Dodgers Claim Lee, Acquire Blanton

'Trading me AGAIN?!'

The Dodgers put a claim on Clifton Phifer Lee before the Phillies pulled back the offer for the left-hander.

Lee was made available prior to Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline by the Phillies, who were looking for a big package in return.

But Philadelphia then took Lee off the market.

The Phillies can pull Lee off waivers (they would be unable to waive him again this season), they can pull him off and work out a trade with the Dodgers (this would require eating a chunk of his salary), or they can just let him go (unlikely, but cost-free).

The Phils acquired Lee at the '09 trade deadline and rode him through a sensational postseason all the way to the World Series, then traded him after the season to Seattle.  Lee went to the Rangers a few weeks before the '10 trade deadline and helped the club reach its first World Series. Then, before the '11 season, Lee turned down bigger offers to sign with the Phils as a free agent for 5 years and $120 million.  He went a phenomenal 17-8 with a 2.40 ERA for the Phils in '11.

Lee, the AL Cy Young Award winner in 2008, is 2-6 with a 3.73 ERA for the Phillies this season.

Amaro Jr. & co. must be very mad at him, because moving Lee is illogical.  First of all, they would likely eat a chunk of his massive salary.  Secondly, it is improbable they could find a better pitcher on the open market or that Lee's woes will continue.  His ERA is much better than his win record, his run support has been horrendous and he went 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA in July.

It is common for major-league clubs to put players on waivers, especially those with hefty contracts, after the trade deadline. If a player is claimed, the team can either work out a trade with that club or pull the player back, which the Phillies did with Lee.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. would not confirm that Lee was claimed, but told reporters that he "is not going anywhere." On the other hand, they've said that before-- then traded him and are now hearing offers.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti wouldn't comment when asked Friday if the team put a claim in on Lee.

The Dodgers also submitted a claim, then acquired Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton on Friday.

'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em'. The Phils knocked the Dodgers out of the playoffs in the '08 and '09 NLCS.  Now, the Dodgers have former Phils Victorino and Blanton after a busy week, and are seeking more. 

Philadelphia will get a minor league player-to-be-named later or cash for Blanton, who went 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA for the Phils in the '08 World Series.

2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in the '08 World Series

Blanton joined the Phillies in 2008 and was part of the team's World Series squad. He hopes to be the same good luck charm for L.A., where he joins teammate Shane Victorino on the Dodgers.
  

"It was a little bit of a shock, especially since the trade deadline had passed," Blanton said. "But when you're in trade rumors, you've got to be ready to do whatever. And I was happy if I stayed. At the same time, it will be a new thing, a new adventure to go. And that's always fun."
 

The 31-year-old Blanton is 8-9 with a 4.59 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance. He is making $8.5 million and, like Victorino, can become a free agent after the season. While the cost-cutting Phillies are preparing for 2013, the Dodgers entered Friday a half-game behind San Francisco in the NL West.

Blanton bolsters a rotation that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who has been less than that this year: 8-6, 2.95 ERA, but could turn it on at any time.

"You play for the postseason and a chance to go to the World Series. And they're in a good position," Blanton said. "They have a very good team over there. Pitching against them, I know how good their lineup is. They're in a good position right now. So that's always exciting. They're fighting to win out there, and that's always exciting to be a part of."

To fill the roster spot, the Phillies recalled right-hander B.J. Rosenberg from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Kyle Kendrick was to start against Arizona in Blanton's place Friday night.

 

Blanton came to Philadelphia after a trade with Oakland in July 2008, and helped the Phillies win their second World Series title. He earned a victory in Game 4 against Tampa Bay and even hit a three-run HR.

 "I remember the parade, going down Broad Street and all the fans everywhere," Blanton said. "Just the thrill of being able to come to such a baseball city. The fans have been unbelievable the whole time I've been here. I've had an amazing time here."

'What are the Phillies thinking?!'

Blanton was 34-25 with a 4.47 ERA in 100 starts and five relief appearances with the Phillies. Since 2008, Blanton has the fourth-best winning record among all major-league starters after the All-Star break at 17-6.

He's 38-20 with a 3.83 ERA in 99 games (91 starts) after the break in his career. Overall, Blanton is 81-71 with a 4.25 ERA in nine seasons. He's 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA in 10 postseason games, including six starts.

The five-time defending NL East champion Phillies have been stuck in last place since June and are dumping salaries. They've trimmed enough off their payroll to avoid having to pay the luxury tax this year.

After missing out on Ryan Dempster at the deadline, the Dodgers' brass was insistent it wasn't done dealing. In fact, new controlling owner Mark Walter openly hinted at that idea.

"Do you really ever want to say we did enough?" Walter said. "That's not an attitude I really want a lot of around here. I guess if the entire All-Star team is on your team, you could feel like you had enough. But I don't want to think that way. That's now how you want to look at it.

"I think we are a very competitive team now. But you can always get better." 

The Phillies are done being competitive this season.  They now officially look to the off-season to begin heavily competing on the open market of free agency.

Flyin' HI No More: Goodbye #8

The Flyin' Hawaiian is gone.  In a season of misery and disappointment, peppered with dashed hopes and gutless performances, the front office cut off one of the team's limbs.

It's being termed "The End of An Era," but its much more than that.  It's goodbye to a friend.

As one fan put it, "I can't watch them anymore, I can't.  I care about the team because I care about the players.  If they trade the players, I stop caring."

Shane Victorino was one of the most popular players on the Phillies. He was beloved by fans and was very active in Philadelphia charities.

He recorded 3 Gold Gloves in CF and was twice voted into the All-Star game by fans, who love his spirit and his spitfire intensity.

However, the Phillies weren't going to give him the long-term deal he'll seek in free agency.  So, pragmatically, they took advantage of the short-term opportunity for some return on his imminent departure.

Teammate Jimmy Rollins responded to the trade on Twitter:

"Wishing my Lil Hawaiian brother all the best & continued success. Although he is no longer rockin' the P he has definitely left his mark!"

I was there in 2008, when the most dramatic moment of the NLCS  was 1 at-bat by the Flyin' Hawaiian.  The Phils had a 2-0 series lead, but were playing their 1st in L.A.  The Dodgers pummeled Jamie Moyer early with 6 runs in 1 1/3 innings.  Then, Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda sailed a pitch over Victorino's head as payback for Brett Myers' close shaves in Game 2.  Everybody knew payback was due, but Victorino took offense that it came at his head.  With his typical fire, he protested with vivid animation:

"Not at my head, bro!"

I took these pictures of the bench-clearer at the '08 NLCS in L.A.

What followed was an unforgettable, electric benches-clearing confrontation between the Phils and Dodgers.  Today, one journalist deemed it one of baseball's best-ever pitcher-batter showdowns.  Forever forward, Victorino has been vehemently booed in Los Angeles.  This was true that night and the final game he played in L.A. as a Phil.  I was there for the game in October '08 and the one in July '12.

Ironically, Victorino returns to the Dodgers, a team he is hitting .346 against in 2012.

The irony is manifold:

1) The Dodgers cast Victorino off when he was their property in the minor leagues, after they had selected him 194th overall in the 6th round of the '99 draft. The Phils rescued him from the trash heap of 'could've-been', convinced him he that had major league talent and propelled him to the starting role, replacing then-fan favorite Aaron Rowand with #8.  Now, the Dodgers take him back, officially admitting their error in judgement.

2) This is the team Victorino and co. stopped short of the World Series in '08 and '09, 8-games-to-2. Now, the Dodgers are on their way up, while the Phils will either retool for another run or have begun a rebuilding phase with this move.

3) These are the fans that love to hate him, inexplicably, because a) Kuroda threw at his head and b) he is practically impossible not to like.

I remember watching the 2008 NLDS Game 2 vs. Milwaukee at my sister-in-law's house.

C.C. Sabathia was en route to the biggest contract a pitcher has ever signed with the Yankees.  However, then, he was still the best thing the Brewers had.  He was their 'X' factor.  They had famously thrown him on 3-days rest repeatedly to reach the postseason as the Wild Card, and he had just as famously delivered.  Superstar Sabathia, 6'7" 290-pound, was Goliath vs. 5'9" 190-pound ordinary major-leaguer Shane Victorino.

Victorino came up with the bases loaded and hit a grand-slam.  I, like so many Phillies fans, jumped for joy, hope swelling within my heart.  My dad suffered constant heartbreak with his beloved team.  This was the initiation of something else, something opposite, and it was signaled by that one Victorino swing:

"When I first hit it, I said, 'I've got to get going,' " Victorino said that October day. "As I was running, I looked at [leftfielder Ryan] Braun stop and I was like, 'Wow, did that really just happen?' There was just excitement in the air to know we got an early lead on a guy like CC."

Shane, wife and child at Victorino Foundation charity 6/12.

It was then that I knew 2008 was destiny.  I made my travel plans for Philly and attended the final game of the World Series, watching the Phils win it all, fulfilling a lifelong dream.  The green light to my unforgettable journey that Fall was the Grand Slam at-bat by #8.  I will miss him, the city will miss him, its charities will miss him, his teammates will miss him, and he will always be a Phillies player in our hearts.

Ryan Howard reflected: "As a teammate, you are going to miss him, hearing that voice from across the room. You want the best for him."

"He's been part of everything we've accomplished around here," said his manager Charlie Manuel.

The switch-hitting Victorino batted .279 with 181 doubles, 63 triples, 88 home runs, 390 RBIs and 179 stolen bases in eight years with the Phillies. In 46 postseason games, Victorino hit .269 with six homers and 30 RBIs.

With Victorino a free agent at the end of this season, one can't help but imagine he and the Phils considering reuniting.  To quote a classic movie:  "Come back, Shane!"  Although it is a practical impossibility, it did happen with the Phils and Cliff Lee.  So, who knows?  

Hunter Pence

Trading Pence was about salary dumping, because the Phils are instantly worse without him.  His contract is for $10.4 million this season and exceeds $13 million in 2013. Pence is hitting .271 with 17 homers and 59 RBIs this season. He leads the Phillies in hits, HRs, RBIs, runs scored and walks.

Hunter Pence: going, going... gone.

"Thank you Philadelphia for all your support and passion. Excited to see what awaits me in San Francisco!" Pence wrote on Twitter.

However, his true reaction was much less glossy:

"Very surprising," Pence said with a glazed look in his eyes. "I don't think anyone anticipated the season that has gone on this year. It was a perfect storm of injuries and things that didn't go right for us. That's the business of the game and you have to understand that. We had a great run and now I've been sent on."

"I had nothing but great memories here in Philadelphia," he said. "I am nothing but thankful for the opportunity to play -- unbelievable teammates and really the organization is a class act all the way from the top down. The fans made it an absolute blast to play for, so it was a great experience."

The moves restocked some of the Phils depleted farm system and addressed the immediate and gaping bullpen hole.   They saved almost $6 million in 2 hours and cleared the luxury tax limit for this season by minutes. 

Furthermore, GM Amaro Jr. made plain his intent to replace the departed outfielders from outside the organization with off-season free agent acquisitions:

"Maybe more than one," Amaro said.

What the Phils Got From S.F. for Pence

The Giants' #2 prospect, catcher Tommy Joseph, now the Phils top position-player prospect.  Plus, mediocre RF Nate Schierholtz (.257, 8 HR) and single-A power right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin.

What the Phils Got From L.A. for Victorino

25-year-old righthanded Relief Pitcher Josh Lindblom (3.02 ERA), double-A right-handed starter Ethan Martin*, and a player to be named or cash.

"We have some holes to fill and some things to improve on, obviously," Amaro said. "I think this gives us a better chance to do that."

*ScoutingBook.com:
"Recent results notwithstanding, the powerful, savvy right-hander still looks a lot like the Giants' young Tim Lincecum, with a usually-straight fastball and a nasty hard slider coming from a compact frame. He's still not very close to ready, and really needs to get his walks under control, but when he does add some experience to his talent, he could be yet another in a long string of powerful arms that came out of the Dodgers system."

Phillies Expected To Begin Trades

Amaro Jr. and Manuel, happier days.

What a difference a day makes. Or, in this case, 3.  When they woke up on Friday, July 27th, 3 days ago, the Phillies had just won 4-straight and 8-out-of-11.  They had momentum and appeared to be beginning a 2nd-half run at competing for a 6th-straight postseason birth.

They proceeded to fall flat on their faces by losing all 3 games in Atlanta during a Lost Weekend of agony and defeat, appearing more like the franchise which has lost a record 10,000+ professional games than its very recent incarnation of perennially winning baseball.

From 2007-2011 the Phillies spoiled its fans, many of whom jumped on during that span, with 5-straight division titles, 2 World Series appearances, a World Championship to equal the 1 the organization acquired in its preceding 127 years and the best season a Phillies teams had ever had (102 wins in 2011).

July 27th-29th, Ryan Howard assumed his recent playoff composure in the crucial series in Atlanta that nailed the coffin shut on the Phillies' season.  Howard struck out 8 times in 11 at-bats during the 3-game series.

Fans and journalists alike are calling for heads-- as in 'cut 'em off.'  However, I have yet to hear any logical argument about how that will help the team.

The key players on the team are so old, so injured and so expensive that any trade wherein they depart Philly would likely leave the Phils with a price tag so great (because they would be expected to share salary for departed player) that it would not be worth their while.

In addition, who wants a guy with bad knees or one with an Achilles heel injury?  What would you realistically get from them that would be better than what they might give you?

Victorino and family have bonded with Philly.

Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Juan Pierre and possibly Hunter Pence are thought to be on their way out.

However, what would they bring in return?  And who, exactly, would they replace Victorino with?  Likely, they'd get a bullpen arm and start in CF... Domonic Brown?  Really?

Victorino, Gold Glove 2008, '09 & '10, would leave a major hole in CF and in the hearts of many fans.

"He's been part of everything we've accomplished around here," manager Charlie Manuel said Sunday after the Atlanta Braves virtually ended the Phillies season.

“Last year, we had the best record in baseball, and we didn’t win [it all],” Shane Victorino said after last year. “It’s nice to win 100 games, but ultimately, when the postseason starts, that all goes out the door.”

Victorino, a major fan favorite, has usually been a fighter, a spark-plug, a hustler.  He currently ranks 4th in baseball in stolen bases and the Flyin' Hawaiian is being prized by the team that undervalued and discarded him, the Dodgers, who are actively seeking to reacquire him.

Trading Pence makes even less sense.  Pence, despite his loud critics, has actually produced this year-- largely with absolutely no buffer in the lineup, something he learned to do as a lone star in Houston's losing lineup.  Yes, moving him moves a large sum of money, and if you're certain you can replace him with someone better, then there's logic in it.  However, right now the Phils are desperate for -- among other things-- a reliable LF.  Subtracting your 2-time all-star CF and your former all-star RF at the same time just doesn't add up.

7 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB & 7 S.O. in possibly his last game for Phils.

Blanton was a mid-season addition in '08 and shined with the Phils during their Championship run that year.  When asked about his experience in Philly thus far, he came up with a single word: "Phenomenal."  That's how he put it after coming up big in a then pivotal, now meaningless game Saturday, which only served to increase his trade value.

"I came over, we won a World Series, went back again, and we've been in the playoffs every year I've been here. It's one of the best places to play with the fans and everything."

The Phillies starting pitchers posted a 2.86 ERA (best in baseball) in '11 and had quality starts 67% of the time. This year, the Phillies' starters have a 4.07 ERA (15th out of 30 teams) and have had quality starts 58% of the time.

The bullpen has been a tattered, taped together eyesore since Opening Day this year, but you can't discount the failure of the starting rotation on a team composed entirely around them-- especially at their ever-increasing salaries.

"It's nothing that we aren't all responsible for," 2-time CY Young-winner Roy 'Doc' Halladay said this week. "There are times you have to take your lumps. It's not easy to swallow, but we've kind of all put ourselves in this situation, and sometimes you have to kind of take it like a man."

8-time All-Star Roy Halladay pondering.

"We have no choice but to keep playing," Halladay said. "Regardless of what we did coming into this and what we've got in front of us, I think we owe it to our fans, we owe it to ourselves, we owe it to a lot of people . . . to go out and turn things around and play better baseball. It's going to be hard, and obviously we're in a substantial hole, but we need to prove some things to ourselves and get things going in the right direction."

The only realistic answer is FREE AGENCY.

That said, if you figure you don't plan to re-sign Victorino, a free agent after this year, at the price he has earned, then trading him during the obligatory remainder of this lost season makes sense, since the Phils would see a return that they would otherwise write-off after the season.

Then again, that was their option re. Hamels, as well.  Instead, they threw him an almost unprecedented bundle of cash only to watch him go right out and throw the season away, literally, against Atlanta in his very next start.   

This has been a sentimental front office, which has built around veterans, players who are aging and showing it (Halladay, Polanco...).  

Changing this team for the better would mean more than reshaping, it would require rethinking priorities and re-envisioning the entire squad.

Hamels biggest start of year resulted in 5 R, 6 BB in 5 IP.

You must assume your multi-million dollar arms, the core starters Halladay, Lee and Hamels will pick up in 2013 where they left off in 2011.

After that, it's anyone's guess.  Will Utley or Howard ever spend another full-season productive?

Can they continue to survive without a true lead-off hitter (an on-base guy)?  Rollins loves to hit there, but has never really fit that mold.  Now, with his age, he is less the lead-off hitter of a winning team than ever.

Who is this team going forward?

In 2007, they were a free-swinging offensive powerhouse, a punishing mob squad of mashers and one swing game-changers.

By 2011, they were an anemic hitting team whose starting pitching was capable of a shutout every single day.

The 2012 lineup is limp, the starting pitching out of synch, while their bullpen summons fear for the team, not its opponents.

Their needs going forward are vast.  Most obviously: Bullpen, Third Base, and Left Field.

Free agency can solve those missing links.  Maximizing your value by trading a Pierre to a hungry contender now makes sense.  However, there is no need to clean house at midseason before evaluating and re-envisioning.  Instead, evaluate what you have and size-up who, on other clubs, might be available at the end of the season.  Even this is secondary.  

Primary, is deciding what kind of team you are to know how you can get better through addition, before subtracting.

In today's impatient world, where fans turn against players and teams overnight, while managers are expendable as firewood, trigger-happy is the norm.  Let's see if a ring + 5 banners buys Amaro and co. more time than their average peers.

The trade deadline is Tuesday.  Time will tell.

Phils Sign Hamels, Win Dramatically

Cole Hamels will officially remain in Philadelphia beyond his 34th birthday.

Wednesday morning, he signed a 6-year extension worth $144 million with a vesting option for a 7th year, which would raise the total to over $160 million.

Hamels, 28-years-old, has never left the Phillies organization.

He was was the staple in the Phillies 2nd-ever World Series win in 2008, when he was NLCS and World Series MVP.

Hamels relationship with Philly and its fans has changed a lot since he debuted as a rookie in '06.

Hamels was asked in May '11 if 'booing' shows that a fan cares.

“Yeah, they do,” he replied. “That’s the way I see it. Mike Schmidt told me that when I was younger in the minors. Shoot, he’s probably been the most-booed person in Philly [history], and he’s the best player.”

That appreciation and understanding of Philly fans was a far-cry from Hamels' former claim that Philly fans were, "40% Passionate die-hards, 60% crazy lunatics and fair-weather fans."

[More on Hamels in my 5/29/11 post: "Hamels is King of 4 Aces' Hill"]

Team President David Montgomery made it clear that this was his boy.  His priority was Hamels, his devotion to Hamels plain and clear.  This one was the catch that he took more personally than any other.  And now his big fish has a contract that ranks as the 2nd-biggest for a pitcher in MLB history.

In '08, CC Sabathia, signed the biggest ever, a 7-year deal with the Yankees worth $161 million. Meanwhile, Johan Santana's 6-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets is a close 3rd to Hamels' deal.

There were mixed reports in recent weeks, as the 7/31 trade-deadline neared, that Hamels wanted to sign with the Phils now and that he was open to other possibilities.

One report said he wanted to test free-agency, which would have almost certainly raised his value amidst the sea of high-rollers like the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox, all of whom are said to have prized one of the most celebrated lefties in the game.  As one  teammate put it, "Everyone, regardless of their occupation, wants to find out their value."  That seemed like the Hollywood Hamels some have grown weary of, rather than the homegrown talent others, like team president David Montgomery adore.

Another strain of information was from the horse's mouth.  Hamels said that he would be happy to give the Phils 1st-crack at him in free agency if they traded him now for return value and then sought to re-acquire him after this year.  That appeared to some to be Hamels way of giving up on this season, not unlike he appeared to give up on the '09 World Series while still playing in it, when he famously said, "I can't wait for [the season] to end. It's been mentally draining. It's one of those things where, a year in, you just can't wait for a fresh start."  It was an unpopular statement in light of the fact that Hamels had just given up 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings in Game 3 of the World Series with a title still within reach.

There was also concern that this notion of leaving now with the intention to return after the season was merely a PR stunt, a way to depart without ruffling feathers, as though it wasn't his intention to turn his back on the city and its fans, only to help the team now and rejoin it soon after.  There was a major shadow of doubt as to whether that would actually ever happen, especially when the free market Yankees and Hamels home state Dodgers started throwing big market money at him.

Hamels had said in recent weeks that he enjoys playing in Philadelphia and would love the opportunity to emulate one of his boyhood heroes, Tony Gwynn, by playing his entire career for one team.

He may now get his wish.

"I go for it every game," Hamels has said of pitching. "I have high expectations of myself. I feel comfortable. I feel I’m meant to be out there."

"I was fortunate enough for the Phillies to draft me, knowing that they were trying to put together a really good team, and now being a member of what they were able to establish is something I can't thank them for enough.”

Speculation is that the Phils had a chance to sign Hamels for $100 million last fall or $115 million in the spring.

Less than a year later, they paid 75% more for him.  They delay was likely due to disagreements within the front-office as to Hamels' worth.  A season of turmoil and failed expectations, especially from aging starters Halladay and Lee, coupled with Hamels' ascent as All-Star helped create Wednesday's humongous contract.  However, there were other factors also that created the perfect storm for Hamels to claim the biggest Phillies payday of all time: Montgomery's unbending devotion to the organization's prize bloomer and S.F.'s Matt Cain's $141 million, 7-year deal penned earlier this season.

The Phillies have invested $68 million in three starting pitchers — Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay — for 2013.

In total, the Phillies are committed to $133 million in 2013 payroll for only nine players.

Rain on The Parade: Reservations on the Hamels signing

The Phillies have guaranteed more than six years to only one player, Chase Utley.  Utley has been a wildly popular MLB player, securing 5-straight All-Star births via fan voting.  However, he has also declined in health to a dramatic degree in recent years, so that his ability to play his position on any given night is a complete mystery.

Does that bode well for the commitment the Phils just made to Hamels, whose lifelong back problems and injury-potential are very real?

What about the 5-year $125 million contract extension lavished on 1B Ryan Howard virtually moments before he incurred a career-altering Achilles heel injury?

Cliff Lee, who is earning $21.5 million this season, has one win in 17 starts.

Hamels' deal is structured similarly to Lee's, which will pay him an average annual salary of $24 million for five years, plus an option for a 6th year in 2016.

Will Lee come around and will Hamels stay healthy or will both serve as an albatross to team moves as their contracts advance in coming years?

That might be the multimillion dollar question.

Phils Comeback Shows Life: Tuesday's 7-6 comeback win over Brewers

It was one for the ages, a relic from days of old, a nearly forgotten era of winning baseball in a season of muck and bad luck. 

Three-in-a-row do not a playoff-birth make.  After all, this is team whose season of inconsistency has left them untrustworthy.

However, it is the team's 3rd-straight comeback victory, and even topped the 4-run 9th inning walk-off win Monday night.  There is life in that.  Whether it is enough air to revive their season remains to be seen.

By the time Ty Wigginton came to bat for the second time in the lengthy 8th inning in Philadelphia, the Phils had already scored 6 runs to take a lead they would keep.

It was Cliff Lee's 1st bad game since the All-Star break.  He hadn't allowed more than 2 HR in any game this year.  Tuesday, he surrendered 4-- including 1 to the opposing pitcher, Zack Greinke.  Lee also tied his season-high by allowing 12 hits.

However, Tuesday, 3rd-string catcher Erik Kratz and All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz got him off-the-hook.

In the top of the 8th, with the Phils trailing 3-1, Lee allowed 2 HR and got nobody out, before Charlie Manuel pulled him from the contest.

In the bottom of the 8th, with the Phils now trailing 6-1, Wigginton led off with a single.  Then, with one out, Kratz hit a HR to left center to cut the lead to 6-3 Brewers.

Next, Rollins lined out for the 2nd out of the inning.  But then Victorino, Utley and Howard all walked to load the basses for Chooch.

Pitching change.  Out came Kameron Lo, and the hometown team gave him a warm welcome.

First, Carlos Ruiz doubled, plating three and knotting the score at 6-6.

Then, Hunter Pence singled to right, scoring Ruiz and giving the Phils their 1st lead of the game: 7-6.

The 2-out rally resembled so many of long ago, season's like 2008, when the spitfire Phils were 'never say die.'  This year's team had been more like 'never count on us' than 'never count us out.'

Tuesday was different. 

It was the Phillies leading ESPN headlines and highlights for a good reason.  The team that finally boasted of Halladay, Howard and Utley on the field had shown some of the magic that made them great only a season ago.

Even Papelbon, who had blown more saves this month than Madson all last year, looked like the guy Amaro and co. had spent $50 million to nail down games like this.  He came in and sealed it shut with a no base-runner, 2 S.O. 9th and, just like that, the Phils had won 7-out-of-10 for the 1st time since June 1st and for just the 3rd time all year.

Next up for the Phils: They go for the series sweep vs. Milwaukee, which would be their 1st series sweep of a more than 2-game series this entire season!

Wednesday @ Citizens Bank Park, 1:05 PM ET

Milwaukee (44-52) SP: Estrada (0-4)

@Philadelphia (44-54) SP: Worley (5-6)

Brutal Loss Caps Winning Road Trip

LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES

The Phillies Phaithful fans came early, stayed late and were tortured often.

"Tough," closer Jonathan Papelbon said after the game.

"It was a real tough loss," manager Charlie Manuel echoed.

Lee dominant, yet team lost (sound familiar?)

First there was John Mayberry Jr. inexplicably missing a deep fly-ball, which resulted in a HR right behind his head.  It was the first run of the game on either side and the only hit Cliff Lee would allow through 5-full masterful innings.

Like "Doc" Halladay and "Hollywood" Hamels, Lee might deserve his own nickname, if only for this year: "Hard-Luck Lee." Still, hard to feel sorry for a guy making $21.5 million and on pace for 2 wins this year.

The Dodgers broadcasters pondered whether Mayberry "lost it in the lights."  At 6-6, it was difficult to understand, they argued, why he didn't merely reach up high if he wasn't going to jump.

"I don't know whether he lost it," they wondered. "Had he jumped, I think he would have had it." 

The Phils erased that run behind Cliff Lee's best start since May 15th.  He threw 8 innings, allowing just 1 run, the HR that shouldn't have been.

Later in the game, Manuel replaced Mayberry with Juan Pierre in Left Field and the fun really started.  It was in the bottom of the 10th inning, with the Phils leading 3-1, when Bobby Abreu's fluke looper to left plated SS Luis Cruz and cut the lead to 1.  A better LF would have made that play.  Instead, Victorino was racing all the way from CF, while SS Jimmy Rollins nearly tracked it down from the infield in an effort to avert the inevitable disaster that Juan Pierre in LF ensures.

A bigger, broader concern was underscored on that and the following Dodgers' hit, an unintended and unlikely infield single by Matt Kemp that tied the game 3-3, enabling the ultimate 12th inning Dodgers victory.

Ruiz should have fielded it cleanly, but Papelbon raced in and then they both froze, waiting for the other to finish the play.  The result?  The run scored and everybody was safe.  The lead the Phils had staked with a rare 2-run 10th was erased and the West was soon won  by the Westerners.

Lack of communication.  That's what cost the Phillies the game as much as any other one thing.  It unraveled in those 2 hits in the 10th inning.  Both were fieldable and should have been outs.  There was some bad luck about it, true, but ultimately the consummate professional Phillies teams of 2007-2011, teams that were MLB leaders in fielding would never have failed at those moments.

"It's plays like those that have been our season," said one Phils fan.

Jonathan Papelbon, the Phils $50 million man, the highest paid closer in baseball history, failed again Wednesday. .

Phils appeared to win in 10th until umps called Kemp "safe."

Charlie Manuel used 4 pitchers (Bastardo, Horst, Kendrick, and Schwimer) in a chess match 9th inning to avoid bringing his closer in prematurely during the 1-1 tie.  It worked!  The Phils narrowly escaped disaster, managing to leave the bases loaded of Dodgers after stranding the bases loaded in the top half of the inning themselves.

However, when they handed Papelbon a 3-1 lead in the top of the 10th, the closer they lavished with unprecedented gold precisely for moments like this failed to seal the deal.  Papelbon allowed 4 hits and 2 runs, despite 2 S.O., in his 1 inning of relief, and the Phils lead was erased for good.  They would not score again after Papelbon blew his 3rd save of the year and 2nd in his last 5 attempts.

Papelbon now has 3 saves and 2 blown saves in July, which means he has already eclipsed the blown saves Ryan Madson tallied all of last year.  Furthermore, his 3.41 ERA hardly seems sufficient, especially in light of his alarming 5.00 ERA in June and 5.45 ERA in July.

The Phils fell to an astounding 2-8 in extra innings this year.  When you're playing bad baseball, things just don't go your way.

"You have a team that's not playing very well, and we have very good players," GM Amaro said 7/2.

Jonathan Papelbon, an All-Star last week, was one "very good player" who did not play well Wednesday.

"We've got to try to win every series from here on out," he said after the game.  Yet, he did more than anyone to lose what was a golden opportunity to sweep the Dodgers and complete a 5-1 road trip.  Instead, the road trip ended 4-2 with the Phils 11 games out of the playoff race and the trade deadline looming with reports that the Phils are listening to offers for a host of their key players, including Hamels, Lee, Victorino and Pence.

The Phils final chance came in the 12th.  Victorino, who led the Phils with 3 hits on the night, started it off right with a single and a stolen base.  That put the go-ahead run on 2nd base with nobody out and Chase Utley up.  Utley, who had merely 1 single in the game, was intentionally walked for the 2nd-straight time.  Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was pitching to him like it was 2007 or the 2009 World Series.

That was an odd choice, because it brought up Carlos Ruiz, who was 2-4 with an RBI.  Now the Phils had their fastest and best runner at 2nd, Utley at 1st and nobody out for 'Chooch,' the team's best hitter this year.

"Choooch!" chimed Phils fans, who could smell the series sweep. 

However, Mattingly's move paid off, as Chooch flied out to left, freezing the runners.

"Sit down, Chooch!" screamed one Dodgers fan, which woke up his pal beside him, napping under his Laker hat.

The next batter was  Hunter Pence, whose 2-run single in the 10th appeared to win it-- at the time-- for the Fightin'.  This time, Pence grounded out to 3rd base, where the fielders choice went to 2nd to force Utley.  That left Victorino at 3rd, the go-ahead run in the 12th with 2-out.

Juan Pierre promptly grounded out to 2nd to end the threat in the Phils' final at-bat of the game.

You gotta love L.A. sports fans.  At one point, when Michael Schwimer shrugged off a sign from Chooch, Dodgers fans started inexplicably yelling "balk!"  Some of them even abandoned the beach ball for 5 full seconds.  Of course, that didn't stop them from leaving in droves with the score tied 3-3 in extra innings, leaving Matt Kemp to win it with a walk-off HR in the bottom of the 12th before largely Phillies fans, who were on-hand to see their team for the last time this year.

"It feels like a private screening," one Phils fan said.

Well, I guess it was a taste of home for the Phaithful, because now, it's back to Philly, where the Phils have floundered all year at 17-27, worst home record in the NL.

They open a 6-game homestand against the 1st-place Giants Friday, after a day off Thursday.

"We know what we've got to do and how we've got to play," Manuel said. "This is tough, but at the same time I don't know what we can do about it now. Just move on, go home, wait until Friday and go get 'em.  We won two series. At the same time, we go home 4-2 instead of 5-1. The one game, that's big right now for us."

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)