Phils talk a good game, but........................

Jimmy Rollins predicts 100 wins. Brett Myers says that fans shouldn't be concerned about anything as far as their pitching staff is concerned. This team now has a swagger, a bitter taste if you will from last years winless October. Funny thing is, you would never know it after watching the debacle known as the ninth inning of the Phillies season opener.

Yes I know, we are only a few days into the Phillies 2008 season and I am writing a blog on this site to vent my frustration at the teams 11-6 loss at the hands of the now 2-0 Washington Nationals(?). However, before you go calling me a "negadelphian" and throw slogans out there like "it's only one game" and "Brad Lidge will be back soon," there's good reason (as always) to approach this team with caution. Washington's 5-run ninth inning off Phillies "interim closer" Tom "flash in the pan" Gordon only reassured the obvious: The Phillies, considered a playoff contender by many baseball insiders, still have glaring holes in the bullpen, and one can only hope that Brad Lidge can return to his pre-October 2005 form when he returns from the disabled list in a few days. In fairness to Lidge, that is a lot to ask for. Lidge has already missed several weeks of spring training due to the re injuring of his knee-- on the first pitch he threw off of a mound this year! Charlie Manuel does not want to resort to J.C. Romero as his closer. Although Romero clearly showed signs today that his 2007 was no fluke, he is best served where he belongs as the deadly left-handed set up man from the bullpen. Romero's fiery optimism and competitive personality easily make him this generations Mr. T (Al Holland for those of you born past 1984). Oddly enough, this will NOT be the only Mr. T reference in this blog. More on that later.

The same however, cannot be said for Gordon. Once a venerable force in the Red Sox and Yankees bullpen, the 40-year old hurler more or less proved that his brief but effective performance in the 2007 NLDS may have been a mirage. The Phillies were depending on Gordon to hold the role of middle relief this season. Assuming that his arm lasts for six months and he pitches as effectively as he did when he returned from injury last summer. In saying that, the brass must have suspected that age and his torn labrum could both be problems for Gordon as the season started. In true Phillies fashion, the "suits" have never been one for a backup plan, and that usually goes to hell in a hand basket anyway (see Tim Worrell, Jon Lieber, Freddie Garcia, or any of the other 15 starting pitchers the team put on the mound last season). The team will never release Flash, for that would be swallowing money- a whole other story for another blog. One can only hope that he gets it together. If you think you can't stand Adam Eaton, wait until Gordon keeps this going all summer. Although his comeback last season at his advanced age was indeed admirable, Gordon can talk as much as he wants to the press about how good he thought his stuff was today. However, Flash is a veteran of 20-plus major league seasons and should do the team a favor and retire if he is hurting the team instead of helping them. Carlos Ruiz insists that there was nothing wrong with his arm or his stuff on Monday, leading to speculation that perhaps Gordon is tipping off his pitches. Gordon is not tradable due to his shoulder history, age, and expensive contract, so he is out of options.

Then there's Ryan Madson. After today's rocky outing, it's not an issue of whether he's recovered from his injury that forced him to miss last season's playoffs. Instead, the brass may HAVE to cut their losses with Madson and just accept the fact that he may simply no longer be an effective major league pitcher. Consistency has always been an issue with Madson, and the Phillies are only kidding themselves if they think that is going to change. As this fan watched Lastings Milledge launch a rocket delivered from Madson's hands right into the outfield seats, my thoughts were best expressed in a line from Kevin Costner from "Bull Durham": anything travelling that far outta here should have a........well you know the line. The Phillies should have had a plan b for Madson as well, but we've already addressed that (see Tom Gordon).

Several defensive miscues also led to the Phillies demise this afternoon. Though he tied the game with his dramatic two-run homer, Jimmy Rollins booting a ground ball is almost as shocking as Garry Maddox dropping routine fly balls in Los Angeles- it rarely happens, but when it does, it occurs at the worse time possible. Also lost on this team at is the art of the relay throw to home plate. Rollins to Ruiz sure as hell isn't Bowa to Boone. No longer can you blame Mike Lieberthal and his bum knee for not crowding home plate. An MVP Gold Glove shortstop should be able to master the relay throw to home in his sleep. What was once one of the more exciting plays on the field has become somewhat of a lost art in today's game.

Offensively, the Phillies lineup top to bottom may be among the best in the major leagues. Although good pitching is an oddity in today's offensive minded game, if the Phillies had a staff that even closely matched their potent offense, many a banner would be waving from the Citizens Bank Park flagpoles in the coming years. Problem is with the Phillies, they only have "so much money to spend." What someone should tell them is that is not how much money you spend, it's where you spend the money (see Boston Red Sox). I'm not even going to get into selling the team and all of that nonsense- everyone knows that will not happen. And when it does, pigs will indeed take flight. One thing is certain: if pitching continues to be this shaky, they cannot help but do something- and I don't mean 39 year-old Rudy Seanez.

After the game, the mood in the clubhouse is always upbeat and positive with today being no exception. Truth be told, it is only one game. Whether this team cares goes without saying-they obvoiusly do. After a while though, the optimism is almost to a fault. While earning their division title fair and square in 2007, the Fightin's were also the beneficiary of the worst collapse in baseball history (I must admit it feels great just typing that!). This team swears that there's no reason to worry about a thing. Their inaugural contest of 2008 was anything but championship caliber baseball. Just remember when a certain Philly icon got too cocky and Clubber Lang gave him his lunch. We can only hope that art does not indeed imitate life. 100 more wins, J-Roll. The countdown begins Wednesday.

And yes, Johan Santana is now 1-0. Oh well, at least Atlanta is 0-2, right?