My Phillies really have been struggling since the All Star break. They have put some small stretches together, but overall the offense is struggling. The starting pitching staff has looked stronger. We just need the offense to support them. They have been able to take two from the Nationals this week, with one more game to be played this evening. Then the Dodgers are coming into town this weekend. The Phillies must take revenge for their recent trip out in LA. They blew three games, losing all four. Those three games would have them still in first place. The Phillies just have to keep winning. The Mets are doing that right now, so all the Phils are doing is keeping pace. Hopefully, the Mets can run into the same fate as the Braves lately and start losing a ton of games. If the Phillies do not win the division, they will not make the playoffs. Of course, this is not news. I have said it early and often. Go Phillies!
The Brew Crew seem to keep rolling along, all the while racking up wins. I saw some of the game Monday night on ESPN. Sabathia looks good. He is keeping you guys atop the Wild Card race. I think his play and actions have carried through the pitching staff. That has helped them all put a little roll together. I have to wonder where the Brewers would be right about now without Sabathia.
Even though TampaBay lost last night, they are still looking strong. The Rays have had some big injuries lately but are still pushing through and are winning games. I watched a little of that game on ESPN last night. I still believe the AL crown could come down to the Rays and Angels.
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Stop trying to be what you see. Be what you ought to be.
The Phils haven't gotten on a roll yet Fuzz, you're right. Seems like one step forward, two back, then two forward and one back. But maybe they'll get rollin' at the right time!
As for Darlene, it's got to be nice to kind of know the Yankees are no serious threat. I'm surprised, with all the moves they've made, they still don't look like serious contenders. I agree, I think Red Sox get the wild card.
As for my crew. We're all a little nervous about Brauns back. He's insisting it's no big deal but he's such a gamer and so young, I could totally see him covering up the pain to avoid the DL.
Sabathia has been HUGE, but he's also I think had a negative impact on Ben Sheets. Sheets has not been good at all since we signed CC and I think it's because he's got such a fragile mindset. I've never been a fan of Big Ben. He's as fragile as an egg shell physically AND mentally.
Just for an example, he was locked in a scoreless tie in the fifth inning last week, when the Brewers snuck a run in. I knew, I KNEW, that Ben would then go out and have a bad inning, which he did, we wound up down like 4 - 1 and lost the game.
Ben just doesn't have the mental makeup of an Ace. He's been around too long to be so fragile mentally. I'm not sorry he's leaving this off season.
I think that's EXACTLY what he needs. Even now that we have Sabathia it seems Sheets is still matched up against the opponents ace. As a result he doesn't get much run support.
But then, Ben is hard to figure out. He goes through stretches where he's dominant for 5 or 6 starts, but he's never been consistent with it. He usually plays to the competition. If we score four he'll give up five, if we score 2 he'll give up 3.
Look at his won-loss record during his time with us. I think that won-loss is pretty meaningless for a pitcher, but then again, in Sheets case it says something.
He's never racked up big win totals. Even if he's had an ERA under 3 for the year. He seems to just pitch well enough to keep us in it, but not win it. I think that goes to his mindset.
Put that against CC who's now 8-0. He pitches well in the games we score a lot of runs and even better in the ones we don't. THAT'S an ace.
