Who’s the furthest away from setting the green grass at CBP on fire?
Brett Myers, “the #1 starter”, has a 7.71 ERA in 3 May starts this season. Myers’ career ERA in May is 3.34, which is actually his best month.
After scorching every bit of turf he stepped on during April, with a 1.136 OPS and only striking out 15 times in 27 games, Pat Burrell is hitting .231 in May with 15 strike outs in 12 games played. Burrell’s career OPS in May is .933, which is his best month aside from the small sample size of October games he has played.
Ryan Howard has a 6-game hitting streak going, which has raised his batting average to .182 for the season. Howard’s career splits improve each month of the season. His batting avg in May is .017 higher than April, June is .033 higher than May, July is .014 higher than June and so on.
So, with typical improvement in production expected from these 3 home grown talents not happening, should the Phillies be worried? I’d have to say no. There is too much talent on this team right now for the Phillies to slump themselves out of post season contention, this early. Consider that in the 100+ year history of the Phillies, there are only 5 Phillies to have their jersey numbers retired by the team. It is quite possible that if this core group of players stays in town long enough, that there are currently 4 or 5 players on this team who could be honored in that manner some day. Chase Utley has been anointed a lock for Hall of Fame status down the road. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are league MVP’s who would certainly be worthy of jersey retirement consideration. Cole Hamels could very well become the greatest home grown pitcher in the team’s history. And then there is Pat Burrell who is swiftly rising on the Phillies’ lists of career offensive achievements. Of course, this roster would never gain consideration as the best Phillies team of all time if they don’t win a World Series, but I believe we’re all watching the best collection of talent that the Phillies have ever had at one time, outside of that 1980 World Champion squad.
On another note, would you be surprised to learn that your reigning National League Most Valuable Player and lead-off batter has walked only once this season? You would? Good, because that’s what I was going for there.
Statement to ponder: So Taguchi is the new Endy Chavez. In 2005, as a member of the Phillies, Chavez had just 2 hits in 40 games played after July. Granted, several of those appearances were as a defensive replacement or pinch runner. Taguchi is hitless since April 25th and is shaping up to have an Endy-like stint with the Phils.
Compare (or ponder) these stat lines…
37 games played, 110 at bats, 11 runs, 2 homers, 7 RBI, .255 avg., .291 OBP.
21 games played, 59 at bats, 8 runs, 3 homers, 8 RBI, .339 avg., .418 OBP.
Folks, that is Geoff Jenkins (5 million dollars salary in 2008) vs. Chris Coste (415,000 dollars salary in 2008).
Signing off…this has been Jay for the Phoul Ballz Blog Network.
Brett Myers, “the #1 starter”, has a 7.71 ERA in 3 May starts this season. Myers’ career ERA in May is 3.34, which is actually his best month.
After scorching every bit of turf he stepped on during April, with a 1.136 OPS and only striking out 15 times in 27 games, Pat Burrell is hitting .231 in May with 15 strike outs in 12 games played. Burrell’s career OPS in May is .933, which is his best month aside from the small sample size of October games he has played.
Ryan Howard has a 6-game hitting streak going, which has raised his batting average to .182 for the season. Howard’s career splits improve each month of the season. His batting avg in May is .017 higher than April, June is .033 higher than May, July is .014 higher than June and so on.
So, with typical improvement in production expected from these 3 home grown talents not happening, should the Phillies be worried? I’d have to say no. There is too much talent on this team right now for the Phillies to slump themselves out of post season contention, this early. Consider that in the 100+ year history of the Phillies, there are only 5 Phillies to have their jersey numbers retired by the team. It is quite possible that if this core group of players stays in town long enough, that there are currently 4 or 5 players on this team who could be honored in that manner some day. Chase Utley has been anointed a lock for Hall of Fame status down the road. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are league MVP’s who would certainly be worthy of jersey retirement consideration. Cole Hamels could very well become the greatest home grown pitcher in the team’s history. And then there is Pat Burrell who is swiftly rising on the Phillies’ lists of career offensive achievements. Of course, this roster would never gain consideration as the best Phillies team of all time if they don’t win a World Series, but I believe we’re all watching the best collection of talent that the Phillies have ever had at one time, outside of that 1980 World Champion squad.
On another note, would you be surprised to learn that your reigning National League Most Valuable Player and lead-off batter has walked only once this season? You would? Good, because that’s what I was going for there.
Statement to ponder: So Taguchi is the new Endy Chavez. In 2005, as a member of the Phillies, Chavez had just 2 hits in 40 games played after July. Granted, several of those appearances were as a defensive replacement or pinch runner. Taguchi is hitless since April 25th and is shaping up to have an Endy-like stint with the Phils.
Compare (or ponder) these stat lines…
37 games played, 110 at bats, 11 runs, 2 homers, 7 RBI, .255 avg., .291 OBP.
21 games played, 59 at bats, 8 runs, 3 homers, 8 RBI, .339 avg., .418 OBP.
Folks, that is Geoff Jenkins (5 million dollars salary in 2008) vs. Chris Coste (415,000 dollars salary in 2008).
Signing off…this has been Jay for the Phoul Ballz Blog Network.
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