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Expanding on what pricciar said, May was a really good month for the Phillies. The offense (especially at the end of the month, when they scored 20 runs against the Rockies–I was there!) got a lot of credit, but the pitching was key. The Phillies have the lowest bullpen ERA in the bigs (really shocking, since their 'pen was dreadful last year), and the starting pitching seems to keep them in every game. The Phillies, after the first game of the year where they (and Tom Gordon especially) got shelled, haven’t allowed an opponent to score in double digits since. Also, the Phillies are fortunate because, even when the pitching doesn’t exactly show up, the offense is so prolific that they can climb back into the game.
Chase Utley is having an absolutely incredible, breakthrough year. For those who don’t see him on a daily basis, let me assure you that he isn’t a fluke; he’s probably the smartest baseball player I’ve ever seen. You can see the adjustments he’s making even during his at-bats: two weeks ago, I saw him get out in front of a curveball and rip it foul. On the next throw the pitcher tries to sneak another curve past him, but Utley waits on it this time and pulls it inside the line. Obviously, that’s just one small example, but Utley is a real professional hitter. Also, as evidenced by last night’s plays, he plays with the most heart of anyone I’ve seen: last night he made two diving catches on line drives, and ran over the catcher. It seems like fewer and fewer people run over the catcher anymore, but seeing Utley do it seemed natural.
Howard, although his average is up to .209, still hasn’t found his groove. Granted, the past couple weeks seem to have shown some improvements, but he is nowhere near the threat he was 2 or 3 years ago. Case in point: tonight, in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third, Baker walked Utley to get to Howard. Howard made an out (I forget how). If Utley stays on the pace he’s currently on–and I expect he’ll continue to play like this for the rest of the season–Howard needs to provide protection for him and make teams pay if they don’t pitch to Chase. If he can provide just 75% of what he did in 2006, the Phillies will be unstoppable.
Also, Burrell has cooled off considerably since his hot start, but he still seems to be getting big hits in key spots. Tonight’s two-run homer put the Phillies ahead for good, as did his two-run double on Sunday.
Finally, a lot was made out of Aaron Rowand’s departure this past off-season. Although I’m not in love with him, Pedro Feliz is doing a nice job of putting up numbers that are comparable to Aaron’s. Rowand, I believe has 8 homers; Feliz has 7. Also, Chris Coste has been platooning with Carlos Ruiz and has added 6 homers.
If the bullpen continues to pitch the way it has, and if the starting pitching keeps keeping us in games (and there’s reason to believe that it will get only better if Myers can start pitching better), the Phillies should start to run away with this division soon.
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Gah. Neither the Reds nor the Phils are generating the amount of runs I thought both of these potent offenses would in this series. Our bullpen has played really well…but so has yours. Our starting pitching was great last night…Harang only gave up three runs (which is his ERA), but once again, gets no run support.
Apparently the Reds save all their run support for Edinson Volquez, who is currently the MLB ERA leader, at something sick like 1.46. He’s also MLB’s strikeout leader as well, with 86 SO’s.
If the Reds don’t take this one tonight, I’ll be really disappointed. We’re so close to attaining that magical aura of mediocrity that is .500 baseball that I can taste it.
Fortunately for you Phils fans, you get unproven 2nd year pitcher on his first 2008 big leauge assignment out of AAA, Homer Bailey, tomorrow.
We really need to split this series. We’ll be off to Florida to visit the Marlins next, then back at home for the Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees…we need to win!
C’mon Reds, this stretch of games is going to define your season!
