Lets Phix the Phils

Please, do not confuse the fact that I have not written much about the Phillies recent stretch of losing as indifference.  No, it's more like speechlessness.

I knew a couple of weeks ago, when there was some talk of the team being one more good starting pitcher away from being World Series contenders, that people were going a little overboard but at the same time, I still felt they were a very good team and had a chance to do some damage in the playoffs.

But this? Losing eight of their last ten?  I don't think anyone saw anything like this coming and what is really troubling is that I also don't think there is a quick fix.  Rather, several things have to happen, some of which are under the Phillies control and some that are not.  In my humble opinion, here are some for starters:

• The Phillies need some luck.  Back when they were winning games just by getting out of bed in the morning, luck was a part of the formula.  It seemed like almost every bounce the baseball took went their way.  Right now, that's not happening.
• Cut. Down. On. The. Strikeouts.  We're begging you.  Yes, strikeouts are nothing more than a symptom of a team that has a lot of power, you just have to accept that.  But by the same token, sometimes it gets a little absurd and doesn't make sense to  shorten your swing just a little bit when you have two strikes against you?  Geoff, Ryan, stop being so egotistical, don't try and murder every pitch and put the effing ball in play with two strikes.
• Find a replacement for Brett Myers in the rotation.  Here's the most difficult task.  What do you do with Myers when you pull him from the rotation?  Send him to the disabled list with a phantom injury so he can work things out in Clearwater?  Send him to the bullpen as a long man? Setup guy?  And then there is the issue of replacing him in the rotation.  Kris Benson probably won't be ready for another two weeks or so, assuming he doesn't have any more Bensons [i.e. nagging injuries/setbacks], Chad Durbin will take a long time to stretch out after spending most of the season in the bullpen and given his poor history as a starter and his good recent history as a reliever, do you really want to go down that road?  If it were me, I would go with AAA LHP J.A. Happ and hope that he can make J.A. stand for "just average".  It's a tough case, but you can tell from his quotes that Charlie Manuel is ready to turn the page if he has to do so.

There is a bright side however.  The Phils got a win last night over the Rangers, 8-6.  Chase Utley had a good game, hit a homer and Ryan Howard did the same, so perhaps the Fightins are turning the corner. And at least all of their luck didn't leave them for a while because despite their recent troubles, they still have a two game lead over the Marlins in the NL East, four over the Mets and Braves.