 08/22/2003 6:11 PM ET
Phils notes: Still holding on
Phillies lead Wild Card despite 0-3 start to road trip
ST. LOUIS -- The good news for the Phillies as they limp to St. Louis, if you believe in that sort of thing, is that the Marlins stumbled out of Colorado.
Just before embarking on their 13-day, four-city trek, Mike Lieberthal said the trip would test the team's mettle. He also said it would be considered a success should the Phillies return in a similar or better position than when they left.
"It's an important road trip," he said. "We will have a better idea of where we are."
Where they are hasn't changed, despite losses in the first three games of this odyssey. The Marlins are still a half-game back in the Phillies' rear-view mirror, thanks to a drubbing handed to them by the Rockies. The Diamondbacks also still lurk 2 1/2 games back after taking two of three from the Reds.
Granted, the Phillies missed a chance to put distance in the National League Wild Card race, but their competition also failed to capitalize.
"If somebody told me we'd be where we are (considering how the Phillies have played), I'd be doing cartwheels right now," said manager Larry Bowa.
The road only gets tougher, as Philadelphia's next two opponents haven't given up on their postseason aspirations. The Cardinals are more alive in the three-team NL Central race while the Expos aren't too far behind the Phillies in the NL East or the Wild Card. St. Louis and Montreal are 3 1/2 and four games back, respectively.
Against St. Louis, the Phillies will try to forget some of the most glaring negative statistics from the Miller Park horror show:
The Phillies were outscored, 21-7, and never led against the NL's second-worst team. Worse, they were only tied for all of one inning, not including when they tied the score in the top of an inning, only to fall behind in the bottom half.
The Phillies went 3-for-24 with runners in scoring position and left 30 men on base.
Over a two-inning stretch on Thursday, the Phillies had five consecutive men reach base but failed to score.
Yeah, it was that bad.
"We had 30 men left on base, and one home run in a home run park," said Bowa after Thursday's loss. "That's been the story of our offense all year. Our hitting with men on base is ridiculous. You can't win scoring three runs in two games. I don't care if you're playing in Williamsport, Penn. (home of the Little League World Series), you're not going to win.
"We go three games where we swing well, then we'll go five, six or seven where we don't."
The Phillies' disturbing lack of production came against a team with an ERA of 5.01, though it continued the team's trend of not playing well against NL teams with losing records. They are 17-19 in that department.
Not helping matters is the fact that the Cardinals are seeking revenge for having been swept during Scott Rolen's "love fest" last weekend at Veterans Stadium. The Phillies also swept St. Louis in their last visit to Busch on Aug. 23-25 of 2002.
Bowa wore out the phrase "sense of urgency" on Thursday.
"When you're in this position, there's no mercy," said Bowa. "You kill 'em, you kick 'em and when they try to get up, you kick 'em again. You don't stick out your hand and help 'em."
While many players disputed this claim, Bowa said it's a matter of experience. Despite making a run in 2001, the Phillies core is still young, and Bowa is counting on the veterans brought in to show the way.
"We can tell them (the young players), but it's a mindset," he said. "Until you've been through it, you have no idea. (Jim) Thome has the playoff experience and (Kevin) Millwood for sure."
Vintage Thome: Several Phillies thoroughly enjoyed a video playing in the clubhouse before Friday's game. It was one of those baseball narratives from the early 1990s where Major Leaguers offer tips and experiences on playing a certain position, complete with highlights.
Jim Thome / 1B
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The narrator of this particular video was Jim Thome, back when he manned third base for the Cleveland Indians. By most estimates, Thome' hairstyle and roughly 80 fewer pounds placed the footage around 1991.
"Twenty one," Thome yelled in response to questions regarding how old he was. He strolled in just as the video had gathered its largest audience.
Philling In: Bowa said he would be more selective with using Turk Wendell from now on, as the reliever has hit a bit of a skid. Coming off 2002 elbow surgery, Wendell has has given up seven runs in his past 2 1/3 innings and allowed home runs in three consecutive appearances. ... Bobby Abreu, who came up limping after getting thrown out at the plate on Thursday, was covered in ice again on Friday. He still started in right field. ... The Phillies will play another Sunday Night Game on ESPN on Sept. 7 against the Mets at Veterans Stadium. It will be the Phillies' third Sunday night game this season. ... Pat Burrell homered Friday for his 100th career home run.
Minor news: The Clearwater Phillies are scheduled to play their final regular season game at Jack Russell Stadium on Saturday night. Next year they play in a new stadium next to the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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