Phillies on fumes
How tired are they?
Phillies on fumes
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
As the Phillies limp home, just the facts here.
There are 30 teams in the major leagues. On those 30 teams, there are 43 players who have played in at least 150 games so far this season. The typical team has one, maybe two. The Phillies have six: Ryan Howard (155), Pedro Feliz (153), Jayson Werth (153), Chase Utley (152), Jimmy Rollins (151) and Shane Victorino (150).
Now, look at it since the All-Star break. Fifteen players in the whole entire major leagues have played at least 68 games since the break. Five of them -- one-third -- come from a single team, the Phillies: Rollins, Howard, Werth, Feliz and Utley.
They look tired. They are tired. They need to get this thing settled quickly. They need the time, physically and also mentally.
Just the facts.
Also, I don't think 5-5 for a 10-day roadtrip is a poor roadtrip, given they played the Braves (winning 2 out of 3), Marlins and Brewers. Time to step it up on the homestand.— PhillyPhantastico- Tired? No excuse. These are young guys (for the most part). They should be in good enough shape to handle it. So maybe they played 4-5 more games over the last 6 months than most of the other players - that's only one game a month. It's just one of those typical cycles, and now they feel the pressure. Actually, the fans probably feel the pressure more than the players. They'll be there at season's end. GO PHILS!— dlscholt
- Very interesting article. It could be one reason as to WHY the Phillies have been so average the last month. It will be interesting to see if they can demonstrate, "the heart of a champion", and close this thing out. Time to "walk the talk". I F#$**^% Believe; Go Phightin's!!!— flyerdup
- I am a Big fan of Cholly... but he really screwed this up.— wxdavid
- "whole entire" wow, this is a vet columnist and some writers are looking for a job...?...— GPG13
- "Biggest idiot to ever manage an MLB team" has a World Series ring there, bub. You're the biggest idiot to ever comment on a blog. And that, my friend, is saying something.— andrewfrombrooklyn
- Not much Charlie could do with the bench he had this year. Dobbs is still hurting and cant play the field. Bruntlett? No thanks. Mayberry? Cant hit a curve ball to save his tail. Cairo? That's in Egypt, right? So that leaves Francisco and he can't play everywhere. Clinch tomorrow and rest the last four games. They'll be fine.— charlieS
- If "The Boob and the Doob" get one more win, they lock up the most successful three year run in the 127 year history of this franchise. But, some people make it sound like Cholly is a poor man's Rich Kotite- it's ridiculous and laughable.— KMG
- Start Stairs in right, batting cleanup to get him 4 at bats in a game.— Delaware Jim
- Charlie most surely is not a boob. He is a bumbling boob. His ticket is punched coz he is World Ph***ing champion. Can you imagine this team having a truly sharp tactician for a manager? They would have won a dozen more games. The flip side of the coin is these guys play for him in a relaxed athmosphere. Does that win them a dozen? I donno but a decent manager would not have let ledge blow half the games Cholly let him blow. A decent manager would not allow a 245 wanna be slugger leadoff either. Go Phils!!— dlauver1
- I love me some Phils.— Bex
- Last night's win was huge. We now have some breathing room to let the horses rest. Let the Bench take over and carry the ball for a night or two. Moyer going down really puts crimp in the plans. Would liked to have seen Moyer back in the rotation and Pedro as the clsoer.— JimB
