Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Expectations 1 year after

In a September of increasing hope, Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies are winning by the slimmest margin at times. Have you been watching the scoreboard lately to notice the same dynamic on other contending teams?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

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Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Answer at game 162

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 6-2 Triumph

TYPE	PLAYER	REASON
The Crystal Champagne Toast	Kyle Kendrick	Four-Star Performance
The Penthouse	Juan Pierre Chase Utley Kevin Frandsen Ryan Howard Chooch Ruiz Kyle Kendrick Antonio Bastardo	* Smoked A Triple & Scored In The 1st For A 1-0 Game * An RBI Groundout In The 1st Homered For A 2-1 Advantage In The 3rd A Solo Blast In The 4th For A 3-1 Score A Solo Bomb To Open A 4-1 Lead In The 4th During A 2 For 3 Night With A BB & 2 RBI 6.2 Strong Innings A Solid 8th-Inning Hold
Greenhouse Cholley's Bats	Juan Pierre	* Tripled & Scored On A Groundout In The 1st
The Animal House	Ryan Howard Ryno & Chooch	3 Straight Games With A HR Consecutive Homeruns In The 4th

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

MASKED SEPTEMBER NUMBERS:

GB 2nd WC: 3.0
2ND WC Pos: 4
Elimination No: 9

Chase Gives The Bell One Final HR Ring In The 8th

NITECAP INSIGHT

The Lower Bar:

The difference between this campaign and the 102-victory one that preceded it is strikingly opposite. That brings up an interesting contrast on the reaction to this phenomenon. This situation is creating a stir among the fans, the media, the players and other cities. As they draw closer to the 2nd wild-card berth, the volume is increasing and I expect that the loudness will become more pleasurable.

Kevin Frandsen Starts The Solo HR Attack In The 3rd

Fans keep anticipating an end to this valiant run toward the playoffs, but on New York radio, I heard a Mets follower complain that his club should have played the spoiler against the Phils. Sports commentators excitedly opine that the red pinstripes are only 3 games out of it, but then they seem befuddled that it keeps going. The players enter each battle to win that day, while time expires on the clock. Some nights there is no gain and other evenings there is. The competition realizes the height of the mountain before them, breathing a little easier for now.

Series 1:

TEAM	W - L	GMS	VERSUS
Cardinals	2 - 1	3	@ Cubs
Brewers	2 - 2	4	@ Nats
Dodgers	2 - 1	3	@ Reds
Pirates	1 - 2	3	@ 'Stros
D-Backs	3 - 1	4	@ Rox

Chase Utley Swipes 2nd During The Employed Shift In The 6th

The beauty is that there is no pressure on the stars to even tie for the 2nd wild card, and fans would consider that more than they have expected in quite awhile. There is no hype-oriented obstacle, which means they are relaxed and worry-free. It would be a surprise, if fans were disappointed at the end of this 162. However, as I said on September 3, this season appears to be franchise history encapsulated into one 7-month period. In other words, the next step is to play meaningful October baseball, and–like 2007–that means uncertainty until the final 27 outs are recorded for 2012.

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 Fires A Bullet On September 16 In Houston

PRECAP PITCH

Doc Halladay:

He is 6-1 with a 3.58 ERA since August 4. During those 9 outings, his log is: 60.1 innings, 56 hits, 24 all-earned runs, 14 free passes and 50 punch outs. Against the Braves in 3 away efforts, his ledger reads: 0-1, a 8.44 ERA, 16 frames, 25 hits, 15 all-earned runs, 5 BB and 15 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

Mike Minor Dials Up A 4-Seam Fastball During The 6th At Home On September 16 Against The Nats

Mike Minor:

He has worked 6.1 innings or more in 11 of 28 opportunities with 10 clunkers. He is 3-6 with a 5.31 away ERA, which is 1.84 lower at home. His line against the Phils in both parks (1 away of 3) is: 1-1, a 3.60 ERA, 20 complete, 18 hits, 8 all-earned runs, 3 walks and 17 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	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.)

* 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

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