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It may sound a little early, but is it possible that this is the make or break point for the Phillies season?
Almost every single component of this Phillies team is not working right now. And if things don't start improving very soon, this roller coaster might be headed in the wrong direction. Last night's game against the Mets was a microcosm of the 2010 season:
1. The Phillies only scored one run.
The Phillies offense over the last couple of weeks has been virtually non-existent. In the last 12 games they have averaged just 3.16 runs per game with a team average of .214 (87-for-406). The Phillies offense is now a very average group that ranks 8th in average, 9th in homers, and tied for last in steals. Last in steals?!
2. The starting pitching was bad.
Their starting staff ERA is 4.12, and if you take out Roy Halladay that number shoots to 5.03. Halladay has been even better than advertised, but he has been the only one. And one of the big questions entering this season has been Cole Hamels - we are quickly starting to realize that he is not close to the 2008 MVP world champ. Some folks had slight thoughts that Kendrick might have a presence. Let's face it..he's terrible.
3. The bullpen had another bad outing.
I will save bullpen nightmares for later. Let's just say that aside from Durbin and maybe Contreras, there is nobody you can trust in that pen.
Another disturbing fact has appeared that we have not seen at all with this Phillies team: they aren't hustling.
"I'm always concerned when we don't hustle," Charlie Manuel said. "I'm always concerned when we start playing real sloppy."
Ryan Howard was thrown out in an embarrassing play in San Francisco. Last night, Shane Victorino did not run to first base on a dropped third strike. Although it is a possibly alarming trend, Victorino took full responsibility and maybe woke up the rest of the team.
"I was part of that situation tonight," Victorino said. "You'll never see me do it again. I'm not going to make any excuses. I'm part of that situation that Charlie is talking about. I know he didn't personally call out anybody, but I'm speaking about it, and I'm going to answer the question."
And to add insult to injury, Brad Lidge returned to give up two hits and run in just 1/3 of an inning. It is absolutely insane to base any assumptions on one outing in an 8-1 game, but it certainly opens your eyes. As bad as the pen looks and with Ryan Madson on the DL, we NEED Lidge to pitch well. A start like this does not give you good feelings.
It is time to forget how good we thought this team was and look at who they actually are. The 2010 Phillies have a good offense (no, they will not be this bad all year) with a very average starting pitching staff with one ace and a horrible bullpen. Sorry, but that is not good enough to win the World Series. It's just not.
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