Trying to Find Themselves
The Phillies have played a little more than half their season, and right now it's tough to what to think about them.
Trying to Find Themselves
Todd Zolecki
Charlie Manuel isn't exactly sure what to think.
His team is in first place, but his normally reliable offense has been in a three-week slump. His team has pitched well enough to win, but its biggest issues are Brett Myers and the reliability of Tom Gordon's right shoulder.
"I think we're looking to see exactly who we are because we've played real good and then kind of hit a snag and headed down," Manuel said.
Nothing has been more down than the offense. But Manuel raised this interesting point: maybe some of this team's key offensive contributors had career years the past couple years. Maybe they're just returning to Earth this year. Or maybe they're (gulp) having down years. Maybe this is what the offense is going to look like the rest of the season. Good some days. Dead the next. There are 79 games to play, so guys like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley have time to catch fire and put this team on their backs again. But the sooner the better for Manuel and everybody else in that clubhouse, you know?
"You usually have one guy that's hitting," Rollins said. "We've had nobody hitting, and that was crazy. Somebody would have two good games, and that was it for the rest of the week. We had one person supporting the whole team. Hopefully, I got it all out of my system. Hopefully, Ryan is done. Get Jenks [Geoff Jenkins] to kick it in, too."
But as the decision for Myers' future in the rotation is expected today, there's no question this team could use more pitching. The preference, like Rollins said, is another stud starter to compliment Cole Hamels. While the Phillies simply have to hope the track records for the Phillies' offense finally come through, pitching is the thing that could push them over the top.
Don't be surprised if Myers' battey mate in Lehigh is Carlos Ruiz, sooner rather than later.— RAS
I'm anxious to see if demoting Myers is the first of several moves that will be made in an attempt to snap the Phils out of their funk, or if this is all there is.— bski- I think truth is really ryan howard. Seeing that ryan howard is really not into playing pro ball anymore he is getting his chops here so he can go on and work for espn or wip.— geektothecorenj
Just saw the news on Myers. That's a step in the right direction. Management needs to let the players know they will not just sit by and watch them implode. Now, who fills in that spot in the rotation...— bobby- I happen to think that this Atlanta series is a fairly big one, in that it will set the Phils up for the weekend series at home against the Mutts. All the talk about leadership, someone has to step up and get this team on track. I think that someone has to be Jimmy Rollins. Defending MVP, who so far this season seems to have lost his edge. He's the only one who has the personality to be vocal in the dugout and on the field. But he has to also back it up with performance and heads up play. I agree that it was not productive for him to single out pitching as the problem on this team. Regardless of whether he's right or not, that just doesn't come off well when the offense has disappeared. The last series the Phils won was when they swept the Braves in Atlanta almost a month ago. That should serve as a reminder of what this team is capable of. We don't want to see them come limping home to face NY this weekend. Go Phils!— bobby
- Myers' to the Iron Pigs? No brainer. Who replaces him will require both hemispheres and all four quadrants. Who wants to have a catch?— Nick from the Northeast
- Myers got demoted...— rj1st
- Cupcake-seems like you missed me. I missed you too sweet pea.— Truth
- Funny - criticizing Utley for SPCA fundraisers...— John in LA
- Good point Joe. Iguchi has to lead by example because he can't speak English. ;)— RAS
- Forget Rowand. We're overlooking the biggest change. No Iguchi. In 2005 he leads the CWS to the WS. In 2006 the CWS get 90 wins. In 2007 he leads the Phils to the NL East title. He is the piece of the puzzle missing the most.— Joe in Haddonfield
- Point blank they are CHEAP---- Hey Zo' why don't we have a "ask Gillick segment".— Truth
- RAS great post-Once again another point I made in the off season when it takes vision to see the problems before they happen. Rowand is sorely missed. Imagine his 300+ avg in the five hole with Burrells power in the 6 slot. this team would have a completely different look and feel. Rollins and Victorino wouldn't be dogging it and laughing in the dug out during losses. Utley's peevishness and strange demeanor wouldn't be as much of a problem b/c his lack of personality or fire wouldn't hamper a team that needs LEADERSHIP. P.G. is a failure, he has the vision of Stevie Wonder. Only the Phils could effectively waste this nucleus.— Truth
- I'm surprised this venue hasn't featured (more often anyway) the Aron Rowand factor as a major reason for this year's overall malaise. Were the Phils consequently decapitated when they lost his bat, fielding, comradery, and most importantly, LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE? Who has stepped in to fill his shoes? Jenkins, Feliz? Give us a break. They both look like they are over-medicated. True, Utley has the same on-field attributes as Rowand, but he is a low-key guy. When they show him in the dugout during games, he's usually standing in the corner by himself. He doesn't have the same hide as Rowand. Rollins is outgoing and personable, but he's been dogging it all year, and reminds of Abraham Nunez at the plate lately. What's he hitting, .260 now? Howard is Howard, a nice guy with a big bat. So now what to do? Before they spend megabucks on the proposed stud starter acquisition, how 'bout trading Victorino et al for Rowand at the All-Star break? Let's see how bad Phils' management really want to win this year. They can start by admitting that they made a mistake on not signing Rowand, even if he is overpaid by their [cheap] standard.— RAS
- I think Feliz has been much better offensively than Ruiz or Jenkins. He had a fairly good road trip if I'm not mistaken. As we know it's very possible that if Utley didn't get injured last year he would've probably won MVP over Rollins. If he starts to get hot again (I think there's been some signs of life in that area), he could win it this year. The Phils definitely need pitching. I don't think they'd last very long in the post-season without another decent starter and I'm not sure if the minor leagues is the answer.— KarenA
- And again, sorry: former MVPs - and perennial MVPs like Utley - get held to higher standards that Ruiz, Jenkins and Feliz.— John in LA
- Point is: they have been in games. Pitching may be a problem if they get to the playoffs, but it really hasn't been a hindrance yet. Except Myers. Interesting, too, how you're pretty much the last one left defending Howard...— John in LA
- Cupcake if you've actually watched gms you you would realize that the entire offense is in a funk not just Howard. At least Howard and Rollins have major hardware to show for their careers not just spca fundraisers and celebrity. Rollins as this teams leader has the right to vent whenever and to whomever he wants. The mentality of the offense is different when you know your going to be in the game vs hoping and praying. The mentality is different when you have a GM and organization that is doing everying in their power as opposed to being classless and not doing what it takes!— Truth
- Hi. Poster above - have you watched any games this year? Pitching - except Myers - has been better than expected. Former MVPs that underachieve really hurt, though.— John in LA
- Why on Earth is Rollins popping off against the pitching. If anything, besides Myers, it has been much better than expected. The guy was MVP last year (listening, Ryan?) and he's having a pretty down year. Look in the mirror.— John in LA
- Pitching-Pitching-Pitching......What will P.G. do? What is our rotation in a 5 or 7 gm playoof series? Hamels, Kendrick, Moyer? P.G. is a joke.— Truth
