Aug 8

Written by: PaulySore
8/8/2008 3:24 PM

The Weekly Sore Point

Here we go again, another Phillies loss to tighten the race in the NL East.  This team is increasingly frustrating as they are explosive.  Having watched their games this week and to reiterate my prediction that they'll be playing golf this post-season, here are the things that make me sore:

1. Jimmy Rollins - Really no more than a 6th hole hitter being asked to play lead-off by necessity.  A hacker more than a contact hiter, a pop-up artist rather than the quinessential ground-ball-run-it out lead-off man.  Hard to score when you are never on base there Jimmy!  Hell, Jimmy doesn't even make it into the top 50 when it comes to On-Base %!  To put this travesty into even more perspective, Pat Burrell, arguably the team's slowest runner has a better OBP.  By all respects, Shane Victorino should be the lead-off man since he at least made the top 50 in OBP and has speed.  I think that MVP went to his head.

2. Shane Victorino - As mentioned, he's at least in the top 50 for OBP but he's also a free-swinger with questionable bat control.  Seems to consistently slap at the ball and pop it up as well.  Not a real good 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup.  Speed? Yes.  Above average outfielder with strong arm? Yes.  But top-notch 2-hole bat? Not really.

3. Ryan Howard - Ok, sure, he's leading the NL in homers and RBIs.  What good is that if nearly every time you bat there is no one on base?  Then there are the strike-outs!  One year removed from obliterating the strike-out record, he'll break it again.  Another free-swinger who is going to want Manny-money for all those strike-outs.  I'd be willing to give him the money if he'd at least hit .275 or higher.

4. Geoff Jenkins - Another free-swinging low-ball pull hitter.  Seems like either a homerun, strikeout or groundout to first.  Just not much about this guy to make me feel comfortable about the post-season.  Sorry, but this was an average upgrade in RF at best in my opinion.

5. Carlos Ruiz - Our resident double-play inducing machine.  I can hardly remember the last time this guy even hit it out of the infield.  Cole Hamels hits better than this guy.  As a catcher, he's adequate at best defensively and horrid as a hitter.  A career back-up in the making.  At least Coste puts the ball in play and reaches the outfield on most occassions.  Too bad it took him too long to get to the majors, he'd have been a serviceable player in his early years.

Frankly, the only players on this team that can't be griped about are those guys in the bullpen.  Take away Gordon and Seanez and that bullpen is nearly lights out.  Even Ryan Madson, who I'm no real fan of, has taken it upon himself to get people out on a regular basis.  Over the past few weeks, he's done real well.

Sunday Night Baseball:
Ok, here is my rant with those morons over at ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.  Hey, Jon Miller, how many f*&$ing times do you have to say "Well Brad Lidge hasn't blown a save this year"?  Why not just say you want the Phillies to lose?  At least have some balls to say that since it was obvious that you wanted Brad Lidge to blow a save.  You said the above phrase at least 8 times by my count.  You and Joe are some of the worst broadcasters I've had to listen to over the years.  Where's Kruk or Mitch when you need a colorful broadcast.  I'll be streaming the Phillies broadcast from now on when ESPN is playing the games.  You suck!

Sixers:
Just read that Jason Smith tore his ACL.  Philly Curse anyone?  This is a shame since Jason appeared poised to take a bigger role in this team this year.  By all accounts he was playing well in the preseason/summer league.  Get well Jason, see you for the playoffs?

Flyers:
Terry Murray has been replaced by The Chief.  That's right, Craig Berube has joined the Flyers as an assistant coach.  Now for a team that on occasion played soft last year, I little tough love seems well placed.  Is Old Time Hockey back?  I hope a little can be restored.  I know the league is "faster" but when guys take run at other guys and it goes unpunished, that's unacceptable.  Back in the days of Dave Brown and Ed Hospodar extra-curricular activities with the star players was easily discouraged with a quick and effective ass-whooping.  Today's players has no fear of a self-policing league so cheap-shots galore.  I welcome this move and look forward to some more aggressive "play" by this year's Flyers.

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