Phillies look to contend

[redsrbetter]

As is, Phillies look to contend

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service


The Phillies' inactivity at Sunday's non-waiver trading deadline might have been more of a show of faith than anything, a belief that over the final two months of the season they can make up the differences necessary to place themselves in the postseason.

There are several reasons why the usual anticipation around the clubhouse at the end of July was replaced with a feeling of satisfaction that the team the Phillies have will be the team counted upon to navigate through the standings.

"There's almost a third of the season left to play," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said. "You can't lose sight of the fact that we've got two months worth of games to play. Where we are right now isn't where we want to be. We'd rather have everybody chasing us. But we're in a position where we can definitely win the division or the wild card."

That seemed fine with the players, who know what's at stake. Beginning with tonight's game against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies have 56 games to make up either the 2 1/2-game difference between them and National League wild card-leading Houston, or the six-game gap between them and first-place Atlanta in the NL East.

The team charged with this task has shown signs of surges like the 12-1 stretch in early June but can also fall into funks, such as the 5-14 slide just before the All-Star break. Despite some wildly inconsistent play, and the fact that they have not held first place at any point since opening day, the Phillies are plunging into a pennant race with the weapons they have.

"We're in contention, and now it's up to us to play well," closer Billy Wagner said. "The GM can make moves, but in the end the pressure is on us."

At the deadline, the Phillies decided giving up a valuable piece such as Wagner was not worth the starting pitching that was available to them. And there weren't a whole lot of sellers on the market, with the wild card race making even teams with losing records thinking playoffs.

"There aren't a lot of options when you've got 24 or 25 teams who still believe they're in the race," Wade said.


So the Phillies will contend with a starting rotation of Brett Myers, Jon Lieber, Cory Lidle, Vicente Padilla and Rob Tejeda, far from the most glamorous five-some among the league's playoff hopefuls and one that has a 5.14 ERA since the All-Star break.

If they stumble and the Phillies fade, the starters will shoulder much of the blame, while fans undoubtedly will also point to Wade's inactivity.

"The fans expect us to win," manager Charlie Manuel said.

"They come out to see the ballpark and a winning product."

They want to see us in the playoffs. Some things will be said about it, no doubt, but that's the game. That's why you've got to have some tough skin."

The passage of the trading deadline doesn't end the Phillies' chances of acquiring a necessary piece, though. Last August they traded for Lidle, who slipped through waivers.

"There will be players who get through waivers," Wade said. "Whether or not they're of the magnitude that would put us in a position of wanting to acquire them remains to be seen."

The Phillies needed Lidle because of injuries last year, but this season they find themselves relatively healthy. Only first baseman Jim Thome has missed a significant amount of time.

"It could be a lot worse," Wagner said. "To be in contention with two months left, I think we're in a good position. We've got an uphill battle, and it's up to the team we've got to fight our way up."

[General]

If the Phils can get Abreu going again and have Thome back at full strentgh, I don't see a reason why they should not contend.

[redsrbetter]

I agree, the Phillies are definitely in business to get these things together. Right now they are 6.5 games back in their tight division. It is any teams race, the Phillies have to make it happen now!

[awefullspellare]

Yea they don't got much time though. Braves seems ready to take this thing, wild card is more likely.