O, Where Art Thou?
The Phillies can't score runs, and that's become a problem.
The Phillies haven't had more than nine hits in a game in August. They're also hitting .192 (44 for 249) and averaging just 2.43 runs per game this month. And they have been shutout in back-to-back games after last night's 2-0 loss in 12 innings to the Pirates.
That's 23 consecutive scoreless innings.
O, Where Art Thou?
Todd Zolecki
It's hard to explain.
The Phillies have scored 563 runs (4.90 runs per game) this season, which are the second most in the National League. Only the Chicago Cubs have scored more (618). But people who see the Phillies every day often don't see that high-powered offense at the top of the stat sheet, especially recently. The Phillies haven't had more than nine hits in a game in August. They're also hitting .192 (44 for 249) and averaging just 2.43 runs per game this month. And they also have been shutout in back-to-back games after last night's 2-0 loss in 12 innings to the Pirates.
That's 23 consecutive scoreless innings.
And think back to Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Marlins, when Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer that clearly was a foul ball. Remove the phantom homer from the equation and the Phillies have scored in just four of their previous 39 innings, and could have been shutout in three of their past four games.
"We left 12 men on base," Charlie Manuel said. "We had all kinds of chances to win the game, and we couldn't get it done. I don't have to say nothing to them on a night like this. I don't have to say a word."
The Phillies have hit .240 and averaged 4.13 runs per game in 46 games since June 13. They hit .265 and averaged 5.41 runs per game in their first 69 games of the season. To put those numbers into perspective, the 5.41 runs per game is better than the Cubs (5.33) have averaged this season. Only the Texas Rangers (5.57) have been better than that. But the 4.13 runs per game the Phillies have been averaging for the last nine weeks would be the fourth-worst mark in the NL, better only than San Francisco (3.84), Washington (3.79) and San Diego (3.75).
It's hard to explain, but the Phillies need to find a solution soon.
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In the Phillies Notebook: Scott Eyre arrives, J.A. Happ leaves, Tom Gordon's Phillies career seems finished and more on injuries to Pedro Feliz and Rudy Seanez.
Well.....We didn't get the 12 runs, but I'll take it! And the team does usually win when I'm at a game! How about everyone on the blog chipping in for season tickets for me for next year. LOL! Brett pitched a gem. 3rd good outing in a row. J.Roll FINALLY had a great game. Chase is again tanking. Wish we could figure out what's up. He actually got booed when he struck out with the bases loaded. But barring any injuries, Charlie will never sit him. He's too valuable in the field.— Norma- Forget to mention......The time for the 8/24 game has been changed to 8:05. Is that going to affect our little get together? I'll still be there.— Norma
- KMG, you are right on with all comments.....this isn't a slump and it's still too early to annoint Myers the #2 slot.......he beat another minor league team tonight.....what's he gonna do against the Mets, Marlins, Dodger or Cubs......if he runs that gauntlet the same way as the minor leaguers, I'll be president of his fan club, if there is one........btw, Cholly was right to remove him tonight.....just chalk it up to another disgruntled voice in that clubhouse.....2nd btw, anybody see Rollins comments to TMac as to why he hit so well tonight....stated he actually got to the stadium way early to work in the cages on his swing, and they chuckled briefly about it....makes you wonder why the reiging NL MVP didn't get his butt to the cages early, earlier in the season......was he purposely waiting for his avg to dip to .260 before showing up early to fix it? Hard to believe....and my final btw......I'll bet anyone a $100 Chase's hip problem is not a hip problem at all but a back problem.....his swing is in the toilet again, he looks thin and uncomfortable and a bad back can cause hip pain...a bad back can also screw up a swing and rob you of all your power.....see Chase......— Mark1npt
- About the 8/24 game, I can't make it now that it's at 8pm. I have a 2.5hr drive which makes it way too late for me to get home. I am now shooting for Sunday 9/14 against the Brewers. I'm glad I didn't already buy the tickets.......Funny thing is that it happened to me last year. I bought tickets for the 8/12/07 game against Atlanta only to find out later the game time was changed to 8pm. I ended up exchanging them for the 8/26/07 game against the Padres. Same time of year only this time today's game would have been the safe bet.— bski
- Chase Utley looking more like Denny Doyle than Ryne Sandberg... If this slump continues he should be dropped in the line-up. I'd bat him 5th with Burrell moving up to clean-up. Charlie should have saved his praise of Utley till after the season. Has anyone noticed Coste average has gone way down since he has played more.? He's a good back-up, that's all...— pat h
- ARGH!!!! Chase just grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the inning!!! To more boos of course! I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe he needs to spend a week or two in AAA.— Norma
- pat h........Most of Charlie's praise for Chase came when Chase was absolutely hot! Deservedly so. He hasn't been saying much lately, except that he thinks Chase will "come around". Wish the fans could be so optimistic. All I can say is.....Even the best players have *off years*. And you're right about Coste. But he's always said, he hits better when he doesn't play as much. He knows he's a good back-up. Don't think he's ever expected more.— Norma
- TWO RUN HR CHASE UTLEY!!!! OK. I take back everything I just said. LOL!— Norma
- Ok, Chase can come out the dog house... S.P.C.A. had a special accomidations for him. He is a big supporter you know. Wheels says he's really frustrated, what about us ? Things are so bad I'm here getting excited about a win over a AAA Pirates team.— pat h
- Every game the Phillies fail to move base runners to give themselves a better opportunity to score. Today against the Pirates was yet another example. Why not have Bruntlett lay down a bunt with guys on first and second and no one out. Sorry, but I just don't think this coaching staff understands the 'manufacture' a few runs and don't live by the long ball. Until they do this, I think they will live and die with the long ball and there are more deaths than births with this type of philosophy. Sound fundamental baseball is sorely needed here.
- hope you people realize you're all being watched! yes, and from 9000 miles away. why so? coz, as bad as phillies management/ownership may be, philly-dot-com, which is, or should be, the prime source of my following the team from afar, sucks even worse. it takes aaages to get the game report on the site, and when finally it gets there, doesn't take rocket science to know you're getting no more than a skeleton of the real story. so i read you characters - avidly. some of you are obviously just wankers (a pet expression of my adopted land), but a number of you really seem to know your stuff, owe no allegiance to brass nor overpaid athletes, say it like it be. and, glory be, one of you even reads the nytimes! keep it going, troops. i've got my eye on you.— kiwi
- How Bout Moyer, Myers and Blanton??? Pitching is actually holding this team together...its awesome!!!— Clinton, NJ
- I think I've said the same thing for three consecutive Sundays- I don't know how but despite everything that's happened, untimely hitting, Adam Eaton, etc. we're still two games up. I hope I can say the same thing for six more Sundays! I've been all over Utley lately but he deserves Kudos for his clutch hit today.— KMG
- The play of the game had to be Moyer's bunt! That was one of the funniest/best running of the bases I've ever seen. An instant classic. Wish they could've upheld the lead so Moyer could have gotten the "W", but glad all the same to see Chase come out the "doghouse" w/the 2 run blast. Very cool.— KarenA
- Read this little blurb online......"Utley now goes to Dodger Stadium, where he has hit .392 (20 for 51) with five doubles, a triple, four home runs, and 10 RBIs in 13 games.".....Dare we hope????— Norma
