Philadelphia Phillies storyline: War games

Jimmy Rollins and the soldiers of the Philadelphia Phillies return tomorrow night for local consumption. Will they continue to kick up a fuss?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Miracle stew or witches’ brew?

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 5-3 Outcome

TYPE	PLAYER	REASON
The Crystal Champagne Toast	Kyle Kendrick	Four-Star Performance
The Penthouse	Darin Ruf Kyle Kendrick John Mayberry Jr. Jeremy Horst	Smoked A 2-RBI Triple To Open A 2-0 Lead In The 2nd During His 1 For 2 Night With An IBB Nursing A 2-Run Advantage, Punched Out Werth With A Runner At 3rd To End The 5th, & Escaped A Harper-At-3rd One-Out Jam In The 6th Fired 7 Scoreless, 4-Hit Innings Made A Superb Catch Of A Blooper In A Critical Spot During The 8th Ended The 8th-Inning Threat With A Called K On The 4-Hole Stick
House Call	Jimmy Rollins	Has A Calf Issue

Hunter Strikes Again With A 2-Run Single In The 10th

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Stretch Drive:

The calendar changes and the ferocity of the sport does also. It has revealed itself these last 2 series, will increase in August, and it will grow with each week during September. This is the time to see who is winning and who is not. New York (NL) is 0-5 and that is not a coincidence. Players pace themselves for a schedule of 3 days off per month during their March to November (desired) marathon.

Vic Avoids The Tag To Score In The 4th

They play harder after the 4 days off in the middle of the campaign. An example of a varying approach is Hunter Pence, who is more patient late in the game. The red pinstripes have a second-half reputation, which means they are victorious under combat conditions. Some things are even predictable, like a bullpen that puts in 6 months of work by Labor Day. Then, writers are surprised when the team goes into a dive. Check out the overworked relief rotations in Atlanta and Washington at my 2012 NL East ERA publications. Both organizations are headed for a September meltdown.

The Ball Eludes Big John In The 2nd By Bouncing Off The Top Of The Fence Into The Seats

Both the Braves and the Nats beat the visiting Mets. Now, in the Big Apple, they get the Dodgers. The Giants, their NL West competitor, have been victorious for 5 straight since the break. San Francisco just walloped the soft pitching in Atlanta. In other words, your weaknesses will be your undoing as the battles rage on. Yesterday, the hometown 9 suffered a setback in extras, when it was down to Jake Diekman and Joe Savery. Jonathan Papelbon was victimized by bad luck and a contender with something at stake.

This weekend the Phils (4-2) will face off against the Giants (5-0), while the Metropolitans (0-5) greet the Dodgers (2-4). Meanwhile, the Braves (3-2) will square off in Washington (4-2), who went 2-2 against the Fish (3-3). This gauges the strength of a club by their under-attack record, and the weak links that brake in a loss. If you’re seeing each series as a war, you are getting a frontline observation.

The Vanimal Fires A Bullet On July 14 In Colorado

PRECAP PITCH

Vance Worley:

He has worked 6.2 frames or more in 5 of 15 opportunities with 3 clunkers. That said, he is 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA at the Bank. Fortunately, he is facing a hurler who provides 1 good outing per month, and he has already reached his quota for July.

	STARTER	RECORD	TM	STARTER	RECORD	DAY & TIME
1	LHP Cliff Lee	1-6, 3.72 ERA	@ Nats	RHP Stephen Strasburg	11-4, 2.76 ERA	Tuesday, Night
2	RHP Vance Worley	5-6, 3.88 ERA	@ Nats	RHP Edwin Jackson	6-6, 3.52 ERA	Wednesday, Night
3	LHP Cole Hamels	11-5, 3.31 ERA	@ Nats	LHP Ross Detwiler	5-4, 3.24 ERA	Thursday, Night

The Freak Delivers At Home On July 14 Against The Astros

Tim Lincecum:

He lost his fastball last year but survived on his reputation. That said, his overreliance on his changeup didn’t go unnoticed. He has managed 7 innings plus in 5 (all at home) of 19 attempts with 11 monstrosities. On the road he is 1-6 with a 9.00 ERA in 10 tries. His mark by the Bay against the Phils in mid-April was: 6 frames, 8 hits, 5 all-earned runs, 1 walk and 6 K’s on 94 misfired bullets.

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, ** 2 Ticks 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

STATS APOCALYPTIC HORSEMEN CLIFF LEE
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

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