April 9th, exactly 2 weeks ago, was the last time the Phils scored more than 4 runs in a game. Since then, they have gone 8-4 with 4 shutout wins and have now matched Colorado at 14-6 for baseball's best record. In the first 20 games of 2011, this Phillies team has met the expectation that they can win consistently as a pitching team powered by key situational hitting.Take Saturday night in S.D., for example.
Ryan Howard struck out looking in the 2nd inning on just 4 pitches, struck out swinging in the 4th on a svelte 3, then struck out swinging again in the 6th and 9th innings. 0-for-4 with 4 strike outs misled S.D. reliever Cory Luebke into thinking he could give Howard an 0-1 pitch low and over the plate in the 11th, which Howard characteristically pummeled, enabling the Phillies their 4th straight win, despite mustering only 2 runs over the game's 1st 10 innings. "I'm just trying to take it and use it as motivation. Glad I came through," Howard said after the game. "That's how the game is sometimes. All it takes is one time for things to kind of click, and it clicked for me at the right time."
Placido Polanco, who began the night resting, entered the game as a defensive replacement for Wilson Valdez at 3rd base in the bottom of the 10th and came up timely with the bat in the top of the 11th, singling in his 1st at bat of the night to lead it off. At the time, it was only the Phils' 5th hit of the night and their 1st since the 6th inning. It became the winning run, when Howard, like Polanco, looked at strike 1, then base hit the 2nd pitch. LF Ryan Ludwick couldn't get to it, although an athlete like Shane Victorino might have, and Howard stood victoriously on base with his 2nd game-winning 2 RBI hit in as many nights. Howard's 19 RBIs this season rank 2nd in MLB."It was a long run," Ludwick said. "That corner is kind of tricky. I actually ran to the spot where I thought the ball was going when it came off his bat. It was a long run and I felt I had a good read on it. When I looked at the replay I was an inch away."
"I think he was motivated, yeah. He rose to the occasion. That's how you handle it," manager Charlie Manuel said of Howard.
The Phillies are now 14-1 at Petco Park since '08, including a current 10-game winning streak.
Still, concerns about the Phillies offense are valid and far-reaching. Charlie Manuel has been vocal about it. "If we're going to be the offense that we feel we could be, we're going to have to start doing it," Manuel said last week.
However, this is nothing new. A year ago, the Phils were enduring an awful offensive slump, and that was a lineup that featured Chase Utley and Jayson Werth.
"Our guys, our main guys, don't get down. That's good. That's a good sign. I mean, they get mad. They don't get down. That's a good sign," former hitting coach Manuel said then.
However, with an offense that's now all but punchless-- ranking 22nd in HRs and 20th in Slg. % out of 30 MLB teams-- the margin for error is slimmer than ever.
Entering the season, Manuel stated that in order for Howard to be productive from the cleanup spot sans Jayson Werth in the 5-hole, the 1-3 hitters would have to get on base. Victorino at leadoff, rebounding from his worst season ever to a .295 Ave. and Polanco batting 2nd, whose .367 Ave. ranks 7th in the NL and 15 RBIs rank 8th, have filled the manager's bill. Unfortunately, Jimmy Rollins, .253, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs, is showing his age and is no one's idea of a successful 3-slot hitter. 2 RBIs from the 3-spot would be woeful even for a last-place team, let alone one with championship expectations and aspirations.
The obvious answer is #26, the perennial All-star 2nd baseman and difference maker the Phils have posted baseball's best record without. He is Charlie Manuel's favorite player, ever, and the manager would love to get him back on the lineup card in the 3-slot to provide a vital boost.
"What do you want me to say about him? I can't say enough. He is something really special. He's what I call a 'player.' I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. I love Kirby Puckett, but Chase is getting there," Manuel once said of his now missing piece. "He’s tremendous — his dedication, his determination... I think he’s the best player I’ve been around, and I’ve been around a long time.”
In breaking news this weekend, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters on Saturday afternoon that he’s hopeful Utley will be ready to return to the starting lineup before the end of May.
Utley was cleared to begin a running program 9 days ago and has already progressed to straight-line sprints. He has also been participating in light fielding drills.
“I feel better than I did 3 weeks ago for sure,” Utley said Wednesday.
However, a healthy Utley remains a fantasy at present. Although, Utley at 70 % bests most other 2nd baseman in the game today and certainly replacement Wilson Valdez's 1-for-16 slump has helped make that case.
Speculation is that Utley may never be the same player that fans have voted NL All-Star starting 2B 5 years running (2006–present). Like the Jayson Werth free agency cloud of '10, the Cliff Lee 'now you see him, now you don't-- now you do again' revolving door comedy of '09-'10 and the Brad Lidge schizophrenic performances from '08-'09, the current Chase Utley injury has become one of the most intriguing subplots in the drama of the modern era Phillies.
Distinctly undramatic, pleasingly so, has been the Phils 2011 pitching to date. The staff boasts the expected shining stars in the starting staff, but has also featured some pleasant surprises out of the bullpen in the early going this year. The Phils rank in overall MLB: 2nd in quality starts (15), 4th in WHIP (1.19) and 5th in ERA (3.10).
'R2C2:' Roy Halladay (2-1, 2.83 ERA), Roy Oswalt (3-0, 1.88), Cliff Lee (2-1, 3.91) and Cole Hamels (2-1, 2.92) have provided highlight reels with dominant performances, respectively, and even Joe Blanton has added his 2 cents already.
However, the best surprise of the season thus far has been the success of middle-relievers Kyle Kendrick (2.25 ERA), Danys Baez (1.93 ERA) and Antonio Bastardo, who I've always liked and who finally seems to have come into his own at age 25 with a salary of $419,000, 14 S.O. and 0 runs allowed in 9 innings pitched.At the backend, in Brad Lidge's perennial injury absence, Jose Contreras and Ryan Madson have been an immaculate 7-7 in saves.
So, with the pitching staff, top to bottom, performing on all cylinders, their has been little need to rely on offense. Lucky that, because there has been little offense to rely on. The Phils have averaged 3 runs over their last 12 games. Ben Fransisco, hailed as Jayson Werth's just successor, started the season with a bang and has since plummeted to .247, while Raul Ibanez's .187 Ave. and 1 HR are a new low, even for him. Since his extended time off midway through the 2009 season amidst steroid rumors, Ibanez has been predominately a singles hitter, except lately, not even that. Of course, his contributions in the field are cringe-worthy circumspect, and the reality that an outfield of him and Fransisco through an entire championship season a thing of undeniable doubt.
Clouds aside, the season has begun according to plan. The Phils are winning while posting next to no runs. Can they keep it up? Odds are they can, with their lauded front end rotation and the contributions continuing from middle and back end relief.
The addition of a productive Utley, Dominic Brown or other addition via trade of Blanton or others would shore up a team that is presently balanced like John Kruk and Roy Oswalt at opposite ends of a seesaw.
