2012 - Philadelphia Phillies, At Least Cole is Staying

[SD]

They'd be a few games above .500 if their middle relief was worth a damn

[Rome]

Exactly.

Their defensive efficiency has been awful as well.  They haven't committed many errors but they're not converting balls in play into outs at nearly the same clip as they did last year.

That's really inexplicable considering they're without two monstrous defensive liabilities in Choke & Raul.

[Sgt PSN]

3 or 4 years ago I'd say that Choke was a defensive liability but the last couple of years he really improved in the field....at least to the point where I would not consider him a liability. 

[ice grillin you]

even at his worst he was never a "monsterous" liability....and hasnt been a liability of any kind in probably five years....he has trouble making that sidearm cross body throw to second thus people remember seeing him throw a ball into left field a few times which admittedly is an image that is not easily forgettable...but they turn that image into the notion that he is terrible defensively

[Sgt PSN]

Yeah....I was actually looking at his defensive stats maybe a month or so ago and I think over the last several years, he was basically 6-8 in fielding percentage in the NL....which like saying you graduated in the top 40-50% of your class. 

The other big problem he seemed to improve a lot on was scooping balls thrown in the dirt.  He seemed to really struggle with that the first couple years in but progressively got better as time went on. 

My concern now with him coming off the achilles is how well is he going to field his position when it comes to those sharply hit balls down the line.  He's probably not going to be able to plant and get as good of a jump on them as he did before. 

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but this injury really could make him an average player with slightly above average power. 

[SD]

Fans bitch about the hitting and that deserves some merit, but they have relief coming soon. Maybe it's not the Howard/Utley from a few years ago but they're definite upgrades over Galvis/Nix/Wigginton/Mayberry/Thome/trash. The middle relief is the big concern, they've already shown the ability to blow games and they have no consistency. They should have a go to guy then a right and lefty specialist, right now they have none of the above.

[MDS]

worst walk off homer ever

at least pence and the rest of them realized how pathetic it was that it came to that

I don't care if the LF threw it over the wall - a homer is a homer. They win.

The celebration was subdued but they've been playing like shtein. Its not like they're 31-7.

the homer wasnt pathetic (though it was a bank special)

it was pathetic that they had to go to extras to beat a wretched astros team. its another slap in the face to how far they have fallen. last year...year before that...they win this game 10-1. this year they need extras because they cant tack on insurance runs and their 1 reliable reliever is unavailable.

its pathetic and its a joke but its what they are now--a team barely good enough for meandering weekday afternoon home wins agianst farging houston.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Actually when they were good the Astros used to kick their ass.

They first time they got Lee I seem to remember the Astros sweeping them late in the year in an empty ass Minute Maid Park.

[MDS]

that really doesnt matter, its not about how theyve specifically done against the astros

the point is they suck and are painful to watch. please tell me you recognize this,

[ice grillin you]

dont forget the worst manager in baseball

[MDS]

you mean the guy who uses his 50 million dollar closer in a 4 run game but not 2 a run game?

i dont see it

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Charlie had been kicked out before Qualls was put in. In fact Contreras and Diekman were warming earlier.

[MDS]

oh ok, so its pete mackannons fault

charlie would have went with the 3000 year old cuban who cant get anyone out.

got it

[Munson]

Vance has elbow inflammation and is now on the DL. Ugh.

[ice grillin you]

the bullpen moves are blantant and horrific....something a little less under the radar that killed me the other day was when jimmy was on second with no outs and he had pierre try and sac bunt him over