If it's not one thing with these Phillies over the past two weeks or so, then it's another. If the pitching is spot on, then you can be sure the offense will struggle to muster a single run.
Then once the hitting finally gets going, the pitching and defense begin to struggle, and you're stuck with that Padres game from Sunday.
The Phillies had no business losing that game the way they did, especially since the offense lit it up in the first two innings. Granted, the Padres quickly pulled Kevin Correia, their starter, after the second inning, but there's no reason for San Diego's bullpen to be as shutdown as it was.
They've turned themselves into a pretty decent team, and the bullpen isn't anything to scoff at, but this Phillies lineup should be able to hit any bullpen in the league—especially when they're forced to eat up eight innings.
Then again, perhaps I'm being too optimistic by thinking the hitting is coming back. Perhaps Correia was simply that bad. Maybe if the Phillies had actually been on, they could have tagged him for 15 runs and not five.
I'm just not sure. Right about now, you're basically reading the thoughts of a man who has absolutely no idea anymore. First I thought it was just a funk they'd get out of, then I thought it was about complacency, and now I'm telling you I have no idea—and I'm not sure anyone in the organization does either.
The players, the coaches, and the front office seem truly stumped. The only thing they can tell us is that they're sick of talking about it, as Shane Victorino recently told the media.
Well, Vicky, I'm about as anti-Philly media as they come, but if even one of the eight of you would start connecting with the ball like we all know you can, there would be no questions about why in the world the most talented lineup in the National League is struggling.
Then as far as the pitching goes, there doesn't seem to be much of an answer there either.
One thing I do know, however, is that when every aspect of a team is beginning to fall apart, it's time to look at the coaches. No, I'm not going to start a "Fire Charlie Manuel" campaign, but it's on him to get this team headed back in the right direction.
Given his track record, I believe he will, but he's certainly taking his sweet time about it.
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