Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2011 12:28:11 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Philadelphia Phillies (51-60) @ Chicago Cubs (66-44)
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PHI: Cole Hamels (10-7, 4.49 ERA)
CHC: David Price (13-4, 3.49 ERA)
The Cubs have played great baseball since the first week of July and have taken grasp of the NL Central, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates by 3.5 games, and the rest of the division by 6.
The team, which appears to be gelling, received two strong hitting days over the weekend to win a series with the Reds, coming back from a 4-2 seventh inning deficit in Sunday to win 10-4.
However, with Pittsburgh still visible in the rear view mirror, and the rest of the proverbial sharks circling the proverbial wagon, it'll still take Chicago's proverbial best if they want to capture the actual division. This means who slip-ups against sub-.500 teams. With the Cubs only 12-13 in their last 25 games against teams currently below .500, no slips ups isn't a guarantee.
Fortunately for the Cubs, the Phillies come in to the series besieged by injuries. While the Phillies have admirably stayed close to .500 all season despite injuries and underperforming veteran pitching, the current injury list may be too grizzly to survive.
Fueled by their offense all season, the Phillies will be without the services of Ricky Weeks, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Gregorio Petit.
Four of those players have seen significant starting time, while Howard is the team's best pinch hitter. For four seasons in a row now, the Phillies have seen their seasons wrecked by bumps and bruises (and tears, sprains, separations, breaks), and it's a wonder if the current incarnation has seen its last season together.
Cole Hamels will get the start, but with one of weakest bullpens in baseball taking on one of the premier offenses in the game, plus taking into account the lack of offense Philadelphia will have for the game, Hamels will need to hurl a gem to keep the Phillies close.
Questions for the GM's. For Michael Flaherty, what infield alignment are you going to use with so many guys hurt. Any minor leaguers called up for the game?
Dominic Brown has been a terror. Any thoughts of locking him up long term?
Speaking of long term, what are your early plans for the roster. It's getting old, expensive, and it's always hurt. Do you plan on breaking it up?
For Garrett Cubbies, your team has struggled against the lesser PBL teams of late. How do you make sure you don't fall into a trap against a good pitcher tonight?
David Price is an ace, but with so many players out for the Phillies, do you plan on pitching carefully to "Hit it to downtown, Dominic Brown?"
With Prince Fielder out after a suspension, Brian McCann really stepped up and has four home runs for the month. He's facing a tough lefty though in Hamels and is only 2-11 against him, but both those hits were home runs. Do you see him continuing his recent success tonight?
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PHI: Cole Hamels (10-7, 4.49 ERA)
CHC: David Price (13-4, 3.49 ERA)
The Cubs have played great baseball since the first week of July and have taken grasp of the NL Central, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates by 3.5 games, and the rest of the division by 6.
The team, which appears to be gelling, received two strong hitting days over the weekend to win a series with the Reds, coming back from a 4-2 seventh inning deficit in Sunday to win 10-4.
However, with Pittsburgh still visible in the rear view mirror, and the rest of the proverbial sharks circling the proverbial wagon, it'll still take Chicago's proverbial best if they want to capture the actual division. This means who slip-ups against sub-.500 teams. With the Cubs only 12-13 in their last 25 games against teams currently below .500, no slips ups isn't a guarantee.
Fortunately for the Cubs, the Phillies come in to the series besieged by injuries. While the Phillies have admirably stayed close to .500 all season despite injuries and underperforming veteran pitching, the current injury list may be too grizzly to survive.
Fueled by their offense all season, the Phillies will be without the services of Ricky Weeks, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Gregorio Petit.
Four of those players have seen significant starting time, while Howard is the team's best pinch hitter. For four seasons in a row now, the Phillies have seen their seasons wrecked by bumps and bruises (and tears, sprains, separations, breaks), and it's a wonder if the current incarnation has seen its last season together.
Cole Hamels will get the start, but with one of weakest bullpens in baseball taking on one of the premier offenses in the game, plus taking into account the lack of offense Philadelphia will have for the game, Hamels will need to hurl a gem to keep the Phillies close.
Questions for the GM's. For Michael Flaherty, what infield alignment are you going to use with so many guys hurt. Any minor leaguers called up for the game?
Dominic Brown has been a terror. Any thoughts of locking him up long term?
Speaking of long term, what are your early plans for the roster. It's getting old, expensive, and it's always hurt. Do you plan on breaking it up?
For Garrett Cubbies, your team has struggled against the lesser PBL teams of late. How do you make sure you don't fall into a trap against a good pitcher tonight?
David Price is an ace, but with so many players out for the Phillies, do you plan on pitching carefully to "Hit it to downtown, Dominic Brown?"
With Prince Fielder out after a suspension, Brian McCann really stepped up and has four home runs for the month. He's facing a tough lefty though in Hamels and is only 2-11 against him, but both those hits were home runs. Do you see him continuing his recent success tonight?