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Phillies' offense plays disappearing act once again with Hamels on the mound



Cole Hamels must cringe when he watches the offense from the dugout during his starts.

Look at these pathetic numbers:

3-0
3-2
2-0
3-2
1-0

These were all losses in low-run games when he's given up 3 or less runs, and two of those losses came in his past four starts.

It's a chronic pattern with this team when he pitches. It seems when they get in close low-scoring games with him on the hill the offense just disappears. Kyle Kendrick on the other hand seems to always get run support.

There's no rhyme or reason for it, but maybe the offense does "take the day off" when he's pitching a good game.

Chronically complacent is how I'd describe the entire organization and the team. Howard Eskin brought up a great point about the game notes that the organization provides to the media following games. Whenever they have a sellout that is the first thing they point out in their game notes. That is not by accident; someone in that front office is putting that out there. And, it is proof that the ownership and front office are concerned with selling tickets and selling food.

Look at the marketing campaigns this team has. They show people stuffing their faces and players hitting homeruns. It's indicative of why this team is stuck in the pattern they're in.

If they're hitting homeruns in bunches then they're great. But, when they swing for the fences and miss like they have done for the most part in the past two months they flat out suck.

That falls on Charlie Manuel and the coaching staff. The hitters on this team are too talented to be striking out in bunches and leaving 15-20 runners on base almost every day and night.

For guys like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and Shane Victorino to come up with four measly hits in a key game of the season is offensive.

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Eagles kick off the preaseason tonight

There is one player I care to evaluate in tonight's matchup against the Eagles and it's DeSean Jackson.

Word is he's catching on strong and has a chance to not only make his mark on the return game, but on offense as well.

The Eagles' second round pick in the draft has that rare game-changing ability that is the difference between a short gain and six points. He has sub 4.30 speed and can leap and catch with the best of them. When he develops, think Steve Smith. That's if Andy Reid and his crack team of coaches can let him do his thing and develop him right.