I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is not what Gabe Kapler and the Phillies' brass were hoping for when the team departed for a 7-game West Coast trip.
2-5.
Two games out of the second wild card slot.
Now looking up at the red-hot New York Mets.
To add an exclamation point to the Phils' problems, the team went on national TV last night and displayed all the same problems that have plagued them this year.
They do not hit with runners in scoring position.
Their starting pitching is spotty, their bullpen too often woeful.
And to make matters worse, ESPN analyst Alex Rodriguez skewered Kapler for several crucial moves in the game. In particular drawing A-Rod's wrath was a decision to pitch to Kevin Pillar - even when the count went to 3-1 - rather than walking him and taking your chances with struggling Brandon Crawford. Pillar laced a triple to give the Giants the lead.
The Phils went on to lose 9-6.
It's beginning to sound like starter Jake Arrieta, who lasted only three innings and 66 pitches, is considering surgery that would end his season.
"That's a mistake by Gabe Kapler," Rodriguez opined. "Careless managing, even more careless pitching for the Phillies.
In general the Phils continue to show an amazing lack of urgency as they appear intent on doing an instant replay of last summer's collapse from the playoff pitcher.
They are off tonight and then return home to face the Central Division-leading Cubs at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday night.
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