Items after the jump:
- Chase Utley: Still among the best
- Phillies' paths to the postseason
- Phils batters vs. projections
- Phillies stats vs. 2011, and vs. the Mets
- NL Standings and team stats
- Milestones: Rollins joining exclusive company; also Howard, Utley, Pierre, Halladay, and Hamels
Chase Utley: Still among the best
Well, when he can play, of course. We've covered that Chase Utley is arguably the second best at his position in the past 50 years, and that he was a top second baseman as recently as last year despite a drop-off in power. Well, his power is back (.203 ISO vs. career .215), and he's putting up 120 wRC+ in spite of a paltry .250 BABIP, with a line drive rate that is above his career average (21.2% vs. 20.3%). The fielding is still very good, and overall, he's still playing at a 6-WAR full season level. In fact, even in what will look to a casual observer like the worst season of his career, he will probably still come close to earning his $15.3 M salary (he would need ~3.4 WAR). Now if he can just manage to stay on the field for something approaching a full season.
So you're telling me there's a chance... Yeah!
Okay, we know it's remote. It's extremely remote. But what would actually have to happen in order for the Phillies to get into the postseason? Let's look at two scenarios, which I've helpfully given names to:
Crazy: The Phillies go 24-10 (.706) in their last 34 games and finish with 85 wins. In order to get the 2nd wild card spot, all of this would have to happen:
- Cardinals do no better than 13-21 (.382) in their last 34 AND
- Dodgers do no better than 15-18 (.455) in their last 33 AND
- Pirates do no better than 16-18 (.471) in their last 34 AND
- Diamondbacks do no better than 20-13 (.606) in their last 33
So St. Louis would have to collapse, and the Dodgers and Pirates would have to play below .500 (and Arizona can't also surge).
Insane: The Phillies go 26-8 (.765) in their last 34 to finish 87-75. In order to get the 2nd wild card spot, all of this would have to happen:
- Cardinals do no better than 15-19 (.441) in their last 34 AND
- Dodgers do no better than 17-16 (.515) in their last 33 AND
- Pirates do no better than 18-16 (.529) in their last 34 AND
- Diamondbacks do no better than 22-11 (.667) in their last 33
The above is what would be needed for the Phillies to win the 2nd wild card outright. If there is a tie for the 2nd spot, there would be a one-game playoff, and the winner of that game will then play the other wild card team in the play-in.
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Phillies Hitters vs. Projections
Phillies hitters' OPS compared to the past three years, and to what various projection systems predicted for 2012. Also includes recent trends (last 30 and last 7 days):
Phillies Team Stats vs. 2011 and vs. the Mets
This now includes BABIP against in the pitching section.
NL Standings and Team Stats
Milestones
Jimmy Rollins
- Rollins' home run on Sunday tied him with Johnny Callison (185) for 11th in Phillies history.
- His next triple (6th) will tie Sam Thompson for 3rd on the Phillies list at 106.
- 4 more stolen bases will make him the 3rd player in Phillies history to reach 400, joining (the original) Billy Hamilton (508) and Ed Delahanty (411).
- He needs 10 hits to reach 2,000, and barring injury he should get there some time in September.
- Reaching 400 steals and 2,000 hits will also make him just he 24th player in history with 400 doubles, 400 steals, and 2,000 hits. There are only 7 in history with that combination and also 200 HRs (Rollins is at 185).
More on Rollins' climb up the Phillies record book in this recent milestones post.
Chase Utley
- His next Sacrifice Fly (3rd this year) will join Bob Boone, Von Hayes, and Mike Lieberthal for 6th on the Phillies list at 43 (Rollins just moved ahead of that group and is in 5th with 44).
- 2 more extra base hits (20 this year) will make him the 12th Phillie in history to hit 500 with the team.
- 5 more will tie him with Cy Williams for 11th on the Phillies all-time list at 503 (Howard passed Williams earlier this month and stands at 507). Pat Burrell is next at 518.
- He needs 4 home runs to reach 200 for his career.
- 5 more doubles (13 total) will tie Granny Hamner for 10th in Phillies history at 271.
Ryan Howard
- 5 more K's (66 for the year) will tie him with Pat Burrell for 2nd all-time on the Phillies at 1,273.
- With 294 career home runs in 1,069 games, he needs 6 in his next 17 games in order to reach 300 in the fewest games in history, surpassing Ralph Kiner's record of 1,087. He's had 8 in his first 42 games this year, so he will need to get hot in order to have a shot. Howard was already the fastest to 100, 200, and 250. More detail in this milestones post.
Juan Pierre
- Pierre steal on Sunday tied Maury Wills for 19th on all-time list at 586. Next is 19th century outfielder Dummy Hoy at 594.
By the way, stolen base rules were in constant flux in the 1800s, and steals totals are inflated by today's standars, but nevertheless those were the rules at the time. From wikipedia:
In 1887, the stolen base was given its own individual statistical column in the box score, and was defined for purposes of scoring: "...every base made after first base has been reached by a base runner, except for those made by reason of or with the aid of a battery error (wild pitch or passed ball), or by batting, balks or by being forced off. In short, shall include all bases made by a clean steal, or through a wild throw or muff of the ball by a fielder who is directly trying to put the base runner out while attempting to steal." The next year, it was clarified that any attempt to steal must be credited to the runner, and that fielders committing errors during this play must also be charged with an error. This rule also clarified that advancement of another base(s) beyond the one being stolen is not credited as a stolen base on the same play, and that an error is charged to the fielder who permitted the extra advancement. There was clarification that a runner is credited with a steal if the attempt began before a battery error. Finally, batters were credited with a stolen base if they were tagged out after over running the base.In 1892, a short-lived rule was added crediting runners with stolen bases if a base runner advanced on a fly out, or if they advanced more than one base on any safe hit or attempted out, providing an attempt was made by the defense to put the runner out. The rule was subsequently ended in 1897.
In 1898, stolen base scoring was narrowed to no longer include advancement in the event of a fielding error, or advancement caused by a hit batsman.
Roy Halladay
- Doc's next loss (his 8th of the year) will be the 100th of his career.
- He also needs 4 wins to reach 200, and currently has the 7th highest winning percentage in history, at .664. If he wins a game before he loses one, his 197-99 record will move into 5th place in all-time W-L%, surpassing both Christy Mathewson and (5'3", 127-lb) 19th century pitcher Larry Corcoran.
Cole Hamels
- Hamels needs two more starts to tie Jim Bunning for 8th most in Phillies history, with 208.
For reference:
- MLB All-time leaders: Hitting and Pitching
- Phillies All-time leaders: Hitting and Pitching