Here is a challenge for you. I am going to show you a lineup full of pure statistics. Your objective is to tell me which batter looks out of place (and for the sake of this game, let's ignore the fact that the leadoff hitter has a .266 OBP):
Batter 1: .230/.266/.425, 24 HR (Switch)
Batter 2: .314/.385/.459, 7 HR (Switch)
Batter 3: .288/.417/.545, 35 HR (Left)
Batter 4: .207/.298/.356, 14 HR (Left)
Batter 5: .302/.436/.644, 60 HR (Right)
Batter 6: .285/.359/.639, 54 HR (Left)
Batter 7: .247/.351/.392, 12 HR (Right)
Batter 8: .208/.278/.385, 28 HR (Right)
Batter 9: .293/.370/.524, 29 HR (Right)
So, did you figure out what looks wrong here? If you guessed the problem was the fact that the cleanup hitter has a .356 slugging percentage and the two batters hitting behind him have combined for one hundred more home runs than him, then you would be correct!
Who are the people that the numbers represent? They are the Phillies' probable starting lineup for Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) of the World Series and those numbers are the lineup's numbers against left-handed pitching this year (I based the home run numbers on what a 600 at-bat season against left-handed pitching would look like). Who is the player batting fourth with numbers against lefties similar to Eric Bruntlett's against lefties (.229/.315/.333, 0 HR)? Ryan Howard.
Should the series advance back to New York, the Phillies' will face two left-handed starting pitchers in Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia in Game 6 and Game 7, respectively. Charlie Manuel should consider moving Howard down in the batting order and move Jayson Werth (5th hitter) and Raul Ibanez (6th hitter) up in the lineup. An ideal lineup could look something like this:
CF Shane Victorino (Batter 2)
2B Chase Utley (Batter 3)
RF Werth (Batter 5)
DH Ibanez (Batter 6)
C Carlos Ruiz (Batter 9)
SS Jimmy Rollins (Batter 1)
1B Howard (Batter 4)
LF Ben Francisco (Batter 7)
3B Pedro Feliz (Batter 8)
However, Charlie Manuel will be reluctant to move so many of his hitters around so an alternative lineup that moves Howard down could look something like this:
SS Rollins
CF Victorino
2B Utley
RF Werth
DH Ibanez
1B Howard
LF Francisco
3B Feliz
C Ruiz
Manuel should strongly consider adopting this strategy as a bruised ego is a small price to pay for a World Series championship.
Read more!
Showing posts with label charlie manuel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charlie manuel. Show all posts
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Recent slide is not encouraging
The Phillies have not been playing very good baseball recently. The last few games have not technically mattered since the Phillies have clinched the division and have now secured the #2 seed in the National League playoffs and will host the Colorado Rockies in the National League Divisional Series (I will cover the first round matchup in a later post). However, this slump is still problematic for the Phillies.
Since the Phillies clinched the division, they have dropped four straight games. While benchwarmers such as Miguel Cairo and Andy Tracy have been seeing some playing time, most of the regulars are still in the starting lineup. Even though Charlie Manuel has been pulling his starting pitchers early in games, none of the starters has impressed lately. The last time a member of their current starting rotation had a quality start was back on September 22nd when Joe Blanton threw seven shutout innings to beat the Florida Marlins 9-3.
These performances may not make a difference for the standings but teams that have had to coast for awhile have not done well in the playoffs. Last season, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels had been assured playoff spots well in advance of the postseason and those two teams managed to win just one playoff game between the two of them. While it is tough to simply turn a team around, the Phillies will be fortunate that the Rockies assured themselves of a playoff spot a few days ago. Read more!
Since the Phillies clinched the division, they have dropped four straight games. While benchwarmers such as Miguel Cairo and Andy Tracy have been seeing some playing time, most of the regulars are still in the starting lineup. Even though Charlie Manuel has been pulling his starting pitchers early in games, none of the starters has impressed lately. The last time a member of their current starting rotation had a quality start was back on September 22nd when Joe Blanton threw seven shutout innings to beat the Florida Marlins 9-3.
These performances may not make a difference for the standings but teams that have had to coast for awhile have not done well in the playoffs. Last season, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels had been assured playoff spots well in advance of the postseason and those two teams managed to win just one playoff game between the two of them. While it is tough to simply turn a team around, the Phillies will be fortunate that the Rockies assured themselves of a playoff spot a few days ago. Read more!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Maybe Charlie reads this blog
Before tonight's game against the Houston Astros, Charlie Manuel held a closed door meeting with the team. And the Phillies won. Good idea, Charlie.
Read more!
Monday, September 28, 2009
This team needs a spark
The Phillies are in dire need of a spark. They just completed a lackluster 5-5 road trip and after tonight's very flat 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros, the Phillies have now dropped five of their last seven games. Meanwhile, the surging Atlanta Braves are just four games behind the Phillies for the National League East title. Moreover, as Todd Zolecki has pointed out, recent National League champions have played remarkably well in the stretch run. Simply put, this team needs some form of inspiration if they want to win the NL East or make another run in the playoffs.
Last season, the Phillies had just dropped two out of three games to the lowly Washington Nationals and were about to start a crucial three-game series with the Mets, whom the Phillies trailed by three games in the NL East. When the Phillies arrived at Shea Stadium, they were greeted in the clubhouse with an inspirational e-mail from Mike Schmidt. The Phillies responded by winning two of three games from the Mets and finished the season 16-6 and won the division by three games.
Earlier this season when the Phillies were in another tailspin, Manuel called a closed-door meeting after a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Phillies responded by taking the final two games of the Blue Jays series and after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies went on to win 14 of their next 15 games.
While fans and the media have scapegoated Brad Lidge for the Phillies' recent mediocrity, several other Phillies have scuffled in September such as Chase Utley (.692 OPS), Pedro Feliz (.598 OPS), Shane Victorino (.616 OPS), Cliff Lee (5.59 ERA) and Joe Blanton (4.91 ERA). Whether it's in the form of an e-mail from a Phillies legend, a closed-door team meeting or benching struggling starters, Charlie Manuel needs to realize that his team's current problems extend past who is pitching the ninth inning.
Read more!
Last season, the Phillies had just dropped two out of three games to the lowly Washington Nationals and were about to start a crucial three-game series with the Mets, whom the Phillies trailed by three games in the NL East. When the Phillies arrived at Shea Stadium, they were greeted in the clubhouse with an inspirational e-mail from Mike Schmidt. The Phillies responded by winning two of three games from the Mets and finished the season 16-6 and won the division by three games.
Earlier this season when the Phillies were in another tailspin, Manuel called a closed-door meeting after a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Phillies responded by taking the final two games of the Blue Jays series and after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies went on to win 14 of their next 15 games.
While fans and the media have scapegoated Brad Lidge for the Phillies' recent mediocrity, several other Phillies have scuffled in September such as Chase Utley (.692 OPS), Pedro Feliz (.598 OPS), Shane Victorino (.616 OPS), Cliff Lee (5.59 ERA) and Joe Blanton (4.91 ERA). Whether it's in the form of an e-mail from a Phillies legend, a closed-door team meeting or benching struggling starters, Charlie Manuel needs to realize that his team's current problems extend past who is pitching the ninth inning.
Read more!
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