Looking for the Big Four
Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell are key to the Phillies offense. They simply haven't done the job the past 10 weeks.
Looking for the Big Four
Todd Zolecki
The Phillies offense is Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell.
That's not to disparage other players in the lineup like Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and Chris Coste. It's just that those four are the MVPs, the all-stars, the big money men.
They're the reason the Phillies have led the league in scoring each of the previous two seasons.
But the Big Four hasn't produced in months, which is why the Phillies have fallen 2 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the National League East -- their largest deficit in the standings since April 23.
Here's a look at how the Big Four have performed since the team's notorious 20-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on June 13:
Jimmy Rollins
Through June 13: .278 (50 for 180) with five homers and 22 RBIs.
Since June 13: .248 (59 for 238) with three homers and 20 RBIs.
In August: .211 (16 for 76) with two RBIs.
Chase Utley
Through June 13: .317 (83 for 262) with 22 homers and 61 RBIs.
Since June 13: .248 (54 for 218) with eight homers and 23 RBIs.
In August: .243 (17 for 70) with three homers and nine RBIs.
Ryan Howard
Through June 13: .212 (54 for 255) with 17 homers and 54 RBIs.
Since June 13: .248 (56 for 226) with 16 homers and 50 RBIs.
In August: .164 (11 for 67) with three homers and nine RBIs.
Pat Burrell
Through June 13: .284 (62 for 218) with 17 homers and 43 RBIs.
Since June 13: .240 (48 for 200) with 12 homers and 27 RBIs.
In August: .167 (10 for 60) with three homers and six RBIs.
Coincidental or not, Rollins is hitting .091 (3 for 33) since he called Phillies fans front-runners in Los Angeles on Aug. 13. Howard is hitting .086 (3 for 25) since Aug. 11. Burrell is hitting .149 (7 for 47) since Aug. 5. Utley is hitting .214 (6 for 28) since Aug. 12.
If not for Victorino and Werth and a few others stepping up with the occasional big hit, the Phillies would be further back.
“We’re definitely capable of hitting,” Charlie Manuel said after last night's 4-3 loss to the Nationals. “We’ve hit for the last three and a half years. We have a lot of the same guys. I know they can hit, but I can’t exactly tell you when we’re going to get going.”
Time is running out. If they don't start hitting, this could get ugly fast.
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In the Phillies Notebook: the Phillies have a ridiculously tough schedule coming up. They play 20 of their next 23 games against the Dodgers, Mets, Cubs, Brewers and Marlins. The Phillies also don't think they'll be getting any bench help before the end of the season.
It is utterly amazing that basically the entire team went in the tank at the same time. All Phillies players have blame but certainly the bulk of it lies with the "stars" of the team. Just as you wouldn't expect the 4th and 5th SP's to carry you through the playoffs, you cannot expect the Phillies supporting cast to carry you through a season. There is a reason the stars are paid so much money...to produce, and this year has been pathetic. Looking at the stats Todd mentions, it is crazy how long this team has been awful. But what might be more amazing is the fact that for two months Charlie continues to throw the same lineup out there. My goodness, how long must a player stink before he is benched? At least for a few games? Does it take a baseball genius to see that Howard is way overmatched against virtually any lefthander? The fact that he continued to use this lineup for so long speaks volumes about how bad his bench is and how little we have in the farm system. Every member of the Phillies offense, especially the "stars", should give back part of their paychecks because they have done little to earn that money. Donate it charity or offer to apply it to getting a good, clutch hitter for next year...or both.— MrPhillie
These numbers just backup what many of us have been saying on this blog for weeks (months?). Sure, it's great to see Victorino, Werth, etc. come though in a pinch. But time and time again over the past few weeks, we've seen the game come down to the big four, and more times than not they have failed to come through. Chase had a good night tonight (at the plate, not in the field), but Howard looked horrible and Burrell same deal. I said this in a previous post, but I have to wonder if some of these guys have bailed on the season at this point. I hate to think like that, but it's hard to know what to think at this point.— bobby- Phils have Victorino, the tying run at 2nd base no outs.. The best we could do is Bruntlett,Ruiz,Coste.. I know the big guns are having down years,but thats when you need the others to step up. We can't get rid of the stars but those (3)guys shouldn't even be in the league.. As Homer Pyle once said "shame,shame,shame,shame,shame". You hear that Gillick ?— pat h
- Pat: Not saying that I disagree with you, but the Bruntlett move tonight made no sense. Yes, it was Pedro's first game back, but if he can play, he should play the entire game, and his defense is one of his most valuable attributes. Bruntlett should not have been in this game, or many others this year. I like Charlie a lot, especially as a leader, but he is a terrible decision maker. Perhaps it's time for him to go...— maximusud
- Man, how great is Jamie Moyer? Battling like this at 45... It's a shame this effort went to waste.— NJLouis66
- Cholly had to PH Dobbs for Feliz in his spot and it worked with the RBI knocked in to tie the game....a no brainer and the right one....having said that, this team has sucked and still sucks....and with the exception of a few players is not worth cheering for. There are either many hurt players, playing hurt and being quiet about their injuries or there's a heck of a lot more wrong in that clubhouse than any of us have been told.....maybe we're just seeing more of the old choke in the clutch Phils? Maybe they can't be front runners? Maybe they haven't learned anything about winning or how to win the last few years? Maybe they just realized part of their soul was torn out when management refused to retain Rowand, or get Harden, or Sabbathia, or Manny or....?— Mark1npt
- I don't understand how someone making $8MM and $10MM can perform in the manner they're performing and have the attitudes they have. Utley deserves an earful as well, but the last two games he looks like he's regained his stroke. Why Rollins is still lead off instead of victorino and why Mendoza hasn't been demoted 1-2 spots in the lineup is beyond my comprehension. Finally, why isn't Blanton being sent to the bullpen to be a fire thrower and JA Happ being put in to the lineup down the stretch. All the earlier comments have legs but the reality is that these guys need to play to their capabilities. Howard at 10 MM, Utley at 12/15MM, Burrell and Rollins at $8MM each (maybe more for burrell). They should be delivering results - forget about manny or harden or sabbathia - how about they put their money where their mouths are and just play. Rowand was clearly the heart and soul of the team. The only one who truly knew how to lead.— diehardphan
- They've stunk way before the trade deadline, and Rowand hasn't worked any magic in the San Fran clubhouse. They are simply playing awful. the question is, if this continues and they finsih out of the race, what do you do next year? Does Pat get a new contract? With Rollins, Utley, and Howard all hovering near 30, is it time to break up the core?— RG
- there aren't any bona fide players on the giants. Charlie is a terrible game coach. bruntlett should have bunted last night (one of 25 bad decisions a year or more)— diehardphan
- Howard isn't part of any core. like one of the posts said, it's foolish to have him in the lineup against any lefty. Rollins is a career 265/270 hitter and doesn't want to be a lead off guy. If he's in the lineup bat him 5th/6th. we should have finished the holliday/fuentes deal, but it would have cost us happ. break up the core (meaning get rid of howard, entertain rollins trades since he's bailed on the city, and as for pat the bat - I have nothing but respect for how he's conducted himself the last full year, but he's not a 4 hole or 5 hole hitter.— diehardphan
- and sadly, we might have won a world championship if we had selected Leyland as the manager instead of Manuel. That's the one thing I'll really take with me from this 4-8 year stretch - if only we had Leyland and all this bs wasn't tolerated and good game decisions were made. We would have won the division every year as Charlie wouldn't have made the game decisions and I think it's worth 12 games a year.— diehardphan
- Charlie made horrible decisions last night and it was not the right move to pull Feliz. If he's healthy he should be playing he would've gotten the sac fly in that spot no question. I agree with the rest of the comments here that the lineup should be broken up and the big 4 need to produce period. Getting rid of the core is not the answer if we have any chance of winning anything. Replacing Burrell with a hit for average OF and replacing Manuel & Thompson will be good starts— DaFranchise
- Ummm, whats Leyland did with an ultra talented, high payrolled team in Detroit? As for the Giants, if that is true, than why did Rowand go there? Just the money? what kind of leadership is that, leaving a first place team for a last place one?— RG
- Ryan Howard is like a Little League player - either he whiffs or hits a bomb into the woods. Nothing in between. Striking out (again) with Victorino on 2nd and nobody out last night then followed by Burrell's double play grounder did it for me - these guys are done. Trade Howard in the off season - we'll miss his entertaining HRs, but you win in MLB by getting clutch hits (look at the BoSox) not just by hitting mammoth HRs. The Mets suddenly can't lose - they are coming through in the clutch...the Phils want to blame the fans for their woes..now they won't even face the media when they stink up the joint. Sad times. Season over. Move on to football.— steelman#1
- Sorry..I think Werth was on 2nd with no out in the eighth, not Victorino..Charlie changes the lineup out of desperation so often, it's difficult to remember the batting order night after night.— steelman#1
