It appears as if not even the mighty Jim Thome is going to be able to salvage this mess of a Phillies season.
Thome was in the lineup for the Phils on this nine-game road trip featuring interleague play vs. American League teams to take advantage of his bat. Thome, unable to play in the field, ably filled the designated hitter position for the Phils.
It didn’t make much difference. The Phils went 3-6 on the trip, and now limp back to Citizens Bank Park, where they will open perhaps a “now-or-never” 10 game home stand vs. the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night.
Don’t blame Thome. He hit his 100th homer as Phillie in Sunday’s dispiriting 6-2 loss to the Jays. On the road trip, Thome hit a blistering .333 with four home runs and 14 RBIs.
I suppose you could blame Kyle Kendrick was what Kyle Kendrick always is – unpredictable. He pitched six and a third innings and exited with the Phils trailing, 6-2.
Don’t blame Charlie Manuel either. He vented his wrath at the team after Saturday afternoon’s come-from-ahead loss that meant Cliff Lee still does not have a win this year. Didn't make much difference.
This team has fundamental problems.
What can GM Ruben Amaro Jr. do? Not a lot at this point. The trade deadline is still more than a month away and he has to make a decision on whether or not the team is going to sign Cole Hamels to a long-term deal.
Thome will now take a seat on the bench as interleague play ends. He’ll be available to pinch-hit, but proved ineffective in that role earlier this year.
Maybe the biggest question facing the Phils on this homestand is whether it will result in the end of their sellout streak at Citizens Bank Park.
When that is the big story, you know you’ve got problems.
CLICK HERE for Ryan Lawrence’s report from Toronto.
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