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Giants, Phillies start their second half
By Jeremy Harness July 13, 2006 |
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Based on their win-loss records and where they rank in their respective divisions, it’s pretty safe to say the Giants are in a much better spot than the Philadelphia Phillies, who they will meet for a three-game series that starts Friday night at AT&T Park, kicking off the second half of the season. Despite a shaky (and this is speaking lightly) bullpen and an ancient lineup, the Giants (45-44) are within striking distance in the National League West, sitting three games behind front-running San Diego. Meanwhile, the Phillies had a very disappointing first half of the season with a 40-47 record, which currently puts Charlie Manuel’s club 12 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East. However, if there is one thing that the Phillies have over the Giants, it’s the number of representatives in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Philadelphia had second baseman Chase Utley, reliever Tom Gordon and first baseman Ryan Howard, who won Monday’s Home Run Derby, while Jason Schmidt was the Giants’ lone representative. Howard is third in the NL with 28 home runs and has 71 RBI, which puts him sixth in the league in that category. Additionally, outfielder Pat Burrell is 12th in the senior circuit with 19 homers, and he himself has driven in 58 runs. With his victory in the long ball contest, Howard became the second consecutive Phillies to win it. Last year, Bobby Abreu won the Home Run Derby when it was held at Detroit’s Comerica Park. Meanwhile, Utley has had a breakout year for the Phils. He has decent pop with 16 home runs and 53 RBI at the break, and he leads the team with a .312 batting average. Another edge the Phillies have in this series - most teams have this, by the way - is in their bullpen. While the Giants’ relievers make their fans nervous on an almost daily basis, Philadelphia’s bullpen is pretty dependable. Gordon, for example, has nailed down 21 saves in 23 opportunities while Rheal Cormier is one of the best left-handed relievers in the game with a razor-thin 1.16 ERA in 31 innings pitched. However, even though the bullpen is certainly an asset, there aren’t any real aces in Philly’s rotation. Brett Myers is the best starter going with a 5-3 record and a 3.86 earned run average at the break. Matt Morris (7-7, 4.29 ERA) will go up against Philadelphia’s Jon Lieber (3-6, 5.47 ERA) in the Friday opener, while former Oakland Athletic Cory Lidle (5-7, 4.95 ERA) will face the Giants’ Noah Lowry, who has a 4-5 record and a 4.08 ERA, on Saturday afternoon. To cap off the series, the two aces face off, with Schmidt (6-5, 2.78 ERA) will face off against Myers. |
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