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.
I definitely expect an offensive outburst today. Seeing that lineup gives me zero confidence, so that's my rationale. Hamels gives up 4, Phillies score 9. Book it.
Posted by: aksmith | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:06 PM
Phlipper asks why this team is worse offensively than last year.
Is that a joke? No Utley and Howard--they've been replaced by Galvis and Wigginton/Nix/Pierre, who all kind of suck. Victorino had a career year last year and is unlikely to repeat it. Same with Pence. Rollins is another year older. As is Ruiz, although his skills don't seem to be declining and he has played a lot fewer games in his career than Rollins, who came up at 21.
The team has no power and has shown no ability to take a walk--and as Clout has pointed out, it's not a matter of small sample size. None of the guys in the lineup has ever walked much, except Chooch. Simply put, a lineup of .270 singles hitters without patience is an AWFUL offense.
You can make all the excuses you want, but either the offensive personnel changes (Utley, Howard, call up Dom, trade for someone, etc.), or this team won't make the playoffs. Do you really think this current 25-man roster would make the playoffs if they were active all season?
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:10 PM
Poll should also include "Huh?? Did you say something??"
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:13 PM
JW: They are missing Howard, but it's not just Howard. In 2007, Rowand, Rollins, Utley and Burrell all hit over 20 HRs in addition to Howard. The next year Werth emerged as a power threat, and in 09 Raul hit 34. Before that, Thome and Abreu were good for HRs.
Howard hit 33 HRs last year and that was it for power. He's declined, but the rest of the roster has simply changed or declined as well in terms of power. It's a sad state of affairs right now.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:18 PM
Why is it a "special day in Philly" when they honor Jackie Robinson? He never played for the Phillies, and in fact, the Phillies may have been the most racist team in baseball at the time. They were savage to him, and were I think, the last team to have a black player on the roster.
There is nothing the Phillies organization should do to honor Jackie Robinson, other than to have all the executives stand on the infield and apologize for previous executives, and hang their heads in representative shame for the late executives' behavior.
Oh, then they should play a baseball game, if that's what you call what this team is doing these days.
Posted by: aksmith | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:18 PM
Love baseball. Love the Phillies.
Hate this offense.
Posted by: GM-Carson | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:24 PM
Hopefully, the Phillies can just read water until reinforcements come from their own disabled, from a trade or from a combination of both.
Today is an important game; the pitching match ups in SF don't look favorable.
Posted by: Marc H | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:24 PM
My previous post should have read "tread" water, not read water
Posted by: Marc H | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:25 PM
Amaro better no keep waiting things out. Swing a trade if one is to be made. Screw the luxury tax. This is team is going to be a huge overpaid disappointment unless offense is added. Waiting for Utley & Howard guarantees nothing. Need help now!
Posted by: GM-Carson | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:27 PM
.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:27 PM
That's a good one, GTown.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:31 PM
That full season at AAA for Brown is looking more like 6 weeks, max.
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:32 PM
Once again, Brown will have to play the "savior" role.
Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:35 PM
Not a hockey fan, and I know the Flyers will tease everyone for awhile before bowing out anyway.
But.......this Phil's O could make me convert to hockey fan or even MLS soccer.
Rollins in the 3 hole is a disaster and Mayberry better pick it up. This lineup isn't as bad as the results, unless we're just deceived by the reputations of these declining guys, i.e Polly, J Roll.
Posted by: msb | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:35 PM
A win today would feel really good. A win with more than 3 runs would feel better.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:37 PM
I'm curious to see how/if Hamels bounces back, but it's a shame he has to face the Mets. Cole has never been a Mets-killer.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:37 PM
msb: Stay away from MLS. If it's possible for a professional sports team to have an offense even more pathetic than that of the Phillies, the Union have achieved it.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:38 PM
I'll keep my expectations modest today: I hope the score is still 0-0 by the 2nd inning.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:39 PM
The only reason I'm so in tune to what he's doing is because he's on my fantasy team, but Omar Infante is on a tear so far this year. Pretty crazy. Another HR today, and he came in today with an .833 SLG. 'Roids? :)
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:39 PM
Well, that's the game.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:41 PM
b_a_p: So much for that.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:41 PM
Game over. Damn bloop single by Wright.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:41 PM
Oh, #%$@^*()&%^$#!
Posted by: GBrettFan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:42 PM
smh
Posted by: Muuurgh | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:42 PM
Yeah, soccer isn't your sport if you like offense.
Posted by: limoguy | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:42 PM
Apparently Wheels thinks the Mets scored because they've tapped into the mystical quality of being "hot". Nothing to do with randomness of a bloop single, followed by a home run. If they were "cold", such things can't happen, unless of course that event is what flips you from "cold" to "hot".
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:43 PM
Hamels sucks.
Posted by: chandler | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:43 PM
If the Phillies got a 2-out bloop single, the chances of the next hitter being able to back it up with a home run is close to zero.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:44 PM
Season over.
Posted by: RedBurb | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:45 PM
Met announcers have yapped all series about how their manager wanted their hitters to be less patient, and we say ours should be more patient.
Posted by: EastFallowfield | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:45 PM
bleh-unting
Posted by: Get Rube A Beer | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:46 PM
My MLB.tv actually froze right after Wright's hit; it came back right as Hairston was flying out to end the inning. Until I read Beerleaguer, I was under the blissfully ignorant belief that the Mets had a scoreless 1st inning.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:46 PM
I shoulda known benching the hot-hitting (.103) Ike Davis on my fantasy team would result in a dinger against the Phillies!
Posted by: msb | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:46 PM
Oh, look, the Phillies are losing.
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:46 PM
Corey Seidman (via Twitter): "Phils are 29th in baseball in runs, 29th in extra-base hits, 28th in total bases, 26th in slugging pct. And for good measure, 29th in walks."
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:47 PM
When the pitching (0ur supposed only advantage ) goes south -- this year's phillies are in big trouble
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:47 PM
Over Hamels last 12 starts (including today), he's given up 13 homeruns in 70.1 IP, for a rate of 1.66 HR/9.
Let's hope Hamels HR struggles don't return. It's only 70 IP, so let's just hope it's a fluke.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:48 PM
GTown - the interesting thing is that they're 14th in BA. It's the other parts of their offense that are killing them.
Posted by: limoguy | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:49 PM
Wheels is a treasure trove of worthless or stupid information
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:49 PM
DON'T BUNT!!!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:50 PM
I have to be honest...my interest in watching is not as high as when Galvis is playing. BOO PETE ORR!!!
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:50 PM
"You can make all the excuses you want, but either the offensive personnel changes (Utley, Howard, call up Dom, trade for someone, etc.),"
Wow. Jack's ahead of schedule with his "We're all doomed if they don't call up Dom" rant.
The last two years he waited until close to the All Star break to wet his pants.
Posted by: Phlipper (thinking of going back to rooting for the Mets) | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:51 PM
Is it me, or does Pierre look slow to anyone? Doesn't look nearly as fast as in year's past.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:51 PM
Everybody hits (singles) woo hoo!
Posted by: EastFallowfield | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:52 PM
limoguy: A lineup full of light hitters who will get their share of singles. Problem is, there's as notable lack of guys who can drive the ball, & drive in runs. If they can't string those singles together they'll struggle mightily.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:52 PM
I can't believe my eyes. If Vic gets in I'll eat my hat.
Posted by: Muuurgh | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:52 PM
How did Vic NOT get to 3rd on that Rollins single?
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:52 PM
That was a very nice throw by the Duda-meister, though. Very nice one-hopper into the baseline.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:52 PM
Pence is too d** anxious
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:53 PM
SMALL BALL!!
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:54 PM
Love the double steal.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:55 PM
watched moneyball last night. I think rube should try this whole OBP thing. also, D Brown's ISO is .034 thus far in the season. He has reverted to a singles hitter as well. His strikeout rate is 25%
3-0 and wiggity gets out. Here is a weak gb out for Nix.
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:55 PM
The phrase, "That'll leave it to Laynce Nix", does not inspire confidence.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:56 PM
GTown - or work some walks, sacrifice some guys over, steal some bases, etc. They've only got 3 SAC's and 8 SB's so far (4 by Victorino). Vic is actually having a very good season so far.
Posted by: limoguy | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:57 PM
shutting out in the TOP of the first...of course they're shutting them out T-Mac
Posted by: Get Rube A Beer | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:58 PM
A WALK!!! Maybe this offense isn't so bad after all...
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:58 PM
"Mets playing infield back. They are conceding the run." our offense sucks so much we don't even get the conceded runs to cross home!
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 01:59 PM
Hmm, maybe we should play Nix more.
...
Posted by: Muuurgh | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:00 PM
The Phillies are the only team in baseball who can get 3 hits & 2 SB & a BB in an inning, & only manage to score 1 f*cking run.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati has 2 hits, & 4 runs.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:00 PM
YES
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:00 PM
How inspiring
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:00 PM
Hard to get multiple runs when every f@#king hit is a groundball.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:00 PM
That inning was
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:01 PM
small and smaller
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:01 PM
And, yet again in this series, we see the problems with small ball on full display. It works great if you can string 6 singles together. Far more often, you wind up scoring 1 run and leaving bushels of runners on base.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:02 PM
Gameday says Pelfrey getting 'generous strike zone.'
Posted by: limoguy | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:02 PM
BL assured me during the offseason that we'd never see Wiggy and Nix together in the middle of the order. So much for that. Unfortunately, that's not even the worst thing about this lineup...
Posted by: curt | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:02 PM
Pence is just not delivering --- too anxious---
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:03 PM
Chris wheeler delivers again with werthen-less info
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:04 PM
Hunter Pence is the absolute least of the Phillies offensive problems right now.
1. Rollins miscast as three-hole hitter
2. Wiggy getting significant PAs
3. Nix getting significant PAs
4. JMJ reminding us why he was a AAAA player for so many years
5. Pierre batting leadoff, as opposed to 7th or 8th
6. Ruiz batting 7th, when he should be higher.
7. Polly batting high in the order when he is clearly no longer a 2-hole hitter.
8, Freedy Galvis being our starting 2nd baseman.
I could go on...
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:06 PM
It really felt like we should have more than one run out of that.
Posted by: GBrettFan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:06 PM
If Pence reverts from his .871 2011 OPS to his .828 career average, the problem with our lineup will not be Hunter Pence. The problem will be that Hunter Pence is the best guy in our lineup.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:09 PM
that statue doesn't even resemble jackie.
Posted by: bullit | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:10 PM
cole hamels has more hits than Laynce Nix and Pete Orr this season...
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:10 PM
Is it just me, or has Pierre not been too bad at the plate?
Posted by: Bake McBride was Here | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:11 PM
Is anyone complaining about Pierre today?
Posted by: Gray's Ferry | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:11 PM
Extra base hits would be nice huh guys?
Posted by: RedBurb | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:11 PM
Also add -- that
when your # hitter is a better hitter then your number 8 hitter
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:11 PM
Our last 11 hits have been singles.
No wonder we can't score.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:12 PM
When Harry was in the booth, this unprofessional lambasting of Pelfrey wouldn't be happening. I'm not a Pelfrey fan, but TMac and Wheels are about 2 seconds away from calling him a moron and the worst pitcher to ever step on the mound.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:14 PM
# 9 hitter ( correction)
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Jimmy's avg is .353, his OBP is also .353. ISO is .030. Where does he belong in the line-up? Probably 2.
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:14 PM
More balls on the ground.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:15 PM
A line drive, a line drive, my kingdom for a line drive.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:16 PM
1st and 2nd nobody out and they don't score?
Posted by: limoguy | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:16 PM
noname, you are using extreme small sample sizes to justify your opinion. Kinda dumb to do after 8 games.
Posted by: RedBurb | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:16 PM
"When Harry was in the booth, this unprofessional lambasting of Pelfrey wouldn't be happening."
In fairness, it WAS a really stupid play. It would very likely have been a DP if he had thrown to 2nd.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Optimum Line-up (IMO):
1.) Pierre (LF)
2.) Rollins (SS)
3.) Ruiz (C)
4.) Pence (RF)
5.) Victorino (CF)
6.) Mayberry/Thome (1B)
7.) Wiggington (3b)
8.) Polanco (2b)
9.) Pitcher
Thoughts?
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Sorry, 1st and 2nd with one out and they didn't score.
Posted by: limoguy | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:18 PM
5 hits, 1 run. The 2012 Phillies! Phils are 14th in MLB in team batting average, but 29th in runs.
You guys remember when the Phils led the league in offense but everyone said we needed to rely less on the home runs and play more small ball? Man, those were the days. No, seriously. Those were the good days when we actually scored.
Posted by: Jack | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:18 PM
This team is soooo frustrating to watch..
Why isn't Luna up? 0rr down.?
Whyis this conversation with pitchers hitting competition ?
Posted by: Let's eat | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:18 PM
In fairness, it WAS a really stupid play. It would very likely have been a DP if he had thrown to 2nd.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Yeah, but for TMac afterwards to say, "After he bobbled the ball, I expected Pelfrey to throw the ball into CF or RF or..."
Just extremely unprofessional.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:19 PM
yes redburb. small sample size. It is the problem with every person's opinion right now. so, either we have fun and chat, or JW should take down the site until 1/4 way into the season.
Posted by: nonamePHame | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:20 PM
The upside is that we are hitting Pelfrey and Pelfrey should be gone in 5 innings max.
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:23 PM
The Home Run Payoff Inning is now an obscene mockery.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:25 PM
Speaking of small sample sizes:
2B WAR (FG.com)
Cano: 0.2
Galvis: 0.3
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:26 PM
Does anyone have, or know where one might find, a comparison of Ground Ball/Fly Ball percentage by team?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:26 PM
That was Nix's finest offensive contribution of the season.
Does that count toward his OBP?
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:29 PM
The Phillies team GB/FB ratio is 0.97.
per B-R.com
Posted by: NEPP | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:29 PM
I want Nix to attempt a steal SO BADLY, just for the entertainment value.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 02:29 PM