The Phillies were in a great spot down in Florida to get the job done,
and tell the Florida Marlins who was in control of the National League
East this weekend in Miami. That did not happen, the Phillies let the
series slip away and lost the weekend series 2-1 against the younger,
and more hungry Marlins.

After the win on Friday night, the
Phillies stood to command the next two games and they stayed in the
ball games on both Saturday and Sunday, but didn’t do what they had to
do to win. Now the Phillies find themselves in a tie with the Mets for
first, and the Marlins breathing right down their necks only 1/2 game
out of first.

Is this Phillies team the team to beat? They
didn’t play like it this weekend down in Florida! The former NL MVP,
Jimmy Rollins, had a chance to score in the late innings on Sunday’s
game, but for some reason ran at half speed and only ended up a third,
instead of scoring the go ahead run that would have been the win for
the Phillies. I don’t know how this could happen? How could a player
like Rollins just pull up on a two out sure hit to center? Even the
announcers for the game said the same thing, and on the replay they
showed us why. Rollins wasn’t giving it his all, this isn’t the Jimmy
Rollins we know.

Cole Hamels has had now three straight
starts where the Phillies can’t score runs to get him the win. Three
games where they are struggling to produce. Pedro Feliz was a big 0-5
in this game, and he can’t seem to get in sync with this offense
despite him being one of the best third baseman of the last three years
when it is all added up. He is hurting the Phillies offense, and
Rollins just doens’t have that spark in him that he had last year with
his fervent, “We are the team to beat” attitude, if anything he’s
playing like he is beat. What has happened to Jimmy, perhaps he feels
unappreciated by the Phillies in some manner, he was the MVP and yet
doesn’t really get featured that way by the team. Could this be the
reason? Something has changed with Jimmy since his ankle injury and the
Phillies should find out what that is and fix it.

Now the
Phillies face those Mets again, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
games. I am anxious to see Blanton pitch for the Phillies, if he goes
out there and gets batted around, the Phillies could be in deep trouble
as they play they have been producing lately hasn’t been too good. Adam
Eaton went to the bullpen, and that’s a good thing, he’s been terrible
all year despite people saying early on that he has had quality starts
this year. The only quality start in my book is a win. That is what
matters and that is what the Phillies need to start doing consistently
again in order that they make the playoffs!

Rich Baxter – Fightin Phillies