Well after four games, it might look like a good time to panic. I was lucky enough to make it to the home opener today, and lets just say that the Phillies offense, as it has been so far this season, was...lackluster.
The Fightins have scored only 8 runs through these first four games, but if you didn't expect some offensive struggles, well then you haven't been paying attention for the past few months.
It's much too early to freak out about the Phillies' bats. The offense will struggle, but they'll improve (they have to). What worries me the most, is the wily old guy who makes the on-field decisions.
Charlie Manuel's extremely suspect bullpen decisions seem to be what cost the Phils their last two games against the Pirates, and the ways he is constructing these lineups are questionable. If the Phillies had won either of those games, the loss today wouldn't sting quite as much.
The noticeable drop off in the run production can be attributed to one glaring issue: no one can hit for power. The Phillies have had the luxury of hitting homeruns on homeruns for years now and that luxury is clearly gone. Pence has the lone homer thus far.
A less glaring, but still apparent issue is the gang of guys who get the ball after the starters, but before Papelbon (who Charlie really hates giving the ball to. I think Ruben made Manuel give him the ball today). I really don't like David Herndon, I don't think anything good has ever happened with him on the mound.
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