Phillies Drowning In Mistakes
By Brad Diamond Sports
Opening Thoughts
It’s early July and the Phillies of 2012 have evaporated into a struggling, mistake prone baseball team. Add a 9-19 record for the month of June and you can fully understand why the fans are leaving Citizens Bank Park before the 9th inning on a regular basis. The crowds seem somber and aloof. Now the media realizes that Charlie Manuel is not such an effective manager, as injuries have taken many assets from the organization, while poor play has been the earmark of their three month drop into last place.
Team Development
The Phillies desperately tried to win a second flag after the 2008 season. The game plan was driven by huge contracts extended hurlers Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, both are suffering at this writing. The recent injury to Halladay has forged lefty Cole Hamels (10-4) into the limelight. However, he was 1-3 during June. Contract talks are ongoing with the young veteran and there is speculation that he could end up with the Dodgers. Hamels and his wife are committed to many charity efforts in Philadelphia, so it would be an embarrassment to the organization, if the lefty moved out of town. To add more misery to the Philadelphia program veteran ace lefty Cliff Lee (0-5, 4.13) has not thrown a complete game this season. He is win less in 13 starts. The bullpen is faltering sitting next to last in the National League with a 9-13 record and a 4.67 ERA. The other day reliever Chad Qualls (1-1, 4.36) was sent down to the minors with a 1.52 WHIP and some sorry performances. In his last 29 outings he manufactured a 5.68 ERA. Overall, the pen continues to give up walk off wins. Granted Chase Utley is back with the club, but needs more time to find the groove after all the injuries he has gone through the last five years. Injured first sacker Ryan Howard is working in the minors, but is expected back to Philadelphia shortly. Howard has gained much weight and I believe will require additional time to fully heal from the foot issues. With mediocre starters like Blanton and Worley supporting Hamels, Halladay and Lee, there is not much we can hope for the remainder of the season. If Philadelphia ends up 25 games under .500 it would be no surprise to this handicapper.
July Projections
Philadelphia plays 9 home games and 13 road tests in July. With Monday off, the Phillies travel to New York from Miami and face the pesky Mets in a three game set. If they win one game in the series, they will be quite lucky. Further, the Phillies home series versus Atlanta, San Francisco and Milwaukee are all must wins for the Red and White. Beside the Mets, the Phillies play Colorado, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington on the road. The club will be fortunate to win 10 games on the schedule in July. Handicapping items of interest would include going OVER the total in each of the Braves games (no Hudson) at the Bank. With the Dodgers injuries the Phillies have a shot at taking 2 of 3. I would lean heavily on Cole Hamels, if he goes against Los Angeles. Most recently, Hamels is 12-5 in the month of July. As far as RHP Joe Blanton, go against the veteran in all his road starts.