After being away from my house for a few days, I’m finally back being able to watch the Phillies from my own home.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology like Twitter and the MLB At-Bat app for iPhone, as well as the good old newspaper, I’ve been able to keep up with the team while I’ve been away.
Now, how about them Fightins? The team heads into the all star break on a 9-1 clip. That’s a hell of a lot better than that awful homestand they had a few weeks back. Remember that? I’m sure most of you do, but they did the same thing last season. Bad week in late June, turned it around in July and continued to improve through the end of the season.
Since it’s the break for the All-Star game, it’s a perfect time to catch up with the team and point out a few things that I’ve noticed about this team so far this season.
How good has Ryan Howard looked so far? Not necessarily at the plate, which he’s doing his usual damage, but in the field. All the pre-season talk about his huge weight drop has obviously been true. RyHo looks slimmer than ever and has obviously improved his range at first base. He’s gotten to balls this season that he never could have come close to in the past. He’s also got 4 errors through the first half of ’09 after having 19 during last season. His improved defense has definitely helped this team numerous times over the first portion of the schedule and will most likely help a few other times in the 2nd half.
Do I even have to say how important to this lineup Raul Ibanez has been so far? The offense really struggled for a bit after Ribbie went on the disabled list. Ibanez has quickly become a fan favorite in Philly, quite possibly quicker than any other. He’s already got 22 HRs to start the season and he missed a few weeks. He’s been named to the All-Star game for the first time as a 37 year-old. That’s incredible. This signing has definitely paid off in the first half of the first season, let’s hope it lasts.
Shane Victorino has grown into one of the best outfielders in baseball. In winning the FInal Vote, he also showed that he has gotten the attention of fans around the league. Shane has been a spark plug for the Phillies numerous times during this season, and he’s definitely going to continue doing so.
One of the more interesting things about this season so far is the difference in how this team plays at home and on the road. The Phillies have the best road record in baseball at 26-15 but their home record is 22-23. That’s not supposed to happen. Teams are supposed to win in front of their own fans. Charlie Manuel has already called us out for being too soft so far, but that’s bullshit. The team just needs to get back to winning at home.
How bad has the National League East been so far this season? The Phillies had a 4-14 stretch and still never fell out of first place. The Marlins looked good early, and are hanging around now, but I just don’t think their young team can stay in the hunt. The New York Mets are just falling apart. They’ve been decimated by injuries and have pretty much dropped out of the race completely. The Phillies should be running away with the division right now, but their struggles at home and that terrible stretch kept them close to the pack.
Overall, with the Phillies in first place at the All Star break, it looks good for them in the second half. With Ibanez coming back, hopefully the offense keeps their recent streak going and the Phillies start to pull away. The sooner they put this division away, the sooner they can start to prepare for the postseason.
-KK
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