Runs

This is a little known fact about the sport of baseball: In order to be successful, you typically have to score more runs than your opponents. When you achieve that objective, you receive more wins than losses and everyone goes to work the next day with a smile on their faces.

The Phillies used to be good at scoring runs. That was the thing that they did well. But apparently, that skill has gone away. Since June 17, the Phillies have averaged 3.77 runs per game. As a result, their record is 12-19 in that time span. Unless you have the 1992 Atlanta Braves pitching staff, it is going to be very difficult to rack up wins scoring signficantly less than 4 runs per game. Not surprisingly, also in that time span their team OPS is a pitiful .701.

I blame essentially everyone on the team not named Pat Burrell. Baseball is a game of ups and downs, but this is a Perfect Storm of everyone on the team being cold at the same time. Here are the individual OPS' in that time frame:

"Go-Go" Jimmy Rollins: .669 (69!!!!)
Shane "Killer" Victorino: .793
Chase "Margaritaville" Utley: .724
Ryan "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun" Howard: .844
Pat "Girlicious" Burrell: .853
Geoff "No One Even Wants to Sponsor My Baseball Reference Page" Jenkins: .599
Jayson "Puffy Stickers" Werth: .807
Pedro "Garlic Parmesan" Feliz: .736
Carlos "Too Shitty To Even Be Given a Nickname" Ruiz: .454 (Including a .145 SLG)

It is frustrating to watch these guys continue to put 0's on the scoreboard. But I am hopeful that this offensive malaise will end shortly. Because that is what optimists do. That and score tons of chicks.

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Mike Hampton pitches for the Bravos todays against the Phils. Unfortunately, the game won't be on TV here in Chicago (Who doesn't want to watch another Yankees-Red Sox game? THANKS FOX!!!!), so I won't be able to witness first hand the first time a pitcher's arm literally falls off his body during a baseball game. But knowing Hampton's desire to pitch, he will probably pick it up, goto HUP and get it sewn back on, then pitch again in MLB in like three years.