“Times like this, we went through it last year,” Victorino said after the Phillies ended their 1-8 homestand . “The year before, we went through stuff like this. Right now, of course, we’re the defending champs, so everyone’s going to say, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening here?’ But you know what, at the end of the day, where are we? We’re about to get [Brad] Lidge back. We’re about to get our guys back. We already got J.C. [Romero] back. That’s how you’ve got to look at it. Yeah, we’re frustrated. I am. I’m mad every night that we lose. The last few nights, it hasn’t been physical mistakes. It’s been mental mistakes. That’s when you kick yourself in the ass. Everybody needs a mental check. We’ll be fine. We’re defending champs. We’re not defending champs for no reason. At the end of the day, I’m walking out of this place, and we’re in first place.”
Totally true, Shane. However, your not winning in front of the peeps that pay – and the peeps that pay are me and him and those guys over there…
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Victorino’s repeated mentions of being ‘defending champions’ and ‘still in first place’ should be troubling for Phils fans. As far as I know, there aren’t any automatic playoff spots handed out to defending World Series champs.
From the quotes I’ve read from some on this squad, I get a sense of entitlement coming from the Phillies. It’s almost like they feel they don’t have to play solid baseball because they won last year. These Phillies are lucky to be in first place. They aren’t in first because of their play, they’re in first in spite of it.
Totally agree. Unless they know something I don’t, this team is struggling madly especially at the plate.
If they just win three of the games against the Jays and Orioles – they have a five game lead over the Mets who are just waiting to be put to bed.
Well, in all fairness, they don’t give out an automatic playoff spot when you’re up 7 games with 17 to play, as the Mets found out.
The fact that the Phils have lost 8 of 9 and still have a 2 game lead should worry the rest of the division. If the Mets or Braves or Fish can’t step up and at least take the lead away, when are they going to do it???
The Phils lost 6 in a row last June, also. Lidge will have to come back and perform reasonably well. They also need to acquire a starter that can eat innings. If they get this, and Rollins starts hitting (at the top of the lineup or elsewhere), then no worries.
There’s nothing fair about that comparison. It doesn’t relate to this year’s Phillies team in anyway. Just another cheap shot at a team from 3 seasons ago. I didn’t think that was your MO.
A 2 game lead is nothing with roughly 90 games left to go. I’m not saying the Mets are going to make a run, but if they get healthy they will be trouble down the stretch.
There’s a lot of big IFs in your last statement. I still don’t see what last year’s results have to do with this year’s. A big part of last year’s championship run was Brett Myers complete 180 turn around and Moyer’s 16 wins. Neither one of those things will happen this season. Hamels is the only reliable starter the Phillies have, and he can only pitch every 5th day.
Sure, Lidge can come back and be dominant. Rollins could return to his 07 form. And maybe the Phillies will aquire a guy that can pitch into the 7th each time out. But that’s a ton of wishful thinking.
Well, the comparison may not be as far-fetched as you think. In 2007, the Mets were coming off an NL East title, and missed the WS by a whisker. Everyone in baseball installed the Mets as the heavy favorites that year, and they jumped out to a big lead early, and were penciled into the playoffs by June 1st.
I’m not saying the Phils will have everything break their way like it did last year. But the bullpen is not going to be as bad as it has been to this point. And Amaro is going to trade for a starter. Doesn’t guarantee them anything. But the division is weak, and it will not take as much to win the division as it did last year.
I don’t think the Mets have what it takes – I’m not sold on Maine and Pelfrey, and Livan Hernandez is going to blow up at some point. The Braves are not true contenders, and the Marlins are not ready for prime time. Like I said, if nobody in the division is going to threaten the Phils after their 1-8 homestand, when will they?
OK, at this point the Mets are half of a game out, and the Phillies starters smell worse than Michale Jackson. The the Phillies are pretty much even with a team missing 40% of it’s core. You have to be concerned Pair..
BTW, your Bday’s soon right? Kill it bro!
Well, it didn’t take long for the first Michael Jackson reference on PSC. Well done.
The Phils stink right now. But the season is long, and there is time to right the ship. Lidge is back, and hopefully, this offense will wake up. If this was happening after the AS break, I’d be a lot more concerned.
And yes, my 40th was this past Tuesday. I’ve tied a few on both before and since.
If you’re ever in the Horsham area, you must hit na Brasa on 611 near the air base. It’s a Brazilian steakhouse in the mold of Fogo, but an insane bar (200+ beers). I was surprised at how good it was.