Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Built for the present

Cole Hamels was the first name on the to-do list for the Philadelphia Phillies. Is he the only player who had an expiring contract that will return?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Mojo rising

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 2-1 Squeaker

TYPE	PLAYER	REASON
The Crystal Champagne Toast	Cliff Lee	Four-Star Performance
The Penthouse	Cliff Lee Jimmy Rollins	Worked Out Of A Runner-At-3rd One-Out Jam In The 2nd Fired 7 3-Hit Innings An RBI Single To Tie The Score At 1 In The 8th
The Kangaroo Courthouse	Ty Wigginton	Thrown Out Rounding 3rd To End The 2nd
The Whitehouse	Cliff Lee	Reached his 200th K In The 5th

Chase Utley After His 4th-Inning Bomb

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Plan:

Having lost the series, the red pinstripes enter the must-win phase for 4 consecutive games. Rube Amaro, on the other hand, has no room to stall. He will not be buying or selling, but he may consider a deal he would not have made with a victory or two in Atlanta. On the other hand, he can still proceed the same, because he can pick-up a bullpen arm in August. There are 4 organizations that can claim that made-available reliever before him, but the ‘Stros, Rox, Cubs and Pads are not going to add anything at this time. He, basically, has the first shot at an NL wing for the ’pen who is placed on waivers after the July 31 deadline.

Rube would have bartered Shane Victorino for an endgame hurler, but now he may entertain a prospect. Joe Blanton would not have been swapped but now that is a strong possibility. Polly Polanco is on the DL and no team will risk his balky back. Hunter Pence is under control for 2013 and probably will be too costly to move quickly.

J-Roll On The Receiving End Of A Blown Pick-Off Play In The 8th

Hamels is the centerpiece of a retooling agenda. The basic offense would be: SS Jimmy Rollins, LF Juan Pierre, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, C Chooch Ruiz and RF Pence. That leaves CF and 3B to be filled by John Mayberry Jr., Dom Brown plus an infielder. Blanton, Polanco and Victorinio will free up $21.33M, but Hamels will increase by $9M. That $12.33M would be split for a centerfielder, a third baseman and Hunter’s pay raise–he is at $10.4M this season. That gives Amaro $9-10M for center and third. Victorino could sign for less, and Kyle Kendrick will slot in 5th instead of Blanton. However, it won’t be Michael Bourne: Rube moves quickly and Scott Boras holds out for top dollar.

Pitching is Amaro’s main priority, which is why he has 3 aces and one of the best closers. He also places a high value on the 4 cornerstone regulars of Rollins, Utley, Howard and Hamels. The 2013 payroll will be $131.5M for those 7 roster spots. That stated, Cholley’s boys need a four-game winning streak to offset these 2 losses. The next 4 battles will define this year and next.

Doc Dials Up A Two-Seam Fastball At The Bank On July 23 Against The Brewers

PRECAP PITCH

Doc Halladay:

He is good for 6-7 innings and 110 bullets. Also, he might look more like the Doctor from the previous 2 summers. At the Ted in early May before he yielded to his condition, his line was: 5.1 frames, 12 hits, 8 all-earned runs, 0 walks and 5 whiffs on 93 darts.

	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

Tim Hudson Loads Up In The 2nd On July 24 In Miami

Tim Hudson:

This tour is the one after the rehab, which reacclimates him to a full 162. He has worked 6.2 innings plus in 9 of 16 opportunities with 5 clunkers. At the Bank near the end of the first half, his ledger read: 7 complete, 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB and 0 K’s on 79 peas. That said, he is 4-3 with a 5.01 home ERA, which is 2.79 lower on the road.

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	Doc Halladay	Ricky Nolasco
NUMBER	A One	A Five
CLUB SLOT	One	Three
FOR 2012	Short Arm	Short Arm
'12 RANKING	4th of 5 Categories	4th of 5 Categories
LAST START	Eephus Pitch	Split Finger
LAST HIGH OR LOW	13th of 15 Categories	4th 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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