Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Trade debate

Joe Blanton will toe the slab tonight for the Philadelphia Phillies. If the relaxed version of the red pinstripes continues to win, will he remain in town?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Load lifted

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 3-0 Outcome

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

Ty Wigginton Blows Up A DP Possibility In The 2nd

NITECAP INSIGHT

Opportunity’s Knocking:

The speedster in center and the right fielder are on the west coast, but neither wanted to be dealt. The reason was the money for 2013 and next season’s competitive-balance threshold. Shane Victorino was at $7.33M AAV (Average Annual Value), and Hunter Pence earned $10.4M with a projection to $14M in ‘13. The dollar combination for 22 players is: The core four ($75M), 2 aces plus a closer ($56.5M), 4 fielding positions other than 3B ($7M), 2 starters ($4.25M), 5 bench roles ($11.25M), 4 young relievers and 1 bullpen buyout ($2.5M). That total is $156.5M from a ceiling of $178M AAV with 3 open spots.

Big John Is Nipped At The Plate In The 2nd

After allowing $5M for the July 31 deadline and $3M in achieved incentives, Rube Amaro would have $13.5M to spend. He would have 3 vacancies to fill, which is third base and 2 backend arms for the relief corps. Re-signing Cole Hamels was a must-do, but a struggling Vic and an undisciplined Hunter were departing necessities. Nate Schierholtz’s 8th-inning play on Wednesday night was probably not caught by Pence. That said, the club is not better without them, but a swapped Hamels would have been worse.

Jayson Werth Draws A 8th-Inning Walk In His Return From The DL

Schierholtz displays a hunger to be in the lineup on a daily basis, and Dom Brown has improved all phases of his game with a glove or a bat. They are likely to occupy 2 of the outfield jobs, while Juan Pierre and John Mayberry Jr. are also in the mix. In order to address the ‘pen and third base, there will be a number of contracts at or near the MLB minimum. In 2014, the Luxury Tax will increase $11M to $189M. This is why the Yankees and Sox have been quiet, while recent buyers will soon reach this boundary also. In other words, it is the look of parity.

Schierholtz wants to be in the order frequently, is solid defensively with strong throwing ability, and he has power. Brown has shortened his swing, is comfortable at the plate, and he has vastly improved his fielding skills. Michael Martinez is here only for his leather, which includes centerfield with Vic off the roster. There may even be a place for Magic Juan on next year’s squad, and Kentucky Joe has a shot at finishing this campaign with the locals. Don’t expect anything other than Schierholtz, Brown, Mayberry and Pierre sharing the outfield. The hot corner will have to be a dangerous right-handed stick, who is 32 or younger, and not error-prone. Rube has $13.5M for the third sacker and 2 endgame pieces, which is enough to accomplish his retooling.

2013 Roster Forecast:

	STARTERS	RELIEVERS	REGULARS	OTHER POS.	BENCH
1	Doc Halladay	Jonathan Papelbon	C Chooch Ruiz	OF Nate Schierholtz	Ty Wigginton
2	Cole Hamels	Antonio Bastardo	1B Ryan Howard	OF Dom Brown	Laynce Nix
3	Cliff Lee	Josh Lindblom	2B Chase Utley	OF Juan Pierre	John Mayberry Jr.
4	Vance Worley	2 Young Arms	SS Jimmy Rollins	Third Base FA	Michael Martinez
5	Kyle Kendrick	2 Veteran FA's			Backup Catcher

Kentucky Joe Delivers During 7 Solid Innings On July 28 In Atlanta

PRECAP PITCH

Joe Blanton:

He is 3-3 with a 3.55 ERA in his last 8 outings. Overall, he has worked 6.1 frames plus in 13 of 20 efforts with 5 debacles.

	STARTER	RECORD	TM	STARTER	RECORD	DAY & TIME
3	LHP Cliff Lee	06-08, 3.12 ERA	@ Nats	RHP Edwin Jackson	09-11, 4.13 ERA	Wednesday, Day

Ian Kennedy Dials Up A Split Finger At Home On July 28 Against The Mets

Ian Kennedy:

He had a career-best 2011 but he is less dominant this tour. He has lasted 6.1 innings or more in 12 of 21 showings with 6 clunkers. That said, he is 4-6 with a 3.68 away ERA, which is 1.10 lower than at home. In his last 3 appearances, however, he is 3-0 with a 2.42 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.

*** = 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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