Pitchers Philadelphia Phillies will heavily count on in 2012 regular season - MLB Feature
Looking to take their amazing upsurge in the last half a decade or so to pinnacle this year, Philadelphia Phillies have added all the strength they can to their pitching department. At the back of tremendous last year record when club won 102 games out of
total 162 and ended up becoming winner of their division, pitchers must be aware of the kind of expectations they have to live up to.
The presence of quality pitchers like Jose Contreras, Joe Blanton, Jake Diekman Kyle Kendrick and Cliff Lee is heartening. There are few names club will desperately want to stand out in the regular season.
Among those players, Roy Holladay who is going through a tremendous Spring Training will be looking to replicate the same performance in regular season. The fact he boasts an amazing 188-92 win-loss record, no one can doubt his credentials as a potential
match winner.
As he can follow his two-seam 90 mph fastball immediately with a downing curveball, tricking even the best of the batters should not be a problem for him. Along, he can bring another four seam 90 mph fastballs at the sheer surprise of hitters. Only problem
he however had couple of years back was adjustments with his change-ups that fortunately he has largely streamlined now.
As regard to throwing shut-out innings, Phillies can turn to him anytime given his career record of having thrown 20 shut-out innings. While his impressive earned run average of 3.23 and 1934 strike-outs he has grabbed in his career, crown him as ace for
the side. It is the confidence he engineers to the side many believe will matter the most.
Next to him Cole Hamels can be a player club will look forward to in the season. While his earned run average of 3.39 speaks itself of his significance, variety he brings in the form of circle change-up, cut fastball and a curveball can send any players
on his knees.
Coming off his dream year 2011 for the club when he stood at 13-6, fantastic WHIP of .96 and ended up with a 2.53 ERA, he may leave one’s expectations bogged down by a stereotype of “players hardly repeat last year performance”. However if his Spring Training
outings are anything to go by, he is equally poised to leave his side with another great year.
As for relievers, club can count on David Herndon and Justin De Fratus. Although both do not possess the experience, their talent for big moments is not hidden. Way better than his overall ERA of 3.79, ever since Herndon has joined Phillies, he has managed
a terrific 3.32 ERA, something that proves the kind of contribution he has accorded to club in his time there.
First glance at the career of De Fratus, which is though small in terms of number of matches played, gives one an impression of another surprise performance in the making for Phillies. ERA of 2.25 tells of his ability to constrain batters during the last
half of the game.
Even if any of above mentioned players fall a little short of expectations during the season, back up in the shape of Phillippe Aumont and Joe Blanton possesses all what it takes to stun the opponents.
Thus, analysed from any perspective say in terms of past record, talent and subtle pitching twists that pitchers can employ to outwit batters; Phillies seem to have their house full. Only thing the club will be praying is that these players unleash their
best in matches most crucial to their overall success.
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