It's hard to put it into words right now.
The Phils scored 11 runs in the first 3 innings of the break and have scored 10 in the last 42.
But right now, who really cares what the actual stats are? What matters most is the results in the win loss column and the Phils haven't hung up a W in 6 days. That's an eternity of losing when you're in as precarious a position as the Phillies are right now. They are riding a 4 game losing streak and attempting to avoid a sweep at the hands of what looks like the best team in the NL, the St. Louis Cardinals.
It's one thing to lose 4 games in a row when every game you play is basically "the biggest game of the year" but to lose them in the fashion the Phils have lost them is the most discouraging part.
Saturday's game started with a leadoff home run from Jimmy Rollins in the top of the first. Then Cole Hamels took the mound and looked like he forgot how to throw a strike. He got hurt by a few bloops in the first, but the guy making $19.5 million this year with $120+ million left on his deal needed to come out and shut down a team like the Mets even if it was 100 degrees Saturday afternoon. He didn't. He gave up 3 runs in the first and the Phils couldn't rally from 3 runs down in the 9th despite a 2 out 2 run home run from Chase Utley.
Phils lose 5-4.
Sunday was the marquee matchup. The two All-Star Pitchers promoted as the Lee-Harvey (Oswald) matchup was supposed to be a pitcher's duel. Harvey held up his part of the bargain. Old Cliff left the ball over the middle of the plate too much for the second start in a row and gave up another 3 gopher balls in that mammoth ballpark in Queens. At one point Cliff had given up 7 home runs in his last 7 innings pitched. Harvey dominated and the Phils looked like borderline little leaguers striking out 10 times. Harvey went 7 scoreless.
Phils lose 5-0.
Monday was a reprieve and a flight to St. Louis.
Tuesday the Phils never really threatened Shelby Miller. Shelby Miller has 10 wins. Shelby Miller?
Phils lose 4-1.
Wednesday all this stuff happened. If gambling were legal the Cards were a safe bet last night.
Phils lose 11-3.
It's hard to imagine that an entire era of dominant Phillies baseball could come down to one week of baseball but that's virtually where we are at as I write an hour or so before Thursday night's game.
This team scored 13 runs in the first game after the break. Then Charlie had Hamels and Lee set up for them to begin a run on the Atlanta Braves, who should be losing ground in the NL East but nobody seems interested in catching them. That didn't even come close to happening and the losses have gotten more pathetic it seems each night.
The doomsday clock I have mentioned is ticking loudly and the team Ruben Amaro constructed is making his job a lot harder than he'd like it to be. The trade deadline is looming less than a week away and Rube will have a lot to think about this weekend.
It's still a hair too early to begin a complete fire sale but it feels like I'll have to talk out of both side of my mouth when explaining that. The fact is the Phils could easily win tonight and then they're back to the Hamels-Lee duo as their road trip continues against Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers in Detroit Rock City. Hopefully those two can earn their paychecks this weekend.
I'll leave you with a glass half full / half empty scenario as we go into what may be the most crucial stretch of baseball Phillies fans could see for a long while. And it's not even August :(
Atlanta has only gained 1 game in the division and have been in a bit of a tailspin as well, so it's nice to see the Braves doing their best to keep pace with the Phils. You can throw the Nats into that mediocre NL East triumvirate as well.
The cynic would say, yeah they're still not out of it but they'd be picking up games just playing .500 ball! Blow this team up!
Man, I don't know what to think. I just wanna have hope.
A blog chronicling the trials and tribulations of the Philadelphia Phillies and other moderately interesting musings.
Some trades might be what's necessary to spark something in the team. It seems like that is missing for the most part this season or flares for a second and then just burns out. They can't seem to keep the rally going. I am sure there are countless therapists out there who could be making a fortune figuring this one out.
ReplyDeleteI was a therapist at one point so I know that eventually you have to do some reality therapy and give up the dreams of childhood, i.e. Spring and early summer 2013, in order to stay sane later in life, i.e. Summer 2013 into February 2014. As recently as a week ago I was still excited about the All Star Break and what could still happen, but it appears I need a new prescription or a lot of cowbell. I am disappointed to hear trade talk hovering over third base as Michael Young has contributed so much this year. Is Cody Asche ready? Maybe. Let's hope they make the right moves when they make the night moves over the next few days.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed to hear that the Phillies are actively pursuing a contract extension with Chase Utley less than one week before the trading deadline. This could not come at a worse time as Ruben should be focused only on what schlop he can unload on teams desperate to buy before the deadline. This team is in DESPERATE need of young legs and talent infusion for the maligned farm system. Cliff Lee and Papelbon have virtually no chance at playing to their outrageous contracts in the next 3 years as they are both past their primes. While Lee has been excellent at times this year he is turning 35 and is bound to run out of steam, not to mention that this team has no chance to contend in its current state in the immediate future. A Chase Utley contract extension during this time would be disastrous. He is another over the hill player who has no chance of being the player he once was due to mileage on his legs and injury history. If they give him 3 years that is 486 games, I would bet my 2016 salary there is no way he will exceed 250 games played under this alleged extension. (Of course I am a degenerate gambler so maybe I just want the action). The status quo for this team has been plugging holes with rent-a-players and praying which we know only leads to holes in different spots. This team in this market should be perennial contenders. The fact that they have gotten to this wretched state is an indictment directly on Ruben Amaro and ownership's blind faith in him. Now that we are clearly at the end of the road we have to strip mine the roster and get back whatever young talent is out here to start over.
ReplyDeleteP.S. THEY SHOULD BE SHOPPING UTLEY DON'T BE SENTIMENTAL MORONS!!!
Utley still looks good when healthy. This is a harsh assessment. When healthy is obviously a gigantic caveat when talking about Chase. My gut (because it appears also to be Ruben's gut) says they sign him and figure something else out to try and get better.
DeleteWe shall see.
This stretch of baseball, and the 6th inning of the game on Sunday in particular, has been the worst the Phillies have played under Charlie Manuel.
ReplyDeleteThey have collapsed to a degree that should not be possible.
Massive changes should be coming, but I have a feeling we won't see as much change as there should be.