Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Pennant fever

Roy Halladay is poised to be the stopper for the Philadelphia Phillies, as they plan on remaining 3 games behind 2 troubled teams. When you look beyond the standings, do you see a real opportunity for Cholley’s boys?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Cholley in postseason mode

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 5-0 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

MASKED SEPTEMBER NUMBERS:

GB 2nd WC: 3.0
2ND WC Pos: 5
Elimination No: 14

It Wasn’t The Ball, Kyle?

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Bug Is Back:

Just when you thought it wouldn’t happen, here it is again. It is almost a part of the autumn landscape, like Halloween. The red pinstripes have been in the hunt consecutively for the last 8 years. The tradition began in 2005 with the wild-card chase. However, they have yet to capture a flagless entry into the postseason. Usually, a veteran squad with 102 victories the previous campaign does not sneak into October this way. The early attempts by the locals were in their younger days.

Cholley Looks For Answers

2012’s version is a mammoth comeback from the brink of mathematical elimination to the threshold for the second wild card. Baseball is an unusual sport. Just when you figure it out, it jumps up and bites you. The 2nd record-related playoff spot is an additional hurdle for a hot club to secure the trophy. The Phils have their most difficult path for a second title, but it would be just like the baseball gods to have a laugh at the owners’ expense.

Series 2:

TEAM	W - L	GMS	VERSUS
Cardinals	2 - 2	4	@ Dodgers
Dodgers	2 - 2	4	Cardinals
Pirates	1 - 2	4	@ Cubs
Brewers	2 - 1	3	Mets
D-Backs	1 - 2	3	Giants
Padres	2 - 1	3	Rox

This current race is far from over and you can anticipate roller-coaster convulsiveness. Cholley Manuel is holding 3 aces, which means a 3-game winning streak can start today. That stated, St. Louis and Pittsburgh are suffering one setback after another, while Los Angeles is a bunch of strangers about to be without Clayton Kershaw. A second opinion is never a good sign with regard to season-ending surgery. By Wednesday morning, today’s overcast skies could be clear blue with a bit of a crisp September breeze.

2nd Wild-Card Teams:

TEAM	W-L (8/31)	W - L	GB	W-L (SEPT)
Cardinals	71 - 61	84 - 72	-----	13 - 11
Dodgers	70 - 63	81 - 75	3.0	11 - 12
Brewers	63 - 68	80 - 76	4.0	17 - 08
Phillies	63 - 69	78 - 78	6.0	15 - 09
D-Backs	66 - 67	78 - 78	6.0	12 - 11

Doc Loads Up In The 2nd At The Bank On September 11 Against The Fish

PRECAP PITCH

Doc Halladay:

He is 6-1 with a 3.48 ERA since August 4. During those 8 performances, his line is: 54.1 innings, 50 hits, 21 all-earned runs, 12 walked and 43 fanned.

	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

Jordan Lyles Hurls A Dart In The 2nd At Home Against The Cubs

Jordan Lyles:

He is 3-4 with a 3.93 home ERA, which is 3.02 lower than on the road. He has worked 6.1 frames plus in 6 of 22 appearances with 11 monstrosities. In mid-May at The Bank, his log was: 6 full, 3 runs (1 earned), 1 BB and 4 K’s on 93 bullets.

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

DISPLAY NOTE: Non-listed results can go up or down by

1 or 2 categories (This note will only appear when it’s relevant.)

* 2 Ticks UP

	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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