Be Afraid; Be Very Afraid - Thursday, June 19, 2008
405 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

    On Monday, I said this week's series with the Red Sawx and Angels were the equivalent of "mid-term exams" for the Phillies. After seeing them drop two of three to the Sawx, it is necessary to send home an interim report on the team, in order to make sure the grown-ups in charge know what their progeny is doing.

   Were this like the other professional sports in town, everything would be fine. Monday night's 8-2 win featured big bats and great pitching by team ace Cole Hamels. The Sawx would have left town -- along with their aggravating fans -- and the Phils would have been able to crow about knocking off the defending World Series champs. But this isn't the NFL, NBA or NHL, so Boston and its athletic supporters stuck around another couple days to prove that one game does not a series make. Two Sawx wins later, it is painfully obvious the Phillies are better suited to win in October than they were last year.

   Forget about Chase Utley's slump, although watching the Phillies score four runs in two games was eerily similar to last year's team-wide power outage against Colorado. The real culprit in this is starting pitching. Hamels did a great job Monday. Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick followed up with less-than-inspiring efforts, proving once again that outslugging teams in June and July doesn't get it done during money time.

   Moyer wasn't awful Tuesday night, but he was never in control. He threw 57 pitches in his first two innings, assuring the bullpen that it would be needed for at least four frames. He surrendered a homer to Coco Crisp, the light-hitting eight man in the lineup, and walked five. Moyer had been great in his previous five starts, but these weren't the Marlins. Against better teams, you can't make mistakes like Moyer did and win, especially against a front-line starter like Jon Lester.

   Yesterday, Kendrick dug himself a 4-0 first-inning hole that he extended to 6-1 in the third. That was that. The Phils managed a little life late, but they had no chance. The worst part was that while Kendrick was floundering, someone named Justin Masterson was allowing four hits in five innings of work while he keeps the rotation warm for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is rehabbing an injury. If Curt Schilling is available in September, the Sawx will have a rotation of Josh Beckett, Dice-K, Lester and Schilling, with Masterson and Bartolo Colon in reserve. That's how you head into the post-season, folks.

   The good news for the Phillies against Boston was that Brett Myers didn't pitch. But he'll throw Saturday against the AL West-leading Angels, and those sitting in the outfield seats should bring their gloves. Meanwhile, Kris Benson is scheduled to make a start in Clearwater Thursday. That's not exactly a sign that the cavalry is on its way.

   Utley will start hitting again, and soon. Don't worry about that. But taking a rotation of Hamels and the Four Maybes into the post-season (provided the Phils get there) isn't going to bring the results this town wants. Both David Montgomery and Ruben Amaro, Jr. have promised to make the changes necessary to make this team a winner in October. After seeing their team flounder against Boston, it's time to get to work. The trading deadline is little over a month away, and the Phillies need help. That's real, big-league, proven-winner help. Accept no substitutes.

   Otherwise, get ready for another October to forget.