Phillies Need Off Day to Regroup

August 3, 9:38 AMPhiladelphia Phillies ExaminerPatrick Gallen

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It's been a struggle recently for Cole Hamels. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

West coast road trips are always difficult and demanding. The travel, the time zones, the lack of sleep all play into the psyche of a team heading 3,000 miles away.

This trip started well for the Phillies.  Having won 13 of 15 prior to their series with Arizona, the seven-game roadie would obviously be a telling scenario.  It was either keep up with the startling pace, or flail where the schedule would take them.

In this case, it was both.  It began with back-to-back victories against Arizona at Chase Field, with the latter coming against possibly the best pitcher in the National League, Dan Haren.  Then came two losses in succession, with one against the Diamondbacks, and the other in the opener against the Giants.  

The Phillies then proceeded to drop two of the final three against San Francisco, ultimately making it a 3-4 western jaunt.

Today, an off day, means a day for refocusing and revision.  The refocusing comes on the heels of an inglorious trip to the Bay, one that could be an early look at a playoff match up come October.  First, the Phillies need to make left-handed pitching their priority. Not their own, but from an offensive standpoint.  Two of the three losses against the Giants were handed to them by lefties. The other, is somewhat excusable when you realize it was due to the utter dominance brought forth by the best young pitcher in baseball, Tim Lincecum.

Back to the southpaws.  The Phillies struggle against them, simply put.  As a unit, they have managed only a .248 average when facing left-handers, but against Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito this weekend, it was more of the same mediocrity.

The revision is also a must on many fronts.  Starting with Cole Hamels, an alteration is necessary due to his inefficiency.  The MVP of Everything a year ago is only 7-6 with an ERA in the mid-four’s, a fairly dubious stat line that makes you wonder where he is mentally, as well as physically.  Hamels, along with the coaching staff, must go back to the drawing board to find out what it was that worked so well a year ago.  

The bench, or lack there of, is also in dire need of reworking.  Eric Bruntlett went 1-for-2, actually upping his average to .133, before being replaced by Greg Dobbs.  Dobbs, the preeminent bat off the pine in the NL last year, went 0-for-2 and is hitting just .256 on the season.  Another bench bat, Shane Victorino, flied out in his only plate appearance on Sunday, as he nurses a bruised knee.  

With the non-waiver trade deadline passing, this is the time for the front office to shine.  Moves can be made if a player passes through waivers, so look for Ruben Amaro to try and upgrade the backups through this cheaper alternative.  

As the Phillies return to Philadelphia to start a six-game homestand on Tuesday, these topics are paramount to the success of the team. Cole Hamels must find his way, the bench must be solidified still, and the team as a whole must put this pedestrian road trip behind them.  It’s time to start anew and get back to the winning ways.