- Funny how Zach Eflin hasn't pitched well since the Phillies got cute and sent the young hurler to Lehigh Valley for a few days this summer, costing him $20,000. Coincidence? Whatever, he got lit up again last night, as the Phils lost yet another game to a lowly team- the Mets- while Atlanta won in Arizona. They are now 3 1/2 games behind the braves in NL East.
After Aaron Nola, who can we count on? Mistake not getting Cole Hamels, as the young pitchers Eflin, Velasquez and Pivetta seem to have hit a wall. This may be good in the long run. a sink-or-swim mentality. The starters have been the consistent this summer, now it seems they are floundering.
And it's the same old story with the offense. Guys on base but few clutch hits. This team needs .300 hitters in the line-up. Is it any wonder why they can't score?
So, they face Cy Young favorite Jacob deGrome today, with a shot to win their first series in over a month. While the Phillies lose to the lowly Marlins and Mets, Atlanta is on the west coast, beating the Diamondbacks, after getting swept at home against Boston, then meeting San Francisco. The braves also have a young team but it's obvious they have better players and want it more. These games are important because if the Philliss don't make up ground those 7 remaining games against Atlanta are meaningless.
If the Phillies fail to make the playoffs this season it will be because they lost to too many bad teams and the front office didn't do enough to make the team good, both during the off-season and at the trade deadline.
I'm afraid bot Kapler and Klentak will claim the team is improved- look at our record- and owner John Middleton will buy into the excuses and give them each at least another year. One more season of analytics and frustration, only if the organization does sign a Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, there won't be any excuses not to win anymore.
- I'm noy into tennis but Serena Williams is a diva.
- Are the Sixers really going into the season without a general manager?
- Single game tickets for the Flyers are on sale Monday at 3pm.
- Strange to have an NFL opening weekend of football without the Eagles. The Giants could lose to Jacksonville, as can the Redskins to Arizona and the Cowboys to Carolina. If so, the Eagles will sit alone atop of NFC East after the weekend.
- Here are my 3 picks for the weekend. I already picked the Eagles-Falcons game correctly ( 20 consecutive Eagle wins):
Carolina (-3) over Dallas- The Panthers are at home and will put 8 men in the box to stop RB Elliot.
Detroit (- 6.5) over Jets- Lions new coach will help propel team to big home win over rookie QB Darnold and Jets
Green Bay (-8) over Chicago- Rodgers celebrates his new contract with a big division win over the Bears.
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