These guys all actually scored runs. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

There was a time when the Phillies could erase a early deficit by socking a bunch of dingers and demoralizing the other team’s pitcher.  The lead off guy hit thirty homers one year for Christ’s sake.  This year, there will be a lot of Juan Pierre.  No one is scared.  One run leads seem to be insurmountable and the offense has been rendered listless by the like of Eric Bedard and R.A. Dickey.

After Cole Hamels surrendered a first inning home run to Ike Davis, it looked like the offense was going to fail miserably in producing anything against Mike Pelfrey.  Pelfrey is terrible.  He allowed ten base-runners in his six innings of work and was constantly forced to work out of trouble.  The surprising part about today’s game was that Pelfrey actually did work out of trouble.  We are used to Pelfrey melting down and getting the living hell pounded out of him.  (more…)