Chad Qualls is more suited for the 7th, and he is fixing his mechanical flaw, which is a lot easier in that particular inning. He would have more time to recover in that role behind studs who mostly go seven. Antonio Bastardo is more effective in the 6th and 7th until he fully regains his confidence. Kendrick is the long man who will be the 5 in 2013, and any help he provides from the 6th on is a plus.
Juan Pierre Dives Back Into 1st In The 7th
That leaves the 2 seats kept warm for Stutes and David Herndon, which is down to the 2nd lefty reliever. The only other right wing is Justin De Fratus and he is a month away from being ready. The 3 from the left side are Diekman, Jeremy Horst and Raul Valdes. Diekman owns an 0.59 ERA for 13 appearances with 5 saves, while Horst sits at a 2.25 ERA over 12 chances, and Valdes has a 3.86 ERA after 11 attempts. They went with a little bit of MLB experience in Michael Schwimer, like Horst. They went with the veteran at Triple-A in Sanches, like Valdes. That leaves Diekman, who impressed management at Clearwater, like Stutes last spring. They will decide who throws today, who is held back and who stayed healthy for 1 more day before announcing the call-up of Diekman.
Hunter Tracks Down 1st-Frame Shot
Also-ran clubs won’t make their decent bullpen chips available until someone is willing to pay more in July. Joe Blanton is the most attractive piece to barter with, and leftfield is the only position for a right-handed power stick. Kentucky Joe will be owed $2.8M for the final 2 months of this tour, and Kendrick will slot in behind Vance Worley at 5. That’s a 2013 unit of 3 number ones, Worley and Kendrick, which means they cannot afford a $8M arm.
The Vanimal is past the exposure point with a year’s worth of work and looks good in the 4 spot. He is the only other chip that would bring a needed piece of lumber. That said, Dom Brown (.247, 0 HR & 13 RBI) and John Mayberry Jr. haven’t lassoed this job. There is reason to suspect that Chase Utley and Ryan Howard will need some help, but–as usual–there will be relievers available. Like 2008, this one will be a hard-fought journey from April into October.
The Vanimal Escapes Another Frame In Washington On May 5
PRECAP PITCH
Vance Worley:
He will have the advantage against his southpaw match-up. So far, he has produced decent results in 4 of 6 tries, and a bounce-back showing is anticipated. He’s beginning to resemble a solid option behind the aces, and might even be a two or a solid three for his career.
STARTER | RECORD | TM | STARTER | RECORD | DAY & TIME |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | RHP Vance Worley | 4-5, 3.46 ERA | Braves | RHP Jair Jurrjens | 2-2, 5.19 ERA | Sunday, Day |
Clayton Richard Works Against Miami At Home On May 5
Clayton Richard:
He does not fare well away from cavernous Petco Park in 29 of 57 starts. At home over the last 3 campaigns, he has recorded a 3.15 ERA (‘10), a 2.30 ERA (‘11) and a 2.21 ERA (‘12). On the road trips, however, he is at a 4.41 ERA (’10), a 5.30 ERA (’11) and a 7.85 ERA (’12). He has half of his 6 offerings in the friendly confines this season.
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 |
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 |
 STATS APOCALYPTIC HORSEMEN CLIFF LEE |
|---|
CLIFF'S LINE: 6 INN, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K & 109 DARTS |
| ACE | W - L | ERA | INN+ | CONV | CG | SO | BAD | INN | H | R | ER | BB | IBB | SO |
| Total | 7 - 5 | 2.72 | 7.0 | 12 of 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 125.2 | 103 | 39 | 38 | 21 | 0 | 114 |
| Halladay | 3 - 3 | 3.20 | 7.0 | 07 of 08 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 056.1 | 049 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 046 |
| Lee | 0 - 1 | 2.17 | 7.0 | 02 of 04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 029.0 | 019 | 07 | 07 | 03 | 0 | 024 |
| Hamels | 4 - 1 | 2.46 | 7.0 | 03 of 06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 040.1 | 035 | 12 | 11 | 06 | 0 | 044 |
4TH TURN OF THE HORSEMEN:
| ACE | W - L | ERA | INN+ | CONV | CG | SO | BAD | INN | H | R | ER | BB | IBB | SO |
| Total | 2 - 0 | 2.84 | 6.1+ | 2 of 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19.0 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Halladay | 1 - 0 | 7.20 | 6.1+ | 0 of 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 05.0 | 06 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 07 |
| Lee | 0 - 0 | 1.29 | 7.0+ | 1 of 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 07.0 | 03 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 05 |
| Hamels | 1 - 0 | 1.29 | 7.0+ | 1 of 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 07.0 | 05 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 08 |
MAC:
The program acronym is for Methodical Algorithmic Computerization or Mac. That is the feed system that has dogged me an 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 link in this section was passed over today 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 4 – MAC 1 UPDATED: Saturday Morning
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: more and less
ROUND FIVE:
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: the best four is Monday’s review.
LINK-UP BELOW:
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Check out my previous publication (The Rest Of The Race) and the 45 storylines–so far–for 2012 on the Phillies page or my author archives, where there is an excerpt photo.
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.
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Philadelphia Phillies storyline: mean street east
Philadelphia Phillies: 2012 ERA for the NL East at game 33 (Current)
Philadelphia Phillies: 2012 ERA for the MLB 5 at game 32