Magic Number. . .Still Six
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Magic Number. . .Still Six
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Thanks to the Braves' beat-down of the Mets last night, the Phillies enter today's doubleheader against the Marlins with a magic number of six over both the Marlins and the Braves. That means they need a combination of six wins and Marlins losses to eliminate the Fish, and six wins and Braves losses to eliminate the Braves. Crunch those numbers, and they can clinch as soon as Thursday in Milwaukee, although it would require the Braves losing their last two games at Citi Field and the Phillies (87-61) sweeping this three-game set against Florida.
Every Phillies loss or Braves win moves the potential clinch-date back a day.
The earliest a Phillies team has clinched a division since the days of the 162-game schedule was 1976, when they clinched in their 155th game.
Thursday will be their 152nd game, Friday their 153rd, Saturday their 154th.
Other notes of interest for today:
1) Brett Myers is scheduled to be in Philadelphia, where team doctor Michael Ciccotti will examine his sore shoulder.
2) Because Cliff Lee threw just 52 pitches in a rain-shortened outing Sunday, there is a chance the Phillies bring him back earlier than Saturday, when his turn in the rotation arrives. If the Phillies decided to start him on Friday on normal rest, it would enable them to get Pedro Martinez another day to rebound from the still neck that knocked him from Saturday's game after just three innings.
3) Today's doubleheader starts at 4:10 p.m. Joe Blanton is pitching the first game, followed by Jamie Moyer in the nightcap.
4) Raul Ibanez enters today hitting .316 with a .381 on base percentage with four home runs, eight RBI and 16 strikeouts in 63 at-bats over his last 16 games. In his 27 previous games, Ibanez hit .177 with a .262 on base percentage with one home run, four RBI and 30 strikeouts in 96 at-bats (Aug. 1 through Sept. 3).
5) Carlos Ruiz was hopeful that he would be able to play today after sustaining a sprained wrist in Friday night's win over the Braves. If Ruiz is unable to go, it will be interesting to see how the Phillies handle the catching duties in tonight's doubleheader. I don't think there is any way Charlie Manuel asks Paul Bako to catch 18 consecutive innings. But it is also highly unlikely that he would send September call-up Paul Hoover out to catch Jamie Moyer, who uses a different set of signals than most pitchers. If Ruiz is unable to go, I'd look for Hoover to start the first game.
6) A topic of discussion amongst some writers the other night: Who is the one position player the Phillies can least afford to lose to injury? To me, the answer is Jimmy Rollins, given the three unique skill sets he brings to the field - a switch-hitting leadoff hitter playing a Gold Glove short stop -- as well as the options the Phillies have for replacing him. A close second in Chase Utley. Ryan Howard has been on fire the last couple of months, but Greg Dobbs provides a much more solid alternative at the plate and in the field than the Phillies could find for Rollins or Utley.
I disagree that J Roll is ninth in zone rating. He is the best defensive shortstop in baseball. I don't know what you're smoking, but watch the games stop reading that garbage.— jerryo- Howard has 2, 140+ RBIs seasons 2006 and 2008 not going for his 4th— Wikedsux
- Magic Number...for those of you confused...try it in reverse: Don't look at it like the combo of W's/L's for the Phils to clinch...but what is takes for the other team to be eliminate themselves...the MLB.com standings are set up that way. Does this amek sense? ...Can anyone explain this better?...just tryin to help— LongtimeFan3
- UZR Ratings? Is Jeff Lurie posting here now?????— majorgas
- Why does everyone keep talking about what the team would look like without these peices? Is everyone trying to jinx this. How would this sound, going into the playoffs with Dobbs at frist, Bruntlett at short, Cairo at second, and Bako cathing? Doesn't sound like a winner to me.— phillysmith
- I'm with PhillytheKid and Souderton, Howard is the man. A good power hitter is very indispensable on most winning teams and Howard is this generation's best. Look at the Giants. They have great pitching but they won't make the playoffs mainly because they don't have that different maker in the middle of the lineup. They have a few good hitters, but not enough power. They have a Chase Utley type of player (minus the speed) in Sandoval and Bengie Molina (18 Hr, 75 Rbi) as Howard’s counterpart. Atlanta is another example. Chipper is having an off-year and McCann (20 Hr, 88 Rbi) is the cleanup hitter and their leader in hr and rbi. You can also throw Florida in there, where Dan Uggla, usually their 5th, 6th hitter and even 7th hitter, is leading the team with 29 Hr. #3 hitter Hanley Ramirez is leading the team with 100 rbi. We won with Utley in the DL in 2007 and last year while he was playing hurt. We also won with Rollins playing hurt and this year when he was struggling mightily. I think it would be much difficult for the Phillies to be a winning team with Howard out of the lineup for a significant period of time, IMHO. I know, we have won with Howard slumping, but having him in the lineup makes everybody else’s jobs easier. That’s what a good clean up hitter does.— EL Zorro
- Rollins is one of the best lead-off men in the league...check the stats when compared to other lead-off men. He's also the best defensive short-stop in the league...Just as important as the HR is to this team, Rollins defense has been. Howard and Utley are great as well though...Although there are better first basemen in the NL.— MFPhils
- Actually, I think the position player they can least afford to lose might be Jayson Werth, who carries the added burden of being the only legit bat that gives them a semblance of right-handed balance -- plus, his strong arm, excellent baserunning and power give him a combination of skills that's right up there with JRoll's. And, unlike, JRoll, he gets on base and makes pitchers work -- leads the NL in pitches faced per AB -- which is another thing this lineup doesn't necessarily do well.— jmk1512
- Yeah, Werth is pretty good. I've been saying it since the winter when it was obvious we were not going to resign Pat Burrell and some thought he wasn’t the RH power alternative when I suggested it, but, we have plenty of outfield depth at both the ML level and in the minors. You can put platoon Francisco and Dobbs/Staris in there and it won’t be a big drop off, or go young with Taylor. Now, if Howard, Utley or Rollins get hurt we would be in trouble and only a trade would make a difference.— EL Zorro
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