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Cole Hamels and the Fruitini Photoshop Bonanza

Jimmy’s return should trigger a domino-effect of ass-kickery throughout the lineup. Presumably he’ll take back his lead-off spot, returning the red hot Shane Victorino to his previous run producing spot in the seven-hole. Since Jimmy’s injury, Shane has been one of the best hitters in the NL with seven homers, 27 RBI, and slugging .566. That’s all from the lead-off spot. Hopefully he can keep hitting like he has been from a place in the line-up where he’ll be hitting with, statistically, more men on base.

Also likely to be returning from injury on Monday is Carlos Ruiz who is making a case for his first All-Star appearance. (Chooch, incidentally, has himself a new fan club.) Before spraining his knee, Ruiz was in the top 3 in the NL in batting average with .345. He’s currently ineligible to be on the leaderboards since his injury has caused him to fall just below the plate-appearances per game threshold of 3.1, but that .345 would currently be good enough to tie him for second place with Marlon Byrd. It’s worth mentioning that Chooch’s replacement since his May 12th injury, Paul Hoover, has been uncharacteristically kickass. Hoover, who had 31 career starts before this May, hit an even .500 over 13 plate appearances and scored five runs in the series against the Brewers.

The Phillies offense will be back to full strength just in time for an opportunity to really pull ahead of the rest of the NL East. This week sees the Phils, who are four games up on the Marlins and Nats, who are tied for second,  matching up with three under-performing teams all outside of the division while the rest of the teams mostly play tough teams or interdivisional matchups.

Then on Friday, when Major League Baseball kicks off interleague play, (boooo! hissss!) the Phils welcome the slumping Red Sox to The Bank for a three game set, while the rest of the division are slated for series that look like they could go either way, except for maybe the Subway Series in New York. (#lolmets)

If you don't like reading, here's that last paragraph in a handy chart.

It’s not a stretch to say that the Phillies should be expected to at least win three out of their next four games, and based on how the Sawx have been playing, the Boston series easily looks winnable. A 5-2 homestand certainly is possible and that might be a conservative figure.

Following this week, the NL East plays mostly intra-divisional games and a strong showing in those next games could vault the Phillies even further ahead in the division as the rest of the teams beat up on each other.

If the Phillies can continue to play the kind of baseball they have been playing with their depleted roster in May there’s no reason to believe that they won’t be able to play better still now that all their offensive weapons are back in the lineup. The Phils are a team that is capable of really putting a hurt on the rest of the division and the second half of May will give them the opportunity to do just that and reassert the notion that they are, in fact, the best team in the National League.

Check out my contribution to Chicks Dig the Long Ball‘s Cocks in the Hen House column. I put together a roster full of dude’s who are out of work JUST LIKE ME!

We are through the looking glass, people.

http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/05/yep_phillies_get_3_more_home_g.html

Get well soon, Doggie.

Not yet, at least.

As of April 26th, the 2009 Phillies were 9-8 (.529) and had lost two out of four series while splitting one with Washington. They scored 98 runs in that span of time, allowing 96 for a run differential of +2. That team went on to win the National League pennant.

As of April 26th, the 2008 Phillies were 14-11 (.560). They’d scored 123 runs and allowing 109 over the course of 25 games, a differential of +14. They won four series, lost two, and split a two-gamer. That team went on to become the World Fuckin’ Champions.

As of April 26th, 2010 the current iteration of the Phillies are 11-7 (.611). The Fightins have scored 104 runs and allowed 73 (+31). They’ve won four series and lost two.

I’m not saying I buy into the adage that “The Phillies are slow starters.” I’m just reminding you:

Don’t Panic.

So Fungoed.

Ryan Madson loves to hit. How do I know? Because Shane Victorino fucking told me so. So I was thrilled when I got to see my close and personal friend step into the box in the ninth inning of tonight’s game against the Nats while in the middle of a four out save. How’d he do at the plate? Well… not nearly as well as he did on the mound. Madson struck out to end the inning with two men in scoring position.

More importantly, Madson got his and the Phillies’ first save of the season recording four outs, two singles, and two Ks all in just thirteen pitches.

Oh, and Polanco crossed the plate three times, Howard homered again, and Hamels got the win while raising my blood pressure. That’s about as much of a game recap as you’ll ever get out of me.

Brief Programming Note: There’s a new entry to the incredibly exclusive club that is Philadelphia Phillies blogs. Go check out Chicks Dig the Long Ball, they already have a ton of content and I know there’s way more on the way.