Watch Out Below

The Phils limped home last night following a third straight loss to the Braves at Turner Field and for the first time in more than a month find they are no longer in sole possession of first place. While still atop the standings in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, they are no doubt listed second in the Miami Herald.

That's OK; they weren't in first place at this juncture of the 2008 season either. What's not OK is the way they are playing. As Charlie Manuel pointed out yesterday, they are consistently losing late, something they avoided in the first part of the season when, truth be told, they needed more than a few Houdini routines to win some games late. Back then I wrote they couldn't keep up their high wire act. It didn't take a genius to come to that conclusion!

J.A. Happ pitched well enough to keep his mates in the game, but what little is left of Ryan Madson's ego melted down even further when he surrendered three runs to the Braves in the bottom of the eighth inning. That was all she wrote.

Manuel can be excused if he tries to avoid handing the ball to Madson or Lidge henceforth, but what is he going to do? J.C. Romero is hardly a closer and no one else on this roster is either.

The only good news last night is that Jimmy Rollins stroked two base hits to break an o for 28 slump, the worst of his career. Jimmy didn't ask for the ball on his first hit, a soft ground ball in the hole between first and second.; however, the camera showed him chatting up Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman in classic J-Roll fashion. Glad to see someone was happy.

Cooked By The 4th Of July

You've heard it before, including in this very space.... The Phillies may be crashing and burning but fortunately they play in the weak NL East division where everyone else is muddling along. Don't tell the Florida Marlins. That's right, those pesky Marlins are baaaccck...again. Sure, they play in the worst stadium in America in front of more vendors than fans. Yes, the weather is horrible. OK, they're grossly underpaid by today's standards and their miserly owners sell off players whenever any of them are about to cash in. But, they're always tough. They must have the best scouting department in all of baseball because they trade wisely and develop talent within their system at an astonishing rate, especially pitching. For good measure they've won two World Series titles in their relatively short existence.

Meanwhile, the Phillies look cooked. They cannot pitch and now they cannot hit except for the occasional breakout game sandwiched between futile flailing. Last night they made a good but hardly great Atanta starter, Jair Jurrgens, look like another Cy Young candidate, failing to get a single base hit until the seventh inning when reserve catcher Paul Bako, making his first start of the season, singled.

No one looks good at the plate. Jimmy Rollins hasn't had a base hit in 27 at bats. His four day respite from the rigors of playing baseball didn't do him any good. Ryan Howard is back to his old ways, reaching for balls low and away and doing his best pained expression after the third strike. Even Chase Utley is looking back at the umpire these days.

When J.A. Happ may be your most reliable starter the end is nigh. Don't get me wrong, Happ looks like a solid middle to back of the rotation guy who should be productive for a long time with his easy delivery, but there are a few other guys who, frankly, were being counted on more than he. The biggest mystery is Cole Hamels. Hamels' changeup has always been his bread and butter pitch, but without that good fastball to keep hitters honest and the occasional breaking ball, the change doesn't represent...well...change! Hamels' velocity is apparently down. He rarely throws the hook. He is throwing more pitches up in the zone. And he's always been vulnerable to the long ball. Who would have guessed he'd have a losing record by July and only four wins or that opposing batters were hitting a lofty .312 against him?

Not I.

Shattered Confidence

A month or so ago Ryan Madson was on top of the world. The lanky righthander had signed a big off-season contract. His fastball was in the mid-nineties and his change-up was much improved. Most important, he was getting guys out.

Today his confidence has been shaken to its roots if not shattered altogether as he blew a lead last night a half inning after the Phils moved ahead of Atlanta on back-to-back home runs. C0upled with two blown saves recently as he temporarily stepped into the closer's job while Brad Lidge was on the shelf, Madson must be wondering how did everything go south so fast.

Lidge has blown numerous saves himself this season and despite protestations that he's healthy again, one has to wonder about his self-confidence. Even when he manages to hold a lead or save a game, Lidge invariably makes each appearance an adventure. As for his tender knee, it's hard to take anyone's word on this club when it comes to health matters.

The starting pitching may remain woefully inconsistent, but relief pitching has been the biggest culprit in many of the recent losses.

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Somebody should tell Jayson Werth to stay on his feet when chasing balls hit to the wall. He's been going into a slide especially on balls hit to his left, trying to smother rebounds like a hockey goalie. It ain't working. Indeed, Werth doesn't go back on balls over his head to either side particularly well. When is the last time the Phillies had a rightfielder who could go back on a ball?

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Raul Ibanez will test his injured groin in some rehab games at Reading. Is it really all that surprising that a 37-year old guy is suffering injuries to muscles and tendons? Before the groin injury he was limping around with an Achilles heel problem.

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Speaking of confidence, Carlos Ruiz' may not have lost his at the plate but he's reverted to his old habits and is the closest thing to a sure out in the lineup other than the current version of Jimmy Rollins. Ruiz will remain the starter for his glove, handling of pitchers and extraordinary ability to block balls in the plate, none of which Chris Coste does well. And after all, it isn't as though Coste represents such a big offensive upgrade.

Straigthening Out Themselves & Their Engine

The Phils took two out of three from the Blue Jays in Toronto over the weekend, no mean feat given their futility against AL Eastern division clubs and their sad history in the Dominion over the years. One of the wins was a laugher but the other was of the skin-of-their-teeth variety. No matter, they both count equally.

Coming after losing three straight series and a closed-door meeting, the two wins provided a little breathing room between themselves and the fumbling Mets, hot-and-cold Marlins and Braves. In other words, only the nearly-equal ineptitude of their division rivals has prevented the Phillies dismal journey through interleague play from being a total as opposed to nearly complete disaster. When you lose nine of twelve and only drop 1.5 games in the standings your competition leaves something to be desired.

Luck played a role in yesterday's win. So, too, did the absence of Roy Halladay from the Jays' rotation. You take what they give....

Jimmy Rollins, the engine that hasn't all season, sat for a fourth straight game yesterday marking his longest tenure on the bench as a healthy major leaguer since he took over the starting position. The thinking goes that a guy who is struggling badly needs a few days off to clear his head. The always talkative and approachable Rollins decided to stop speaking to the press during his mini sojourn in the wilderness, which can be interpreted as taking a complete break or merely pouting. Whatever is going on with Jimmy's psyche, his batting average and on-base percentage have been dismal all year and his always sure glove and hands haven't been consistent either. This may be the last chance for him to salvage his personal season. If he continues to struggle the Phillies are going to have to permanently drop him in the order and look to someone like Shane Victorino for a spark. One thing seems certain: the Phils won't be able to wait for the "real" JRoll to show up forever.

Things Are Looking Down

So, this is what rock bottom looks like.

The Phils dropped their third straight interleague series and eightth of their last nine games last night and now move on to Toronto where they've never had success. In the process, they surrendered their four game lead over the Mets and fell into a tie for first place in the increasingly inept NL East. The Marlins are only a game back. If the trend continues, the Phils could be in third place by the end of the weekend.

The relentless losing is bad enough but the way the Phillies are losing is particularly depressing and, frankly, galling. Runners are getting inexcuably doubled off, ending rallies. Usually reliable fielders are making bonehead plays. Veteran hitters aren't. Relief pitching isn't. For the last month or so the Phillies haven't been fun to watch; in the last ten days they have been painful to watch.

The press keeps waiting for Charlie Manuel to throw a fit. Lot of good that'll do! As the saying goes, he can't pitch or hit for them, especially when they can't hit or pitch for themselves. The few good starts the staff put together over the last week, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton come to mind, were wasted.

The injury bug has certainly hurt. Any time you take your leading hitter in every offensive category out of the lineup the results are going to suffer. Still, the loss of Raul Ibanez is hardly the whole story. The Phils bullpen just can't get anybody out any more and the alleged brain trust is unable to come up with a solution. Sergio Escalona is the poster child for all that ails them. He's been up and down to AAA Lehigh so many times already he's probably used up half his remaining options.

If they bring Kyle Kendrick back we'll know the white flag is next.

Rally Falls Short

SWING and a Miss and the ball game is over.

Still The Name Of The Game

At this point in his career, does anyone really expect more than what we've seen thus far from Brett Myers? His velocity has never consistently returned to its highs prior to his shoulder injury. His command has always been suspect. He falls out of love with a pitch faster than a veteran should. He leads the major leagues in home runs allowed. Ah, but he pitches for a team that knows a thing or two about bringing the lumber.

As of this writing, the Phillies starting rotation remains largely in a state of disarray. Joe Blanton's outing Monday night was one of the soundest efforts of the season for this beleaguered group. Cole Hamels looked to be on the road to recovering his former magic when a couple of freak injuries derailed him, momentarily we hope. The rest of the staff remains mired in less than mediocrity. Myers cannot be honestly regarded as more than a fourth starter and, then, that is only because the Phils continue to run Chan Ho Park out there as the number five.

Tonight the Phillies face a genuine number one in the Mets Johan Santana. A pitcher who inspires a lot of respect and more than just a little bit of anxiety as teams prepare to face him. A starter against whom opposing batters seek extra motivation. The Phillies don't have anyone like that including Hamels.

What they do have is a lot of offense and it was on display again last night. As numerous commentators have pointed out, the big difference between this year's club and last season's is plate discipline. Overall, the Phils are striking out much less, especially but not exclusively,Ryan Howard. They are getting very good production from Pedro Feliz. Shane Victorino, who led the club in average last season, is again hitting well. Utley is Utley only healthier. Jayson Werth is a streaky but dependable hitter. Raul Ibanez is a big upgrade over Pat Burrell. Carlos Ruiz doesn't need to hit for average. Only J-Roll is struggling though over the last week or so he appears to be finding his stroke.

But they will go as far as this group can carry them because right now, they cannot pitch.

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A few game notes....

Shane Victorino is sporting a hot bat but he was picked off first base for at least the second time this season I witnessed.

The Phils have been running themselves out of some bigger innings too much this season. Raul Ibanez misjudged a line drive to center last night and was easily doubled off second base.

A month ago I suggested in a comment elsewhere that Jayson Werth's arm was erratic. That play at the plate against the Mets last weekend was a good example of a throw off the mark, up the line. Carlos Ruiz saved Werth's and everyone else's bacon with his great positioning, grab and swipe.

Chase Utley sat again nursing a sore foot. He's got to stop taking ones for the club. The other worry is management's history of less than forthcoming information on injuries. His foot has yet to be imaged properly.

I looked at the box score this AM (having gone to sleep in the eighth inning) and saw Lidge pitched the ninth and gave up a run. Something told me it was going to be deja vu all over again time and, sure enough, he surrendered a home run to old nemesis Albert Pujols. That should do wonders for Lidge's confidence, which has to be shaky at this point no matter how much he says he's found the flaws in his mechanics.

Home Sweet Home Away From Home

Joe Blanton picked a fine time for his best outing of 2009 and Ryan Howard picked up where he left off during his recent visits to his native St. Louis as the Phils beat the Cardinals 6-1 in the opener of a two-game set.

Blanton worked out of a big jam in the sixth inning to post a strong outing. Though he threw a lot of pitches and his strike/ball ratio wasn't impressive, Blanton was around the plate all night (getting squeezed occasionally by Jim Wolfe), especially with his hard sinker. At the risk of beating a dead horse (hey, this is only my third reference to the subject in less than a week) I expect great improvement from the Phils' starting rotation now that first-string catcher Carlos Ruiz is back behind the plate. Right now, no catcher in the big leagues blocks balls better or handles his staff better. Ruiz also came up with another tag at home plate that would probably have been dropped by Chris Coste.

Jayson Werth and Howard provided all of the offensive power with a two-run and grand slam homer respectively. Nothing brings out the best in Howard quite like family and friends in the stands in abundance. While Howard always hits well against the Cards in St. Louis we are witnessing quite an overall maturation of the big fella wherever he plays. Everything about his game has shown marked improvement this season. He is fielding well, swinging well, showing good plate discipline, going with the pitch, and cutting down on the K's. Maybe it's the mouthguard?

All Hail The Returning Receiver

A win is a win for all that but it sure wasn't pretty. The Phils beat the Mets in a contest of walks and missed opportunities that left this fan convinced pitching, or more to the point, a lack of it, will plague both of these houses throughout the season.

The Phils' Jamie Moyer might have been squeezed just a little on occasion by the umpire, but the home run balls he surrendered back-to-back in the sixth inning were of the no-doubt about them variety. Meanwhile, Oliver Perez might have walked himself out of the starting rotation with his six free passes though to this viewer's eyes he wasn't that far off the plate on a few pitches that cost him.

When I periodically relented and did not mute the drone of the laughably misnamed fair and balanced [sic] network's Joe Buck and Alex Karros, I could agree with the latter that the Mets don't show much fire. The most pesky of the New Yorkers, Jose Reyes, has been largely invisible in the first two games of the series. Most of the rest of his teammates seem to be sleepwalking through the games. Carlos Beltran may be having a fine season but his expression never changes no matter what the circumstances. Most of the Mets seemed grim and determined.

For the Phillies, the hero of the game was Carlos Ruiz, who held onto Jayson Werth's throw up the line and then reached back to tag a sliding Omar Santos in the eighth inning with what would have been the go-ahead run. Chris Coste would have dropped the ball, for sure. The return of Ruiz, the mainstay of this staff, will be critical if the pitching is to improve. Whatever he hits, and today he was popping up in key situations just like last season, will always be a bonus. The guy makes a huge difference behind the plate.

Enough Already

Chan Ho Park's continued presence in the starting rotation is no mystery if one considers his manager's history of, well, player management. Charlie Manuel believes jobs are won through fair and open competition and, more importantly, held through thick and thin. There are no hidden agenda with Manuel. In Charlie's world, players don't lose their spots due to injury or a few bad outings. Benefits of the doubt are always given and second, third, even fourth chances are the rule.

Park's spot in the rotation is also consistent with the fact that the defending World Champs are a veteran team built to win now. Look at their roster and there are few youngsters to be found period. Furthermore, he was declared the winner in his Spring Training competition with a much younger J.A. Happ.

Ah, but Park has pitched poorly nearly every time out including last night when he gave up four quick runs to the Mets before many patrons were even in their seats. Park had nothing on his "fastball" and couldn't locate his breaking ball. Chris Wheeler opined that Park was "pitching away from bats", i.e., he was trying to avoid letting the Mets hit the ball and allow his defense to work for him. Tell that to Daniel Murphy, who stroked a two-run homer in the first inning on a pitch that could charitably have been described as right down Broadway with nothing on it. As Park labored through a succession of free passes interspersed with a home run here and line drive there, he also exhibited the kind of body language that his pitching coach Rich Dubee hates to see, a combination of the deer-in-the-headlights look and slumped shoulders and deep knee bends.

How much longer can his manager stick with Park? After the game Manuel said "I'm not ready to say Chan Ho Park is not going to get any more starts. I'm not ready to say that." Presumably he didn't poll the 43,000 plus in attendance at last night's game not to mention 23 of the 24 other members of the roster. Happ would recuse himself.

Hardly Pushovers

It's popular right now to cast the Mets in something of a funk. David Wright is striking out a lot. The starting rotation after Johan Santana is undependable. Overall, they aren't catching the ball.

I'm here to tell you that this is a dangerous team, never more so than when they face the Phillies. Overall, the Mets are hitting .282 as a team. Any club with Jose Reyes leading off is potent. Carlos Delgado is a charter member of the Phillies-killer club. Carlos Beltran is hitting a ton. Their new closer, Francisco Rodriguez, has been everything the Mets asked for. Until he blew a save the other day, so had J.J. Putz.

The starting rotation is a mess, but I wouldn't exactly crow on that front if I were a Phillies' fan. The Mets can hit and right now, frankly, the Phillies starting rotation can be hit.

Forget their record in April. The Mets will be tough.

Out Of Control

If anyone is still waiting for Brett Myers to fulfill his early promise here's a bit of advice: don't hold your breath.

Myers took the mound last night against the Nationals and labored for six innings. Optimists will note he didn't surrender a home run for the first time this year though he came close at least once. Pessimists will note that he threw a lot of pitches, too many of them balls or over the heart of the plate. Watching Myers pitch isn't particularly pleasant. He tugs constantly at the front of his uniform, appearing to readjust the position of the heavy gold necklace he wears. After each pitch he moves to the front of the mound to receive the catcher's throw, making sure he is on the grass in front of the mound as he goes to his mouth. Lots of nervous energy. Lots of pacing. If it can be said he works quickly, and he does more or less, the speed often comes at the expense of a plan. Myers just throws. Sure, he mixes his pitches, fastballs, curves mostly, but he seems to be just this side of complete chaos.

He doesn't seem to fool many batters, the majority of whom get in pretty good hacks against him. He doesn't establish a pitch so much as abandon one that isn't working. Compare him to last night's opponent, Scott Olsen, who went to his slider whenever he needed an out pitch. Oh, sure, Olsen entered the game 0-3 with an ERA north of seven runs, but he pitches for the Nationals not the Phillies. Apart from a first inning mistake to Shane Victorino, Olsen was in control. Myers, on the other hand, seems constantly out of control. The career numbers don't lie.

[Postscript: The Olsen comparison is a good one. He, too, is a fiery sort of guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve. That said, he seems to pitch with control, something Myers has never done consistently.]

Pepper

This sure is a hard town on professional athletes, eh Raul? I mean these folks can be Tough with a capital T. What has it taken you to win them over, ten games? Fifteen? Nineteen?

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Back in February nearly everyone was concerned about Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz, both of whom had off-season surgery and both of whom were not expected to begin the season in the starting lineup. So, naturally, they both have played steadily from day one and both have been having marvelous seasons to date. The Phillies cannot get anything related to health matters right even when the news is good!

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Cole Hamels looked like his old self last night until he twisted an ankle fielding a bunt in the fifth inning and had to withdraw. This has been something of a snake-bitten season thus far for the Phils ace, what with too much throwing last year and too much celebrating this off-season. Last night, however, he was in mid-season form in terms of velocity and command. If he can stay healthy he is about to revert to his performance of the second half of last season. If he can stay healthy.

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Catching has been a real problem this season. Numero uno, Carlos Ruiz, has been hurt, beginning with his play for Panama in the WBC. Lou Marson looks a bit overmatched behind not necessarily at the plate though his hitting has hardly been stellar. Chris Coste just looks cooked.

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Jimmy Rollins has gotten off to an awful start. It took him nineteen games to steal his first base of the season and he is still hitting under the Mendoza line. Charlie Manuel has already given him two days off, something unheard of this early in the season. Jimmy doesn't look too comfortable from the right side of the plate; from the left side he looks like his is reaching for pitches, which means he is poppin them up or slicing them to the opposite field. He hits best when he is getting around on the ball quickly, which is why the book used to be to pound him inside to prevent him from getting his arms extended. His line drive single last night was classic J-Roll. If he can bottle that swing he will come out of his slump.

Playing From Behind

These Phillies seem intent on outslugging the opposition...that is when they actually hit the ball. Therein lies the rub. When they're on, the Phils offense is lethal; when they aren't, they need good starting pitching which has been in very short supply since day one.

No matter how many runs they score, the Phillies aren't going deep into the post-season (assuming they get there in the first place) unless the starting rotation sorts itself out and fast. They are giving up home runs at a prodigious rate. Worse, the starters are normally putting the team in an early hole and while nearly every victory this season has been of the come-from-behind variety, crowd pleasers to be sure, this trend will be awfully hard to maintain over 162 games.

The bullpen, last year's biggest collective surprise and arguably the key to its championship, has also been erratic. Where last year a different guy stepped up every night, this year it seems as if a different guy implodes every night. Now comes news Brad Lidge has been nursing a sore knee, the same one on which he has had surgery twice. All of us would like a nickel for every time the Phillies front office has been less than forthcoming about injuries. A week ago we were informed Lidge had watched film of his delivery and discovered a flaw that probably explained his erratic, un-Lidge-like performances this season. Saturday night's adventure in Miami pretty much undermined that notion.

If Lidge has to be shut down for any length of time the Phillies pitching woes will only worsen. Playing from behind like they do isn't going to make up the difference in the long run.

Putting It All Together?

Death, taxes and Jamie Moyer over the Marlins.

If you are sitting in the Marlins' dugout when Moyer takes the mound for the Phils you know doubt hear it from all the old hands on board: be patient; wait for your pitch; make him throw strikes. And then you go out there and take the first pitch just off the plate for a called strike and you tell yourself, self, if they're gonna' give him that one I'm swinging away. And then he's got you. It's really just that simple: age taking advantage of impetuous youth. Happens every time.

What also seems to happen virtually every time Moyer faces the Fish is that his mates score a lot of runs on his behalf. Yesterday was the first laugher of the season. The Phils jumped out early and just kept piling it on. By the end of the game the Marlins were using a position player to pitch in relief. Naturally, he acquitted himself well, which is why position players invariably get mop up duty in blowouts.

While the Phils were winning, the upstart Marlins, who a week ago were the talk of the division if not the league, lost for the sixth straight time to fall back to earth with a thud! The Braves and the Mets weren't faring a whole lot better as the Phils moved above .500 and into sole possession of second place. Not bad for a team whose starting pitching has been pretty awful most of the season; whose sparkplug has been misfiring so badly he sat out his second game of the season, seventeen games into it; whose closer is all over the place; and whose batters have been very erratic overall.

If they get the act together, especially the starting rotation, the Phils could begin to put some distance between themselves and their closer rivals. One good sign from yesterday's victory was that for the first time all season, the Phillies did not surrender a home run to the opposition.

A week from now we should get some idea of just how much of a killer instinct they have when the Mets come to town. In the meantime, the Phils have three games against the Nationals, whom they should handle easily. Somehow, they never do.

Trying To Break Break-Even

Starting pitching continues to put the Phillies behind the eight-ball and late game heroics continue to bank one off the side railing at an astonishing rate.

The Phillies high-wire act cannot be good for the digestive system, especially their skipper's ample gut, but, then, this is April when the Phillies torment their faithful and themselves. If they can get the starters sorted out, and their are small signs and hints of progress, and if they can get Brad Lidge sorted out, here the signs are less reassuring, the Phils should be all right.

It's difficult to imagine how after sixteen games the Phils are right back where they started, even at eight wins and eight losses, but fortunately the rest of their division is equally average with the exception of the Marlins, who are coming back to the rest of the pack in a hurry, and the Nationals, who are already out of the chase.

After starting the season on an unbelievable tear, the Marlins have lost five straight including two heartbreakers to the Phils. In their case, the Marlins are getting very good starting pitching only to see their bullpen falter. The Phillies rotation seems to be getting better with each outing, but their propensity to serve up home run balls continues at a league high rate. Lidge's problems, which he claimed to have solved only this week when looking at film of his delivery, are harder to figure out. He has plenty of zip on his fastball, but he's having trouble with command. He seems to be using his slider less often, again with command and as previously noted here, the abscence of his favorite receiver, Carlos Ruiz. Lidge hasn't had many smooth outings this season and last nights, when he managed to load the bases and strike out the side for the save, has been more the rule than the exception.

The offense, while hardly overpowering, has come up with the clutch hits when they needed them. Winning in Miami is always tough, what with the obvious crowd noise [sic] to overcome, but the Phils have taken games one and two of this three-game set and go for the sweep this afternoon. The win would put them one-game over .500 for the year, rarified atmostphere indeed.

Round One To The Guys From Up North

THAT was a statement game!

The Phils, stymied and moribund through eight innings, rallied dramatically in the ninth inning with two outs to stun the Florida Marlins in their first meeting of the season and send a message to the young Fish just exactly who the veteran, defending World Championship team is.

With another Phillies starter struggling and the bats on extended holiday, the Phils looked dead in the water, especially against Josh Johnson, one of the best young starters in the game. Johnson played his part perfectly and handed the Marlins' pen a 3-0 lead. I had just tuned into the game in the top of the eighth, looked at the score and stats and had chalked this one up in the loss column. The only reason I continued to "watch" was I was doing something else on the computer and left the game running on the television in the background. I wasn't paying close attention to say the least.

By the time the game resumed in my fading consciousness, the Phils had scored one run, had the bases loaded and two outs. J-Roll was at the plate. He took a few pitches for balls and seemed to be patiently waiting, but then he leaned over the plate a little, chased a ball high and away and popped it high to the left side, just as he has been wont to do for much of this young season. The game's outcome drifted with the ball as it reached the seats. Granted a reprieve, especially from the blogosphere, Jimmy worked a walk to force in a run and draw to within one run. Then came Shane Victorino's dramatic grand slam, followed by a solo shot from Chase Utley. Suddenly, the Phils were up 7-3, which turned out to be the final score.

The victim of all this drama was Matt Lindstron, who looked as stunned and distraught as I have ever seen a pitcher, sitting on the bench after the flood rubbing his head, staring blankly ahead. Frankly, he looked like a guy who might never recover.

I started to feel for him but quickly realized I was happy. No time for pitying the Fish. The Phils had delivered a stunning knock-out punch in the first encounter.

Go Fish!

Your 2009 Philadelphia Phillies limped out of town this afternoon after having been nearly no-hit by a no-body.

That makes two straight losses to the Brewers in which the mighty Phils scoreda grand total of two runs, both on solo homers. That's right, sports fans, two swings of the bat were all the Phils could muster against the Brewers' Braden Looper and Dave Bush, hardly the second coming of...well...you get the point. To make matters worse, those two swings came in the ninth inning Wednesday night and the eighth inning this afternoon respectively, just before time and team expired.

After fourteen games it's clear once again April is the cruelest month for ballplayers in Red pinstripes. They cannot hit with any consistency and they cannot pitch with much either. The starting rotation is filled with veterans with the exception of Cole Hamels yet none of them is a stabilizing presence. Overall, the bullpen has been inconsistent, too.

So, it's off to Florida for the weekend, where the Marlins always play the Phillies tough. The only consolation to be found, and like most consolations this one hardly suffices, is that with the exception of the Marlins, whom the Pirates just cooled off after the Fish began the season 11-1, the entire NL East is under .500 as of this posting. Who would have predicted that????!!!!!

Degrees Of Difficulty

Raul Ibanez has got to work on his walk-off home run styling on his final approach to home plate. Did you watch the guy? He never broke stride as he rounded third base, cruising along at the same steady pace he uses for his run-of-the-mill round trippers. No helmet toss. No defensive crouch or hands covering his face. No feint to one side. No leap onto the plate. And certainly no slide at the last moment. Just your garden variety home run trot. Positively boring. No wonder the East German judge gave him a four!

In his defense, he did give a little fist pump rounding first and he wound up pretty good for that handslap with first base coach Davey Lopes. Still, the judges look at that last ninety feet when they score a walk-off dinger and right now Ibanez needs to really nail the next one if he hopes to get back in this thing.

Meanwhile, Ryan Howard is doing his best to confound the judges, too. First of all, he isn't striking out nearly as much as we expect of him. Second, what's with the leather he's throwing out there!!?? Is he angling for some kind of Gold Glove? Diving into the hole. Over the shoulder basket catches. And third, since when does he go with the pitch, putting the ball in play like he did on that clutch single in the bottom of the ninth, just before Ibanez' ho-hum home run trot? Next thing you know, Howard is going to try and steal a base or lay down a sacrifice bunt. What's up, big fella?

The Pen Is Crucial

It' easy to say after watching his save streak end at 47 that Brad Lidge isn't the same pitcher in 2009 that he was in 2008, but the evidence was plain to see in all of his appearances this season leading up to tonight's debacle. Lidge hasn't been relying on his biting slider into the dirt nearly as much this year and the reason is the absence of Carlos Ruiz, the only catcher Lidge felt could dependably handle that pitch. Instead, Lidge has relied heavily on a fastball without much movement and major league hitters are turning it around at a rate the Phillies' closer never saw during the championship run.

It's also easy to say in early retrospect that the bullpen, superb throughout 2008, couldn't be expected to duplicate their overall performance two years running but, again, there were plenty of signs. JC Romero is still serving his suspension and Chad Durbin was hit around pretty well in the second half of last year. Jack Taschner hasn't impressed. Ryan Madson was perfect until last night. Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey have pitched solidly while J.A. Happ has hardly pitched at all. But Lidge has been the biggest disappointment by far, looking bad even when he has gotten the save. Things will pick up for him when Ruiz comes off the DL, provided, of course, his confidence isn't completely shaken like it was several years ago after King Albert's home run.

All of this hand wringing over the bullpen might be moot if the starting rotation were doing its job, but they have looked terrible without much exception and anyway, the way modern baseball is played, starting rotations cannot be expected to pitch more than 5 plus innings any time out. Bullpens are the difference makers (just ask the Mets) and the Phils' bullpen was key last year. Without a semblance of return to form, it is going to be a long season no matter when and if the shaky starters come around.