The Fan Hub

Coming into the 2012 season, the Philadelphia Phillies figured that if they could just remain competitive until Chase Utley and Ryan Howard returned then they would have a chance at a sixth straight NL East crown. But with the injury list growing longer and Utley and Howard nowhere near returning (they’re both still just DHing in extended spring training games), it’s looking more and more like a lost season for the Phils.

This weekend did nothing to alleviate those concerns either, as Philly lost two out of three to the Orioles and have now dropped eight of their last nine. More than that though, they’re seemingly finding different ways to lose at every turn. Shaky defense, a stop-and-start offense, and a combustible bullpen led to the embarrassing results over the past week and a half, and have sent the Phillies to a season-worst four games below .500 and now eight games behind the first place Nationals.

Yet while the injuries have played a huge role in the team’s downward spiral, the regulars — save for a few — haven’t exactly been performing up to par. Cliff Lee has gotten dreadful run support this season and is still somehow without a win, but has blown leads in each of his past two starts, including a 4-1 lead on Sunday. Meanwhile, the spark plugs at the top of the order — Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino — are hitting a combined .246, making it tough for the middle of the lineup to drive in runs.

As Phil Sheridan of The Inquirer puts it, the Phillies’ problems go well beyond injuries. “It’s a bullpen full of minor-leaguers. It’s a lineup filled with mediocre players. It’s the remaining regulars slowly giving in as the season slips away. The real problem is … a bad baseball team.”