Are Phils Fans Front-Runners?

To say that the Phillies are in trouble is like saying the passengers on the Titanic were in for a bumpy night.

Sunday, they lost in extra-innings for the 2nd day in-a-row.  Losing 8 of 9 games to fall to a season-high 8 games out of 1st place may be the end of their postseason hopes.  Then again, it may not.

Either way, the speed and enthusiasm with which certain unnamed Philly reporters (i.e., Hayes, Murphy) and fans (some in attendance at the tail end of the last homestand) have jeered and berated the Phils is the their own undoing.  Let me explain.

In Spring Training 2007, Jimmy Rollins famously called the Phillies "The Team to beat" in the NL East.  They won the division that year and haven't lost it since.  Rollins was NL MVP and his bravado proved prophetic.

On August 9th, 2008, during a taping of Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period," Rollins infamously called Phillies fans "front-runners."

Sign displayed at City Hall during '08 World Series parade

"There are times," he said. "I might catch some flak for saying this, but, you know, they're front-runners. When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you."

Rollins, with co-guest Ryan Howard seated next to him, gave a shout-out to Howard's hometown of St. Louis:

"For example, Ryan is from St. Louis and St. Louis, it seems like they support their team, they're out there and encouraging. In Philly, can't be no punk."

St. Louis beat Philadelphia by 1 run in the final game of their first round series in last year's playoffs to advance and eventually win the World Series.  Was that, in part, due to their loyal fanbase?  

The Phillies are 12-19 at Citizens Bank, the second worst home record in all of baseball.

Is it the fans fault that the top 3 Phils are all presently inactive due to injury?  Did the fans leave an endless stream of runners-in-scoring-position this season to dig a potentially inescapable last-place hole for their team?

The Phils are 4-12 in 1 run games.  They are 2-6 in extra-innings.  That 6-18 mark, as well as their disastrous home record, is likely to improve, although it may be too little too late to save this season. 

Their season hinges on players like B.J. Rosenberg and Joe Savery, who lost Saturday and Sunday's games in relief and Jim Thome, who turns 42 in a few weeks, who now bats cleanup and tries to both stay healthy and regain his former power glory, which he displayed 8 years ago with the Phils amidst a big contract.

While hitting into four inning-ending double plays Saturday in Baltimore, the 2012 Phils looked cooked.

There was Chris Wheeler reminiscing during a broadcast last week about when it was fun at the ballpark for Phils fans.  Meanwhile, the Phils were swept by the Dodgers, a team the Phils spent the '08 and '09 postseasons crushing the hopes and dreams of, winning an unlikely 8-of-10 NLCS games between the two.

Payback.  Fans around the country are mocking the high-spending Phils for 'getting what they deserve.'

But should Phils fans be doing it?  After all, this is the team that has given us so many thrills these past 5 plentiful years.  Frustration finds a way out.  Still, did the boos and rotten tomatoes make Mike Schmidt better or did it merely chase away Scott Rolen?

There were the Dodgers broadcasters last week:  The "Boo-birds are out," one Dodger broadcaster observed of the restless Bank crowd, tired of squandered opportunities.  "You get the sense that these fans are just waiting for something terrible to happen."  And it did.  The Phils, who had a 3-run lead at the end of 3 innings managed to surrender 8-straight runs to cap the sweep and lose their 6th in-a-row.

They went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position in that one.

Can they recover to salvage this season?  That remains to be seen.

They've won first place for 5-straight years.  They've trailed first place at some point during most of those years.  In '09, they lost 6-straight games and 11-of-13 in late June, yet won the NL East by 6 games over Miami.  In '10, they were 7 games out of first place on July 21.  Still, they won the division by 6 games over Atlanta.

However, with each passing day, new injuries, mishaps in the field, pitching miscues and clutch-less at-bats add up to dismal defeat.

The Phils are deep in a free-fall.  It hurts to watch because we care so deeply.

Cliff Lee failed to win again Sunday. His last win? September 26th, 2011.  This year, he achieved a dubious distinction as the 1st Phillies pitcher since 1912 with a 3.00 ERA or below with 8 starts and 0 wins.  He now has 10 starts and 0 wins, but his ERA has sailed to 3.18.

These days, beating the Phils with Lee-- or anyone, for that matter-- on the mound is like taking candy from a baby.  It's a journey backward through the mostly dismal annals of team history, which is to say the most harrowing loss-rich log of any sports franchise, ever.

"We don't scare nobody," Charlie Manuel said Thursday, and he could have been speaking of any of a number of clusters of 30 or 40 years of Phillies teams.

"We used to have a swagger. We used to be kind of cocky in a real good way. Teams used to definitely fear us. I definitely don't see that fear no more. I'm sorry. I'm answering the question very honestly. I don't see where we scare nobody. Nobody backs down from us. Matter of fact, they come right at us. They take it right to us."

It's hard to have swagger when you're playing without your leaders.  Rollins is the only leader left standing for this team.  His .240 Ave. and .291 OBP hardly equal swagger.  However, does his fading twilight deserve cold shoulders and dismissive scorn?  If so, was he right when he called Phils fans "front-runners?"

Are Phils Sellers?

The Phillies lost 4-3 to the Dodgers Monday in Philadelphia.  They dropped to 28-28 on the year.  5-5 in their last 10.  Last place.  4 Games Back.

The Phils are within striking distance of 1st, yet don't appear, by any stretch, about to storm the hill.

They are, well, mediocre, unproven.  A story waiting to be told.

What if...?

Halladay comes back and looks like himself.  Howard comes back and makes the difference.  Utley rebounds into unlikely, heroic folklore glory.

GM Amaro Jr. can't be sleeping well these days

What if, instead, the Phils bases loaded hopes continue to rest on the shoulders of journeymen like Ty Wigginton and Hector Luna?

According to ESPN this week, the Phillies are presently the 16th best team in baseball-- out of 30.  Middle of the road.

With the injury to Halladay, rumors are flying about how the Phillies are going to be sellers at the trade deadline for the first time since 2006.

In '05, Future Hall of Fame 1B Jim Thome went on the DL and Howard emerged, winning Rookie of The Year.  Today, both Thome and Howard play for the Phils and both 1B reside on the DL.

The next year, '06, the Phils unloaded payroll at the trade deadline, since everyone had written them off as 'in need of rebuilding.'  Notably, stars Bobby Abreu (OF) and Rheal Cormier (RP) were sent packing.

However, Ryan Howard led the team to within an inch of the playoffs, willing them the best 2nd half record in baseball and winning the '06 MVP.

The next year, '07, Rollins won MVP and the Phils won their 1st of 5-straight division titles, highlighted by '08's World Series win and '11's club-best 102 regular-season victories.

So, is the sports world correct that the Phils will be unloading high-salary dead weight at the trade deadline, looking to rebuild?  Are you kidding?

A few months after setting the franchise mark for regular season wins and attendance, there is no way these Phils are built for anything but victory.

But can they fulfill that promise?

Manuel relieves Blanton and Phils fans

Cliff Lee still has no wins this season.  Utley-Howard have combined for 0 AB.  Mayberry Jr. is on-pace for 6 HR and 32 RBI FOR THE YEAR.  Rollins is batting .242.  Victorino .247.  Joe Blanton may be flipping burgers next year, after surrendering 25 runs on 37 hits in his last 19 2/3 innings.  (That's 2 hits an inning!)

Monday's Game 1 of a 4-game homestand against the dreaded Dodgers, consisted of no Matt Kemp or James Loney in the starting lineup.  Instead, Ivan DeJesus Jr., whose dad won the World Series with the '80 Phils and Bobby Abreu, who was one of the key players moved during the Phils '06 salary unload, appeared for the Dodgers.

Instead of Howard, the Phils platooned 2 1B in 1 game, Wigginton and Hector Luna, who were a combined 0-for-5 with an improbable 4 strikeouts.

It was a bit like a strike year scab match.

Charlie Manuel again used Papelbon in a non-save situation and Papelbon, so brilliant as a closer this year, again stank in a win-opportunity.

The highlight of the game was middle relievers Antonino Bastardo and Joe Savery acing the 5th-8th innings, S.O. 6 and allowing no runs.

Joseph Cain Savery has had an unorthodox journey.

In '09, Savery went 16-6 as a minor league starter, shining in AA.

In '10, he went 1-12, giving up 51 walks in 127.1 innings in AAA.

During the '10 off-season Savery was converted into a hitter in the hope that he could recapture his collegiate success as a position player.

In '11, Savery batted .307 for Clearwater. He was later promoted to AA, then AAA, where he was once again converted to a pitcher, but this time a relief pitcher. He compiled a dominant 1.80 ERA with 2 saves and an impressive 25/6 S.O./BB ratio in 25 innings.

He began the '12 season with the Major League Phils for the 1st time in his career.

Monday was the most outs he has recorded in 1 Major League game.  His teaming with Bastardo for shutout middle relief was a good sign for ailing Charlie Manuel, who was forced to bat Hector Luna (career 14 HR in 761 AB) at cleanup Sunday in the rubber match vs. the Marlins due to abounding injuries.

For the Phils, it has to get better.

It seemed to Friday against Miami.  The Phils improved to 28-25 and moved to just 2 1/2 games out of first place.  It seemed so easy, too easy, maybe.

Chooch is enjoying a career year

Cole Hamels (8-1 at the time) was pitching Saturday's game with a chance to step over the red-hot Marlins and clinch the series.

It was not to be.  3 losses later and the Phils are 28-28, .500, a clean slate, 4 GB of 1st and the Wild Card.

Waiting for something great.  Waiting for someone not named "Chooch" or "Cole" to do something spectacular.  Waiting for the return of Mr. September.

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told csnphilly.com early last week that Howard was unlikely to return in June.

Howard said Friday on his website, RyanHoward6.com, that "rehab is going very well." He said that he's been hitting in simulated games and that his leg is getting a lot stronger.

We'll see.  Is this the 'fork in the road' that leads to the next lap ahead or is it the 'fork in the road' as in it's time to put a fork in this leg of the franchise, because it's cooked?

One thing is for certain: the sports world can hold onto their hats and exhale.  These Phils aren't sellers.  Reuben Amaro and co. aren't ready to relinquish their 'King of the Hill' crowns just yet.

They've played 56 games, with 106, approximately 2/3 of the season, left to play. 

This season is still theirs to write.

Tuesday 7:05 PM ET

Dodgers: Billingsley (2-4, 4.09 ERA)

(34-21, 13-12 away)

at

Phillies: Lee (0-2, 3.00 ERA)

(28-28, 12-16 home)