Philadelphia Phillies storyline: One armed man

Jonathan Papelbon needs the front office of the Philadelphia Phillies to swap for a 8th-inning set-up man. Is Rube Amaro one deal away from a decent postseason chance?

 

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT

 

Penthouse Occupancy for the 8-3 triumph:  3

                                               The Chrystal Champagne Toast is a salute to Chooch Ruiz.

He crossed the dish 3 times and went 3 for 5 with a SB. He was joined on the top floor by Joe Blanton and Jimmy Rollins. Blanton earned a solid 7 complete and didn’t falter late either. J-Roll opened the game with a two-bagger, and beat the throw to the catcher for a 1-0 advantage. He also crushed a tater during his 2 for 5 evening.

Greenhouse Cholley enjoyed the top of the 1st from the first 3 bats. They produced a double, a bunt and an in-between one-hop single with a sac-fly-type slide at home.

The Fun House Of Mirrors reflected 4 errant throws:  2 to 3rd, 1 at 2nd and a bouncer past the plate. The Bucs were charged with 3 first-frame miscues, and the Phils put a 4 spot on the board. Consecutively, a Pittsburgh reliever walked 3 and then struck out 3 in the 7th.

Rollins launched a 2-RBI rocket off the upper-deck façade in the 4th to enter the Animal House.

Juan Pierre found the Lighthouse warning to be true with a wind-blown adventure on a putout before he went swimming in the 6th.

In Cholley’s Doghouse, Jimmy found himself after not busting down the line on a fumbled catch by the first baseman during the 6th.

 

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: Thome’s impact

 

 

NITECAP INSIGHT

 

 

Countdown To The Deadline:

 

There are many landmarks during a 162 but the most visible is July 31. If you’re Amaro, you need certain things to happen for a shot at serious October baseball.

The rotation for August has a fresh Doc Halladay, a double-digit-winning Cole Hamels, a bounced-back Cliff Lee, a solid Vance Worley and a decent Kentucky Joe. Of course, that is unless Lee’s career is over. This is not a 2009 version of Hamels. The defense will be stronger at first base and around the diamond with the stars off the DL. Plus, second base won’t be an almost automatic out. The bench will improve when the regulars are a full strength. Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix and either John Mayberry Jr. or Magic Juan will be on the pine. The 1-through-8 offense hit over .300 with a legit cleanup hitter during the visits to 3 AL parks.

Three main assets will be at mid-year form after 2-3 months of wear, and will be more effective during the playoffs. Chase Utley hit .438 in the NLDS last October after missing a third of the campaign. The last 2 postseasons have presented a lineup that either could not conquer stronger pitching, was tired or a combination of both.

The red pinstripes have the hammer and the starters who can go seven. Antonio Bastardo and Chad Qualls are okay options for the 7th and an occasional 8th-inning substitution. Jake Diekman is the lefty specialist and Kyle Kendrick can handle 3-4 frames. Raul Valdes or Michael Schwimer are in the front end of the relief corps, and one is expendable with a backend addition. Rube had limited choices with commitments plus payroll flexibility, and had to count on many under-control players. Jose Contreras is one that had a summer-ending injury. The 8th is only gamble that Amaro cannot role the dice on.

 

 

 

 

PRECAP PITCH

 

 

 
Vance Worley:

 

He has lasted 7 innings in his last 2 outings and 4 of 11 efforts with 2 debacles.  He has cemented the 4 slot behind the number ones.

 

	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

 

 

 

 

 

Erik Bedard:

 

He is a solid middle-of-the-staff hurler, who is crafty.  He has worked 7 frames in 3 of 14 attempts with 3 clunkers.

 

 

 

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

 

 

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