It's a good thing Michael can't understand his father when we're watching games together.
Otherwise he'd be learning four-letter words that aren't spit, duck and cram.
The Phillies had a chance to assert themselves back into the National League East. Three games in D.C. against the Nationals, three at home against the New York Mets.
In the past five seasons - en route to five consecutive division titles - the Phillies had gone 50-39 and 59-31 against the Mets and Nats respectively. The past six games saw the Phillies go 1-5.
It's not looking good.
Chase Utley can't even take fielding practice. Ryan Howard is still weeks away from playing a Major League Game. The team is 0-8 in the last eight games started by Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.
The bullpen, aside from Jonathan Papelbon, is a mess. The offense is improved from the team's first 16 games, but still lackluster. The baserunning is atrocious (Juan Pierre, I don't care if you get caught stealing, but I do when you run into outs on the basepaths).
Despite having every starter's ERA below 3.30, this team is in last place.
Oh, and Tom McCarthy is talking as if this team is in first place and has everyone right where they want them. So you can't even enjoy watching them on TV.
Yet, I'm not too down on this team.
Those starters are looking good. Carlos Ruiz is playing well. Placido Polanco is starting to hit the ball. Jimmy Rollins is not going to hit .230 with no power all season. Ryan Howard will come back.
I know Michael can't understand a word I say yet, but I keep telling him, you have to be optimistic.
Baseball is a game of failure and you have to pride yourself in the little victories.
If this team can find a way to stay stay within five or six games of the wild card/division leader for the next month, it should still contend.
When Howard comes back - and if Utley ever does - this team will be very deep.
That's a benefit the other teams in the division don't have.
I also don't down Ruben Amaro could pull off some crazy trade that will help this team a lot.
I'm not talking about picking up a big bat, but a bullpen arm that will provide consistent relief.
Phillies fans can't help but think back to 2007. Their team was seven games back with 17 to play.
In 2008 it was 3.5 back with 16 to play.
Oh yeah, in 2010 this team was 48-46 and finished with a 97-65 record.
So there's plenty of reason to have High Hopes.
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