Game 79: Phillies at A's (2/3)

Philadelphia Phillies: 42-36
Oakland A's: 42-34

Kyle Kendrick (6-3 5.06 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Greg Smith (4-5 3.51 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)

Projected lineups

Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Burrell DH
Werth RF
Feliz 3B
Coste C
Taguchi LF

Ellis 2B
Sweeney RF
Cust DH
Chavez 3B
Crosby SS
Brown LF
Hannahan 1B
Suzuki C
Gonzalez CF

The Phillies have just pissed away chances with the bases loaded this year. They're tied for first in AB with the bases loaded, but they're only 20th in runs scored in these situations. They're 23rd in BA, 20th in OBP, 23rd in SLG and 21st in OPS. This is why they have trouble scoring runs sometimes, and this is what separates the Cubs from the Phillies in NL R rankings.

I'm going to chalk up Cust's HR off of Romero as a fluke. I'm not a big J.C. fan, and even though he struggles in a huge way against righties, that was really the first time he's been touched by a left handed batter. I doubt something like that will happen again for a while.