Call to the pen
Fansided

Phillies’ Options Going Forward

By Tal Venada

May 13, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (43) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (43) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of the Pitchers Expecting a Call-Up Is Lively. Photo by Jonathan Dyer – USA TODAY Sports.
One of the Pitchers Expecting a Call-Up Is Lively. Photo by Jonathan Dyer – USA TODAY Sports. /

If you’re wondering about your team, tomorrow will be better than today, the same or somewhere in between for the skipper and the crew of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Three Directions:

During rough times, approaching the breaking point can invigorate the spirit and the mind of the competitor to rise to the challenge and be victorious.

Until the 11-9 Phillies traveled to Los Angeles, the promise shown last summer was coming to fruition. And even though the club was facing postseason-bound organizations, May appeared to be a .500 month. Unfortunately, the snowball kept rolling down the hill, accelerated, and buried the Philadelphia Phillies under the other 29 franchises with June on the horizon. Digging out is at hand.

Before this 162 began, the prediction here was 82-80, and manager Pete Mackanin, Ricky Bottalico and Ben Davis also saw a .500 record or slightly better. However, key members the organization was counting on didn’t improve or even hold their ground. Yes, the ingredients are here but confidence has taken a “hit.” And these 25 men are sitting at ocean’s bottom with nowhere to go but toward oxygen.

Along the dugout railing, Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff study Jeremy Hellickson exploiting the holes in each hitter’s swing. The batter expects the express but gets the local, and then he rockets the ball – bang! – near the Phils’ bench. And while the hurlers discuss the weaknesses they notice, center fielder Aaron Altherr tracks down a drive near the warning track to end the third inning and heads for his “lumber” to lead off. C’mon, base-hit ‘im!

In June, Philadelphia will open the month against the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves and have those seven games to end this losing spell. Keep in mind, stronger clubs will follow for 17 contests: The St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks. St. Louis is a .500 squad, Boston is a contender, but Arizona may be overachieving. Finally, the red pinstripes end June with three games: the Seattle Mariners (2) and the New York Mets (1). Ergo, possible but not easy.

"NICE CATCH:     “Fans tend to get too excited by streaks of either kind and I think the press does too. There should be a happy medium.” – Walter “Smokey” Alston"

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