Sign In Using Facebook  |  Sign In  |  Sign Up

Phillies vs. Rays: A Remedy for the Phils' Losing Streak?

Hank Chinaski Written by Hank Chinaski, Tuesday June 23 2009
Text Size - A +

Will the Phillies turn it around playing their World Series nemesis?

Good morning, PlayerPress. In the land of the Liberty Bell, time plays tricks on you. One day you’re clenching you teeth together in hopes of a World Series, and the next your dreams have become your reality. It was the best of times, if only some would have just told me. Harsh lessons were learned, mistakes were made, and hearts slowly re-broken. I don’t know how I got here or why. But here I am, rotting away in the warm Philadelphia sun. There are things to be figured out, for our sake. Time is slipping. The gap is closing. Last year’s ring doesn’t grant future omnipotence.

 

The Philadelphia Phillies have lost 6 straight and have lost 8 of their last 9. It is cause for serious concern. But do not panic. Something to put this losing streak in perspective, in 2008, from June 17-29, the Phils went 3-11. One would like to hope that the Phillies will regain their World Series swagger when they take the field against the Rays tonight. The Phils face the Rays, Blue Jays and Braves in the next ten games. The Phils are 3-6 against these three opponents so far this season. Not exactly numbers that are in our favor. However, the record may be deceiving considering all three teams are not ranked higher than third in their respective divisions. Hope is still in Pandora's box.

 

The Phillies put Jamie Moyer, who has been inconsistent in his last five outings (1-2, 3.77 ERA), on the mound tonight. In 13 games started, Moyer has only pitched five quality starts. This is in stark contrast to his previous season, where he had a 16-7 record and 3.71 ERA. Moyer has already given up 16 homeruns this season as compared to only 20 homeruns in 2008. These are not exactly encouraging numbers going into tonight’s game against the defending American League Champs. However, if there was one veteran pitcher (not including Hamels) who can turn around the sinking Phillies pitching, it is Jamie Moyer. Hamels is by far the best pitcher on the Phillies staff, but shown by last year, Moyer made serious contributions to raising the quality of his play and others.

 

The injury bug has certainly proved itself to be a formidable excuse for the Phillies current woes. But there are no excuses for losing. Yes, Ibanez and Howard have been out of the Phillies line-up and Lidge and Myers are holes not easily filled (And those who called for Madson to be the new closer, due to Lidge’s previous troubles, now have to realize that “lights out Lidge” has to be our closer for the Phillies to be World Series contenders). I sense a big hairy but(t) lurking around the corner. But, the reason the Phillies were a champ last year was their ability to overcome tribulations. In 2008, Myers was sent down to the minors. Rollins, Victorino, and Werth were all on the disabled list in May, not to mention Howard’s early season injury that contributed to his slow start. Injuries are nothing new to the Phillies.

 

With all of this in mind, the Phillies skipper, Charlie Manuel, might have the most optimistic outlook on the Phillies current situation. “We’re still in first place, and that’s a positive way to look at it, and somewhere along the line we’ve had to play good to be there,” Manuel points out. True, but this type of play won’t have the Phillies in first place for long. The Phillies are going to have to buckle down and pull themselves up by their proverbial boot straps. There’s no better time to improve the present by learning from the past.

 


Tags:  



Recent Phillies Articles






Leave a comment

Name *
Email *
Website

Create date
— :

Article

Sport

City

Team

Photo

X

Not So Fast! To publish your comment, you have to login

Not Registered? Register now as it only take 20 seconds!



Click here to browse




2 comments


0 up down 0
phanphan, over 2 years ago said:

I'm trying to maintain my optimism. Like Charlie Manuel says, "we're still in first place...", and that should help a little in these somewhat troubled Phillies times. You gotta believe!!

0 up down 0
ChrisoChriso, over 2 years ago said:

Some teams seem to really struggle with inter-league play.... do you think the clock might have run out on Moyer?