They've long since ceased being fun to watch and now it can be said they cannot be any fun to pitch for either.
The Phils wasted another good performance by a pitcher last night, going down meekly to the San Diego Padres 3-1. Cole Hamels took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before yielding back-to-back home runs. I am not as ready to anoint his outing as "outstanding" as others have given Hamels' ongoing propensity to blow a game by serving up long balls. Sure, any time your pitcher can hold the opposition to 2 runs in eight innings he's pitched well, but Hamels always seems to lack the put-away pitch or inning. By now, no doubt, he's as fed up waiting for his mates to score as the rest of the staff, but it is also true he is always a pitch away from blowing things all by his lonesome.
Meanwhile, Danys Baez relieved Hamels and surrendered a run to provide the Padres with all the insurance they needed. Really, they only needed the two home runs for all the insurance they needed as the Phils managed a lone run in the bottom of the ninth.
Judging from comments by Charlie Manuel after the game, he's at a total loss what to do with his meek offense. He admitted last night he is continuing to play the struggling Chase Utley among others in the hope he will "hit his way out" of his slump. It hasn't worked, Charlie, but, then apparently no one else has a better idea.
Maybe Ruben Amaro could trade for a shaman?
[Note: BTW, Cliff Lee improved to 4-2 with a complete game victory last night.]
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