Phillies Now…and in the Future

Last night was Game 3 of the 2009 World Series.  After splitting the first two games in New York, and coming back home, you would think the Phillies were in great shape.  This is the same pattern that they used to win the 2008 World Series and the recently completed NLCS vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.  But I was worried.

Like many fans who have watched this year, I knew Cole Hamels wasn’t throwing like he did most of last year – and definitely not the way he dominated in the playoffs in 2008.  But where I disagree with most fans is that I haven’t seen signs that he is coming out of it.  For each of his last several starts, fans would hope that the “old Cole” would come out.  I never believed it would happen - he just seems…well…lost is the best way I can describe it.  It just seems like he is not aware of his surrounding and would rather be anywhere else.

Unfortunately my fears proved justified.  Cole was pitching good for three innings, but it just didn’t feel “solid” to me.  After losing Teixeira on a close 3-2 pitch ( I thought it was a ball), Cole started to pout.  “Just Cole being Cole” – to borrow a phrase from another baseball superstar.  Cole, like any child who is pouting, lost focus on the here-and-now and gave up a Home Run to A-Rod.  15 minutes later in the 5th inning, the Evil Empire was circling the bases and Cole was headed for the showers.

My fears were realized - and my fear now is, this series spirals out of control.  I think they lose again tonight (CC is due to beat the Phillies).  They probably can survive with Lee on the mound Monday – but I think it is lights out Wednesday night in Game 6.  “Who’s Your Daddy???”

Will I be disappointed – sure.  But going into this season, after delivering a World Championship to our area, I said if the Phillies made the post season, I would be satisfied – and I am.  I would love to be a fan of a back-to-back championship team and start the conversations of a Dynasty – but if it is not meant to be, so be it.

My bigger concern is the status of the pitching both now and for the future.  A couple of months ago I was feeling great about the future of this staff – but now I think you have to wonder.  And here is why:

1.  Lee only has one year remaining on his contract.  If the Phillies are smart, they extend him during the off-season.  But will they want to pay him?

2.  What do you do with Pedro?  Do you sign him, or was he a one shot attempt to win back-to-back?  He’s going to want to be paid.

3.  Brett Myers is a total bust.  We have gotten very little from him in the past few years, and I just don’t think his ego fits on this team.  He needs to be cut loose and use his money to lock down Lee and maybe even Pedro.

4.  Cole Hamels - I outlined my playoff concerns above.  Honestly, I haven’t been fond of him all year.  I hope it was a one year blip, but I fear he may be overrated and we got the best of him last year.

5.  J. Happ - I like this kid – I think he can be the real deal – but have the Phillies hurt his confidence by not giving him any starts in the playoffs?  We’ll have to wait and see.

6. What do you do about Jamie Moyer?  I love the grit and the back story – but he is due to collect Social Security next year.

So, because of doubts in the pitching rotation, my plans for a dynasty might have to be tabled for now.  OK, maybe the Yankees are having something to do with all of this.  I must say, I am feeling a great disturbance in the force.

Angering the Baseball Gods

Let me say this right at the top – I am very pleased that the Phillies are coming home for Game 3 tied 1-1 with the Dodgers.  Anytime you start a playoff series in the opposing team’s house, you pray for a split.  So with that in mind – mission accomplished.  It should have been more. 

They were in position to come home 2-0 and the series all but over.  But I truly believe the Phillies upset the baseball gods.

First, they removed pitcher Pedro Martinez because he reached his “pitch limit.”  Never mind that after 7 innings he had given up TWO hits, made Manny  look silly, and had only thrown 86 pitches.  The baseball gods were smiling on him!  But the Phillies lost faith and remove him from the game.  I’ll spare you the rant about the bullpen for another time.

But then in the bottom of the 8th, the Phillies decided to do what my dad and I believe is the least statistically sound move in all of sports.  They decided to “guard the line” at 1st and 3rd to prevent a double.  In my opinion, the only thing guarding the line prevents is getting an out on what is normally a routine grounder – which is exactly what happen.  The first Dodgers player hits a ball between Shortstop and Third that Pedro Feliz had go off his glove.  One man on – nobody out.  Had he been in normal position, that is the first out of the inning.

Baseball prides itself on its statistics.  If you watch any game on TV, you get nothing but statistics on the screen.  How anyone knows exactly what a player has done “after the 7th inning, with two outs, runners in scoring position, and the count of 1 ball and 2 strikes” is amazing. 

The stat I want to see is the percentage of balls that are hit right at the 1st or 3rd baseman in the 9th inning when they are guarding the line vs. how many “potential” outs are given up because the ball is “just out of reach” because they are not in their “normal” position.

After this “off the glove” base hit, the entire flow of the inning changed.  With the score 1-0, the Dodgers attempt to move the runner with a sacrifice bunt – the baseball gods are pleased with the Dodgers for honoring traditions.  The Phillies – not so much.  Instead of a sacrifice, the bunt becomes unplayable and the Dodgers have two on, nobody out. 

The Phillies were not done atoning for their sins.  The next ball is a tailor made 5-4-3 double play ball.  However the “4″ – being Chase Utley – has now developed the ultimate baseball curse – he can’t make a clean throw to 1st base.  He did something similar in game 1, but that time the timing was off and he rushed it – no big deal.  But last night was different.  He was set, was not rushed, admits he had a good grip – yet the ball went 6 feet left of Ryan Howard and hit the screen of the Phillies dugout – OH NO! 

What could cause our All-Star 2nd baseman to start doing this?  I refer you to the baseball gods. 

From this point, the bottom of the 8th turned into a 30-minute nightmare where the Phillies used FIVE pitchers, and ended with the Dodgers ahead 2-1.  Game Over!

Am I worried about the series.  No.  As I said, I love coming back to Philly for three games tied 1-1.  This follows the pattern of 3 of the last 4 playoff series the Phillies have been involved in.  I trust they are in good shape.  I just hope the gods will have forgiven us by Sunday night. 

I think I will light a candle in church tomorrow – just to make sure!

I was weak…I’m sorry

As a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, I am use to being disappointed.  Which means, I can usually tell when a game is going in the wrong direction and there is no hope.  This often means that I sometimes turn off the TV and move on to other activities.  I don’t think this means I am not a true fan, but I will agree that maybe I need to give up the title of “diehard.”  I really keep forgetting this team truly has the “Never say Die attitude.”

So with that set-up, I am admitting that I made an error in judgement the other evening.  During Game 4 of the Divisional Series vs. the Rockies – the Phillies gave up a 2-1 lead and fell behind 4-2.  As the 4th run was crossing the plate, I declared the game over and turned off the TV.  I went on to catch up on some work tasks I needed to get done that night.

I want it on record that I was not giving up on my team.  I figured we always had Game 5 in Philly the next night.  I just assumed (there is that word), they were done for Game 4.

Imagine my shock when my wife called back to the den 15 minutes later to inform me the game was tied.  Before I could finish what I was doing, she announced the score as 5-4.  I couldn’t believe it.

Now, you would think that I ran out to watch the rest of the game – but I didn’t.  Since it dawned on me that I had missed all of the Phillies runs this game (I had to work late and didn’t get home until after the game was underway), I figured my team was doing better with me not watching.  Yes, I am that superstitious – deal with it. 

Apparently I was right.  I did sneak a peek when Lidge came into the game to close it out – but we all know what kind of nightmare his appearance have been this year.  So, I stayed outside the room and just kept an ear out for the final pronouncement that we had beaten the Rockies.

Now we are on to the Dodgers – a team I know we can beat.  So if you are wondering – will he watch.  Of course I will watch – until such time that I think the game is hopeless.  If you think I am deserving of being mocked – let me leave you with this thought.  The entire playoffs in 2008 I said the Phillies have no shot.  Look how that ended.  We can only hope to be so fortunate again in 2009.

RED October Baby!

Seriously…3 a.m.?

I know I am not the first to ever complain about this – and there have probably been many mainstream articles and other blogs about this already today…but I just can’t resist.

Does it make sense to anyone that the Phillies / Rockies game started at 10:07 p.m. EDT last night and ended somewhere past 2:30 a.m.?  I admit it, I don’t know exactly what time the game ended – I went to bed nearly 3-1/2 hours before it did.  I just know I woke up at 1:30 a.m. checked the game and was shocked to see it only in the 8th inning.

The question I want to know is, who the hell was actually awake – willingly – at that hour of the morning to see the game end?  Yes, I know, you’ll hear people complain about the “East Coast Bias” – but come on – the game ended after midnight in Colorado.  That is just silly and dumb.  Never mind the freezing temperatures.

Many before me have commented that the young boys and girls who love baseball get shut out in the post season because of these late starts.  But there are others: like me (42 years-old) who had to work today.  There is the priest at my church who was up at 5 a.m. Sunday for the 7:30 a.m. Mass.  Good bet he didn’t stay up to see the end – and he is probably the biggest Philly fan I know.  Then there is my 85 year-old father-in-law – another lifetime Phillies diehard.  He probably only saw 2 innings at most.

So, major league baseball is not just losing the young fans – they are alienating all of their fans.  I would love to see the rating on that game.  No way more than seven people outside of the Philadelphia and Denver markets cared enough to watch that game.  I think it is time that MLB give up a few dollars (they can afford it) on the contracts and allow multiple networks the right to carry these games – or insist on games starting at reasonable times.

I’m done now.  Thanks for letting me add to the cyberspace clutter on this topic.