Monday, July 9, 2012

1997 Metal Universe #201 Gregg Jefferies

Braves 4, Phillies 3
Game 87 - Sunday Afternoon, July 8th in Philadelphia
Record - 37-50, 5th Place, 14 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies were swept by the Braves to end the first half of their dreadful 2012 season.

What It Means:  The team will limp into the All-Star break with their worst first half record since they went 24-61 in 1997.  They'll try to regroup and get things going in the right direction on Friday in Denver.

What Went Wrong:  Jason Pridie was a late insertion into the line-up after Shane Victorino was mysteriously benched just prior to the game.  (Victorino wasn't traded.  Manager Charlie Manuel apparently just thought the slumping Victorino needed a break.)  Pridie's two-run home run in the second and his RBI-double in the fourth were the extent of the Phillies scoring.  Carlos Ruiz added two more hits to raise his average to .350.

Vance Worley had a decent performance, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five.  Reliever Raul Valdes was victimized by Brian McCann, surrendering McCann's go-ahead solo home run in the seventh.

Featured Card:  During the next few months, I envision the 2012 Phillies team collectively trying to out-run the horrendous start to its night-marish season, much like Gregg Jefferies is trying desperately to escape the smoking dungeon of horrors lurking behind him on this baseball card.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe because it was 1997 and I was going though the paces (much like the Phillies were that year), but I never really took note of the background on Jefferies card. This has to be one of the best integrations of design and photo ever in a Metal Universe set.

Jim from Downingtown said...

Just when you thought the current team (excluding the 3 all-stars) couldn't possibly give LESS effort in a game, along comes Victorino, expending so little effort that he can't manage to be available for a game (a game right before a 4-day break)!

(Disgraceful waste of talent by almost everyone this season)

If Manuel isn't fired during the all-star break, I'm done with the team this year.

(It's not the losing, it's the lack of effort and accountability by the players, and Manuel's acceptance of this carefree attitude by the players. He's ineffective, and by keeping him, Montgomery is accepting the status quo. If Monty's too cheap to eat Manuel's contract AND hire a qualified manager, then send Amaro down there to the dugout for a first-hand look-see (a la Paul Owens).

Jim said...

So how do you really feel about Charlie Manuel?

; )

Jim from Downingtown said...

I think the Braves, Mets, Nationals, or Marlins should hire him. :D