| Mid-Term Exams - Sunday, June 15, 2008
205 Views :: 0 Comments ::  :: Michael Bradley It's hard to tell at whom we should be more mad, Tom Gordon, who couldn't catch the ball, Chase Utley who couldn't throw it (one time, that is) or Ryan Howard, who chose not to try to field it. Sunday's loss in St. Louis was the ugliest of the year, because the Phillies had fought back so hard to gain a 6-6 tie and seemed primed to steal a getaway victory that would have given them a 6-3 record on the road trip. Instead, they threw it away. Well, that's what happens when you leave the bases loaded four times, get shoddy starting pitching again from Brett Myers and watch Eric Bruntlett run the bases like a Little Leaguer. It was ugly, all right, but the Phillies had better forget about it and quickly. The Red Sox are in town Monday, with the Angels arriving for the weekend. The two best teams in the AL will provide stiff challenges and give fans a true indication of whether the Phils are world championship timber or merely a good team in a shaky NL East. One would imagine the Phillies will perform well. First of all, Cole Hamels will pitch against both clubs, and that's a huge plus. Secondly, the Phils are at home and have the advantage against two teams which know little -- in the Angels' case nothing -- about the Bank. But that doesn't mean fans should pencil in a pair of series wins. First of all, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino need to start hitting more consistently the better to create opportunities for the run producers. The starting pitching has to hold up (Good thing Myers is only pitching once), and the bullpen has to continue strong performance. Even then, it might not be enough. The Red Sox are the Red Sox: deep, talented and experienced. The Angels are top-shelf, too, and they have dreaded Phillies-killer Vlad The Impaler Guerrero on the roster. Yikes! Yep, that debacle in St. Louis was hideous. But the Phillies had better have forgotten about it by the time the first pitch is thrown Monday night. The Varsity is coming to town, and this is no time to be living in the past. Play well this week, and the Phils are in great shape. Fall apart, and it may be time to start thinking about those upgrades David Montgomery promised, if needed. Mid-terms are upon us. Let's hope the Phillies have done their homework. |
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