View From the Left Coast by a Lefty: So you say it's All Star time

Its been announced that the Phils have 3 all stars... Chooch, Hollywood, and Pap. Congrats to all three, it's hard to be recognized when you play on a JV team with others dragging you down. Is it just me or does this season seem to be whizzing by because we have nothing to cheer about? It seems like I just wrote about all the possibilities coming out of spring training and am now disgusted almost beyond words.

Are you all as disgusted as I am? Is this why DGirl and Kornhole haven't written jack? (I know better on half of it, but had to lol). I'd like to know why, after this 5-6 year run, does it seem like the only players giving 110% every game are the above named 3, along with Utley? When I played I only knew one way, balls to the wall, like them. Too bad this is what got Chase into his current situation. If I was 33 again(sigh) and were in his boat I'd prolly do the same thing he's doing, but at the same time be thankful for all I've had including the ring. After his first series in rehab Howard is 5-8, albeit as a Blue Claw but still. I seriously am hoping Doc gets right soon, giving us another player giving 110%. The rest... bah humbug.

Remember me saying if I had 2 weeks I could fix Howard's swing and help Cliff Lee get the killer pickoff move? Howard's not the problem, Lee needs a shrink... or someone to convince him to forget about the first 3 months entirely. I'm sure given the time and film, I could find out where he's fucking up, if even it's only on 8-10 pitches a game and losing concentration. Would $120MIL in your pocket tell you "fuck concentration?" I'm sure some of you will say so. I think it's something else, but can't put my finger on it. But I'll tell you this, Rich Dubee *SHOULD* be able to do that. The last quote I heard from him about Lee was something to the effect of "that's not your concern" to the interviewer. Yet, he still continues to do  jack shit to try and fix Lee. How the fuck can someone forget how to pitch, something they did their whole life?

This is my last rant on the coaching staff. Charlie has seen better days. His guessing games do not work anymore with the talent in the dugout. I think Dubee believed the hype last year that all he need to do to manage the pitching staff was to lay in his recliner and let the "Aces" sort it out and still hasn't made it out of his LazyBoy. Samuel and Perlozzo suck ass as base coaches, and have cost us at least 5 games. Go get Davey Lopes back at any cost! We've lost all our aggressiveness and leading the league in SB percentage. Damn I'm never gonna get to sleep tonight.

This started out as an all star piece, let's give props. Chooch is a no brainer, MVP type and leading MLB in batting avg by far. Why are people voting for Posey? SMH. Hollywood... 10-4 but should be 13-2 or 14-1. No support mostly but another no brainer. Pap... 19 of 20 saves for a JV team, hardly getting any opportunities. I'll save my closer rant for another time because I believe like several prominent writers that the save stat should be changed. Read a ton last week about it and it intrigued me.

So okay Bunters, where do you stand... on anything? I am having difficulty this season finding much to be pleased or happy about. Do any of you out there have any opinions at all? If so, email the Wriz, and maybe you too can grab a spot start. Hell, can't be any worse than things are right now. Let's get Bunted!

Bill S aka/netfather

Disgusted

View from the Left Coast by a Lefty: Disgusted

Just finished watching Cliff not get a win in his 11th start. I'm almost beside myself, but now my anger goes in a different direction. There was no excuse for the Phils to not win that game. He should have come out after the first batter top 8. So now the question is who's fucking fault is it... Chollie's or Dubee's? I assume Chollie has the last say but don't know for sure. I also said last time I'd speak up on pitching. Well now is the time.

Who (beside me) predicted Blanton would come back and actually resemble the guy we traded for? Who (NOT ME) ever thought Doc would get hurt? *Nobody* could have predicted Cliff Lee winless on 6/15. I think Vanimal has held up his end as well. KK? Basically same old up/down and can't win at home. Hollywood has been the only dependable piece. This pretty much equates to their record of 31-36. Even though DB29 got a late start, in preseason he did predict the Phils to be 41-46 at the All Star break. But he also predicted Utley and Howard coming back and in Sept after jelling they make a charge and win the division for a 6th straight year. I wish, but can't see it.

Guess which 2 can't coach

So where does the problem(s) lie? Right now I blame the coaching staff, who this year have actually had to make decisions that affect games. I blame, in order, 1) Unca Chollie because he can't rely on past performances to get the job done. 2) Rich Dubee... if you are advising Unc on pitching changes it looks like you don't have a clue on what you're roster pitchers can actually do. 3) Base coaches... mostly Juan Samuel who has cost them single handedly 3 games sending runners home and also Sam Perlozzo, who is definitely no Davey Lopes, no help to runners trying to steal, and just standing there at 1B with his thumb up his ass getting runners into scoring position. Right now this team is just sad, deserving of their position in the NL East.

 Are we having fun yet? I'm fucking not. I'm having enough trouble sleeping at night without a 31-36 team invading my personal time with no answer in sight. You guys may have laughed when I said previously that I would take 2 weeks and teach Howard how to hit again like he did 5 years ago, and offered to Lee and Hamels to teach them the Carlton pickoff move. Well now I add to this teaching Dubee how to use his pen, because Qualls AIN'T NO 8TH INNING GUY, he should be released. And then again, who the hell is actually in the pen now? Where do I get the idea I know what to do? I only played baseball for 25 years. Was all state as pitcher and outfielder in same season in NJ. I had the most excellent coaches my entire life, learning the fundamentals every player should know. But does it really matter my qualifications, when all of you are thinking the same thing? FML.

Thankfully a neighbor just came back from Mexico, and brought me a bottle of Centenario  and we're doing tequila shots. This stuff makes Patron taste like shit, and is only $5 for a 750ml. You East Coast people can pay outrageous amounts, and I don't apologize for it lol. Maybe after a bottle or two I can come up with a better solution, but right now I swear the Phillies should hire me.

So to quote CJ and Wriz, let's get bunted... and here's to Utley, Howard, and Nix coming off the DL and continuing what they did today.

--Netfather