Schmidt in Howard’s Sights

Ryan Howard, the Phils’ big lefty, has put up some impressive offensive numbers during his three full seasons in the bigs. He has hit at least 47 home runs and driven in at least 136 rbi in each of the past three seasons. After setting the club’s single season mark for home runs in 2006 with 58, he added 47 and 48 for good measure. His 181 home runs rank him 10th all-time among Phillies.

With a grand slam on Monday, his fourth shot of the season, Howard moved to within one of the club mark for grand slams. Mike Schmidt, the Hall of Fame third baseman, holds the club mark with 7. Howard seemingly has a long, long time to chase Schmidt. So while he slowly bides his time, moving up the club’s home run list, keep an eye out for the grand slam lead. It’s within reach.

Utley Joins Phils Greats: 500/500

Travis J. Rodgers
It’s not stolen bases and home runs, but Chase Utley has joined a fairly select group of Philadelphia hitters by topping the 500 mark in both runs scored and runs batted in. On April 19th, a game after reaching 500 RBI, Utley hit a solo home run to reach 500 runs in his career. With two RBI Sunday against the Marlins, Utley moved to 504 runs and 508 RBI.

Utley is currently 35th in club history with 504 runs. The next few hitters are grouped together fairly closely, so even a so-so season should see him leapfrog eleven hitters, landing him in 24th place (he would need 557 to accomplish this feat). With 508 RBI, Utley is currently 28th on the career list for Phils, behind teammates Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. Ahead of the trio of current Phils is Scott Rolen, with 559. Twenty three Phillies have reached this mileston before Utley.

The next stop, 600/600, is noticeably more select. Dick Allen, Johnny Callison, Granny Hamner, Willie Jones, Cy Williams, Greg Luzinski, Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Sherry Magee, Sam Thompson, Chuck Klein, Del Ennis, Ed Dalahanty, and Mike Schmidt are the fourteen members of that club, although Jimmy Rollins is working his way there as well. Rollins has 852 runs scored and is stalled at 549 RBI.

Philadelphia Phillies Productivity Ratings

A productivity rating is a measure of the number of bases a player is able to generate for himself, whenever it is within his power to do so. That sounds a bit abstract. In concrete terms, it is a measure of how many bases does the player earn per trip to the plate, including stolen bases, walks (intentional or otherwise), etc. A good rating is 0.5, meaning that the player earns 1/2 base per trip to the plate. So in a game where the player comes to the plate four times, the player will typically earn a trip to second base or will earn a trip to first base twice. Notice that this does not mean that he will not score in an average game. If the next player up to bat averages 0.5, and so forth, then if the players both double, the first player will score a run.

Regulars (3.1 pa/ team’s games)

Raul Ibanez (.79)

Chase Utley (.68)

Jayson Werth (.57)

Ryan Howard (.55)

Pedro Feliz (.51)

Shane Victorino (.45)

Jimmy Rollins (.25)

Reserves (.62 pa/team’s games)

Matt Stairs (.91)

Lou Marson (.44)

Chris Coste (.42)

Carlos Ruiz (.42)

Eric Bruntlett (.40)

Greg Dobbs (.18)

Did Bynum Foul Out?

During the Lakers vs. Jazz game Thursday evening (game 3), Andrew Bynum found himself in foul trouble early. He had three fouls at the half, in only 4 or 5 minutes. He picked up a quick foul later in the third, and then another. TNT showed a graphic that stated “Fouled out – 4 points”.  But it’s not clear that he did foul out. That would be a strange wrinkle if it is in fact true.

Phils Staf Ace: Circuit 2

Here follow the Staff Ace Numbers along with brief explanations of the movement. Each pitcher receives a rank from 1-5 for each area. These category ranks are totaled. Lower numbers are better. The best score is a 7 while the worst is a 35. This is simply a measure  who deserves to be called the staff’s ace.

STAFF (This Circuit)

Games: 5

IP: 28.1^

WHIP: 1.52^ (43)

BAA: .302^ (35/116)

Quality Starts: 1^

ERA: 6.67^ (21)

Record: 2-1^ S

TAFF (Season)

Games: 9

IP: 47 W

HIP: 1.83 (86)

BAA: .346 (71/205)

Quality Starts: 1

ERA: 8.23 (43)

Record 2-4

Individual

Inning Pitched Myers 13.0* Moyer 11.0 Blanton 10.0 Hamels 8.0 Park 3.1

WHIP Myers 1.08* Moyer 1.82 Blanton 2.00 Hamels 2.17 Park 3.00

BAA Myers .235* Moyer .340 (16/) Blanton .405 (17/42) Park .412 (7/17) Hamels .422 (19/45)

Quality Starts Blanton 1 Hamels 0 Moyer 0 Myers 0 Park 0

ERA Myers 5.54* Moyer 6.55 Blanton 9.00 Hamels 11.17 Park 14.52

Team Record Park 1-0 Blanton 1-1 Moyer 1-1 Myers 1-1 Hamels 0-2

W/L Record Moyer 1-1 Myers 1-1 Park 0-0 Hamels 0-1 Blanton 0-1

OVERALL

*Myers 12.5: The closest thing to consistent, solid pitching the Phils have seen from a starter so far.

Moyer 16.5: Moyer has not been good, but he has gone at least five innings in both outings.

Blanton 20.5: Won a game he should have lost, lost a game he should have won.

Park 27.5: Far from effective in his debut.

Hamels 30.0: Hamels was better in every way in his second outing, but 3 HR killed him.

Phils vs. Nats: Series Recap

Series Recap

Philadelphia (3-3) at Nationals (0-6)

Game 1 (Phillies 9, Nationals 8 )

The Phillies pounded out ten hits (in 36 at bats, .278 average), walked three times, and struck out seven times. They missed three chances to bring in RISP with two outs and again failed to steal a base. Yet a consistent offensive charge, including three doubles and three home runs produced 9 runs and a win.

Productivity: .58 (This means that the Phillies averaged .43 bases per player sent to the plate; .5 is a “good” number).

Stud: Ryan Howard refused to lose on the day Harry Kalas died. Howard went 2-5, drove in three runs on his first home run of the season.

Dud: Chase Utley went 0-4, but managed to score a run.

Game 2 (Nationals 8, Phillies 2)

The Nationals picked up their first win of the season as Shairon Martis and three relievers combined to hold the Phils to 5 hits in 29 at bats (.172). The Phils managed just one extra base hit, stranded two RISP with 2 outs, and walked just twice. Despite failing to steal a base yet again, the Phillies continued to show good patience at the plate, fanning just three times.

Productivity: .24

Stud: Lou Marson went 2-4, scored a run. His most impressive piece of work was fighting back from an 0-2 count to drive a double and score that run.

Dud: Pedro Feliz was one of three starters to go 0-4, but he stranded the most runners, three.

Game 3 (Rained Out)

Series Productivity: .43

Series Stud: Raul Ibanez: 4-9, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2B,  HR

Series Dud: Jimmy Rollins, 1-8, 0 runs, 2 rbi, and a pair of Ks

Phils vs. Rockies, Series Recap

Series Recap

Philadelphia (1-2) at Rockies (2-1)

Game 1 (Rockies 10, Phillies 3)

The Phillies put ten runners on base, recording 7 hits in 31 at bats (.226) and drawing three walks (against three Ks). They stranded just one RISP with two outs. Unfortunately, they managed only three runs.

Productivity: .43 (This means that the Phillies averaged .43 bases per player sent to the plate; .5 is a “good” number).

Stud: Jayson Werth went 4-4, scored all the Phils’ runs, drove in 1, and also accounted for all the Phils’ extra base hits in the game with two doubles and a solo home run.

Dud: Ryan Howard went 0-4, leaving six runners on base.

Game 2 (Phillies 8, Rockies 4)

The Phils doubled up th Rockies, thanks to a whopping 15 hits (5 xbh) and 5 walks against six Ks. Seven were left ISP with 2 outs. Philadelphia batted .364 (15-41).

Productivity: .62

Stud: Ryan Howard redeemed himself with a 2-4 game, scoring a run, and driving in 3 thanks to a double, a walk, and a single.

Dud: Every starter managed both a hit and either an RBI or run scored except Christ Coste, who went 1-5 with a K.

Game 3 (Phillies 7, Rockies 5)

With the game tied in the 9th, Matt Stairs smacked a two-run homer, giving the Phils the series win. The Phils went 13-36 (.361), walked just once, but fanned only four times. Just two runners were left ISP with two outs.

Productivity: .63

Stud: Chase Utley went 2-3, scored three runs, drove in two, walked, stole a base, and hit his first HR of the season.

Dud: Jimmy Rollins (.107 on the season) continued to struggle, going 0-5, striking out once, and leaving two runners on base.

Series Productivity: .57

Series Stud: Chase Utley: 6-10, 5 runs, 3 RBI, HR, 2 SB; Jayson Werth also went 7-12, hit a double, triple, and HR.

Series Dud: Jimmy Rollins, 2-14, 1 run, 0 rbi, and walked once

Phillies’ Staff Ace: Circuit 1

Here follow the Staff Ace Numbers along with brief explanations of the movement. Each pitcher receives a rank from 1-4 for each area. These category ranks are totaled. Lower numbers are better. The best score is a 7 while the worst is a 28.

The Phillies ran with a short rotation, skipping Chan Ho Park’s first start and moving back to Brett Myers. As a group, the starters were pretty awful. So who stands out among a group of slackers?

STAFF NUMBERS
Games: 4
IP: 18.2
WHIP: 2.30
BAA: .404 (36/89 )
Quality Starts: 0
ERA: 10.61
Record: 1-3

INDIVIDUALS
Inning Pitched
Myers 6.0
Moyer 5.0
Blanton 4.0
Hamels 3.2

WHIP
Myers 1.50
Moyer 2.00
Blanton 2.75
Hamels 3.27

BAA
Myers .308
Moyer .364
Blanton .429
Hamels .550

Quality Starts
Hamels 0
Moyer 0
Myers 0
Blanton 0

ERA
Myers 6.00
Moyer 7.20
Blanton 15.75
Hamels 17.18

Team Record
Blanton 1-0
Hamels 0-1
Moyer 0-1
Myers 0-1

W/L Record
Blanton 0-0
Moyer 0-1
Hamels 0-1
Myers 0-1

OVERALL
MYERS 12.5: Rocky start, but he cruised after that and the Phillies had a chance to win his start.
Moyer 16.5: Rough first inning, but he never received any offensive backing.
Blanton 16.5: Has a knack for avoiding losses when he does not pitch well. This helped his case.
Hamels 24.5: Arguably Hamels’s worst start puts him in the basement to begin.

Phils vs. Braves, Series Recap

Series Recap
Braves (0-0) at Philadelphia (0-0)

Game 1 (Braves 4, Phillies 1)
The Phillies managed just 4 hits in 31 at bats (.129). They drew just one walk while fanning six times. Both Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins stranded runners in scoring position with two outs.

Productivity: .22 (This means that the Phillies averaged .22 bases per player sent to the plate; .5 is a “good” number).

Stud: Hardly an apt title in this game, but I suppose Eric Bruntlett’s pinch hit appearance earns the nod. He doubled, then scored the only run of the game for the Phils.

Dud: Ryan Howard’s 0-4 game saw the big guy fan twice and leve two runners on base.

Game 2 (Braves 4, Phillies 0)
The Phils were shut out, getting that feat out of the way early. Hopefully, that will be the last for a long time. Things went a bit better for the Phils in one area, at least. They batted .176 (6 for 34), but also drew four walks while striking out three times. Unfortunately, they left 16 on base cumulatively, including four in scoring position with two outs.

Productivity: .28

Stud: Both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard went two-for-four, but while Utley whiffed once and left two on base, Howard left three on base but avoided the K. Raul Ibanez threw out a runner at home, showing that perhaps the Phils’ outfield is just as deadly in that regard as it was last year.

Dud: Leadoff man Jimmy Rollins’s 0-5 line was a big disappointment. He left three on base, including one RISP with 2 outs.

Game 3 (Phillies 12, Braves 11)
Down 10-3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Phillies refused to give in. A series of walks and base hits, no long bombs, saw the Phils plate 8 in that inning and take the lead. Clay Condrey picked up the first win of the season and Lidge saved his 42nd game with the Phils despite yielding a run. As a team, the Phils hit .324 (11 for 34), drew a ridiculous 10 walks, and struck out six times.

Productivity: .62

Stud: Newcomer Raul Ibanez continues to impress. He went two-for-three, including a two-run homer, scored three runs, drove in three, and walked twice.

Dud: In a hot offense, there were really no losers. Jimmy Rollins’s line sticks out though because, while he walked, scored a run, and even drove one in, he went 0-5 with three Ks and left 5 on base, including two RISP with 2 outs.

Series Productivity: .40
Series Stud: Raul Ibanez, 3-11, 3 runs, 3 rbi, 1 double, 1 home run, 2 walks
Series Dud: Jimmy Rollins, 1-14, 1 run, 1 rbi, 0 xbh, 3 Ks

Phils Fail to Impress

For seven innings the Phillies outdueled the Atlanta braves, 1-0. Unfortunately, those were the final seven innings. By the time those seven innings came around, the Braves had already hit three home runs, putting four runs on the board in the process. Certainly not the start Philadelphia fans were looking for.

Aside from early location problems, Brett Myers and the rest of the Phillies hurlers were impressive. Myers fanned 6, walked 1, and yielded two doubles and three singles in addition to the long balls. Newly-acquired Jack Taschner, Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin, and Brade Lidge combined to toss three perfect innings, while striking out four.

Unfortunately, the Philadelphia offense was unresponsive for most of the night. Showing impatience, the team fanned six times, managed two singles and two doubles, and just one walk. That is not to say that it was all their fault. Derek Lowe threw a remarkable game, showing incredible control of his curve and what looked to be a sinker. Too much movement in addition to the drop had several hitters looking foolish.

The Phils get a shot at revenge tomorrow, after a night off. Jamie Moyer, who was roughed up in spring training, will throw against Jair Jurrjens. Moyer, 46, is twice Jurrjen’s age.