The Phillies have played fewer games than the Braves this more and won more (55-33 for the Phils and 53-36 for the Braves). They are scoring more runs per game (4.16 to 4.02) and allowing fewer (3.27 to 3.30). So what could be the problem?
Maybe nothing. But there’s this — here are the standings in the NL East since the end of April:
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | RS | RA |
| ATL | 40 | 21 | .656 | - | 248 | 203 |
| PHI | 37 | 25 | .597 | 3 1/2 | 246 | 200 |
| NYM | 34 | 27 | .557 | 6 | 273 | 248 |
| WSN | 33 | 30 | .524 | 8 | 249 | 241 |
| FLA | 24 | 39 | .381 | 17 | 226 | 295 |
The Phils ended April at 18-8 while the Braves were 13-15. Atlanta has been 3 1/2 games better since. Since April they have outscored the Phils, plating about 4.07 runs per game while the Phils scored about 3.97. The Phillies have still been better at preventing runs, allowing around 3.23 runs per game while the Braves have allowed about 3.33 runs per game. While Atlanta has won 3 1/2 more games than the Phils, the Phils run differential has actually been a tiny bit better since the end of April. The Phillies are at +.742 per game while Atlanta is at +.738.
Finally, I don’t think there are a lot of people who think the Mets are going to win the NL East this season, but it’s worth nothing they’re seven games over .500 in this time period and have scored way more runs than either the Phils or Braves. So let’s hope they don’t get any pitching.
Lidge had his second straight good outing in relief at Single-A Lakewood last night. He’s now allowed two hits and struck out two in two scoreless innings.
Victorino was voted into the All-Star game, but may not play.
July 8th, 2011 on 1:23 pm
I know one thing, they better not make stupid mistakes and they better be agressive offensively..
July 8th, 2011 on 2:10 pm
That all sounds good to me. Three errors in a game like they had against the Fish isn’t exactly what we’re looking for. I’m worried about the pen in the series for the Phils — they could use some reinforcements about now. Halladay, Lee, Hamels makes you feel pretty good, though.
July 8th, 2011 on 3:14 pm
Vic to the DL – http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/07/08/phillies.victorino.ap/index.html?sct=mlb_t2_a4
July 8th, 2011 on 3:36 pm
Not great timing for that. Better now than in September, I guess. Still think it’s going to be a nice series. I hope they don’t set the over/under for errors made by the Phillies outfielders at 2.5 for the set, cause I would be torn.
July 8th, 2011 on 8:17 pm
Add Polly’s bulging disc to the mix, guys. Jiminy. Should we pray for rain? lol
Agreed on the need for clean play. That last game was not good.
July 9th, 2011 on 8:56 am
Mighty good baseball last night. Two heavyweights slugging it out. Great baseball. BTW, I wonder if you can hit a baseball harder than Ibanez did.
July 9th, 2011 on 9:24 am
That was great. Great so see the Phils win a battle of the pens with the Braves. Stutes and Bastardo have been fantastic. Monster home run for Ibanez and glad to see Ruiz hit one out, too. And two hits for Brown.
July 9th, 2011 on 12:51 pm
And Perez? A NINE pitch, three K inning? Are you kidding me? If that kid can install GPS co-ordinates for the plate in his brain, our bullpen will match anyone’s.
July 9th, 2011 on 8:43 pm
Nice catch, Howard.
July 10th, 2011 on 9:13 am
Yep. That would have been a nice one to have caught. I guess it doesn’t matter a whole lot if McCann is going to homer anyway, but I’m still for catching it.
July 10th, 2011 on 9:37 pm
This last game. The slaughter. Did anyone see this coming? Holy smokes. What an ending to the first half. Think Ibanez can carry any part of this forward in his memory into the second half? Or Martinez? Or Mayberry?
July 11th, 2011 on 9:54 am
No, no and no. But yesterday was sure fun. I think Ibanez will be way better in the second half than he was in the first. He’s already picked things way up since April and the first couple of games in May. I think Mayberry will always have power and can be exciting, but over enough bats I think he won’t get on base enough to play every day. Martinez had a fantastic series and especially yesterday. He has made some exciting defensive plays over the last couple of weeks.
Great game yesterday and a great way to go into the break.