Post by Bish on Jan 17, 2024 20:44:05 GMT -5
Phillies 2009 July Report
Record: 19-5
Home: 11-3
Road: 8-2
Positive Team Stat: BBs–347 (7th at time of writing)
Notes: When your team isn’t hitting for as high an average, then you need to ultimately get on base and then make it count. Our Phillies have five guys with 40+ walks. That’s a nice balance. Last year Matsui hit the century mark right on the noggin. I don’t think that’s happening this year, but it speaks to an ability to work the pitcher, and then do some serious damage later on. I’m optimistic this team can break into the top five if they continue to work on these principles.
Negative Team Stat: Batting Avg—.260 (14th at time of writing)
Notes: I’ll keep it here. We need to be in the top 10 bare minimum. I won’t be happy otherwise. We have way too much hitter talent to be in the middle of the pack. Kemp, Grandy, and Matsui are in the outfield. Then we have guys like Chooch, Utley, Hardy, and Rolen in the infield. Certainly should be a step above, and I’m hoping the bats will just catch fire. At the end of the day, all that matters is the playoffs for us. That’s really all we care about.
Major League Spotlight
Best Hitter: RF Curtis Granderson
Playoff Stats: .386/.463/.699/1.162 OPS 10 2Bs 5 3Bs 2 HRs 16 RBIs 21 Runs 12 BBs 8 Ks
Notes: The Grandy Man is finally becoming an absolute stud in all facets of the game. He’s hitting the ball for average, he’s hitting for power (mainly in the gaps this season), and he’s also using his elite speed to wreak havoc. He just signed an extension with our club. The Phillies were anticipating a rough negotiation, but Grandy and the team got things done within a day’s work. Impressive! Back to the player. The Phillies envision a season where he could do 25+ doubles, 10+ triples, 25+ home runs, and 50+ steals. That might not happen this year, but they certainly feel it’ll only be a matter of time before he accomplishes such a feat.
Best Pitcher: SP Cole Hamels
Playoff Stats: 6 Starts 5-0 1.71 ERA 47.1 IP 28 Hs 9 ERs 11 BBs 58 Ks
Notes: King Cole is back baby! We needed this version to return to form, and boy has that occurred. Nearly 60 strikeouts in a month is always extremely impressive. I think one day Hamels in the right season could punch out 300+ hitters in a season. That probably won’t happen this season, but there’s no doubt it could happen at some point. Anyway, Hamels being the ace that he is this month really gave us a nice boost. If he can be that guy for us, and not the up and down at times Cole Hamels, then this team will go on a serious run. Dominant month for King Cole! Also, Ben Sheets has yet to be our pitcher of the month. I’m willing to bet he might just grab these last two months to prove a point!
Minor League Spotlight
Prospect: SS Jordy Mercer (AA)
Notes: Jordy Mercer isn’t hitting for the same power, but he still possesses plenty of gap power. He also is hitting for a high average with an also high on base percentage, too. Can he eventually start projecting towards a big league call up, though? He’ll need some luck and timing.
Record: 19-5
Home: 11-3
Road: 8-2
Positive Team Stat: BBs–347 (7th at time of writing)
Notes: When your team isn’t hitting for as high an average, then you need to ultimately get on base and then make it count. Our Phillies have five guys with 40+ walks. That’s a nice balance. Last year Matsui hit the century mark right on the noggin. I don’t think that’s happening this year, but it speaks to an ability to work the pitcher, and then do some serious damage later on. I’m optimistic this team can break into the top five if they continue to work on these principles.
Negative Team Stat: Batting Avg—.260 (14th at time of writing)
Notes: I’ll keep it here. We need to be in the top 10 bare minimum. I won’t be happy otherwise. We have way too much hitter talent to be in the middle of the pack. Kemp, Grandy, and Matsui are in the outfield. Then we have guys like Chooch, Utley, Hardy, and Rolen in the infield. Certainly should be a step above, and I’m hoping the bats will just catch fire. At the end of the day, all that matters is the playoffs for us. That’s really all we care about.
Major League Spotlight
Best Hitter: RF Curtis Granderson
Playoff Stats: .386/.463/.699/1.162 OPS 10 2Bs 5 3Bs 2 HRs 16 RBIs 21 Runs 12 BBs 8 Ks
Notes: The Grandy Man is finally becoming an absolute stud in all facets of the game. He’s hitting the ball for average, he’s hitting for power (mainly in the gaps this season), and he’s also using his elite speed to wreak havoc. He just signed an extension with our club. The Phillies were anticipating a rough negotiation, but Grandy and the team got things done within a day’s work. Impressive! Back to the player. The Phillies envision a season where he could do 25+ doubles, 10+ triples, 25+ home runs, and 50+ steals. That might not happen this year, but they certainly feel it’ll only be a matter of time before he accomplishes such a feat.
Best Pitcher: SP Cole Hamels
Playoff Stats: 6 Starts 5-0 1.71 ERA 47.1 IP 28 Hs 9 ERs 11 BBs 58 Ks
Notes: King Cole is back baby! We needed this version to return to form, and boy has that occurred. Nearly 60 strikeouts in a month is always extremely impressive. I think one day Hamels in the right season could punch out 300+ hitters in a season. That probably won’t happen this season, but there’s no doubt it could happen at some point. Anyway, Hamels being the ace that he is this month really gave us a nice boost. If he can be that guy for us, and not the up and down at times Cole Hamels, then this team will go on a serious run. Dominant month for King Cole! Also, Ben Sheets has yet to be our pitcher of the month. I’m willing to bet he might just grab these last two months to prove a point!
Minor League Spotlight
Prospect: SS Jordy Mercer (AA)
Notes: Jordy Mercer isn’t hitting for the same power, but he still possesses plenty of gap power. He also is hitting for a high average with an also high on base percentage, too. Can he eventually start projecting towards a big league call up, though? He’ll need some luck and timing.
