Phillies Through 12 Games: Starting Pitching Superb, Offense Flat
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Forget about ERA for a moment. Phils pitching has given up 34 runs in 108 2/3 innings, an average of 0.314 runs per inning and 2.83 runs per game. Regrettably, the offense has provided only 35 runs over the 12 game span, including 15 runs over 2 of the games, an average of 2.91 runs over the first 12 games. “The Doc” Roy Halladay is undefeated at 3-0 (1.17 ERA) , while Cliff Lee is 0-1 in 3 starts (1.96 ERA) and both Cole Hamels (3.65 ERA) and Joe Blanton are 1-1 (4.16 ERA) in 2 starting outings. Second year starter Vance Worley is 0-1 (3.75 ERA) in 2 starts. And, oh yeah, newly acquired closer Jon Papelbon is fine so far, notching 3 saves while giving up 1 run in five innings of work over his 5 appearances. That was RyanWho???
One can follow pitching stats through the season by clicking here.
That the Phils’ record is 5-7 over their first 12 games this season, while going 9-3 in their 12 in 2011, is primarily due to an offense soo flat that it could have been unleavened, 18 minute matzah. When one looks at the Phils’ offensive leaders and productivity, the offensive short-circuits become clear. They’ve hit but 5 homers in the 12 game span, 2 of them by rightfielder Hunter Pence who leads the club with a .326 BA, and with 7 RBIs. In 2011, over the same 12 gams span, 1st baseman Ryan Howard (still on the DL) lead the club with 3 homers, 13 RBIs and a .308 BA. When one gets past catcher Carlos Ruiz who’s hitting .306 with a homer and 3 RBIs and centerfielder Shane Victorino hitting .277 with 5 stolen bases, the rest over the offense is abysmal. When one sees things like shortstop Jimmy Rollins striking out 10 times in 12 games, outfielder John Mayberry Jr. with 9 K’s in 12 games, rookie infielder Freddie Galvis with a homer and 5 RBIs and a .237 BA and 3rd baseman Placido Polanco batting .179, it dawns on fans that the Phils badly need Howard and 2nd baseman Chase Utley back playing regularly and injury-free.
This blog previously reported on Halladay’s brilliant opening day shut-out. Below are box scores and recaps of the Phils’ subsequent 11 games:
Miami 6, Phillies 2 Recap
Phillies 8, Mets 2 Recap
Phillies 5, San Francisco 2 Recap
The Phils now head to San Diego for 4 games between Thursday through Sunday with the Padres followed by 3 Games in Arizona with the Diamondbacks before returning home on the 27th of April to begin a 4 game series with those Chicago Cubs.
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