Philadelphia Phillies storyline: What is the cure?

Roy Halladay will be the last star to return for the Philadelphia Phillies. Will it be too late by then? Is there any hope for a remedy?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Re-signing Hamels?

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 5-0 Outcome

TYPE	PLAYER	REASON
The Crystal Champagne Toast	Chase Utley	Four-Star Performance
The Penthouse	Pete Orr Chase Utley Dom Brown Chooch Ruiz	* Smoked A 2-RBI Gap Double To Close Within 1 Run In The 2nd During His 1 For 2 Game Stroked A 2-Run Single To Tie It Up At 4 In The 5th During His 2 For 4 Night With A SB, A BB & 3 RBI A 2-Out RBI Triple To Take A 5-4 Advantage In The 5th Smacked A 2-Run Double To Open A 7-4 Lead In The 7th During His 2 For 5 Evening
The Workhouse	Home SP	* A 39-Pitch 2nd Inning
The Leather Warehouse	1B Darin Ruf	Made A Spectacular Over-The-Shoulder Catch Of A Foul In The 5th
The Fun House Of Mirrors	Home RF The Defense	Takes 1st On A SO WP & 2nd After A Throw (E2) To The Bag In The 8th A SO WP With The Bags Full & A DP Tag At The Plate To End The 8th
House Call	Ryan Howard Tyler Cloyd	Season-Ending Big Toe Injury Shut Down With A Dead Arm

Ryno Crushes A 2nd-Inning Double

NITECAP INSIGHT

Two Words:

That would be the first name and the surname of the 8th-inning set-up man. The alternative is for every member of the rotation to always pitch 8 complete, and even Doc cannot do that. That would overwork them, and they would get hit during the 8th in half of their performances. However, Rube Amaro cannot swap for that endgame arm unless the team rebounds.

Chase Is Hit By A 4th-Inning Pitch

Antonio Bastardo needs to re-earn that role, because he hasn’t recovered from his September meltdown. The aces can be penciled in for 7 frames on most nights, and the bottom of the staff can handle 6 innings consistently. Generally, the manager needs 3–if not 4–backend hurlers. Cholley Manuel has only one, which is why the problem won’t go away.

Amaro had no choice with the dollars, like all GM’s–even the Yankees. In a world with baseball parity, he had to roll the dice on many jobs, because of the AAV (Average Annual Value) commitments, and a competitive-balance tax that is steep. He was in that situation with Jose Contreras ($2.5M) and Joe Blanton ($8M), which is why there was no money for Roy Oswalt. He, also, had to carry inexpensive contracts, like those of John Mayberry Jr., Bastardo, Michael Stutes and Vance Worley. He had just enough room to sign Chad Qualls at $1.15M, and that left $4-5M for the trading deadline.

Ryno Barrels Up A 2nd-Inning Pitch

Contreras was the reliever for the 8th, but his hoped-for recovery vanished after a couple solid outings. Qualls crashed and burned after a mostly strong April. Stutes, David Herndon and Justin De Fratus ended up in the infirmary. Jake Diekman, Raul Valdes and Jeremy Horst are the options to face left-handed sticks in the 7th or 8th. Michael Schwimer has earned a shot at the 8th, which is not the desired route Cholley would prefer. However, considering the 5 dismal appearances out of Bastardo’s last 9, Schwimer could not be any worse. I would feel less nervous with him, and not have to pray for an exhaling end of the 8th.

Kentucky Joe Loads Up A Fastball On July 1 In Miami

PRECAP PITCH

Joe Blanton:

He had his CG, SO 3-hitter at The Ted in early May with no free passes and 6 punch outs on 88 bullets. He has toiled 6.2 frames plus in 9 of 16 efforts with 6 monstrosities. However, his ERA is a half run lower at the Bank.

	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

Tommy Hanson Delivers At The Ted On July 2 Against The Cubs

Tommy Hanson:

He has lasted 6.1 innings or more in 7 of 17 attempts with 3 clunkers. At the Ted in early May, his line against the Phils was: 3.2 frames, 8 hits, 4 all-earned runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts on 95 wayward darts. That said, he is 6-2 with a 2.89 road ERA.

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	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

	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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