Phillies Ups and Downs
April 26th 2008 23:33
Right now, if you're a Phillies fan, you have to be happy with where the team is. Notorious for slow starts, the team is currently 13-11 heading into tonight's game at Pittsburg, a game and a half behind Florida. Just 13-11? Well, all things considered, the Phillies are lucky to be above .500 right now. Consider the following:
-Ryan Howard is hitting just .174
-Brett Myers/Cole Hamels have a combined 4-4 record
-Jimmy Rollins/Shane Victorino, the 1-2 hitters, have been injured for several weeks
-The collective ERA of Adam Eaton, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Kyle Kendrick is 4.88. Cole Hamel's ERA is 2.65, but the Phillies have wasted his efforts with poor run support. He is 1-2.
So, how are the Phillies still over .500?
1) Great bench play. Jayson Werth has been fantastic, hitting .313 with 5 homeruns in just 64 at-bats, projecting to over 40 homers in a full season. Greg Dobbs continues to swing the bat well, hitting 355. Chris Coste is hitting at a .406 clip.
2) Surprising bullpen. Considered to be one of the biggest question marks, this has been a strength for the Phillies so far, statistically, the 2nd best in the NL.
3) Pat Burrell. Hitting .354 with 8 homeruns and 25 RBIs, some would say he's the biggest surprise this season. However, Pat the Bat has gotten off to quick starts the past few years, only to fade away. Let's see if he can keep this up.
4) Chase Utley. He just may be the MVP so far. Hitting .368 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs, he's been big for Philadelphia.
Going forward, look for Howard, a slow starter, to pick up some slack. If Kendrick doesn't start pitching better, Kris Benson may challenge for his spot once he's ready. The return of Jimmy Rollins will be a huge lift, as Eric Bruntlett, his replacement, is struggling offensively and defensively.
-Ryan Howard is hitting just .174
-Brett Myers/Cole Hamels have a combined 4-4 record
-Jimmy Rollins/Shane Victorino, the 1-2 hitters, have been injured for several weeks
-The collective ERA of Adam Eaton, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Kyle Kendrick is 4.88. Cole Hamel's ERA is 2.65, but the Phillies have wasted his efforts with poor run support. He is 1-2.
So, how are the Phillies still over .500?
1) Great bench play. Jayson Werth has been fantastic, hitting .313 with 5 homeruns in just 64 at-bats, projecting to over 40 homers in a full season. Greg Dobbs continues to swing the bat well, hitting 355. Chris Coste is hitting at a .406 clip.
2) Surprising bullpen. Considered to be one of the biggest question marks, this has been a strength for the Phillies so far, statistically, the 2nd best in the NL.
3) Pat Burrell. Hitting .354 with 8 homeruns and 25 RBIs, some would say he's the biggest surprise this season. However, Pat the Bat has gotten off to quick starts the past few years, only to fade away. Let's see if he can keep this up.
4) Chase Utley. He just may be the MVP so far. Hitting .368 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs, he's been big for Philadelphia.
Going forward, look for Howard, a slow starter, to pick up some slack. If Kendrick doesn't start pitching better, Kris Benson may challenge for his spot once he's ready. The return of Jimmy Rollins will be a huge lift, as Eric Bruntlett, his replacement, is struggling offensively and defensively.
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