Group KTE - What's up with them Phillies? (July 3-5 series)

[Frayed Knot]

Haven't seen these guys for a while (since late May) and that's kind of a bad thing because they've been stumbling along most recently.
Following a 9-19 June they're currently they're sitting in last place at 36-45, are 11 games out of 1st, 7.5 games behind the Mets, and have more wins than only the Cubs, Rox, Padres & Brewers in the NL.

Their situation has gotten so bad that rumors were flying during the Sunday Night game that they're taking offers on both FAs-to-be Cole Hamels & Shane Victorino - GM Amaro, of course, denies such stuff, but it's still quite a stunning move to contemplate for a five-time division champ in an expanded WC year whichisn't even half over yet after they just got back one major piece to their puzzle (Utley) and expect to see both Ryan Howard & Roy Halladay back in the not too distant future.

Recent shuffles include dumping Jim Thome for some minor league scrap and calling up Jason Pridie to take his place.
Designated Pain-in-the-Ass Freddie Galvis is serving a drug suspension.
DL assignments include long-timers Jose Contreras & Ryan Howard. Also Roy Halladay, Brian Schneider, and Laynce Nix, plus assorted relievers like David Herndon & Michael Stutes.

[Edgy MD]

They have this hot prospect at Lehigh Valley named Ryan Howard. They say he's not quite ready for a callup.

[Guest themetfairy]

Ex-Met Jason Pridie is now beardless and a new first-time dad.

[metirish]

Ever notice how Charlie Manuel and the Phillie Phanatic walk the same way? it's weird.

[Ceetar]

themetfairy wrote: Ex-Met Jason Pridie is now beardless and a new first-time dad.

also served a drug suspension.

Carlos Ruiz continues to be pretty damn good, in fact he's their best player. 1.000 OPS and a .356 BA.(.002 ahead of Wright) His .371 BABIP is roughly 80 points above his career norm. (Wright's is higher, but only .055 higher than career norm)

He also leads the league in HBP with 12 (This is usually Utley's category. What does that hitting coach teach these guys?)

He's a contact guy, only 32 Ks and 16 walks. I suspect this means he'll chase Niese's curve, but the Mets defense could grant him bases if they're not careful. Luckily he's a catcher and not fast.

[Frayed Knot]

Sked at CitiField

Tuesday: 7:10 -- Worley vs Niese

Wednesday: 1:10 -- Lee vs Young

Thursday 7:10 -- Hamels vs Dickey

[Edgy MD]

I don't quite get close analysis of batting average on balls in play for hitters.

I mean, yeah, any time a guy is widely divergent from his career norms, that increases the likelihood of a regression to the mean, but no more with any other stat --- batting average, slugging, walking, striking out.

The notion to pay more attention to batting average on balls in play was conceived to better analyze pitchers, for whom the stat is much more volatile.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't quite get close analysis of batting average on balls in play for hitters. I mean, yeah, any time a guy is widely divergent from his career norms, that increases the likelihood of a regression to the mean, but no more with any other stat --- batting average, slugging, walking, striking out. The notion to pay more attention to batting average on balls in play was conceived to better analyze pitchers, for whom the stat is much more volatile.

Well, I wasn't really doing 'close analysis' but it's not meaningless either. Was just looking at the stats to see what I could see. There's a lot of luck in play once the ball leaves the bat, and if more balls are aimed right at guys they'll be caught.

With Ruiz, it's not absurdly high so it's partially due to simply seeing the ball well, which is probably also why is BB% is waaaay down. His HR% is absurdly high though, and that's probably where you'd expect the 'come back to earth' bit to come from. Especially in non-CBP parks. He's got roughly same ratio of ground balls to fly balls that he always has, but his GO/AO ratio is high, which is probably due to a lot of those fly balls going over the fence instead of into gloves. Sustainable? who knows. I would suspect not.

[Zvon]

Ha! Phils suck.

Someone here questioned my feelings of satisfaction with the Mets at this point of the season. Alls I can say in response to that is the Phils are having exactly the type of season that I expected the Mets to have this year, up to this point. Around 10 games out, injury woes, pitching woes, hitting woes, etc woes. And the Mets are in the position I expected the Phils to be in, 3 or 4 games out, getting timely hitting and good pitching (for the most part), as they waited for Utley and Howard to return. I don't know about you guys, but I find this extremely satisfying.

NICE KTE!

[Guest themetfairy]

And you know who the Phillies have on their AAA team, ready to come up if they need a starting pitcher?

Pat Misch.

Yeah, THAT Pat Misch.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You guys are going into this series with way too much optimism. Anything can happen over 3 games.

[Fman99]

I'm glad they suck. Especially considering how high the expectations were.

Hard to believe the last NL East champion that was not the Phillies was the 2006 Mets.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Mets were the team that ended the Braves streak and preceded the Phillies streak.

2006 was the only year since, I think, 1995 that the Phillies or Braves didn't win the NL East.

[Ceetar]

Former Mets:

backup catcher Brian Schneider: He sucks. 1 more XBH than Mike Nickeas (but 7 less RBI). park adjusted I imagine that's roughly the same.

1B/UT Ty Wigginton: .312 OBP and .699 OPS. That'd probably be okay if he wasn't primarily starting.

Raul Valdes: somehow this guy's been pretty good. Perhaps the suckiness was isolated to Metsdome although his IP since is only a third of what he pitched in 2010. Maybe Manuel just overused him. 2.94 ERA with 21Ks in 19 IP. Presumably has a World Series ring?, traded from Cardinals to Yankees last year.

Jason Pridie: 1 AB. made out.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Here's all we need to know about Jason Pridie:

[Ceetar]

He will always score bigger at home than at the park.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: They have this hot prospect at Lehigh Valley named Ryan Howard. They say he's not quite ready for a callup.

He's attracting a lot of attention from scouts, along with several small moons and other natural satellites, due to his increased gravity.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Former Mets: backup catcher Brian Schneider: He sucks. 1 more XBH than Mike Nickeas (but 7 less RBI). park adjusted I imagine that's roughly the same.

Has one of his two homers the season off of the Mets. Off of Hefner, specifically. Hefner got so pissed, he turned around and homered off of Blanton.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frayed Knot wrote: Recent shuffles include dumping Jim Thome for some minor league scrap and calling up Jason Pridie to take his place.

Fangraphs and a few others seem to like the young-- sweet-pantsed 19!-- catcher they got in this trade. Frankly, I'd probably take that for Bay at this point.

[Edgy MD]

Chase Utley starting his season late, but with passion, hitting .385 / .429 / .615 // 1.044 in his first 14 plate appearances --- just in time to replace that Galvis fellow.

[Frayed Knot]

Strong Junes: Jimmy Rollins [6 of his 8 2012 HRs] and Hunter Pence [.327/.384/.531]

Weak Junes: Ty Wigginton [low 200s BA & OBA] and Shane Victorino [only 4 XBHs]

[G-Fafif]

Here's all we need to know about Jason Pridie:

When the scouting reports said "Jason Pridie is looking good," they really needed to be more specific.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Here's all we need to know about Jason Pridie: When the scouting reports said "Jason Pridie is looking good," they really needed to be more specific.

You'd think that making the major league minimum he'd still be able to buy his wife a shirt that fits. Must be hard for her to go out in public like that.

[G-Fafif]

Here's all we need to know about Jason Pridie: When the scouting reports said "Jason Pridie is looking good," they really needed to be more specific. You'd think that making the major league minimum he'd still be able to buy his wife a shirt that fits. Must be hard for her to go out in public like that.

Typical immodest Phillie.