The Grand Old Game

SEPT 10^th, 2009-Is it too early for Halloween? ‘Cause the Phillies are downright scary.

The 2008 World Champs and en route to another dominant run in the postseason, there’s a strong case to be made for a repeat, this year. And here it is.

(Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a Phillies fan. Still, facts are facts, gotta tell it like it is. So eat it up, Phillies Phans.)

Philadelphia Phillies

Pitching, hitting, speed…this team can hurt you in a lot of ways. And they usually do. Where does one start?

Hitting

Let’s start with the lynchpin, 1B Ryan Howard (.275, 38, 116). Nightmare, if you happen to be the unfortunate soul staring him down from only 60 feet away, one more argument for pitchers to wear helmets in the field. But even if you get past him (somehow), you still have to concern yourself with the other three 30-homer guys in the order. Yeah, three others. Sound like a Hitchcock movie, yet? Give it time.

Chase Utley, 2B-.295, 30, 85, 18 SB

Raul Ibanez, LF-.279, 30, 82

Jayson Werth, RF-.269, 32, 82

Any one of these guys could send a pitcher to an early shower, and a manager to an early grave. Sleep on that for awhile.

Ok, so you kept it in the park…this time around. Let’s say you didn’t send any satellites into orbit, the whole game. Fine. We’ll just assume. So instead of going ballistic on you, the Phils opt for ground warfare. Four hitters with double-digit steals, Utley a perfect 18-for-18, SS Jimmy Rollins with 25 (off-year and all), Werth chipping in 13 of 16, and CF Shane Victorino with 23, will make it plenty rough for you on the ‘paths. Victorino and Rollins (when healthy) are genuine speedsters, and both play top-notch defense, on top of everything else.

Pitching

Cole Hamels is world-class, despite the so-so numbers (8-9, 4.32). Just another example of how numbers may not lie, but they don’t always tell the whole truth. Could be that a string of starts from May 14^th-June 26^th in which he tallied 100 or more pitches in 8 of 9 starts could have caused him some fatigue-related issues. It’s a small matter; once the postseason rolls around, look out.

And if he has another off day, so what? Two words: Cliff Lee. What he’s done since joining the NL is un-phreakin’-believable. 5-2, 2.81 doesn’t really tell the whole story.

This says it far better:

July 31-@ SFG

9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 76 of 109 pitches for strikes.

August 6-vs. COL

7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 SO, 78 of 112 for strikes.

August 19-vs. ARI

9 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 11 SO, 81 (!) of 106 for strikes.

Just hitting the highlights, here. And yes, he did come back to Earth in his last two (12 runs allowed combined), but come on. Oh, and his middle name? Phifer. There’s this whole “Ph” motif going on, here.

Then there’s J.A. Happ. 10-4, 2.77. Oh, and Pedro Martinez. 4-0 since his return to The Bigs.

The only weakness these guys have is their bullpen. Brad Lidge is in closer limbo, regardless of what Manuel says. And the starters, as a whole, do give up the gopher ball. But you better jump on ‘em early, because they’re sure gonna jump on you. All told, the Phillies could very well be the first National League in 33 years to repeat as WS champs. There are a few loose ends yet, but if any team can tie those ends together, it’s these guys.

Clinton Riddle