Number, Numbers, Numbers

The games are counting down and the pressure is heating up.  These days, it’s all about the numbers.

  11         ♦   The number of innings it took the Chicago Cubs to beat the St. Louis Cardinals with a walk-off win which means that…

   3         ♦   The Phillies are now only 3 games back in the chase for the Wild Card

  14        ♦   Games under .500 was the Phils record on July 13

   4         ♦   Home runs last night was a season high: one each for Kevin Frandsen, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz and Chase Utley

   7          ♦   The number of times the Phillies have hit back-to-back homers like Howard and Chooch did last night

   8         ♦  RBI’s for Ryan Howard in the last three games including a home run in each of them which leads to….

.343      ♦  Howard’s batting average with runners in scoring position.  (That one’s for those of you who think all he does is strike out!)

 120       ♦   Number of games the retiring Chipper Jones has played at the Vet and the Bank.  Love him or hate him, he’s had a spectacular career.    “Laaaaary.”

 2.17      ♦   The ERA for last night’s winning pitcher, my man Kyle Kendrick, in his last eight starts.

   1          ♦  Number of home runs Ryan Howard needs to reach 300 and Chase Utley needs to reach 200.

  11         ♦  We end where we started.  This time it’s the number of games left in the season.  Let’s just be thankful they’re worth watching!