Road To 10,000 Losses: You Lose Some, You Lose Some

Road to 10,000 Losses is a countdown to the Phillies’ 10,000th loss, coming sometime later this year. With a 5-2 loss to the Braves last night, the Phillies stand at 9969 losses, only 31 away from 10,000.

“5-2 final, Atlanta. Goodnight everyone.”

After Harry Kalas ended the Phillies broadcast last night, Post Game Live began. The Phillies fell to 11-14 on the season, dropping to 0-4 against division rival Atlanta Braves. The Braves only need seven more wins to take the season series. I think the Phillies might as well concede it.

I don’t really know why I’m using this line now. When the Braves sweep the series, the more appropriate line will be, “The Braves only need five more wins to take the season series.” It seems odd that by May 2 I could be saying that.

Yes, right. This is the negative Philadelphia fan stereotype. Loving to boo. Having a negative attitude. Blah blah blah. Whatever. This has nothing to do with a stereotype. The Phillies are just a bad franchise. Just like K-Mart is never going to sell Waterford crystal, the Phillies are never going to win the World Series again anytime soon. Not with this ownership. Not with this team.

When Post Game Live started, Phil Andrews opened the broadcast with this: “I know you kind of had the feeling things were going to end the way they did, didn’t you?” The way things ended was Andruw Jones hitting a 3-run bomb to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning off Antonio Alfonseca.

This really wasn’t a game the Phillies deserved to win, however, and if they do happen to win the next two, they’ll be 13-14 and winners of four straight series — plus a victory over Houston. The Phils ran into Tim Hudson, and he was on, and they couldn’t hit him. The Phils were in it because Jon Lieber matched Hudson for seven innings. It’s, in some ways, encouraging.

But, still, I don’t think they’re going to win the series. I already said I think they’re going to be swept. I’m not trying to be negative. I actually believe the Phillies are going to lose the next two games. Why? Well, for one, I think the Braves are better and the Phillies are just okay, especially if Ryan Howard keeps hitting .221. (He did have an RBI tonight.)

But, also, the Phillies always lose. They don’t always have a bad record. This decade, their record has always been pretty good. But the do just enough to finish second. ” I read once that Connie Mack once said you should do well enough for second, just to keep ‘em coming back. But, then again, Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics won eight pennants and four World Series. The Phillies have won only five pennants and one World Series.

Last night, the Phillies lost a game in another new fashion for this season: A fastball right down the center of the plate sent 400 feet the other way for a homer. They’ll find many more ways to lose this season. They’re the Phillies. And, yes, they’re inching closer and closer to 10,000. A fitting milestone, I must say.

That doesn’t mean I won’t watch. Last night, new announcer Gary Matthews was watching a replay and described Antonio Alfonseca’s dive for a ball as “slow motion kinda.” Since it was, of course, a slow motion replay. With entertainment like that, of course you have to watch.