Free Phillies Tickets, Utley Eyes His Return, And The Flyers Wave a White Flag

Welcome back, Patch readers!

In this week’s Phour for Phour column, we’ll take a look at the Phillies love/hate relationship with hitting and the emergence of Vance Worley, and we’ll reflect on the 2010-11 Flyers season, which ended Friday on the heels of a sweep by the Bruins.

Due to an overwhelming response to our free ticket giveaway, we’ve decided to hold another contest, where one lucky Patch reader will find himself—or herself—rooting on the Phillies at a game!

Details are below, but before you jump at the tickets, let’s talk sports!

The Good

- It’s a Wonderful Worley!

Last season, Vance Worley made two late-season starts, and added a few appearances out of the bullpen. This year, when Joe Blanton hit the disabled list, Worley again got the call up to the big leagues. He’s certainly making the most of his opportunity.

So far this season, Worley has thrown 12 innings through two starts, surrendering only one run while striking out 12. For his career, he boasts a 3-1 record with a combined 1.08 ERA as a starter and reliever.

Though it’s a small sample size, there is one statistic that is a common predictor of success at the major league level, and that’s the K/9 stat. 

Most scouts will say that the ability to strike out major league hitters is the best way to measure the potential of a young arm.  In Worley’s case, he currently has a 9.0 K/9, which means he’s good for one strike out per inning pitched.

By comparison, only Cliff Lee has a K/9 average (11.7) that’s noticeably higher than Worley out of all the Phillies starters.  Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels are slightly above 9.0, and both Blanton and Oswalt are 7.0 or below.

I don’t want to crown him the next big ace, but I think it’s fair to say that Worley will continue to have success at this level. 

Question:  If the offense is still struggling by the trade deadline, would you move Worley in order to pick up another bat?

- Chase and Brown

Chase Utley went through his first live game action Saturday in Florida, as he works his way back to the active roster after starting the season of the DL.

Making his return even more exciting is that Utley went 5 for 7 with two home runs Saturday night. His bat has been sorely missed, so it’s nice to know that our best hitter is eyeing a quicker return than originally thought.

Meanwhile, Domonic Brown, who still sits as one of the top prospects in baseball, has been doing well for the Iron Pigs as he returns from a broken wrist and a dreadful spring training.  He’s currently batting .409 with two home runs and five RBIs in six games with Lehigh Valley.

Question:  Who would you like to see in right field when Brown returns to the team?

The Bad

- Back to the DL

My goodness, the injuries to the Phillies continue to pile up. Now you can add Carlos Ruiz and Roy Oswalt to the lengthy list of players who have found themselves on the 15-day DL.

Despite the lack of hitting and injuries to the bullpen and starting pitching, the Phillies still find themselves with the best record in Major League Baseball. That speaks to the efforts of roll players like Pete Orr, and the emergence of Worley and Bastardo, but how long can a patchwork starting lineup continue to get it done?

They have instability in the outfield due to underperformance and an injury to Brown, who looked to have the RF spot locked up going into spring training. They also have instability at second base, rotating Orr and Valdez until Utley returns. Now they have a temporary hole at catcher.

I’m not saying a lineup featuring Orr, Mayberry and Schneider won’t win, but I will say their chances increase dramatically with Ruiz, Utley and Brown.

Question:  Does anyone know a good doctor?

The Ugly

- Boston Breaks Out the Broomsticks

A Flyers team that was supposed to be improved over last year’s Stanley Cup team gets bounced out of the playoffs by Boston in a sweep. A fitting end, I suppose.

The writing was on the wall. After a hot start, the Flyers slowly became an average team, and they ultimately lost the top seed in the last week of the season. Injuries to Pronger and the duration of the season wearing on Bobrovsky are big excuses, but in the last two games against the Bruins, the Flyers simply quit.

Honestly, giving up two goals less than a minute and a half into the first period of Game 3 broke the collective willpower of the Flyers. After that point, they looked slow and disinterested, as they did little more than watch as the Bruins bullied them into submission.

So much for going out swinging.

Question:  What moves would you like to see in the offseason?

Quote of the Week

“I really look at Game 1 as an opportunity that was lost for us to get into the series. We never seem to get into it. We didn’t get a win. We didn’t get in the series. In Game 1, that was a blown opportunity,” said Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, after being swept by the Bruins.

He added that goaltending was not the reason they lost.

Video of the Week

Justin Verlander saves his own no-hitter

Free Phillies Tickets!

We’re going to change up the contest this week, and allow each reader multiple chances to win. Additionally, the winner will be able to pick which game they would like to attend, and Patch will take care of the rest!

Here we go!

The Phour for Phour sports column runs across a cluster of eight Patch sites, including Lansdale, Ambler, Abington, Norristown, Perkiomen Valley, Upper Dublin, Limerick and Upper Moreland.  

To win the tickets, all you have to do is sign up for one newsletter, and a winner will be chosen at random next weekend by our regional editor, Melissa Treacy.  The winner will be announced in next Monday’s Phour for Phour column.

If you are a Patch aficionado, or you simply want to up your chances of having your name called, you can subscribe to all eight newsletters, giving you eight chances to win.

It’s as easy as that! Good luck!

Looking Forward

With the Flyers and Sixers looking toward next year, all you have left are the Phillies, who take to the road for a series against the Marlins and another against the Braves.

Here’s your schedule for the upcoming week in Philadelphia sports.

Monday: 

Phillies at Marlins  7:10 p.m. on CSN

Tuesday: 

Phillies at Marlins  7:10 p.m. on CSN

Wednesday: 

Phillies at Marlins  7:10 p.m. on CSN

Thursday: 

No games scheduled

Friday: 

Phillies at Braves  7:35 p.m. on PHL 17

Saturday: 

Phillies at Braves  1:10 p.m. on CSN

Sunday: 

Phillies at Braves  1:35 p.m. on PHL 17 and TBS

If you have any questions that you would like to see answered in next week's Phour for Phour column, please email them to slavetologic@gmail.com, as long as they don't include the words "doop" or "soccer."