TGP's Second Annual Phillies 2011 Over/Under/Never Events: Requests for Entries

by Wet Luzinski on Mar 30, 2011 11:24 PM EDT

Plenty of traditional guessing games abound this time of year, what with brackets, Phields, fantasy leagues and whatnot. These have their place; they have their portion; we have no substative quibbles, but one: They're been done, they're so vulgar, dahlings. So in true TGP style, we aim to funner baseball predictions by merging our brains, and using our vast knowledge of zOMG COMPUTER NUMBERS to humanize this sport for the rest of us who, you know, WATCH THE GAMES. We know tendencies, what we need is to a solid guess on when these blessed baseball events will occur.

Here's what I need now. Review my proposed list, and quickly too. Some categories are blank, some are held over from last year that I'm frankly a little meh about, so I'm open to your suggestions. I'd like a few from former Phillies - you know a good Pat the Bat one will catch my eye, but so will a good Brett Myers one, Michael Bourn, or, for that matter, Luis Castillo. If I have faith in anything, it's in the creativity on this blog.

For those new to the game, the best events are the ones that are informed by stats, history. You know: left and right sides of the brain holding hands and all that.

Here's what will happen later. Tomorrow night, as I blog from the laundromat, I'll put out the official list. Enter your guesses in the comments. For each of the in-game events described below, guess if it will happen before (under), after (over), or not at all (never) during the 2011 season). One entry per screen name. Contest will be open until the first Over/Under/Never event comes true.

Tastykake reward (of some kind) for the best prognosticator come season's end. (Yes, I know, I still need to tally the victor from last year. I'm a friggin' poet, people, don't expect Swiss efficiency. h/t to Phrozen, who will help me wrap up last year as we launch into a new one.)

Draft Over/Under/Never Events after the jump.

Event	Over/Under/Never Date	Noteworthy In-Game Event
1	April 7.5	Jimmy Rollins' 1000th run (needs 7)
2	April 14.5	First Ryan Howard air-mailed throw into left field
3	April 28.5	Ryan Howard's first "Golden Sombrero:" 0 for 4+, 4+ K (N.B., if he reaches base in any way other than a dropped third strike, that will not count).
4	May 1.5	Wilson Valdez hits into 2+ double-plays in a game
5	May 3.5	Jayson Werth HBP thrown by Phillies pitcher
6	May 13.5	Game started by someone other than Halladay/Lee/Hamels/Oswalt/Blanton
7	May 14.5	First: Danys Baez (BS)
8	May 17.5	Chase Utley returns to the lineup
9	May 8.5	Pete Orr triples
10	June 15.5	First: Brad Lidge (S)
11	June 30.5	First: Brad Lidge (BS) (W)
12	June 23.5	Phillies outfielder throws out a runner at the plate on SAC fly attempt (N.B.: Must be direct OF to player - likely C - covering home)
13	June 30.5	First: Multi-HR game by Phillie not named Utley, Howard, or Ibanez
14	July 8.5	Walk-off HR from Phillies reserve
15	April 20.5	Ryan Howard ties Del Ennis, 2nd all-time Phillies HR leader (needs 6)
16
17
18
19	June 18.5	Second: Win vs. AL team
20	May 3.5	Charlie Manuel ejected by umpires
21
22
23	September 0.5	"Now pitching for the Phillies: Scott Mathieson"
24	May 6.5	First 3-pitch inning, either batting or pitching
25	September 27.5	Charlie Manuel ties Harry Wright, second all-time Phillies manager in wins (92nd win - 636 total)
Extra Credit!	Season's End	Charlie Manuel ties Gene Mauch, all-time Phillies manager in wins (102nd win - 646 total)

Tweet Comment 55 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Over/under – Tastycake goes under befor seasons end

Samesis

by JpH89 on Mar 30, 2011 11:28 PM EDT reply actions

you know, I thought about that one.

by Wet Luzinski on Mar 30, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Over/under- Sept 22, 4 Phillies Pitchers with 200+ innings.

by philsandthrills on Mar 30, 2011 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

(If one of those pitchers is Kendrick, this over/under is declared null and void.)

by philsandthrills on Mar 30, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

June 1.5 – the infield of Howard, Utley, Rollins, and Polanco start a game together
(placed a couple weeks after the Utley returns scenario to allow for the potential of injuries to one of the others when he returns)

May 17.5 – Utley is hit by a pitch

First game with multiple stolen bases by one (Phillies) player

First game with multiple opponents caught stealing

Lead-off batter hits a home run (Phillies)

Lead-off batter hits a home run (Opponents)

Bob.

by The Dark on Mar 30, 2011 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

April 2nd
3rd no hitter thrown

by philsandthrills on Mar 30, 2011 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

let's not forget

162-0! Unsinkable!

by Wet Luzinski on Mar 30, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Should have one for the first 5-game winning streak.
It always seems like they manage 4 in a row a ton of times, but only get to 5 once or twice a year.

by philsandthrills on Mar 30, 2011 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

My suggestions

April 1st, 1:10PM – First Larry Andersen complaint about the umpire’s strike zone on the radio
June 1st – Jimmy Rollins’ 100th career 3B (needs 2)
June 13th – Dom Brown’s first career 3B (needs 1, obviously)
July 4th – First 20-run combined game score
August 30th – Chase Utley’s 200th career HR (needs 23)
September 10th – “Now pitching for the Phillies: Mike Stutes”

by Phrozen on Mar 30, 2011 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

Excellent. We could combine the triples duel, thusly:

Jimmy Rollins’ 100th career triple OR Dom Brown’s first career triple OR Pete Orr’s first triple of the season (a triple triple play!)

by Wet Luzinski on Mar 30, 2011 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Good thinking.

by Phrozen on Mar 30, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m also thinking Blanton should be thrown a bone here, too.

by Wet Luzinski on Mar 30, 2011 11:52 PM EDT reply actions

First cupcake eaten?

How about first basehit (xtra-bases are probably too much to ask for?) by Blanton? Say around July 15th?

by Phrozen on Mar 30, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Over/Under/Never – Blanton Throws a No Hitter: July 23rd?

by TwistyWristy on Mar 31, 2011 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions

How about complete game, over under the trade deadline.

by dannijd on Mar 31, 2011 8:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

He hasn’t thrown a CG since 2007, so that one may be a stretch.

by Phrozen on Mar 31, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

First pitcher Sonnanstine’d: April 15th?

by philsandthrills on Mar 31, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

awesome

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions

May 31st – Pedro Martinez rumors begin
July 15th – Next PTB gimp sighting
July 20th – Phillies trade for Heath Bell/Bobby Jenks (noooooooo!)

Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.

by doubleh on Mar 31, 2011 12:48 AM EDT reply actions

The F is that kid doing wearing a Rondo jersey? Not acceptable.

by taco pal on Mar 31, 2011 1:18 AM EDT reply actions

He’s submitting his O/U/N events.

by Phrozen on Mar 31, 2011 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

haha… I just noticed that too!

by JLS89 on Apr 1, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

August 15.5: Phillies starters notch their 7th complete game shutout, topping their total from the previous year.
(Bonus over/under: 2.5 – the number of SHO’s the Phillies win in this timeframe by two runs or less)

July 31.5: Luis Castillo has a HR, at least 3 RBI, and two runs scored against the Phillies, because if ex-Phillies like Barajas and Helms can look like MVP caliber players against their former team, why can’t Castillo? (Offer void if Castillo signs with an AL team or just collects his 6 million from Madoff’s team to sit at home)

Sept 15.5: Wilson Valdez vindicates himself after two seasons worth of jokes and hits a grand slam.
(Bonus: May 21.5: Mainstream sports writers and/or Cholly again advance talk of Exxon being a possible team MVP for being slightly better than a replacement caliber player who is forced to play way too much due to injuries to the main roster)

July 15.5: First 3HR game by a Phillies player
(Bonus: August 4.5: First 3HR game by a Phillies player not named Ryan Howard)

June 21.5: Due to Victorino being given a day off and Mayberry being indisposed in some fashion (or vice versa), Wilson Valdez gets his first start in CF as a Phillie (and second overall career start in the position).

Wow, a lot of those were rather cynical and/or depressing. My apologies. =p

by RaptorLC on Mar 31, 2011 1:31 AM EDT reply actions

Actually, to correct myself because I can’t read, it would indeed be his first career start in CF. He played two innings there for the Dodgers, but didn’t start the game there.

I need to drink less and read more… or at least do the latter.

by RaptorLC on Mar 31, 2011 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you're a little confused.

Let the beasting begin.

by TransplantedFan on Mar 31, 2011 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I really like the last one: Valdez’s first start at CF.

by Phrozen on Mar 31, 2011 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah that’s a good one.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Heh, thanks.

That was the one I threw in at the last second. With Valdez’s practice at the position this spring, I’m pretty convinced that he’s trying to shed any Cerberus comparisons and instead be the hydra’s last head (the one you cannot get rid of no matter how much you may want to).

He’ll still piss me off the vast majority of the time he steps up to the plate, but at least he’s trying to make himself more versatile after somehow finding a place on a team that is as good as the Phillies are. I can’t really fault him at all for that.

by RaptorLC on Mar 31, 2011 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I just can not get too crabby over Valdez… I groan over the GiDPs (over under April 12 for Valdez’s first?), but other than that I accept him for what he is (and expect nothing from him offensively- I thus get to be delighted when he shows any proficiency).

by dannijd on Mar 31, 2011 8:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Over/under – that the Swiss will produce a poet in the next 20 years.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 2:02 AM EDT reply actions

Well, they have an excellent minor league system, but it’s too focused on chocolate and watches. Maybe they can trade for some poets before opening day.

by Phrozen on Mar 31, 2011 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions

True, plus

they have a shit load of fringy bankers that could make for a good package deal.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions

In hell, the poets are Swiss – isn’t that how it goes?

by taco pal on Mar 31, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Great, there goes any hopes I had of bumping into Rimbaud.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

And with my luck they’ll be reciting TS Eliot.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

dressed as cats and with Memories being sung by Taylor Swift in background.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Over/Under – that Scott Barry will call Howard out on strikes.

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 2:15 AM EDT reply actions

Late October.

by Phrozen on Mar 31, 2011 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Evil. i like it. I got inspired. Halloween and baseball. Memories of then and soon to be.

All you stale ass old punks like me ought to know this Misfits ditty, otherwise – linky.

Halloween: The Phillies Phall Punk Classic

Rally towels lit up the night
Red pinstripes won the phight
I remember Halloween

Scott Barry impaled on a pole
Little Philles out in droves
We’ll remember this Halloween

Upper deck vertigo
Moonshot mischief by Rhino
I remember Halloween

This day anything goes
Beat Brian Wilson dead with his phone
I’ll remember Halloween

Halloween, halloween, halloween, halloween

CC chokes on apples with razor blades
Undead Utley back to his grave
I remember Halloween

This year 4 aces slay
Burnt Braves bodies on display
We’’ll remember Halloween

Halloween, halloween, halloween, halloween
Halloween, halloween, halloween, halloween

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

From 2nd base?

by Get A Grip on Mar 31, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

June 7.5 – Everybody hits – twice
July 28.5 – 275 combined innings pitched by non-starting Phillies pitchers.
August 5.5 – Pat the Bat scores a triple play at the club and in the game on the same day.

by TwistyWristy on Mar 31, 2011 4:21 AM EDT reply actions

July 30th (first Phillies-Giants series ends July 29th, next one starts August 4th)- Pat Burrell hits a home run against the Phillies or:

July 30th- A Phillies pitcher beans Cody Ross

by FooFighter1124 on Mar 31, 2011 6:03 AM EDT reply actions

I’ll take the under on Ross, and the under on PTB if the first series is at CBP.

by dannijd on Mar 31, 2011 8:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah the first series is at CBP, so probably a good choice on your part.

by FooFighter1124 on Mar 31, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

We need one for Jayson Werth

Either of these would do:

First walk-off hit against Phillies pitching.

First homerun off of Phillies pitching.

Suggested over under of May 6 (second Phillies series against Washington)

by dannijd on Mar 31, 2011 8:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Scratch that...

It is too early in the morning for my reading skills… Although I think that one of mine is more likely than Werth getting hit by Phillies pitching.

by dannijd on Mar 31, 2011 8:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Which?

50-year winning record, 1962-2011

by schmenkman on Mar 31, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Burning

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Bad iPhone..

by dannijd on Mar 31, 2011 5:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

First week of May, CBP – second base claims it’s first Phillie

by j reed on Mar 31, 2011 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

May 25.5 – Chooch gets another hit off an 100+mph pitch by Aroldis Chapman
July 9.5 – Phillies starting pitcher breaks up opposing team’s no-hitter
Sept 12.5 – Halladay hits a home run (I just think it would be really cool. He works so hard to be good at everything, I feel like it’s gonna happen eventually!)

by AshburnAllie on Mar 31, 2011 7:09 PM EDT reply actions