A CITIZEN'S BLOG

Looking back on the 2007 season we may end up saying that the Phillies threw away their season with their 2-4 home-stand against the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. I predicted that the series would be important because the Dodgers and Padres are fellow wildcard competitors and both had strengths that promised to handicap the Phillies: a strong starting rotation. The quality of the Padres and Dodgers pitchers was on display in this series, which saw the Phillies score just 11 runs in the four games the Phillies lost. The Phillies 14-2 explosion yesterday, which was overdue, was more runs than the Phillies scored in the four games previously. Ouch.

So the Phillies sit six games behind the Mets for the N.L. East, a game ahead of the Braves, who have thankfully been just as bad as the Phillies. Strike that: worse. I thought the Braves decision to bring Mark Teixeira on the roster was a bold stroke that was going to guarantee the Braves a berth in the post-season? Well, the Braves have lost eight of their last eleven games and dropped three of four to the Cincinnati Reds and two of three to the St. Louis Cardinals. That’s pretty bad, folks.

Meanwhile, the Phillies sit three out of the wildcard, behind the Padres. Had the Phillies won some of these games, they'd be sitting in a better position for the playoffs. A much better position for the playoffs. Now the Phillies have a four-game set with the Mets. The good news is that Chase Utley returns to the Phillies lineup tonight. Utley is back and the Phillies get a chance to make up some ground on the Mets.

The bad news is that Cole Hamels' injury really has the Phillies hamstrung. Tuesday's starter has yet to be determined and the Phillies send J.D. Durbin to the mound tonight. If the Mets manage to take three or four games from the Phillies, the N.L. East race might be effectively over.

More tomorrow.

Labels: Odds 'n Ends, Playoffs