Items after the jump:
- Phils batters vs. projections
- Phillies stats vs. 2011, and vs. the Giants
- NL Standings and team stats
- Erik Kratz and Immortality
- Milestones: Rollins, Victorino, Pierre, and Halladay
.
Phillies Team Stats vs. 2011 and vs. the Giants
The Giants have a 2 1/2 game lead in the West, the worst division in the NL. Their offense is below average (10th in wRC+ and wOBA, 11th in runs per game). Their plate discipline is almost as bad as the Phillies' (13th in BB%, 12th in getting to hitter's counts). They run a lot, with the 3rd most attempts (and steals) in the NL. One measure that says their offense is better than this though is an OPS+ of 101, which suggests that BB-Ref is applying more of a park adjustment than FanGraphs is.
However their pitching is very good, with the 5th lowest runs allowed per game (4th in ERA and ERA-), and FIP and xFIP which are 3rd and 7th, respectively.
NL Standings and Team Stats
The Giants have won about 4 games more than their run differential would predict, thanks in part to a 20-14 record in 1-run games.
Erik Kratz and Immortality
Erik Kratz has two hits this season, and as you probably know they were both home runs. What you may not know is that if he doesn't get another hit this year, he would become just the second player in history whose only two hits in a season were homers.
The only other player to ever do that was also a Phillie, Robert Person in 2002. And of course, he hit both of his in the same game.
It should be noted though that there have been 4 seasons where someone has had THREE hits and they were all home runs: Jorge Sosa (2006), Keith McDonald (2000), Clem Labine (1955), and Ed Sanicki (1949). It's never happened with more than three.
One other note, Chris Carter of the A's has 9 hits this year, and 5 of them are homers.
Milestones
Jimmy Rollins
- His next home run (10th this year) will tie Willie Puddin' Head Jones for 12th on the Phillies list with 180.
Shane Victorino
- Victorino needs 2 more hits (92 total) to reach 1,000 for his career.
- He had 11 hits before joining the Phillies, so he needs 13 more to become the 34th player in Phillies history to reach 1,000 with the team. By the way, Ryan Howard is 33rd with 1,047.
Juan Pierre
- Pierre needs 3 more stolen bases (24 total) to tie 19th century outfielder Tom Brown for 19th on the all-time list, with 578. Next will be Ozzie Smith (#18 - 580), and Maury Wills (#17 - 586).
Roy Halladay
- Doc needs 4 more K's to become the 67th pitcher in history to reach 2,000.
For reference:
- MLB All-time leaders: Hitting and Pitching
- Phillies All-time leaders: Hitting and Pitching