Philadelphia Phillies: Cole Hamels and the Top 5 Phillies in May
The Philadelphia Phillies started and ended the month of May in first place in the NL East, and technically increased their lead over the Florida Marlins from one-and-a-half games to two.
For the month, the red-pinstriped gang played to a fairly good 16-13 record, which was a step down from their excellent 18-8 April. Still, their overall 34-21 record projects to 100 wins, which would be a three-game improvement over their MLB-best 97 win campaign of 2010.
As in April, injuries dominated a lot of the May headlines. Many players including catchers Carlos Ruiz and Brian Schneider, centerfielder Shane Victorino and starter Joe Blanton spent significant time on the Disabled List. All but Ruiz are still there, as is incumbent closer Brad Lidge.
On a more positive note, the Phillies heartily welcomed back second baseman Chase Utley, rightfielder Domonic Brown, starter Roy Oswalt and reliever Jose Contreras from the DL this month.
With so many moving parts on the MASH unit known as their 2011 active roster, it was not an easy task to choose and rank the top 5 Phillies of the month.
But even though I feel as if I am playing hurt, the (slide) show must go on. Please consider these players our Top 5 Phillies in May.
Not Quite Making the Cut ...
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Ryan Howard, with 42 RBI, is tied for third in the NL. But the Big Piece did not have a great May. His season batting average dropped from .290 to .248, and he only (for him) homered six times and drove in 15 runs.
Placido Polanco is batting .321, good for seventh in the NL. But the nifty third baseman was batting .398 at the end of April. Sure, his average was due to come down, but his 2011 OPS also dropped from .972 to .772 this month. Consequently, our defending Phillie of the month did not make the Top 5 for April.
Domonic Brown returned to the Bigs on May 21, and the Phils have won seven of those 10 games. D-Brown is batting .333 with a homer (last night), five RBI and 5 runs. He has struck out only four times and drawn three walks; not too bad. We like what we've seen, but we need more evidence.
Lefty Cliff Lee would have earned a spot on this list (even if we had to expand it to six) before last night's start. Seven hits and six earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched versus the Nationals will do a number on one's numbers, if you will. For May, Cliff went 2-3, with 47 K's, 15 walks and a 3.78 ERA in 47.2 innings. Not quite good enough.
In May, the Phillies scored 107 runs in 29 games, good for 3.69 runs per game. They yielded 104 runs, 3.58 per game.
Last year, the Phillies averaged 4.77 runs per game, and pitched to a 3.67 ERA. Thought you might like to know.
5. Antonio Bastardo
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AB has become the key lefty out of the Phillies' bullpen, and continued to impress in May.
For the month, No. 58 appeared in 11 games, and pitched a total of nine innings. He yielded only six hits and five walks while striking out 10 batters. He was credited with two wins, two holds and a 2.00 ERA.
Yes, this Bastardo can flat-out pitch.
4. Ryan Madson
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The lanky sling-shooting righty has become a terrific closer this year, one of the league's best.
Madson may have even earned the No. 1 spot on this list, if it weren't for one bad outing (May 24) versus the Reds when he gave up three earned runs and earned his loss this season.
Other than that, he was nearly flawless. Including that game, Madson picked up saves in all 10 of his chances, fanned 14 and walked five in 14 innings of work. His ERA for the month was 2.57.
Madson's terrific 2011 has the Phillies organization, their rabid fans and agent Scott Boras all smiling. Can that be possible?
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3. Raul Ibanez
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The only position player on the list enjoyed quite a resurgent May after being given up for dead in April.
At the end of April, the leftfielder was batting .161 with one homer, 10 RBI and 10 runs. His (on base percentage / slugging percentage / OPS) slash line was .247/ .218/ .465.
As June begins, Ibanez has upped his average to .246, and his slash line has been elevated to .297 / .431 / .728. That is quite a jump in one month's time.
Raul also led the team with seven homers and 19 RBI in May.
2. Roy Halladay
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Halladay was also the runner-up in April (to Placido Polanco.). No, I 'm not trying to light a fire under, arguably, the most self-motivated player in the game.
Doc only had a 3-2 record in May, but he was the victim of poor run support in those losses. Halladay pitched complete games in those back-to-back outings.
In May, Doc gave up 46 hits in 45 innings (spread over six starts). He fanned 44, walked only six, and pitched to a 3.00 ERA.
Just another strong month at the office for Big Roy, who finished just behind...
1. Cole Hamels
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You may recall that, back on April 5, Hamels started the season with a rough outing at home versus the Mets. Since then, he has delivered quality starts in nine of his next 10, and he even gave the team a chance to win in his tenth start..
Hamels' stats for May were just a little better than Halladay's.
Hamels was 4-1 (one complete game) with a 2.93 ERA. In 43 innings, he yielded 35 hits and only six walks while causing 44 batters to walk away from the dish in frustration.
Cole's superb work has enabled him to capture the unofficial, but prestigious Top Phillie of May Award.
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