I don't think it is a stretch to say this is not the way the Phillies wanted to start the second half.
Take away Cole Hamels' gem Saturday night in which he was almost unhittable, and the Phils went 0-for-Atlanta.
Yesterday things got ugly as the Braves battered Kyle Kendrick en route to an 8-2 win. And is there anything quite as frustrating as a one hour, 39 minute rain delay when you getting your behind kicked?
Kendrock was dreadful again. He went 5 innings, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits, in the process raising his ERA to 4.87 as he collected his 10th loss of the season. He also walked two and hit two other batters.
As Ruben Amaro Jr. decides which pieces he might want to try to move as the trade deadline looms in two weeks, you have to think Hamels is now off that list, unless somebody just overwhelms the Phils with an offer.
One name that might be on that list gets back on the hill tonight. Cliff Lee will be the starter as the Phils kick off a home stand against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park.
It would be nice if Lee used these next couple of starts to show people he's fully recovered from the elbow strain that put him on the shelf. The problem is he got roughed up in his last rehab start in Clearwater.
The Phillies are 12 games under .500 at 43-55, 11 games out of first place in the NL East.
The only player they have who would command a king's ransom is Hamels, and he's probably the one player they should not move.
Amaro's task is not an easy one. He has an aging core of players who are starting to look every bit their age, and a young crew who have not played up to expectations. The minors? Forget about it, there's little help there.
Good thing the Eagles start camp later this week.
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