Let’s get this out of the way: the Philadelphia Phillies are playing bad—no—atrocious baseball right now. They just completed a 1-8 homestand during which their offense looked inept, their starting pitching beatable and their usually reliable bullpen suspect. On top of all of that, the injury bug seems to have chomped down on this team with a vengeance. Even the game’s current ironman, Ryan Howard, has felt the sting of the injury bug with what has been diagnosed as sinusitis.
Everything outlined above would indicate yes. A terrible team at home with poor starting pitching is not often the recipe general managers’ around the league cook up for success. MVP-caliber players are not supposed to be hitting .217 with a .261 OBP. Your so-called ace should not sport a 4.28 ERA and a .298 batting average against. All signs point to a huge red panic button that should not only be pushed, but stomped on with all of Ruben Amaro’s weight.
But cooler heads should prevail. That’s right Phillies fans; I am not ready to hit the panic button just yet. All of the things I outlined above are serious concerns—particularly the starting pitching. You have to figure that the team will get healthy, the offense will come around and the bullpen will regain its form. However, I’m not sure the same can be said about the starting rotation. If the Phillies continue to plod through the regular season schedule with the current rotation they might not have the opportunity to defend their World Series Crown. Instead, these Phillies might be watching the playoffs from their sofa.
It is still June and this is a good baseball team. They have one of the best offensive teams in baseball when everything is clicking and the bullpen is deep and reliable on most nights. On top of that, no team in the NL East seems to want to capitalize on the Phillies misfortune.
Panic button? No. Wake up call to Ruben Amaro that there is no time like the present to go get a starting pitcher? Absolutely.
Twitter Comment
Philadelphia Phillies fans: Is it time to push the panic button after a 1-8 homestand? [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
@PhillySportsGuy No. We”re down a closer, a starter, a guy in the pen, and 2 RBI/HR producers. They did the same thing last yr. It’’s fine.
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Heard in the Cheap Seats >> Time to Push the Panic Button for the Phillies? [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
@JoanneMichele Agreed for the most part. I do think they need to go out and get a starting pitcher soon. But no need to panic!
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
The Phillies are 13-22 at home and just wrapped up a 1-8 homestand…is it time to panic? [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
@PhillySportsGuy The Phillies need to get themselves ready for a home game and not wing it. Treat CBP like Dodgers Stadium
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
@PHIWSCHAMPS The home issues are mind-boggling, it makes zero sense.
– Posted using Chat Catcher