L.A. Story
The Phillies showed up in Los Angeles and laid an egg. They hope for better results this weekend in San Diego.
L.A. Story
Todd Zolecki
The Phillies have fallen out of first place in the National League East with 41 games to play in the 2008 season.
Fortunately, just four of those remaining 41 games are against the Dodgers.
But the Phillies also have six more games against the Marlins, five more games against the Mets, four more games against the Cubs and four more games against the Brewers. That's 23 games against teams with legitimate postseason aspirations. That leaves 18 games against the Nationals (nine games), Braves (six games) and Padres (three games).
Charlie Manuel considers this a great test for the 25 men in the clubhouse.
"If you want to know the truth, I think it's a good test for our team," he said. "If you're down and you lay down, if you fall out of it or you get beat, that goes to show what kind of team you are. If you stay in the hunt and you battle it out and we win, I think that tells us what kind of team we are, too. There's two ways to look at it. You know what? If we get down and we don't come back, we're not champions and we're not men."
The Phillies lost last night to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, 3-1. It's the first time the Dodgers have swept the Phillies in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium since 1962. The Dodgers swept the Phillies that year in a pair of doubleheaders: 5-1 and 4-0 on July 2 and 16-1 and 7-3 on July 4.
"We're going to win some more," Manuel said. "We've got to keep our cool, though. As long as we do that and as long as we come to the ballpark with the idea of winning that game on that day and our pitchers give us performances like that, we're definitely going to win some games. We've got 41 left. You play them all the same. We need to win a game and get going and see if can't run off four or five or six in a row or something. We're alright. We're a game back. If you would have asked me, if I would take a game back with 41 to play I would have said yes. There's no sense in us getting all bent out of shape because we've been close all year. It's going to be close for the next six weeks."
Do the players see this drop out of first as a test like Manuel?
"He's the manager," Brett Myers said. "He knows us better than we know ourselves because he watches the game every day. It's tough. We're going out there and we're busting our rear ends. It's not like we're trying to lose. We just got outpitched, outplayed. Everything. You don't get swept in a series if the other team doesn't just outplay you."
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The Jimmy Rollins story that appeared in today's paper.
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Myers allowed five hits and three runs in seven innings. He struck out eight, but took the loss. He is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts since his return to the rotation.
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In the Phillies Notebook: injuries to Greg Dobbs and Shane Victorino.
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Manny Ramirez is enjoying Boston's new blue uniforms.
Nice one Bobby, even though I'm dating myself by admitting that I understand the reference.— bski- This all comes back to the cheap ownership's decision not to re-sign Aaron Rowand. Rowand is a great centerfielder, a professional .300 hitter and a great clubhouse presence. Having Rowand would allow the Phillies to play Victorino in his best position (right field), where his great arm is more of a factor, and would greatly improve the lineup as a whole. The team said he was overpaid by SF---WHO CARES? As I count, they draw over 3 million fans at about a $45 average ticket---that's $135 million, before all the millions they make from TV, concessions and parking. Not to mention branded products. Conservatively speaking, this team, playing in the largest single team market in the majors, earns over $300 million per year in revenues. Yet they won't spend the money to compete by re-signing an essential player---they stick it all in their pockets. Until there is real ownership, this team cannot win.— Palestra Jon
- I think Jimmy Rollins is dead on about the booing by fans. It is ONE thing if a player is clearly not trying. It is another if a player is in a rut. Are people HELPING a player OR THE TEAM by putting a player's psyche DEPPER into a rut? It is time that the fans in this city stopped acting like pigs and more like real fans. Stop hiding behind the moniker of just being "informed, tough, knowlegable fans" and start being at least minimally respectful. Fans WANT to matter. Jimmy's comments SAY that a fan matters. The issue is do you want to matter positively or negatively. Baseball is so psychological - why kick a player trying hard when he's down???— Jim in Havertown
I get what you're saying, Jim. And I generally agree. But as someone pointed out in a post yesterday, you have to keep in mind that it's not most of the fans who are booing. Just like it's not most of the fans who call talk radio and complain about players. But that minority of fans who do those things are very vocal. So when you or I or the media... or Jimmy... go on about "the fans", I think it's a flawed point from the start. If players kept in mind that the bulk of the fans at any game are on their side, and the booing comes from a minority, maybe they could get past it easier. I know one thing: The way to deal with booing at home is not to complain about it, especially when the team is playing like (crap). That's just gas on the fire.— bobby- I get what you're saying, Jim. And I generally agree. But as someone pointed out in a post yesterday, you have to keep in mind that it's not most of the fans who are booing. Just like it's not most of the fans who call talk radio and complain about players. But that minority of fans who do those things are very vocal. So when you or I or the media... or Jimmy... go on about "the fans", I think it's a flawed point from the start. If players kept in mind that the bulk of the fans at any game are on their side, and the booing comes from a minority, maybe they could get past it easier. I know one thing: The way to deal with booing at home is not to complain about it, especially when the team is playing poorly. That's just gas on the fire.— bobby
- A few months ago Charlie was wondering how his team would do as front runners. The answer? Not so good. Of course he changes his tune to fit the situation. My guess - the team looks like their lost and so they lose. Where is the leadership amongst the everyday 8? Can't be a starter to lead they only pitch every 5 days. If Utley is the MVP he supposed to be then I say he's got to step it up and take over both on the field and in the room.— opfurlong
- bobby: here here! anyone else tired of taking flak because of the very vocal minority? anyone else tired of being classified as one of the "worst fans in sports" simply because the worst fans in sports do live in philadelphia, but do not comprise the majority of philadelphia fans?— acerulli
- Bobby & aceruli...I'll join this budding movement.— bski
- How much different would the reaction be if Jimmy had said "SOME OF THE FANS are frontrunners. NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT FOR SOME when you’re doing good, they’re on your side. When you’re doing bad, they’re completely against you." Honestly, the fans who boo have nothing really to be upset about. He's talking about them and he's basically right. But it's the fans who follow the team faithfully and don't consider a night of booing a good time (like me) who have a right to be ticked off for being lumped in with a small percentage. By the way, just 'cause I don't boo doesn't mean I'm not fed up with this team right now. Sadly, it's hard to see how this team can win the division right now.— bobby
- Bobby...I couldn't agree more. I don't boo either, but I certainly do get frustrated, aggravated, disappointed, etc...none of which diminishes my loyalty and support for the team.— bski
- Overpaid sissy bums. TYPICAL BASEBALL PLAYERS. Losers.— q2again
- Folks ITS OVER the Phillies Season is OVER !! They will continue to fall in the Division and they will be the same LOSERS next year with the same players MINUS Burrell and No New Pitchers. Let's Go Flyers !!— jclemas
- bobby, you must be a complete idiot! that is what they need to do more of! they usually just k in those situations. playing small ball is how you score runs consistently.— scars73
- I love this part of the computer. They have so many intellagent questions. This is the best.. At least I know if I hit SUBMIT my mail will go on line. The past week nothing has been going up for me. Why.? You could be next if you to go if you 'ask questions'— wes
- Out here in Southern California now. Caught Wendesdays game at Dodger Stadium; That was depressing. Dodger fans, they're nice...until the end of the game when they won...then they turned into Mets fans. Hopefully we'll have more luck in San Diego, be there for Saturdays game.— TKE_535
