Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 1:14 PM | 12 comments |
 

3, 4, 5, 6 In A Row
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Jamie Moyer did his job last night in Oakland. The offense did not and the Phillies lost, 5-2.

Don't pin this one on Jamie Moyer.

He did his job.

He pitched beautifully through six innings last night in a 5-2 loss to the A's at McAfee Coliseum. He just got no run support, which has been a trend in the Phillies' six-game losing streak. The Phillies have the worst record in baseball since they swept the Braves in Atlanta a couple weeks ago.

"We've got guys not hitting," Charlie Manuel said. "I mean swinging bad. Swinging at balls in the dirt. Chasing balls over their heads. It looks like they've never seen a baseball. Really. They can go back to square one and think about what they've always done. And that's be aggressive, but at the same time be patient enough to get good balls to hit. That right there is how we're going to come out of it."

Bob Ford thinks just like Manuel apparently. He said while it might be nice to add C.C. Sabathia, this team is built around its offense and only the offense is going to carry it into the postseason.

*

Of course, they might need a little bullpen help down the road. Tom Gordon hasn't pitched since June 15 because of a "balky" right shoulder. He said he's fine. But should the shoulder act up again and again, the Phillies might need to shore up the strongest part of their pitching staff.

*

In the Phillies Notebook, Shane Victorino and Kurt Suzuki - the prides of Maui - face off.
Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 1:14 PM  Permalink | 12 comments
12
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:08 PM, 06/25/2008
    Todd - here's a question best posed to someone close to the team. Before Chase's current offensive funk, I distinctly remember seeing him hit by a pitch on the back of his left hand or wrist. I think it was in the second game in Atlanta, but I'm not positive. Is there an unreported story here?
    — defg0003
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:24 PM, 06/25/2008
    It looks like they've never seen a baseball. Really.

    This would be hilarious if it weren't so true.
    — Jeffrey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:32 PM, 06/25/2008
    MARK1NPT: There it is. Gordon has broken down again. We knew it was just a matter of time. If we would pick up another starter, now would be the perfect time to move Myers to the pen. I'm not saying that he should step into Gordon's spot, only that with Gordon down, coupled with the fact that we won't be able to use him heavily or rely on him too much whenever he comes back, there is an opening.
    — bski
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:33 PM, 06/25/2008
    I'm an optimist and I hope that this downward spiral will very soon pass us by and the offensive machine we know and love will return with a vengence. GO PHILS!
    — KarenA
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:23 PM, 06/25/2008
    Defg003, I thought you might be on to something so I looked at the box scores since then. Here's the quick skinny: On June 7 against ATL, Utley was HBP twice by Reyes and Stockman. He went 2-3 that game. The next five game against ATL and STL, he went a combined 6-19 (.316), culminating in the 20-2 blowout at STL where he hit his 22nd HR. Since that last game in STL, he's 1-28. The whole team has been in a funk since the STL massacre except for the 8-3 Boston win where Howard had two HRs.
    — RAS
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:29 PM, 06/25/2008
    Correction, make that ... The next five games against ATL, FLA, and STL, he went a combined 6-19 (.316), ....
    — RAS
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:01 PM, 06/25/2008
    Last night was another in a long history of games where the line-up is dominated by the opponent's starter. Everyone in the line-up seems to be able to hit the fastball (as long it's not high heat, which is either popped up or missed entirely). However, when it comes to hitting good breaking stuff and change-ups, this line-up is feeble! It's been like this for years now. Everyone needs to stop trying to pull every pitch and take what the pitcher gives them. Hit the outside pitches the other way and keep the rallies going, instead of rolling over them and grounding into double plays.
    — southpaw57
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:44 PM, 06/25/2008
    RAS, so Chase's malaise doesn't correlate with the 2nd Atlanta game. I remember wincing when I saw Chase hit in the hand, but I don't know in which game it happened. Boxscores don't provide such details, even the play by play simply says "hbp" - and, as your data suggests, it's probably not relevant. 'Just wondering.
    — defg0003
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:13 PM, 06/25/2008
    I remember him getting hit on the arm/hand too in ATL, but his slump really didn't start until the second game in STL, six games later, according to the box scores. Nice try though!
    — RAS
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:27 PM, 06/25/2008
    I wonder how Gordon's breaking down will affect the teams effort to extend his contract. There was talk about that in the past month as the Phillies powers to be continue to hold onto the notion that he can still play.
    — Nick from the Northeast
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:41 PM, 06/25/2008
    NICK: They can't be serious, can they? How can the Phils even consider extending Gordon's contract? He has continually broken down the entire time he's been here, even though he has been closely monitored. With how tight our budget is, we can't afford to spend money on a Ming vase setup man.
    — bski
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:39 PM, 06/25/2008
    Answer to BSKI: It's called the Path of Least Resistance (PLR). It's like continuing to date a girl you know because it's easier than meeting a new girl. It would be comfortable for the Phillies to re-sign Tom Gordon, Pat Burrell, Jamie Moyer, and others. But does it help them. Remember the motto of the Phillies: "Jobs for Life". (Just ask Chris Wheeler).
    — Nick from the Northeast


12 comments
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