My wife is a big-time Phillies fan.
As she usually does, she has hitched her wagon to one particular player.
This is the woman who to this day remains the captain of the Eric Lindros fan club.
She goes for guys who are ... ahem ... "in touch with their feelings," who seem like genuinely nice guys. The sensitive types. What the hell she’s doing with me I have no idea.
Her man on the Phillies is Cole Hamels. Believe it or not, I don’t think it has that much to do with his looks. No, I’m not jealous, Cole. But if you’d like me to negotiate that new contract for you, just give me a call. Or better yet the Mrs. It would make her day.
Every time Hamels takes the mound, my wife is on pins and needles.
She actually doesn’t watch the games when he’s pitching; she gets too nervous.
Yesterday, Hamels was in the zone. He was mowing down the Rays, allowing only three hits over seven innings.
The problem was he didn’t pitch the eighth; Antonio Bastardo did. Hamels got the hook after throwing 111 pitches with the Phils hanging onto a 1-0 lead by their fingernails.
You know what happened next. You can read Ryan Lawrence's take on it here.
Bastardo walked the leadoff hitter. We were at a party for our extended family’s newest member, a baby that can only be described as a “miracle” after surviving some serious health issues after birth.
There have been very few miracles this year for the Phils, unless you count Jim Thome’s walkoff homer Saturday that allowed them to avoid being swept by the Rays.
That’s right. Bastardo walked two of the first three batters he faced, then gave up a homer to Carlos Pena. 3-1 Rays. They held on for the 3-2 win.
No 11th win for Hamels. No momentum for the Phillies. Cliff Lee was ordinary in Game 2 of the day-night doubleheader as the Phils lost, 7-3.
They remain nine games back of the Nationals and appear to be going nowhere.
Forget all that. I've got more important issues. My wife is not a happy camper. She went off on the bullpen. She has lots of company there. The seventh and eighth and innings have been a mine field all season for the Philies. They have the best, highest-paid closer in baseball, but too often have no bridge that can safely get them from their outstanding starting pitching to Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth.
My wife’s suggestion? Have Papelbon throw two innings. Not sure how long he would hold up that way.
But I do know one thing. It is not yet July 4 but this Phillies team appears ready to put the “dog” in dog days. Too many guys look to be going through the motions.
It’s a long season. This team has been decimated by injuries, including losing the heart of their lineup with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard on the shelf.
Utley will play at Triple A Lehigh Valley Tuesday night and could be in the Phillies lineup later this week.
I don’t think he’s going to be enough to turn around this team’s misfortune. Unless he brings a middle reliever with him.
Howard would certainly help, and hopefully all those who have been dissing him the past few years as he scuffled in the post-season now have a new appreciation for what he means to this lineup. Amazing how much better Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence become with Howard looming behind them in the batting order.
I don’t want to give up on this team.
I know my wife doesn’t. Although I can tell you right now, Ruben. If you don’t re-sign Hamels, she will never forgive you.
We’re past the summer solstice. The days will start to get shorter. As will the Phillies’ chances for turning this thing around.
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