Maybe the Phillies need Jimmy Rollins more than we ever imagined.
But if that’s the case, I have a couple of questions.
Can Rollins pitch out of the bullpen?
Can he guarantee clutch hitting in key spots in late innings in from other spots in the lineup?
The Phillies better hope so, as they expect to greet their starting shortstop and spark plug back in his familiar spot at the top of the lineup sometime this week.
And it’s a good thing.
In case you spent the weekend watching the U.S. Open or trying to get the ringing from those vuvuzelas out of your head from the World Cup, you’d better check the National League East standings.
Your Fightin’ Phils this morning are sitting five and a half games back, in third place.
Still, it’s not time to panic. Yet.
Their ace, Roy Halladay, pitched OK yesterday, but the Phils’ bats, which seemed to be coming to life, went dead again, managing just one run in a 4-1 loss as the Twins took two of three at Citizens Bank Park.
Halladay has now lost three straight decisions since his Perfect Game.
But nothing can quite match the frustration of Saturday’s fiasco, when a succession of Phils’ relievers blew a 9-4 lead. After the Twins took a
10-9 lead in the 10th, the Phils were down to their last out before Ross Gload played the hero by blasting a ball into the seats in the rightfield corner to tie the game again.
Of course that only set the stage for Danys Baez to implode in the 11th.
He gave up three runs and the Phils fell, 13-10.
Rollins is due back this week. For some reason, he seems to set the attitude for this bunch.
He better. I’m not ready to panic, but I have my finger on the button.
But if that’s the case, I have a couple of questions.
Can Rollins pitch out of the bullpen?
Can he guarantee clutch hitting in key spots in late innings in from other spots in the lineup?
The Phillies better hope so, as they expect to greet their starting shortstop and spark plug back in his familiar spot at the top of the lineup sometime this week.
And it’s a good thing.
In case you spent the weekend watching the U.S. Open or trying to get the ringing from those vuvuzelas out of your head from the World Cup, you’d better check the National League East standings.
Your Fightin’ Phils this morning are sitting five and a half games back, in third place.
Still, it’s not time to panic. Yet.
Their ace, Roy Halladay, pitched OK yesterday, but the Phils’ bats, which seemed to be coming to life, went dead again, managing just one run in a 4-1 loss as the Twins took two of three at Citizens Bank Park.
Halladay has now lost three straight decisions since his Perfect Game.
But nothing can quite match the frustration of Saturday’s fiasco, when a succession of Phils’ relievers blew a 9-4 lead. After the Twins took a
10-9 lead in the 10th, the Phils were down to their last out before Ross Gload played the hero by blasting a ball into the seats in the rightfield corner to tie the game again.
Of course that only set the stage for Danys Baez to implode in the 11th.
He gave up three runs and the Phils fell, 13-10.
Rollins is due back this week. For some reason, he seems to set the attitude for this bunch.
He better. I’m not ready to panic, but I have my finger on the button.
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