Philadelphia Phillies storyline: more and less

Roy Halladay will hurl the first dart today for the Philadelphia Phillies. He will probably go at least 7 complete, while Jonathan Papelbon will shake hands after the 27th out. The 8th will be the only high-wire three until things fall into place. Was last night the beginning of that?

TAL'S HANDY CAPS

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT

Penthouse Occupancy for the 7-3 triumph: 2

The Crystal Champagne Toast is a salute to Chooch Ruiz.

The Lumber Company For A Day

He blasted a 2-run bomb, and gunned down a thief at 2nd during his 3 for 3 evening with 3 steaks. He was joined there by John Mayberry Jr., who also had 3 sirloins and a tater during his 2 for 4 effort.

The Warehouse showed off the lumber of Mayberry (2nd) and Ruiz (4th) with 2-RBI pokes each. Big John slammed his over the 374’ sign, and Chooch rocked his to the right-centerfield stands near the bullpens.

The Kangeroo Courthouse issued a no contest against Ty Wigginton for his double bobble in the 4th. It cost a twin killing and an out at first, but he made a diving catch to end the threat.

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.

Chooch Picks Up His 3rd Steak On A 7th-Inning Single

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Open Gate:

In any game there are 27 outs and they are all presumed to be equal. That said, some of them are more difficult than others. Every turn through the rotation, hopefully, requires 45 innings. The number ones are good for 21, the other starters can handle 12, and Papelbon covers 5. That’s 38 and it leaves 21 outs to come from somewhere. Of course, it never plays exactly to that script.

J-Roll Handcuffs The 3rd-Frame Crook After Chooch's Perfect Throw

Tonight, Doc might breeze through 8 or 9 and Cinco Ocho can enjoy high fives. On most nights, you will have to get 3 outs before the centerfield entrance opens for Paps. Big Truck Contreras has proven he can handle closing, is regaining arm strength, and the location is the final key for consistency. Chad Qualls corrected his mechanical flaw and raised my confidence in him simultaneously. Antonio Bastardo appears to be headed in the right direction, where he again can enjoy big moments.

Big John Enjoys A 3rd Steak In The 7th After An Earlier Tater

These 3 are the cogs between the 5-man staff and number 58. Qualls will own the 8th, Bastardo can accumulate 6 outs (7th & 8th) until his 8th-inning re-emergence, and Contreras will settle into the 7th temporarily. When he is completely back, you’ll see him in the 8th also. Remember, these are the holds and the tied-up situations. And then there is Jake Diekman, who will be that 2nd lefty we’ve sorely needed. He is going to take a ‘pen seat away from Michael Stutes or David Herndon.

What? No probably?

Doc Loads Up During The 2nd At The Bank Against The Mets On May 7

PRECAP PITCH

Doc Halladay:

He is due for a sparkling performance and the Pads won’t offer much resistance. However, it might not be a quick nine because his match-up requires a lot of pitches per outing. Plus, the sticks might just make some more noise.

	STARTER	RECORD	TM	STARTER	RECORD	DAY & TIME
1	LHP Cole Hamels	7-1, 2.17 ERA	@ Mets	LHP Jon Niese	3-2, 4.29 ERA	Monday, Day
2	RHP Joe Blanton	4-4, 4.55 ERA	@ Mets	RHP Jeremy Hefner	0-2, 6.17 ERA	Tuesday, Night
3	LHP Cliff Lee	0-2, 2.82 ERA	@ Mets	RHP Dillon Gee	4-3, 4.92 ERA	Wednesday, Night

Edinson Volquez Enjoys Home Cooking Against The Rox On May 7

Edinson Volquez:

Looking at his ERA, you see an ace or 2008. He is either benefiting from the change of scenery or cavernous Petco Park. Only 1 start was a road battle of 4 all-earned runs for 5 frames in Los Angeles. He won’t get away with mistakes at the Bank, and he has walked 3 or more in 5 of 7 offerings.

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	Doc Halladay	Ricky Nolasco
NUMBER	A One	A Five
CLUB SLOT	One	Three
FOR 2012	Short Arm	Short Arm
'12 RANKING	4th of 5 Categories	4th of 5 Categories
LAST START	Eephus Pitch	Split Finger
LAST HIGH OR LOW	13th of 15 Categories	4th 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

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 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 4 – MAC 0

Philadelphia Phillies storyline: under the radar

Philadelphia Phillies storyline: burn rate

ROUND FIVE:

If the algorithm okays this article for a full audience, Philadelphia Phillies storyline: the best four 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 there are delays of 2 hours on most feeds.

Check out my previous publication (Strength For Weakness) and the 46 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.