Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Edge of the ledge

The Philadelphia Phillies were here before Cliff Lee arrived the first time. Will experience and success produce a different result now?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Cholley in postseason mode

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 7-6 Outcome

TYPE	PLAYER	REASON
The Crystal Champagne Toast	Darin Ruf	Four-Star Performance
The Penthouse	Darin Ruf	* Smoked A 3-Run Double To Take A 3-1 Lead In The 1st During His 2 For 4 Night **
The Workhouse	Away SP	* A 37-Pitch 1st Inning
Rally Tal & Cap	4 Players & 3 Runs	* A Single & A SB (Utley), 2 BB (Ryno & Mayberry) & A 3-RBI Double (Ruf) In The 1st
The Big House	Visiting 2B	Robbed Mayberry Of A Bloop Hit In The 5th
The Fun House Of Mirrors	Opposing PR	Was Hit By Throws To 2B (SB) & Home On A SO WP & Broke His Belt During The Steal In The 7th
The Outhouse	HP Ump	** Called Ruf Out On Strikes With A 3-2 Pitch That Wasn't Close In The 8th

Above Asterisks ( *) = Corresponding Plays And/Or Events

MASKED SEPTEMBER NUMBERS:

GB 2nd WC: 4.0
2ND WC Pos: 5
Elimination No: 12

Magic Juan’s 1st-Inning Catch Was No Lemon

NITECAP INSIGHT

Time To Knuckle Down:

This is a weird 162. But what if it hasn’t reached its strangest point? It could be the most unforgettable season in your life. Could it be everything in one 7-month timeframe? If ever there was such a year, this would be it. The first experience was remaining viable with $60M on the DL. Then, there was the extended confinement in the basement, like the good old days. The middle of the pack, which is similar to many summers past, followed. We are at the next stage, which is the roller coaster of chasing the postseason dream. That was followed by barely making it, winning the championship and parading in a sea of red.

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

The Big Piece Had To Settle For A 2-RBI Double As Payback In The 5th

The forgotten beauty after August is the elusive chase for that final playoff spot. Before 2007, that was the annual heart-slaying ritual in the early 21st century The days of promise followed by the hours in the disappointing downward spiral, when reality trumps wishful thinking. Jimmy Rollins went on the record as having his sights aimed toward the 2nd wild card with his we-are-eyeing-that statement. In his case that plural has always been Ryan Howard. You can thank them for your reliving of those days.

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

J-Roll Swipes 2nd, Takes 3rd And Voices His Opinion In The 5th

This has the makings of a rare campaign, where you experience last place, the .500-mark dance, the wild-card race and–probably–serious October baseball. It is their destiny and your fate for 2012. Now, the word is that they are dead because they struggled in Houston. Remember, they said the same thing about a series in Pittsburgh back then. However, the injuries, the trades and the rookies have produced this rarity.

There are other possibilities for a year that encapsulates franchise history. In 1980, we had Marty Bystrom, this time it could be Phillippe Aumont (TBD). That first title featured the comeback habit, which is similar to the 2nd half of this tour. Warning: Prepare yourself for the final 15 games on the regular schedule. Because the pattern for this 162 suggests a final-day postseason entry, like 2007.

Series 3:

TEAM	W - L	GMS	VERSUS
Cardinals	3 - 0	3	'Stros
Dodgers	1 - 2	3	@ Nats
Pirates	0 - 3	3	Brewers
Brewers	3 - 0	3	@ Pirates
D-Backs	2 - 1	3	@ Padres
Padres	1 - 2	3	D-Backs

The General Commands A 2-Seam Fastball During 7 4-Hit Innings At The Bank On September 12 Against The Fish

PRECAP PITCH

Cliff Lee:

He is 5-2 with a 2.62 ERA since July 4. During those 13 performances, his line is: 92.2 innings, 91 hits, 31 runs (27 earned), 8 walks and 85 punch outs. Against the Mets in both parks (2 each), his ledger reads: 1-1, a 3.41 ERA, 29 complete, 24 hits, 11 all-earned runs, 4 BB and 29 whiffs.

	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

R.A. Dickey Dials Up A Knuckeball At Home On September 11 Against The Nats

R.A Dickey:

He has worked 6.2 frames plus in 20 of 29 appearances with 4 clunkers. His log against the Phils at both venues (1 each) is: 1-0, a 3.86 ERA, 14 total, 20 hits, 6 all-earned runs, 2 free passes and 14 strikeouts.

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	Cliff Lee	Edwin Jackson
NUMBER	A One	A Four
CLUB SLOT	Three	Three
FOR 2012	3-Quarter Sidearm	Short Arm
'12 RANKING	2nd of 5 Categories	4th of 5 Categories
LAST START	Cutter *	Eephus Pitch
LAST HIGH OR LOW	3rd of 15 Categories	13th 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.)

* 1 Tick 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

STATS APOCALYPTIC HORSEMEN DOC HALLADAY
DOC'S LINE: 5 INN, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K & 90 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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