Chase Utley is a third-base option for the Philadelphia Phillies. Will he again replace Polly Polanco? Remember, the poll for Masked September is here, if you haven’t voted yet.
TAL’S HANDY CAPS
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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Suds or studs?
CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 2-1 Outcome
TYPE | PLAYER | REASON |
|---|---|---|
| The Bathhouse | Kyle Kendrick | * Hit The Showers After 2+ Innings |
| The Blood Bathhouse | Kyle Kendrick | * Smoked For 5 Runs (4 Earned) Over 2 Innings |
| The Kangaroo Courthouse | B.J. Rosenberg | Walked The Away SP In The 4th |
| The Whitehouse | B.J. Rosenberg | ** 1st MLB Hit & RBI In The 4th |
| The Fun House Of Mirrors | B.J. Rosenberg | ** A Single Between The SS & 2B--A Near Collision--In The 4th |
Above Asterisks ( *) = Corresponding Plays And/Or Events
The 2,000th Hit For J-Roll In The 5th
NITECAP INSIGHT
Devilish Digits:
The 2nd half is a time when contending clubs play harder and raise their intensity level. The Phils are 9-4-2 for 15 series at 3.7 runs per over 49 battles. They have 28 triumphs during that span. Against playoff-hopeful teams, they are 18-15 and are 6-3-1 for the combined matchups, averaging 3.6 runs. This has been accomplished with a mid-season spring training for Utley, Ryan Howard and Doc Halladay. Plus, they traded Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence and Joe Blanton, while they sat Juan Pierre.
Looking ahead to the next campaign, the locals have four of their sticks with a catcher, a first baseman, a second/third sacker and a shortstop. They also have an improved Dom Brown in right to go with a platoon of Pierre and John Mayberry Jr. at the other warning-track position.
In The First, The 1st Of 2 Blown Calls By The 2nd Base Umpire
Utley could be the remedy for the hot corner, and second base is a place to play Freddy Galvis. Antonio Bastardo, Josh Lindblom, Jeremy Horst and Phillippe Aumont are the front four youngsters in the ‘pen before the 8th inning. There is a closer to back 5 starters and Tyler Cloyd is making some noise. Brown, Pierre and Mayberry are the leading outfield candidates. Three regulars are set with Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix, Nate Schierholtz, Erik Kratz and Kevin Frandsen for the bench. That’s 23 roster slots.
This squad requires 1 solid and 1 secondary reliever for the abyss that swallows up victories. Plus, The stats reveal a lack of right-handed power in the 6 hole, which could come from a free-agent centerfielder. Rube Amaro can fill 2 endgame bullpen spots and 1 right-handed bat with pop for the fly-ball patrol without obliterating the budget.
2nd-Half Records:
Versus: CON (Contenders), BAL (Balance), PHL (Phillies) And 8/2 (Blanton Traded)
TEAM | W - L | CON | BAL | PHL | TEAM | W - L | CON | BAL | PHL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reds | 36-17 | 09-04 | 27-13 | 3-4 | Cards | 28-23 | 12-14 | 16-09 | 1-2 |
| Nats | 35-18 | 11-06 | 24-12 | 1-5 | Dodgers | 26-25 | 11-13 | 15-12 | 1-2 |
| Giants | 31-20 | 10-12 | 21-08 | 2-1 | D-Backs | 26-27 | 13-14 | 13-13 | 1-2 |
| Braves | 31-21 | 07-10 | 24-11 | 6-3 | Pirates | 24-27 | 08-09 | 16-18 | ----- |
| Phillies | 29-21 | 19-15 | 10-06 | ----- | Mets | 19-32 | 10-22 | 09-10 | 2-1 |
| After 8/2 | 19-13 | 07-05 | 12-08 | ----- | Fish | 19-33 | 10-20 | 09-13 | 1-2 |
Doc Dials Up A Batter’s Surprise On August 31 In Atlanta
PRECAP PITCH
Doc Halladay:
For his 6 August performances, his line was: 4-1, a 3.32 ERA, 40.2 frames, 35 hits, 15 all-earned runs, 8 walks and 32 punch outs. However, he was under the weather for his last outing. Against the Reds at the Bank recently, his mark was: 7 complete, 10 hits, 5 all-earned runs, 1 BB and 3 K’s on 97 bullets.
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 |
Mike Leake Hurls A 6th-Inning Dart On August 31 In Houston
Mike Leake:
He has worked 6.1 innings or more in 12 of 26 attempts with 8 clunkers. However, he is 3-4 with a 5.17 home ERA, which is 1.43 lower on the road. At the Bank recently, his ledger read: 4.1 frames, 10 hits, 7 all-earned runs, 2 free passes (1 intentional) and 4 strikeouts on 94 tosses.
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 |
Starters’ photos, not described otherwise, are in the 1st inning.
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 |
MASKED SEPTEMBER NUMBERS:
GB 2nd WC: 9
2ND WC Pos: 6
Elimination No: 18
NOTE: This poll will appear in every September article for you to check the current results, if it is still worthwhile.
The Original Article: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Masked September
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