Fun with April numbers
Here are some April numbers I compiled while I made like Arlen Specter and enjoyed a morning waffle. Look for a more complete list in tomorrow's Inquirer. · 9: come-from-behind victories. · .270: the team batting average, up from .255 in 2008. · .241: leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins’ on-base percentage. · 7: Home runs by free agent acquisition Raul Ibanez. · .359: Ibanez’s team-leading batting average · 3: stolen bases by the 36-year-old Ibanez, sharing the team lead with Shane Victorino. · .254: Pat Burrell’s batting average with Tampa Bay. He has one home run. · 2: Regular chants at Citizens Bank Park that sound like “boo”: “Ra-ooool” for Ibanez and “Louuuuuuu” for rookie catcher Lou Marson. · 8: The major-league leading amount of home runs allowed by Brett Myers. · 4.83: Myers’ team-leading earned run average. · 0: Wins by Cole Hamels. · 93: The velocity in miles-per-hour of Hamels’ fastball before he sprained his ankle on Tuesday.
Fun with April numbers
Andy Martino
Here are some April numbers I compiled while I made like Arlen Specter and enjoyed a morning waffle. Look for a more complete list in tomorrow's Inquirer.
· 9: come-from-behind victories.
· .270: the team batting average, up from .255 in 2008.
· .241: leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins’ on-base percentage.
· 7: Home runs by free agent acquisition Raul Ibanez.
· .359: Ibanez’s team-leading batting average
· 3: stolen bases by the 36-year-old Ibanez, sharing the team lead with Shane Victorino.
· .254: Pat Burrell’s batting average with Tampa Bay. He has one home run.
· 2: Regular chants at Citizens Bank Park that sound like “boo”: “Ra-ooool” for Ibanez and “Louuuuuuu” for rookie catcher Lou Marson.
· 8: The major-league leading amount of home runs allowed by Brett Myers.
· 4.83: Myers’ team-leading earned run average.
· 0: Wins by Cole Hamels.
· 93: The velocity in miles-per-hour of Hamels’ fastball before he sprained his ankle on Tuesday.
As a new Philadelphian, I have two questions for you residents. Having watched Myers for all these years, how concerned are you right now? And, does it bother you that the senator you elected from one party has switched to another, or has the guy earned the right to fight for his re-election?
Comments (45)
Wow, Myers has only given up 8 HRs? Feels more like 18. Myers is pitching up and down like he always does. Frankly, he's light years ahead of where he was at this point last season.— JimG- My concern for Myers is about my concern for the weather. I want it to be good, but have zero control over it. I think the weather is more predictable. It bothers me that you bring up politics. There are plenty of blogs to deal with that and Eagles and SEPTA and other high interest topics.... just leave this one to baseball.— Sully
- It's only a matter of time before Brett gets into a groove and puts together a run of starts that resembles his post-ASB run from 2008. He has shown us glimpses of that in each of his starts so far, but, like the rest of the pitching staff, he hasn't put it all together at once. In reality, we aren't asking that he tosses eight shutout innings each start (as awesome as that would be), but we just ask that he keeps the Phillies in the game. 3 ER over 6 is a recipe for a Phillies win 80% of the time.— DTrey
- Yeah, no politics. I love politics but it is terrible on comment boards.— ktdb05
- is the game going to get rained out tomorrow night?— gulls3012
- Myers is showing glimpses of what he did in the latter part of last season. But like the rest of the Phils pitching staff, they have quite found their groove yet. Let's hope they do this weekend against the Mutts.— KarenA
- Actually commentary about Specter does belong somewhat on this blog since Specter is an avid Philadelphia sports fan. He's often on WIP. Glad he made the switch...smart move.— KarenA
- Who the F#$# cares what Spector does? As for Myers, as long as he wins, who cares how he does it. Some one has to be the benifactor of all of all runs.— jeff gross
- Burrell stinks ... I just dropped him from my fantasy team. Ibanez was a great upgrade ... and will prove to be as such in October, too. I lived in PA for 26 of Sen. Specter's years in the US Senate ... in this country elect people to office, not parties (we're not a parliamentary system, folks). If you voted for Specter expecting to get a party-line Republican you were obviously not paying attention. The same senator who was elected 5 years ago is serving now, simply with a different letter next to his name. Big deal.— chris duckworth
- I guess Myers will get better but I have to wonder how much a very inconsistant pitcher is going to expect to get on the free agent market. If it was up to me I'd let him go elsewhere and sign another starter. I wish the Phils had signed Lowe. He's a lot better than Myers who is a fly ball pitcher while Lowe is one of the better ground ball pitchers in the game. The Bank is not a good place for flyball pitchers.— James TL
- I would normally say no politics in a sports blog as well, but there are several striking comparisons that can be made between Specter and Myers. 1. They both look out for number one. Specter changes his politics based on popular sentiment to ensure his reelection. Myers packs on the pounds but then conveniently reinvents himself into a thinner ready to go guy each contract year. 2. Based on point #1, the guy you sign/vote for is never going to be the guy you actually get the next few years. 3. Both are incredible inconsistent. Myers will dazzle like the second half of last season, but then lead the league in homeruns allowed like this April. Specter will change his votes and bill sponsorship so you never really know where he stands at any given moment. 4. Both will break your heart if you support them since you never know which Senator or which Pitcher will show up. 5. Both are capable of surprising you if you expect nothing from them. From time to time Myers will deliver a gem, even in the midst of a terrible season, like he did last year no hitting the Reds for most of a game even though he had been struggling terribly. On that same note, Specter will come out and do the right thing when you least expect it. Basically, you know what you're getting with each guy. Sometimes greatness, sometimes mediocrity, and sometimes you just wish they were someone else's problem. To expect anything more from either of them will only leave you sad and feeling foolish. PS-If I win any kind of posting award let me know ahead of time and I'll give you my full name!— phillygreg
- Andy, Ibanez is the huge consistent upgrade we all wanted from Burrell and makes the team volumes better in the batter's box, on the bases and in the field. Arlen Specter has switched parties before so what's the big deal now. He's a power mongering opportunist who sees a way to get a few more years and a few more dollars at the public trough. Hopefully the Dem voters will nix him and we'll all be done with him forever. Brett Myers, hummmm....very disturbing that in last nights game he let a few pitch locations "throw him off" and affect his game....we have all waited years for him to finally put it together. He's reinvented himself yet gain this year, by losing 30 lbs going into his FA year. Unfortunately that same thick skull, with the same ADD brain in it, is still attached to that arm. He is what he is. He'll never get any better. Take the innings he gives us this year, then let him walk. Any one of 4 prospects in the minors can fill his shoes, probably for the better.— Mark1npt
- I don't think the Bank is a good place for any pitcher. Myers needs to get more consistant and KEEP THE BALL DOWN. If you're going to miss, miss low. When pitchers leave the ball up, homeruns are going to be hit, especially at the Bank. As for Ra-ooooool, it's intersting to see someone who is taking advantage of our hitter-friendly park. Majority of his homeruns seem to be opposite field, and he's shown he knows how to adjust to playing in a stadium with a left-center power alley that might be the shortest in baseball. My concern with him is the fact that we signed him to a 3 year deal and he's 37. Despite his age and left-handedness, I think Chuck may need to bite the bullet and hit 3 lefties in a row (Utley, Howard, Ibanez). We need to get more R'sBI out of a guy who is off to this hot of a start.— SteamEngine
- About Myers, I agree completely with Mark. Can't sum it up any better than that. I find myself less concerned with Myers with each passing day, as it is one day closer to his last with the Phils. Myers is the one who should really be concerned with himself. Another poor year will only serve to lower his value on the free agent market, as James TL pointed out earlier.— bski
- Good compilation of numbers, but your Specter comment blew all of your work. Murph seems to be asleep at the wheel today, so your today's blog victor almost by default.— randy_w
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