We thought history might be made by the muscled-up Phillies rotation this year. They lassoed Cliff Lee in the off-season after pinching Roy Oswalt from the crumbling Astros before the trade deadline last year. Combined with Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, yowzah. Joe Blanton, a #2 starter in pitching-rich Oakland, lost his tenuous fifth starter grasp in Philly.
So, as NYC mayor Ed Koch used to ask, "How'm I doin'?"
Here's how they've done: Oswalt has scuffled when he's been healthy, Joe Blanton has missed most of the season, Cliff Lee got raked for six homers and a 4.91 ERA in July and rookie Vance Worley has been pressed into 104 innings of duty.
The result: as advertised.
Lee's strapped it on in August -- 5-0, 0.45. Halladay's the leading Cy Young candidate. (16-5, 2.49, 7 complete games, 7.5K/BB ratio.) Hamels paces the league in baserunner stinginess with a .98 WHIP. (13-7, 2.63.) Worley's been a revelation. (10-1, 2.85.)
Even with Oswalt's mediocrity, (7-8, 3.80) and Blanton's struggles (1-2, 5.50) the starting staff has an ERA of 2.92, 34% better than league average. Despite Citizens Bank, the ballpark that hitters patronize for high rates, the Phils lead MLB in runs allowed.
Consider this domination: Halladay is the best pitcher in the NL, Cliff Lee is the best #2 starter. Cole Hamels is the best #3 starter. You can argue about Oswalt, though when healthy he's superior to any #4. And no #5 has been Vance Worley's equal.
How does their mound corps compare historically? How about the great Dodger staffs of the '60s? The best of them, the '65 World Series winners featuring Koufax and Drysdale posted an ERA 26% better than the league in offense-dampening Chavez Ravine. The 104-win Braves of Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Avery in 1993? The same 34% above average as the '11 Phils, but in an offense-neutral home field. When you're playing in that sandbox, you're bringing a really big pail.
Come the playoffs, it's an inner ring of hell for opponents. Because Halladay and Lee are horses, Charlie Manuel will never have to write anyone else's name after Hamels. With the Giants gone, the Phils lap the rest of the playoff field - in either league -- when it comes to starting rotations.
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1 comment:
Awwwwwwww yeeeeahhhhh! Never in my three plus decades of Phanatacism did I dream it could be like this. Ruben Amaro became MVP in Dec. When he signed Lee.
Oh, and what about Bastardo? Even Lidge looked peachy tonight striking out Hinske for old times sake.
We got it, babeeee. Too bad Charlie won't consider batting Howard fifth to break up the lefties. Of course, Pence has done just fine there.
Is it Oct yet? Here's to 108 wins!
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