You've heard this story before, right?
Phillies appear to be on life support. Sweep the Mets. Everybody gets excited.
Then ...
Thump.
They lose five of their next seven, and seven of their next 13. The Phillies are right back where they started.
But this time the Phillies expect things to be different. They picked up a 10-6 victory over the Mets yesterday at Shea Stadium to complete a three-game sweep, their second sweep of the Mets in as many series. Now they need to finish the season strong. If they can play well in their remaining 13 games, they have a chance to make the postseason for the first time since 1993.
"I don't think there's going to be a lapse this time," Jimmy Rollins said. "Everything is coming down to an end, and we don't have time to take a break."
"That was a different situation," Aaron Rowand said. "We were trying to get back in it. There were a lot of games left. We're getting down to the wire now. I don't think it's an issue right now because of the importance of every game."
Like I've mentioned previously, I'm not convinced the Phillies struggle in times like these because they just can't play well when the pressure is on. I think it simply comes back to their poor pitching. The Phillies generally got good pitching this weekend, especially from the bullpen. The Phillies had a 6.03 ERA in the seven games following their four-game sweep of the Mets at Citizens Bank Park last month.
No wonder they lost.
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The latest Philliescast is up.
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The Phillies are 3 1/2 games behind the Mets in the NL East, but the division remains a long shot. The NL wild card remains the best bet, and the Phillies are two games behind the Padres in the loss column. They have little room for error.
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Jim Salisbury writes about Jimmy Rollins' preseason boast -- not sure if you heard, but he said something about the Phillies being the team to beat -- and how that boast seemed to spark the Phillies and Rollins himself.
Series like this one is making him more and more like the National League MVP.
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The Phillies reshuffled their entire rotation, just so Adam Eaton could face the Mets yesterday. He did not pitch well, but he will finish the season in the rotation. He starts Friday against the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium.
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Tom Gordon tweaked his lower back in the eighth inning yesterday, which could mean trouble. He will see the Cardinals doctor today after visiting the Mets doctor yesterday. Charlie Manuel didn't seem overly concerned, but that means little at this point.
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Pitching match ups for this week's series in St. Louis.
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The Cardinals are playing out the string, so it should be interesting to see how they come out tonight against the Phillies.
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Congratulations to Jim Thome, who hit his 500th career homer yesterday at U.S. Cellular Field.
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Comments (14)
What a weekend! Giants didn't help us out but they tanked last season too so I guess it was to be expected.
We can beat anyone in the playoffs, but we need to get there first.
Who cares about Monday Night Football...I'm hoping for some October baseball.
Posted by Murph | September 17, 2007 9:02 AM
Posted on September 17, 2007 09:02
The Eagles will ALWAYS take a backseat when the Phillies are still mathematically in the race. This series was a great one, but it's time to take care of business and beat the teams the Phils are supposed to beat. It's going to be a fun last two weeks of September.
Posted by V | September 17, 2007 10:31 AM
Posted on September 17, 2007 10:31
Someone please, please explain to me why Eaton stays in the rotation. Pressure from Gillick? Does he have pictures of someone? There is no logical explanation to keep running this guy out there. None. 13 left to play, this guy gets 2 more chances to break any streak we may have going? I don't get it.
Posted by jimmymack | September 17, 2007 11:05 AM
Posted on September 17, 2007 11:05
jimmymack: maybe Eaton does have pictures of Pat and Ruben together, but, regardless, he gets another two starts because we don't have anybody else to make those starts!!! are you seriously contending that we send JD Durbin out for two more starts after his latest implosion?
Posted by CubeHostage | September 17, 2007 11:27 AM
Posted on September 17, 2007 11:27
I'm afraid if I say anything I'll jinx them. Two more weeks.
Posted by John in LA | September 17, 2007 11:27 AM
Posted on September 17, 2007 11:27
Where's our favorite Mut fan? I guess he crawled back under his rock. Either that or he's in church praying to God the team that's won 8 straight vs. his Muts (6 straight in that toilet they call Shea) doesn't make the postseason. Be afraid Mut fan...be very afraid!
Posted by Bill | September 17, 2007 12:07 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 12:07
Let's put Taguchi in the rotation, at least we'll have his bat in the lineup..People who complain about getting to the playpffs,should realize ,meaningful games in Sept.,in essence, are the playoffs..Enjoy the ride. And if they come up short, to me, will feel just as bad as if they lost in post season. I prefer, a closer race. Action every night. Just clinch, before last weekend. I went up to Ny blog, looking for our buddy. Couldn't locate our old friend. I left him lots of xoxoxo.....
Posted by Pat H | September 17, 2007 12:37 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 12:37
I too have been calling for weeks for Eaton to be removed from the rotation. As someone previously mentioned, who would start in his place? Hamels being out this long really hurt our chances. I would say that a few weeks ago, they should have started Happ from AAA in place of Eaton, just to see what he could do. Now it's almost too late. Getting Durbin out of the rotation should help though.
Posted by Anonymous | September 17, 2007 2:35 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 14:35
Time for a 4-man rotation
Posted by J.R. King | September 17, 2007 2:46 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 14:46
Prediction: The Phillies will play exciting ball and will take us 1-2 games before the end of the season. Then, they'll fall just short of the playoffs. Sound familiar?
Posted by Eman | September 17, 2007 9:15 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 21:15
Prediction: The Phillies will play exciting ball and will take us 1-2 games before the end of the season. Then, they'll fall just short of the playoffs. Sound familiar?
Posted by Eman | September 17, 2007 9:15 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 21:15
Prediction: The Phillies will play exciting ball and take us 1-2 games before the end of the season, but will fall just short. Sound familiar?
Posted by InExile | September 17, 2007 9:16 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 21:16
Stay "Exhiled."
Posted by John in LA | September 17, 2007 9:33 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 21:33
Wow. That was too close.
Charlie needs to stop babying Kendrick. He could have gone another inning.
I am starting to think it is going to be easier to catch the Mets. The Padres just keep winning.
Posted by Murph | September 18, 2007 12:34 AM
Posted on September 18, 2007 00:34