2004 MLB Showdown Strategy #S21 Think Again

Mets 5, Phillies 0

Game 45 - Wednesday Night, May 26th in New York

When the Phillies went through offensive droughts during the Larry Bowa era, the fiery manager would wear his emotions on his sleeve. And you had a feeling that after a game like this one, the latest in a painfully dull string of losses, Bowa would have entered the clubhouse, overturned the post-game buffet table and started screaming at Marlon Anderson and Travis Lee and Scott Rolen.

But this is the Charlie Manuel era. The team has won three divisions titles in a row and a World Championship. Manuel looks frustrated in the dugout, but his quiet confidence and unflappable optimism have kept the team afloat during similar stretches like this in the past. It's only a matter of time before they collectively bust out of this "mix-up," as Manuel calls it, and put a Major League whoopin' on the poor pitcher who happens to be on the mound the night they figure it all out. Here's hoping they bust out tomorrow night and Mike Pelfrey's ERA goes up a couple of runs.

And I strongly dislike Rod Barajas.

Depressing Tweet of the Night: From Todd Zolecki, "The Phillies have not scored a run in a combined 28 innings against the last 4 starting pitchers they've faced." He went on to point out the Phillies are now scoreless in 35 of their last 36 innings.