A CITIZEN'S BLOG

This last week was, by any standard, grim. The Phils dropped four out of six. While the Red Sox were a tough foe it is disturbing that the Phils got hammered for 12 runs in two of the three games. The bottom-line from the Red Sox series is that the Phils pitching staff is very vulnerable this year. As for the Expos series: it is extremely disappointing to see them lose to the Expos, a team that dominated so far this year. This team needs to be consistent: when a gimmie win presents itself, take it.

Random thoughts:

-The Phils are opening a huge 14 game home stand. Now is the time to start winning some ball games. Four games against the Expos should be a nice tune-up for the Mets and Braves and Orioles. These are series they need to win to pull ahead of the Fish.

-I’m sure the Phils will be happy to leave the DH home: they gave up 24 runs in two games to the White Sox, 26 in three games to the Red Sox and 13 in three to the Twins. I’m sure that the Phils pitchers are breathing a sigh of relief.



-Larry Bowa was so upset that the Phils had to play the Red Sox and the Marlins got the Devil Rays: it is mildly funny to see that the Devil Rays have been playing like the 1929 Athletics (better team than the ’27 Yankees). Until they lost 2-1 to the Blue Jays on the 23rd, the Devil Rays had won 12 games in a row. In any case they took two out of three against the Fish, so the Phils can count themselves fortunate that the Devil Rays were the Fish’ foes and not some team like … I dunno, the Yankees.

-Given how badly the Phils pitching staff is doing it might be time to start looking for another starter. Hmm, is Randy Johnson on the block?


-I thought Jim Salisbury was right on the money with his piece in Sunday's Inquirer about the Phils needing to improve and fast. Particularly interesting was his note that the Devil Rays payroll is about $70 million less than the Phils, a team only about a game and a half back of the Phils.

I have a few more thoughts for later. Back to work, ya’ll!