GaryMrMets
08-03-2004, 12:54 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9299700.htm
Posted on Mon, Aug. 02, 2004
Phils playing like a broken record
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
CHICAGO - The words have a hollow, this-is-a-recording tone by now.
The Phillies will concede they should be playing better. That they feel a sense of urgency but not desperation. That there is still enough time. That all they need is to put together a winning streak.
Except that they haven't won more than three in a row in more than 2 months.
Except that a fall-from-ahead, 6-3 loss to the Cubs yesterday at Wrigley Field means that they have lost six of seven on a crucial road trip that still has stops in San Diego and Los Angeles lurking, that they have dropped 13 of their last 20, that they are now 5 ½ games behind Atlanta in the National League East.
Except that nobody can quite put his finger on what's wrong, much less how to fix it.
"We prepare well. We work hard. We just need to play better," leftfielder Pat Burrell said.
But, he was asked, if the preparation and work ethic are already up to par, what else can be done?
"I don't know," he admitted. "I really don't have the answer to that. We just have to find a way."
Losing two of three to the Cubs ensured that suggestions will dog the team all the way to the West Coast that manager Larry Bowa could be fired. And while all indications yesterday were that nothing is likely to happen before the end of the trip, one or two more losses combined with Braves wins could force a shotgun re-evaluation.
If he's feeling the pressure, Bowa is hiding it well. In fact, he's outwardly as relaxed as he's been all season.
Asked if desperation was setting in, he almost smiled.
"Desperation is when you're on your death bed and they're reading the last rites," he said. "There are a lot of games left. Sure, it's daunting [to be that far behind the Braves] because those guys have won for 12 straight years.
"I have peace of mind, though, because I know I give 100 percent. Some days it works, some days it doesn't."
Starter Randy Wolf gave up back-to-back home runs to Sammy Sosa and Aramis Ramirez in the second, but had retired 11 straight before Sosa doubled to right-center leading off the seventh.
Pitching carefully with a one-run lead, Wolf walked Ramirez. He struck out Derrek Lee but Mark Grudzielanek doubled Sosa home to tie the score, 3-3. And, that quickly, Wolf was done. Lefthander Rheal Cormier came out of the bullpen to face pinch-hitter Jose Macias, who singled past shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Ramirez scored the go-ahead run while Grudzielanek stopped at third.
Newly acquired Todd Jones relieved Cormier. Pinch-hitter Michael Barrett delivered a sacrifice fly. Macias stole second, Corey Patterson was hit by a pitch, Nomar Garciaparra got his first hit and RBI as a Cub and that was pretty much the old ballgame.
Wolf sighed.
"We've just got to keep battling," he said. "We're not going to win four games in 1 day. We have to win one and then go from there. As cliched as it is, we just have to play one game at a time.
"I haven't seen any chunky girls singing yet, so I think we still have a shot. This game is crazy. You can make up games quickly. We can't think about folding it up. We just have to play better."
Burrell said the team played "terrible" in Florida and was encouraged by the way it played in Chicago. Wolf, however, wasn't taking any comfort in the notion that the Phillies demonstrated progress over the weekend after the disheartening four-game sweep at Florida that preceded the Cubs series.
"The only thing that would show that is wins," he said flatly. "We're definitely at a point where that's all that matters. And the fact is, we haven't had too many lately."
Catcher Mike Lieberthal said the players are well aware of the speculation swirling around Bowa.
"I don't think it's really affecting guys," he said. "Maybe a little this weekend because there's been so much talk about it. You look up and it's on television, so it was kind of a weird situation to be in.
"I think everybody expects him to be here all year, though. I don't think we expect a change. But you never know. It's all about winning in every sport.
"The Braves are playing well right now. They're hot and we're not. That's a bad combination. But it would be different if it was September. We need to put it together and I definitely still think we're good enough to do that."
Rollins scoffed at the idea that the Phillies were in a desperate situation.
"Desperate on Aug. 1? I haven't heard that," he said. "There's too much baseball left. We just have to keep sawing away, knocking on the door."
First baseman Jim Thome, however, allowed that the Phillies have to turn things around quickly.
"Now the concern is that some teams are putting some distance in front of us," he said. "You can't let that happen. Not in August. This is not May. This is not June. We're getting into August and we need to do anything to get a 'W.' "
Said Burrell: "It's pretty bad. We're just not playing as good as we're capable of. We're not clicking right now but once that happens we should be able to put a winning streak together."
This is a recording.
Posted on Mon, Aug. 02, 2004
Phils playing like a broken record
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
CHICAGO - The words have a hollow, this-is-a-recording tone by now.
The Phillies will concede they should be playing better. That they feel a sense of urgency but not desperation. That there is still enough time. That all they need is to put together a winning streak.
Except that they haven't won more than three in a row in more than 2 months.
Except that a fall-from-ahead, 6-3 loss to the Cubs yesterday at Wrigley Field means that they have lost six of seven on a crucial road trip that still has stops in San Diego and Los Angeles lurking, that they have dropped 13 of their last 20, that they are now 5 ½ games behind Atlanta in the National League East.
Except that nobody can quite put his finger on what's wrong, much less how to fix it.
"We prepare well. We work hard. We just need to play better," leftfielder Pat Burrell said.
But, he was asked, if the preparation and work ethic are already up to par, what else can be done?
"I don't know," he admitted. "I really don't have the answer to that. We just have to find a way."
Losing two of three to the Cubs ensured that suggestions will dog the team all the way to the West Coast that manager Larry Bowa could be fired. And while all indications yesterday were that nothing is likely to happen before the end of the trip, one or two more losses combined with Braves wins could force a shotgun re-evaluation.
If he's feeling the pressure, Bowa is hiding it well. In fact, he's outwardly as relaxed as he's been all season.
Asked if desperation was setting in, he almost smiled.
"Desperation is when you're on your death bed and they're reading the last rites," he said. "There are a lot of games left. Sure, it's daunting [to be that far behind the Braves] because those guys have won for 12 straight years.
"I have peace of mind, though, because I know I give 100 percent. Some days it works, some days it doesn't."
Starter Randy Wolf gave up back-to-back home runs to Sammy Sosa and Aramis Ramirez in the second, but had retired 11 straight before Sosa doubled to right-center leading off the seventh.
Pitching carefully with a one-run lead, Wolf walked Ramirez. He struck out Derrek Lee but Mark Grudzielanek doubled Sosa home to tie the score, 3-3. And, that quickly, Wolf was done. Lefthander Rheal Cormier came out of the bullpen to face pinch-hitter Jose Macias, who singled past shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Ramirez scored the go-ahead run while Grudzielanek stopped at third.
Newly acquired Todd Jones relieved Cormier. Pinch-hitter Michael Barrett delivered a sacrifice fly. Macias stole second, Corey Patterson was hit by a pitch, Nomar Garciaparra got his first hit and RBI as a Cub and that was pretty much the old ballgame.
Wolf sighed.
"We've just got to keep battling," he said. "We're not going to win four games in 1 day. We have to win one and then go from there. As cliched as it is, we just have to play one game at a time.
"I haven't seen any chunky girls singing yet, so I think we still have a shot. This game is crazy. You can make up games quickly. We can't think about folding it up. We just have to play better."
Burrell said the team played "terrible" in Florida and was encouraged by the way it played in Chicago. Wolf, however, wasn't taking any comfort in the notion that the Phillies demonstrated progress over the weekend after the disheartening four-game sweep at Florida that preceded the Cubs series.
"The only thing that would show that is wins," he said flatly. "We're definitely at a point where that's all that matters. And the fact is, we haven't had too many lately."
Catcher Mike Lieberthal said the players are well aware of the speculation swirling around Bowa.
"I don't think it's really affecting guys," he said. "Maybe a little this weekend because there's been so much talk about it. You look up and it's on television, so it was kind of a weird situation to be in.
"I think everybody expects him to be here all year, though. I don't think we expect a change. But you never know. It's all about winning in every sport.
"The Braves are playing well right now. They're hot and we're not. That's a bad combination. But it would be different if it was September. We need to put it together and I definitely still think we're good enough to do that."
Rollins scoffed at the idea that the Phillies were in a desperate situation.
"Desperate on Aug. 1? I haven't heard that," he said. "There's too much baseball left. We just have to keep sawing away, knocking on the door."
First baseman Jim Thome, however, allowed that the Phillies have to turn things around quickly.
"Now the concern is that some teams are putting some distance in front of us," he said. "You can't let that happen. Not in August. This is not May. This is not June. We're getting into August and we need to do anything to get a 'W.' "
Said Burrell: "It's pretty bad. We're just not playing as good as we're capable of. We're not clicking right now but once that happens we should be able to put a winning streak together."
This is a recording.