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Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

Frayed Knot Sep 17 2012 07:50 AM

One would think that, by mid-September, we wouldn't really need to "know" the Phillies any better than we already do. But after being a big, giant, gaping hole of suck throughout the first half of the season and then suddenly turning into a winning juggernaut after trading away some major pieces, it's almost like I don't know this team at all, or at least I don't know what's been making them tick lately. I think we need to put our heads together and figure it out by 7 PM tonight. A few months after pretty much declaring Philly to be dead in 2012 (see: 'Phils' thread) and then wondering if their post-trading deadline, late-August/early-Sept run made them un-dead, the Phightins' got a gift in the form of a four-game series with woeful Houston ... and promptly laid an egg. Yes, the team that was coming off winning 7 straight and 15 of 19 just lost 3 of 4 to the (99 losses with 15 still to play) Astros while allowing 24 runs in the process. Meanwhile, our side, after pretty much locking up the WC spot for the Braves by sucking big time against them; and after all but guaranteeing the NL East crown for the Nationals by laying down against them; and then after helping the Brewers stay in the midst of the 2nd WC hunt by losing 2 of 3 there, maybe we can salvage a wee bit of pride here by actually kicking someone one out of post-season contention for a change. Monday 7:10 -- Cliff Lee vs Dickey Lee has had a somewhat better (and healthier) 2nd half than 1st although not stunningly so when you consider that he only won 1 game in his first 14 starts. He's 4-2 in the 12 starts since the ASG with an improved ERA [2.66 2nd half vs 3.98 1st half] a better WHiP {1.08 vs 1.19} and a markedly better K/BB ratio [10.9 vs 4.9] Tuesday 7:10 -- Tyler Cloyd vs Harvey Cloyd has made 4 ML starts including his first ever against us on Aug 29. He took the loss in that one although we didn't exactly smack him around the park [3 runs on 7 hits over 6 IP]. Since then he's won one game and taken 2 NDs while lasting on 4 & 3 innings in his last two outings. Wednesday 7:10 -- Cole Hamels vs Hefner Good season for Hamels although he hasn't been all that great recently, giving up around 3 runs/game over an average of 6 or 7 innings over his last 5 starts. He won their only game in Houston although it wound up a 12-6 slug-fest.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 17 2012 07:57 AM Re: Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

Dead, sporadically-benched Jimmy Rollins? He's led the wild-card charge, hitting .320/.381/.570 with 6 home runs, 13 XBH, and 10 steals in the last four weeks.

cooby Sep 17 2012 08:29 AM Re: Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

My friend Mike asserts that the call ups are going to lead the team to the flag

Frayed Knot Sep 17 2012 10:34 AM Re: Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

Mainly it seems to be the pitching that's much better lately and the return of injured vets that has fueled their rise, rather than some youth-infused surge. On the mound, in addition to the improvement of Lee noted above, it's been an improved Kyle Kendrick and the return of Halladay that's helped the most - although we're going to miss both of the last two. On the hitting side, aside from recent Rollins surge (noted above), it's been the return of Utley & Howard. Of the guys getting most of the ABs as replacements for Victorino & Pence, Domonic Brown has been only mediocre (same as his last call up) as has no-longer-so-young John Mayberry Jr. They just called up righty-swinging Darin Ruf (yes that's the correct spelling) - a guy who's not really considered much of a prospect based on the fact that he's already 26y/o and really has no position to play. But he also went off for 38 HRs in the minors this year, despite never before hitting more than 17, so we'll probably see him off the bench this week. He's 0-for-2 so far as a major leaguer.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 17 2012 11:59 AM Re: Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

Mets have more wins against the Phillies this year than against any other team.

Edgy MD Sep 17 2012 12:37 PM Re: Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

Those sweeps of Baltimore and Tampa Bay may have giftwrapped post-season life for the 2012 Yankees.

G-Fafif Sep 17 2012 01:55 PM Re: Group KTE - The (dead?) Phillies - Sept 17-19

Edgy DC wrote: Those sweeps of Baltimore and Tampa Bay may have giftwrapped post-season life for the 2012 Yankees. The New York Mets: Intermittently Enabling MFY Hegemony Since 1997.