It was one of those games last night at the Bank, as the Phils botched a funky one 10-2 to the Dodgers.
It hasn’t happened to the Phils all season. The token blowout. Over half the team looked terrible.
What do you do? Treat it like any other loss, buck up and win the series this afternoon to keep this homestand momentum going. Sweeps are difficult achievements anyway.
It started with Cory Lidle having another brutal outing. He lasted just four innings, allowing seven runs and an un-Lilde-like two homers. He’s been brilliant in that department until this game, and this is his second rough outing in as many tries.
It’s tough going down 7-0 that early, but the rest of the game turned sloppy. Bobby Abreu is officially in a funk both at the plate and in the field. Kenny Lofton is, too, even though he went 1-2.
On the other side, I’m partial to foreign league players who hang on forever just to get their shot. Oscar Robles, the 29-year-old rookie, is that type of player. From what I’ve seen this series, the third baseman can flat-out hit. He has a beautiful swing and shortens up when he’s down in the count. Robles went 2-4 with a walk and a double after hitting his first career homer the night before. For the season, he’s batting .355 with a .425 OBP out of that leadoff spot.
What a find. The Dodgers had a massive hole at third and considered trading for Placido Polanco. Instead, they fill it on the cheap with a productive Mexican leaguer. What a concept.
I"m usually first to criticize professionals for saying what I'm about to say, but it's apt here:
Last night was "just one of those games."
Posted by: Jeff | Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 08:03 AM
I would agree with you both that it was "just one of those games" were it not for the fact that the Phils blew some early chances to take a lead and that, folks, is NOT just one of their games; it is, in fact, their normal game more often than not!!!
Posted by: Tom Goodman | Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 09:48 AM
I was listening to 610 online yesterday at work and they pointed out an interesting stat. Before fellow Venezualan (sp?) Oogie Urbina became his teammate, Bobby A was batting in the .330s I believe. Since being teammates with Oogie Bobby was batting in the low .200's. I forget what the stat was exactly, but I thought it was interesting. I'm not saying it means anything, but it definitely could mean something.
Posted by: enrico | Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 09:50 AM
Does anyone think that they're making Howard's fielding mishap last night into too much of a story? It was prominently featured on SportsRise this morning and Rhea mentioned it in her news update. I didn't watch the game...was it really that bad, or is this just a case of media overblowing it because he was a hero the night before?
Posted by: Jeff | Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 10:52 AM