A surprising Phillies tidbit reveals two combined stats offering a realistic expectation, while another statistic disproves a long-held perception regarding an overlooked regular general manager Matt Klentak did not trade.

Unexpected discoveries:

After a punchless beginning on the Barbary Coast, the Philadelphia Phillies are a franchise still challenging the favorite to win the National League East. However, while connecting the dots to understand their chances for serious August baseball, some answers found me.

IN OTHER WORDS: “Research means that you don’t know but are willing to find out.” – Charles Kettering

During the writing process, researching even surface-related facts is necessary for accuracy because one mistake can mislead readers. Obscure information requires more time to complete.

While piecing together the pros and cons of an article, a writer often turns up other information by accident. Additionally, one’s memory and the facts don’t always match up because the mind can mix reality with perception if you’re not careful. That stated, ideas come from research or just figuring things out.

Baseball has signs from the manager, the third base coach, the umpires, the battery and the keystone combination regarding coverage. Moreover, the offense has rally signals as well. To illustrate, the bull horns were introduced by Odubel Herrera in 2015.

In April and May (not June), you probably noticed the finger movements by the hitters from 2017’s IronPigs. One smacks a two-bagger and sends a message to the dugout: We’re in business to score some runs. Yeah, we’re clicking!

A double is usually the rally starter because an RBI single is a decent possibility, and the runner wants to motivate the next batter with a potential RBI. So, the one on second implores the other with hand movements, and hopefully, consecutive knocks can put a crooked number on the scoreboard.

Victories form bonds between players, which develops into the camaraderie of a solid contender. And while some refer to it as being in the foxhole with your teammates, others call it chemistry. On the other hand, a losing streak tests one’s resilience.