Tonight's game should be a good one, as the Phils and Yankees each call upon their respective aces. The Phils' Roy Halladay makes his first start against the Yanks since being traded from the Toronto Blue Jays this past winter. If history is any guide, Halladay will be up for the challenge. He is 18-6 all-time against the Yankees with a 2.84 ERA and seven complete games. As Mark Simon points out on ESPN.com:
“Only two pitchers who have more than 20 decisions against the Yankees have better win-loss records: You've heard of the all-time leader, Babe Ruth (17-5, .773). No. 2 is early 20th-century Hall of Famer Addie Joss (28-9, .757).”
Simon also cites a Rob Tracy study from the Elias Sports Bureau listing the pitchers with the best ERA+ against the Yankees all-time (Note: ERA+ is simply ERA adjusted for park factors and league averages in a given year. An average ERA+ is always 100). Halladay ranks #2 all-time, behind only Hoyt Wilhelm.
Hoyt Wilhelm - 148
Roy Halladay - 145
Walter Johnson - 138
Pedro Martinez - 137
Dean Chance - 135
Given their struggles in recent weeks, the Phils very much need Doc to continue his career pattern tonight in the Bronx.
Please use the comment thread below to post your views both before and during the game tonight (7:05 p.m.). Go Phillies!
Halladay settling down. Top of the order up in the 5th. This is the time to tag CC for a few more.
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ReplyDeleteNice AB by Howard.
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised is Werth sees a pitch to hit here.
ReplyDeleteJust one of those nights for Doc.
ReplyDeleteThis is a bad loss. It's the game in the series that looked the most winnable. We simply do not look like contenders right now.
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