Thank God for the Miami Marlins. Right now they are all that stands between the Phillies and the basement.
In fact, the Marlins, Pirates and Padres are the only teams with a worse record than the Phils in the National League. The Brewers have matched the Phils with two measly wins.
Consider this: Take away one great effort from Cliff Lee, and one miracle comeback, and the Phillies easily could have exactly zero wins. That's right, 0-7. Still think it's too early to panic?
Last night all eyes were on troubled former ace Roy Halladay as he strode to the mound searching for some scent of the dominant pitcher he once was. All he found was the same stench that has enveloped him since last year.
Halladay again struggled with his stuff, in particular the location of his cutter. He again lasted just four innings, giving up seven earned runs on six hits. He's now joined Cole Hamels with an ERA in double digits, at a whopping 14.73.
After the game, Halladay insisted this is all in his head.
"It's 95 percent mental," the ace said. Sure. Dennis Deitch has his take on Halladay and last night's game here.
Halladay is not this team's only problem, but he certainly sits at the top of the list.
The offense continues a familiar script, unable to advance runners or hit with runners in scoring position.
And when do you think we'll see a Phillies outfielder throw out a runner at the plate? That seems like a quaint, lost art on this team, where outfielders now don't even seem to bother to throw home. I'll put the over-under on guys thrown out by Phillies outfielders at 8, and I'm taking the under.
But the pitching is what is going to haunt this team. Ruben Amaro Jr. put together a staff that was based on the belief that he would get seven innings out of his starters, then hand the game off to a reliable eighth inning guy in Mike Adams, and a lights-out closer in Jonathan Papelbon. That's not the way it's working out. The Phils' starters consistently fail to reach the fifth inning, and their middle relief has too often promptly come in and thrown gas on the fire.
Lee takes the hill tonight. He better be every bit as good as he was in his first start.
Or things could get ugly down at the no-longer-sold-out Citizens Bank Park.
Summer weather has arrived. But this edition of the Phillies is threatening to rob us of our summer pastime.
Too early to panic? I don't think so.
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