Apr 12, 2013

Phillies Slice of a Season 2013, Part 1

Featured Card: 2012 Bowman Silver Ice Chase Utley: Was this the parallel set of the year in 2012? Discuss.

Here I go, back to my roots.  I need to write about the Phillies because I have a feeling that this can be either an entirely satisfying or extremely frustrating season....and at times, it will be both.

Here's the first slice of the 2013 season:

Record after 1 slice: 4-5
Teams that did damage: Braves, Royals
Teams that crawled away: Mets
Aces Aplenty....from the past: Cole Hamels allowed a career high 8 runs in his 2nd start. Roy Halladay has not yet lasted 5 innings in either start.  Both have ERAs in double digits.
Remarkable Pitching Stat Positive Edition: Cliff Lee has not walked a batter since Sept 17, 2012.  At least 37 innings ago.
Remarkable Pitching Stat Negative Edition: Chad Durbin allowed his first seven inherited runners to score.
Moment of the Slice: Kevin Frandsen hits a 3 run double in the bottom of the 9th to defeat the Royals on 4/6/13.
Most Frustrating Game to Watch: Losing to the Royals 9-8 on April 7....they rough up their ace, James Shields, in the first inning, and then allow 9 unanswered runs before storming back to fall just short in the 9th.
Game that made me feel like it was the golden age reborn: Beating the Mets 7-3 on April 10.  All runs scored on home runs. Kyle Kendrick continues to pitch in the rotation.
At least they can say they beat the Braves: Took a game from the 8-1 team in the division because of the mastery of Cliff Lee, shutting them out over 8 innings of work.
Davey Lopes would be proud: 10 for 11 in stolen bases so far this season.
Who's that? Where did he come from player of the slice? Ezequiel Carrera, joining the team pretty much on Opening Day.  Ironically, I pulled a card of him from a Heritage pack this week.
Most hopeful sign for the season: Chase Utley legging out a triple.
Most predictable sign for the season: Ryan Howard flailing at pitches low and outside
Most discouraging sign for the season : Roy Halladay explaining at press conferences how to improve his 2.45 WHIP instead of just buckling batters' knees with his cutter and sinker array.
Next fake controversy: Make Papelbon a starter and create a 6 man rotation?

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