Okay, it's technically one of my Phillies pet peeves. At times there are many. But this one occurred in tonight's game, a 7-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Last night they broke their 6-game losing streak by scoring 6 runs in the first inning en route to a 10-1 win. The runs didn't come easy tonight. Starting pitcher Joe Blanton did a fine job for 7 innings, allowing only a 2-run homer by our old friend Pat Burrell in the second inning. The Rays scored 5 in the 8th to break it open, with a couple of not-hard-hit balls that fell in helping.
In the 4th, though, with the game still close the tide seemed about to change. Three straight walks by the Rays' Matt Garza loaded the bases with nobody out. Any moron can tell you that, when a pitcher is struggling to get the ball over the plate, if you're batting you stand there and take at least one pitch, if not more. Jayson Werth went up hacking, and grounded the first pitch he saw for a third-to-home-to-first double play. A golden opportunity turned to dust.
This is the biggest problem with this team when they're going poorly: lack of discipline at the plate. If Werth is Exhibit A tonight, Exhibit B is Jimmy Rollins, who hasn't had a hit in the last 5 games and is batting below .200 in June. Because of his defense you can't bench him, but he simply shouldn't lead off any more, not until he has about a month of great hitting.
There is good news: closer Brad Lidge is ready to return from his knee injury and will be activated tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment