The Phillies' five game winning streak came to an end on Thursday with a 4-2 loss against the Nationals. This dropped the Phillies record to 5-1 since their tide-turning team meeting, 4-1 since I took a Phillies posting break (because they were winning every time I didn't post), and 3-1 since I received my retro Phillies mousepad in the mail. Though I don't know for sure if my posting hiatus was beneficial to the Phillies' fortunes, I sure as New York wasn't about to take any chances. But, like Bruce Ruffin's career, all good things must come to an end.It was a strange end, however, with Cole Hamels pitching ineffectively, and picking up a loss. This kind of thing doesn't happen too often. It almost seems like the whole thing was a hoax. (I will have to see if Gary Thorne has an inside information on this.) But even the great Walter Johnson had 279 losses, many of which also came in Washington. Cole won't likely finish his career with anywhere near 279 losses, and with a least a hundred more than The Big Train's measly 417 wins, but Johnson's dominance approximates Cole's superiority over the planet's batters. Thirty years from now, in his speech at Cooperstown, Cole may reference this start as the last day game he ever lost. It's not likely we'll see another Hamels loss any time soon. We'll probably see Abe Nunez make an offensive contribution before that happens.
The Phillies' streak has already been tracked ably by brilliant Phillies bloggers with cool names like Carson and Skeeter, so I won't review the Phils' success game by game. It's good that the blogosphere chronicled the Phillies' success because the city of Philadelphia, as well as the entire sports world, was enthralled by all of the the hoopla surrounding the Philadelphia Kixx' Championship Celebration Tour. (The White House visit was cool. Peter Pappas running up the steps, Rocky style, with the 2007 MISL Championship trophy in his gloved hands was historic. But the Grand Canyon visit, with stocky Shawn Boney riding a mule, was my favorite part. Still waiting for that YouTube clip...)
To summarize, the Phillies' excellence was fueled by strong starting pitching, and a lineup where every starter who didn't win the NL MVP last year is batting above .270. Chase Utley has heated up, Jimmy Rollins has stayed heated, and Pat Burrell has a .333 batting average, to go with his incredible .469 on base %. Aaron Rowand has a 14 game hitting streak, has hit with power, and hasn't physically injured himself or any teammates. (He also hasn't caused any structural damage to any NL ballparks. Yet.) The Phillies came from behind in their streak, hit with RISP, and kept the damage that accompanies any Matt Smith appearance to a minimum. With Smith dispatched to Ottawa, in favor of Fabio Castro, the Phils have a good chance to start a new winning streak against the Marlins this weekend.
One incident that I haven't seen referenced on any blog occurred on Wednesday night. On the Phillies' broadcast, they showed a Phillies usher, repeatedly. He was having quite a bit of difficulty installing his poncho. Considering that he had the wind and rain to contend with, and was likely distracted by the presence of the 2007 MISL Champion Philadelphia Kixx Dance Team AND the Phillies Ballgirls, who wouldn't have had difficulty? He also had to be on the lookout for any whackos who might be looking to forcibly remove Rod Barajas from the lineup. Quite a bit on his plate at the same time. Yet the cameras kept focusing on him.
It was actually a little bit painful. It would be kind of like taking a former ballplayer, who has difficulties with things like pronunciation and remembering what he said .48 seconds ago, and sticking him in the broadcast booth for all to see and hear. For a short while, you enjoy the schadenfreude. Then, you want to help, but there is nothing you can do. Soon thereafter, you are ready to carve out your eyeballs and slice off your ears with a pizza cutter, because you can't stand watching or listening anymore. Perhaps I'll listen to tonight's victory over the Marlins on mute.
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