Early Observations

The Phils have played 9 games, just over 5% of the season, so we really can’t take anything we have seen in the first 3 series as if its set in stone. Having said that, I will share some of my observations and thoughts through the first part of the schedule.

My Highlight: I was on vacation in Jamaica from Friday to Tuesday. I knew Cliff Lee was on the mound the day I got back and the Phils were struggling. I thought, what better way to welcome myself back to America then to take in a ball game at the Bank? Not to mention it was Dollar Dog Night. I walked in with my two buddies as John Mayberry stroked a 2 run double. Within the next half hour I was standing in left field to watch Ryan Howard’s first home run of the season land in front of me, Michael Young go back-to-back with Howard for an oppo bomb, and Mayberry lace a rocket over the fence in the left field corner all in the span of 7 pithces.. Cliff never looked back.

My Lowlight: Anything and everything having to do with Doc Halladay. I conducted a live running diary of his first start of the season and ugly would have been one of the nicest adjectives you could use to describe that outing. His second start came on national television and I was able to catch some of it in Jamaica. What is his deal out there? I understand he’s struggling but I’ve never seen some one look so anguished, sweaty, and just basically showing his untimely demise written all over his face all at once. Like I said earlier, nothing is set in stone, but here are Doc’s stats so far this season.

Starts: 2

Innings Pitched: 7 1/3

Earned Runs: 12

HR: 3

BB: 6

K: 12

WHIP: 2.45

ERA: 14.73

W-L: 0-2

Every one of those numbers, except for the strikeouts, is ghastly. The chances of Halladay ever being the dominant force he once was are slim and none. At this point he needs to start finding the strike zone with much more frequency and basically just play through a serious transition in skill to be at the very minimum a 6 inning 3 run kind of guy.

Cole Hamels: Still pending, but just an abhorrent start. Makes me sick just thinking about how bad he has been.

Cliff Lee: See Hamels, but the exact opposite.

Ryan Howard: It took him 31 plate appearances to get an extra base hit. He looks just as clueless as ever/as he always has on more than a few pitches. Shaky would be a generous word to describe his fielding. He swung a decent bat in spring training against lefties but check out his stats versus the endless string of lefties he sees towards the end of games.

AB: 12

H: 0

AVG: 0

Ks: 7

BB: 1

RBI: 1

OB: .077

OPS: .077

Insert the Nelson “HA-HA” laugh from The Simpsons, but only if you’re not a Phillies fan.

He is a notoriously slow starter, but this is a discouraging start nevertheless.

Chase Utley: See Howard, but the exact opposite.

Michael Young: We may have a ballplayer on our hands here. I never knew a ton about Mike Young while he played for the Rangers other than that he put up 200 hit season after 200 hit season. Well 200 hit seasons are not something to be taken for granted. Utley and Jimmy Rollins have each done it once and no one else on the Phils roster has accomplished the feat. Young has done it 6 times. He had a down year last year but through 9 games he’s showing some of the brilliance he’s capable of at the plate spraying the ball around the diamond and showing some pop as well.

Larry Andersen: As irreverent and possibly drunk as ever. I love it.

The Phils take on the Miami Marlins this weekend and should have a decent shot to win their second series in a row. The Marlins have been shut out 4 times in their first 9 games and are basically fielding a minor league team full of has-beens and never-will-bes except for Giancarlo “Don’t Call Me Mike” Stanton. John Lannan will make his second start Friday night and Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay should be able to see a lineup that can put them back on track.

The Phils are 4-5 through 9 games and have received close to the worst pitching they could possibly muster. Even after allowing 6 runs (5 earned) over the last two games, they still have a 6.04 ERA, worst in Major League Baseball by nearly half a run. Things could be worse without a doubt, but as I alluded to many times in my season preview entries, at least it has been interesting.