Phillies look to start off hot
There’s an old saying in baseball you can’t win a pennant in April but you can lose one. The Phillies are proof of that old adage. The Phils have been in contention until the final days of the season for the past two years. Both this season and last season the Phils have tripped out of the gate with back to back 10-14 April’s. This season the Phillies hope to get the season started off right.
One of the reasons the Phillies have stumbled in the early going is Jimmy Rollins. Rollins is the engine that makes the Phillies offense go. When he stalls the Phillies offenses slows to a snails pace. Over the past two seasons in March and April, Rollins has hit .262. Rollins who doesn’t walk, needs to have a high batting average to get on base. This off-season Jimmy spoke out saying that he thinks the Phillies are a contender in the NL East. I hope he’s serious because next season Rollins performance at the start of the season could have big time implications for the Phillies overall success in 2007.
Another factor in the Phillies poor starts has been terrible starting pitching. In 2005 Cory Lidle, Randy Wolf, and Vincente Padilla threw up a 6.50 ERA in March and April. In 2006 Gavin Floyd, Ryan Madson, Cory Lidle, and Jon Lieber combined to pitch a 6.34 ERA in March and April. This season the Phillies starting rotation is much stronger than in past seasons and appear poised to start off the season strong.
"We know we have to start better," said manager Charlie Manuel, "We know how to focus and come out strong, but we still have to execute and do it."
History tells us that baseball in March and April matters. That will be especially true this season because the Phillies start off their season with 20 of their first 26 games against divisional opponents. If this season is going to be the year when the Phillies make the playoffs they have to reverse the slow start trend and play well from the beginning.
Sources:
Phils look to start hot
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
Picture of Jimmy Rollins from scout.com
2 comments:
2 10-14 Aprils in a row have killed us. We need a winning April to start the season off on a positive note and keep it rolling all summer long.
I agree. Charlie Manuel needs to figure out a way to get the Phillies playing their best baseball sooner than in past seasons.
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