The Phillies Hunt for a Red October might be turning into Mission Impossible.
Again.
We should have seen this one coming.
Once again the Phils – through no credit of their own since they did not even play Monday – entered action Tuesday night in a flat-out tie for the National League Wild Card.
And just as they do seemingly every time they approach a crucial junction, they promptly throw it in reverse.
This is the modus operandi they have used the past few years. In fact, you can look it up.
In the last four years, the Phils have entered the final week of the season in the hunt for a berth in the post-season. You know what has happened.
What you might not know is that the Phils are now 0-7 on Monday and Tuesday of that crucial last week in the last four years.
That’s not how you go about securing a spot in the playoffs.
That’s not even how you bow out gracefully.
Same thing last night.
It didn’t take long. Jamie Moyer, getting seriously squeezed by the home plate umpire, issues a walk to the opening batter. Moyer clearly thought he had struck out Atlanta slugger Mark Texeira. Instead Texeira hammers a 3-run homer.
The Phils slowly but surely dig out of this early hole to take a 5-4 lead. Only to have Moyer and the bullpen hand it right back.
The final, 10-6 Braves.
The Phils blew an opportunity to gain ground on the Mets, who lost to the Nationals. They also slipped a game behind the Padres, who rallied to win in the ninth inning. And they’re now tied with the Rockies in the wild-card chase.
There’s now five games to go. You could feel the electricity in the region.
This morning it feels like someone pulled the plug. Again.
Again.
We should have seen this one coming.
Once again the Phils – through no credit of their own since they did not even play Monday – entered action Tuesday night in a flat-out tie for the National League Wild Card.
And just as they do seemingly every time they approach a crucial junction, they promptly throw it in reverse.
This is the modus operandi they have used the past few years. In fact, you can look it up.
In the last four years, the Phils have entered the final week of the season in the hunt for a berth in the post-season. You know what has happened.
What you might not know is that the Phils are now 0-7 on Monday and Tuesday of that crucial last week in the last four years.
That’s not how you go about securing a spot in the playoffs.
That’s not even how you bow out gracefully.
Same thing last night.
It didn’t take long. Jamie Moyer, getting seriously squeezed by the home plate umpire, issues a walk to the opening batter. Moyer clearly thought he had struck out Atlanta slugger Mark Texeira. Instead Texeira hammers a 3-run homer.
The Phils slowly but surely dig out of this early hole to take a 5-4 lead. Only to have Moyer and the bullpen hand it right back.
The final, 10-6 Braves.
The Phils blew an opportunity to gain ground on the Mets, who lost to the Nationals. They also slipped a game behind the Padres, who rallied to win in the ninth inning. And they’re now tied with the Rockies in the wild-card chase.
There’s now five games to go. You could feel the electricity in the region.
This morning it feels like someone pulled the plug. Again.
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