Week Seven Wrap-up: Cue the clown music; Phils find a way against the Fish, can’t beat the heat in Atlanta

Wow, what strange week of baseball. From Big Joe Blanton tossing four double plays to Placido Polanco's strange dance to home, Week Seven had more weird and wacky moments than a David Lynch film.  


The Phils posted only their second .500 week of the season (they have yet to post a losing week), winning the Florida series and then dropping 2 of 3 in Atlanta to go 3-3 on the week.  And while some experts still have the Fish fighting the Phils for the division in September, Florida continues to find new and creative ways to lose games while the Atlanta Braves keep looking better and better. By the by, the Braves have the best pitching in the NL (2.99 ERA, 6 Shutouts).


Considering that Doc lost twice, that the Phils failed to score a run for Cliff Lee (again), that the bullpen didn't have a set-up guy, and that Ben Francisco hasn't had an RBI since April 29^th (a span of 13 games) going 3-3 sounds pretty good. Throw in three errors, a badly misplayed bunt (in the Atlanta finale), no Roy Oswalt, the offensive sinkhole at the bottom of the lineup and Big Joe Blanton throwing 85 mph cookies and you gotta think the Phils stole some games this week.



Nonetheless, the injuries are beginning to pile up. While Chase Utley played his first "meaningful"(single A) baseball this week (and looked ok; hit .286 with one homerun, one RBI and four strikeouts in four games), Amaro & Co are in no rush to get the all-world second baseman back before he is "ready". Most likely we're looking at a late May return. Maybe the Mets series, but more likely the series with the Nationals (May 30^th). Brian Schnieder blew a tire rounding third in the finale of the Marlins series and Shane Victorino tweaked his hammie in the second game of the Braves series. While Victorino's injury doesn't seem to be serious, he's listed as day to day, Schneider could be out of action for more than a month.



For all those Charlie bashers still lurking in the long shadow of this season's big old bandwagon, Charlie served up a heaping helping of crow pie. To wit: Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley pitching in the 8^th, Pete Orr for Wilson Valdez in the 7th inning of the Florida series finale (Orr went 2-2, both hits were doubles, including a big one in the 9th) Michael Martinez pinch hitting a double in the 6^th against Jair Jurrjens (Jurrjens hadn't given up a hit to that point), starting Big John in the Atlanta series finale against sinkerballing righty Tim Hudson (Jr was pretty good, stole a base, made a great catch in 7^th, walked twice and absolutely crushed a ball to left center with two outs to put the Phils up by one). Not bad for guy who sounds like an extra from Hee-Haw.



Stat of the Week:

In the Year of the Pitcher, Part Deux, the NL East has has been especially dominant, with four of the five pitching staffs ranking in the Top Ten for ERA.


Highlights:


Cole Hamels wiggling out of a first inning Jam

Cole Hamels has come a long way since his trainwreck of a performance in the '09 World Series against the Yanks. Friday's start was another good indicator that Hamels mental game is catching up with his stuff. After Ryan Howard put the Phils up 3 in the top of the first, Hamels gave up a single to Philly Killer Martin Prado and then misplayed a bunt by Nate Mclouth.  Hamels was clearly steamed as he stomped around the mound before settling in to face Chipper Jones. Hamel's second pitch to the first ballot no doubt about it Future Hall of Famer caught too much of the plate and Jones scorched a single past Jimmy Rollins. Phillies 3, Braves 1, 2 on nobody out. Cause for concern? Maybe in years past, but not this year. Hamels retired Brian McCann on a dribbler to Ryan Howard and then proceeded to strike out Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman swinging. Though Hamels didn't figure in the win, he pitched well on a night when he clearly didn't have his best stuff.



Jimmy Rollins' game winner

Rollins had made the final outs in the 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th inning and was up with two outs and two on in the 9^th against fireballing Florida closer Leo Nunez. After taking a 95 mph ball just off the plate, Rollins whacked Nunez's second offering into right field for the game winner.


 
Placido Polanco's Third inning run

With the bases loaded, and two out, the Phillies down by one, Ross Gload hit a little bleeder past an outstretched former Phil, Greg Dobbs. Polanco, blew through Third Base Coach Juan Samuel's stop sign, realized he had blown through the sign and turned back towards third, after going halfway down the line. Cue the clown music. John Buck misplayed a pretty good throw from Emilio Bonaficio and Polanco again ran towards the plate. Pitcher Javier Vasquez was covering, but dropped a soft-toss from Buck as Polanco slid under an empty glove. Phillies up 4-3.