The Rotation broken down by So what if it is a Sportster?

The Phillies Rotation as of 28 Aug 2010,

#1 Roy Halladay AKA Doc.

              ERA           W/L             SO           BB           WHIP             IP                 CG

Career   3.32         182/85          1681         188          1.182             2253.2           57

Best       2.22(10)  22&7(03)      208(09)     18(05)     .960(05)         266(03)         9(03/08&09)

Season   2.22        16/9              186(OP)    25           1.024             207.0(OP)     8

      A big guy who stands 6’6” who bats and, throws right handed.  The guy is everything you want in an ACE pitcher. He’s got four good pitches that at any time can be his “out pitch”.  He eats up innings like Blanton in the cheesecake factory and, giving the pen a reset day every 5th day. He’s thrown 207 innings this year and is on pace to throw another 47. Every time he takes the hill you can almost assume that putting three runs on the board will probably give the Phillies a win. He’s a former CY Young winner (2003) and, a candidate in this year’s Cy Young race. He threw MLB’s 20th Perfect Game against Josh Johnson and the Marlins. He’s already matched or, is on pace for his personal career highs, in almost every meaningful category and, with another 6 starts left this season he should top a few of those. His pitching arsenal consists of a four seam fastball (94-95), a 2 seam sinking fastball (92-94), a curveball (77) and, a cutter (92-94). At age 33, the pitcher signed through 2012.  He’s a top 5 ACE, probably closer to top 2 but, for my #1 starter I wouldn’t want anyone else (Sorry Cliff).

His full stats can be found here- http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hallaro01.shtml

#2 Roy Oswalt

             ERA           W/L                     SO           BB                  WHIP                     IP                           CG

Career  3.32         146&83                1622         455                 1.193                     1965.2                    19

Best%  2.27(01)  14&3(01)               208(01)   24(01)              1.059(01)               241.2(05)              4(05)

2010     3.22         9&13                     149          43                    1.097                     162.1                     1

Astros   3.42        6&12(Ouch)          120          34                    1.109                     129.                       1

Phillies  2.43        3&1                        29             9                     1.050                     33.1                      0

      He’s a shorter pitcher standing only 6’0’ throws and bats right handed.  Oswalt is currently considered to be among the elite pitchers in the National League. Known as a strikeout pitcher his pitching arsenal is one of the most complete in baseball and, consists of a fastball (92-94) and, two types of curveballs the first of which is a hard snapping curve (79-81), the other of which is a slower looping type (69-71) a changeup (80) and, a slider (80). A three a time All Star Selection with an NLCS "MVP" are just a few highlights on his resume. After completing nine years in the Astros he publicly asked for a trade so, on July 29, 2010, Oswalt was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies (full deals can be found here http://www.thegoodphight.com/2010/7/29/1594928/done-astros-trade-rhp-roy-oswalt ). He is the victim of the worst run support MLB with only 2.61 runs per game to work with his win loss numbers for 2010 do not tell the story of how well he has pitched. This is a guy who is the #1 on easily 20-24 other teams. However he’s 32 and, with his violent delivery to the plate and, his age climbing you wonder if the years are beginning to catch up with him as he’s reported back pain in Aug. 2009 sent him to the DL June 2009 11 & 13 sidelined with wrist pain yada, yada, bla, bla, bla…. He’s still pitching fantastic. If you’re interested a Full list of injuries can be found here.  http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/378/Roy_Oswalt

His full stats can be found here- http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oswalro01.shtml

#3   Colbert Hamels AKA” Cole”

                ERA        W/L                   SO            BB                       WHIP               IP                     CG

Career     3.63        55&44                856           237                     1.185               902.2                7

Best         3.09(08) 15&5(07)           196(08)    47(07&09)           1.082(08)         227.1(08)         2(067&8)

Season    3.47        8&10                 176(OP)   50(OP)                1.229               172                  1(8 innings)

Last start,

8 Innings, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 115 Pitches thrown.

     A taller lanky guy who throws and, bats left handed. This kid is only 26 is in his 5th season as a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Has never been sent back down to the Minors (Doc.) and, is on a tear this season loosing every game by what seems like a solo homerun given up in the middle innings of the game ex. the Muts series where he lost 2 games 0-1. He’ll set the opposition down as easily as Big Roy can however, I think it's because he trusts his stuff mainly his fastball, we all remember the comment last year “I just can’t wait for this season to be over.” he didn’t make a ton of fans that day but, to his credit he’s come back this year looking like a #2 that could match up with most staffs Aces. He’s had his rough spots but, still the way he turned his career around is impressive.  This kid has been the Ace of the staff, he’s been the NLCS MVP he’s been the WS MVP (2008 WFC GO PHILLS). He still has all the tools he had then and, has added a few too. During his 09 campaign he was known as a “Fastball & Changeup” swing and miss type of pitcher and, got into lots of trouble with a frustrating season where he was moved down to the number three starter behind Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez , mainly due to his fastball location or lack of … I really think that his being s dominant during his ENTIRE BASEBALL LIFE was what did him in his 09 campaign, see he never had to work hard to get guys out his stuff was just that good. Then he took the off season “off” and paid the price however, he worked hard during this offseason, he came out in spring training firing strikes and, the only news that you could read in the paper about the Phillies was “Roy looks good blab, blab...” and, “Cole looks like he’s back from 08 he added a Cutter and Curve that he’s learned to work into his game and the Fastball looks “Heavier” than it ever has (Reminds me of another Left hander that was here for a playoff run….) and, he looks primed to be a #1 on 10 other pitching staffs and, right now I would put him against any other #2 in the league (Subtracting Chris Carpenter ... He's downright nasty), and what may be the most frustrating  thing to other teams that is he may just be a #3 guy.“Cole Hamels will win 1 Cy Young... and 11 Cole Hamels” I found this funny. But, back to the business at hand. This is a young man who could very well be in contention for a CY Young for the next 5 years the only thing holding him back is he’s probably going to be playing 2nd fiddle to his teammate(s) in Roy and/or Roy (But ,if you’re going to follow someone it’s no insult to follow them).

His full stats can be found here- http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml

 #4  Joe Blanton AKA Cupcake

                  ERA         W/L             SO             BB                 WHIP                    IP                           CG

Career        4.33        68&60           738           322                1.342                     1185.2                    6

Best%       3.53(05) 12&8(09)     163(09)   40(07)           1.217(05/7)         230.0(07)              3(07)

Season      5.32        5&6               95           30                   1.432                    132.0                     0

      A big right handed pitcher (No pun intended)  who was signed to a multi-year deal last offseason to the tune of 3 years 24 Million he just hasn’t panned out to be the number 3 guy that he was viewed to be. He has shown flashes of brilliance but, the BIAP monster has just murdered him this year. He’s a bigger guy who over the last few years 06-09 would get the start go seven innings and surrender 3 runs then he came out. He’s got the playoff experience and talent to be successful but, when he was forced to come back from an abdominal injury too soon his stats this year suffered greatly. He seems to do much better when he has an extra day of rest but, than again who doesn’t? Post ASB he’s really turned it on and, has come out like he’s playing for his spot in a Postseason rotation but, I really think the #4 starter is his and his alone. When I look at his Wikipedia page there is nothing under his awards and, I’m sorry to say it but he’s not really deserving of anything too special. Oh he did hit a HR game 4 of the WS off of reliever Edwin Jackson in a game that could be described as a “Coffin Nail” in the Tampa Bay Rays hopes of becoming 2008 WFC a title reserved for the Philadelphia Phillies. In fact after looking at his career numbers I’m wondering why Rubin signed this guy. Why didn’t he let him walk than, go after Cliff Lee who was still under contract for a year….. But that’s another day’s post. 

His full stats can be found here- http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blantjo01.shtml

#6  Kyle Kendrick, AKA “Harvey Two Face”

                 ERA            W/L              SO          BB                WHIP               IP                         CG

Career      4.66           32&21            204         132              1.426                452.1                   1

Best%      3.87(07)     10&4(07)     72(10)   25(07)         1.273(07)        155.2(08)            1(10)

Season    4.66             8&7              95           41               1.366               149.1                   1

     He’s your #6 starter he came into spring training with hopes of overtaking old man Moyer for the #5 job however,… The Old Man was making 9 Million a year and, no way was he going to the pen after banking that type of cash money. O and add in the fact that Moyer is just a better pitcher but, as a cruel twist of fate the day he was sent back to AAA to get his stuff under controlee / develop his stuff a bit more before being thrown to the preverbal lions.  Blanton goes down with an abdominal injury witch sidelines him for a few weeks. Than Harvey 2 Face catches another break when J.A.Happ goes down with elbow tightness, would you believe it just as soon as J.A. Happ gets back up to the big club Moyer goes down for the season so bang KK is now you’re full time #5 starters. Kyle was first called up to the Phillies after pitcher Freddy Garcia was placed on the DL. Kendrick singled to right field in his first major league at-bat during his first major league appearance but, for the life of me I can’t remember him getting a hit the entire 2010 season. He’s Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde on the mound. When you look at his stats its tough decipher how good he has been at times and, how bad he has been. I’ve seen him throw brilliantly such as the rubber game against the Yankees where he only gave up 4 singles in seven innings and leave with a 3-1 lead but, we’ve also seen the bad side of Kyle Kendrick… Where he gives up a run an inning and, only makes it into the 5th and, more often than not the offence has bailed him out but, the worst statistic in the League for pitchers is Wins & Losses. However, I’m on record saying “If this kid figures it out watch out he’s gona be really, really good.

His full stats can be found here- http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kendrky01.shtml

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