Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies have scored just one run in their last two games.
Just one run — not the greatest timing for a hitting slump, especially with the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching. Will they be buyers or sellers? The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals aren’t making Reuben Amaro Jr.‘s job any easier, as both teams are scuffling themselves.
If I was Amaro, I would have deals set for both a selling and buying scenario, and I would wait until the finals hours of the deadline and see what deals make the most sense.
The Phillies are 49-51, seven games back for the the Braves and 7.5 games behind the Cincinnati Reds for the last Wild Card spot. This is the Phils’ first three-game losing streak in six weeks. During this slide, the team has gone 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position — just lovely.
What the Phils could really use is for Domonic Brown to get going again, because the dude looks tired out there. He is five for his last 31 (.161), though it might be a product of the fact that he has no protection in the batting order.
But hey, here’s something positive. The Phillies face Jake Westbrook (6-4, 2.88) tonight, and some of their slumping bats have had success against him. Jimmy Rollins is hitting .444 against the veteran, while Michael Young owns a .379 batting average against the hurler.
Even Laynce Nix, who normally doesn’t hit, is hitting .364 off Westbrook. Get excited, people.
Joseph Hickman is a Philadelphia Eagles writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @phillytugger, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
