I know the Phillies won last night and they’re in first place in the National League East, but the offense has struggled a bit of late.
Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin believes weather is to blame for the Phillies poor offensive production to start the season.
“We know we are going to do a lot better than we have been for the last week or so, the weather is going to warm up, it’s just a matter of time” Mackanin told Phillies play by play man Tom McCarthy during an in game interview.
Pete is right; it is only a matter of time before the weather warms up. He is wrong for using cold weather as an excuse for poor offense, especially when the Phillies are playing in San Diego.
Mackanin may not be aware of this, but play-off games are played in October. October historically has been a chilly month in Philadelphia. If the Phillies cannot hit in the cold, which is what Mackanin is implying, then the odds look pretty bleak for the Phillies to reach their third World Series in four years.
Despite Mackanin a well established Major League Baseball bench coach he is dead wrong about weather being the reason for the Phillies poor offensive production.
Phillies lose 7-1 to the New York Mets the high in Philadelphia that day was 76 degrees.
Phillies lose 6-3 in Atlanta to the Braves the High in Atlanta that day was 78 degrees.
Phillies lose 7-4 in Washington to the Nationals the high in DC that day was 83 degrees.
Phillies lose 4-3 to the Florida Marlins the high in Philly that day was 56 degrees.
Phillies lose 6-3 to the Brewers the high in Philly that day was 63 degrees.
Get the point?
The lowest “high” temperature the day of a Phillies loss was 56 degrees, if this team cannot overcome 56 degree weather, then they do not deserve to win another World Series.
I know what folks are going to say, “The weather gets colder as the game goes on!” Yes, that is true. In the Phillies first lost against New York Mets the temperature dropped as low as a frigid 49 degrees during the game, but if weather equals poor hitting how did the Mets get 7 runs in the 49 degree weather?
Could Mackanin be implying the New York Mets are mentally tougher than the Phillies?
Weather wasn’t the only excuse Mackanin used, when referring to the struggles of Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins 1 RBI on the season, Mackanin claimed Jimmy was putting too much pressure on himself.
Rollins is the most clutch Phillie of the past decade, how could anyone think the “pressures” of April baseball is the reason Rollins only has 1 RBI.
The point is this, do not bother doing an in game interview if it does not educate the viewer. Thanks to Eagles head coach Andy Reid, Philadelphia sports fans have their masters degree in cliché answers from coaches, they know “BS” when they hear it. Pressure and weather are not acceptable excuses for poor play. The fans don’t want excuses they want results.
This about the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard from a team official..
Sounds like the team is trying to tamper expecatiations. This is the Highest Paid team in the NL and loaded with Veteran Players who have been playing baseball their whole lives and you are going to say they can’t hit well in the colder weather… What a bunch of malarky, McKaninin should be fired for this dumb-ass comment .. They are not hitting well for a couple of reasons
#1) They are facing better Pitching than they did playing vs Astros,Mets & Nats
#2) Too many batters are not disciplined enough at the plate
I stated going into this Season that I was re-naming this Batting line-up to
“Phillie Lite” and almost 20 games into the season, I am standing by it..
I agree with one thing you stated — that excuse is lame.
However, they do this every year at one point or another. At least they’re actually scoring runs.
Better pitching? Who have they faced that is head and shoulders above the pitchers for the Astros, Mets, Nats?
“Phillie Lite” is currently 10th in MLB in hits and runs, 11th in OBP, and 6th in batting avg. All without their best player and their slugger in a slump.
If this is “Phillie Lite” — I’d be content with “Phillie-rexic”.
Ok…a bench coach for the Phills knows less about why his hitters are struggling a bit then you.And wtf do you want him to say? He said Jrolls pressing himself some and theres other reasons hes not gonna talk about to us. He assumes we’re knowledgable and understand that.
Bird…your attitude is win sir.
Paul…I saw some discipline last night. But like Sarge said sometimes you hit a goodone and it goes right into the glove of the other team. Deal with it and press on.
Jerry…Paul….It’s early and the squad is playing without one of its stud hitters. They’re gonna continue to have good outings with 4 outta 5 pitchers weekly.
in other words…relax
Wait, are the phillies 6-12 or 12-6???
stop, the later. And Paul is 0 for (BOOOOOO I can’t find a way to type an infinity symbol)
erock, paul is relaxed, but in the words of many here, not my language, he’s a “hater”, wants the phils to fail so he can be a big man here with his predictions, birdo and others, myself included, we are fans, we went to the games when we where young, many with our fathers, some of us have taken our children to the games, listened late at night at times to the reassuring voices of harry and richie, we lived through the bad times, celebrated a championship, but all the while we remained fans, and the phillies, unlike other organizations in this town , have rewarded the fans for their loylalty, but this clown paul, he doesn’t get it, maybe because he is in boonville, unconnected to the pulse, but who cares, he will spew at the slightest hint of trouble for the phils and the high expectations, but in the end we will celebrate from the inside looking out while paulman cries from the outside looking in
Checking on Chase Utley’s stats for his last 2 seasons and 1000 At Bats or so nd they are not all that great… A.280 Hitting Average, 23 HR and 80 RBI average over the last 2 years…Good solid #’s but not All-Star or great #’s by any stretch..
His Production between 2005-2008 Seasons were great when he was healthy and in his prime. He averaged a .306 Batting and almost 30 HR’s and 100 RBI’s, Those days and numbers are in the rear-view mirror and with his Hip/Knee problems, will be diffcult to attain and he will struggle to even play 140-150 games a season anymore.. It’s a shame, but it is what it is..
Paulman why you hating on Utley? Other than him being hurt, you cant blame him for the poor O this season…
I don’t hate on the guy, it’s just that he’s overrated and no one ever calls him out on anything and I think he’s gotten a free pass his entire time in Philly .. and I am talking about over the last 18 months, not this season when he isn’t even playing and injured, though he should have gotten his knee checked out in the offseason and not wait until March Spring camp
to find out that it’s sore but that’s another story…
Someone stated earlier that he’s the Phils best player and I beg to differ, based on his production over the last 2 Seasons..
Did you or any one of the commenters actually see the in-game interview? Probably not. If you did, you are oblivious to tongue-in-cheek comments.
If you saw the short piece you would realize that the coach was not actually blaming the weather. A sane person knows you can’t weather as a cause for hitting or not hitting.
You guys need to lighten up.
The Phillies have struck out the FEWEST timimes in the NL! Not a sign that a team is not disciplined at the plate. (2) To date we have 1 RBI out of the number 3 hitter! You don’t think we miss Utley?