Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Payback wanted

It might come down to Roy Halladay for the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. Will he return to form in the nick of time?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Sudden life

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 6-1 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

Big John Crashes In The 6th, but notice the relievers’ reactions from rookie to veteran

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Three-Game Season:

The red pinstripes do not have to win every single battle, but the series is another matter. That said, Joe Blanton and the Doctor will benefit from the big yard in Georgia, if they have good command. The letdowns recently have been the 4 errors at the hot corner, Antonio Bastardo’s last showing, and the last 4 results by the rotation. The locals have to either be victorious in these 2 away clusters with a 4-2 mark, or be triumphant 4 times out of the next 5 contests. Ergo, if they go 1-2 in Atlanta, they will have to sweep Washington.

Big John Just Before The Crash In The 6th

In early May, the Phils took 2 out of 3 at the Ted, and they have suffered 4 consecutive setbacks against them since. The Bank residents are 8-5 since the break and the Braves are 9-5, which means that the next 2 games are up for grabs. Against contenders, the hometown 9 are 3-4, while Atlanta is 4-4. The second matchup features Mike Minor, who has a tendency to get hit after the 4th-5th inning. And Tim Hudson is having the type of campaign that a hurler has after he returns from off-season surgery. His ERA is 0.50 higher than normal or his age is affecting him.

Looking ahead to the Nats, the Phils are 1-2 in each venue. They are a combined 4-9 against these 2 divisional rivals, and need to win all 5 decisions for a .500 ledger. They are due for victories against both foes, and it is payback time. Each member of the 5-man staff will have an opportunity to shine. The other outcomes were against a weaker version of the Phillies, and not the 25 players in the dugout this weekend. At this point Goliath is 0-1 with 2 and 5 battles respectively to fight.

Kentucky Joe Dials-Up A 4-Seam Fastball At The Bank During 8 Strong Innings On July 22 Against The Giants

PRECAP PITCH

Joe Blanton:

He is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA in his last 7 performances. Overall, he has worked 6.1 frames plus in 12 of 19 outings with 5 debacles. Against the Braves in both parks, his line is: 1-1, 2.94 ERA, 15.1 innings, 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 1 walk and 12 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

Mike Minor Delivers On July 23 In Miami

Mike Minor:

He had a successful beginning after his spring-training ultimatum of keep me with the parent club or trade me. For his last 3 appearances, he is 1-1 with a 2.33 July ERA. At home he is 3-2 with a 4.69 ERA, which is 1.47 lower than on the road. That said, he has lasted 6.1 frames in 6 of 18 attempts with 9 monstrosities.

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.

*** = Approximately equal to after plus-and-minus computation

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

	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 COLE HAMELS
COLE'S LINE: 7 INN, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K & 99 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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