Jun 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Hunter Pence (3) reacts after being stranded on base during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

This is a pretty bleak headline.  What else can you say about a four game sweep?  Remember when the Phillies came within a Roy Halladay bout with his arm falling apart of sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals?  It is kind of like that, except the opposite.  The Phillies are supposed to be able to pitch and catch the ball.  They aren’t doing either thing particularly well right now.  Ask Wheels.  He would be more than happy to enlighten you about the team’s recent struggles.  Holy God, they have lost six straight games……we can all infer that they are not playing that well. 

Cole Hamels acquired a three run lead because of shoddy defense from the Dodgers and managed to some of it back with shoddy defense from the Phillies.  He gave it the rest of the way back  when he walked random hero Elian Herrera and allowed James Loney, Tony Gwynn and that olympic volleyball star’s husband to single in runs and give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. 

Chad Qualls entered the game and with some help from some more crappy defense, managed to give up some more runs to make a one run lead a five run one.  One of the broadcasters said that this was the first four game sweep by the Dodgers in Philly since the 1940s.   In summation, Hamels didn’t win, no one really hit and the Dodgers, utilizing a line-up full of dudes that no one has heard of, swept the Phillies.  Also Don Mattingly has a chin that looks like a butt.

The moment that everything seemed to turn to crap for the Phillies was when Ty Wigginton made back to back errors in the top of the fourth inning.  It is pretty easy to bitch and complain about Placido Polanco’s lack of power, but he would have caught these two balls.  Hamels was cruising up to this point and he can all point at Ty and blame him…..I know I am.

The most attractive play in this one came from the Phanatic.  As far as baseball plays go, this one was pretty difficult to find anything remotely near attractive, but the Phanatic’s carefree four wheeler jaunts are always easy on the eyes.  I would like it more if he killed Andre Ethier, but I suppose you can’t have everything.

The hero of the game for the Phillies was Joe Savery.  He wasn’t terrible in two innings of relief.

The villain of the game was Ty Wigginton.  See above.

The Phillies has been bad at home so hopefully some time playing American league teams on the road will help.  Tomorrow they play the first place Orioles.  Joe Blanton gets the opportunity to give up home runs to Adam Jones. 

We have gotten too used to this over the years. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

The Phillies can’t score runs, but they sure can pitch….right?  The Phillies offense managed to score thirteen runs and handed Roy Halladay a six run lead.  This is a slam dunk right?  It seems like a recipe for success.  The broadcast team even went over Roy’s career winning percentage when being handed anything over a 4-0 lead.  He was perfect.  He had never lost.  Sure thing?

The offense did a really nice job working the count against Tommy Hanson.  They had him out of the game  after 3 2/3 innings after allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks.  Based on what we have come to expect from Halladay and Hanson, this was supposed to be a pitchers duel.  It wasn’t.

Halladay strode to the mound in the fifth inning with a 6-0 lead and we all had a feeling that this one would be an easy win.   (more…)