PHILLIES PHODDER

I was at yesterday's Phillies game, an 11-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners..

* The bullpen once again went up in flames, turning a 3-3 game after six innings into another devastating trouncing. Seattle again crushed 16 hits. Phjillies' starter Zach Efflin pitched OK, going six innings but throwing over 100 pitches in the process.

After the game, manager Pete Mackanin again made excuses for his failing team, stating that the starters need to go longer in games so he can use his bullpen more effectively. It has been a problem this season, the starters usually only going 5-6 innings at a time. But it's the bullpen's job to pick up the slack. That's why you have a closer, a set-up guy, and middle relievers. Everyone has a role and needs to do his job. This season, the bullpen isn't doing its job, no matter what the role.

Mackanin stated that many teams in the major leagues are having bullpen problems. Maybe so, but I don't care about other teams. The Phillies' bullpen stinks, the front office failed to construct n effective 'pen, and Mackanin needs to stop coddling his players and be honest with them and the fans. Stop making excuses for their failures. Challenge them to do better or else.

Joaquin Benoit got lit up for 5 runs in only 1/3 of an inning yesterday. He later complained about not knowing his "role" on the team. But in reality, he has sucked as a closer, as a set-up man, and against the Mariners, a middle relief guy. He could "know his role" as an 8th inning reliever, but still not be good at it.

The bottom line is, he's a 40-year old veteran who is a shell of himself, and prefers to blame the manger and pitching coach for his ineffectiveness. He is making $7 million this year. The Phillies should release his ass and eat the money ( they can afford it), but who steps in to take his place?

That's the problem. No one can be trusted. Pat Neshak has an ERA of 0.00 but he is looked upon as merely a situational right-handed reliever, not a consistent closer. But nothing else is working, so why not give him a shot? Could he do worse?

Down on the farm, your Luis Garcias and Michael Marriots of the world linger. They probably can't do any worse, and a guy like Marriot may appreciate the roster spot more than a washed-up guy like Benoit, who looks like he wants out of Philadelphia.

The blame goes to GM Matt Klentak who assembling this mess. He knew that last years' closer, Jenimar Gomez, was shaky at best, yet his talent evaluation in constructing his bullpen has been a failure.

Even if the starters toss a good game and the hitters build a lead, as in Tuesday's 10-9 defeat when the Phillies held 4-run leads two times, it's frustrating and demoralizing to watch the bullpen blow leads and saves.

So, what can be done? Not much this season, unless you start releasing older, ineffective pitchers or demoting the ineffective kids. Hoepfully Klentak makes the bullpen more of a priority in the future as he slowly builds the squad. He traded away closer Ken Giles for Vince Valasquez, a deal which is too soon to tell if it's a winner or a bust.

I get the contention that a rebuilding team doesn't really need an expensive closer. If the team isn't giving the closer games to close, it's sort of a waste. But somebody does need to finish games, and unless you win all of your games by 5 runs, you're going to need a reliable closer. It seems stupid to have the starters throw a quality game, the hitters to do their job, only to have the bullpen throw it all away.

* It was a beautiful spring day in Philly. Nothing like an afternoon  mid-week baseball game. A taste of the daily routine for a Cubs game. 26,000 fans attended, including a good number of kids.Gorgeous weather, good ballpark food- who can ask for more ? Too bad the Phillies forgot to show up.

The Phillies' staff- ticket-takers, ushers, guest services people- continue to be the friendliest in town. They are a class organization.

It was interesting to see Owner John Middleton before the game greeting ex-Phillie Carlos Ruiz in front of the Seattle dugout. Ruiz had a good game, with 4 RBIs. "Chooch" is coming to the end of his career, and it would be great to see him return to the Philadelphia organization sometime in the future as a coach or instructor. He knows baseball and can relate to the younger Latino players.

* So, if Mackanin isn't given a contract extension, look for all of his coaches to go with him- Bowwa, Samuel, McClure. Maybe it's for the best, as this team needs a fresh start and a mor epositive attutide going into the future.Visiting clubs aren't intimidated coming to Citizens Bank Park anymore. They mash the Phillies with home runs instead of it being the other way around. It always puzzled me why the Phillies, playing their home games in a bandbox like CBP, haven't focused on being a power-hitting club to take advantage of the small ballpark.

The current Phillies team has no personality and no definition of who they are. A power team? Speed? A team built on pitching nad defense? They are an average group, boring at times, frustrating most of the time. But coming out of spring training they have strived for average. And so far, they are exactly that.

The Phils embark on a nine-game road trip, with stops on Washington ( playing the Nationals for a fourth series already), a struggling Texas team, and a last-place Pirates team. The Phillies have a chance to right the ship, as this trip doesn't seem nearly as overwhelming as their last trip to Los Angeles and Chicago.

I wrote here in the spring about the need to play Aaron Altherr more, and that he would have a big year. He has seven home runs so far, and has clubbed 3 3-run homers in the last 3 games. All of this as the line-up around him struggles for consistency, Altherr must play everyday now, with Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders needing to platoon for playing time.