Smallwood: Big Bats Must Produce
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, August 22, 2008 11:04 AM | Comments: 71
Posts
In the Daily News today, John Smallwood writes the Phillies will only make the playoffs if Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell start hitting now and don’t let up until the end of the season. He writes:
Starting tonight, the Phillies have a stretch of 10 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets and Chicago Cubs.
Unless they are counting on another late-September choke by the Mets, this is as close as they can get to “put up or shut up” time as it gets. It absolutely cannot happen unless Rollins, Utley, Howard and Burrell step up to the plate and start leading this club the way they are supposed to.
He’s absolutely right. I can write all I want about how the bottom of the order could be key to the team’s success, but they’ll only do so much. As Smallwood writes, you can’t keep relying on Shane Victorino to get on base and some combination of Greg Dobbs groundout/Carlos Ruiz single/Pedro Feliz hit by pitch or whatever to get him home.
We can say “move Vic up in the lineup,” but what good does that do when 3-4-5 ground out, strike out and ground out?
To be short, these guys need to produce. Rollins had a couple weeks of production back in May. Utley had two months of solid production earlier this season. Howard has produced in short spurts. Burrell has been somewhat consistent, but nothing dangerous since May.
If there’s no way these four can find some magic potion, or get conked over the head, or somehow stumble into their late-season 2007 selves, this team is not going to the postseason.
Posts: 0 Scheity
We suck.
Posted: 11:20 AM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
It’s kind of amazing that all four of them go into the tank at the same time. I would think if just 2 of the 4 got hot, then this team could get on a decent roll.
Posted: 11:31 AM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 JR
This is it.
If they do not win the series against the Dodgers and Mets, I am done watching and the season is over.
Posted: 11:34 AM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie
We need to go 7-3 or better over the next 10 games, if not, the season is over, plain and simple.
Posted: 11:41 AM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
I am so tired of watching this team play. It’s like watching women’s jolf.
Posted: 11:48 AM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Against the Nationals the Big 4 in 46 ABs produced 8 hits, drew just 2 walks, scored a single run, drove in just a single run with just the 1 extra and Rollins was caught stealing in 1 attempt. The numbers against the Padres aren’t as bad as they were drawing walks and putting in a little production but these are the two worst teams in baseball we played when they were weak.
Our core offense is barely giving secondary production and Werth and Vic have become the centrepieces of the offense.
Posted: 11:50 AM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
“If they lose tonight, its the end of the world!” said the majority of Phillies Nation. “I don’t care how many games are left in this season…its now or never, we DEMAND IMMEDIATE DEMANDS, and for the trainers to be FIRED!”
Posted: 12:03 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
the won their last two series.. Im guessing they split against the Dodgers, who are RED HOT since getting Manny… who knows vs. the Mets with that bullpen, we could win both… and Chicago is going to be a tough series.. a 2-2 split there would be great.
Posted: 12:04 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
They aren’t making the post season. They are a bunch of pussies. I don’t even understand it. We have potential to be the best team in the NL, but they don’t even care about winning. If this offense starts running on all cylinders this team could be unstoppable with the pitching they have, but it’s not going to happen.
Posted: 12:06 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
We need to beat the Mets 4 out of the last 5 games we face them this year or there is no hope for a post season spot.
Posted: 12:07 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
This is it.
If they do not win the series against the Dodgers and Mets, I am done watching and the season is over.
I hope you break your ankles jumping off the bandwagon, Frontrunner.
Posted: 12:09 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Bear Mike
So what is the solution? What will provide the spark for our lame offense? I am reading a bunch of complaining, but no attempts at a viable solution.
Just curious guys.
Posted: 12:21 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Michael
After watching them again last night, its hard to imagine that they our big four will pull out of their slumps. Howard is the most pathetic. He seems to have no idea of the strike zone and flails at pitches in the dirt. Burrell is back to the Burrell of old. Throw him a breaking ball down and away and he is toast. Rollins is completely confused at the plate. Utley must be injured otherwise there is no logical reason for his imability to drive the ball. Let’s grit our teeth and tough it out the rest of the way. It’s up to our new GM to build a BASEBALL team next time.
Posted: 12:22 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Just two years ago, Ryan Howard was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Last year, Jimmy Rollins was the most exciting player on the planet… through both years, Chase Utley has been the best player on the team.. Burrell was this years MVP just two weeks ago, and today Shane Victorino one of The Untouchables.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds..
Posted: 12:29 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Michael
The record books are full of players who fell off a cliff after posting one or two good years. If you look at the Baseball Prospectus of 2006? you will read that Howard would probably get found out in a few years and his production would dip. If he doesn’t hit, doesn’t field and can’t run, he scores pretty low on the 5 qualities that mark a major league stud. At least Dave Kingman stayed productive for a few years.
Posted: 12:38 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Eb
Rollins is completely Lost
Utley has to be injured but I think will pop out of it
Howard is a lost cause
Burrell is back at his career numbers, and it will not be until he leaves that people will look back and realize how good of a philly he really was. I think he will be okay down the stretch
Posted: 12:38 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Callison
A championship team just can’t succeed by relying on the bottom of the order. Period! Sure they can bail you out some of the time but the guys you depend on to put the runs up there on the board are the top five hitters. It would not be unusual to see one or two players having problems at the plate, but when your whole offense is having a problem then something is up. A big league hitter, who can time a 93 mph fast ball, can also time an 80 mph breaking pitch. He just can’t drive it as far. As for good pitching taking its toll, yeah pitchers can get in certain players heads and have constant success against them, but a whole team, all the time, and from every club. I don’t think so. If you change the focus, and back up a bit, say over the last 3 ½ years, you see a club with tremendous potential, becoming a bust. There is something wrong and we’re not hearing about it. The current manager came the Phila. on Jim Tome’s coat tails hiding in the background waiting for Bowa to fail. No one else was ever a serious consideration for the team and now we are stuck with a good ole boy who cannot get his team to perform. I no long hold false hopes for this season.
Posted: 12:39 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Move you the pieces around to maximise where we are getting production and hope to spark more production. Vic is our best option at lead-off right now and Rollins isn’t getting on to use his legs well enough at the top. Werth can be productive in the 2 hole as a guy who doesn’t make many dsetructive outs. Rollins is making destructive outs but he has to have a fire lit under him and the 3 spot might see him start to lock in at the plate and hit with more discipline. Utley is hitting and I really do think Burrell’s recent struggles are down to the negative atmosphere. The 6 spot is great for Howard right now, if he’s not going long he’s not producing consistently and that might provide some production at the lower end of the line-up.
Vic
Werth
Rollins
Werth
Burrell
Howard
Feliz
Ruiz
Posted: 12:41 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Michael
Is there any baseball reason why Victorino isn’t leading off and Rollins isn’t batting 6th? Also, Charlies has to split up the disasterous tandem of Howard and Burrell. For several weeks now they have the worst rally killers on a team loaded with rally killers. SOMEONE DO SOMETHING! I’M LOSING MY MIND WATCHING THIS HAPPEN!!!
Posted: 12:50 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Tommy A
http://www.sportsmansdaily.com/Burrell_Ballgirl.html
Posted: 12:52 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
I’m gonna bring this up again just to see if anyone’s opinion has changed. But how about Rollins in the 9 hole?
Posted: 12:57 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
NOT FOREVER, but for a game or 2 or 3
Posted: 12:58 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Would aggravate him to much, it’s 3, 7 or lead-off that his skillset fits unfortunately.
Posted: 01:00 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
I think no matter what, Jimmy cannot bat leadoff. Everyone boo’s him and he’s the first batter of the frickin game. Before we even see a pitch, the team has to hear a smattering of boo’s. It just probably deflates them.
Posted: 01:02 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Jimmy and Howard are bad vibes, it’s clearly affecting Chase and Burrell and things have to be mixed up to maximise current production and not where we hope guys will be productive, Howard is no more productive in the 4 spot right now than he would be batting 6th and Utley and Burrell may pick their game up with more consistent RBI opporunities.
Posted: 01:05 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
Possibly being good on paper doesn’t translate into good on the field. Maybe we’ve been blinded by some exceptional years out of these players. Really if you look at the stats, Rollins is having an average year, Howard always did have a tremendous amount of strikeouts, Burrell is having an average year, Ruiz is what he is.
The only mystery is Utley who everyone says must be injured but injured where? If it’s a hip, how could one dive for all those plays he makes? Maybe his hand has never healed properly?
Consistency is what’s lacking although you could say they are consistent – consistently inconsistent.
Posted: 01:09 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
Before we even see a pitch, the team has to hear a smattering of boo’s. It just probably deflates them.
This isnt a fucking little league team and if they did what they were suppose to in the first place we woudlnt boo. He asked for it when he made those comments and he knows it.
Posted: 01:09 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
They hear boos in New York. They have a job to get done and they dont do it, it almost seems that they pick and chose.
This may seem out of the question but could Howard have any shot at MVP again this year? It seems that Wright or even Pujols has it locked but say Howard picks it up a little and takes us to the playoffs, does he get it? The voters didnt seem to care about errors and strikeouts the first time around.
Posted: 01:13 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
“For several weeks now they have the worst rally killers on a team loaded with rally killers. ”
How can you have a rally at all if your team is filled with people who kill rallies. You have to have a rally in order to kill it and you cant start a rally with a rally killer. Get what I’m saying? Just pointing that out.
Posted: 01:15 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
for the MVP you mentioned two great players, this year has proved Howards not a great player he just can hit a lot of home runs but I’m sure if we looked at the splits Wright and Pujols production will have contributed heavily to more wins than Howards who’s a stats player not a ballplayer.
Posted: 01:16 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
Howard is a poor man’s version of Dave “King Kong” Kingman.
Posted: 01:19 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
Would it be out of the question for Brandon Webb to get MVP as well or is it too biased to positional players? He’s a near lock for Cy Young, unless they count Sabathia.
Posted: 01:23 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
I think there’s a lot of pressure to give a Cubbie the MVP award, read one ridiculous article suggesting Soto…
Posted: 01:32 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
The cubs have produced as team, there really isnt one individual that has carried them. Zambrano does have a few jacks though.
Posted: 01:37 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
Maybe Adam Dunn should be MVP.
Posted: 01:41 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 FatsFox
Howard for MVP? In 2008? That is a joke right?
Posted: 01:42 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
He’s got a very strong case if he carries the D-Backs. Don’t think Pujols will take it so if the Mets have a strong end to the season I think Wright will have the strongest chance.
Posted: 01:43 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
Obviously this batting order is not working. What would be a radical lineup to try?
Posted: 01:44 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
Has anyone ever hit below .275 and won MVP?
Posted: 01:45 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
It’s not a joke, if the Phils make it to the playoffs his HR/RBI/decent enough run total may get him the award despite the secondary and more relevant stats being hideous, that’s if Wright fades and no-one really steps up elsewhere.
Posted: 01:47 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Radical… Ruiz, Rollins, Howard, Pitcher, Vic, Werth, Utley, Burrell, Feliz… Would get the automatic outs out of the way.
Posted: 01:50 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
Utley
Feliz
Victorino
Burrell
Feliz/Dobbs
Ruiz/Coste
Rollins
Howard
Pitcher
Posted: 01:55 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
Check that: Insert Werth for Feliz/Dobbs slot.
Posted: 01:57 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie Allen
Question For TIM MALCOLM..what is YOUR OPINION ON JIMMY ROLLINS..Re: his play this year and reaction to our fans..
Posted: 02:03 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
“Howard for MVP? In 2008? That is a joke right?”
No one was campaigning for him, just suggesting that the voters will overlook errors and K’s if someone has flashy Hr and rbi numbers because thats how the media is.
Posted: 02:23 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 TJ
“Has anyone ever hit below .275 and won MVP?”
I doubt it.
Posted: 02:30 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
Agreed TJ, Howard has a genuine shot at MVP especially if the Phils rally. The same thing will happen during his arbitration – he’ll get his 15 mil due to his HRs and RBIs.
Posted: 02:32 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
1972 MVP – Johnny Bench .270
1952 MVP – Hank Sauer .270
1944 MVP – Marty Marion .267
These are NL MVPs – not sure about the AL
Posted: 02:48 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 danny
OOOOOOOOOH look at all those flashy rbi’s and hr’s! I think I’ll vote for him…
Posted: 03:00 PM on August 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Fred
I’m not saying I would vote for him but when it comes to these awards most voters look at his big HR and RBI numbers.
Posted: 03:04 PM on August 22, 2008