The TV and radio sponsors for the Phillies should have an adjustable "late-inning rate" because lately this team has been tough to watch after the sixth inning.
In four of their last five losses, they have allowed 10 or more runs.
Last night proved to be one of those nights. The Phillies allowed a season-high eight runs in the sixth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field. Jon Lieber took the loss, and has allowed a five-run inning in four of his last five starts.
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Lieber strained his ankle -- strained, not sprained -- in the sixth inning and Charlie Manuel had to go to Mike Zagurski and Yoel Hernandez. They didn't do the job, although Manuel has been accustomed to bullpen problems this season.
The Phillies have used 14 different relievers out of their pen so far.
That's high, no?
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There is a talented position player prospect in the Phillies farm system: Adrian Cardenas. But he has other talents than baseball.
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The Phillies announced today that the late John Vukovich will be inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 10. I had a chance to vote for the winner after fans narrowed the choices to Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, John Kruk and Gene Mauch.
I voted for Vuke.
It looks like everybody else did, too.
The Phillies said Vukovich's wife Bonnie, daughter Nicole Stolarik and son Vince will accept the award.
“I started crying when David [Montgomery] called me,” Bonnie said in the news release. “I called John’s brothers right away and they started crying. I’m so thrilled for John that he’ll be on that wall forever. When the granddaughters are grown, I can take them there and show them their grandfather. That will be so special.”
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Flying to St. Louis in a bit, so I will try to post more later.
Comments (6)
I'm starting to suspect that Gillick/Amaro have written off this season. They really only have Rowand as trade bait unless they raid the farm which is threadbare. They need what everyone else does so that leaves us with bupkus. They dump Charlie at end of year, talk about "new beginnings" in '08 with salary relief from Garcia and Leiber's contracts. Montgomery is assured of another profitable year already,so why spend more? Phillies will remain in hunt, despite a little league bullpen, and another opportunity is lost because the ownership/management is inept. Perhaps Mr. Gillick will emerge from the witness protection program long enough to make a few minor trades to protect ticket sales for 2nd half of year. Please Pat, make people like me eat our words.
Posted by jimmy mack | June 21, 2007 9:59 AM
Posted on June 21, 2007 09:59
The comment summed up everything I've been thinking. Maybe they can make a run at Joe Girardi in the off season to manage... oh wait he's going to manage the Orioles. But, I'm sure they didn't wait too long to replace Charlie.
Posted by Josh | June 21, 2007 10:51 AM
Posted on June 21, 2007 10:51
Let's see, we score 16 runs against the Indians and lose 2 games. We averaged 5 runs a game and they averaged 8. I didn't live then but it's starting to feel like 1930 all over again.
Posted by Bill | June 21, 2007 1:05 PM
Posted on June 21, 2007 13:05
I wonder what temporal plane Darren Daulton will be on when he gets inducted into the Wall of Fame?
Posted by Civil Negligence | June 21, 2007 5:41 PM
Posted on June 21, 2007 17:41
Well, maybe we really could go after Joe Giradi after all. :-)
Posted by Josh | June 21, 2007 7:32 PM
Posted on June 21, 2007 19:32
Hope you luggage followed you this time
Posted by jimmy mack | June 22, 2007 9:19 AM
Posted on June 22, 2007 09:19