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Game chat: Phillies bid good riddance to April

Preview: Vance Worley (2-1, 2.16), who has allowed one run or less in three of four starts, leads the Phillies through the April exit door tonight at 7:05 p.m. Chris Volstad (0-3, 6.14), who was a punching bag for the Phils during his days in Florida, goes for the Cubs. The Phillies, who've tried and failed to establish day-to-day consistency for a month, go Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Victorino CF, Pence RF, Wigginton 1B, Nix LF, Ruiz C, Galvis 28. Jimmy Rollins is a .458 hitter lifetime off Volstad, who owns a 5.88 lifetime ERA against the Phils. Chin up: The Phillies have arguably less problems offensively than the Nationals, who have a worse OPS than the Phillies, have lost four straight and lead by only four games in the division.

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Readers decide whether Phillies lost the title in April

The Phillies are guaranteed a losing April for the first time since 2007. Readers extract meaning from the first 22 games.

Performance speaks volumes: "Normally I wouldn't be that bummed if the Phils were 10-12 and had a good chance to end up the month at 12-11. I thought they would only go 13-10 and that I would be happy with anything over .500. The Phils though have played two of the worst teams in baseball the past two weekends and they have been found wanting. Not being able to win one of these series speaks volumes about the current state of this team." - MG

Learn from the past: "I was pretty much ready to join the rest of the Beerleaguer posters and throw in the towel on this season until I looked at the team's record for the past seven Aprils." - clout

What'chu talkin' bout, clout? " I'm not throwing in the towel either, but you picked an odd set of data to make your case. Last seven seasons: April results; Full season record and results: 2011: 18-8, 102-60, Won NL East 2010: 12-10, 97-65, Won NL East 2009: 11-9, 93-69, Won NL East & NLCS 2008: 15-13, 92-70, Won NL East & WS 2007: 11-14, 89-73, Won NL East 2006: 10-14, 85-72, Missed WC by three games 2005: 10-14, 88-74, Missed WC by one game. Damn if that doesn't look like a powerful correlation between a winning Phillies April and a trip to the post-season, over these last seven years." - bay_area_phan

Utley and Howard hold the key: "I won't be ready to pass judgment until the end of next month. But as things stand, it's my belief that this team will at least get a WC and will contend for the division. I don't think you can declare a season a lost cause having played less than 20 percent of it and not being in a huge hole recordwise. If the team is still under .500 in June, then I'll start thinking it's most likely time to accept the season as a failure and move towards breaking up the team to some extent, but as of now? Nah. We need to get a better sense of what kind of play the other teams in the division can sustain, see whether we can expect anything meaningful from Utley and Howard, and listen to the front office's dog whistles about their trade deadline plans. At this point the only legit thing to do as a fan is pull hard for Dom Brown, Galvis, May, Biddle etc. to develop, and appreciate the good baseball qua baseball where it happens (e.g. Doc's starts, Galvis's defense, Chooch in general)." - Fumphis

Sunday chat: Cubs-Phillies matinee; Chooch’s team

In 2000, the Phillies signed a five-foot-nothing, Panamanian infielder named Carlos Ruiz, remade him as a catcher and waited to see what happened. Twelve years later, he became the Phillies' best player.

Beerleaguer: That’s no reach. Not only does he carry a workman’s toolbox of intangibles (toughness, clutch hitting, expert handling of an elite pitching staff), but the humble catcher is also the club’s driving force when you crunch the numbers. His 0.7 early season WAR leads the team after knocking in three runs in leading the Phillies to a 5-2 victory over the Cubs Saturday night. His sixth-inning bomb to deep left came ten minutes after taking a fastball off his kneecap. He is, quite frankly, building a Philadelphia legacy not unlike Brian Dawkins, who threw out the game’s first pitch: an unassuming servant of the city, the model of blue-color reliability and grit; a title-winning catcher, without detractors, which honestly can’t be said about any of the other stars from the championship era. He’ll be enshrined on the Wall someday.

Game chat: Kyle Kendrick looks to rebound from his last start when the Phils and Cubs continue their set starting at 1:35. Kendrick surrendered seven runs in Monday’s loss to the D-Backs. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins and crew try to build off Saturday’s effort and will face Matt Garza. J-Roll delivered a two-run double as part of the four-run fourth. … On the injury front, we’ll see if Charlie Manuel gives Chooch the afternoon off. Jim Thome was taken out of the game with lower back tightness. After one month, the Thome experiment has been nothing short of a Paul Bunyan-sized bust.

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Game chat: Rollins back in lead-off spot tonight

Jimmy Rollins, mired in a brutal drought, sets the table in Charlie Manuel's latest lineup tonight at 7:05 at Citizens Bank Park. Newly retired Eagles great Brian Dawkins throws out the first pitch.

Notes: Here's the lineup card: Rollins SS, Polanco 2B, Pence RF, Thome 1B, Victorino CF, Nix LF, Ruiz C, Orr 2B, Blanton. Juan Pierre sits for the first time since April 17. Freddy Galvis, who has provided minimal offense for two weeks, also sits. Joe Blanton tries to avoid a third-straight loss. He allowed one run and three hits over seven innings in his only start at home - his best outing since the 2010 season. Right-hander Randy Wells has the ball for the Cubs. The Phillies would need to win the final three games of this series to finish April over .500.

Howard, Utley progressing: Meanwhile, Jim Salisbury spreads good news regarding Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Howard has been cleared for baseball activities, Salisbury reports, and will travel to Florida on Sunday to begin working out in Florida. Utley, meanwhile, could join the Phils for workouts “in the next week or so,” Ruben Amaro Jr. tells Salisbury. [Full article]

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Slumping Angels release former Phillie fixture Abreu

Bobby Abreu, who is hitting .208/.259/.333 over his first 24 at-bats this season, has been released by the Angels.

The club is on the hook for $9 million of his salary. Abreu, 38, ranks highly in Phillies' history in most offensive categories, including the highest on-base percentage (.416) since 1911. He's also fourth in doubles, seventh in stolen bases and ninth in homers, runs and RBIs. Use primarily as a designated hitter in 2011, he was a .253/.353/.365 hitter with eight homers and 21 stolen bases for the Halos, who recalled top prospect Mike Trout in a corresponding move. All seven of Abreu's starts this season have been in the outfield; all told he's played in the outfield only 35 times in the last two seasons. Any team that signs Abreu would pay the minimum.

Rollins, Pence, Victorino contribute nothing in loss

The three guys the Phillies were counting on to anchor the offense in the absence of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard went a combined 0-for-12, took stupid at bats and made fatal flaws in the field in a 5-1 loss to the Cubs.

Jimmy Rollins, Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino - hitting out of the three-four-five holes for most of the season - have generated a .253, .300 and .292 on-base percentage, respectively so far this season, with no signs of taking the type of disciplined, veteran at bats the Phillies allegedly urged this spring. If Charlie Manuel does nothing else, he must get J-Roll out of the three hole for the love of Pete. Rollins, who went 3-for-33 (.091) on the road trip, has been hitless in eight of his last nine games. He's not alone in this slump. Victorino, who has quietly been sliding, is hitless in four of his last six games. And Pence's big sin Friday night was letting a ball get by him in right field that turned a would-be single into an RBI triple, continuing a trend of shaky, fundamental defense from the Phillies' outfielder.

Pitching-wise, Roy Halladay unraveled late, and Michael Scwimer's fatal mistake was walking Geovanny Soto with two outs in the ninth after he had gotten ahead.

Game chat: Phils seek .500 in first of four with Cubs

Roy Halladay (3-1, 1.50) and the Phillies begin a four-game homestand with left-hander Paul Maholm (1-2, 8.36) and the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is 7:05 with temperatures in the low 50s and wind.

Beerleaguer: Crazy stat from the press notes: "All nine of the Phillies wins this season have been logged by their starting pitchers. That's the most without a win by a reliever since 1997, when Ricky Bottalico finally earned a win in game No. 34. So, anyway ... The Phils are finally starting to score, doing so in bursts, including a five-run sixth in their 7-2 finale over Arizona. Over their last three games, they're averging 6.7 runs and with 13 of their 36 hits going for extra bases. Ty Wigginton, who hit .357 on the road trip, has reached base safely in all 12 of his starts this season. ... Turning to Halladay, readers might recall the last time Doc faced the Cubs he was pulled from the game early because of heat exhaustion. No chance of that today - it's sneaky uncomfortable out there.  

Lineups: Pierre LF, Polanco 3B; Rollins, SS; Pence, RF; Victorino, CF; Wigginton, 1B; Ruiz, C; Galvis, 2B. Big thing here: John Mayberry Jr., pictured above looking sad, has been totally squeezed out of the picture.

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Scouts debate whether Phillies' start is myth or reality

Jayson Stark polled scouts and executives on the six biggest overachievers and underachievers of the first three weeks, including the Phillies. The word "horrendous" is used, while one executive wondered "Can any team in baseball survive losing its No. 3 and 4 hitters and be productive?" Read here to find out if the insiders think it's too early to count out the Phils, or if the window has indeed closed. Stark also gauges whether the Nationals are for real. [Link]

Who has been the most valuable Phillie so far?

With 19 games in the books, it's time to take a look at the most valuable Phillies of the early going. We begin with a few of the usual suspects:

1. Cole Hamels - Of the Phils' nine wins, Hamels is responsible for three. He has been incredibly sharp over his first 26 1-3 innings, allowing 24 hits and posting an NL-leading K/BB ratio of 10/1 (30/3). With Cliff Lee's current circumstance in mind, Hamels' performance going forward will only become more crucial for the Phillies over the next two weeks.

2. Roy Halladay - The only reason Halladay isn't No. 1 is because we kind of expected the dominance he's exhibited thus far. He's logged 30 innings over four starts, going 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA and just 27 baserunners allowed (19 H, 8 BB), and he is yet to surrender a long ball. Halladay's faced 118 batters so far this year, and you can literally count the number of hard-hit balls on one hand.

3. Hunter Pence - Without Pence, there isn't a single hitter to truly fear in the Phils' current lineup. He has battled through some early-season shoulder issues to drive in a team-high 11 runs, and despite his .268 average, he is the toughest out in the order. 

4. Carlos Ruiz - His worth behind the plate goes without saying, but it's been Ruiz's bat that has provided the real value. He's a legitimate threat at the bottom of the order, hitting .303 with five extra-base hits and five RBIs, and he's one of the toughest guys to strikeout on a team that seems determined to let opposing pitchers throw as few pitches as possible.

5. Freddy Galvis - Sure, his numbers read the same as Drew Silverman's softball slash line (.200/.238/.317), but would you rather have Michael Martinez or Pete Orr playing everyday? Galvis has played a terrific second base, and he offers a legitimate defensive shortstop to spell Jimmy Rollins. Plus, he knows how to bunt, he can run a little bit and he makes his knocks count. Of his 12 hits, five have gone for extra bases and he's tied for fifth on the team with five RBIs.

Honorable mention:

Jonathan Papelbon has been pretty darn good over his first eight innings as a Phillie, allowing just one run and converting all six of his save opportunities. Though we've only seen him close a single one-run game, it is heartening to see that combination of intensity and stuff on the mound in the ninth.

Laynce Nix has made it obvious that he will be a factor this year. His 23 at-bats have pretty much all been solid, and his .652 slugging percentage is tops on the club. After two years of Ross Gload rolling ground balls over to the right side, it's nice to watch Nix take hearty hacks from the left-handed batter's box. He looks to drive the ball and he is a sneaky good defender.

Game chat: Phillies seek 5-5 finish to road trip

Cole Hamels (2-1, 2.95) faces Trevor Cahill (1-1, 2.84) when the 8-10 Phillies play the final game of their 10-game road trip today at 3:40.

Notes: For today's header, we honor a couple of new additions who were written off on Beerleaguer before they even stepped foot on the field. I'm talking about Ty Wigginton and Laynce Nix, two guys who've actually managed to get the ball out of the infield regularly, and Chad Qualls, who served up a homer last night but has otherwise stabilized the eighth inning. … Charlie Manuel, who used to use the same lineup over and over, goes with yet another look this afternoon, giving Freddy Galvis the start at short. Pete Orr and Laynce Nix are rewarded with starts following their big nights Tuesday night. Placido Polanco and Carlos Ruiz are back in. [Jump to the newest comments]

Postgame rollover: Phillies slug by Diamondbacks 8-5

The Phillies used three homers and a bases-clearing triple by Pete Orr to end their road skid Tuesday night at Chase Field. Hunter Pence and Laynce Nix belted two-run shots and Shane Victorino soloed deep to left for his second home run in two nights. Eight runs tied the Phils' season high and the Phillies have now scored 13 runs in their last 10 innings. Vance Worley (2-1, 2.16) pitched six and earned the win and Jonathan Papelbon picked up his sixth save. The Phils can finish the road trip 5-5 with a win in Wednesday's rubber match.

Stutes to DL; Schwimer recalled: After the game, the Phillies announced that Michael Stutes will go on the disabled list with an ailing shoulder, Comcast SportsNet reports. Right-hander Michael Schwimer has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Schwimer has appeared in seven games for the IronPigs and has a 1.04 ERA and 9/3 K/BB ratio in 8 2-3 innings. The Phils were short-handed in Tuesday's game and Jose Contreras, who pitched for a second-straight night, struggled badly and is likely unavailable for Wednesday.

Game chat: You know what ...

... here's the dang lineup: Pierre, LF; Orr, 2B; Rollins, SS; Pence, RF; Victorino, CF; Wigginton, 3B; Nix, 1B; Schneider, C; Worley, P. Hunter Pence, who reportedly couldn't raise his arm over his head Monday, is back in the lineup following a precautionary MRI, claiming that he feels fine and is a "fast healer." You know, like Wolverine. Pete Orr has the privelege of hitting second. He has more extra-base hits than one-hole hitter Juan Pierre, two-hole fixture Placido Polanco, and as many as three-hole hitter Jimmy Rollins. So why not? Freddy Galvis sits. He's 1-for-his-last-11 plate appearances. Wigginton, on the other hand, has been a pleasant surprise offensively. He's hitting .308/.378/.436. I'm ready for some 9:40 p.m. Phillies-Diamondbacks, Tuesday night in April magic. Are you? [Jump to the newest comments]

At least they're winning in Allentown and Reading

The Phillies woeful roadtrip continued with a pitiful 9-5 braining at the hands of the Diamondbacks Monday. All the Phillies’ runs came in the ninth inning off a guy with a 37.13 ERA.

A minor piece of news before we get to Reading and Allenton: infielder Mike Fontenot made his Lehigh Valley debut Monday and went 2-for-4 with a double. The 31-year-old veteran was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent earlier this month after appearing in 85 games for the Giants in 2011. Infielder Joe Thurston was released by the Phils in a corresponding move.

The IronPigs (11-7), who had their home winning streak snapped in Monday’s 5-1 loss to Buffalo, are 2.5 games off the pace in the International League North Division. They’ve done it with great starting pitching and lock-down relief: Austin Hyatt (2.53 ERA); Scott Elarton (0.56 ERA); Dave Bush (3.07); Jake Diekman (six scoreless appearances, 10/0 K/BB ratio); Michael Schwimer, David Purcey have been solid. But if you’re looking for help off the bat rack, you won’t find it here. The highest OPS belongs to Tuffy Gosewisch (.767).

Meanwhile, Reading (11-5) is off to a historically fast start, as Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle explains, becoming the first team in the 46-year history of the franchise to start 6-1, then 7-1. The bulk of the best prospects in the system reside in Reading and have guided them thus far, says Drago. Right-hander Trevor May has won each of his three starts. Catcher Sebastian Valle is hitting .326 through his first 11 games. Outfielder Jiwan James is hitting .311 with a pair of homers and 10 runs scored through his first 14 games. Leandro Castro, Jonathan Pettibone, Cesar Hernandez and Julio Rodriguez are also off on the right foot.

Game chat: Phils call on Kendrick during rough patch

Notes: The Phillies are lucky to be 7-9. They can thank the pitching staff, which now includes Kyle Kendrick, who makes his first emergency start of the season, in place of the injured Cliff Lee, when the Phillies visit right-hander Wade Miley (1-0, 3.12) and the Diamondbacks beginning at 9:40 ET at Chase Field. You're sick of reading about the lousy offense, so here are some uplifting words on the pitching. The Phils have the second-best starting staff ERA in baseball (2.46, which trails only Washington). Meanwhile, the bullpen ranks third with a 2.62 ERA. Minor notes: The Phillies released minor league journeyman Joe Thurston, who was at Triple-A. Reliever Justin De Fratus made a rehab appearance yesterday in Clearwater. [Jump to the newest comments]

Beerleaguer for breakfast: The Phillies' pieces don't fit

Is there a bright side to the Phillies' brutal weekend?

As ugly as it was, the Phils are rarely as bad as the product they put on the field Sunday, and they can usually count on better pitching, too. More than the offense, which scored two runs in the final two games this series, Sunday exposed all the pressure points on defense. The Phis committed three recorded errors and misplayed several balls, including a pair of bad reads by Hunter Pence in right field. Meanwhile, Jim Thome's first error - a throw behind Joe Blanton covering at first - led to a run.

Without question, the Phils are part of a league-wide epidemic of bad April baseball. They're mired in the basement alongside hacks like the Padres, and are actually fortunate to be 7-9 considering the offense has spotted them just 2.7 runs per game. The offense, which struck out 11 times Sunday and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, is visibly pressing and making poor judgements, like Carlos Ruiz hitting into a rally murdering double play on a 2-0 pitch, out of the zone, when the opposing pitcher had just walked a pair.

Indeed, without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the offense has struggled to find an identity, and this "retooled approach," which was talked about all spring, has not materialized. As much as the Phils seem enamored with Juan Pierre setting the table, baserunners do little good if they're left for dead.

If there's a bright side it's that the Phils can't possibly stay this bad with ducks on the pond. But that's still no substitute for talent. The Phils have a lot of hacks, too. The Phillies are shoehorning too many players into spots they don't belong. Every move seems to come at a tangible price. And we can name them: Thome at first; Rollins batting third; Pierre's inclusion has suppressed John Mayberry Jr. following a breakout year.

And so on. There are few, true fits, and there's no clear solution, except to pitch through it, hang in and hope for better luck.

Sunday chat: Flat Phillies seek series victory in SD

If the Phillies' offense wishes to be taken seriously, they'll beat right-hander Anthony Bass and the Padres this afternoon and take this series 3-1. Following another uninspiring night of measly run production, Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel rejiggers the lineup: Pierre LF, Victorino CF, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Thome 1B, Wigginton 3B, Ruiz C, Galvis 2B, Blanton. Different recipe, so we'll see if it results in the same bland taste. Ty Wigginton now leads the club in OPS (.789) as several regulars, including Hunter Pence and Jimmy Rollins, have had an awful roadtrip. As a team, the Phils rate second to last in baseball with a .599 OPS. A win would pull the Phils back to .500. [Jump to the newest comments]

Breaking news: Lee placed on DL with oblique strain

The Phillies have placed pitcher Cliff Lee on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, CSNPhilly.com reports. Lee, who pitched 10 shutout innings Wednesday in a loss to San Francisco, was scheduled to pitch Monday in Arizona. Kyle Kendrick will reportedly make the start instead. The Phillies also recalled lefty reliever Joe Savery from Triple A Lehigh Valley. Beerleaguer: Abdominal injuries are nothing new to Lee. Hopefully, this is a minor setback and he only misses a couple of turns, but obviously, losing one of their aces for any stretch puts the already scuffling Phils in a very tight spot. We're thankful for Kendrick, but still. Obliques can drag on for weeks. He could miss all of May. The Phils can't really afford that.

Saturday chat: Halladay hopes to stay perfect in SD

Preview: Roy Halladay (3-0, 1.17 ERA) has won all three games this season, in addition to winning each of his three career starts in San Diego. The right-hander toes the slab tonight at Petco Park opposite Cory Luebke beginning at 8:35 ET. The Phillies, who stand at an even 7-7, continued to have their way with the floundering Padres by winning 4-1 Friday night to extend their Petco winning streak to 13. Cole Hamels held the Pads to one run over six innings, while Brian Schneider, Juan Pierre and Shane Victorino plated the Phils' runs. Sharp defense and the bullpen bridge of Jose Contreras, Chad Qualls and Jonathan Papelbon held firm to preserve Hamels' second win of the season. In other news, Ryan Howard's exam was reportedly pushed to Monday, so no updates on the recovering first baseman. [Jump to the newest comments]

Game chat: Hamels, Schneider pair as Chooch sits

Preview: Cole Hamels (1-1, 3.65) has the honors in his home town when the Phillies continue their series with Edinson Volquez (0-1, 4.24) and the Padres. First pitch is 10:05. Carlos Ruiz is out of the Phillies’ lineup Friday night with a sore and swollen left wrist reportedly suffered tagging Will Venable in the sixth inning Thursday night. So the Phils will go Pierre LF, Polanco 3B, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Victorino CF, Wigginton 1B, Galvis 2B, Schneider C. Juan Pierre, who had two of the Phillies' hits and also drew a walk in last night's 2-0 victory, is hitting .333 with a .353 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, John Mayberry Jr., who had a .931 second-half OPS in 2011, looks on. The Phillies have won 12-straight games at Petco Park. [Jump to the newest comments]

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Howard seeks thumbs up

CSNPhilly.com Phillies insider Jim Salisbury reports that Ryan Howard is heading to Philadelphia today to have his surgically repaired left ankle examined by a specialist for the second time this week. [Link]

According to the report, if his infection has cleared and the wound healed, Howard could be given the green light to accelerate baseball activities, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro told Salisbury. Read the rest here. ... Meanwhile, the Phillies kept their winning streak alive at Petco Park, but continue to feel the loss of Howard. Vance Worley fanned a career-high 11 strikeouts, and Chad Qualls and Jonathan Papelbon locked down the eighth and ninth, in guiding the Phillies to a 2-0 victory over the Padres Thursday night. The Phils banged out their runs on a Jimmy Rollins sac fly in the first and an unearned run on a passed ball in the ninth.The Phils have won 12 straight games at Petco dating back to 2008.

Game chat: Phillies try to put it together at Petco

The Phillies carry a 22-4 lifetime mark at Petco Park into a key series with the Padres. First pitch is 10:05 with right-handers Vance Worley and Joe Wieland scheduled. The Phillies go with Pierre LF, Polanco 2B, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Victorino CF, Mayberry 1B, Ruiz C, Galvis 2B. Earlier, we examined the struggles of several role players, like Ty Wigginton and Jim Thome. All the while, core members, like three-hole hitter Jimmy Rollins, hasn't produced at a high enough level, either. Rollins is hitting for decent average (.286), but he has one extra-base hit - a double - which has driven down his OPS (.620). [Jump to the newest comments]

Panic or patience: Which Phils are a lost cause?

The Phillies are 5-7, in last place in the NL East. And the pessimists are taking over the world, one post at a time.

But we want the optimists to have their say too. And we want it to be now, since a 1-3 weekend in San Diego could send the "Season = over" t-shirts into mass production.

Here are a few Phillies hitters that have struggled through the first dozen games of the season. Some are worth panicking about, others aren't. It'll be interesting to see if the diehard pessimists can go 'panic' on all five, or vice versa for the glass-is-half-full Phillies fans. Obviously it's still very early in the season and expectations for these players weren't super-high. But when the division is improved and the roster is aging, it's never too early to be panicked. Or patient...

1) John Mayberry Jr. - Hitting .212/.212/.242 in 33 at-bats. One extra-base hit. No walks. Two RBIs. Striking out 27% of the time.

2) Placido Polanco - Hitting .179/.220/.205 in 39 at-bats. One extra-base hit. One walk. One RBI. Striking out 15% of the time - well above his career average.

3) Ty Wigginton - Hitting .240/.310/.400 in 25 at-bats. Two extra-base hits. A couple of costly errors. No discernible value at any defensive position.

4) Jim Thome - Hitting .083/.154/.083 in 12 at-bats. One single. Six strikeouts, including a brutal K with the game on the line last night.

5) Laynce Nix - Hitting .188/.278/.313 in 16 at-bats. Two extra-base hits, both doubles. Five strikeouts. Doesn't look particularly comfortable at first base. 

Phillies losing early ground in National League East

The last-place Phillies (5-7) have dropped three of four series, all because of the offense, and are sitting 4.5 games behind the first-place Nationals.

Beerleaguer: Embarrassing night, considering Cliff Lee became the first Major League pitcher in 18 years, or something crazy like that, to toss 10 shut-out innings and lose. It succinctly exposes - on a national scale - the futility of this lineup. The Phils don't have anyone to force the issue, let alone against some like Matt Cain. Opposing pitchers have no reason to give in. And all opponents need to do is endure the Phils' starter, even if it means taking them toe-to-toe through 10 innings. The Phils had just two hits through nine and finished with four. The starting lineup, and bench, earn failing grades through a dozen games.

So now the Phils face what amounts to a fairly crucial, mid-April, four-game set with a lousy 3-10 Padres team. They draw Joe Wieland, Edinson Volquez, Cory Luebke and Anthony Bass. If there was ever a time to take this new small-ball offense out for a spin, this is it. Sadly, it's also a litmus test. The Phils are in the basement, just like the Pads. Do they belong there?

If the Phillies dig themselves deeper this weekend, you'll start see folks wonder whether the Phils can actually hang around the NL East picture until Ryan Howard and Chase Utley return.

Lee's 10-inning effort all for naught in 1-0 loss

Game chat: Pitcher's duel on tap in rubber match

Giants right-hander Matt Cain, who flirted with perfection in his previous start, meets Cliff Lee and the Phillies in the deciding game of a three-game set beginning tonight at 10:15 ET. Phillies' skipper Charlie Manuel answered Beerleaguer's call to rejigger the lineup and bench Placido Polanco for Ty Wigginton. Here is your lineup: Pierre LF; Victorino CF; Rollins SS; Pence RF; Wigginton 3B; Nix 1B; Ruiz C; Galvis 2B, Lee P. [Jump to the newest comments]

Beer nuts: Polanco channeling his inner Abe

The last thread turned into a reader analysis of declining third baseman Placido Polanco, whose numbers since April of 2011 have been staggeringly bad.

Excluding the opening month of 2011 when Polly set the world on fire, Polanco has hit .237 (96-405) with a .295 OBP, .279 SLG and .574 OPS, numbers assembled by Beerleaguer friend, Carson, from We Should Be GMs. So essentially, the Phils have fielded a clone of all-glove, no-hit utilityman Abraham Nunez for third base for a solid year, readers obvserved. Polly's peripheral metrics are extremely wimpy, including a 15.2 percent line-drive percentage and a 51.5 ground ball percentage, leading to a ton of weak outs.

Beerleaguer: It's time to really consider less playing time for Polly, who really belongs at the ass end of the lineup. Between John Mayberry, Jim Thome and Laynce Nix, there's enough depth to free up Ty Wigginton for more looks at third. Not that there are any guarantees with Wiggy, but a .574 OPS for the last year isn't cutting it from the hot corner.

At least one dinosaur still roams the earth...

Stop me if you've heard this one: Jamie Moyer is old. And he's still pretty good. And he's really old. And still a good pitcher. And really, really old.

A couple of items of note on the ex-Phils lefty:

-Last night he became the oldest pitcher in baseball history to win a game, when he led the Rockies over the Padres, 5-3. Moyer, who allowed two unearned runs over seven innings, was 49 years, 150 days, edging out Jack Quinn (49 years, 70 days). He's now 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts for Colorado.

-In addition, Moyer did not reach 80 MPH on a single pitch last night. When was the last time a starting pitcher - non-knuckleballer - picked up a win without hitting 80 on the gun? It couldn't have been in the last 50 years, right? Last 75 years?

-The other day, I started hearing the stat that Moyer has faced 8.9% of hitters in Major League Baseball history. If you hadn't heard that yet, let it sink in for a second. That counts everyone from Ty Cobb to Freddy Galvis. (And you know you love reading those two names in the same sentence.) But yeah, nearly 1 out of every 10 hitters to ever step into the batter's box has faced Jamie Moyer.

-Some additional fun facts about Jamie Moyer: He's older than 8 MLB managers and 16 general managers ... He started the last game at Wrigley Field before lights were installed there. ... And he was born four months before the Beatles released their first album in Great Britain. 

-Finally, here are some other players who debuted the same year as Jamie Moyer, in 1986. All of these guys have been retired for at least a decade: Wally Joyner, Will Clark, Mark McGwire, Bobby Bonilla, Dave Magadan, Terry Steinbach, Mike Stanley, Kevin Seitzer, Bip Roberts, Paul Assenmacher, Bo Jackson, and Doug Drabek. In the ex-Phillies category, here are some other 1986 debuters: Benito Santiago, Pete Incaviglia, John Kruk, Dan Plesac, Kevin Elster, Dale Sveum, Terry Mulholland, Mitch Williams, Jeff Parrett, and Bruce Ruffin.

Lack of game-breaking bat burns Phillies in 4-2 loss

Numbers: The Phillies went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. The Phillies lead-off hitter got on base in six of nine innings. These guys went hitless: John Mayberry Jr., who is hitting .219/.219/.250 on the season, and Placido Polanco, who is at .179/.220/.205. Jim Thome, who came in as a pinch hitter, is an .091 hitter in his early return to Philadelphia.

Game chat: Phillies go right on the left coast

The Phillies stack an all-right-handed-hitting lineup against newly minted left-hander Madison Bumgarner and the Giants tonight in the second of three from AT&T Park. First pitch is 10:15 ET.

Notes: Joe Blanton tries to build on a terrific start in his 2012 debut as the Phils look to make it three straight. ... The Phillies go Victorino CF, Polanco 2B, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Wigginton 1B, Mayberry LF, Ruiz C, Galvis 2B. ... Shane Victorino has reached base safely in all 10 games this season. ... The Phils are 4-1 in their last five games at AT&T Park with a 1.64 ERA and no errors committed, according to the pre-game notes. ... Down on the farm, Reading outfielder Jiwan James was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week. He's hitting .324/.325/.622 with two home runs this season. .. Finally, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports says the Red Sox have been keeping an eye on Scott Podsednik at Lehigh Valley. ... As always, tonight's Beerleaguer Game Chat is presented by the Drexel Lebow MBA.

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Lefties getting locked up. Well, most of them...

Deadspin had a solid post yesterday detailing the large number of young left-handed pitchers that have received extensions over the last several months.

You'll notice that Cole Hamels' name is not on the list - and a lengthy list it is. From Deadspin...

Since the end of last season, we've had extensions for Matt Moore, John Danks, Gio Gonzalez, Derek Holland, Cory Luebke, Jon Niese, and now Bumgarner, young lefties all. (Clayton Kershaw bought out two of his arbitration years, too.) It's almost easier to think of young left-handers that haven't gotten contract extensions. Although that too becomes a challenge. Jon Lester? Nope, he got one. Ricky Romero? Think again. Jaime Garcia? Surely you jest.

Essentially, the lone lefty wolves are Kershaw (a free agent after 2014), David Price (after 2015) and Cole Hamels (after 2012!), all of whom will earn enough money, barring injuries, to topple South American governments or buy fancy cars or whatever.

Elsewhere, Matt Cain said that he believes Hamels' long-term extension will be worth more than his own - five years, $112.5 million - as "history-wise, lefties have always brought more than a righty. It's just the nature of the game." That's all well and good - and it's pretty obvious, since Hamels is more accomplished than Cain and just 11 months older.

Considering Matt Cain's contract, what would you guess Hamels gets - if you had to predict right now - in terms of years and dollars (and team)? And on a scale of 1-to-10, where 1 was Prince Fielder last offseason and 10 was Mariano Rivera two years ago, how confident are you that Hamels will re-sign with his current team?

Doc's dominance not taken lightly this season

Three of the Phillies' five victories now belong to Roy Halladay following an eight-inning gem at AT&T Park Monday night. We already know the high expectations Halladay has for himself, and so far, he's succeeded in personally shouldering the load in more than half of the Phillies' total wins. Doc allowed two runs on six hits and three walks Monday night and was quick to point out afterward there's room for improvement, particularly in the early innings. Dude, whatever floats your boat.

Game chat: Halladay tries to put Giants in his book

Pitching headline's Monday's drama when Roy Halladay (2-0, 0.60) and the Phillies open a set in San Francisco against Tim Lincecum (0-1, 12.91) and the Giants. First pitch is 10:15 ET.

They hold the same records (4-5), but the Phillies' outlook is simply brigher than their counterparts. Giants closer Brian Wilson is headed for season-ending surgery on his right elbow after an MRI revealed structural damage. Then there's the curious case of the Freak, who has been horrible despite striking out 11.7 batters per nine. The problem? He's allowed 14 hits, three walks and a pair of bombs in 7 2-3 innings. On the other side, Doc, who has never beaten the Giants in the regular season, has been the model of precision, finessing breaking stuff rather than overpowering opponents. His curveball hasn't been fair.

Lineup: Pierre LF; Polanco 3B; Rollins SS; Pence RF; Victorino CF; Nix 1B; Galvis 2B. Laynce Nix (pictured right missing a pitch by 10 inches) delivered one of the game's big hits in Sunday's win and has given clues that he's the Phillies' best defensive option at first. As always, Beerleaguer Game Chat is brought to you by the Drexel Lebow MBA.

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Evolving offense finishes homestead with a pulse

The Phillies are no longer second to last in baseball in runs scored. They're tied for second to last.

The brain trust wanted small ball. So far, the Phillies have delivered in some ways but have fallen short in others. Sufficed to say, this is a team in transition. A lack of power isn't the only noteworthy difference. Check out these latest National League rankings, courtesy of Hall of Fame Beerleaguer MG: AVG: .260 (3rd); OBP: .297 (13rd); OPS: .643 (13rd); ISO: .086 (15th); wOBA: .287 (12th): % BB: 5.2 % (15th): % K: 17.1 % (4th); BB/K: 0.30 (15th); % LD: 19.3 % (12th); % HR/FB: 6.8 % (13th); SB: 10th (1st).

Here's an executive summary. As MG notes, readers who always harped about 'productive outs' and less strikeouts have gotten their wish this season as the team is striking out in only 17 percent of at bats (in large because Ryan Howard is out of the lineup). It's no surprise the team's isolated slugging percentage sits dead last (.086), but the team's on-base percentage (.297) and number of walks taken - just 17 all season - has worked against the small-ball strategy. However, the Phillies are succeeding in two areas - batting average (.260) and stolen bases (10, 1st in the NL). The Phils outhit the Mets by a large margin this weekend, but have largely been poor / unlucky with runners in scoring position, which has driven down the run total.

Long road leads Contreras back to Phillies' roster

Forty-year-old right-hander Jose Contreras, who has been out since May of last season and underwent September elbow surgery, was added back to the Phillies' active roster following the team's 8-2 victory over the Mets, the team Web site reported Sunday night. To make room, left-hander Joe Savery was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Contreras, who had been rehabbing in Clearwater, appeared in 17 games last season and briefly served as the team's closer. In parts of two seasons with the club, he's 6-4 with a 3.44 ERA and nine saves. We'll have more on Sunday's win tomorrow.

Sunday chat: Phillies wrap with Mets, if anyone cares

Today, Philadelphians can choose between the lovely spring weather, the Stanley Cup Playoffs at 3 p.m. or a 3-5 Phillies team that has scored two or fewer runs in five of their eight games this season.

Beerleaguer: Is interest in the Phillies waning? That's the subject for today and a question worthy of our weekly poll. Granted, we're over two months away from the Summer Solstice and this time of year truly belongs to the city's hockey team. However, the Phillies, like any team, depends on non-Beerleaguers, that superficial support from fans who want to see stars hit home runs and the liberty bell go gong after every home win.

It's no mystery why the Phillies are where they are. They're second to last in the league in runs scored, just ahead of the Pirates, who beat them in the opening series. They're also 29th in home runs. They're stringing together hits; they've actually out-hit the Mets this series, but they're missing "big" hits. Let's just say it: they're missing the Big Piece.

Lineup: Pierre LF, Victorino CF, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Wigginton 3B, Nix 1B, Ruiz C, Orr 2B, Hamels P. Now that you've seen that, you might want to adjust your schedule accordingly.

Saturday chat: Worley tries to even up series

Looking ahead to this afternoon and reviewing the Mike Fontenot deal.

More on Fontenot: You can't swing a dead cat by its tail without hitting a rejected utility infielder who signed a minor league deal with the Phillies at some point, most recently, Andres Blanco, who is just 5-for-24 (.208) with no extra-base hits for the IronPigs. Fontenot is someone the Phils reportedly had some interest in acquiring last off-season, and when he was released by the Giants on April 3, and considering the dwindling depth among the Phillies' infield, Fontenot's name was immediately floated as a possible fit. Even with Fontenot's experience, it's becoming more and more likely the Phils won't jack with Freddy Galvis' good juju at second. However, it's pretty likely Fontenot will work his way to Philly and eventually replace Pete Orr as the Phils cycle Jose Contreras back into the mix and continue to evaluate their roster; Contreras is expected back tomorrow.

Fontenot's a pretty good fielder with spot power. Fangraphs gave him a 1.0 WAR in 2011 and he batted .227/.304/.377 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 252 plate appearances. According to the team Web site, he will report to extended Spring Training in Clearwater. Is this a good deal? I've given up trying to guess.

Mets 5, Phillies 2: Nothing to take out of this one except Freddy's first dinger. Just not a sharp effort out of the chute starting with Cliff Lee.

Game chat: It's Jon Niese and Vance Worley beginning at 4:05 on CSN. As always, Beerleaguer Game Chat is powered by the Drexel Lebow MBA.

Game chat: Phils host Mets, sign Fontenot to deal

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Phillies sign Fontenot: Thirty-two-year-old infielder Mark Fontenot has signed a minor league deal with the Phillies, according to Jim Bowden of MLB Network. More on the move tomorrow. Fontenot can play short, so it's safe to say Pete Orr will soon dust off the E-Z Pass for the Northeast Extension. Have a great weekend and enjoy the game.

Phillies or Braves? Fontenot to decide soon

Veteran infielder Mike Fontenot will reportedly decide between the Phillies and Braves in the not-so-distant future.

Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Phils and their NL East rival are the last two options for Fontenot, who was released by the Giants late in spring training.

The 32-year-old second baseman - he also has played third and short in his career - batted .227/.304/.377 in 85 games for San Fran last season. His career line sits at .263/.332/.406 and while he doesn't bring much to the table in terms of stealing bases or drawing walks, he is considered a solid defensive player.

If the Phillies sign Fontenot, it certainly won't be because of what he's done against them in the past. Fontenot is a career 7-for-44 hitter (.159/.229/.250) against the Phils with a sizzling 3-for-29 resume at Citizens Bank Park. Stay tuned.

Update: Fontenot to the Phils on a minor league deal, according to Jim Bowden. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. 

Once again, Phillies prove the devil is in the details

Joe Blanton's inspired seven innings paced the Phillies to a 3-1, series-clinching victory. Behind him, it was the same old story about a team that plays better baseball than the Marlins.

Attention to detail, or lack thereof, has kept the Marlins at an arm's length during the Phillies' division run. Granted, the Fish have had their share of setbacks to the starting rotation and bullpen over the years, but it's the level of execution that weighs heavily in the Phillies' favor every time these teams meet. Thursday was no exception. Defensively, the Phils were all over these guys: Freddy Galvis continued to shine at second; Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino locked down the outfield, Ty Wigginton had has best game as a Phillie, including a key stretch at first and a massive insurance run on a solo shot in the 7th. Additionally, the consistent play of Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco has been overshadowed by the 22-year-old next to them.

Mark Buehrle will have his day, but he was unimpressive in his debut, allowing eight hits, including the kiss of death from Wigginton. Meanwhile, Blanton took charge with one strike after another, none of it fast and much of it off-speed. This was probably his best night since late 2010.

The Phillies, traditionally, have maintained a bullpen edge in the rivalry. Chad Qualls might have pitched into trouble, but I've been pleasantly surprised by what I've seen this spring. Qualls was cool. Jonathan Papelbon was not. Clearly - visibly - he was anxious to put his first Citizens Bark Park save in the books.

The 3-3 Phillies host the Mets tonight.

Game chat: Blanton back on the bump in finale

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Who's on first? No, seriously. Who? Anyone?

For all the talk about Freddy Galvis, the lack of home runs, and who should be leading off, a big offensive issue so far has been the Phillies' first basemen.

Through the first week of the season, John Mayberry Jr., Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix and Jim Thome are a combined 5-for-34 (.147) with nine strikeouts and one extra-base hit. In terms of those guys strictly as first basemen, they are 3-for-20 (.150) with zero extra-base hits on the season. And defensively, they aren't exactly conjuring up memories of Travis Lee and Rico Brogna out there.

It could be a long wait for Ryan Howard to return, though in fairness, Howard usually struggles in the season's first month. Tonight we can expect either Wigginton or Mayberry to play first base against Miami lefty Mark Buehrle. 

For what it's worth - probably not much - Wigginton's career splits as a first baseman pale in comparison to his numbers at other positions:

First base: 262 games, 810 at-bats, .240/.309/.383

Second base: 168 games, 565 at-bats, .296/.345/.520

Third base: 657 games, 2240 at-bats, .261/.321/.438

And for what it's worth - probably even less - Mayberry's career splits actually favor him as a first baseman. In a major way.

First base: 20 games, 52 at-bats, .385/.396/.615

Left field: 50 games, 104 at-bats, .221/.299/.413

Center field: 34 games, 109 at-bats, .229/.288/.459

 

Thursday: Freddy gives Phils, fans adrenaline shot

The Phillies completed their best inning of baseball Wednesday night, a five-run rally at the expense of ace Josh Johnson, while the crowd sent a clear message: they're thirsty for new blood.

Beerleaguer: Raise your hand if Freddy Galvis, who had never played an inning in the Majors and was assigned to replace perhaps the most beloved Philadelphia athlete of his generation, represented the player you were looking forward to observing most this April. Freddy was my choice. He's young, fresh, and skill-wise, he's like no other prospect we've seen since Jimmy Rollins, really. Fan reaction rarely makes for good subject matter, but the "Freddy! Freddy!" chants Wednesday night spoke volumns about a). the intellegence and awareness of the crowd b). an understanding of the situation at second c). an early recognition of legitamite talent d). a fanbase perhaps willing to let go of the past.

The game's other story - the "small-ball" stuff - it can get overblown. Yeah, the Phillies got after Johnson by stringing together a bunch of hits, but they've been great baserunners for years, and that's really what drove the inning ... and Freddy's big moment.

Transaction: The Orioles signed Phillies non-roster spring invitee Joel Pineiro to a minor league deal. The right-hander was released by the Phils midway through spring training. He's been assigned to Baltimore's Triple-A club.

Game chat: 'O' hopes to rise up against Johnson

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Phils-Marlins: Aces up at Citizens Bank Park tonight

With all due respect to Erik Bedard, who started for the Pirates on Opening Day last Thursday, this is the first true ace-ace matchup of the season for the Phillies.

Roy Halladay will take the mound against Marlins righty Josh Johnson tonight in South Philly. Over the last two seasons, these two pitchers have matched up against each other three previous times. And let's just say that runs were hard to come by:

May 29, 2010 - Phillies 1, Marlins 0 - Roy Halladay pitched the 20th perfect game in major league history, striking out 11 on that magical Saturday night. Johnson gave up just an unearned run over seven solid innings. 

June 10, 2010 - Marlins 2, Phillies 0 - Less than two weeks after his perfect game, Halladay worked eight strong innings, yielding just one run and six hits. Johnson was just a little bit better on this night, however, as the Florida ace surrendered only three hits over eight scoreless frames.

May 10, 2011 - Marlins 2, Phillies 1 - Halladay pitched eight terrific innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits. He struck out nine in the complete-game effort. Johnson pitched seven innings of one-run ball, allowing only a solo homer to Ryan Howard.

Totals in those 3 games: 

Roy Halladay: 25 IP, 11 H, 3 R (2 ER), 28 K, 3 BB -- 1-2 with a 0.72 ERA

Josh Johnson: 22 IP, 16 H, 2 R (1 ER), 18 K, 5 BB (incl. 3 IBB) -- 2-1 with a 0.41 ERA

BL breaking news: This just in. These guys are good.

NL East roundup: Misery loves company

The Phillies have their share of problems, but they're far from alone.

Despite the Phils' issues at the plate and on the mound, it's possible that the Marlins, Nationals and Braves would trade their problems for the Phillies' in an instant.

Marlins: Ozzie Guillen opened his big mouth again, and this time it was an opinion that many experts are calling "the worst thing you can say" in Miami. Guillen has since apologized for his comments about Fidel Castro, but he - Guillen, that is - has been suspended for five games. If nothing else, it has become a PR nightmare for the Marlins and a lousy way to christen what the team hoped would be a magical first season in Miami.

Nationals: Anytime your closer's name is in the same sentence as Dr. James Andrews, that's never a good sign. Drew Storen may not need Tommy John Surgery - though it hasn't been ruled out yet - but as manager Davey Johnson put it: "It doesn't sound good to me." Brad Lidge is now their closer. Uh oh.

Braves: They sit at 0-4 for the first time since 1988. Going back to last season - for whatever that's worth - the Braves have lost nine straight games. Chipper Jones is supposed to return to the lineup tonight, but how much does he have left? And a Jason Heyward platoon is an actual idea being floated around. For all the talk about the Phillies' offense, the Braves have only scored 10 runs in four games.

Mets: They're 4-0 and in first place. Division race = over.

Cloyd named pitcher of the week, then gets demoted

Turning to the minors, right-hander Tyler Cloyd, who pitched six perfect innings in Thursday's IronPigs opener, was named International League Pitcher of the Week. He was shipped back to Reading Monday.

Cloyd, 24, was initially slated to begin the season in Double-A but stepped in for IronPigs starter Dave Bush, who was serving a suspension. Cloyd, who also struck out eight hitters, ended up becoming the first pitcher in club history to pitch six perfect innings. He pitched last season between Clearwater and Reading and is not considered a prospect.

In related news, Scott Elarton pitched five scoreless innings in the IronPigs' 1-0 victory over Pawtucket Monday night. Domonic Brown's RBI hit in the fourth plated the game's only run. Relievers Brian Sanches, Michael Schwimer and Jake Diekman slammed the door; Diekman struck out the side in the ninth for the save.

You know ... I've got a bad feeling about the Phillies

Editor's note: Tom McCarthy mistakenly identifies Freddy Galvis' first big league hit as the game's top highlight, when in fact, the game's top highlight came when the Phanatic dressed as Tina Turner and danced to "Proud Mary." We apologize for the error.

Game chat: Phillies seek better fortune in Philly

Lineup: Pierre LF; Polanco 3B; Rollins SS; Pence RF; Victorino CF; Mayberry 1B; Ruiz C; Galvis 2B; Hamels P.

Notes: (Courtesy of CSNPhilly.com) - Cole Hamels tries to emulate a terrific 2011 campaign (14-9 with a 2.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP). For the Marlins, Anibal Sanchez is 3-4 in 11 starts vs. the Phils with a 3.88 ERA and 4.75 ERA in six starts at Citizens Bank Park. However, much of the run production came from Chase Utley (.441 batting average in 34 at-bats) and Ryan Howard (two homers, two doubles, 11 walks). The Marlins (1-3) had their own late-inning problems last series. Heath Bell allowed four hits and two runs in a third of an inning in a 6-5 loss to the Reds.

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Poll: What sickened you most in the Pirates series?

Bad, in a general sense: "Just one game, but that loss was pretty telling. Starting pitcher does a good job, but you have to remove him for a PH an inning early because you get a rare opportunity to score. Take a lead into the late innings but the other team has better relievers so the offense stops scoring, and meanwhile you start the seventh inning with Michael Stutes, the eighth inning with Kyle Kendrick, and the ninth inning with David Herndon. To be sure, there was a key error and a couple of wretched at-bats from Jimmy Rollins in big spots thrown in the mix, but the reasons why they came up short are more general than specific. The way the plan was drawn up Sunday is more often than not going to result in a late-inning loss." - RSB  

Silver linings: - "The Phillies will improve on the 4-21 RISP they hit this series. Seems every year this team can't buy a clutch hit in Pittsburgh. This year was no different. There won't be many series where the opposing teams have two walk-off wins in the ninth inning or later. Vance Worley looked good and arguably pitched better than Cliff Lee. Finally, no more trips to Pittsburgh. The Phils are 14-24 there since PNC Park opened." - MG

Beerleaguer series take: At risk of sabotaging the poll, here are some sideline observations (joined at the sidelines by $50 million closer Jonathan Papelbon). The Phillies' 5-9 hitters combined for a 1-for-34 in the two losses. The team banged out six extra-base hits total. The 1-2-3-5-7-8 hitters all squared to bunt at one point this series. We saw an extremely discouraging offensive debut by Freddy Galvis (0-10), and poor performances overall by Ty Wigginton (1-8) and Jimmy Rollins (2-12). Turning to the bullpen, Chad Qualls was reportedly unavailable Sunday due to soreness in his heel, adding to the mounting concerns (Bastardo's sluggishness, etc.). To me, only one Pirates hitter should force the Phillies to take pause and that's Andrew McCutchen. You can't pitch to him there.

On a positive note, the starting pitching turned in 20 innings of two-run ball. It just doesn't get any better than that for an opening series in early April conditions.