Roy Oswalt last donned the uniform of the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the usual suspects are cost cutting. Most GM’s are willing to only lavish a select few with big bucks. Roy is not in that group.
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.
Check out Philadelphia Phillies storyline: The other Phillies
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.
NITECAP INSIGHT
The Wizard Series:
This is the fill-in article when Mac approves my ERA presentation slightly over the review. One gets exposure and the other comes in 2nd. Today, I reversed the order to trick my tormentor. These write-ups will track Os in his MLB return.
Rube Amaro is just doing the Pat Gillick method of GM’ing, which is to check everything out. At this time, Vance Worley will toil through bone chips, which will include soreness. Cole Hamels did that for most of 2011. If the Vanimal has difficulty, Kyle Kendrick will slot in behind Joe Blanton. Kentucky Joe is healthy and having a career year, which is due to his change of speeds. The pointers from the aces have paid off, which means Rube is comfortable with him as the postseason 4. That was not the case in 2010.
The bullpen is adequate when they are injury free. Jose Contreras and Antonio Bastardo are reacquiring their mojos, Chad Qualls is better behind them, and Jake Diekman is the lefty specialist for now. The balance of the ’pen will produce 1 or 2 (without Kendrick) from Raul Valdes, Mike Stutes, David Herndon, Justin De Fratus and Joe Savery. Unlike Big Joe with his elbow, the Wizard of Os hasn’t proven that his back won’t be an issue. That said, Amaro needs a stick unless he already has one: Chooch Ruiz, John Mayberry Jr. or both. Big John is sound enough but his crouched stance eliminates some of his homerun power. Chooch, on the other hand, won’t be as strong in August and September, because catching takes its toll physically.
Blanton is in his walk season, Kendrick is his replacement, because that’s the only way to afford the 3 number ones next summer. Amaro could deal Blanton for a bat and re-sign Oswalt to a 3-month agreement. Rube has $5M for the trading deadline, which could go to Little Roy. The new leftfielder would have to be priced at Blanton money or $4M AAV (average annual value) for the duration of the campaign. The wild card here is what team, and at what bargain dollars, would the Wizard command? $5M though worth it might be overpaying.
PRECAP PITCH
Kyle Kendrick:
Both hurlers will again be among the match-ups for round 2 at the Bank. Kendrick is more comfortable with starting, and he could finally work into the 7th this time around. He is 0-2 with a 4.95 ERA without the relief appearances. His ledger in Washington was: 5 INN, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K & 85 sinkers.
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 |
Gio Gonzalez:
The hometown warriors are now acquainted with him, which means adjustments come into play. He established a mark against the red pinstripes of: 7 INN, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K & 107 tosses.
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.
** As a starter
HURLER | Kyle Kendrick | John Lannan |
|---|---|---|
| NUMBER | A Five | A Five |
| CLUB SLOT | Four | Five |
| FOR 2012 | Sidearm | Short Arm |
| '12 RANKING | 3rd of 5 Categories | 4th of 5 Categories |
| LAST START | Eephus Pitch | Slurve *** |
| LAST HIGH OR LOW | 13th of 15 Categories | 9th 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 |
The Core Series: Check it out.
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Trade chips (Friday)
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: The other Phillies (Thursday)
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: core value (Wednesday)
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: tomorrow’s guarantee (Tuesday)
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 | ER | BB - IBB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 34 - 23 | 3.48 | 6.1 | 59 of 86 | 2 - 2 | 12 | 582.2 | 225 | 114 -2 | 557 |
| Hamels | 17 - 06 | 3.05 | 6.2 | 21 of 31 | 2 - 2 | 03 | 215.1 | 073 | 050 - 2 | 218 |
| Lee | 06 - 09 | 3.16 | 6.1 | 23 of 30 | 0 - 0 | 02 | 211.0 | 074 | 028 - 0 | 207 |
| Halladay | 11 - 08 | 4.49 | 7.0 | 15 of 25 | 0 - 0 | 07 | 156.1 | 078 | 036- 0 | 132 |
6TH 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 had 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 links 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.
COMPUTER ALGORITHM VS. TAL:
TAL 6 – MAC 4
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Creaky basement stairs (2)
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: The other Phillies (2)
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: tomorrow’s guarantee (2)
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: more and less (3)
TRACKING MAC: The machine has issued my articles 6 ones, 3 twos and 1 three.
ROUND TWELVE:
If the algorithm okays this commentary for a full audience, Philadelphia Phillies storyline: In Chooch we depend is tomorrow’s review.
LINK-UP BELOW:
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Check out my previous publication (At The Cellar Door) and the 53 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: 3 on the bubble
Philadelphia Phillies: 2012 ERA for the MLB 5 at game 42
Philadelphia Phillies: 2012 ERA for the NL East at game 41










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