Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Tip of the spear

Roy Halladay is still the game-one ace of the Philadelphia Phillies. But in the majors, has he been surpassed by one of the young guns?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Plan B

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 7-6 Triumph

NOTE: Click entries button to open more than the visible 10.

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

Ty Wigginton Caps The Rally With A Walk-Off RBI Sac-Fly

NITECAP INSIGHT

Preview:

Since I have a dental infection, my hours have changed drastically for today. Hopefully, it will be a one-day problem, which is my reason for the shortness of this commentary. It was either that or skipping it altogether.

PR Erik Kratz Scores The Game Winner

Entering 2012, the top 5 horses in order were: Doc, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum and Felix Hernandez. King Felix needed to rebound from more than a one-run increase in his ERA, and last year the Freak had lost his 97-mph fastball. Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Matt Cain and Jered Weaver would have to duplicate their 2011 campaign for top-tier consideration. Plus, there are 4 other number ones who could make a big splash. As we approach August, what have they done over their first 4 months? I will cover that extensively in one of my next 3 reviews. I appreciate your patience. Thank you.

The General Dials Up A Cutter During 8 2-Hit Innings On July 18 In Los Angeles

PRECAP PITCH

Cliff Lee:

This is his third effort for a 2nd victory. Since he turned his losing-mentality corner, he has had 3 outings with this line: 1-2, 2.05 ERA, 22 innings, 18 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks and 17 punch outs.

	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

Zack Greinke Loads Up At Home On July 13 Against The Pirates

Zack Greinke:

At the break he made 3 consecutive starts for Milwaukee, which appeared to signal a trading-deadline departure. He was ejected on July 7 after 2 batters, pitched July 8 and July 13. He worked the last game before and the first after the break. His last turn was skipped to give him his so-called 4 days off. He has lasted 6.1 frames plus in 9 of 20 attempts with 6 clunkers. He has 4 of them in July: 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. He is 5-3 with a 4.41 away ERA, which is 1.85 lower at home.

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	Cliff Lee	Edwin Jackson
NUMBER	A One	A Four
CLUB SLOT	Three	Three
FOR 2012	3-Quarter Sidearm	Short Arm
'12 RANKING	2nd of 5 Categories	4th of 5 Categories
LAST START	Cutter *	Eephus Pitch
LAST HIGH OR LOW	3rd of 15 Categories	13th 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 & ** 1 Tick DOWN

	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 DOC HALLADAY
DOC'S LINE: 5 INN, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K & 90 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

10TH RIDE 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

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