Philadelphia Phillies storyline: 155-7

As they cling to the final arrow in their quiver, the Philadelphia Phillies and Jimmy Rollins are running out of battles. However, did anybody expect a postseason shot this late in the year?

TAL’S HANDY CAPS

WELCOME, NEWCOMERS:

I will publish after every battle that is not washed out. I will have many summer-long highlights of puzzle pieces, especially important after drubbings and defeats. If you were directed here by a feed and this review does not mention yesterday’s contest, please go to the Phillies page for my most recent coverage. (Early morning readers may arrive before the latest post.) Scroll down to Tal’s Handy Links at the bottom. Thank you.

Check out: Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Expectations 1 year after

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT: 8-4 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

SEPTEMBER NUMBERS:

GB 2nd WC: 5.5
2ND WC Pos: 4 (Tie)
Elimination No: 2

That Fateful 9th-Inning Single

NITECAP INSIGHT

Relevant Until The End Of September:

It doesn’t matter how the last 7 battles turn out, because the red pinstripes provided excitement after the break, which was a pleasant surprise. Most felt that .500 was nearly impossible, but they surpassed that benchmark, coming within 3 games of the 2nd wild card. During these last 67 contests, they produced many late-inning comebacks. They were fun to watch again and there was hope in our hearts. Plus, we also got a peek at 2013.

The young guns in the bullpen grew into the job, and lowered the ERA under 4.00. That stated, they did so well that Rube Amaro may only require 1 veteran free agent for the 8th, while they get more seasoned in ‘13. Dom Brown and Darin Ruf are looking better with each passing week. The return of Freddy Galvis and the possible move to the hot corner for Chase Utley are other engaging details.

Series 2:

TEAM	W - L	GMS	VERSUS
Cardinals	2 - 1	3	@ 'Stros
Brewers	1 - 2	3	@ Reds
Dodgers	2 - 1	3	@ Pads
D-Backs	1 - 2	3	@ Giants

The 9th-Inning Dive That Was An Inch Short

The playoff math is coming down to a 7-0 record for the locals, which means the Red Birds only need a 1-5 mark. However, those 6 games are against the Nats with the Braves on their heels, and the Reds, a divisional foe. Cincinnati wants to go into the NLDS after taking, at least, 2 of 3 from St. Louis.

Realizing that tall order, we can applaud Cholley’s boys for going 41-26 (.612) during these recent 67 battles. In their present form after the Joe Blanton trade, they went 31-19 (.620). There are still a few morsels to enjoy before the finale on October 3.

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

Tyler Cloyd Hurls A Dart During 8 Solid 3-Hit Innings Against The Mets On September 20 In Queens

PRECAP PITCH

Tyler Cloyd:

Due to Doc Halladay’s shoulder spasms, the rookie will get 2 turns instead of 1. He has worked 7 full or more in 2 of 5 opportunities with 2 clunkers.

	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

Gio Gonzalez Fires A Bullet At Home On September 22 Against The Brewers

Gio Gonzalez:

He is 11-4 with a 3.24 road ERA, which is 0.86 lower in Washington. He has worked 6.1 frames plus in 13 of 31 efforts with 4 debacles. Against the Phils for 3 outings at both parks (2 away), his ledger reads: 2-1, a 1.90 ERA, 19 complete, 12 hits, 4 all-earned runs, 6 BB and 23 whiffs.

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	B.J. Rosenberg	Gio Gonzalez
NUMBER	A Five	A Two
CLUB SLOT	Five	One
FOR 2012	1st Start	Over The Top
'12 RANKING	-- of 5 Categories	1st of 5 Categories
LAST START	1st Start	Changeup
LAST HIGH OR LOW	-- of 15 Categories	8th 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

LINK-UP BELOW:

Tal’s Handy Caps on Facebook is for notification of posts and any holdups that may occur. It might be worth your while because there are delays of 2 hours on most feeds.

Check out my previous publications (The Diamond Digit) and the 117 storylines–so far–for 2012 on the Phillies page, where there is an excerpt photo.

Tal’s Handy Stats is daily coverage. I am alternating the 2012 ERA For The NL East and the 2012 ERA For The MLB 5. Thank you, to all who bookmarked my page.