Straight from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies.com blog this morning:

“The Phillies rank 14th in the league in on-base percentage (.280), 15th in slugging percentage (.325) and 15th in runs per game average (2.85). If those averages look horrendous, they are. No National League team has finished a season with a worse on-base percentage since the 1965 Mets (.277); a worse slugging percentage since the 1968 Dodgers (.319), 1968 Astros (.317) and 1968 Mets (.315); or a worse runs per game average than the 1942 Phillies (2.61).”

The suckitude cannot worsen, right? At some point, even an anemic rehabilitates and becomes stronger… right???

Funny how things work in baseball. Just three years ago, the Phillies were widely regarded as having the best offense in the National League, behind only the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, maybe, in the majors.

Three years later, this is the worst lineup contructed since the Terry Francona era. Juan Pierre, John Mayberry Jr, Freddy Galvis (who will be a good player, but not this year), Placido Polanco are regulars.

Heck, does anyone in the lineup scare anyone? Or, how about this repharse: does anyone in the lineup excite or entertain anymone?

Rollins? Not anymore.
Polanco? Yeah, right…
Pierre? Don’t get me started.

Mayberry has been a disaster and looks absolutely lost at the plate. Chooch is what he is. He’s honestly the most popular Phillie right now, I’m convinced. Everybody loves the guy, but I don’t think the e-word when I think of Ruiz.

Maybe Shane Victorino, when he’s going real good. But he, like just about everyone else, has been nothing more than a singles hitter.

Honestly, the “watch” value of this club is at a low. I don’t think I’ve been this disinterested or disgusted since circa 2006, when the Abreus, Lieberthals and Liebers were clogging up roster spots.

On any given night, when I’m not working, I tend to pay more attention Nationals games or Mets games (best broadcast team in baseball), Tigers, Rays, Royals, etc. on MLB.TV than I do the Phils.

Sad.

A few hours before the Phillies routed the Nationals for a second straight game, the team announced the signing of Nelson Figueroa.

The Mets castoff is being brought on board as insurance. He’ll likely replace Andrew Carpenter as the long reliever until Joe Blanton returns from the disabled list, at which time Kyle Kendrick will probably take that spot in the bullpen.

Figueroa went 3-8 with a 4.09 ERA last season. He pitched in five spring training games for the Mets prior to his release.

He broke into the majors as a Phillie in 2001, posting a 4-5 record with a 3.94 ERA in 19 games.

Phillies vs. Mets

8:05 p.m. at Citizen’s Bank Park

Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.64 ERA)

Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78 ERA)

The Phillies will look to take the series tonight behind Pedro Martinez in his second start against the old ball club. The teams will meet on ESPN’s Sunday Night baseball to close off a series that looked much better on paper four months ago.

Pedro’s other outing against the Mets could be considered his worst in a Philly uniform, giving up four runs on seven hits. It was his only start this season that he gave up multiple homers. He’s had a fine September, posting a 2.63 ERA in almost 14 innings so far. If he continues to pitch some of his better baseball there’s no doubt he’d be considered for a spot in a playoff (knock on wood) rotation.

The Mets’ probable tonight is Tim Redding. Definitely not the most solid starter, Redding has had his flashes of good and bad lately. His latest was a shaky start in Florida, although for the most part he’s looked decent lately. Jimmy Rollin’s has struggled against Redding, with a .158 average in 42 PA. Rollins getting on base has been a key to winning this season, so this will be the matchup to watch.

Brad Lidge did a great job using every cushion run the Phillies gave him this afternoon, meaning that we probably…hopefully…won’t see him tonight.

Fun Phact – Brad Lidge takes online courses at Regis University.

Phillies vs. Mets

1:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park

The Phillies will lean on Kyle Kendrick to chew some innings in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

John Maine (5-4, 4.52 ERA)

Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 5.06 ERA)

Kendrick, a key cog in the Phillies’ 2007 NL East-winning run, was exiled to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in  spring training, where he spent most of the season and compiled a 9-7 record with a 3.34 ERA in 24 starts. The right-hander was called up to the bigs a few times, but pitched out of the bullpen in long relief.

Kendrick won 21 games for the Phillies in 2007-08.

The Phils will need Kendrick to give a solid effort after Saturday night’s heartbreaking, 10-9 defeat.

John Maine makes his much-anticipated return to the Mets rotation. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined for more than three months due to a shoulder injury.

Maine has largely dominated the Phillies throughout his career. He is 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA in 56 2/3 innings.

… Or how the Phillies’ bullpen ruined my day. Either or.

I didn’t watch the game. Saturday was my cousin Christine’s wedding day, so I had to head out to beautiful Center City to take in the festivities. As I was leaving, the Phillies had got within two runs of a four-run deficit when Pedro Feliz homered off Mike Pelfrey.

My lifeblood, the T-Mobile G1, kept me updated on the game. Every two minutes, while my fiance is driving the car, I’m checking my phone…

Even on a family member’s Big Day, the Phillies take precedence. Nothing wrong with it…

The first time I loaded the generic, but very reliable SportsTap application was… oh, about 10 minutes into the ride. Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez homered during that span and the Phils had a 5-4 lead.

That lead grew to as many as four runs, 9-5, in the top of the eighth inning…

I kept keeping an eye on things, knowing that the Mets have fought hard against the Phils most of the season… Nothing was going to be easy.

Sure enough, Brett Myers comes in and proceeds to have his worst outing since returning from the disabled list.

9-6. 9-7. 9-8.

OK, Chan Ho Park came in at some point, and eventually got out of the inning.

The next time I check my phone, I see Ryan Howard makes an out with the bases loaded and two outs …

On to the ninth inning. It’s Ryan Madson clinging to a one-run lead.

(One-run leads in the ninth inning are beyond scary this year …)

I notice right away that Madson gets the first two guys out.

“Madson’s shutting the door,” I tell my brother.

“Dude,” he says, “… make Madson the closer until he blows one!”

Yeah, well,  good jinx there bro…

Maybe two minutes later, I learn that David Wright hit a two-run bomb to give the Mets the lead and eventual win.

A good win turned terrible loss. And, once again, the Phillies are left with more questions about the bullpen and, in particular, who the hell is the closer???

Oh well … at least I was able to drown in my sorrows at the open bar…

Phillies vs. Mets

4:05 PM at Citizens Bank Park

Moyer (12-9, 4.98 ERA) hopes to celebrate once again in 2009.

Jamie Moyer will take the mound tonight against the Mets for his first back to back start since August. After losing his rotation spot to Pedro Martinez, Moyer has been somewhat forgotten about sans a couple of rain delay fill ins. As J.A. Happ’s injury still lingers, listed as day-to-day, Moyer will get his second start this week.

Moyer looked good in Houston, only giving up two runs off three hits through six frames. It was vintage Jamie, something we haven’t seen much this season. He took the ND in the loss.

The Mets will throw righty Mike Pelfrey (10-10, 4.83 ERA), who threw eight great innings against the lackluster Cubbies last week. In that game he struck out five, giving up one earned on five hits. Pelfrey got the win in his last outing against the Phillies on August 21.

It’s still unknown when Phillies fans will get to see Lidge again. “We’re definitely going to get Lidge back out there,” Manuel said. “I want to just give him time to settle down from a mental state and (work on) his command.” (ESPN)

Fun Phact – Sometimes Mike Pelfrey pitches with a mouthpiece as he was hit with a ball in college.

Phillies 4, Mets 2

Friday, September 11th

Cole Hamels was sharp over 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out six, as the Phillies were triumphant in the opener of a four-game series against the Mets.

Hamels (9-9, 4.21 ERA) has been very good in his last four starts, going 3-1 with a 1.51 ERA since the Aug. 21.

The left-hander was backed by little run support, but managed to get by. The Phillies left 12 runners on base over six innings and were 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position… a problem that has been well-documented.

The offense let Nelson Figueroa off the hook, despite banging out nine hits off the veteran right-hander.

The Phillies’ bats didn’t rely on the long ball for run production. Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley each collected RBI hits. Utliladelphia ey’s knock was a double that gave the team a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning.

Carlos Ruiz added a sacrifice fly.

Shane Victorino, who had been struggling over the last several weeks, was 3-for-3 with three doubles and two walks.

Ryan Madson earned the save and is 3-for-3 as the Phillies’ new closer since Brad Lidge was removed from that role. Brett Myers worked a six-pitch eighth inning and has yet to allow a run in four appearances since being activated from the disabled list last week.

The Phillies recorded their 80th win of the season and, with a Marlins loss against Washington, extended their NL East lead to six games.

Player of the Game

Cole Hamles (6 2/3 IP, 6K)

Monday, August 24th

Phillies 6, Mets 2

Ryan Howard hit two mammoth home runs as the Phillies secured a series win over the Mets.

Howard blasted a three-run homer the opposite way off Bobby Parnell (3-6) in the first inning. He followed with a two-run bomb to the upper deck in right field to give the Phils a 5-2 lead.

Howard has four multi-homer games this season and 21 for his career.

Oh yeah, Cliff Lee pitched today, and he was stellar… again. Lee gave up two unearned runs in the first inning, proving to be the only true threat the Mets had all day. And, because of two errors on one play, the Mets didn’t even deserve those runs.

Chase Utley dropped a routine pop up off the bat of Angel Pagan and Pagan came all the way around to score when Utley’s throw to second base was off line.

Lee (12-9), who lasted seven innings,  improved to 5-0 with an 0.68 ERA in a Phillies uniform.  He has won eight consecutive starts dating to his time in Cleveland.

Raul Ibanez had two hits, including a run-scoring double.

Chan Ho Park and Brad Lidge shut the Mets down with spotless eigth and ninth innings, respectively.

Player of the Game

Ryan Howard (2 HRs, 5 RBI)

It’s not easy to say this.

Any other year, especially the previous two seasons, these words would never exit my mouth (or keyboard).

I’M SORRY, METS FANS.

Woo, that was tough.

Maybe Mets fans will have something to cheer about next season. Phillies fans are kind of counting on it...

This has been a horrific season for our hated New Yorkers. As a result, the fiery rivalry has been extinguished to a certain extent.

Sunday had to be one of the worst moments in Mets history. Well, it had to be one of the worst losses, right?

The Mets had all the momentum in the world. They battled back from a 6-0, first-inning deficit to get within two runs in the ninth inning.

Runners on first and second base. Nobody out. Eric Bruntlett, filling in for Chase Utley, misplayed two ground balls to give the Mets hope.

99 out of 100 times, Brad Lidge blows this save.

The Mets’ only mistake? They tried playing hit and run with nobody out. Not a bad idea, per se, but probably not the most ideal tactical move in that situation.

Jeff Francoeursmokes a line drive up the middle. It should have been a run-scoring hit, but because the runners were moving, Bruntlett went to cover second base. The ball caught him, in a way, and that allowed Bruntlett  to apply an easy, game-ending triple play.

This NEVER happens in baseball. In fact, an unassisted triple play to end a game had only happened ONCE during the modern era of baseball.

It was one of those lucky victories for the Phillies. As for the Mets… well, it was just another difficult loss in a season filled with them.

The Mets are in a sad state. Phillies fans can laugh, poke fun and take over Citi Field all we want. But, it’s like a big ol’ bully stealing lunch from a little, innocent first grader.

It’s not very cool.

I’ve said it many times: Let’s hope this season is an aberration for the Mets. Let’s hope, for the sake of this great rivalry, things turn for the better next year.

I want to see David Wright out there, making diving catches and coming up with clutch hits. I want to boo Jose Reyes for hitting a meaningless home run, trotting around the bases with his index finger pointing skyward. I want to see Johan Santana against Cliff Lee… when it matters the most.

I want to see Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino get under the skin of Mets fans so bad, the booing gets so loud, you can’t even hear their names  announced over the PA system.

I want to hear SOMEBODY from either team declare themselves the team to beat in 2010… no matter how incredibly dumb it is to say!

I want to hear “Let’s Go Mets!” chants drown out by “Let’s Go Phillies!” chants at Citizens Bank Park.

What I don’t want to see is fist fights in the stands. What happened on Saturday night is unforgivable.

Consider this my “Get Well Soon” card to the Mets and their fans.

Billy Wagner would rather play for a hapless  Mets team than for the World Series champions.

Good.

The Mets put the former closer on waivers, leading to speculation as to whether or not the Phillies would be interested in the former closer.

Billy Wagner... arguably the most hated former Phillies of all time.

Ol’ Billy Boy yapped about the topic to reporters on Friday…

“It’s hard to pitch in Philadelphia,” he said. “Plus, you’re coming back from Tommy John. It’s a little bit different.”

When asked if it’s “hard to pitch in Philadelphia” because of the ballpark or fans, Wagner answered:

“Both. I’m trying to work back.”

Wagner ran himself out of Philadelphia after the 2005 campaign, saying he wanted to play for a winner. While in New York, we all know what the Phillies have accomplished without him…