So You Think You Can Sweep?

Last night at Shea, the Phils completed their first road sweep of the New York Mets since 2002. For the first time all year, whenever they were down in a game or needed a huge clutch hit, I never waived that the hit they needed wouldn’t come.

Case in point, Wednesday night after Pat Burrell struck out on four pitches against Aaron Heilman. This was classic Burrell, especially down a run with two runners aboard. Jimmy Rollins steps in and jacks one over the right field wall. All series, J Roll has stepped up offensively and defensively to help this team win at any cost. Since April 2nd, Jimmy Rollins has been the best offensive performer on this club. He’s been backing up his ‘team to beat’ rhetoric, it’s just a shame it has taken his club until early June to reciprocate.

Coming off three straight, the Phils fly to Kansas City to take on Scott Elarton tonight. His numbers suggest that he isn’t either a precise or power pitcher. With only 20 strikeouts in 25.2 innings, 14 walks and 31 hits surrendered he seems to fit more into the ‘batting practice’ pitcher category. But, in resent years the Phillies couldn’t beat a ball club membered by nuns if they dawned an AL patch on their jerseys. Let’s hope for the best.

Nightmare Alert: If you watch this team consistently or even just once, there is a good possibility you may have noticed that their bullpen is atrocious. Despite pitching three very good games in New York, who knows how long that is going to last. How do you remedy this situation?

Joe Table.

That’s right. Jose Mesa. The guy who ran out of the bullpen with a three run lead in the 9th inning at the Vet. The same guy who where upon seeing his brightly colored red glove that you would begin praying to the God of your affiliation for the Phils to somehow not wind up losing that game. (Assistant) GM Rueben Amaro said ”We will leave no stone unturned’ in searching for much needed bullpen help. Let’s hope so. He’ll been in to work out with the Phillies soon, oh boy.

Instead of Mesa, I think the three guys mentioned here from today’s Inky, Texas relievers Akinori Otsuka, Eric Gagne and Joaquin Benoit would make much better options that our old friend Jose. Phils scouts have been spotted recently at Rangers game in order to evaluate much needed bullpen talent. Also, the Rangers have been trading partners with the Gillick-led Phils before when Rob Tejada was sent there last season for David Dellucci.