Skip to main content

Phils Starters Shining Brightly

By
Many baseball fans will recall all the hype surrounding the Phillies' pitching rotation leading into the season. After Philadelphia snatched free agent Cliff Lee up, before the Rangers or the Yankees could lock him into a contract, the baseball world seemed to buzz for months about the potential of the Phillies' starting pitchers for the 2011 season.

As the team has reached the 75 games plateau in the 2011 season, the Phillies' 47-28 record is the best record in Major League Baseball and, as should have been expected, they have their pitching staff to thank for it.

Overall, the Phillies' pitching staff leads the Majors in ERA, with a 2.98 mark, but the staff has been led by three members of their starting rotation...especially over the past month.

Adding together statistics from each of Cole Hamels', Roy Halladay's and Cliff Lee's past 7 starts, the sums are remarkable. The trio has combined for a 15-2 record and a 2.17 ERA while allowing just 24 walks and striking out 141 batters in 153 2/3 innings pitched.

Veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt hasn't been quite as sharp as his previously mentioned staff mates over the same stretch. Oswalt has posted a 1-4 record and a 3.40 ERA over his previous 7 starts, dating back to mid-May.

Fifth starter Joe Blanton posted a 1-2 record with a 5.50 ERA through 6 starts, prior to landing on the disabled list with elbow inflammation for the second time in mid-May.

Recent shortcomings of the core four plus one aside, even the team's relievers have prevailed as a strength of the club and are among the best in baseball. The bullpen's 2.80 ERA ranks second best in the big leagues and their .226 batting average against is 5th best in the Majors.

Plenty of analysts and writers have pointed out that the offense has to reduce their struggles producing runs if the team is going to reach the World Series, but with a pitching staff like this that shuts down the opposition with sheer dominance on a steady basis, the Phillies' offense shouldn't be a source of too much worry.
_________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #15 Infielder Kendall Simmons

By
An All-Star in 2019 with the short-season Class-A Williamsport Crosscutters,  Kendall Simmons  is one of the Phillies' most promising prospects.   Simmons, an outstanding and multi-positional infielder, was the Phillies' 6th round draft pick in 2018. That year, he made his professional debut in the Rookie level Gulf Coast League, posting a .234 average with three homers and 11 RBI in 32 games. The right-handed batter tallied a .234 batting average with 12 homers, 34 RBI and five stolen bases in 51 games with Williamsport in 2019.  In the 2020-2021 off-season, Simmons played in the Australian Baseball League, making up for some of the time missed due to the cancelled 2020 season.  In 21 games with Adelaide, he notched a .172 batting average with a home run, seven RBI and three steals.  Last year, Simmons played primarily with Class A Clearwater.  With the Threshers, he recorded a .226/.321/.460 slash line in 41 games.  Listed at six-feet-two, 180 pounds, strength and athleticism
Post a Comment
Read more

This Guy Speaks For All of You

By
This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________
Post a Comment
Read more

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #16 RHP McKinley Moore

By
Moore, image- Jay Floyd Acquired this spring in a deal that sent outfielder Adam Haseley to the White Sox, righty pitcher McKinley Moore joined the Phillies organization and quickly garnered attention as a promising relief option for the future. Listed at six-feet-six, 225-pounds, Moore has an imposing, sluggerish frame.   A 14th round draft selection by the Chi Sox in 2019 out of Arkansas-Little Rock, Moore signed quickly and made his minor league debut that same year.  In 22 relief appearances in Rookie ball, Moore collected a 4.84 ERA, a .264 batting average against and three saves. In 2021, he split his season with Class A Kannapolis and Class A Advanced Winston Salem.  In 37 combined appearances, Moore tallied a 2-2 record with nine saves, a 4.20 ERA and a .234 batting average against. He also held his own in the prestigious Arizona Fall League last year, where he posted a 4.22 ERA while striking out nine and walking five in 10 2/3 innings pitched.   Considered as a flame thrower,
Post a Comment
Read more