After yesterday's humilaition at the hands of Tim Redding(?)and the streaking (yes, I said streaking) Washington Nationals, the Philadelphia Phillies are slowly but surely losing momentum in this free-for-all we call the National League East. With emerging MVP candidate Carlos Delgado's two-run, game-winning homer against the now Ben Sheets less Brewers, the Mets now hold a two game lead on our fighting Phils. There are twenty four games left in this season, but the Phillies MUST, I repeat MUST take the remaining two games from Washington, and MUST take two out of three from the Mets this weekend at Shea to even have a hope of staying alive in this race, or by Sunday this thing could be all but over.
Whether the Phillies make the playoffs or not this year (and right now, I still have to go with the Mets) this will be a different Phillies team in 2009. Some faces will definately be gone, some may be traded, and some may be gone who shouldn't go. Let's weigh out some of the scenarios:
Ryan Howard- I understand that this is a very controversial topic. Let's be honest, Phillies brass will obviously try to find reasons not to give Howard a pay increase for 2009. Numbers are numbers however, and expect Howard to be awarded somewhere in the range of $14 million for next year alone in the arbitration hearings. This will not thrill the Phillies one bit. Casual fans will think I'm crazy, but don't be surprised if the Phillies attempt to trade Howard for front line starting pitching or major prospects. It is almost defniate that Howard will be leaving Philadelphia after 2010 and the Phillies will get nothing for him in return if time is running out (see Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling). Plus, Howard wants way too much money for a slugger who will surpass 200 strikeouts in a year and whose defense is a constant detriment to the team. If the Phillies can find a first baseman who strikes out way less and is a clutch hitter who plays great defense, they should at least try to acquire one. Make no mistake, Howard is not entirely to blame for the Phillies silent bats this summer, but a shakeup is needed if there are no playoffs for this team. To move Howard would be to try to improve the team, and the Phillies aren't going be confused with the Tampa Bay Rays any time soon.
Jimmy Rollins- There has been speculation that for the Phillies to get to the next level, one of the big three will have to go (Utley, Rollins, or Howard). Jimmy Rollins' performance this season on and off the field has been inexcusable and disheartening at the same time. His "anything goes" approach at the plate is getting more and more aggravating as the years go by. The fact that a leadoff hitter is not patient at the plate is mind boggling. We won't even get into the whole "front runners" comment, but rumors have it that Rollins is not happy with his current contract. If that is indeed the case, he is not exactly endearing himself to the brass to where they would want to renegotiate with him. Stories and scuttlebut surround the off-season, and don't be shocked if there was more to Rollins behavior and performance this season than meets the eye. Time will tell, but unless some team blows the Phillies out of the water with a package that may include Rollins, expect him to be back.
Pedro Feliz- Truth be told, Feliz has offensively been a letdown. That being said, I would still take him every day of the year over Wes Helms. Phillies fans have not seen that kind of defense at third base since Scott Rolen, and Feliz has a penchant for the big hit when he has been healthy more than Utley or Rollins this summer. Feliz is owed around $4 million for 2009, so chances are he will be back regarding some crazy package deal that never seems to fall in the lap of the Phillies anyway.
Pat Burrell- In recent weeks Burrell has struggled, but until then was one of the more consistent bats in an inconsistent lineup. Burrell has his holes, but has more of an upside than downside. He will be 32 in October and probably has a few good years left. He loves playing in Philly, and only two players in the history of this long suffering franchise have hit more home runs than he has. With his power numbers still strong, that has to count for something. If this team ever miraculously wins a World Series, it would be nice for Burrell to be part of that. He has earned the right to stay here, and he probably would take a hometown discount to do so. With the Phillies high on prospect Greg Golson and with Jayson Werth coming into his own in right field, Burrell may be expendable. Another possibility is trading Ryan Howard and moving Burrell to first base. Burrel's return is probably 50/50, but let's hope they "BRING BACK THE BAT".
Carlos Ruiz/Chris Coste- To be fair to Ruiz, he is praised for handling the pitching staff the way he does. As far as offensively, he has been the weakest link in the Phillies lineup all year. More was expected out of Ruiz after a solid regular season and also in the NLDS. If the offense was running on all eight cylinders, people wouldn't even care that Ruiz is hitting .221. Fact of the matter is, the offense isn't consistent, and people now start to point fingers. Coste is the ultimate team guy and a great success story. However, Ruiz's shortcomings with the bat have pushed Coste into the everyday lineup more times than the Phillies would have hoped, and as a result he is getting exposed. Coste may return in 2009 because he can hit, and is capable of playing third base and first base in a limited role of the bench. Ruiz is younger and a solid defensive catcher, so that may make him more tradeable. Chances are that prospect Lou Marson will not be ready come opening day 2009, so expect the Phils to sign a stop gap catcher (Benito Santiago-1996) while Marson is the backup.
Brett Myers- This may be the biggest question mark of them all. To say that Myers is the team's second half MVP is not a stretch to say the least. Myers has been nothing short of spectacular since his demotion to the minor leagues this summer, and he is solidifying himself as a dominant number two starter in the big leagues. At the same time, Myers performance during the last several weeks could also have the Phillies using him as trade bait in the off-season. Myers is slated to make $12 million next year and has long expressed his desire to be a reliever. With Brad Lidge locked up for the next three years, Myers will not get the chance to close. Due to his newfound success as a starter, it is possible that Myers may want to continue starting. We'll have to wait and see on this one. With Kyle Kendrick increasingly inconsistent and Carlos Carrasco not quite ready for the bigs yet, I would say the chances are maybe more than 50/50 that he will return, unless the Phils can acquire a better starter, or just want to give Myers and the team a fresh start.
Adam Eaton- The fact that Eaton couldn't get ANYBODY out in the minor leagues is a total disgrace to himself, the fans, and the organization. It's not that the post-Giles regime doesn't spend money, they don't spend it wisely. There was no bidding war for Eaton. The Phils simply gave him a three year deal at the price of around $25 million dollars. That is why he will be on this team next year. The Phillies wouldn't even cut So Taguchi, so you know they won't dump Eaton. And forget the fact about trading him anywhere and taking on half of his salary. If Eaton had any character, he should retire, or donate a portion of his salary to charity. I know that is easier said than done, but I would love to make millions of dollars and do my job less than half assed. All the money in the world can't take the place of embarrassment.
Kyle Kendrick- Maybe someday, Kyle Kendrick will be a consistent major league pitcher. However, that time is not now, and he is hurting the team more than he has helped them since the All-Star break. His ERA is now 5.08, and he will probably be bumped in the rotation on Sunday in place of Cole Hammels at Shea Stadium. Kendrick was a godsend last summer, and the Phillies wouldn't have made the playoffs without his help. In saying this, he is not helping them now, and with Carlos Carrasco waiting in the wings, don't be surprised if the Phils shop him around this offseason. Kendrick's control is way too shaky to make him a bullpen pitcher, and the Phils can't afford to keep putting lackluster pitching out on the mound when you are fighting for your playoff lives in September.
Jamie Moyer- Moyer was supposed to spend the final month of 2006 with the Phillies, then call it a career. He was so rejuvanated that he returned to the team in 2007, helped the Phillies clinch the NL East on the final day of the season, mentored young pitchers like Hammels and Kendrick, and has been the healthiest and most consistent starter in 2008. Veterans like Moyer don't just grow on trees, and at 45 years of age he is probably older than some trees. Moyer not only plans to keep pitching in 2009, he may plan to pitch after that season as well. Only problem is, the Phillies might not want him back. It is a valid point, but Moyer has shown no signs of slowing down this year and until he proves otherwise, he should be allowed to finish his career here. As much as I knock the Phillies, they have a better chance of winning a title than Seattle, where Moyer still makes his home and where Phillies GM Pat Gillick will likely wind up in 2009. The quote by assistant (and likely future) GM Ruben Amaro Jr. concerning the possible chances of Moyer not returning next year were untimely and classless. A classy act like Moyer should be entitled to have his affairs kept private until the off season. Odds are probably 50/50 he returns.
So Taguchi- Taguchi is hitting .198 and his fielding has been even more horrendous. The fact that he is even still on this team is an insult to the Philly fans as well as the players on the team. Odds are almost %100 that he will not be back. I said almost because the Phillies are never one to respect their fan base, they just take our money, no questions asked.
Geoff Jenkins- Jenkins has been a major disapointment, but as we all know, the Phillies will not eat salary and Jenkins is owed $6.5 million in 2009. Unless the Phillies try to trade him (and their probably won't be many takers for a 34 year-old former slugger with slow bat speed), expect Jenkins to be back, but in a limited role due to the emergence of Jayson Werth as an everyday player.
The Phillies Bullpen- The bullpen has probably been the most consistent part of the team from the start of the season up until the last week. Relief pitchers are spotty (see Rheal Cormier) and are known to have great years followed by horrendous ones. Chad Durbin has been the most consistent reliever who is not named Brad Lidge all season, but now is showing signs of leaking oil. There is no way to tell if his shoulder can take the pounding of another year in the pen. Durbin's upsode is that he is relatively young. Ryan Madson has pitched well more times than not, but the "deer in the headlights" look when he enters the eight inning is hit or miss. The Phillies acquired Scott Eyre as a lefthanded specialist to compliment J.C. Romero (and also because his contract will expire soon). Eyre has been solid so far, and the Phils would be wise to bring him back in the same role next season, though they may decide to go with J.A. Haap instead. Rudy Seanez has pitched well at times, but he is injury prone and nearing 40 at season's end. Not a good combination for a reliever (see Tom Gordon). Clay Condrey has pitched well in mop up situations, but his spot next year will probably be vacated by the more expensive and less reliable Adam Eaton. In closing, most of these guys will be back than not, but expect some replacements for the older veterans.
One thing is for certain, the Phillies will be a different team than the one you are looking at for the final weeks of 2008. For better or worse remains to be seen. The team has been a consistent 80 plus-win team for almost a decade now. Management will be the key factor as to whether this team has reached the pinnacle of their ability, or will now begin the downward spiral that permeated the 1990's. With rumors of Mark Cuban clamoring to buy the Cubs, and with the estimated $800 million dollar value of the Mets after moving into their new stadium in 2009, the Phillies brass and players have their work cut out for the them, not just for the next few years, but for the next few decades.
Im sure however, that Phillies management is right on top of things, is up to the challenge and everything will be fine.............................(Insert joke here)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Mets taking a page from the '07 Phillies
It's been several weeks since a new article has been posted on this site. Since then, Jimmy Rollins has called all of the philly faithful front runners, the Phillies were swept in Los Angeles by the Dodgers, the Phillies in turn swept the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park, and the team pulled off one of the most stunning and unlikely wins in recent memory against the hated New York Mets. The Phillies were so motivated by this dramatic come from behind victory that they proceeded to blow the next three games in typical vintage Phillies fashion. All three defeats occurred at the hands of the team's increasingly ineffective bullpen, who have now blown leads in the last three games. To say that this team is consistently inconsistent is the understatement of the year. One minute the team wins five in a row, with one of the wins a seemingly insormountable comeback against their division rivals, then they proceed to blow three of the biggest games of the year. I don't get it, and I'm done trying to figure it out.
So before anyone wants to complain about Charlie Manual's decision to pitch to Carlos Delgado on Wednesday, taking Cole Hammels out of last night's game, or complain how the potential go-ahead run would have scored today if the umpiring crew hadn't called Ryan Howard out at first base, just remember that the Phillies bullpen was considered one of the best (if not the the best) in MLB until a week ago. And as for today, Chase Utley (who clearly has a free pass in this town) was called safe at first on the potential ending inning double play prior to Howard's at bat. Also make note that the Phillies, despite being able to finally figure out new Cubs starter Rich Harden, characteristically left ten runners on base in this afternoon's contest. If Major League Baseball presented yearly awards concerning the aforementioned category, then the Philadelphia Phillies would have more championship hardware than the New York Yankees. And that is a lot of hardware.
Meanwhile, just when it seemed that the Phillies wouldn't lose any ground to the Mets in the standings, the philly fans get the traditional double whammy when Carlos Beltran launched a dramatic two out, ninth inning grand slam to pull out a stunning 5-4 victory over the Marlins tonight in Miami.
So just like that, what was once a half game lead after Tuesday night's 13 inning marathon has now turned into a 2 game deficit in the National League East. Whether it is securing the division lead, or holding an eight inning lead, the Phillies once again show their inability to put teams away when it counts the most. Tuesday's thriller should have made every Phillie on that team feel invincible, that this division truly belongs to them and they were never going to relinquish the division lead from this point on. A win Wednesday could have made it very tough for the Mets to regain first place. Two wins against the best team in baseball would have further proven this. Yes it's true that a two game defecit is much easier to take than last year's seven game defecit at an even later point in the season, but if it's not obvious by this point, take close notice that the New York Mets are now playing the roll of the 2007 Phillies, and the 2008 Phillies may be headed for the roll of last year's Mets.
It may sound crazy, but one must take note some glaring similarities: at one point last June, the Mets had a three and a half game lead on the Phillies. In June of 2008,the Phillies had a three and a half game lead on the Mets. The Mets are without the services of their closer for an extended period of time this season and their bullpen is in shambles. Last season, the Phillies were without their closer for several months, and until the arrival of J.C. Romero, their bullpen was in shambles. When the Mets' position players weren't hitting, they were saved by their resurgent left fielder. The same can be said last year for Pat Burrell, whose dynamic second half energized the Phillies. The Mets have won every important game against the Phillies in 2008. Despite several heartbreaking losses that would have sent many teams into a tragic downward spiral, the Mets seem to come back from these losses even stronger with dramatic, late-inning, come from behind victories. In 2007, the Phillies seemed to be left for dead by the Mets in early July, until they turned a corner with a vevy of improbable victories when it seemed that all hope was lost. Last summer, the Phillies got confident. This year, the Mets are getting confident. This is shown every time Carlos Delgado pumps his fist in triumph after another unlikely Mets victory. At the same time, we are all reminded of Delgado's refusal to stand during our National Anthem. Let's try to see him make $120 million in any other country, but I digress.
At the present time, the Phillies may still have a chance to win this division. In all likelihood however, any team who wins the NL East will probably have a short stay in the October playoffs. Before people send me emails citing the 2006 Cardinals as the exception to the rule, I offer this observation: for every 2006 Cardinals, 1988 Dodgers, or even the 2003 Marlins, there are decades of 1984-ish Tigers, 1998-ish Yankees, or 2007-ish Red Sox that seek and destroy their opponents. If you don't appreciate the analogy, at least admire the Metallica reference. Simply put, things like that do not happen in Philadelphia. This is spoken from a true fan like everybody reading this. Trust me on this one, there is a difference between having faith in your team, and being a homer. Don't be the latter. Nobody on this planet wants to see this team win a World Series more than yours truly, but you will only set yourself up again for more heartache at the expense of an ownership who are counting their money while you are crying in your beer.
In the end, if I were a betting man, one should put their money on the team that looks and acts like winners despite all of their shortcomings. That was last years Phillies team. Sometimes, drive and a will to win can compensate for a lot of things. And right now, that team is not the Phillies. I hope I'm wrong on this one. To paraphrase the late, great John Belushi from Animal House: "What the $%@# happened to the Phillies that I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh?"
Meet the new boss. NOT the same as the old boss.
So before anyone wants to complain about Charlie Manual's decision to pitch to Carlos Delgado on Wednesday, taking Cole Hammels out of last night's game, or complain how the potential go-ahead run would have scored today if the umpiring crew hadn't called Ryan Howard out at first base, just remember that the Phillies bullpen was considered one of the best (if not the the best) in MLB until a week ago. And as for today, Chase Utley (who clearly has a free pass in this town) was called safe at first on the potential ending inning double play prior to Howard's at bat. Also make note that the Phillies, despite being able to finally figure out new Cubs starter Rich Harden, characteristically left ten runners on base in this afternoon's contest. If Major League Baseball presented yearly awards concerning the aforementioned category, then the Philadelphia Phillies would have more championship hardware than the New York Yankees. And that is a lot of hardware.
Meanwhile, just when it seemed that the Phillies wouldn't lose any ground to the Mets in the standings, the philly fans get the traditional double whammy when Carlos Beltran launched a dramatic two out, ninth inning grand slam to pull out a stunning 5-4 victory over the Marlins tonight in Miami.
So just like that, what was once a half game lead after Tuesday night's 13 inning marathon has now turned into a 2 game deficit in the National League East. Whether it is securing the division lead, or holding an eight inning lead, the Phillies once again show their inability to put teams away when it counts the most. Tuesday's thriller should have made every Phillie on that team feel invincible, that this division truly belongs to them and they were never going to relinquish the division lead from this point on. A win Wednesday could have made it very tough for the Mets to regain first place. Two wins against the best team in baseball would have further proven this. Yes it's true that a two game defecit is much easier to take than last year's seven game defecit at an even later point in the season, but if it's not obvious by this point, take close notice that the New York Mets are now playing the roll of the 2007 Phillies, and the 2008 Phillies may be headed for the roll of last year's Mets.
It may sound crazy, but one must take note some glaring similarities: at one point last June, the Mets had a three and a half game lead on the Phillies. In June of 2008,the Phillies had a three and a half game lead on the Mets. The Mets are without the services of their closer for an extended period of time this season and their bullpen is in shambles. Last season, the Phillies were without their closer for several months, and until the arrival of J.C. Romero, their bullpen was in shambles. When the Mets' position players weren't hitting, they were saved by their resurgent left fielder. The same can be said last year for Pat Burrell, whose dynamic second half energized the Phillies. The Mets have won every important game against the Phillies in 2008. Despite several heartbreaking losses that would have sent many teams into a tragic downward spiral, the Mets seem to come back from these losses even stronger with dramatic, late-inning, come from behind victories. In 2007, the Phillies seemed to be left for dead by the Mets in early July, until they turned a corner with a vevy of improbable victories when it seemed that all hope was lost. Last summer, the Phillies got confident. This year, the Mets are getting confident. This is shown every time Carlos Delgado pumps his fist in triumph after another unlikely Mets victory. At the same time, we are all reminded of Delgado's refusal to stand during our National Anthem. Let's try to see him make $120 million in any other country, but I digress.
At the present time, the Phillies may still have a chance to win this division. In all likelihood however, any team who wins the NL East will probably have a short stay in the October playoffs. Before people send me emails citing the 2006 Cardinals as the exception to the rule, I offer this observation: for every 2006 Cardinals, 1988 Dodgers, or even the 2003 Marlins, there are decades of 1984-ish Tigers, 1998-ish Yankees, or 2007-ish Red Sox that seek and destroy their opponents. If you don't appreciate the analogy, at least admire the Metallica reference. Simply put, things like that do not happen in Philadelphia. This is spoken from a true fan like everybody reading this. Trust me on this one, there is a difference between having faith in your team, and being a homer. Don't be the latter. Nobody on this planet wants to see this team win a World Series more than yours truly, but you will only set yourself up again for more heartache at the expense of an ownership who are counting their money while you are crying in your beer.
In the end, if I were a betting man, one should put their money on the team that looks and acts like winners despite all of their shortcomings. That was last years Phillies team. Sometimes, drive and a will to win can compensate for a lot of things. And right now, that team is not the Phillies. I hope I'm wrong on this one. To paraphrase the late, great John Belushi from Animal House: "What the $%@# happened to the Phillies that I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh?"
Meet the new boss. NOT the same as the old boss.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Philly fans no longer fooled.....almost.
If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Big series for the fightin' Phils. If they take two out of three, they'll be in good shape. Well guess what? The result this time is no different. Having just dropped two out of three at home in one of the biggest series of the year to the Marlins in front of the biggest home crowd of the season, the Phillies once again came up short. A win today would not have exactly eliminated Florida from playoff contention. There are still two long months left in the season, but it definitely would have put the club on the ropes. The Phillies, despite remaining in first place for all but a few days of this summer, have time and time again failed to put away opponents when it has truly mattered. As a result, this division remains wide open with the Mets having won today as well. In the end, the Phillies may still win this division, but just expect a repeat of last years NLDS. Just getting to the playoffs gives you more of a chance to win than you are at home watching the games on the couch, but you can count the underdog champion story lines on one hand during the last 15 years.
The other night, one of the local radio talk show hosts presented callers with the question as to why Philadelphia fans have not rallied around this Phillies team? Despite 36 sellouts in 56 home games this season, the basic consensus form the general public is not one of strong faith regarding the Phillies chances to do anything past the first round of the playoffs. Why is this? I'll tell you why: This team is as maddening as hell. The failure once again to land an impact player at the deadline just further reassures fans that the Phillies brass may want to win, but on their terms (which everyone knows will never work). Yours truly has even sated in the previous article that I will watch the Phillies, but will never get my hopes up for them. Call it cynicism, I call it reality.
The main problem with this team is not their pitching, which is not the 1965 Dodgers staff, but nonetheless is given a raw deal by the "experts." The culprit is the offense, who has more mood swings than a pregnant woman. So inconsistent to the point that whomever our newly appointed puppet (general manager) will be during this winter, he will almost have to shake up this inconsistent lineup to find a righthanded bat who can hit to all fields and doesn't have 130 strikeouts a year. This lineup is way too predictable, full of vanilla hitters with absolutely no plate discipline. Sure the Phillies help opposing pitchers more often than not, but there have been some rumblings that NL scouts have finally found a way to get the Phillies hitters out when it counts.
Then there's the Philadelphia Eagles. It's no secret that the Lehigh camp has not exactly been an attendence magnet this year. No matter how far they jam Lorenzo Booker down our throats, how improved the defense is, or how Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are the second coming of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, Eagles fans are simply fed up with the all talk and no action approach by Joe Banner and "Mr. Lurie" to finally get this team to the top. Eagles fans have been to the tip of the summit: four consecutive NFC Championship Games, and a Superbowl that should have been theirs, regardless of Spygate, Vomitgate, or the total of 26 rushing yards in the game by the offense. Simply put, what Eagles fans feel is a lack of committment coupled by the Brian Westbrook and Lito Sheppard soap opera storylines have finally convinced fans that enough is enough. Have you ever seen more drama surrounding a football team that hasn't won ONE SINGLE CHAMPIONSHIP?! Of course you haven't. Who would have thought the king of controversy, Donovan McNabb, would go through camp unscathed and under the radar. I guess it's Philly, so you should expect the unexpected at all times. On a side note, if Shawn Andrews is indeed not well, I wish him luck and hope he gets the help he needs.
Well that's about it with the two teams in town whose ownership "always knows what they are doing", yet the results are still the same year after year. One team consisting of total jackasses, the other team who went from The Gold Standard to Fools Gold. Let's be optimistic however, the two teams most likely to win titles in this town will be starting soon. And you know what, those owners are actually tolerable. Instead of selling a bill of goods, they usually deliver the goods. And though sometimes it might not work out, they don't try and fool you: they leave that to the other guys.
On a side note, when Lurie takes some of his Eagles players to the NBA Finals games aboard his private jet, do you ever wonder if any of those guys after a few cocktails says "Jeff, we really appreciate you doing this for us, but when the heck are you going to get us that wide receiver?!!!!"
The other night, one of the local radio talk show hosts presented callers with the question as to why Philadelphia fans have not rallied around this Phillies team? Despite 36 sellouts in 56 home games this season, the basic consensus form the general public is not one of strong faith regarding the Phillies chances to do anything past the first round of the playoffs. Why is this? I'll tell you why: This team is as maddening as hell. The failure once again to land an impact player at the deadline just further reassures fans that the Phillies brass may want to win, but on their terms (which everyone knows will never work). Yours truly has even sated in the previous article that I will watch the Phillies, but will never get my hopes up for them. Call it cynicism, I call it reality.
The main problem with this team is not their pitching, which is not the 1965 Dodgers staff, but nonetheless is given a raw deal by the "experts." The culprit is the offense, who has more mood swings than a pregnant woman. So inconsistent to the point that whomever our newly appointed puppet (general manager) will be during this winter, he will almost have to shake up this inconsistent lineup to find a righthanded bat who can hit to all fields and doesn't have 130 strikeouts a year. This lineup is way too predictable, full of vanilla hitters with absolutely no plate discipline. Sure the Phillies help opposing pitchers more often than not, but there have been some rumblings that NL scouts have finally found a way to get the Phillies hitters out when it counts.
Then there's the Philadelphia Eagles. It's no secret that the Lehigh camp has not exactly been an attendence magnet this year. No matter how far they jam Lorenzo Booker down our throats, how improved the defense is, or how Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are the second coming of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, Eagles fans are simply fed up with the all talk and no action approach by Joe Banner and "Mr. Lurie" to finally get this team to the top. Eagles fans have been to the tip of the summit: four consecutive NFC Championship Games, and a Superbowl that should have been theirs, regardless of Spygate, Vomitgate, or the total of 26 rushing yards in the game by the offense. Simply put, what Eagles fans feel is a lack of committment coupled by the Brian Westbrook and Lito Sheppard soap opera storylines have finally convinced fans that enough is enough. Have you ever seen more drama surrounding a football team that hasn't won ONE SINGLE CHAMPIONSHIP?! Of course you haven't. Who would have thought the king of controversy, Donovan McNabb, would go through camp unscathed and under the radar. I guess it's Philly, so you should expect the unexpected at all times. On a side note, if Shawn Andrews is indeed not well, I wish him luck and hope he gets the help he needs.
Well that's about it with the two teams in town whose ownership "always knows what they are doing", yet the results are still the same year after year. One team consisting of total jackasses, the other team who went from The Gold Standard to Fools Gold. Let's be optimistic however, the two teams most likely to win titles in this town will be starting soon. And you know what, those owners are actually tolerable. Instead of selling a bill of goods, they usually deliver the goods. And though sometimes it might not work out, they don't try and fool you: they leave that to the other guys.
On a side note, when Lurie takes some of his Eagles players to the NBA Finals games aboard his private jet, do you ever wonder if any of those guys after a few cocktails says "Jeff, we really appreciate you doing this for us, but when the heck are you going to get us that wide receiver?!!!!"
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Phils World Series hopes most likely washed away
This one hurts. Bad. Much more than usual. You know the feeling all too well. That punch in the gut that usually occurs near the end of September of every baseball season when the Phillies playoff hopes are once again nothing but the faint hopes of the Delaware Valley faithful. Oddly enough, Phillies fans were thankfully spared from those feelings last fall, although they were only preempted by a week or so after game three of the 2007 NLDS.
Unfortunately, the same feeling that this town knows all too well returned this year a little earlier than expected: around 9:00pm this evening to be exact. That is when the Milwaukee Brewers(?) had reached a tentative deal (all this means is that the paperwork has not been signed) to acquire the coveted C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians and two lower-level minor leaguers for a package that includes top prospect Matt LaPorta and other minor leaguers. Right then, at that precise moment, the World Series dreams of the Philadelphia Phillies were in all likelihood washed away for the 2008 season. However, before I dive completely head first into the Sabathia sweepstakes leading up to today's trade, the current state of the team must be evaluated.
To say it has been a week of mixed emotions for the Philadelphia Phillies is a vast understatement. After starting the week sweeping the floundering Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, the Phillies came home Friday only to see their "phantom offense" vanish yet again. Since their 20 run outburst in St. Louis on June 13th, the Phillies have scored only 48 runs. While their starting pitching has been solid, the bullpen has now lost two games in a row and may finally be showing signs of exhaustion. With only one left handed reliever in the bullpen, J.C. Romero is clearly getting exposed, and let's not even discuss Tom Gordon because frankly, the punchline is getting old. The same can be said for Brett Myers, whose start at AAA Lehigh last week was ANYTHING but encouraging, it was more embarrassing. That's why it is most likely no coincidence that the Phillies signed All-Star closer Brad Lidge today to a reported 3-year, $37 million dollar deal, and that Myers name had been reported in trade rumors involving Sabathia as recently as last week. Lidge's signing means two things:
1. He is the Phillies closer for the next three years, a role which Myers clearly coveted, and 2. Myers better learn how to become a starter again and FAST because the Phillies are not paying him $12 million to be a setup man despite Gordon's shoulder issues.
Then there is today's near three hour rain delay that culminated with the Phils losing a heart breaker to the hated Mets 4-2 at Citizens Bank Park. Is it just me, or did everyone know that Ryan Howard would go down on three strikes once play resumed? Howard is indeed an enigma: One minute looking like a sure fire superstar, the next minute looking like he has NEVER seen a major league pitch in his life. Which one will show up? Your guess is as good as anybody's. You have to love the clutch hitting of outfielder Jason Werth, who tied the game at 2-2 with a dramtic two out, two strike home run when all hope seemed lost (off of Billy Wagner too,I might add), but you would love the team even more if Carlos Ruiz rediscovered how to hit a fastball that possibly could have won them the game in the bottom of the tenth inning. Ruiz, who played so well last year and was the Phillies leading hitter in the NLDS, has Howard's batting average, but about fifty five less runs batted in. Ruiz's lackluster performance this season ruins any chance of the Phillies dealing catching prospect Lou Marson to any contending teams for pitching or any other need that the Phillies look to improve on by the trade deadline. Free agents Geoff Jenkins and So Tagucchi have been major disappointments. And to completely end the weekend on a sour note, it is looking more and more like Pat Burrell won't make the cut for his first All-Star game appearance. The numbers don't lie: Burrell is leading all NL outfielders in home runs and rbi (and no, I'm not just saying this to sell some shirts- Pat Gillick really should make an effort to sign Burrell before this season ends). Sure, C.C. Sabathia can't cure all of the Phillies woes, but good pitching always trumps good hitting, and the Phillies offense could actually breathe for a minute with a horse like Sabathia on the mound as opposed to being in a 5-0 hole before the bats even step to the plate. That's why the Angels will probably win the World Series if they acquire Matt Holliday from Colorado. Their offense is not as good as the Phillies, but their pitching makes the current Phillies starters look like the starting five of the 1989 squad (you wouldn't remember the names even if I mentioned them). Watching this team is almost like watching those awesome Eagles teams of the early 2000's: you knew they would make the playoffs, but their glaring weaknesses would come back to haunt them once they got there.
Although the Phillies have holes, and they were documented in a pretty convincing manner in the last paragraph, they probably are going to win the NL East again barring a major collapse. Florida, while remaining competitive in a horrendous National League, is not a division winning team. The Mets have won two straight in our own backyard, but zebras never change their stripes. Once they start losing again, it's going to be every rat for himself aboard that sinking ship that they call a baseball team. Atlanta is decimated, with Jeff Bennett and Manny Acosta joining the already crowded disabled list that the 4077 couldn't even nurse back to health, and Washington is well.......Washington.
The playoffs, well that's another story. Just look at these possible scenarios in the first round of the NLDS: Game 1: Hammels vs. Zambrano. Game 2: Myers (Hail Mary, full of grace!) vs. Dempster. If that's not painful enough, let's go to Milwaukee: Game 1. Hammels vs. Sabathia. Game 2: Myers (Our Father, who art in heaven!) vs. Sheets. I would rather ride the X2 at Six Flags about 60 times than encounter these match ups. In layman's terms: this would be downright terrifying. Also lost here in the mix is the legacy of Phillies GM Pat Gillick. Gillick, who by all accounts will be leaving the Phillies at the end of the 2008 baseball season, was desperately trying to land Sabathia and deservedly so. Not only for the team, but so he can go out a winner. Despite this loss, Gillick will still do his best to land another starter before July 31st. Truth be told, there maybe nobody really worth getting. Do you really want to trade with our old buddy Ed Wade for Roy Oswalt and his bum hip? That truly has Freddy Garcia part two written all over it. A.J. Burnett has been on the disabled list more than he's actually pitched, we've already "experienced" Paul Byrd, Randy Wolf knows Citizens Bank Park but has never pitched a playoff game, and Greg Maddux is just a Mickey Morandini line drive off his shin from adding another loss to his 11-14 career postseason record.
Lost in the shuffle is the fact that Sabathia's arrival makes the Milwaukee Brewers legitimate World Series contenders since the days of Harvey's Wallbangers! Back then, John Mellencamp was known as John Cougar, Moses Malone was still on the Houston Rockets, Laverne and Shirley was still on prime time, Robin Williams was simply known as Mork, and Snoopy's Snow Cone Machine was all the rage! You get the point. Despite these useless bits of pop culture knowledge used to express my point of view, it doesn't erase the fact that for some reason, it is remarkably annoying that the Brewers were the ones to land Sabathia. The team hasn't sniffed first place all year, and only recently have they started to show any signs of productivity. There was even talk of manager Ned Yost losing his job in June. This is a team whose market was so small that it couldn't even resign lifelong Brewer Paul Molitor after the 1992 season. Molitor went on to Toronto and promptly became the World Series MVP for a team who beat this other team who really should have won that World Series, but that's neither here nor there. The chances of the Brewers knocking the Cardinals out of the NL Wild Card went from decent to excellent. I will even go as far as to say that the Brewers could seriously give most AL teams a run for their money if they represent the National League in this year's fall classic. Of course if it's not the Cubs year...........
So as the early morning comes upon us, I end this article with overall numbness and a feeling of missed opportunity. It's a feeling that Phillies fans are too familiar with, but this one really stings and probably will for years to come. You really thought things were going to be different this year. With the exception of the World Series years of 1983 and 1993, this is probably the year that the Phillies can actually win a World Series if everything falls into place. Now it makes things a little harder if not near impossible. The worst part about all of this is, you can't even blame ownership for this one. There is nobody to really vent our frustrations to. Montgomery and Co. actually shelled out quite a bit of money today. To top it off, they were in serious contention to try and make things happen and publicly made no bones about it. Baseball insiders don't lie: the Phillies were in this thing until the very end. That's what makes this hurt even more. They one year they seemingly want to bring home a winner, they still can't get things done. And despite their presumptuous hard efforts (I can't believe I'm actually writing that about the ownership, or whoever gives Gillick the green light to do what he does), the results will probably be the same as the last 28 October's in this cursed town: no World Series trophy. Not to completely be the voice of doom and gloom, anything can happen in the playoffs(see 2006 Cardinals), and a few breaks here and there can be the difference in a crucial win or a heartbreaking loss no matter how good or bad your team is. C.C. Sabathia doesn't guarantee any team a World Series ring, but it would have put the Phillies a hell of a lot closer to where they wanna go as opposed to where they will most likely wind up. I will still follow the Phillies every game until whenever their curtain falls this year, but part of the fun is indeed gone. And one has to get the feeling that yet another missed opportunity for the greatest nucleus in the club's history along with their fans has to wait for (REPEAT AFTER ME) another year. Yeah, this one's gonna hurt for a long time.
And you can't even take it out on ownership.
Unfortunately, the same feeling that this town knows all too well returned this year a little earlier than expected: around 9:00pm this evening to be exact. That is when the Milwaukee Brewers(?) had reached a tentative deal (all this means is that the paperwork has not been signed) to acquire the coveted C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians and two lower-level minor leaguers for a package that includes top prospect Matt LaPorta and other minor leaguers. Right then, at that precise moment, the World Series dreams of the Philadelphia Phillies were in all likelihood washed away for the 2008 season. However, before I dive completely head first into the Sabathia sweepstakes leading up to today's trade, the current state of the team must be evaluated.
To say it has been a week of mixed emotions for the Philadelphia Phillies is a vast understatement. After starting the week sweeping the floundering Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, the Phillies came home Friday only to see their "phantom offense" vanish yet again. Since their 20 run outburst in St. Louis on June 13th, the Phillies have scored only 48 runs. While their starting pitching has been solid, the bullpen has now lost two games in a row and may finally be showing signs of exhaustion. With only one left handed reliever in the bullpen, J.C. Romero is clearly getting exposed, and let's not even discuss Tom Gordon because frankly, the punchline is getting old. The same can be said for Brett Myers, whose start at AAA Lehigh last week was ANYTHING but encouraging, it was more embarrassing. That's why it is most likely no coincidence that the Phillies signed All-Star closer Brad Lidge today to a reported 3-year, $37 million dollar deal, and that Myers name had been reported in trade rumors involving Sabathia as recently as last week. Lidge's signing means two things:
1. He is the Phillies closer for the next three years, a role which Myers clearly coveted, and 2. Myers better learn how to become a starter again and FAST because the Phillies are not paying him $12 million to be a setup man despite Gordon's shoulder issues.
Then there is today's near three hour rain delay that culminated with the Phils losing a heart breaker to the hated Mets 4-2 at Citizens Bank Park. Is it just me, or did everyone know that Ryan Howard would go down on three strikes once play resumed? Howard is indeed an enigma: One minute looking like a sure fire superstar, the next minute looking like he has NEVER seen a major league pitch in his life. Which one will show up? Your guess is as good as anybody's. You have to love the clutch hitting of outfielder Jason Werth, who tied the game at 2-2 with a dramtic two out, two strike home run when all hope seemed lost (off of Billy Wagner too,I might add), but you would love the team even more if Carlos Ruiz rediscovered how to hit a fastball that possibly could have won them the game in the bottom of the tenth inning. Ruiz, who played so well last year and was the Phillies leading hitter in the NLDS, has Howard's batting average, but about fifty five less runs batted in. Ruiz's lackluster performance this season ruins any chance of the Phillies dealing catching prospect Lou Marson to any contending teams for pitching or any other need that the Phillies look to improve on by the trade deadline. Free agents Geoff Jenkins and So Tagucchi have been major disappointments. And to completely end the weekend on a sour note, it is looking more and more like Pat Burrell won't make the cut for his first All-Star game appearance. The numbers don't lie: Burrell is leading all NL outfielders in home runs and rbi (and no, I'm not just saying this to sell some shirts- Pat Gillick really should make an effort to sign Burrell before this season ends). Sure, C.C. Sabathia can't cure all of the Phillies woes, but good pitching always trumps good hitting, and the Phillies offense could actually breathe for a minute with a horse like Sabathia on the mound as opposed to being in a 5-0 hole before the bats even step to the plate. That's why the Angels will probably win the World Series if they acquire Matt Holliday from Colorado. Their offense is not as good as the Phillies, but their pitching makes the current Phillies starters look like the starting five of the 1989 squad (you wouldn't remember the names even if I mentioned them). Watching this team is almost like watching those awesome Eagles teams of the early 2000's: you knew they would make the playoffs, but their glaring weaknesses would come back to haunt them once they got there.
Although the Phillies have holes, and they were documented in a pretty convincing manner in the last paragraph, they probably are going to win the NL East again barring a major collapse. Florida, while remaining competitive in a horrendous National League, is not a division winning team. The Mets have won two straight in our own backyard, but zebras never change their stripes. Once they start losing again, it's going to be every rat for himself aboard that sinking ship that they call a baseball team. Atlanta is decimated, with Jeff Bennett and Manny Acosta joining the already crowded disabled list that the 4077 couldn't even nurse back to health, and Washington is well.......Washington.
The playoffs, well that's another story. Just look at these possible scenarios in the first round of the NLDS: Game 1: Hammels vs. Zambrano. Game 2: Myers (Hail Mary, full of grace!) vs. Dempster. If that's not painful enough, let's go to Milwaukee: Game 1. Hammels vs. Sabathia. Game 2: Myers (Our Father, who art in heaven!) vs. Sheets. I would rather ride the X2 at Six Flags about 60 times than encounter these match ups. In layman's terms: this would be downright terrifying. Also lost here in the mix is the legacy of Phillies GM Pat Gillick. Gillick, who by all accounts will be leaving the Phillies at the end of the 2008 baseball season, was desperately trying to land Sabathia and deservedly so. Not only for the team, but so he can go out a winner. Despite this loss, Gillick will still do his best to land another starter before July 31st. Truth be told, there maybe nobody really worth getting. Do you really want to trade with our old buddy Ed Wade for Roy Oswalt and his bum hip? That truly has Freddy Garcia part two written all over it. A.J. Burnett has been on the disabled list more than he's actually pitched, we've already "experienced" Paul Byrd, Randy Wolf knows Citizens Bank Park but has never pitched a playoff game, and Greg Maddux is just a Mickey Morandini line drive off his shin from adding another loss to his 11-14 career postseason record.
Lost in the shuffle is the fact that Sabathia's arrival makes the Milwaukee Brewers legitimate World Series contenders since the days of Harvey's Wallbangers! Back then, John Mellencamp was known as John Cougar, Moses Malone was still on the Houston Rockets, Laverne and Shirley was still on prime time, Robin Williams was simply known as Mork, and Snoopy's Snow Cone Machine was all the rage! You get the point. Despite these useless bits of pop culture knowledge used to express my point of view, it doesn't erase the fact that for some reason, it is remarkably annoying that the Brewers were the ones to land Sabathia. The team hasn't sniffed first place all year, and only recently have they started to show any signs of productivity. There was even talk of manager Ned Yost losing his job in June. This is a team whose market was so small that it couldn't even resign lifelong Brewer Paul Molitor after the 1992 season. Molitor went on to Toronto and promptly became the World Series MVP for a team who beat this other team who really should have won that World Series, but that's neither here nor there. The chances of the Brewers knocking the Cardinals out of the NL Wild Card went from decent to excellent. I will even go as far as to say that the Brewers could seriously give most AL teams a run for their money if they represent the National League in this year's fall classic. Of course if it's not the Cubs year...........
So as the early morning comes upon us, I end this article with overall numbness and a feeling of missed opportunity. It's a feeling that Phillies fans are too familiar with, but this one really stings and probably will for years to come. You really thought things were going to be different this year. With the exception of the World Series years of 1983 and 1993, this is probably the year that the Phillies can actually win a World Series if everything falls into place. Now it makes things a little harder if not near impossible. The worst part about all of this is, you can't even blame ownership for this one. There is nobody to really vent our frustrations to. Montgomery and Co. actually shelled out quite a bit of money today. To top it off, they were in serious contention to try and make things happen and publicly made no bones about it. Baseball insiders don't lie: the Phillies were in this thing until the very end. That's what makes this hurt even more. They one year they seemingly want to bring home a winner, they still can't get things done. And despite their presumptuous hard efforts (I can't believe I'm actually writing that about the ownership, or whoever gives Gillick the green light to do what he does), the results will probably be the same as the last 28 October's in this cursed town: no World Series trophy. Not to completely be the voice of doom and gloom, anything can happen in the playoffs(see 2006 Cardinals), and a few breaks here and there can be the difference in a crucial win or a heartbreaking loss no matter how good or bad your team is. C.C. Sabathia doesn't guarantee any team a World Series ring, but it would have put the Phillies a hell of a lot closer to where they wanna go as opposed to where they will most likely wind up. I will still follow the Phillies every game until whenever their curtain falls this year, but part of the fun is indeed gone. And one has to get the feeling that yet another missed opportunity for the greatest nucleus in the club's history along with their fans has to wait for (REPEAT AFTER ME) another year. Yeah, this one's gonna hurt for a long time.
And you can't even take it out on ownership.
Monday, June 30, 2008
What is up with Florida baseball teams?! This better NOT be 2003 all over again!
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.
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.
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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