Chasing Answers

Even though our hometown Phils are head and shoulders above the whole National League entering play Monday night, the night to night favorites haven't been exactly cruising. I have been on the success train with the Phils since play began on April 1st, and am wondering if I am the only fan who finds it painful to watch our lineup hit? Just a month and a half into the season the absence of Chase Utley has been magnified with every blank frame that the club posts in the box score each night. As the Phillies continue to lean on their stellar starting staff for consistent production, the team, front office, and fan base yearns for their prized second basemen more than ever. Surprisingly enough, the answers to the Phillies offensive woes don't only rest on the DL, but in their slumping corner outfield positions, who should be replaced even before we get "The Man" back.

As of Sunday May 15th, Wilson Valdez's .239 average has made him a virtual hole amidst the Phils linep, while his unofficial platoon partner Pete Orr's posting of .259 in limited at-bats hardly helps the cause. It is easy to say that the return of Chase Utley, in what will hopefully be in the near future, will quickly cure the offensive problems that have presented themselves so far this season. Aside from the Utley injury-saga, I will openly say that I am losing faith in "doing the right thing," playing a guy because he "deserves" the spot, or because he has "earned it" with some set of statistics that we just don't see. Charlie Manuel will ramble on about the lineup spot that he owes to 57 year-old vet Raul Ibanez, or career bench player Ben Francisco who hits with a cheese grater stick. The more John Mayberry Jr. and Ross Gload produce when called upon, the more I lose faith in Charlie's philosophy; which may have won us games in the past, but is losing us games now.

JD