- The Phillies had it all set-up for them last night: Nola pitching, No Chris Sale, no Craig Kimbrel, chance to snap a losing streak against the best team in baseball. The club blew it. Only scoring 1 run in 13 innings. Odubel herrera screwed-up two ways- making an awful base-running blunder to extinguish a rally ( 1st and 3rd and 1 out). Herrera also messed up a liner to center to allow a triple and the game-tying run. The Phils should've gotten out of Fenway Park with a much-needed 1-0 victory. Instead, they waste a terrific outing by Nola ( 8 innings, 4 hits, 1 run). They fall to a mere 1/2 game ahead of winning Atlanta in NL East. Philly has now lost 4 in a row and are 1-4 on this brutal road trip so far.
- The Phillies are looking more like pretenders than contenders. Meanwhile Klentak sleeps. If this front office doesn't believe in this team to upgrade, why should players and fans believe?
- Santana and Kingery are killing the team as well. Kapler makes more excuses for mental mistakes. Santana walks more than swings the bat. He was a big mistake to sign, hitting a lowly .210, playing inconsistent defense. I was wrong in advocating for Kingery to join the big club out of spring training. Obviously he is over-matched and should've spent more time in Lehigh Valley. Instead he inked a 9-year contract. Mistake?
- Bryce Harper and Andrew McCuthen supposedly on market today as trade deadline is almost upon us at 4 p.m. The Phils are reportedly interested in McCuthen to play right field ( as are the Yankees and Indians). Since the team has the money, are in first place and will most likely go after Harper ( and/or Machado) after the season, why not investigate a deal? What would it take? Imagine fittting Harper in right field and in the middle of the batting order? Would Harper be enough to put the Phillies over the top? Would he resign long-term after the season?
- What other deals should Klentak go after? Chris Archer? Bullpen help? If not Harper or McCuthen, Granderson? Adam Jones? Klentak has until 4 p.m. today to make a difference and send a message to the players, fans and the city that he believes too.
- Despite his talent Herrera is a dumb baseball player He is what he is and won't change. So you either put up with him when he mentally checks out and doesn't hustle or you trade him while he has value. There is no in-between.
- Is it true that Manager Kapler had a Phillies fan thrown out of the game in Boston? Allegedly, the fan was sittingbehind the Phillies dugout and yelled at Herrera to "wake up!" That's something we are all thinking and saying. Allegedly Kapler told security to throw the guys out of Fenway Park. The fan had paid $ 2,000 for the ticket. He was out on the street in the 3rd inning.
If true, how dare Kapler do this to a Phillies fan? Shouldn't he be more worried about managing his floundering team then worrying about a fan who has a right to voice his opinion/ Apparently he wasn't abusive or cursing. It's true that Kapler has coddled his players all year, even when they make need a kick in the ass to wake up.
I didn't like Kapler to begin with, then sort of admired his positive approach ( especially when he was getting results), but now I'm more annoyed at his Pollyanna style and his weird analytical tendencies. True, he is the reflection of management. It all goes back to do-nothing Klentak.
- Why is Santana still batting in the clean-up spot? He is hitting around .210. Even if Kapler loves his ability to walk, shouldn't Hoskins be hitting 4th and Santana further down the line-up/ Shouldn't there be speed a the top, with a guy like Quinn leading-off? We are beginning to see who Cesar Hernandez really is. A nice player but nothing special, not an All-Star. Once again Phillies management over-values their own players and prospects.
- If Santana hits even a sacrifice fly, the entire Herrera base-running blunder doesn't exist.
- Must win tonight with Arrieta. Chance to fall out of 1st place with the Braves playing Miami tonight. Need to snap the 4-game losing streak before coming home. Otherwise, fans will be on the warpath.
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