Philadelphia Phillies really should begin rebuild
Fans probably saw the lopsided score, 19-3, in the sports section of their local newspaper. No, it was not an NFL football game between the Ravens and Eagles.
Instead, it was an inter-league baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies at Camden Yards in Baltimore. It was a crushing defeat at the hands of the AL East’s defending champs.
Everything was going right for the Orioles and their fans in a game to remember. For Phillies management and fans, it was a game to block out and forget.
During game, Orioles’ Manny Machado and newcomer Chris Parmelee each hit two of the team’s eight home runs on the night. Everything is clicking right for Baltimore as they have won eight of their last nine games. For the Phillies, it is getting very bad.
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Thanks to the inter-league schedule, the Phillies are not going to forget the Orioles anytime soon as they both return to Philadelphia for another two games at Citizen’s Bank Park. Philadelphia lost eight road games straight with stops in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and most recently, Baltimore. The last time they approached this many consecutive road losses was in 1883, the first year the city of Philadelphia rostered a pro baseball franchise.
“Worst road trip I’ve ever been on as far as just the way we lost games,” said veteran right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who pitched the last two innings of yesterday’s game. “We were in a bunch of games and just lost them at the end, or one hit here or one pitch there.”
One pitch or hit there would not have saved the Phillies in their latest effort.
The eight homeruns in this game against the Phillies were the most ever in one game by Baltimore. Their previous total for most homes in a game was on September 26, 2012 versus Toronto. They hit seven that day.
Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman (5-7) allowed three runs and four hits over six innings of work. This was Tillman’s third consecutive start where he captured a win.
Phillies starting pitcher Jerome Williams (3-7) only got two outs in the ball game. He left with a hamstring injury, replaced by Dustin McGowan. McGowan just didn’t have it either.
He gave up five home runs in 3.1 innings. Machado, Jimmy Paredes and Parmelee all hit solo home runs in the second inning. David Lough got in on the action with a home run in the third inning and Chris Davis also hit one in the fourth, his club leading 14th on the year.
Rookie Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco was the only positive takeaway in the game for Philadelphia, hitting a two run shot. It was the team’s only saving grace. Philadelphia owns the worst record in the majors (22-44) and easily the worst road record (7-28).
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Nothing is going right for the Phillies over the course of the season. The display on the field shown by Philadelphia should cement in the minds of management the team has serious issues that need to be addressed. To lose by this magnitude is a disgrace for any team in the Major Leagues. It’s a disgrace to your fans, it’s a disgrace to your team and it’s a disgrace to your city. Everyone will look in their newspapers and see that the Philadelphia Phillies’ baseball club lost in a game equivalent to the score of an football game.
Changes need to come. This is a sinking ship and the only way to fix it would be to throw everyone overboard. Fire GM Ruben Amaro and trade all your valuable assets for prospects and futures.
Star second baseman Chase Utley is hitting .183 after this game. First baseman Ryan Howard is the big bat only hitting .229. The team’s saving graces on their pitching staff have been Aaron Harang and Cole Hamels. The rotation would look even bleaker if their combined nine wins were not earned. There have already been rumors surrounding the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays regarding closer Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon has earned 12 saves over 25.2 innings of work and has been sensational.
Hanging onto the veterans for this clearly floundering team is not beneficial. Amaro would appear either ignorant or blind going forward in faith with the assumption this is a good team he has assembled. Changes have to come and this game should be a defining moment that the 2015 season has long been a washout and the team needs to rebuild.