16 to play in 17 days and 3 1/2 games back is the predicament the Phillies now find themselves in after failing to seal the deal yesterday against the Marlins.
Once again, the offense failed to show up and not that Myers had a particularly great start-he did go 7 1/3 and keep them in the game, by allowing 4 earned and striking out 9.
Ricky Nolasco was just a little better and the offense was offensive. Although they left just 9 runners on base, when you consider that they had just 7 hits, that's no good.
Teams have to grind games out at this time of the year and the Phillies are no grinder. They are to grinding out games what Elliot Spitzer is to public relations.
And, yesterday the attitude of the organization towards the fans reared it's ugly head when Charlie Manuel said the fans were flat. This is an organization that clearly likes to piss on the fans in more ways than one, but they'll be happy to take your money at The Bank by selling you overpriced food and beverages.
The Phillies are 4 games back in the loss column from both the Mets and the Brewers. And, with a 4-game series this weekend against the Brewers at home, it very well could mean the end of their season if they don't at least split. If they do lose 3 out of 4, or god forbid get swept, then you can look forward to a long offseason where the front office blames this failure of a season on an offense that had a down year and brings in more Jon Liebers and So Taguchis to serve as a band aid for a laceration the size of the Delaware River.
Sure, the Phillies have 9 games against the Braves and Nationals combined during their last 16 games, but the Brewers and Mets have easy schedules as well. If they fail to deliver this weekend then it's over but the shouting as they say.
Jamie Moyer will take on Ben Sheets tonight at 7:05.
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