A 2004 spring training game at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies. The downward spiral continues. The Phillies took the early lead only for Joe Blanton to give up a run, then a grand slam to some call-up from the minors named Nava. He hit the slam on the first pitch he saw. Is Joe Blanton serious? In any case, he was gone after four. Final score: 10-2, Red Sox.
Yesterday's line-up: Victorino, Werth, Utley, Howard, Francisco, Ibanez, Dobbs, Schneider, Valdez. My first thought was spring training. Victorino is not good leading off. Werth and Utley are in massive slumps. Howard is tepid. Francisco seems to need to hit into two double plays before he can get a real hit. Ibanez has still not found his swing. Dobbs is a cipher, Schneider, a question, and Valdez, another GDIP guy. What do you expect to do with a line-up like that? If the big guys aren't carrying it, it's going nowhere. They aren't and it isn't.
Yesterday, however, it was Brian Schneider who did the work, going three for four and bringing in both Phillies' runs. Dobbs predictably made an error that led to the first Red Sox run.
Rollins: injured. Polanco: in and out with nagging injuries. Utley: mysteriously, massively slumping. Howard: getting his singles' groove on. Werth: went from short, compact, powerful to long, loose, and ugly. Ibanez: still getting back from last year's injury. Victorino: not a lead-off hitter but forced now to be one. Ruiz: hitting surge sidetracked by nagging injuries. It's looking to be all over sometime soon.
Today, Cole Hamels against Tim Wakefield. At the best of times, Hamels gets little run support. Against Wakefield, he's got no chance.
After today it's three against the Yankees, then three with the Twins at home. Could be six straight losses there, even if Roy Halladay is pitching twice and Hamels once. If you're looking for good news, of sorts, the Williamsport Crosscutters open their season on Friday. We've always got the minors.
