- We are nearing the end of a long, slow death for the Phillies. They have no one else to blame but themselves. They lost their most important game of the season last night in Atlanta, dropping 6 1/2 games behind the Braves in NL East with 10 games to go.
Same old story. The team beat itself with poor defensive, too many strike-outs in key situations and bad relief pitching when it counted.
Why did the out-of-position Santana bat clean-up again? Why did Kapler removed starter Valasquez in the 3rd inning of a tie score, yet allow Luis Garcia in so long, getting shelled in the crucial 8th inning?
Why was the inconsistent Tommy Hunter in the game late in a must-win situation while more effective relievers like Dominguez, Neris and even Neshek languished in the bullpen?
Have we finally seen enough of Vince Valasquez as a starter? Shouldn't he be a back of the bullpen guy next season instead?
Wouldn't Cole Hamels, a big game pitcher, have looked good starting a key series last night instead of Valasquiz?
Catcher Alfaro again had problems with passed balls and wild pitches. Is Carlos Ruiz available after the season as a teacher?
Are the Phillies' dopey owners watching this implosion? Are they still big on analytics and nothing will change, as clueless GM Klentak says?
Atlanta just came off a 4-game losing streak but they play fundamental baseball, have a young superstar in AcunaJr, and a deep farm system. No matter how much they Phillies spend in the offseason to overcomes their faults, they still have a long way to go in the NL East.
Nick Pivetta goes tonight. If the Phillies have any hope at all for 2018 they must win three in a row in Atlanta now. That would take the lead down to 3 1/2 games. Then they must win at least 3 of 4 in Colorado, while the Braves lose at least 2 of 3 to the Mets. That would shrink the lead to 2 games, with 3 final games between Atlanta and Philadelphia next weekend in Philly.
Anything less and it's wait til next year and see you in Clearwater in February, 2019.
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