2011 Philadelphia Phillies Season Thread (choking awful pos team, DIAF)

[Don Ho]

This will make everyone feel better:

Ashley Fox this morning:

But offensive numbers league-wide are in decline. This season, the league's batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage have all dipped. Why? One big reason is the pitching is better.

Consider this: Through June 8 of last year, all teams in baseball were averaging 4.4 runs a game. Through June 8 of this year, that number had fallen precipitously to 4.1. Depending on whether you round the number up, the Phillies are at 4.0 runs per game, just a tick below the league average but right at their sweet spot.

Going into Thursday night's game, the Phillies had scored at least four runs 27 times this season; 24 times they had won. Their .889 winning percentage when scoring four runs was significantly higher than that of the next-closest team. Cleveland is .818 when scoring four or more runs.

Also, while the Phillies are hovering around four runs a game, teams playing against the Phillies are averaging 3.4 runs a game, well below the league average. The Phillies are hard to score against.

[Sgt PSN]

Unfortunately, the Phils are like 8 games under .500 when they score 3 or less.  I've been saying it since December or January....the Phils offense will be middle of the pack, maybe a little above average.  The pitching is going to have to carry this team for the bulk of the year and the entire post season so the rotation has got to find a way to keep opponents from scoring more than 2 runs.  It's a daunting task and an unfair burden put on them, but that's basically what they (and by they, I mean Rube) asked for.  And I'm not calling out Rube either.  But at the same time, the starting pitching hasn't lived up to the hype, especially #2 and 3.  Lee and Oswalt need to get straightened out, and I think they eventually will. 

[Don Ho]

Bad break but still got runners on 2nd and 3rd.

[Don Ho]

In HOF we trust.

[Don Ho]

Zambrano's a real class act.

[Eagles_Legendz]

Gotta love McCarthy throwing out the Cubs offense being 'as good as' the Phillies this year as if that's a reason why they should be good or something.

[Don Ho]

Glad I missed that comment.  As good as the Phillies? They're running out of things to talk about after a rain delayed, extra inning game.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Grit's gonna be a daddy.

Grit Jr!!

[Eagles_Legendz]

And Sarge just tried to one up McCarthy's awful comment with this gem:

"It's just a matter of time until he continues to start to hit".   

[Sgt PSN]

I bet the kid goes on the DL before being born. 

[MDS]

hopefully this utley has a personality

[Eagles_Legendz]

He knew that was gone.

[Don Ho]

BEAST!

Why did they leave Big Z in? 

[PhillyPhreak54]

LOL

Polly is if not the best 2-hole hitter in MLB he's top three, so sure, hitting him farging 5th is chollyriffic.

Got that right pal.

Bow to Uncle Chuck.

Polanco's 100th homer is a slam.

Oh and wtf were the cubs doing? IBB Grit to face Hiward with Zambrano and then let him face Polanco too?

[MDS]

too many weapons