Slumping Phils.

It’s clear to say that Philadelphia Phillies are at the weakest part of their season. After losing the series with the Red Sox the Phillies got sweaped by their division rival the New York Mets. Still somehow the Phillies lead their division by 1.5 games over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. After the Phillies took game 1 in a 3 game series with the Red Sox last Friday the Phils haven't answered back, last Saturday they were shutout 5-0 by Daisuke Matsuzaka who had a no-hitter going into the 8th inning and that would be the only hit the Phils would get off him. On the other hand Kyle Kendrick was roughed up for 5 runs in just 4.2 innings work. We move on to last Sunday were the Phils would send out their ace Roy Halladay who at moment didn't have his best stuff in his last previews start. Halladay again would get roughed up for 8 hits, 6 earn runs and going just 5.2 innings of work and that would bring his ERA up to 2.22. That would be Halladay first shortest outing of his career since 2003. The Phillies also had 2 ears behind him making Halladay’s record now 6-3 on the year. Boston's pitcher Tim Wakefield had no trouble with the Phils line-up going 8 innings and allowing no hits. The Phillies would get 3 hits and 3 runs off the bats of Raul Ibanez who would double and scored a run, then Ross Gload would hit a 3 run home run in the 9th inning but the Phillies would still end losing the game 8-3 and also lose the series 2 games to 3 against the Red Sox who at point came into the series dead cold.


The Phillies would now head into New York to take on their division rival the Mets. The Phillies came into play with a 26-17 record and the Mets came into play with a 23-23 record. So on Tuesday the Mets would send out R.A. Dickey to slow down the Phils bats and he sure did going 6 innings no runs, and 7 strikeouts. The Phillies left hander Jamie Moyer only went 5 innings, 7 hits, and giving up 4 runs with his ERA now being 4.55. The Phillies would be shutout 8-0 and with 9 hits from the Phils and couldn't get in one single run, Jamie Moyer's record is now 5-4. So we move over to Wednesday, the Mets send out Hisanori Takahashi who shut down the Phillies going 6 innings, no runs, and 6 strikeouts. For the Phils Joe Blanton would only go 5.1 innings, 6 hits, and giving up 5 runs with now an ERA of 5.63. Phillies again would be shutout with 7 hit and would still not get one run in. Phillies would lose by a score of 5-0; Joe Blanton's record is now 1-3 on the year. So now to Thursday where the Mets are looking for the sweep they send out one of the best in Mike Pelfrey would did a great job going 7 innings, 3 hits, and 5 strikeouts but would it be enough? The Phillies send out their other left hander Cole Hamels who at one point was doing very well in till the 7 inning. Hamels would leave the game going 6.1 innings, 9 hits, and giving up 3 runs with now an ERA of 3.82. The Phillies would yet again be shutout and lose 3-0 and get sweaped by the New York Mets.


It has been the first time since 1983 that the Phillies would lose 3 straight games in row by being shutout and who would have thought it would happen to this Phillies team? They have by far one of the best line-ups in the National League but lately it hasn't shown in their last 5-10 games hitting only .203, 282 OBP, and a .309 SLG. They have only scored 15 runs in the last 10 games which isn’t that good when you have guys like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayon Werth on your team. They key is that their missing Jimmy Rollins who is the leader of the ball club and yes the Phillies for the first 29 games did okay without Jimmy but now that he’s back on the DL it doesn’t good look good for the Phillies. He is what gets this team going. Yet it is still early in the year you have to wonder what is going on with the club? I mean their pitching and bull pen has been so-so but not great and their line-up is falling into a slump all together. I think when everything is said and done the Phillies will still end up winning their division for the 4th straight year but if you look at the NL East every team is right there with the Phillies, even the Nationals are only 3 games back of the division. So the NL East is pretty tight going into the month of June. The Phillies will be happy when the end of May hits because it has been awful for the club and they hope the month of June will be a bit nicer to them.


The Phillies will start a weekend series against division rival who find themselves only 3 games back of the division the Florida Marlins who come in play with a 24-24 record. They will send out Chris Volstad with an ERA of 4.31, 3 wins, 5 losses, and 34 strikeouts. As for the Fightin' Phils who are coming off a 5 game losing streak who needs a win big time coming into play with a 26-20 record, they will send out young Kyle Kendrick with an ERA of 5.66, 2 wins, 2 losses, and 22 strikeouts. Phillies - Marlins on tonight at 7:10, big weekend series.


I'm Seth Lempert,
For Beyond Baseball.