Phillies Weekly Update - 5/17/2009

NEWS & STATISTICS

• The Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals this afternoon, 8-6, completing a three-day, four-game sweep.
• The sweep of the Nationals improved the Phillies record to 20-16. Philadelphia now sits one game behind the Mets, who are in first place in the N.L. East and are in action right now.
• After taking all four from the Nationals in D.C., the Fightins travel to Cincinnati for three games and then to New York to play the Yankees in the first interleague series of the year. The set versus the Yankees is also three games. Moyer, Hamels, and Blanton are scheduled to take the mound versus the Reds with Myers, Park, and Moyer facing the Yankees. Park, however, may get yanked from the rotation after his disastrous outing today (despite the teams win).
  
• Before tonight's games around the Majors, the Phillies had the fifth best offense (in terms of runs scored). They have put up 207 runs in 36 games, an average of 5.75 runs per game. Unfortunately they are 25th in pitching (based on runs allowed), allowing about 5.42 runs per game (195 total).
• Despite pitching struggles and offensive inconsistencies, the team has 20 wins which is tied for 9th most in MLB before tonight's games.
• Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, and Shane Victorino are the only Phillies to play in every game this season (36).
• Raul Ibanez is easily the Phillies MVP to date. He had another killer series versus the Nationals and now leads the team in eight offensive categories: runs (33), hits (50), home runs (13), total bases (100), RBIs (35), average (.357), slugging (.735), and OPS (1.168). Chase Utley leads the team in two categories, walks (24) and OBP (.443). Howard (doubles - 10), Werth (stolen bases - 8), and Victorino (triples - 3) each lead in one category.

AROUND THE PHILLIES BLOGOSPHERE

• Today's Game Recaps: Swing and a Long Drive, The Fightins, The 700 Level, Phillies Nation
  
• At Macho Row: A new Phillies DVD is set to be released May 26th.
• At The 700 Level: In July 2007 the Phillies helped the Rockies ground crew cover the field. On Saturday, Nationals fans helped their own. Earlier this weekend, Chase Utley set a team record.
• At Swing and a Long Drive: Your weekly farm system update.
• At The Fightins: Chris Wheeler and Sarge Matthews are on Twitter.
• At Phillies Nation: Should John Mayberry, Jr. become the Phillies right-handed bat off the bench?
• At Phinally Philly: After 36 games, some cheers and jeers. Plus, Phillies fans travel well.
• At We Should Be GMs: Ideas on how to fix the Phillies. Also, is Moyer done at the tender age of 46?