Don't Play Down to the Competition

Can the Remaining Schedule Hurt the Phillies? The Phillies have dominated the National League East. There is no doubting that as their record against their east coast enemies is 42-24. This time last year they had a 37-29 record versus the east. My how a year has changed things. Albeit the injury decimated NY Mets and wasteful Washington have helped increase the Phillies record this year.

Let's look at how the remaining schedule could help or hurt their chances in the postseason. After the doubleheader today against the Marlins, the Phillies have two more in Florida, four in Milwaukee, four at home against Houston and wrap up with a finale weekend set against the Marlins again. The Marlins (80-70) are the only team with close to a competitive record. Milwaukee (74-76) is far from the competition they were last year with CC Sabathia and a healthy Ben Sheets. And even though Houston (70-80) took the Phillies to the bank to sweep a four game set in the Lone Star State, the lineup of star studded names (Berkman and Carlos Lee in particular) has not been producing much as has their staff ace Roy Oswalt.

For some reason, it always seems that the Phillies play down to their opponent. They have a winning record against the Cardinals (4-2) and pretty much even against the Dodgers (3-4). They took two out of three in the Bronx against the Yankees (could have been a sweep if good 'ol Brad Lidge could have closed the door), strong against the Red Sox and Tampa Rays. Then we look at the sub par teams. Against the Pittsburg Pirates (56-92) they lost two of three nearing September, ditto against a struggling Blue Jays team where they didn't face Roy Halladay. And the already mentioned sweep by the Astros really put ace Cliff Lee and the power surging Phillies in their place.

I just hope that after clinching the NL East probably by this weekend, the Phillies don't play down to the competition and limp into October. Look what happened to the might Cubs last year. They clinched with eight games left and then faced the lowly Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates to end the season. The October result . . . swept by the Dodgers.