Tuesday Night’s game with the Braves was there to be won, but once again the Phillies offense couldn’t generate enough offense to do so.
Injuries or no injuries, only 3 hits in 11 innings is unacceptable. The Phillies got another fine outing from Cole Hamels, and the bullpen did it’s best to keep the game tied for as long as possible. However, after the first inning the Phillies offense managed just three base runners.
Injuries shouldn’t be an excuse for the rest of the stars in this lineup to be ineffective. Jimmy Rollins has just 5 hits in his last 9 games and only 2 walks. His average his dipped from .292 to .247.
Shane Victorino is capable of hitting between .280 and .300, but is only hitting .252 this season. Jayson Werth has been largely MIA after going on a tear to start the season.
With these players making it easy in opposing pitchers, it takes away from Ryan Howard’s effectiveness. Howard has consistently hit in the .290s all season, but without the rest of the lineup working properly has found it harder to get his power numbers up. The fact that he is still among the top run producers in the league only speaks volumes about how good a player he is.
When Rollins and Victorino aren’t getting on base for him, there aren’t many chances for him to drive in runs. When Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez aren’t hitting behind him, it makes it easier for pitchers to pitch around him since they have no reason to fear the players behind him.
The offense is still stuck in a horrid slump. They didn’t show up in Pittsburgh for three of the four games, and they haven’t shown up in either game of the Braves series so far. Roy Halladay was able to mask the problem for a night, but the poor play of the offense continues to drag this team down further and further away from playoff contention.
Rollins, Victorino, Werth and Ibanez can’t point to Chase Utley’s injured thumb and Placido Polanco’s injured elbow and use it as an excuse for them not to step up their games.
phillies look like an old,tired team already if you ask me..
Victorino,Rollins have lost a 1/2 step and don’t seem to have a bounce in their step like they used to..
Werth is gone after this season (via Free-Agency) and needs to be traded now to get something in return instead of nothing after the season is over.. Ibanez have batted about .240 since last July and his power #’s are down though he has warmed up recently but still is 38 years old and is a liability in the field..The Bullpen is one of the worst in MLB and cannot be counted on to close the door on opposing teams as in the past which is why Manager C Manuel has to stay with his starters for too long in the ballgames in which they get pooped and then get hit around late in games…
(Blanton/Hamels/Kendrick/Moyer) .. If Manuel had confidence in his Bullpen, these pitchers would
pitch 6 innings and stay fresher as the season and games go along.. but with Manuel having very little confidence in his bullpen, this has forced these starters to pitch longer and later in games which is catching up to the staff…When you see Blanton/Moyer/Kendrick pitch deep into games,for the most part, it is due that Manuel has little confidence that the Bullpen can hold a lead for 2-3 innings..
Anyone notice how my Relief Closer I wanted the Phils to go after last off-season is tearing it up for the Florida Marlins this season (A Soriano is 22 out of 23 in save situations) and is one of the big reasons for Florida being a better team…
Maybe they should bench the overpaid non-producers and give some willing minors a try.