If not now, when? Phillies need to do more than just 'think' about a team meeting

When the Philadelphia Phillies returned home on Tuesday, there was hope that playing in front of their fans in the usually friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park would re-ignite the team. It didn't turn out that way, at all.

Instead of shrugging off what has become an epically long slump, the Phillies looked more lost and uninspired than ever. Taijuan Walker's grind of a first inning probably didn't help, as the Philly boo birds came out early. But, while Walker held them in the game, allowing three runs over his four up-and-down innings, the bats pulled another disheartening vanishing act.

They lost 5-0, to the Miami Marlins. Yes, the 45-75 Marlins — that's how bad things have gotten.

If not now, when? Phillies need to do more than just 'think' about a team meeting

After the game, Phillies manager Rob Thomson revealed that perhaps he's finally starting to reach the end of his tether. The usually even-keeled and consistent bench boss finally admitted that changes might be needed. The lineup construction debate rages on, with a shake-up possibly coming soon (subscription required), per The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber.

The other interesting tidbit that came from Thomson's post-game presser was his response to a question about a team meeting.

“Yeah, I’ll think about it,” Thomson said. “I think about it all the time. There’s a time to do it. It depends on a lot of things. It depends on the attitude and where I think the guys’ minds are at, and I think overall, they’re very solid right now."

Thomson has better insight into the chemistry and inner workings of his team than anyone else. However, the Phillies appear to be anything but solid right now. He should be doing more than just thinking about a team meeting.

Looking in from the outside, it's hard to remain calm and patient, having no control over the outcome on the field. The body language on Tuesday was that of a dejected team that looks like it will never win another game this season.

Okay, that won't happen. They'll win again. But they need to start winning on a regular basis, not once every four or five games. Teams have held team meetings for lesser struggles than what the Phillies are going through right now.

They've lost four in a row, 11 of their last 15, and are 7-16 since the All-Star break. They have some glaring problems staring them in the face that they need to improve on in a hurry.

It's bleak.

If now isn't the time to hold a closed-door team meeting, when is?

Thomson has already watched his one-time juggernaut of a team fritter away a lead as the top National League division leader, with the Los Angeles Dodgers passing them. Their lead in the NL East is down to 6.0 games. The Phillies' only saving grace is that the Atlanta Braves have been nearly as bad.

This is a Phillies squad that is too talented to play this horribly the rest of the season, but the longer it goes on, the more doubts will be raised. Something needs to jolt them out of this funk, and it needs to happen soon.