Have A Heart - Friday, July 25, 2008
132 Views :: 1 Comments ::  :: Michael Bradley Eric Bruntlett did a great job yesterday as emergency fill-in for Jimmy Rollins, who should definitely give another thought to that second career as a New York cabbie. With an undisputed share of first place on the line, Rollins decided the team bus wasn't the best way to get from the Phillies' hotel to the Shea Stadium cesspool and "drove himself." Or, at least that's his story for now. His late arrival forced Charlie Manuel to bench him, and while Bruntlett had three hits, the idea that the reigning MVP would not be in the lineup -- save a late-game pinch-hit groundout -- in a huge late-July game is borderline ridiculous. Even if Rollins' motivation was pure, and it's interesting to consider why he didn't want to be with his teammates before such an important game, his execution was poor. That's not what leaders do. It is becoming more and more obvious that this team does not only suffer from a lack of leadership. It is light in the heart department, too. Whenever it tastes prosperity, it follows it up with the kind of mistakes one would expect from rookies, not players who won a pennant last year. By losing two straight to the Mets -- and spoiling a gem of an outing from Jamie Moyer yesterday in the process -- the Phillies are in second place and in danger of spending the next two months eating the Mets' dust. The Phillies can't count on another New York collapse. Those things happen every few decades, not every season. It's as if no one on this team has the ability to understand that maximum effort and commitment must come every day, rather than only during select ninth-inning rallies. A team with heart would have understood the win Tuesday would mean nothing if the next two days weren't productive. After losing two straight, the Phils have no ability to enjoy the come-from-behind excitement. They're too worried about being in second place. There are still two months left in the season, and things can change, but until this team starts showing the kind of desire and guts necessary to win big, it's unlikely it will prosper in a manner it seems to think it should. Thursday's loss was about more than just a blown bullpen appearance and a (customary) lack of timely hitting. It was about a team's inability to recognize the gravity of a situation and having the heart to handle it. Rollins' tardiness was merely a metaphor for the team's poor approach to handling its business. The good news? The Phillies are home this weekend, although that Schuylkill can be a killer on Fridays. Better leave early, J-Roll. |