- So much for Jake Arrieta's rant. His "pep-talk" after Monday nights' loss to the Mets had absolutely no effect on the Phillies as they slept through a 9-0 drubbing to New York.
The Phillies have lost three in a row for the first time this season. They are 12-11 after a 7-2 start. They drop to a full game behind the Mets in NL East. They are -15 on their current road trip which wraps up tonight at Citi Field.
They look like a flat, uninspired,lackluster team similar to late last season when they choked. Errors, stupid mental mistakes, striking out too much, you name it.
My question about Cesar Hernandez was answered yesterday in the Extra Innings email. the writer, Bob Brookover, likes Hernandez and stated that he wants the club to keep him, with Scott Kingery coming off the bench as a utility guy.
I don't. Kingery needs to play everyday- at his natural position at second base. It's crazy to give him the huge contract then use him as a utility player. Kingery was a Gold Glove caliber second baseman in the minor leagues. Hernandez is not the future. Kingery is.
Hernandez messed up an easy ground ball last night, which led to a run. He strayed off second base the night before and spooled a rally. He doesn't hit enough to justify his weakness on the bath paths and in the field. His sleepy play and attitude is killing the team.
Roman Quinn has a shot to earn a permanent spot on the roster. Odubel Herrera is still on the injured list. But Quinn continues to strikeout at an alarming rate and is blowing his chance.
When Herrera comes back someone needs to go. Either Quinn, Nick Williams ( who has yet to start a game this year, but Manager Gabe Kapler promises to start Williams sometime this weekend vs Miami) or the equally struggling Aaron Altherr.
I thought that pitcher Zach Eflin had turned the corner on his career when he started the season 2-0. He is now 2-3 after another poor effort last night in New York. The rotation is failing and the young , once-promising hurlers are not stepping up. Nick Pivetta is in Lehigh Valley and Vince Valasquez remains inconsistent.
Despte the fast start the Phillies were 15-8 this time last season. Is Kapler's job in jeopardy? Especially if the team not only continues to lose but looks disinterested?
Why were the Mets throwing at Rhys Hoskins with two outs in the ninth innings and with a 9-0 lead? What was the point? Waking up the listless Phillies? What didn't the players, other than Andrew McCuthen, empty the dugout to support Hoskins? The Mets came on the field, where were the Phils?
Valasquez goes tonight against the Mets in a big game. Win and the two teams are again tied for first place. Lose and the club drops two games behind New York,plus the Mets, who have dominated the Phillies since 2015 with a 51-29 record, flex their muscles and dominate again.
- As expected, The Sixers cruised by the Brooklyn Nets last night, 122-100 in game that wasn't even that close. The 76ers raced out to a 14-0 lead, led by 29 points at halftime and wrapped up the playoff series 4 games to one. they next play the tough Toronto Raptors this weekend.
The Nets played like dogs and were on vacation even before the game started. When they blew Game Four and couldn't bully their way to a much-needed win they packed it in.
The Raptors are a much deeper team and play great defense. They will have home court advantage in the series.
The real question is, if the underdog Sixers do lose to Toronto, what will happen to Coach Brett Brown? Must they defeat the Raptors and get out of the second round, as their owner requested to save Brown's job? Will extending the series to six or seven games be enough to retain Brown? Getting swept by Toronto would almost assuredly mean Brown is a goner.
Joel Embiid must play every game and remain healthy. The Sixers won't be able to get through this series without him, as they did by winning Game Three in Brooklyn. Knowing Embiid's intense desire to win I bet he will will himself to play, even if he isn't one-hundred percent.
Can the Sixers win the series against Toronto? Yes, especially with Butler and Harris getting even more familiar with the other players. But I think the inconsistency catches up with the squad and Brown's coaching is exposed again.
.I'm picking Toronto in six.
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