This would be a good time to revisit who are the best teams in each league. The Phillies have lost six of eight, or something like that, and have been shut out 23 consecutive times. I looked that up. And one victory was a 1-0 contest that required a perfect game by Roy Halladay.
I know for sure that the Phillies have scored 10 runs in their last nine games, falling out of first place with a Memorial Day defeat to the Braves.
So this would be a good time to note that the Phils are the best team in the NL, and it's not close.
Does anyone really doubt that their Murderers' Row is on a permanent oh-fer? The Phillies have been playing away from home, without their table-setters, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco. The big bangers have all gone limp at the same time and Jayson Werth is in one of those funks that every player experiences where the ball looks like a bee-bee. So?
If baseball were one continuous climb or descent, they'd play 50 games and have a summer World Series. Reggie Jackson would be Mr.July.
A Major League season takes all spring and summer to unfold. Every team has its ebb and flow. Philadelphia is ebbing. Atlanta, New York, Florida and Washington are playing for a Wild Card, or Stephen Strasburg's debut.
The Phillies have the best second baseman in baseball, one of the five best shortstops, the best slugger in the league at first, one of the best center fielders in the game, good hitters in right, left and at third and a catcher who last year had a .355 OBP. What have you got, Martin Prado?
With J.A. Happ hurt, the best pitcher in baseball could use some help on the mound. After Cole Hamels the Phils have some question marks. Joe Blanton is a longball connoisseur. Jamie Moyer's kids are collecting Social Security. The bullpen has question marks, not the least of which is Brad Lidge. It could be a weakness.
But their recent troubles aren't about defense. The Phillies will be fine, and if they don't win the East by two furlongs, it will be a major surprise.
Speaking of Murderers' Row, there are the World Champs. The Yankees' infield alone is enough to win a pennant. Their outfield, which is merely above average, is the team's major weakness, despite Brett Gardner's rapid development. Their catcher, for most teams an offensive black hole, had a 1.024 OPS when he got hurt; his replacement is batting .320. In fact, it's worth mentioning that the Bombers have placed the GDP of Southeast Asia on the Disabled List, but nonetheless won 60% of their games.
The pitching is more of the same, despite Javier Vazquez's Ed Whitson imitation. The Rays are a popular and sentimental favorite, but Tampa will not trade two prospects and $47 million a week before the trading deadline for some also-ran's best player. The Yankees will, because they can, and Javier Vazquez will fade to a Gaussian blur.
Nothing so far this season has changed the basic fact that last year's World Series combatants are still the cream of their respective crops. A few weeks of slippage in NY and PA, or of aptitude in San Diego, Cincinnati or Tampa, is going to change that. Alas.
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1 comment:
Oh how good to read this post. Just what I needed. Not that I ever doubted of course, but I am starting to forget what a Howard-homer, Victorino salami or Werth double even look like.
Of course, Mr. Perfect, I would say Hamels and even old fogie Moyer are doing pretty well. Heck, even Kendrick is holding up.
I am looking for the crystal ball tho, so I can skip ahead to the end of the long drought (broken up only slightly by a few nice Ibañez hits).
Still, it's the best time to be a Phillies fan! :)
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