My Fellow Phans,
I was at the last game of the Reds' series and as soon as we completed the sweep: I said to my mom, who was also there, "we didn't play well at all that series and didn't deserve to win really any games." Now I did relish in the rare 4 game sweep that was accomplished by the Phillies that day and I had a positive feeling through the All-Star break. Then came the Cubs Series. I was anxious to see how we would open the first half. As it turns out, we opened the second half like most of the first half went: good starting pitching and little to no offense. Our bullpen has been systematically growing worse over the past few weeks and I don't think I have faith in anyone out there at this present time.
I would like to give a shout out to the starting rotation at this time. Anyone who pins the starting pitching for our troubles this year is drinking too much of the cool aid as they say. Our starting pitching has been phenomenal this year. Granted there are times when our starters have an occasional bad start, but nobody's perfect. How many games have the Phillies lost 1-0, 2-1,2-0 ect this year? A lot. Starting pitching is not the problem. The fact that Halladay has only 10 wins and Hamels has a losing record is preposterous. With any run support at all, both these guys would have at least 12 wins a piece and most likely more. Lay off the starting pitching for now. They are the biggest, if not only, bright spot on this team this season.
Now for the bad....
You cannot win games if you do not score any runs. I think we all agree with that. Apparently the Phillies' hitters don't think so. Outside of Ryan Howard, Placido Polanco, and the occasional hit from Carlos Ruiz and Gregg Dobbs; this offense has done diddly squat. Operation swing for the fences has not been working for Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, or Wilson Valdez. Maybe try a new approach boys? You just aren't producing period.
I think the left field situation has finally turned into a platoon or at least I hope so. Let's face it, Ibanez hasn't done anything since he returned from injury last season. Ben Francisco has been playing a little more often. Lets hope they keep splitting time. Francisco actually homered tonight for those of you who turned off the game after our pen blew it.
I'm not going to discuss Werth in this post as I have another post (already posted) I dedicated solely to him.
This brings us to the bullpen. Who can we trust in there? The only one I have any amount of faith in is Chad Durbin. Our off season signings have both been serious busts and at times we cannot find someone to get through an inning, at least not without giving up 5 runs in the process. Isn't that right, Jose Contreras? Lidge is blowing games again; Madson gave up a costly homer the other day; Romero cant throw strikes and Baez is just downright awful. The bullpen was horrific this Cubs series and played a vital role in us losing it. I mean we scored 6 runs, but after the bullpen allowed 5 more to make it 11 for Cubs; 6 runs doesn't seem that impressive.
The Phillies didn't win a game this series. The Cubs won 3 and lost 1. If Marmol and Soto didn't mentally collapse on Saturday than we would have been swept by the Cubbies in a 4 games series. The same Cubbies who are currently 9 games under the 500 mark. We basically did he same thing we did in the Reds Series before the break; except this time our opposition actually score runs.
The Phillies now go to St. Louis for 4 and play the Rockies in Philadelphia for 4 more games. 8 straight games against teams who are ahead of the Phils in the Wild Card hunt. If there was ever a time to make up ground; this is it.
Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies!
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