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- Park adjusting to bullpen role
- Phils' home woes: Trying too hard?
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You Talkin' to Me?
Phils' home woes: Trying too hard?
From: Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Home woes
Wow, this has to be the oldest trio since the Ames Brothers broke up. I can assure you the subject matter will not touch on social networking, or, for that matter, events in the 21st century.
Actually, I'm interested to hear your takes on the Phillies' ongoing home struggles. Is it just a fluke? A statistical aberration? Are these guys pressing as they try to meet the lofty local, post-Series expectations?
Personally, I attribute it to all the knucklehead adults wearing younger men's uniform tops, but, hey, that's just one of my many peculiar biases.
From: Salisbury, Jim
To: Fitzpatrick, Frank; McKee, Don
Subject: Home woes
They have clearly played better on the road. It shows in the stats, both pitching and offense. Really, it's just coincidence. Nonetheless, I think it's time for Dave Montgomery to turn the hot water off in the clubhouse. It's time to put some pressure on these guys. They haven't won anything in seven months.
And what's this old stuff? I'm younger than last night's starting pitcher. Watch it or I'll tell everyone you have a pair of Schilling pajamas.
From: McKee, Don
To: Fitzpatrick, Frank; Salisbury, Jim
Subject: Home woes
The Phillies' problems at home most likely are related to Citizens Bank Park and its reputation as a Homer Haven. Are the hitters subconsciously trying to add that tiny extra snap to the bat, trying to get it into the seats?
Whatever the reason, scoring two or three runs a game won't get it done. Go back to the L.A. trip. In all of their losses over the past two weeks, including N.Y. and Tuesday night, it's due to a lack of scoring at critical points.
From: Salisbury, Jim
To: Fitzpatrick, Frank; McKee, Don
Subject: Home woes
More likely at home as opposed to road? Maybe. I think players like playing in front of 43,000 supporters every night and genuinely want to come through for them. When they don't, they tend to try harder, and that doesn't always work in baseball. Then they read about it and it becomes a self-fulfilling thingy.
This is way too serious. Bring back the tilted-headed cesspool-stirrer.
From: Fitzpatrick, Frank
To: Salisbury, Jim; McKee, Don
Subject: Home woes
Jim Fregosi?
