OK, so I've said over and over and over and over again that the Phillies pitching staff has been the culprit in this team's wretched 4-11 start and slow climb to .500.
But lately it's been the offense. The Phillies managed just five hits in last night's 5-3 loss to the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium. Jayson Werth hit two homers. Cole Hamels doubled. The Phillies also received infield hits from Aaron Rowand and Chase Utley. But that's it. Five hits, and nothing out of the infield after the third inning. The Phillies had just four hits in Saturday's 13-2 loss to Toronto. They had just three hits in Friday's 5-3 victory over Toronto. They had just six hits in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.
That's a stretch of games where the offense simply has been MIA.
Ryan Howard can't return to the lineup soon enough, assuming his strained left quadriceps has healed and it allows him to swing the bat like he has in the past.
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Marlins lefthander Scott Olsen is just wacky enough to get into a fight. Did you see Utley's eyes after Olsen waved his glove and snapped at him after walking him in the sixth inning? Utley had a smirk on his face, but his eyes said, "Please, please, take one step forward and it's on like Donkey Kong." Believe me, Utley would have been ready to roll. He's not afraid to mix it up.
By the way, I can't remember the last time the Phillies got into a good bench-clearing brawl. I'm talking about a good one, too. Not one of those bench-clearing, stand-around-and-glare-at-each-other moments. I remember there was one in April 2004 against Florida at Citizens Bank Park. I think Josh Beckett put David Bell in a choke hold. That's the same day Tim Worrell punched Joe Kerrigan. But am I missing one since then?
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The Phillies have had four chances to get above .500 this season: opening day and three times in the past week, including last night. They have failed each time. They've got to win tonight to get back to .500 and then hope Jon Lieber can pitch a gem in the series finale Thursday to finally get over. 500.
Mike's Baseball Rants comes up with some interesting numbers about the Phillies' inability to get over that hump.
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Bummer, dude. Tom Jenkins BBQ is closed this week because Tom apparently is on a family vacation. But the silver lining is this: while the Jenk is closed this week, The Vortex certainly will be open this weekend in Atlanta. Don't let the Web site fool you (or scare you). This place has some of the best burgers you'll ever have.
Comments (3)
Hey Todd...I'm a faithful reader of the blog and a huge Phils fan living in Atlanta. Love the fact that you gave the Vortex some love. I live near there and that place has great burgers but they're not even the best in Atlanta. Check out the end of this article: The Best Burger. Enjoy your weekend here in the ATL.
Posted by Ryan | May 23, 2007 9:37 AM
Posted on May 23, 2007 09:37
Tim Worrell punched Joe Kerrigan?
Was Kerrigan just around to make the players feel better about Bowa, or what...?
As for Olsen, you'd think the Phillies would at least appear more motivated to beat a guy who's not only had the history he's had against them, but then twice went ahead with that hothead act with Utley. I suppose no team plays night in and night out with the same intensity, but last night in particular is a great example of why people sense this team goes about its business with little sense of urgency - until it's too late.
Posted by David | May 23, 2007 1:06 PM
Posted on May 23, 2007 13:06
Hey Todd, can you expand on Beckett trying to choke David Bell and on Worrell punching his own pitching coach?
I'm surprised Beckett didn't get a key to the city for choking David Bell.
Posted by Nick | May 23, 2007 6:14 PM
Posted on May 23, 2007 18:14