Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Amaro’s dilemma

Will Darin Ruf be in leftfield for the Philadelphia Phillies next April?  Or will he be at Triple-A Lehigh Valley?

 

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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:    7-3 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

 

SEPTEMBER NUMBERS:

GB 2nd WC:  6.0
2ND WC Pos:  4 (Tie)
Elimination No:  1

 

 

NITECAP INSIGHT

 

 

 

Roulette For Rube:

 

As you can see above, the elimination number is down to 1, which means the Phils must go 6-0 and the Cards must finish 0-6 for a 2nd wild-card tie. That means you’ll see Chase Utley at the hot corner very shortly. If anybody can handle that transition, it would be him. Freddy Galvis would strengthen the club up the middle, but there is a hole in center. The infield is the first gamble for Rube Amaro during the off-season.

The outfield bet is even more risky. Dom Brown is the starting right-fielder unless he is a total bust by the end of May. Juan Pierre and John Mayberry Jr. would be a decent platoon in left unless Ruf continues to impress. He will play winter ball and get a solid opportunity during spring training. That leads to 2 big ifs. Can he be an adequate fielder, and a solid offensive force when the league catches up with him?

Jeremy Horst and Justin De Fratus have had difficult last appearances, but other than that, the young relief-corps members have been very strong lately. Phillippe Aumont and Josh Lindblom have been solid most of the time. Aumont has a good shot to team up with Antonio Bastardo as a left-right combination for backend relief. The 7th seat in the bullpen could be a long man, which B.J. Rosenberg has handled remarkably well. Or Jake Diekman could be a lefty specialist, but he has only improved slightly in September.

 

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

 

 

 

Amaro has said his first piece of business is a veteran for the ‘pen, which would be a better option than Rosenberg or Diekman. There are a handful of experienced late-inning arms on the market, like Mike Adams. The other FA acquisition would be in centerfield for a right-handed power bat, like Torii Hunter or B.J. Upton. Amaro may have to roll the dice in the infield with 3B Utley and 2B Galvis. And he could do the same with Ruf in left, even if he signs a free agent for centerfield. It will be an interesting winter and spring for Phillies fans.

 

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

 

 

 

 

PRECAP PITCH

 

 

 

 

Cliff Lee:

 

He is 6-3 with a 2.40 ERA since July 4.  During those 15 performances, his line is:  108.2 total, 107 hits, 34 runs (29 earned), 9 walks and 106 punch outs.  He has faced the Fish in both venues (1 each) with this log:  1-1, a 4.63 ERA, 11.2 frames, 14 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 3 passed and 9 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

 

 

 

Mark Buehrle:

 

He is 8-6 with a 3.29 home ERA, which is 1.16 lower in Miami.  He has worked 6.1 innings plus in 17 of 30 efforts with 5 clunkers.  Against the Phils for 4 outings at both parks (2 each), his ledger reads:  2-2, a 3.91 ERA, 25.1 frames, 31 hits, 11 all-earned runs, 2 BB and 14 whiffs. However, during the 2 Florida games, he was 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA.

 

 

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

 

 

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