September 2016 - Open Thread

August 2016 - Open Thread

July 2016 - Open Thread

Notes 7/1

On Wednesday, the Phillies recorded their fourth come-from-behind win in their last seven games

In their last 8 games, Phillies hitters are 2nd among all MLB teams in hits (110) & extra-base hits (40), 3rd in total bases (178) and OPS (.906), 3rd in average (.326), 5th in runs (57), OBP (.377) & SLG % (.528), and 6th in runs per game (6.33)

In their last 14 games, Phillies fielders have committed 19 errors

Notes 7/15

Phillies first half record was 42-48 (.467), which is a 13-win improvement from the ASB in 2015 (29-62). Phillies finished the first half going 10-3 (.769) in their final 13 games, which was the best win% in MLB over that stretch.

During the first half, Phillies pitchers ranked 5th among all MLB teams in Ks with 759. and 15th in ERA at 4.35. Phillies hitters ranked 24th in batting at .244. Phillies had 20 one-run wins during the first half (20-9, .690), tied for the most in MLB with the SF Giants (20-10).

Since 6/21, the Phillies lead MLB in hits (211), AVG (.308), SLG% (.515), & OPS (.871). 

June 2016 - Open Thread

Notes 5/31 

Aaron Nola ranks 2nd among all NL starting pitchers in opp-OBP, trailing only Clayton Kershaw. He also ranks 3rd in WHIP (0.92) and K/BB ratio (5.83). He has the 5th-best WAR (2.0) among NL pitchers, trailing Kershaw (4.1), Syndergaard (2.6), Cueto (2.5) and Strasburg (2.2).

Since his debut on 7/21/15, the Phillies have turned to Aaron Nola seven times to stop a losing streak. In those 7 games, Nola is 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA.

Since climbing 7 games over .500 on May 19th, the Phillies have gone 2-8

Notes 6/5

Over his last 10 games,  Cameron Rupp is batting .371 with a .421 OBP and .629 SLG%. He has also thrown out three of his last five potential base stealers (60%).

Phillies visit Tigers & Cubs

Game 45: RHP Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.42) vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-4, 5.49)

Game 46: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-2, 3.99) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (3-4, 4.58)

Game 47: RHP Aaron Nola (3-3, 2.85) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 6.23)

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Game 48: LHP Adam Morgan (1-2, 5.61) vs. LHP Jon Lester (4-3, 2.60)

Game 49: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-6, 3.86) vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.30)

Game 50: RHP Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.75) vs. RHP John Lackey (4-2, 3.38)

Notes 5/23

Yesterday, Phillies pitchers combined for their MLB-leading 7th shutout (2nd: 5, LAD & CWS). 

Phillies last win against the Tigers came on June 16, 2007 at CBP. Their last win in Detroit came on June 9, 2002.

Since moving to the leadoff spot on 4/20, Odubel Herrera has batted .355 (38-107) with 17 BBs, 21 runs, and a .444 OBP. Phillies are 19-8 (.703) in those games.

Vince Velasquez opens the series for the Phillies with a 2.42 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 10.99 K/9 rate. He is one of only 3 starters in MLB to have a sub-2.50 ERA, WHIP less than 1.05, and 10+ K/9 rate. The two others are Clayton Kershaw (1.67 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 11.31 K/9) and Noah Syndergaard (1.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 11.34 K/9). 

Notes 5/27

Jeanmar Gomez became the first Phillies pitcher to reach 17 saves in just 47 games. 

Mario Hollands had his rehab assignment transferred to AAA Lehigh Valley. In 6 rehab appearances, Hollands has allowed only 1 ER (8.2 IP) with a 0.81 WHIP and .200 opp-AVG

Phillies vs. Braves Open Thread

Game 42: RHP Matt Wisler (1-3, 3.14) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (3-2, 2.89)

Game 43: RHP Williams Perez (1-1, 4.78) vs. LHP Adam Morgan (1-1, 6.41)

Game 44: TBD vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-6, 4.44)

Notes 5/20

Phillies .585 win% ranks 6th in MLB, behind Cubs (.718, 28-11), Orioles (.615, 24-15), Red Sox (.610, 25-16), White Sox (.610, 25-16) and Nationals (.610, 25-16). Since losing their first 4 games of the season, the Phillies have gone 24-13 (.649 win%).

Phillies are 13-8 in divisional games, and 7-3 in their last 10. 

Phillies last 15 wins have been by 3 runs or less. It's their longest such streak since 1979.

J.P. Crawford has been promoted to AAA. In 36 games at AA, Crawford batted .265 (36-136) with a .398 OBP. He lead the Eastern League in walks with 30. He will become the 2nd youngest player in the International League at 21 years old, (Ozzie Albies, 19, Braves). Crawford has a career .288 AVG with a .384 OBP, in 319 minor league games. 

Phillies host Marlins for 3 games

Game 39: LHP Adam Conley (2-2, 3.72) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-5, 4.43)

Game 40: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (3-1, 4.40) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (4-1, 2.70)

Game 41: RHP Tom Koehler (2-3, 5.14) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (3-2, 4.12) 

Notes 5/17

Phillies have won 3 of 4, and 6 of 8. They are now 1 game behind the Nationals for 1st place in the NL East. After losing the first 4 games of the season, the Phillies have gone 22-12 (.647) in 34 games, which is the second best record in MLB over that stretch (1st-ChiCubs, 24-8, .750%). 

Phillies have won 6 of 7 series for the first time since 2011.

Is the winning sustainable?

Since 2005 there have been 9 teams to finish at least 5 games over .500 with a negative run-differential. 2 teams won their division, and 1 made the WC play-in game. 

• 2014 Yankees (84-78, -31, four games back of second AL wild-card spot)
• 2013 Yankees (85-77, -21, seven games back of second AL wild-card spot)
• 2011 Giants (86-76, -8, four games back of NL wild-card spot)
• 2009 Tigers (86-77, -2, lost AL wild-card play-in game)
• 2008 Astros (86-75, -31, three and a half games back of NL wild-card spot)
• 2007 Mariners (88-74, -27, six games back in AL West and wild-card race)
• 2007 Diamondbacks (90-72, -20, won NL West)
• 2006 Red Sox (86-76, -5, nine games back of AL wild-card spot)
• 2005 Padres (82-80, -42, won NL West)

 

Phillies host Cincinnati for 3 games

Game 36: LHP Brandon Finnegan (1-1, 4.15) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.91) 

Game 37: RHP Tim Adleman (1-0, 2.45) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (2-2, 3.13)

Game 38: RHP Dan Straily (1-1, 3.47) vs. LHP Adam Morgan (1-0, 3.94)

Notes 5/13

Tommy Joseph has been called up and will start at 1B Friday night. In 27 games with the IronPigs this season, Joseph is hitting .347 with 7 doubles, 6 HR and 17 RBI. He currently leads the International League in AVG (.347) and OPS (.981) and ranks second in SLG (.611).

Phillies will try again to climb 6 games over .500 for the first time since 2011.

Phillies have won 5 of their last 6 series. The last time they won 6 of 7 series was also in 2011. 

Phillies finish road trip in Atlanta

Game 33: LHP Adam Morgan (0-0, 6.00) vs. RHP Matt Wisler (1-2, 3.24) 

Game 34: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-4, 4.21) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (1-2, 5.40)

Game 35: RHP Vince Velasquez (4-1, 2.17) vs. RHP Aaron Blair (0-2, 3.31)

Notes 5/10

Since 4/8, Odubel Herrera leads all of MLB with a .468 OBP. He's reached base in 28 of his last 29 games and batted .350 during that stretch. Since 6/28/15 Herrera is batting .335 (130-388) in 111 games, which is the 2nd-highest AVG in MLB behind only Christian Yelich (.343) The high batting AVG is nothing new for Herrera, who won batting titles in Double-A and the Venezuelan Winter League. Since becoming the everyday leadoff hitter on 4/20, Herrera is hitting .375 (24-64) with 11 walks, 15 runs, and a .461 OBP. The Phillies are 12-5 (.706) in those games. 

Ryan Howard has hit 21 HR's in 82 career games at Turner Field, more than any visiting player in the ballpark’s history.

Notes 5/11

Phillies are attempting to move 6 games over .500 for the first time since the 2011 season. 

Phillies are currently 1.5 games out of 1st place in the NL East, which is the closest they’ve been to a division lead through 33 games, since May 8, 2011 (2 games up). Phillies have gone 10-6 in their 16 divisional games this season

The NL East is currently the only division in baseball with four teams above .500

Notes 5/12

Phillies have played the most road games in MLB this season (21) and the least home games (13). 20 of the next 27 games will be at home.  

Phillies are one of seven MLB teams with a winning record at home and on the road (Cubs, Mets, Nationals, Red Sox, White Sox, and Mariners)

Phillies visit St. Louis & Miami

Game 26: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 3.81) vs. RHP Adam Wainwright (1-3, 7.16)

Game 27: RHP Aaron Nola (1-2, 3.55) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (2-1, 3.07)

Game 28: LHP Adam Morgan (0-0, 5.40) vs. RHP Mike Leake (0-3, 5.83)

Game 29: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 4.15) vs. Jaime Garcia (1-2, 3.73)

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Game 30: RHP Vince Velasquez (4-1, 1.44) vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.26)

Game 31: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.88) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (2-3, 7.25)

Game 32: RHP Aaron Nola (2-2, 2.93) vs. LHP Justin Nicolino (2-0, 2.70)

Notes 5/2

Phillies are riding a 6 game win streak into STL, its their longest since a 7-gamer in Sept. '12. They've won 9 of 10 and 15 of 21.

Since April 9th, the Phillies are tied for the 2nd-best winning% in MLB (15-6, .714), trailing only the Cubs (14-5, .737) Over that period Phillies pitchers rank 1st in MLB in K's (224), 3rd in opp-AVG (.217), 4th in WHIP (1.10) & OBP (.277) and 6th in ERA (3.17)

Phillies are 5 games over .500 (15-10, .600) for the first time since the conclusion of the 2011 season, and their record through 25 games is the best since the 2011 season (17-8 .680)

Phillies SP's have collected 4.0 fWAR so far this year, nearly surpassing their entire 162 game total from last season (4.3 fWAR).

Phillies have won 15 games through their first 25, with only 82 runs scored, which is tied with the 2012 Nationals for the lowest ever in the expansion era. However, the Nationals allowed only 69 runs in those 25 games, while the Phillies have allowed 98. 

Phillies bullpen has a 2.89 ERA (23 ER, 71.2 IP) over their last 20 games, and had a 20 inning scoreless streak snapped yesterday (7th inn on 4/24 to 9th inn on 5/1), the longest by a Phillies bullpen since September 1-11, 2004 (28.0 IP).

Pete Mackanin moved his starting pitcher into the 8-hole on 4/20. It was the first time a Phillies pitcher had batted 8th in a starting lineup since Steve Carlton on June 1, 1979 at Cincinnati. Since Mackanin made the change, the Phillies have won 9 of 10 and scored 45 runs (4.50 RPG).