PHILLIES PHODDER

I had to write this column today. I wasn't going to do a Phillies piece. What more can be said? I was going to write a Philly Sports Corner tomorrow ( and still will) about the Sixers draft. But I had to write this, if only to vent.

This long, torturous Phillies season has had so many lows. Someone is going to write a book about this mess. I thought we had seen it all, and it's only the first day of summer. I really thought the team had hiot rock bottom- until last night.

Here are some highlights- or low lights- of another embarrassing defeat:

* The club blew a 5-0 lead to St. Louis, losing 7-6 in the 10th inning. The Cardinals have now beaten the Phils all 5 games they have played this season. The Cards go for the sweep this afternoon. What's more, St. Louis came limping into this series not playing well, as they did recently when the beat the Phillies 3 games in St. Louis. Coming into that series,  the Redbirds had lost 7 games in a row. The Phillies are the relief for what ails ua'.

* Odubel Herrera ran through a stop sign by third base coach Juan Samuel in the bottom of the 9th of at tie game, getting thrown out at the plate by a good 30 feet.

Herrera said the stop sign was put on late by Samuel. Herrera had his eyes down when he approached third base, instead of looking for the coach. The play was in front of Herrera, a double hit by Freddie Galvis down the third base line. All Herrera had to do was look at Samuel. He didn't

This all goes back to playing smart baseball and discipline. Herrera has always played dumb. I've said it a thousand times the Phillies will regret giving him a contract extension last summer.

He should be benched and fined today. The front office should look to trade his ass. He won't ever get any better.

Whenever Herrera didn't hustle- which is often- there were no consequences. Manager Pete Mackanin would not bench him, instead making excuses for Herrera's boneheaded, lackadaisical behavior. He did it again last night, claiming that Herrera wanted to score so bad, his emotions took over and he ran past ( and almost knocked over) Samuel.

Samuel should be fired too, for inconsistency at third base. But he was right last night when he said "If I put up the stop sign, you've got to stop."

Herrera will never be special. He will always be a stupid player, a Rule 51 guy who has a bad attitude. Last night put it all into focus. It's like a broken record which will annoyingly play over and over again until the Phillies finally get rid of Herrera in the off-season.

* Pete Mackanin needs to be fired immediately. Let Larry Bowa run the club for the rest of the season. Maybe he will install some much-needed fire into this sorry bunch of losers.

Mackanin keeps making excuses for his bad players. Worse, he looks confused, shell-shocked and discouraged. "We don't make more mistakes than any other teams."

Is that why the Phillies have the worst team in baseball? Is that why the squad is on a pace to lose a record 112 games?  Is it a coincidence that as soon as Mackanin got a new contract in May the team melted down?

The players don't respect Mackanin because they know there won't be any repercussions for the mental mistakes or lack of hustle. The players aren't listening anymore. The negative, losing mentality is wearing thin. Mackanin, like GM Matt Klentak, is in dumbfounding denial.

* Hector Neris blew another save last night. He just doesn't have the heart to be a closer. Another reason why Mackanin needs to get the ax. he won't use Pat Neshak as his closer. He claims Neshak told him before the game that the pitcher was "sore" and unavailable to pitch, even though he recently enjoyed a day iff and only threw 7 pitches in his previous game.

When asked by reporters if he was hurt, Neshak replied, "I'm fine."

Lack of communication between manager and players.

Anyway, Neris needs to go back to being the 8th inning set-up man where he excelled previously. It's troublesome that, among this team's many needs, this is no closer either on the current roster or in the minors.

* Speaking of which, Benoit choked in the 8th inning, surrendering yet another homer to make the game closer last night. Benoit bitched about his role earlier in the season.He said that he "wanted to know his role." Now he knows his role- set-up guy- and he can't get it done. He's a washed-up diva.

 Ramos is a young, confused guy. He walked the only two Cardinals he faced on Tuesday night before being yanked from the game. Last night, Ramos balked in the 10th inning and  tossed an attempted pick-up throw ten feet over first baseman Tommy Joseph's head.

Ramos is young and you don't want to break him. But he needs to go back to the minors to find himself.

This is Klentak's fault for not building a bullpen.

* On a bright note, Nick Pivettta again pitched a good game and is emerging as the staff's top pitcher. He struck out 10 in six innings against St. Louis. leaving with a 5-3 lead. Pivetta's hero in baseball was Roy Halliday. Pivettta looks and pitches like Doc. Pivetta held down the  powerful Red Sox last week. Sadly, despite hurling two good games, Pivetta failed to get credit in both games.

Let's be honest- the Philadelphia Phillies are the laughing stock of baseball. They are embarrassing. It's one thing to lose, it's another to be humiliated each and every night.

The owner is in hiding. The president of the club must be in a nursing home somewhere. The general manger is ni over his head. And the manager is lost.

Meanwhile, the fans suffer, fans who deserve better.It's a total disgrace that this team may lose 112 games. Someone needs to step up and take responsibility. Someone needs to tell the fans this sorry organization is listening, understands and changes will be made soon.

I'm not ready to burn my Phillies' gear yet, but I'm getting close.

Once that happens, once loyal fans stop caring and apathy sets in, then these 33-48, last place Phillies really will be dead.