PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, NBA, NHL

There are three people to blame for the Phillies' horrible 3-2 loss last night in Chicago. Juan Nicosio pitched the ninth and blew the save. One can blame him for botching the dribbler to the infield with one out. Nicosio threw the ball too late to catcher J.T. Realmuto for a force-out. But I can't blame Nicasio for the loss. It was his third straight day of pitching. He is not a closer. He saved the game on Monday but how can he be asked to do it sgain on Tuesday?

Instead, here is who I blame, in no particular order:

1- Gabe Kapler- The Phillies manager is burning out his bullpen even before Memorial Day. It's ridiculous to have have your top four relievers unavailable last night. Kapler was forced to use either Nicosio or de Los Santos. I would've used de Los Santos for the inning, but I'm sure Kapler wanted to save him in case the game went into extra innings.

Kapler needs to name one guy as a closer and stick to it. He said if he had a clear-cut closer on his roster he would use him as such. If Craig Kimbrel is signed in the future Kapler promises to use him as a one inning ( 9th inning) closer. Let's hope he sticks to that.

2- Pat Neshek- The high maintenance diva hasn't not pitched in a game for two days yet he warmed up on Monday and again last night  so he "wasn't available" to pitch the 9th. I know that Neshek is cautious about his arm since he had Tommy John surgery but sometimes youv' got to suck it up for the team. This isn't the first time that Neshek has played the diva role. He would rather see Nicosi go to the mound for three consecutive days. Kapler coddles to Neshek way too much.Who the hell is Pat Freaking Neshek anyway?

- Matt Klentek- The GM has failed to get the Phils more bullpen help. Management likes Kimbrel, the free agent on the market who will probably go to a contender after June 1st, but not til then. Signing the righty reliever after June 1st would mean  the team would not surrender a drft pick in Junes' MLB Draft. What sense does it make to spend money getting  Harper, Segura, Realmuto when the bullpen has trouble closing games? It's stupid and I blame Klentek for not addressing the closer situation sooner.

Until they sign Kimbrel or trade for a closer before the deadline Kapler needs to use Neris, Dominguez or whomever is the closer wisely. Kapler brought this confusion on himself with his analytic ways. Klentek needs to get him reinforcements before it's too late.

Once again the hitters didn't hit, They have the talent. What is lacking? They do strikeout way too much. They lack overall speed on the bases. Kingery and Hernandez especially have the speed to steal bases but it is rarely utilized. When Harper and the slumping Rhys Hoskins don't hit the team is sunk. The table-setters at the top of the scorecard have gotten on base. It's up to Harper, Hoskins and others to drive them home.
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Hopefully the offense will click most games, making the bullpen a mute point.

Tonight it's Cole vs Cole as Rooie Cole Irvin, 2-0, takes on ex-Phillies great Cole Hamels, 4-0. It will be the first time Hamels will face his old team. The emotions will be interesting to witness.

The Phillies are now 28-20, still in first place in NL East by 2 1/2 games over Atlanta. The Braves lost in dramatic fashion last night in San Francisco as the Giants scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th to walk-off against Atlanta.

- The Bucks-Raptors Eastern Conference Finals series is tied at two games a piece, as the Golden State Warriors await the winners/ The Warriors are like the Patriots in football, always making a run. Will the eventual winner of Milwaukee and Toronto have anything left to face Golden State?

- I really hope the blues beat the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. It was be awful to see another Boston team win a world championship. The series begins Monday in Boston.