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.
Sorry to say this, but this team will never make the playoffs. They are not a playoff team. They can't sweep the Nats, while the Mets are taking care of business against the Braves. I can't remember the last time Howard did anything! The pitching is not the problem either. Why can't they have good pitching and good hitting in the SAME year!— ronin32- RG, Leyland took Detroit to the world series without all the "superstars". Getting a broken down dontrelle willis and a broken down gary sheffield isn't really good stuff and they were down their entire bullpen stock for over half the season this year. rodney and zumaya in the back of that bullpen and they have 10-15 games of improvement. As for Rowand, the phils didn't put together the right package. The fact he left and got paid, is what it is. He didn't "owe" philly anything. He came here in a trade and he played his heart out (even running into a chain link fence. They had an opportunity and didn't capitalize. Finally, (and not directed at our exchange) how about Kyle Lohse... - thought I heard a collective ugh when everyone read this part. 3 yrs and 21 mm he says no to doing, but when we could sign him for $4.2mm we say "we're going in a different direction"??? we were right. we're leaving the playoffs and falling apart in the clubhouse with posers like rollins and howard.— diehardphan
- 2009 Phillies Lineup Jimmy Rollins ss Shane Victorino cf Chase Utley 2b Ryan Howard 1B Jayson Werth RF Geoff Jenkins LF Pedro Feliz 3B Carlos Ruiz c Another championship caliber team.— jrquixote
- Howard - 29 years old and hits .180 or worse against lefties and he's in our clean up spot. Send howard west where they don't boo and they don't stick around to the end. let him experience them showing up in 2nd or 3rd inning and leaving before 7th inning stretch to go to a club or late dinner. He wants to not be held accountable..., send him to SD. And goodness gracious, wouldn't it be nice for all of us if we could have a manager like scioscia who teaches his team how to play the game right.— diehardphan
- What about Cabrera for Detroit? Renteria? These were all the big moves Phils fans moaned about, and Leyland couldn't manage them into the playoffs. As for injuries, how quick we forget how Manuel dealt with them last year. Utley and Hamels both down a month. Howard out for 2 weeks. Gordon down, followed by Myers. Two RFs injured in the same game (Vic and Bourn). Madson out. Can't use injuries as an excuse for Leyland. An Manuel took the Indians to the World Series. As for Rowand, he did owe me anything, a stupid GM decided to pay him superstar money for 15 HRs and 80 RBIs. He's losing speed and will be corner OF soon, which will make it worse.— RG
- I don't believe that pulling Feliz was the wrong move at all. What has he done in the clutch this year? The guy is another strikeout machine in a strikeout-laden lineup. Hitting Dobbs was the right move, IMO. No one expects Bruntlett to botch plays at third. His AB in the 9th was horrendous, however. Tying run at second, less than two outs, in the 8th AND 9th innings, and you cannot get him home either time. Inexcusable. What I am wondering is what has happened to Jimmy Rollins? Not focusing on his numbers, or his comments, but just his personality... What happened to that infectious attitude everyone fell in love with, the million dollar smile, the on-field energy, and the dugout horseplay? Wasn't the guy given a ton of credit last year for keeping the team "loose"? This team looks like nothing, if not extremely tight, to me.— RollinsWasRight
- You might say I am crazy for saying this but I want your opinions.. Howard up in the bottom of the 8th, no outs man on first and second down by one. It most cases you let Howard try to hit one out of the park. But against the picter Howard was 0 for 6 with 5 strike outs. Before last night. Knowing these stats what about a bunt?— Beef69
- I find the whole "blow up the core" mentality fascinating. This is still a solid core. They need a few tweaks, most notably a reputable hitting coach that can actually coach hitting, and a middle-of-the-lineup run producer who doesn't strike out a lot. Those two things alone would make a palpable difference in consistency of the lineup. I get the desire to trade Ryan Howard... not sure I agree, but I don't think anyone can argue that at any point prior to this season, his value in trade was far greater than his value on the field, due mostly to the strikeouts, his lack of committment to plate discipline, and his eroding defense. I still think the biggest issue for this team is the attitude of Jimmy Rollins. Anyone else notice that Pat Burrell looked like he wanted to choke slam Jimmy last night after Jimmy bobbled that ball? I found it fascinating... I didn't think Jimmy had a shot at Anderson Hernandez at first anyway, but the look on Burrell's face was UGLY, as he stood in LF with his hands on his hips glaring at Jimmy Rollins. It may be that there is a divide in that locker room, and that the MVP has alienated some of his teammates with his attitude overhaul from last season. Maybe we'll get lucky... maybe Burrell will stuff Jimmy in a locker, and Charlie won't be able to find him for a few days. Jimmy needs to be benched until he puts J-Roll to sleep, and rediscovers Jimmy Rollins.— RollinsWasRight
- Beef, I seriously thought about that. Not about bunting Howard, but about pinch hitting Taguchi, and having him bunt the runners over. With Werth on second and Utley on first, both very good baserunners, it is unlikely they would be able to force either one of them. The problem was that Charlie didn't really have anyone else left who could play first in the ninth. Feliz and Dobbs were out of the game, Bruntlett was at third. Unless you brought in Coste to play first. I do think it is way past time to stop treating Howard like he is special, and start treating him like any other player. If he doesn't hit lefties, then he shouldn't be hitting in a big spot against a lefty in the late innings. Losing his defensive presence in a close game late wouldn't hurt either. But he hasn't been a special player in two years, time to stop giving him special treatment.— RollinsWasRight
- RG, Good points all of them. Just one last thing, then I have to hit the road. Rowand's presence is in the clubhouse. I would have been fine with him in RF this year and vic in CF and burrell in left - and I would be fine with that for a few years with burrell unfortunately then gone and werth in his place. leadership is the key - and Rollins is a distraction, not a motivator this year.— diehardphan
- The question is no longer WHERE IS CHASE UTLEY-its become WERE CHASE UTLEY'S EARLY CAREER NUMBERS A MIRAGE?— Truth
- Thanks for an honest appraisal of the Phils Todd. I have been trying to make this point for a month. A championship team just can’t succeed on the bottom of the order. Period! Sure they can bail you out some of the time but the guys you depend on to put the runs up there on the board are the top five hitters. It would not be unusual to see one or two players having problems at the plate, but when your whole offense is having a problem then something is up. A big league hitter who can time a 93 mph fast ball can also time an 80 mph breaking pitch. He just can’t drive it as far. As for good pitching taking its toll, yeah pitchers can get in certain players heads and have constant success against them but a whole team, all the time and from every club. I don’t think so. If you change the focus and back up a bit say over 3 ½ years you see a club with tremendous potential becoming a bust. There is something wrong and we’re not hearing about.— Wally 24
- Did anyone see the look on Jimmy Rollins face last night before he batted in the ninth. When the camera focused on him in the on deck circle he had a disinterested scowl on his face like he didn't even want to play for this team anymore. I think he's one of the best SS in baseball but he is killing this team with his attitude. I've never seen a team like this! How can a team with such a prolific offense struggle for so long when they are getting very good pitching? It just is pathetic. I don't really have a solution. Only the Phillies could go from being one of the best (if not THE best) offensive teams in baseball to one of the worst. You can't trade all these players. I expect after what is happening that Burrell won't be back next year and how can you blame him? I think perhaps it's time for a new manager and a new coaching staff (although Dubee can't be blamed for any of this). It probably won't help but what else can you do? The Phillies GREAT legacy continues. They are the worst team in the history of baseball! I'm sick of it.— James TL
- Truth, c'mon now. Utley has the most consistent career numbers of the big four. Howard has declined the past two years, and Rollins started off iffy, climbed, and is now dropping. I can't explain Burrell.— RG
- Vic should have stole home. He is doing everything for this team. Bruntlett should get another job. With his SAT scores, he's more qualified anywhere off the field.— eagles11
