Philadelphia Phillies’ offence broke as Ryan Howard and Chase Utley battle injuries - MLB Update
While all teams in the National League East Division have something positive to take to the regular season, Philadelphia Phillies see their expectations lowered dramatically. Injury to Ryan Howard is nothing short of a pre-season nightmare and given the
promise he brings to the offence, he will be missed immensely.
His 864 RBIs and 286 home-runs are reflective of the loss his absence will wreak on the Phillies.
Worse aspect of their fate is that another player with expertise in the same area namely Chase Utley is sustaining injury. Thus, their offence has seriously been dampened as a result.
As regard to rotation, Phillies stand at par with other teams, but the kind of loophole visible so glaringly with an absence of reliable hitters is going to be exploited by opponents.
“You’ve got two of your big guys hurt, it’s going to shift the focus,” Phillies’ starter Roy Halladay said. “There are some tough circumstances missing those two guys, but nobody feels sorry for us, and we don’t feel sorry for ourselves.”
With Phillies sidelining on the imagination of experts, Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins have stepped up to claim the limelight. Experts point to powerful arms Nationals possess and cite star-studded roster that the Marlins posses as factors behind
higher ratings they are being awarded.
Even Atlanta Braves managed enough at the end of Spring Training that they will be entertaining better than expected performance in the season.
Phillies’ chances have sunk so deep that their players also understand an almost certain fate they are going to experience in the season.
“Nobody wants a season where you can decide the winner in spring training,” said Halladay.
Only hope left for Phillies is their pitchers. Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee are one of the most dependable active pitchers with incredible career records. However the fact, they can never be responsible more than they can be takes the matter beyond them.
They may throw their best from the mound, since the offence is going to let them down every now and then, even their normal performance will be affected.
Therefore Phillies will have to play out of their skin to thwart opponents and as this is possible only when the whole team is jelled together for single purpose, one will look forward to its happening in the season.
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