Economists, politicians and pundits will argue ad pukem about what constitutes a recession. Similarly as Phillies phans, it's time to discuss whether or not the 2008 Phillies are a good offensive team or not and just what indicators are useful for measurement.
Some will point to the career averages of regulars in the lineup and say that this truly is a good offensive team. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, and even Geoff Jenkins have track records enviable of many a big leaguer and Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth make up the good role players every good offensive team needs.
Others will also point to how many runs this core group of players has scored over the past few seasons. Over 2500 runs from 2005 through 2007 is nothing to sneeze at, proving that as a team, they can work together to score runs at prodigious rates.
Naturally, there is another side to the story.
On June 13th, the Phillies scored 20 runs in defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, who they coincidentally lost to last night, 2-0. Since then, over a span of three weeks encompassing games at home and on the road, against pitchers familiar and unfamiliar, the Phillies have batted just .227/.303/.381. That's so anemic the red is starting to fade in their pinstripes.
Like so many economic markets, from technology to housing, are we seeing the typical downturn after a long boom? And if so, how long will it last?
Pat "Chase Utley's Buddy" Burrell said after the 2-0 loss to the Redbirds, another wasted great effort from starting pitcher Cole Hamels, "We have an excellent offensive team." He's probably correct, but with each passing game, it looks more and more like the Phillies need more than just a pitcher at the trade deadline, they might just need another bat too.
-----------------
An offensive look the Phillies since June 13th, courtesy of the Day-by-Day Database [click to table to enlarge]:
