dayton is not in ohio

Above: The first and last pitch from Jose Mesa last night

It all makes sense now.

Here’s the scenario: The Philadelphia Phillies lead their opponent 3 - 0 after seven innings, until a reliever comes in and gives up four runs in the eighth and the Phillies lose.

No, this wasn’t last night’s game against the Astros, it was the Phillies’ first loss ever, back in 1883. Now the Phils are only four losses away from becoming the first sports franchise in the history of our nation to record 10,000 losses.

Here’s what frustrates me right now… The Phillies are ranked in the top six in the Majors in three of the five most important offensive statistics, including leading the National League in runs scored. They are a good hitting team, and they’ve been putting up runs.

However, our bullpen is one of the worst in the majors. In the battle of good hitting vs. bad pitching, the pitchers usually win — the only thing they know how to win, apparently, and nothing to write home about.

Above: Eaton spotting the Astros a run in the second inning.

These last two games against the Astros are a GREAT example: the Phillies bullpen has walked in what have eventually turned out to be the deciding runs in both games. Last night, thanks to a gift-wrapped run in the 2nd (from Adam Eaton, the starter), instead of going home at 9:30 with a one-run win, they played four extra innings, until Jose Mesa took the mound in the bottom of the 13th inning. He earned his salary last night with one pitch, right in the middle of the plate. My daughter could have hit it out. Hunter Pence did.

Happy independence day. I’m still grateful that we live in a country where we can play baseball, and we’re free to pitch anyone we like, as painful as that can be sometimes.