The Philadelphia Phillies have been unquestionably the best team in the major leagues this season, holding the NL East lead since day one and finishing with the top winning percentage in the game after each month.
Since clinching the division though, the Phillies seem to be on a form of cruise control, as if determined to finish their season on autopilot. The Phillies have dropped five straight – the franchise’s first five-game losing streak since May 2010 – and have averaged just 2.2 runs per game during that stretch. In fact, over the last 13 games, dating back to September 11, the Phillies are 4-9 and have scored just 33 runs.
Did the Phillies peak too soon? Is this the team we will be seeing come playoff time? Realistically, I think it is more a combination of exhaustion, injuries, and the simple fact that the Phillies have nothing to play for anymore. They have all but clinched the best record in the National League, and with the Phillies playing a game every day for the final three weeks of the season, Charlie Manuel has simply been resting his regulars when he can and giving the backups more playing time.
That team that has been scoring 2.2 runs per game? That’s a team that features the likes of Pete Orr, Michael Martinez, Wilson Valdez, Brian Schneider, and Ross Gload when we are used to seeing Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, and Ryan Howard.
The Phillies are also tired. A 162-game season is demanding, and some of the Phillies who absolutely need to be healthy for the playoffs may have been overworked. Antonio Bastardo, the untouchable left-handed reliever, has been hit hard in his recent outings, walking over a batter per inning as of late. He has openly admitted he is tired, and the Phillies intend to go into the playoffs with him as their only left-handed guy out of the ‘pen, so his health is crucial.
Same with Michael Stutes. Although he’s now a lefty, he is a young pitcher who has been a key part of the bullpen this year, and the Phillies will need his services in the playoffs. It might be a wise idea for the Phillies to just shut the pair down until the postseason, because there is really no point to pitching them (other than maybe to keep them on a regular cycle). Then again, they are relievers, so they are used to pitching infrequently, so sitting them for pretty much the duration of the season might be beneficial long-term.
There are also injuries. Ryan Howard has been dealing with a sore ankle and foot bursitis, and will miss his sixth straight game tonight. Hunter Pence has patellar tendinitis in his knee. Apparently he has played with this injury all season, but he aggravated it the other game by diving for a fly ball. Jimmy Rollins is fresh off an injury, and Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley have all spent their fair share of time on the DL this year.
Even the big aces – Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels – aren’t throwing any more innings than normal, but those innings could pile up, especially for Halladay and Lee, who are well into their thirties.
The Phillies haven’t necessarily hit a wall, but with everything locked up, there is just nothing to play for. The Phillies really are on cruise control until the playoffs start. The next seven games don’t matter except for guys staying healthy.
The rest of the season won’t be fun to watch. The Phillies – once all but a lock to win 102 games and set the franchise-record – may now stumble to fewer wins than that. Bottom line though, that won’t matter in the long run. It won’t matter whether Halladay or Lee can bring home the Cy Young, or if Howard can hit 35 home runs, or if Victorino can hit 20 triples.
All that will matter is whether the Phillies won the World Series, and the next month will decide that fate.
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