The Zo Zone

The interesting thing about the Phillies is that their strength in pitching -- the rotation -- has been just as bad as the bullpen. In fact, it's been an even bigger disappointment. Nobody expected much from the bullpen in the first place because the Phillies, despite the front office stressing numerous times that it needed to upgrade it and Charlie Manuel begging for help, did nothing significant to improve it.

So everybody knew it could be a pitfall.

But at least the Phillies had their rotation, right?

A rotation that included Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Freddy Garcia, Adam Eaton and Jamie Moyer. That's how everybody expected Manuel to line up his rotation for the season. But then Garcia opened the season on the disabled list. And after it became clear that Tom Gordon wasn't the Flash of old, they moved Myers into the bullpen and returned Jon Lieber -- who made it clear he wanted no part of the bullpen -- to the rotation. Garcia looks like a shadow of his former self. Eaton is up and down. And Lieber started strong, but has looked like Lieber 2006 in his last three starts.

So as the Phillies open a three-game series tonight in New York against the Mets at Shea Stadium, the Phillies rotation is 21-21 with a 4.83 ERA.

4.83 ERA.

Wow.

That's why I'm a bit bored when I hear people continue to rip Manuel and dissect every pitching move he makes. Taking pitchers out too early. Leaving them in too long. Not bringing in a reliever against a certain batter. Not having a pitcher pick up a two-inning save. Letting a pitcher hit in the eighth inning (like Sunday with Ryan Madson). Manuel will continue to look bad because the pitching is bad. That's just a fact. I'm sorry, but even Lou Piniella or Tony La Russa would have no better luck working this pitching staff. (The Cardinals have the only rotation worse than the Phillies.) There are no locks on this pitching staff right now. There are no sure things. Every move comes with Manuel crossing his fingers.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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Bob Ford examines Lieber, who continues to pitch with a chip on his shoulder but without the results to match it.

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If the pitching staff is unfixable, how about moving Aaron Rowand up and Pat Burrell down in the lineup?

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Can't forget that the Phillies lost yesterday to the San Francisco Giants, 8-1.

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Barry Bonds left town quietly. And while the Phillies say they will leave no stone unturned, I doubt they will serioulsy consider recently released Jose Mesa to help their bullpen.

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La Russa is sexy? My Lord. ... So let me get this straight: baseball suspends Lou Piniella four games for kicking dirt on an umpire, but the Braves suspend minor-league manager Phillip Wellman for three games for throwing a faux-grenade at an umpire. Personally, I think the creativity with the rosin bag should force the Braves to reduce the suspension to a game.