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Around SBN: Bracketology 2012: Duke Finally Steps Up To The No. 1 Line

19-3: How to Drive a Stake Through the Hearts of Your Challengers

The Phillies are 19-3 over their last 22 games.  They lead the NL East by 7 games over the Marlins.  The Braves sit 8 games back, the Mets 10.5, and the Nationals 27.  This is what you can safely call a commanding lead.  Of course, there are still two months-plus of baseball to play, but the Phillies are in the proverbial driver's seat here.

The amazing part about what the Phillies have done is that they've built this lead while their competitors are not playing bad baseball.  In fact, the Marlins and Braves are playing pretty good baseball.  And yet, because the Phillies are playing sensational baseball, some of the best I've seen from them in my life as a fan, the Marlins and Braves are falling further and further behind.

To illustrate, take a look at how the NL East has played since July 3, when the Phillies started their tear.  At the start of play that day, the Phillies were tied with the Marlins, both leading a razor-close four-way race in the NL East.  The Phils and Marlins were only 1 game ahead of the Mets and 2 games ahead of the Braves.  And yet, since then, here's how things have shaken out:

W L GB RS RA Diff
Phillies 19 3 -- 143 69 +74
Braves 13 9 6 85 74 +11
Marlins 11 9 7 114 77 +37
Mets 9 12 9.5 72 93 -21
Nationals 9 14 10.5 109 108 +1

The Phillies' dominating play has lapped the field here. Look at the Braves and Marlins in particular. The Braves have played just under .600 ball over the past 22 games. And yet they've lost 6 games in the standings. The Marlins have outscored their opponents by 37 runs and played .550 ball. And they've gone from first place to third, behind by 7 games.

This is how you not only dominate your competitors but also completely demoralize them. When they play good ball, you leave them in your dust by winning 19 out of 22.

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It’s tangential to the piece, but I didn’t realize until you said it that Washington is 27 games out. Yikes!

by PhillyFriar on Jul 29, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions  

So, we had a +9 run differential after the Atlanta series. And now we have the 2nd-best run differential in MLB. Nice.

by taco pal on Jul 29, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions  

Amazing

I didn’t realize until just looking now that our run differential is better than the Yankees and Red Sox (and every other team in the AL).

by David S. Cohen on Jul 29, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

I can’t argue that going on a 19-3 run sure helps.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Jul 29, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions  

I'm surprised

I would have expected you to find something to argue against a 19-3 run.

by David S. Cohen on Jul 29, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

If we’d traded for Halladay, we would have been 25-(-3)! /cataldi

by taco pal on Jul 29, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

Phils definitely hot right now

But lets back up 3 games just for some perspective:

Phils 19 – 6
Braves 16 – 9 (3 games back over that stretch)

8 games is a long way to come back, but we still play each other 9 times, and we are “on pace” to return the 4 – 14 favor from last year. I doubt the Phils will play .864 baseball the rest of the way, and are due some regression. From that point of view, this is the best your lead is going to get. So, I wouldn’t say you’ve driven a stake through anything yet.

by fphjr01 on Jul 29, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions  

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