Closing the Book...

on the Phillies. Well, almost. Last night was a perfect example of where this team is heading - nowhere. Pirates rookie Zach Duke scattered 6 hits - including 4 doubles and a triple - while pitching 7 shutout innings against the Flailin Phils. Once again, the Philly couldn't win without the long ball and went a pathetic 1-7 with men in scoring position. Twice Jason "Cop Killa" Michaels was stranded in scoring position and twice he stranded men in scoring position. This team just can't get the clutch hit. Its as simple as that. Its not like Endy Chavez came up each time in the clutch situation, the Phils had the exact hitters they wanted at the plate with men in scoring position. Pat Burrell (who is swiftly snapping back to reality that the last few dissapointing years will be more the norm than his explosive first few months this season), Jason Michaels who had two extra base hits off Duke, David Bell who depsite all his pop-ups and grounding into double plays is one of the most clutch hitters on the squad, Ryan Howard who looks like he's pressing knowing that his time is limited with Charlie Manuel's best buddy and slumper extradonaire Jim Thome coming back soon after the All-Star break, and Chase Utley - the only one who delivered with an RBI single in the 8th. So the Phils head back to the Eastside of the Keystone State to host division leading Washington for 3 games before the All-Star break. If and only if the Phillies take 2 of 3 (the Phillies haven't won any of their last 7 series) I'll keep them alive until after the break when they host the Marlins for 4. Bottom line : Phillies have to win 5 of their next 7 games or its over. They're gonna have a huge hole return to the lineup in the form of Jim Thome, Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu have already shown they can't carry this team and unless they get some sort of momentum going the Phillies should be sellers come July 31. My lineup for this next crucial game stretch would be as follows:

1. Michaels
2. Utley
3. Abreu
4. Burrell
5. Howard
6. Rollins* - - if he's still hurt than Bell 6th and Tomas Perez 7th
7. Bell
8. Lieberthal
9. Pitcher

Also Kenny Lofton is hitting .356 and is a born leadoff hitter - if Burrell stays ice cold put Michaels in left and Lofton in center for at least a few games.