So here we are at the halfway point in this surprising, and now downright frustrating 2008 season for the Phillies, and you almost can't help but get this strange feeling of deja vu dating back to five summers ago in 2003: You can catch The Hulk at the movie theaters, the Phillies' offense comes and goes like the weather, and the team is fighting the (insert expletive here) Florida Marlins (?!) for first place. This is a scenario that not only shouldn't be repeated, but CAN'T be repeated.
I must admit, watching the Phillies the last two weeks has been downright awful. More for the fact that their performance brings back dreadful memories of that summer in '03: You know, when the team would rack up 15 runs and then zero the next night, when the malcontents of the Larry Bowa managed squad coughed up four straight losses to the Marlins during the final week of the season as a round mound of a pitcher named Kevin Millwood and his teammates coughed up big game after big game time and time again. Millwood's performance has been duplicated by another overhyped, out of shape, right handed starter who seems to be losing every game to the opposition in 2008 (I think you all know who it is). In games against the big boys this year (ANY game against the AL is a big game), the Phillies have, to be blunt, STUNK. Like that 2003 team, it doesn't look like they ever came to play. I thought the stigma of those teams of the early 2000's were over, but ghosts of seasons past never want to rest in this town, and you can't help but feel you are watching "Groundhog Day" over and over and over again. Make no mistake: I like this team better than the 2003 team. This is a team who actually cares, but it the end, it's all for naught if the final results are the same.
Now to the Marlins. You've gotta be kidding me if that "joke" of a baseball franchise down in Florida is gonna go knock the Phillies out the playoffs as a result of these dramatic, last second shenanigans that first came to surface several years ago by Miguel Cabrera, Derek Lee, and whatever future superstars the franchise had to trade away because they can never afford their players and NOBODY GOES TO THEIR GAMES! First it was their "miracle" win yesterday against the floundering Diamondbacks. Tonight, a game winning home run by Josh (insert expletive here) Willingham- owner of just eight home runs for the entire season? Somethings got to stop-NOW. I mean it, no more joking around.
Then, there is The Tampa Bay Rays. The same Tampa Bay Rays that are now ranked number one in the Fox Sports Power Rankings- nine spots ahead of that team in red who right now is hanging onto first place by a thread in the dreadful NL East. The little scrawny kid that you always threw into the shower in gym class is now the muscle bound stud that nobody seems to want a part of, including the immortal Boston Red Sox. If Boston dismantled the Phillies, what would Tampa Bay, who ALWAYS gives the Phillies trouble- do to them in a- dare I say it, series in October? (not that we're gonna have to worry about that the way our "heroes" are playing right now).
I think two things that propelled me to write this article tonight were: 1) the fact that the Malrins always seem to win games with a dramatic home run (as Willingham did tonight). And as he triumphantly circles the bases, we are given the privilege of watching all three fans jump up and down in ecstasy as they edge within a half game of first place. This STINKS!
2) Shortly after Baseball Tonight airs this memorable moment in Marlins history, the viewer is forced to hear Dick Vitale gush about his "beloved Rays" (there should be a contest to see which franchise in Florida can attract the least number of fans) and how ownership is doing all the right things to turn this franchise around. It's like watching your younger brothers and sisters all grow up to make something of themselves, when you're still stuck in the same dead end job with no chances of progressing (and no, I don't have any younger brothers and sisters, LOL) When Fernando Vina and Chris Singleton donned Rays jerseys during this segment, I had seen enough and was forced to go outside to take out my trash. Speaking of trash, I'm not going to use this segment to to just that to the Phillies ownership, but let's just put it this way: you'll NEVER hear them gushing about how much money they have so they can buy some free agents that will maybe put them over the top (GO SIXERS!)
The Marlins won't win the World Series this year. Chances are, they're not going to make the playoffs either. As for Tampa Bay, if they don't fade by the end of July, you almost have to be convinced that they are the real deal. And to be honest, their future right now looks much better than that of our Phillies. Pathetic. If we have to watch The Tampa Bay Rays hoist a World Series trophy this year, Armageddon, while maybe not exactly at that moment, will happen soon after. Let those undeserving fans have that parade that they so desperately need.
Oh well, at least THIS years Hulk movie was good.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Totally out of their league
It's a good thing that Phillies GM Pat Gillick is openly discussing how he can improve his Phillies ball club. After watching the Phillies play during the last week, it is becoming more and more obvious that this team needs more than minor tweakings to even consider themselves on par with the Boston Red Sox and the Angels (the whole name is too long. You guys know who they are) if they are seriously considering making a run at just their second World Series Championship in (GULP!) 125 years.
It's no secret that as the Phillies offense goes, so does their team. So as their "potent" offense has apparently seemed to take a week long bender in Atlantic City, one must have to wonder if 1) The Phillies are just hitting a slide that commonly happens to teams every year with the exception of very few teams in MLB history (see 1984 Tigers, 1986 Mets, 1998 Yankees). After all, they uncharacteristically came out of the gate pretty strong in April, so maybe they are due for a rough skid. Or 2) as former Flyers Coach Terry Murray once said in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals: "Basically we're in a choking situation."
The Phillies are playing the cream of the crop of Major League Baseball during the last week, and to say they've come up small during these interleague games is a vast understatement. This was supposed to be the week that the Phillies were to make a statement to the rest of Major League Baseball: We ARE for real. We CAN compete with the big boys. As fate would have it, the only big boy's the Phillies competed with last week were the customers in line at the Bob's Big Boy's buffet, because they sure as hell didn't do it on the diamond. And in familiar fashion, Phillies fans were left not with a vote of confidence about their team, but if, when, and how they can graduate from boys to men in the grand scheme of reaching baseball's Mount Olympus. No matter how you look at the previously mentioned scenarios, the Phillies have been outhit, out pitched, and outclassed in virtually every category imaginable during the last week. With the exception of men LOB in last night's game: one can only imagine how last night's 7-1 debacle would have been if the Angels actually scored all of those potential runs. I may get my house egged for this, but Chase Utley does deserve part of the blame for the sputtering offense. If you're going to chastise Ryan Howard for his ridiculous strikeout total, or Shane Victorino for famously popping out to third base after valiantly working 3-0 counts, then you have to just sit back and ask yourself why Utley picked some of the biggest games in recent memory for this ball club to go into the biggest hitting funk of his career. Underlooked is the fact that Utley vanished last October as well. Utley will hit again, but one can only hope that this is just a funk, and not a recurring problem when the team needs to step up. Champions deliver when it matters. And right now, the look of champions has not yet been distributed to the Phillies.
If the Phillies were indeed fortunate enough to get past a Diamondbacks pitching staff in a five game series come October, and fool everyone by beating a Cubs team that may actually stand the chance of a World Series berth, the suits at MLB would have to seriously consider changing the World Series format to three games instead of four. Watching our starters last week was reminiscnent of the Francona squads of 1997-2000, when you would sit back, hold on for dear life, and hope that our AA pitchers who Bill Giles tried to convince us were "talented prospects" routinely got their lunch handed to them game after game. It's not AS bad as the 1988-1989 "AAA teams", but were not kidding anyone when we think that Brett Myers is going to get it together. Adam Eaton was due for a bad start last night, but then there's Kyle Kendrick. One can only imagine why Kendrick had a major meltdown on Wednesday afternoon. He is no stranger to pressure- ALL of 2007 was a pressure cooker for him. Do YOU feel comfortable going to the postseason with our starters? I sure as hell don't. To sit back and actually consider these guys as potential champions borders on the absurd to borderline disillusioninal.
In closing, they made me do it. I didn't want to be here writing this article as I mentioned in my previous blog last week. The Phillies however, will do that to you. They had the girl of their dreams sitting next to them at the bar, and they just sat back and didn't say a word to her. We hope that last week's below caliber play of our eternally tragic heroes is just indeed a slide that came at absolutely the worst time possible. We also hope that the brass will indeed step up to put this team at least in the running to be a serious contender to get to the playoffs let alone World Series. However Phillies fans, if anything, are realistic (complete the sentence as you want). Or better yet, fill it in at the end of October. Let's hope not September.
To quote the great Jim Mora: "Playoffs?! Playoffs?!"
It's no secret that as the Phillies offense goes, so does their team. So as their "potent" offense has apparently seemed to take a week long bender in Atlantic City, one must have to wonder if 1) The Phillies are just hitting a slide that commonly happens to teams every year with the exception of very few teams in MLB history (see 1984 Tigers, 1986 Mets, 1998 Yankees). After all, they uncharacteristically came out of the gate pretty strong in April, so maybe they are due for a rough skid. Or 2) as former Flyers Coach Terry Murray once said in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals: "Basically we're in a choking situation."
The Phillies are playing the cream of the crop of Major League Baseball during the last week, and to say they've come up small during these interleague games is a vast understatement. This was supposed to be the week that the Phillies were to make a statement to the rest of Major League Baseball: We ARE for real. We CAN compete with the big boys. As fate would have it, the only big boy's the Phillies competed with last week were the customers in line at the Bob's Big Boy's buffet, because they sure as hell didn't do it on the diamond. And in familiar fashion, Phillies fans were left not with a vote of confidence about their team, but if, when, and how they can graduate from boys to men in the grand scheme of reaching baseball's Mount Olympus. No matter how you look at the previously mentioned scenarios, the Phillies have been outhit, out pitched, and outclassed in virtually every category imaginable during the last week. With the exception of men LOB in last night's game: one can only imagine how last night's 7-1 debacle would have been if the Angels actually scored all of those potential runs. I may get my house egged for this, but Chase Utley does deserve part of the blame for the sputtering offense. If you're going to chastise Ryan Howard for his ridiculous strikeout total, or Shane Victorino for famously popping out to third base after valiantly working 3-0 counts, then you have to just sit back and ask yourself why Utley picked some of the biggest games in recent memory for this ball club to go into the biggest hitting funk of his career. Underlooked is the fact that Utley vanished last October as well. Utley will hit again, but one can only hope that this is just a funk, and not a recurring problem when the team needs to step up. Champions deliver when it matters. And right now, the look of champions has not yet been distributed to the Phillies.
If the Phillies were indeed fortunate enough to get past a Diamondbacks pitching staff in a five game series come October, and fool everyone by beating a Cubs team that may actually stand the chance of a World Series berth, the suits at MLB would have to seriously consider changing the World Series format to three games instead of four. Watching our starters last week was reminiscnent of the Francona squads of 1997-2000, when you would sit back, hold on for dear life, and hope that our AA pitchers who Bill Giles tried to convince us were "talented prospects" routinely got their lunch handed to them game after game. It's not AS bad as the 1988-1989 "AAA teams", but were not kidding anyone when we think that Brett Myers is going to get it together. Adam Eaton was due for a bad start last night, but then there's Kyle Kendrick. One can only imagine why Kendrick had a major meltdown on Wednesday afternoon. He is no stranger to pressure- ALL of 2007 was a pressure cooker for him. Do YOU feel comfortable going to the postseason with our starters? I sure as hell don't. To sit back and actually consider these guys as potential champions borders on the absurd to borderline disillusioninal.
In closing, they made me do it. I didn't want to be here writing this article as I mentioned in my previous blog last week. The Phillies however, will do that to you. They had the girl of their dreams sitting next to them at the bar, and they just sat back and didn't say a word to her. We hope that last week's below caliber play of our eternally tragic heroes is just indeed a slide that came at absolutely the worst time possible. We also hope that the brass will indeed step up to put this team at least in the running to be a serious contender to get to the playoffs let alone World Series. However Phillies fans, if anything, are realistic (complete the sentence as you want). Or better yet, fill it in at the end of October. Let's hope not September.
To quote the great Jim Mora: "Playoffs?! Playoffs?!"
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Right now, Phils don't have "The Look Of Champions"
It has now been a little more than an hour since the Phillies concluded their week long road trip. Despite the successful 5-4 record which included a thrilling sweep of the Braves down in Atlanta, the Phillies proceeded to drop two games out of three from their division rival Florida Marlins and the Albert Pujols less St. Louis Cardinals. Much worse is the fact that even though the usual cracks in the armor have come to the surface once again with this team, new ones may have arisen that can't happen again as they prepare for the BIGGEST series of the year: a three game set against the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
After watching Sunday's 10-inning debacle against the Cardinals this afternoon, it is apparent to the entire show-me state of Missouri as well as the Delaware Valley that Brett Myers is obviously the weakest link in this starting rotation (that's right Adam Eaton, you're in the clear---for now). Myers constant failure to pitch consistently for this ball club will be a major hindrance for the Phillies down the stretch if they fail to acquire a proven starter at the trade deadline-or as it stands now, even before the deadline. With an ERA of 12 in the first inning of his started games, the Phillies bats are constantly playing catchup. And given Myers' record this year, the team has failed in doing so more often than not. The 20 home runs allowed by Myers leads the Major Leagues, and automatically spots the opposing team a run or more.
If you're the Phillies brass, what do you do? Move Myers back to the pen? The home runs will only occur later in the game as opposed to the beginning. Trade him? That's not going to happen at this particular time. This only further reinforces the fact the the Phillies MUST resign Brad Lidge, before the season ends or after. Indeed, Myers is an enigma and really always has been. He says he's a team player and will do anything to help the Phillies win. If that's the case Brett, maybe it's best that you do what the coaches tell you to do, perhaps do the recommended long toss, get yourself back into shape like you were during the off season. Although it will never be made public, one can easily imagine the frustration of the veteran players on this team constantly putting up with a headcase like Myers day in and day out in the clubhouse. Championship caliber teams do not have players like Brett Myers playing baseball the way he is playing right now. It's been seven years Brett. Get it together for yourself, the team, and the fans. How many chances can a guy get?
Then there is Tom Gordon. Yes, he was pretty much torn to pieces by yours truly in an article several months back after his meltdown in the season's inaugural contest against Washington. However, Gordon has almost Rheal Cormieried himself in a decent season. That is, until last week. After surrendering Dan Uggla's gargantuan grand slam on Wednesday, it is obvious to all that there is decreased velocity on Gordon's fastball. This most likely indicates that he is being overused by Charlie Manuel, and/or that he is 40 years old, and the Phillies simply can't depend on him the way they do. For the record, the Phillies starters need to depend less on the bullpen altogether. You've already seen signs of Gordon wearing down, and who knows if Rudy Seanez (39) isn't too far behind. Of course, there's always the chance of 45 year-old Jamie Moyer losing steam, but let's cross that bridge when it comes. J.C. Romero, while still effective, is being exposed after almost a year in the National League. However, this may have more to do with Romero being the only left handed pitcher in the Phillies bullpen. Where is Eddie Orepesa when you need him?!!! As for today's embarrassing bottom of the 10th inning, you can equally blame Chase Utley and Gordon for failure to execute properly on those two ground balls. The first throw Utley threw wide, the second throw, Gordon didn't catch. Once is understandable, but twice on a similar play? Get it together guys. You're making LOTS of money. Lapsed judgment equals losses, and this one hurt-bad.
Another concern that has crept upon this team in recent days is the disappearance of the offense after a massive onslaught the previous evening, and the stranding of runners on base particularly during Sunday's loss. The 20-2 drubbing of the redbirds in Friday's opening game was very impressive. However, just as I was about to give the team the tremendous props that were apparently well deserved, they manage just 2 measly runs off their old buddy Kyle Lohse on Saturday afternoon. As far as Lohse goes, I'm not about to knock him, for the job he did for the Phillies during last year's stretch drive, to his now 8-2 record in 2008. The Phillies gave him an offer (about three years in the $21 million range) that no other team really matched. With decent starting pitching an oddity in today's game, it kind of makes you wonder if 1) MLB is really trying to stick it to Scott Boras-Lohse's agent, or 2) Lohse is more of a headcase than teams are willing to disclose. A pitcher with Lohse's talent should have received better offers than just the offer of teh Phillies. Although their weren't any reported problems with Lohse in the Phillies clubhouse last year, there was that time in Minnesota back in 2005 when he practically demolished Ron Gardenhire's office door with a baseball bat after being removed from a game. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Though Lohse pitched a fine game, this weekend's offensive scenario is one all too familiar with Phillies fans from the years of 2003 until the beginning of 2007. Score 14 one night, zero the next. One must hope that this team doesn't fall into this kind of rut like its predecessors did. This was a pattern that costs those early teams of the 2000's some playoff spots. And for the record, the Phillies led all of Major League baseball for years in the Runners Left On Base department. It's only one game, but stranding 15 runners on base can't be a continuing trend. Bottom line: a championship caliber team who loads the bases four times in one game HAS to score at least a run. A team who is as just as good won't let you get away with it. As well as the Phillies are playing, the Cardinals are playing just as well- and now have a better record to show for it. And to top that, the Boston Red Sox are coming into town tomorrow, and there really isn't an explanation needed as far as to what that team will do as far as capitalizing on other's mistakes. Now this isn't the 2007 squad, but they are still the World Champs, and as of tomorrow the city of Boston will probably have another champion. Let's not give them anymore of a reason to celebrate.
So in closing, the Phils need a 1) Dependable number two starter, 2) Another lefthanded reliever to compliment Romero in the pen, and 3) A consistent offense who manufacture runs when it counts. Sounds good to me, but obviously it's not that simple. The Phils have made a pretty good dent in the National League up to this point. Let's see if they can play up to par with the big boys in the American League. And yes, Anaheim will be in just a few days after Boston. A true test of a champion will be measured this week. Will the Phils prevail and prove to all of us that they are a legitimate World Series contender? Or will Philly fans remain disgruntled, and again are left to wonder what the future holds for our heroes?
I really hope that I'm not sitting here next week typing a similar article. Isn't it about time things changed around here? Somebody? Anybody? Hello?...........
After watching Sunday's 10-inning debacle against the Cardinals this afternoon, it is apparent to the entire show-me state of Missouri as well as the Delaware Valley that Brett Myers is obviously the weakest link in this starting rotation (that's right Adam Eaton, you're in the clear---for now). Myers constant failure to pitch consistently for this ball club will be a major hindrance for the Phillies down the stretch if they fail to acquire a proven starter at the trade deadline-or as it stands now, even before the deadline. With an ERA of 12 in the first inning of his started games, the Phillies bats are constantly playing catchup. And given Myers' record this year, the team has failed in doing so more often than not. The 20 home runs allowed by Myers leads the Major Leagues, and automatically spots the opposing team a run or more.
If you're the Phillies brass, what do you do? Move Myers back to the pen? The home runs will only occur later in the game as opposed to the beginning. Trade him? That's not going to happen at this particular time. This only further reinforces the fact the the Phillies MUST resign Brad Lidge, before the season ends or after. Indeed, Myers is an enigma and really always has been. He says he's a team player and will do anything to help the Phillies win. If that's the case Brett, maybe it's best that you do what the coaches tell you to do, perhaps do the recommended long toss, get yourself back into shape like you were during the off season. Although it will never be made public, one can easily imagine the frustration of the veteran players on this team constantly putting up with a headcase like Myers day in and day out in the clubhouse. Championship caliber teams do not have players like Brett Myers playing baseball the way he is playing right now. It's been seven years Brett. Get it together for yourself, the team, and the fans. How many chances can a guy get?
Then there is Tom Gordon. Yes, he was pretty much torn to pieces by yours truly in an article several months back after his meltdown in the season's inaugural contest against Washington. However, Gordon has almost Rheal Cormieried himself in a decent season. That is, until last week. After surrendering Dan Uggla's gargantuan grand slam on Wednesday, it is obvious to all that there is decreased velocity on Gordon's fastball. This most likely indicates that he is being overused by Charlie Manuel, and/or that he is 40 years old, and the Phillies simply can't depend on him the way they do. For the record, the Phillies starters need to depend less on the bullpen altogether. You've already seen signs of Gordon wearing down, and who knows if Rudy Seanez (39) isn't too far behind. Of course, there's always the chance of 45 year-old Jamie Moyer losing steam, but let's cross that bridge when it comes. J.C. Romero, while still effective, is being exposed after almost a year in the National League. However, this may have more to do with Romero being the only left handed pitcher in the Phillies bullpen. Where is Eddie Orepesa when you need him?!!! As for today's embarrassing bottom of the 10th inning, you can equally blame Chase Utley and Gordon for failure to execute properly on those two ground balls. The first throw Utley threw wide, the second throw, Gordon didn't catch. Once is understandable, but twice on a similar play? Get it together guys. You're making LOTS of money. Lapsed judgment equals losses, and this one hurt-bad.
Another concern that has crept upon this team in recent days is the disappearance of the offense after a massive onslaught the previous evening, and the stranding of runners on base particularly during Sunday's loss. The 20-2 drubbing of the redbirds in Friday's opening game was very impressive. However, just as I was about to give the team the tremendous props that were apparently well deserved, they manage just 2 measly runs off their old buddy Kyle Lohse on Saturday afternoon. As far as Lohse goes, I'm not about to knock him, for the job he did for the Phillies during last year's stretch drive, to his now 8-2 record in 2008. The Phillies gave him an offer (about three years in the $21 million range) that no other team really matched. With decent starting pitching an oddity in today's game, it kind of makes you wonder if 1) MLB is really trying to stick it to Scott Boras-Lohse's agent, or 2) Lohse is more of a headcase than teams are willing to disclose. A pitcher with Lohse's talent should have received better offers than just the offer of teh Phillies. Although their weren't any reported problems with Lohse in the Phillies clubhouse last year, there was that time in Minnesota back in 2005 when he practically demolished Ron Gardenhire's office door with a baseball bat after being removed from a game. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Though Lohse pitched a fine game, this weekend's offensive scenario is one all too familiar with Phillies fans from the years of 2003 until the beginning of 2007. Score 14 one night, zero the next. One must hope that this team doesn't fall into this kind of rut like its predecessors did. This was a pattern that costs those early teams of the 2000's some playoff spots. And for the record, the Phillies led all of Major League baseball for years in the Runners Left On Base department. It's only one game, but stranding 15 runners on base can't be a continuing trend. Bottom line: a championship caliber team who loads the bases four times in one game HAS to score at least a run. A team who is as just as good won't let you get away with it. As well as the Phillies are playing, the Cardinals are playing just as well- and now have a better record to show for it. And to top that, the Boston Red Sox are coming into town tomorrow, and there really isn't an explanation needed as far as to what that team will do as far as capitalizing on other's mistakes. Now this isn't the 2007 squad, but they are still the World Champs, and as of tomorrow the city of Boston will probably have another champion. Let's not give them anymore of a reason to celebrate.
So in closing, the Phils need a 1) Dependable number two starter, 2) Another lefthanded reliever to compliment Romero in the pen, and 3) A consistent offense who manufacture runs when it counts. Sounds good to me, but obviously it's not that simple. The Phils have made a pretty good dent in the National League up to this point. Let's see if they can play up to par with the big boys in the American League. And yes, Anaheim will be in just a few days after Boston. A true test of a champion will be measured this week. Will the Phils prevail and prove to all of us that they are a legitimate World Series contender? Or will Philly fans remain disgruntled, and again are left to wonder what the future holds for our heroes?
I really hope that I'm not sitting here next week typing a similar article. Isn't it about time things changed around here? Somebody? Anybody? Hello?...........
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