…they pull me back in”.

(cue heart attack)

As the Phillies’ “slump” becomes ominously longer and longer, I have found myself resigned to the fact that a team can’t make it to the World Series, or even the playoffs, EVERY single year. I have had the best three years of my life in terms of baseball fandom. I must keep telling myself that it was only a year and half ago when I was one of two million Phillies fans on Broad Street, celebrating the 2008 World Series championship on that beautiful Halloween day.

Does this mean I’ve already given up? “Crud no, I want them to play ball”. This is virtually the same exact squad that has been taking the field at Citizens Bank for the last two years. Barring a 2009 Mets-like 18-car pileup full of injuries, there is no reason why this team shouldn’t win the NL East again.

Through 64 games this season, the Phillies are 34-30. Through 64 games last season… another World Series season… they were 36-28. Only a two game difference. Then they went on to lose 9 of 12 to bring their record to 39-37. Record-wise, virtually the same. This time however, the rest of the NL East has come locked and loaded with outstanding and scary talent (Strasburg, Heyward, Davis, Hanson) and the resurgence of veterans and the “unlikely” (Hudson, Lowe, Pudge, Glaus, Livan Hernandez, Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey, Pagan). The other four are healthy, gritty and hungry to overtake the Phillies, if not wreak havoc on their effort to make a fourth straight postseason appearance.

So what do the Phillies need to do to overcome all of this? First and foremost, they need to get Jimmy Rollins back. He is unquestionably the leader of this team. He doesn’t put up the numbers of Utley, Howard or Werth, but he sets the table. In the 12 games he’s been in this season, he has hit .341 with 11 runs, two home runs, seven RBIs, four doubles and a triple. And the Phillies looked GREAT in those games. The other 52? Not so much. He is planning to come back this Saturday and I couldn’t be happier.

Their pitching needs to be more consistent. You never know what you are going to get from day-to-day with the starters. Moyer gets lit up. Moyer pitches an 8-inning gem. Kendrick gets chased. Kendrick sets ‘em down. Hamels has been becoming more consistent stringing together quality start after quality start, but even so, you never know which Hamels you are going to see. Even Roy Halladay has been joining the party. Halladay pitches a perfect game. Halladay gets bombed. Incredible.

The only thing that has been consistent with the pitching has been Joe Blanton… consistently bad. It seems the curse of the Adam Eaton contract has taken effect: 1-5 with a 7.28 ERA. This is why the rumor mill is spinning like crazy over the Phillies talking with Pedro Martinez for another mid-season call-up. This team also needs to get their young hurler J.A. Happ back off the D.L. as soon as they can to stabilize this shaky rotation.

And they just need to hit. Simple. Every player goes through slumps, but the moons seem to be aligning all the wrong way with this offense. I honestly believe this will work itself out, but they need to do it quickly. It’s only mid-June, but the next thing you know, it’ll be September.

This season is reminding me of the 1979 Phillies. The Phillies were the three-time division champions. They made the biggest free agent acquisition in their history, signing the hit machine Pete Rose. And like 2010, they fielded pretty much the same exact squad. The result? 84-78. Fourth place.

It happens.

The next year? World Series Champions.

After just taking two of three from the Yankees in the Bronx, this team ain’t getting rid of me yet.

In my last article, I wrote that the Phillies needed a player to step up and bring a jolt to the slumping club.

Someone answered.

Up until Saturday afternoon, there have only been 19 perfect games thrown in the modern era of baseball. Last night against the Florida Marlins, the Phillies’ Roy Halladay made it 20.

The Phillies’ huge off-season acquisition proved once again why he was the #1 target to join this organization.  Doc, disproving all the recent debate about his taxing workload, threw 115 pitches (72 for strikes) and retired all 27 batters he faced, including 11 strikeouts. In addition to the pitching master class Halladay taught last night, the Phillies’ defense helped out by making great plays that would have easily resulted in hits. Third baseman Juan Castro ended the game snagging a hot-shot grounder, spinning 360 and throwing out Ronny Paulino for the final out. And at the moment, another rarity in baseball was witnessed: a smile from Roy Halladay.

However, this game was not a cakewalk. The Marlins threw out their ace in Josh Johnson and pitched seven strong innings, giving up no earned runs. The only run of the night came off the bat of Chase Utley, and subsequently off the glove centerfielder Cameron Maybin, resulting in a three-base error, scoring Wilson Valdez. It was 1968 all over again. Two hours and 13 minutes of pitching dominance.

In all the celebration and praise bestowed upon Halladay, no one should ignore the job that catcher Carlos Ruiz did behind the plate. He is no longer one of the greatest secrets in the Majors. Everyone knows his game-calling skills. Last night typified why he is one the most valuable players on this squad.

Everytime when he takes the mound, Roy Halladay always demonstrates why he is one of the best pitchers in the game. Last night he was THE best.

I attended the last of the three-game series against the New York Mets at Citifield on Thursday night, hoping and wishing and praying that my presence alone would break the Phillies out of the ridiculous slump they are mired in right now.

It didn’t work.

Even though I did have a wonderful time taking in the game, even with the two hour rain delay, watching these Phillies in person was painful. I’ve never seen such listlessness in my life. You can really see the toll that Jimmy Rollins’ absence from the lineup is taking on this team. There’s no fire, no passion. I understand that this happens to every club at some point in a season. It’s very easy to get in to a team-wide funk. But there comes a moment when one person needs to be the spark plug, getting angry, getting the rest of the team fired up. Being shut out three out of four games, including two in a row to your most hated rival? Unacceptable. This last game should have been a break-out-the-bats-let’s-get-aggressive-on-the-basepaths type of game. Instead, it was an exact clone of the previous two.

Ryan Howard's "Arrested Development/Christmastime Is Here" Walk

This is a team that has risen to the ranks of the elite in Major League Baseball in the last three years. Right now, they look like they should be at the bottom of every journalists weekly Power Rankings. And it’s not going to get easier. June is looking to be a very tough month… NL East rivals Marlins and Braves, then a string of interleague series including the Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays.

The Phillies getting swept in New York does not bother me. The Phillies laying down and dying? That bothers me.

This weekend, the Philadelphia Phillies lost two out of three to the Boston Red Sox. And once again, I lost my patience with the idea of Interleague play.

Of course, it’s very easy for me to say as the Phillies have a tumultuous relationship with this regular season “novelty”. Since 2005, the Phils have gone 30-51 against American League teams. So you will excuse me if I don’t get too excited about seeing the Yankees, Blue Jays and Twins in June.

Even when the Phillies do win against an AL team, I feel it to be an empty victory. The whole idea of Interleague play was devised in the post-’94 strike world. Just like expanding the divisions and adding two Wild Card teams in to the postseason mix, Interleague play was created to make fans forget the about nastiness that cancelled a World Series and bring the people back to the greatest game in America.

I admit, I was intrigued at first. The Phillies playing at Fenway Park and Camden Yards in June? That was amazing. What did I care? The Phillies stunk in 1997. Anything to make their games a little more interesting was fine by me. Now it is 2010 and it is safe to say, baseball is back in full swing in America and it is time to put Interleague play out to pasture.

In the 162-game marathon that is an MLB season, every game does in deed count. Divisions and playoff spots are determined on the last day, sometimes extending to 163 games. Teams should be rewarded a trip to the postseason by being the best in their own LEAGUE. Tacking on a few more wins against a team 3,000 miles away and in a different league is about as worthless as the results of Spring Training games. Whatever happens in those eighteen games can make a big impact once late September rolls around. Not that I believe the Tampa Bay Rays will miss the postseason this year, but what if there is a small one game difference to determine if they move on to October? Everyone will look back to the one loss against the Houston Astros on Friday. The Astros?! Should that really count? How exactly does that directly impact American League play?

In my opinion, Interleague play should be limited to one or two games. Expand the All-Star break. During that time, have each team play their nearest geographical rival in one exhibition game. However, let it truly count for something. Terminate the idea of the All-Star Game determining the home field advantage in the World Series of the winning league. Instead, have these games decide which league gets home-field advantage.  Tally up the wins, whichever league has the most victories gains home field. Everyone wins.

The excitement of October for me was not only from the anticipated end to another long season, but the idea of seeing an opposing team from another league, playing on the biggest stage, in an alien ballpark. Witnessing the Orioles and Blue Jays play in Veterans Stadium was like living in some Lost-style alternate universe with pitching mounds disappearing and the 700 Level being taken over by The Others. It was exciting. It was mysterious.

Now, that thrill is gone. October just feels like June. Want to bring even more people back to baseball? Get rid of Interleague play.

bryansargent@prosportsblogging.com

For all the notoriety that the Phillies’ offense garners year in and year out, this week belonged to the pitchers. Let’s hear it for them.

Let’s hear it for Joe Blanton. Big Joe returned from the DL to make his first start of the season against the NL’s best team in the St. Louis Cardinals.  The beleaguered rotation needed Blanton to return, and while he got the “L”, he pitched six very strong innings and gave hope to this staff.

Let’s hear it for Cole Hamels. His outing Tuesday night was easily his best of the young season:

8 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

And if it wasn’t for the 34-year old yahoo who ran on to the field at the top of the ninth, Hamels may have had himself a shutout.  With his rhythm clearly broken, Cole allowed consecutive doubles, notching the game up at one. Brad Lidge and Jose Contreras provided solid relief to keep the Cards at bay for the rest of the game. Luckily, Carlos Ruiz made sure the bullpen didn’t have to work too long, smacking a walk-off home run in the 10th.

Let’s hear it for Kyle Kendrick. Following his “two bad starts-one great start” trend, Kendrick pitched seven innings of shutout ball, and with the bullpen once again being solid, secured the win and goose egg. Another big victory for the Phils against the Cards.

Let’s hear it for Doc…the perfect man to finish off St. Louis and give the Phillies a much-needed and impressive series win.  By his standards, Halladay didn’t have an amazing game, going only seven innings and *gasp* walking three. He struck out nine and gave up only two runs (only one being charged to him). In my entire life watching the Phillies, I don’t think I have ever seen a pitcher where, when he walks on to that mound, I know he’s going to win. If he gets in to jams, he’s going to battle and win. If he loses, he’s not going down without a fight.  In the fifth inning, Halladay was presented with jacked bases, two outs and Matt Holliday at the plate. I sat there with absolutely no fear that this game was going to turn the tide. Strikeout on a wicked curve.  Seventh inning. Doc gives up a second run and the four-run lead the Phillies had built up was being threatened. Men at second and third and Matt Holliday, once again at bat. Charlie Manuel came out to the mound and Doc was clearly NOT giving up the ball… and Manuel agreed. The crowd roared in approval. Next pitch, groundout. Inning over. Chad Durbin and Danys Baez closed it out, giving Halladay his league-leading sixth win.

Let’s hear it for Jamie Moyer. I refuse to acknowledge his age every time I talk about him, because frankly, it’s worn and tired (I mean honestly, every single time he pitches, do you have to bring up the endless list of ‘”Jamie is so old, when he made his first start…” facts?) After Friday night’s performance though, there is no way to avoid it. Moyer made history by becoming the oldest player to throw a shutout. At 47 years and 170 days, Moyer bested Phil Niekro’s performance in 1986 at 46 years old, and did not resort to knuckleballs… even though his fastball has the velocity of one. Jamie used his pinpoint accuracy to hold the injured Atlanta Braves to only two hits. The night before, the Braves were being threatened by a no-hitter against Scott Olsen and the Washington Nationals.

Last, but not least, let’s hear it Robin Roberts. The greatest and most durable right-handed pitcher in Phillies history passed away on Thursday at the age of 83. Roberts was a member of the famous 1950 “Whiz Kids” who lost to the New Yankees in the World Series that season.  The 1976 Hall of Fame inductee was the best right-handed pitcher in the 1950’s, being selected to seven All-Star teams and leading the NL is wins for four consecutive seasons. He spent 14 of his 19 years in a Phillies uniform and has been one of the greatest fans of this franchise. One of his favorite players, Jayson Werth, who was born in the same town of Springfield, IL, paid tribute to Roberts both on Thursday and Friday night, when after hitting home runs, crossed home plate and pointed to the sky.

My signed Robin Roberts baseball card.

But, I am proud to say I have my own story about Robin Roberts. My father took me to a baseball card show where Mr. Roberts would be signing autographs. Earlier that year, my dad had purchased for me a reprint of the 1952 Topps set, one of the most famous sets of baseball cards ever. I had taken my reprint card of Robin Roberts to the show to be signed. As any good card collector knows, you never have cards signed, but in this case, since it wasn’t real, there would be no harm. I approached Mr. Roberts and laid down my card. “Wow, I haven’t seen this one in a long time”, said Roberts. Just then, a man jumps in like a Secret Service agent jumping in front of an assassin’s bullet. “What are you doing?! That’s a 1952 Topps! Don’t have that signed!” After we told him it was a reprint, he let out the biggest sigh of relief.  After a couple seconds of awkward silence, Robin signed my card with a big smile.

Rest in peace Mr. Roberts.

As everyone knows by now, a 17-year old Philadelphia Phillies fan ran on to the field at Citizens Bank Park on Monday during the first game of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. What made this incident notable was the fact that the police officer used a Taser gun to bring down the field-crasher. The standard method to subdue these folks is the “rundown-ok-I’ve-made-my-point-I’ll-stop-now-tackle”. This kid clearly wanted this moment to last as long as possible.

Since this happened there has been a TON of debate on whether or not Tasering this stupid kid was the correct way to handle this situation. I can see both sides, but ever since the random, vicious 2002 attack of Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, who knows what the intentions of a field-crasher are now?

Last night, another man ran on to the field during the Phillies-Cardinals game in the top of the ninth inning, this time without any incident (although, I would claim this guy definitely should have been Tasered afterwards in a dark back room for disrupting Cole Hamels’ amazing pitching performance and almost ruining the game).

I have one very easy solution that I think all teams should employ. In the case of the Phillies, the next time someone jumps on the field, have someone on the bench hand Ryan Howard a baseball bat. Howard should then proceed to run after the perpetrator at full speed, waving the bat and screaming at the top of his lungs, “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!”. The person would drop to the ground faster than you can say “snowballs” or “Santa Claus”, lay on their stomach and interlace their fingers on the back of their head without any prompting from the police. There would be no possible injuries from Tasering or tackling, just the nightmare that would haunt this person for the rest of their lives of Ryan Howard chasing after them with a Louisville Slugger. It’s shocking, it’s scary, it’s brilliant.

Thank you,

Bryan Sargent, Head of MLB Security

bryansargent@prosportsblogging.com

As I watched what transpired in the bottom of the 4^th inning of the Phillies-Mets game last night, I immediately flashed back to Game 2 of the 2008 NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers. It wasn’t the playoffs, but it was eerily similar.

If you remember, notoriously terrible-hitting pitcher Brett Myers worked a nine-pitch walk from one of the best hurlers in the game, CC Sabathia… probably one of the most exciting and memorable bases on balls in Phillies history. Jimmy Rollins was walked on four pitches to load the bases. Shane Victorino strolled up next and deposited a pitch into the leftfield stands for a grand slam. The virtually unstoppable Sabathia would only go 3.2 innings, the Phillies would get the W, yadda yadda yadda, World Series Champions.

Back to 2010.

The Mets are in first place. A win would not only give the series win and control of the top of the NL East, but a much-needed confidence boost.  After losing their last two series, and dropping the first game to the Mets 9-1, Roy Halladay pitched his third complete game and second shutout of the season. The bats came alive again, pounding the Mets for a 10-0 victory to tie the series.

Now they would face one the NL’s top pitchers in Johan Santana. The Phillies would counter with Jamie “this is where I am legally obligated to mention how old he is” Moyer.  Sunday night baseball. Prime time. A hated rivalry. Beautiful.

Four home runs between the two teams led to a 5-2 score. Advantage Mets. Bottom of the 4^th *dun dun dunnnn!*. With two outs, Santana unintentionally intentionally walked Carlos Ruiz to get to Moyer. He may sport the usual sub-.200 pitcher average, but Moyer is an intelligent hitter.  With the crowd getting more rabid with each pitch, Moyer worked a walk to bring in a run to make the score 5-4. Shades of 2008. An extremely loud walk.

Shane Victorino entered the batter’s box, and just like two years ago, he smashed the ball into the frenzied crowd in the leftfield stands, clearing the bases. 8-4. Two batters later, Chase Utley would destroy a ball into rightfield. Those poor folks had been neglected all night. He was doing his part to appeal to the fans. 10-4. Santana to the showers. The Phillies would tack on one more run and the Mets never even made an effort to get back into it. They were on the canvas and they weren’t getting up.

And just like that, for the moment, there is joy Phillyville.

NOTES

Starter Joe Blanton returns from the DL today to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park… Jimmy Rollins is still feeling pain in his right calf and looks to be back by the end of May… Antonio Bastardo was sent to AAA to make room for Blanton on the roster.

All of the worry surrounding Ryan Howard not being a Phillie past the 2011 season has been officially taken care off. Before their game against the Giants in San Francisco Monday night, the Phillies opened their checkbook and signed Howard to the largest contract in the franchise’s history: 5 year, $125 million, taking effect in 2011. They have a $23 million club option in 2017 with a $10 million buyout. Only one other person signed a contract for more than $25 million a year: Alex Rodriguez. The Big Piece is remaining The Big Piece, and to me, this is well deserved. Let’s forget about all the ridiculous numbers he puts up. We know those. The man is truly a clutch performer, carrying the team on his shoulders ever September, pushing them over the edge into October and showing that he can prove himself on the biggest of stages. All the while, he seems to be shrinking every year. He arrives at Spring Training more lean, better in shape, quicker and improved in his all-around game, especially defense. He works hard and it shows.

Now the eyes of the free agent world turn to outfielder Jayson Werth. He is an extremely important part of this squad, mostly because of his right-handed power numbers among a left-handed-heavy lineup. With the kind of stats Werth is putting up, he could be looking for a Matt Holliday or Jason Bay-type of contract, one that would really stretch the limits of the club’s budget.

All indications are the Phillies are working as hard as they can to retain him. His teammates love him. The city loves him. And he loves them back. Will he take a “hometown discount”? Will a fatter paycheck lure him away? OR, will any of this even matter?

The way things are going with the Phillies pitching staff now, something drastic may need to be done i.e. trade. Starter J.A. Happ has been put on to the 15-day disabled list with forearm problems. Call me crazy, but my Spidey sense is tingling. I have a bad feeling this is much worse (or is going to get much worse) than it is. J.C. Romero is back and Joe Blanton is one rehab start away from returning, but all the starters not named Roy Halladay have been terribly inconsistent. The bullpen is not helping either. Three blown saves and lots of nail-biting are making the day-to-day operations very tiring.

The only person they have that can really garner the type of pitching talent the team needs to continue in to the postseason is Werth. A 38-year old Raul Ibanez and his $10 million/year contract is not going to attract any team, especially the way he is playing right now.

Luckily, the rest of the NL East is playing their own brand of inconsistent ball, so the Phillies have not been really losing any ground, still holding on to first place by a half a game, even with a Halladay loss last night to the Giants. Yes, a LOSS. And the one team showing signs of life? The New York Mets. Clearly, the apocalypse is nigh.

Behind another masterful performance from the 2010 NL Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, the Phillies took the first of a three-game set against the Florida Marlins Friday night.

(Yes, I’m already bestowing the award to the ex-Blue Jay. I’m sorry, but I don’t think there has been this type of a frightening, dominating starting pitcher in the NL since Randy Johnson. When Roy loses a game this year, it will be monumental.)

As ridiculous as it may sound, this game was a must-win for the Phillies. Their first nine games have consisted of six-pack with perennial cellar-dwellers, the Washington Nationals, and another three against the Houston “stick-em-with-a-fork-they-are-already-done” Astros. Not really the best competition, but thankfully, the Phillies took advantage, going 7-2 to start the season.

No matter how many jokes are made about the 400 people who come out to see a Marlins game or their “charming” team payroll, year in and year out, Florida wreaks havoc in the NL East. They have a well of unbelievable young talent, always surround themselves with overachieving castoffs, and are managed by men who know how to motivate their crew to play the game hard. That is why every time I see their name on the schedule, I get a little anxiety attack. If anyone has a chance to dethrone the Phillies, it is the Florida Marlins.

That is why Friday night’s 8-6 win was a great first step. Halladay, in his first Citizens Bank Park appearance, pitched an incredible game against one of the best offenses in the league. The damage:

8 IP, 2 R/ER, 8 H, 4 K, 0 BB, 100 pitches

A complete game would have been icing on the cake, but due to a steady rain that elongated the game, and the fact the Phillies’ offense, once again, put up huge numbers, skipper Charlie Manuel thought it best to rest Doc.

Even though the Phils walked away with a win, what transpired in the ninth inning, I feel, is an issue the club is seriously going to have to address very soon: pitching. David Herndon came in and gave up four runs on five hits while only recording one out.

Roy Halladay cannot go on the mound every day. The offense will not put up 7-8 runs every game. The rest of the pitching staff needs to step up and start throwing better and more consistently. Even though they are coming away with wins, having a starting pitcher only go 1 2/3 innings and giving up six runs, like Kyle Kendrick did against the Nationals, is not going to cut it against teams like the Cardinals or Rockies. Hopefully with starter Joe Blanton set to return fairly soon, some order may be restored, but if the rest of the staff keeps up this tightrope act, something drastic may need to be done. And I’m not talking about picking Pedro Martinez again. If things look bad, Jayson Werth may see himself going a lot sooner than everyone thought. And that makes me want to vomit.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday  with a Grade 1/Grade 2 right calf strain. He injured it literally minutes before the Phillies’ home opener against the Washington Nationals on Monday. After he was announced in the starting lineup and took his place on the foul line for the pre-game introductions, Jimmy strained the calf while sprinting in the outfield. The recovery time could be anywhere from two to four weeks.

While this is obviously a setback for the hot 6-1 Phillies, this is nothing new to them. Back in their championship season of 2008, Rollins missed almost the entire month of April with an ankle injury. The Phillies went 16-12 in his absence. Unlike last season, Rollins has started on fire with a line of .391/.516/.739. An important part of this potent offense will now be shelved for the time being.

Wilson Valdez has been called up from AAA and Juan Castro, who took Rollins’ space on Monday, will assume shortstop duties until Jimmy’s return.