Week Ten Wrap-up: Capital Crimes, Phils get buzzed by the Nats, Shanghied in Pittsburgh

 When the Phillies play well, the defense is solid to spectaluar, the pitching dominant and the streaky offense gritty and clutch.  A well tread path to championship glory for sure, but this past week showcased that nagging little anxiety, the one born in last year’s NLDS.  If Roy Halladay and the frontline don’t dominate, can the offense put enough runs on the board to win a series?  In dropping two series this past week to inarguably inferior competition, the Phillies lost four games in a row.  After Cliff Lee was blown up in his start, the pitching was really good (though not great - 2.93 ERA) but the offense couldn’t seem to get out of its own way, hitting .204 and scoring seven runs during the skid. 

Still, it’s only June and Chase Utley and Shane Victorino have to play their way back into game shape.  Utley in particular looks as if his timing is just a bit off, both at the plate and in the field.  Victorino looked a bit sluggish in his first game back (an 0-5) but was running deep counts and had a good game in Sunday’s series finale with the Pirates (2-5, 1BB).

Sadly, John Mayberry Jr was optioned to triple A to make room for Victorino’s return.  Mayberry, while not exactly knocking the cover off the ball, was a substantial defensive and baserunning upgrade over the Phillies current trio of corner outfielder, Ibanez, Franciso and Brown.  In Mayberry’s first game at Lehigh, he hit a walk-off homerun and had some very mature things to say about his demotion after the game.  Go get ‘em Jr.

Stat of the Week

Roy Halladay has thrown 1494 pitches thus far this season, the highest amount in the majors thus far, but surprisingly not by a large margin.  Justin Verlander of the Tigers is second on the list with 1490, and Jered Weaver of the Angels is third with 1486.  Perhaps all the fretting over pitch count is just that, fretting.  Shock alert, maybe Charlie does know what he’s doing after all. 

Highlights

Ryan Howard’s 13 pitches

The Phils seemed to be snakebit.  An inning before, Dominic Brown hit a screamer up the middle with two men on that hit second base ump Chad Fairchild.  The ball was ruled dead, and what could have been a game turning hit became just another missed opportunity as Super Sub Wilson Valdez grounded into a double play. 

Fast forward to fifth, Pirates pitcher James McDonald walked the first three batters of the inning and was replaced by a hard throwing righty named Chris Resop.  Howard fouled off five two strike fastballs before connecting on a deep sac fly to score Victorino and tie the game.  One batter later, the Phillies took the lead for good, ending the first four game losing streak they’ve had in 2011.