Off the wagon

By Michael Rushton
Phanatic Magazine

If you haven't gotten aboard the Phillies bandwagon yet, now just might be the time. Because apparently, plenty of people have already jumped off.

Three games in, an 0-3 start, and people around the city are quickly pushing the panic button.

The bullpen has been just as bad as advertised, the team is still free-swinging, and Charlie Manuel has already jumped up one list; the list of manager most likely to be fired first.

So what has the problem been so far? To be honest, we should have seen this coming. The Phillies are doing in April of this year what they always do in April. That is, strikeout a lot, leave runners on base, and just plain play without confidence.

Here is what we have learned so far.

Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino will frustrate us again this season. Sure, Rollins is batting .364, but has struck out three times in 11 at-bats already, and is still hacking at low pitches. Victorino is doing his best to impress Rollins. He has three whiffs in nine at-bats.

Manuel still has no clue. Perhaps the talk of his managerial skills, or lack there of, are getting to him. Why else would he bat the slow-footed, powerful Ryan Howard third and the smooth-swinging, faster Chase Utley fourth. It may be my wild guess, but I think Manuel was over-managing there, trying to make people think he had some sophisticated strategy hidden deep down inside.

Come on Uncle Charlie, filling out the lineup card should be your easiest part of the day.

This was our offensive upgrade at third base? Through three games, Wes Helms is batting .167. Sadly, though, his two RBI are tied for the team lead. To be honest with you, I completely lose interest in the Phillies lineup after Pat Burrell bats, and I only suffer through Burrell just to see if this is the game he finally snaps and flips-off the whole stadium. After that, Aaron Rowand, Helms and whoever is catching interests me little.

Still, I keep telling myself it is too early to give up on Helms...

The Phillies, through three games, are batting .179 with runners in scoring position, sixth worse in all of baseball. Did we forget this was the Phillies' biggest problem last season, a glaring hole in their game that nobody addressed?

But seriously, it is way too early to give up on the team as a whole. However, improvements need to be made, or the club will be fighting from behind all season, again.

And remember, Ryan Howard and Tom Gordon are not the problem. Howard had at least one home run taken away from him by the wind, and Gordon is a closer, and closers occasionally blow games. He did so five times last season and was an All-Star. This one just came at the worse possible time.

Howard's home runs will come.

Don't jump off the wagon yet. Wait until at least May.

Michael Rushton isn't yet ready to give up on the Phillies, or the show "Lost." Tell him what you have given up on, other than his writing, at mrushton@phanaticmag.com