Time is running out
for the Phightin’ Phillies

In the Batter’s Box
By Matt Godfrey

There are plenty of reasons to have given up on the Phillies this season.
Some people probably gave up when they started out by losing 11 of the first 15 games.
Others may have started pulling out the "maybe-next-season" quotes when Brett Myers was moved to the bullpen just weeks after starting on opening day.
Or when Ryan Howard went on the disabled list.
Or when Tom Gordon went on the disabled list.
Or when so-and-so went on the disabled list. (I think you see where I am going with that one.)
Some could have just given up for the pure fact that the team has not really taken control of anything and it is running out of time. There are less than 35 games left to play. (That’s counting from before the start of the Mets series.)
But the truth of the matter is, the season is not over yet.
But it doesn’t look good.
As every Phillies fan knows, our team is plagued with injuries this year. However, the reality is that every team deals with injuries.
The New York Mets and the San Diego Padres have injured players, and yet, both of them are poised to make the playoffs.
So saying that injuries are the reason the Phils can not or will not make the playoffs this season is just a cop out.
The team has done a respectable job of keeping close so far, but it’s time to make a move. The Phillies have teetered back and forth from being tied for the wild card and closing in on the division lead a few times already. But for as close as they have gotten to leading either of those two races, they have yet to hold their ground once they get there.
No, things are not looking good, but in my opinion, it has little to do with injuries. I am not saying that injuries have not played a factor in their season at all. But the teams that rise above those injuries are the ones that make the playoffs.
And the Phillies chance to be one of those teams should have improved with the return of All-Star second-baseman Chase Utley.
When Utley went down with a broken hand, the rest of the team started to struggle as well. Urgency was put on picking up the slack that was left by Utley’s absence. Instead, more guys faltered. There was somewhat of a boost by the return of Jayson Werth, but overall the offense was stifled.
The pitching, which has needed the offense to perform all season in order for the team to win, was not a big help.
In a recent article in the Inquirer, center fielder Aaron Rowand was quoted as saying, "It’s time to put up or shut up. We have 33 games left. We have to step up and leave it all out there."
That’s all there is.
Put up or shut up.
Their chances for making the playoffs are starting to vanish quickly. They have already hurt themselves by losing three straight series, one of which was against the Padres. They are going to have to do a lot better from here on out.
As the Times went to press they were three games behind the Padres in the wild card and six behind the Mets in the East.
The Phillies have prided themselves so far this season on how they haven’t let up in the face of adversity.
Well, this final stretch is the true test of their guts. ••
Columnist Matt Godfrey can be reached at 215-354-3113 or mgodfrey@phillynews.com