Phils need grit and
swagger of last year’s heroics

In the Batter’s Box
By Matt Godfrey

First, Brett Myers was sent down to the minor leagues.
Then Chase Utley ended the streak of Phillies dominating the Home Run Derby by getting bounced in the first round.
Then Utley and closer Brad Lidge had a pretty clear hand in the National League losing this year’s all-star game.
Then the Phillies traded to get Oakland A’s pitcher Joe Blanton.
Then Brett Myers was brought back to the major leagues.
Then reigning National League Most Valuable Player Jimmy Rollins was benched — again — for failing to follow team rules.
Then the Phillies promptly lost yet another series, this one to the New York Mets, to fall out of first place in the National League East.
Then Lidge was tagged for five earned runs without recording an out against the Atlanta Braves.
Then "ace" Cole Hamels was roughed up for an uncharacteristic nine runs in less than four innings of work against the Braves.
Then, to top it all off, general manager Pat Gillick disclosed that Utley has been dealing with a hip injury for quite some time.
And, finally, the Phils decided to send pitcher Adam Eaton to the minor leagues.
So where has all that gotten your hometown baseball team?
Well, on Tuesday night (as we went to press), the Phils were fortunate to be just a half-game behind the first-place Mets in the National League East.
The team’s recent ups and downs had encouraged manager Charlie Manuel to decide it was time to gather his troops, close the clubhouse doors, and discuss the giant elephant in the room.
The Phillies have been consistently inconsistent all season long. As the season winds down and each game becomes more important, its time to make a change.
Manuel was not looking to rip any particular player, because that’s been the problem . . . everyone is playing individually.
The team that thrived on late-inning comebacks and welcomed the limelight last year has not shown that same grit this year.
There have been flashes of the greatness we grew accustomed to last year. It just hasn’t been there consistently.
Change was needed.
And, judging by the way the Braves series unfolded, change is what we saw.
Last Friday the Phils were stifled by Braves rookie pitcher Jair Jurrjens and dropped the series opener.
Then, on Saturday, Hamels — of all people — put the Phillies in an early 9-3 hole with a disastrous performance, and more frustrating inconsistency seemed at hand.
However, the Phillies did not give up. And when pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs belted his fifth-inning, three-run homer into the stands, it was a pleasant reminder of the team’s fighting spirit.
The Phillies’ relievers came on to bail out their usually steady starting pitcher, shutting out the Braves over the final five innings and preserving the lead for the win.
Sunday’s game saw a similar comeback, when the Phillies put together 12 runs for another series win over the Braves — their fourth series win over the Braves this season.
This may mean nothing.
The Phillies may come back and drop all three games against the lowly Washington Nationals this week, and then do the same against the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend.
But the foundation has been laid for them to forget the way things have gone thus far. It’s time to look ahead to the final two months and try to recreate last year’s late-season greatness.
A similar team meeting was held last year when the Phils hit rock bottom, and look how that turned out.
If any more motivation is needed than simply making the playoffs, these guys should just keep replaying the image of Mets shortstop Jose Reyes pointing to the sky on his way around the bases after hitting a home run off Phillies reliever Ryan Madson.
Reyes put his team ahead, for good, with the three-run shot in Saturday’s game, but he still felt the need to showboat on his way around the bases.
Similarly, Fernando Tatis — yeah, exactly . . . who? — could be seen doing his share of showboating during the series.
That should spell out the amount of respect the team up the turnpike, the team currently in first place, has for these Phillies. ••