Vote For Change - Monday, August 18, 2008
247 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   Charlie Manuel joked Sunday that he was open to advice on his team's prolonged hitting slump from anybody with an opinion. He'll talk to fans, cab drivers or President Bush about it. Funny stuff, except to those fans who were sold a team that would batter the fences this year and pile up the runs at a record pace and are now watching a club that can't hit -- and, worse, refuses to play small ball.

   The Phils have given up 10 games in the standings over the past month-plus. That's a Mets-class collapse and proof the team is in a free-fall, no matter how upbeat the players want to be and how hard the organization tries to convince fans all is well. Since the original formula of three-run homers and big innings isn't working, it's time to make a fundamental change in how the Phillies play the game -- or else.

   It is becoming painfully obvious that clutch hitting and big bombs from the lineup's power source are in short supply. The Phils may have hit the second-most homers in the majors, but their run production has dropped to 4.5 a game, down one from the season's first three months. When that happens, it's time to start getting creative. It's time -- gasp! -- to play small ball.

   Since the season began, this team has had a pathological aversion to scratching out runs early in the game. It's almost as if a run scored on a walk, stolen base, groundout and sacrifice fly doesn't count as much as a solo homer. In the first inning, it's huge. And it has to start happening. The Phils' two wins on the West Coast came courtesy of two outstanding pitching performances and a pair of Pat Burrell solo homers. They left themselves no margin for error. That has to change.

   So, it's time for America's biggest social critic to get on base at the top of the lineup by any means possible. J-Roll must walk, get hit, induce catcher's interference or beg the umpire for a break. Then, he has to steal second. From there, the Phillies have to start doing radical things like hitting to the right side of the infield, lofting fly balls with runners on third and fewer than two outs, hitting to the opposite field and playing the game like real ballplayers, instead of impatient hacks waiting for a three-run homer to bail them out.

   Only 38 games remain this season, and that is not a large number. And with series against the Dodgers, Mets (twice) and Cubs looming over the next three weeks, it's imperative the Phils make a strong move. That will start with a commitment to small steps. Score a run here and there. Play the game the right way. Do something different for a change or risk a quiet October.

  And just wait and see how that will play with the city's "front-running" fans.