In Their Heads?

Billy Wagner claims the Phillies aren't in their heads after yet another meltdown



For 6 innings yesterday the Mets controlled the game and then it all fell apart. The result was the 9th win a row for the Phils against the rival Mets.

Billy Wagner insists the Phillies aren't psyching them out. This was Wagner's reaction to a talking head psychoanalyzing them on TV.

"Some kid just out of high school," fumed Wagner, shaking his head. "The stupid [crap] we deal with."

Personally, I think Wagner is full of BS. Whenever a team loses to another one for that many straight times, the mental aspect has to come into play.

And, there was nothing better than finding out the Phillies ruined the Mets' home opener and turned their fans against them.

However you want to look at it, the Phillies were the biggest part of that collapse last year as they beat the Mets 8 straight down the stretch. That's an 8-game swing right there.

A few days ago I was afraid these were the same old Phillies of season's past, but they are off to their best start since 2005, although they ultimately went 4-6, but over the past seven seasons here's how they fared after 8 games.

Let's break it down:

2001-6-2 start
2002-4-4 start
2003-4-4 start
2004-2-6 start
2005-4-4 start
2006-2-6 start
2007-2-6 start

Already they're a better team then they were in '06 and '07 and that's a good sign. Now, getting through the whole month is another story. If they can continue their dominance over the Mets (they play them 6 games this month), then they can at least go .500 this month and that's better than they've done since 2001 when they started off 13-6 before losing 4 straight to end the month at 13-10.

One thing to be concerned about yesterday is that Jimmy Rollins had a high ankle sprain, but said he could've returned to the game. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's a 6 week injury in the NFL. I'm sure if he does have a high ankle sprain he won't be back today like they're saying. Perhaps it was a regular sprain. Something to think about. They say he's ok to take the field today.

So far this season they've lost two, won two, lost two, and won two. Let's hope that pattern doesn't continue. Tonight we'll find out with Kyle Kendrick on the hill against Mike Pelfrey. I like our odds tonight. Pelfrey was as effective as a pitching machine last year and made Adam Eaton look like a decent pitcher.