GaryMrMets
08-01-2004, 07:47 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s073004b.htm
Phils' road trip gets tougher
Friday, July 30, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
MIAMI
Finally the Phillies are done with a brutal, nightmarish four-game sweep by Florida. Now comes the hard part.
The Phillies' opponents in the remainder of their season-long, 13-game road trip are all teams in playoff contention, starting with the Chicago Cubs today, then San Diego and Los Angeles next week. What's more, all three started Thursday ranked in the top six in the National League in team ERA - the Cubs lead with a 3.72 ERA, while the Padres rank third (3.82) and the Dodgers sixth (3.94). By comparison, the Marlins ranked ninth (4.08).
All of that is bad news for a team that has scored 11 runs in its last five games, an average of barely over two a game.
"We knew coming in that every team we played on this trip had good pitching," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "Our offense just has to step it up."
The Marlins' well-documented domination of the Phillies at home aside, the Phillies lost two of four games by just one run.
And each of their last four victories has been by one run.
So even after everything the team endured in Florida, it will have to find a way to break through against some of the league's best pitchers if it hopes to stay in playoff contention, a more daunting task considering the Phillies are 6-9 since the All-Star break and faced a slew of issues during the Marlins series.
"I'd be lying if I said this is going to be easy," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "We just left four pretty good pitchers here, and now we're going to face some more good pitchers. We just have to play better as a group, and we have to pitch better as a staff."
Telly: I'm ready: Right-hander Amaury Telemaco rejoined the Phillies Thursday and declared himself fit to come off the disabled list should it be determined that Billy Wagner's stiff shoulder will require a DL stint.
"I would say it's way better than it first was when I first went on the DL," Telemaco said.
"I could say, no, I don't want to pitch in a game. But we need pitchers."
Telemaco hasn't pitched in a game since June 8, after which he was diagnosed with rotator-cuff tendinitis. Meanwhile, Wagner was examined in Philadelphia by team doctor Michael Ciccotti Thursday.
Results of the tests were to be made available today.
Game on: Wrigley Field is expected to be ready for the Phillies matchup against the Cubs at 3:20 p.m. today. Wrigley Field workers have spent the week installing mesh netting below the upper deck to reduce the risk of injury to fans from possible falling chunks of concrete.
Phils' road trip gets tougher
Friday, July 30, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
MIAMI
Finally the Phillies are done with a brutal, nightmarish four-game sweep by Florida. Now comes the hard part.
The Phillies' opponents in the remainder of their season-long, 13-game road trip are all teams in playoff contention, starting with the Chicago Cubs today, then San Diego and Los Angeles next week. What's more, all three started Thursday ranked in the top six in the National League in team ERA - the Cubs lead with a 3.72 ERA, while the Padres rank third (3.82) and the Dodgers sixth (3.94). By comparison, the Marlins ranked ninth (4.08).
All of that is bad news for a team that has scored 11 runs in its last five games, an average of barely over two a game.
"We knew coming in that every team we played on this trip had good pitching," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "Our offense just has to step it up."
The Marlins' well-documented domination of the Phillies at home aside, the Phillies lost two of four games by just one run.
And each of their last four victories has been by one run.
So even after everything the team endured in Florida, it will have to find a way to break through against some of the league's best pitchers if it hopes to stay in playoff contention, a more daunting task considering the Phillies are 6-9 since the All-Star break and faced a slew of issues during the Marlins series.
"I'd be lying if I said this is going to be easy," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "We just left four pretty good pitchers here, and now we're going to face some more good pitchers. We just have to play better as a group, and we have to pitch better as a staff."
Telly: I'm ready: Right-hander Amaury Telemaco rejoined the Phillies Thursday and declared himself fit to come off the disabled list should it be determined that Billy Wagner's stiff shoulder will require a DL stint.
"I would say it's way better than it first was when I first went on the DL," Telemaco said.
"I could say, no, I don't want to pitch in a game. But we need pitchers."
Telemaco hasn't pitched in a game since June 8, after which he was diagnosed with rotator-cuff tendinitis. Meanwhile, Wagner was examined in Philadelphia by team doctor Michael Ciccotti Thursday.
Results of the tests were to be made available today.
Game on: Wrigley Field is expected to be ready for the Phillies matchup against the Cubs at 3:20 p.m. today. Wrigley Field workers have spent the week installing mesh netting below the upper deck to reduce the risk of injury to fans from possible falling chunks of concrete.