Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Thome’s impact

Jim Thome pointed his bat to spur the offense for the Philadelphia Phillies.  And the regulars returned to their normal roles.  Which players were most affected by having a legit cleanup hitter?

 

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT

 

Penthouse Occupancy for the 7-2 triumph:  5

                                               The Chrystal Champagne Toast is a salute to Jimmy Rollins.

He smoked 2 knocks in 3 AB with 2 walks, 3 R, a nice swipe of second on a short wild pitch, and a full-speed 1st to home dash after a leftfield double.

He was joined on the top floor by Chooch Ruiz, Cole Hamels, John Mayberry Jr. and Polly Polanco. Chooch went 2 for 4 with a two-bagger, a bomb, 3 RBI and a solid defensive play. Hamels turned in a sterling 8-inning performance, like old times. He, also, stroked a single and crossed the dish with good baseball judgment. Polanco tied the score at 1 in the 3rd with an RBI single. Mayberry slammed a 2-run poke in the 4th to take a 3-1 lead during his 2 for 4 evening.

In-House Rehab:  DH Chase Utley went 1 for 3 with a free pass at Bright House Field.

 

WELCOME, NEWCOMERS:

I will publish after every battle that is not washed out.  I will have many season-long highlights of puzzle pieces, especially important after drubbings and defeats.  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.

 

Check out:  Philadelphia Phillies storyline: The heat on Hamels

 

 

 

NITECAP INSIGHT

 

 

Monster In The Middle:

 

The 9 games with a 4-hole bopper have ended positively for the lumber. The fielding and the pitching have been the reason for a disappointing road trip through junior-circuit cities. The miscues are mostly a result of injury replacements mixed with a few by the regulars other than Pence, which wouldn’t have been noticed except for the total number. The rotation, however, is an issue that I will cover in detail during the home stand.

The 8 in the table averaged .302, and .317 for the first 6 during the DH lineups. Thoms was phenomenal with 4 taters and 14 steaks over 9 days. Hunter Pence produced a .368 mark with a legit power stick behind him. He is at .300 for 25 outcomes with 11 BB, 3 HR and 12 RBI since relocating to the 3 slot. Another outfielder with an impressive trip was Mayberry, who hit ,292 and 3 clouts. And Ruiz continued his All-Star campaign at .346 for the 9 battles.

 

BAT	PLAYER	AVG	HR	RBI	AB	H	BB	SB-CS
1 - SS	J-Roll	.279	1	04	43	12	2	1 - 1
2 - LF	Magic Juan	.360	0	00	25	09	2	4 - 0
3 - RF	Hunter	.368	0	03	38	14	4	-----
4 - DH	Thoms	.333	4	14	36	12	4	-----
5 - CF	Vic	.243	1	05	37	09	3	2 - 0
6 - C	Chooch	.346	0	03	26	09	5	-----
7 - 3B	Polly	.158	0	01	19	03	1	-----
8 - 1B	Big John	.292	3	09	24	07	1	1 - 0

 

 

This gave the red pinstripes the best attack they’ve had for 2012. They plated 46 runs to equal 5.1 per game during the 3 team tour. It shows that Utley and Ryan Howard will make a huge difference, just being in the order. Because everything started on the 1st Friday in Baltimore before anybody knew about gentlemen Jim’s unexpected stats.

 

 

 

PRECAP PITCH

 

 

 

Joe Blanton:

 

He fired a CG after 5 consecutive clunkers, which is unusual by itself.  He has lasted 6.2 frames plus in 7 of 13 chances with 6 monstrosities.  And he is 6-5 with a 4.86 ERA without the relief appearance.

 

	STARTER	RECORD	TM	STARTER	RECORD	DAY & TIME
1	RHP Vance Worley	4-4, 2.92 ERA	@ Mets	LHP Jon Niese	6-3, 3.55 ERA	Tuesday, Night
2	LHP Cliff Lee	0-5, 4.13 ERA	@ Mets	RHP Chris Young	2-1, 3.30 ERA	Wednesday, Day
3	LHP Cole Hamels	10-4, 3.08 ERA	@ Mets	RHP R.A. Dickey	12-1, 2.15 ERA	Thursday, Night

 

 

 

Alex White:

 

He is one of several arms filling in for 3 disabled starters.  He has worked 6.1 innings or more in 3 of 8 attempts with 3 debacles.  Their front office is going with a 4-man staff, limiting each to 75 bullets per outing.  This is an idea born of desperation.

 

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	Joe Blanton	Ian Kennedy
NUMBER	A Four	A Three
CLUB SLOT	Five	One
FOR 2012	Short Arm	Short Arm
'12 RANKING	4th of 5 Categories	4th of 5 Categories
LAST START	Split Finger	Sinker
LAST HIGH OR LOW	4th of 15 Categories	6th 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

 

 

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