Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies Need to Wake Up! What the FUNK?

I'm sitting here on a Monday morning wondering where it all went wrong.  When did this once promising season turn into fool's gold?

How in the world does the team with the second most runs scored in the NL seem to put up minuscule numbers more often than not?

The Phillies also have a run differential of +75, once again second best in the NL, yet they are only seven games over .500 and are tied in the loss column with  the division rival Mets and Marlins.  What in the world is going on here?

Well, as Charlie Manuel so eloquently put it in a post-game tirade yesterday, "Our situational hitting is absolutely terrible," he said. "Absolutely off the chart, really."

I can't argue with him in the least.  This team scores in bunches and then doesn't score in bunches.

Once again, the Phillies wasted a superb effort by Cole Hamels, who gave up two runs in eight innings, while the Phillies bats came up empty time after time, mustering just two runs of their own.

Since June 13, when the Phillies beat the Cardinals 20-1, they have been held to two or fewer runs an amazing 11 times.

Eleven.  That's unreal.

Everyone wants to focus on their pitching.  They are whining about Eaton and Myers and Kendrick and Gordon, and even complaining about the Blanton trade, who hasn't even pitched in a Phillies uniform yet.

But if you are truly watching this team day in and day out, then you know they are not losing because of their pitching. 

I mean seriously, the pitching they are getting is more than okay.  Only the Cubs, Dodgers, and Braves have a better team ERA than the Phillies do, which is 3.93.  Are you telling me this offense can't score four runs a game?  Come on.

Howard, Burrell and Utley are all on pace to hit 40 homers, which incidentally has never happened before. But maybe that's precisely the problem.  Are they just a long-ball oriented team and can't, as Charlie says, hit in certain situations? 

If we look deep enough, the root of the problem is Jimmy Rollins.  No one wants to talk about it because he's the reigning MVP, great fielder, great guy, was on the DL early in the season..etc, but its late July now and this guy is just not getting it done. 

That's right, Jimmy; I'm calling you out. 

I'm putting it on you. You lead off, you set the table, and frankly right now, you stink.  You have Shane Victorino stats, and we certainly don't need two of you in the lineup.

Yes, congrats on stealing 25 bases this year without being caught, we are all really impressed, but you're only hitting .271 with six homers. 

Looking back at your pre-All Star break numbers in 2007, you had 16 homers were hitting hitting 15 points higher and scored twice as many runs.  Yes, twice.

You are stealing more bases this season; once again, congrats.

Look Jimmy, we love you, we want to love you and we're sitting and waiting for you to break out.  Well guess what, you're in luck.  Cause starting tomorrow you open a three-game set in New York.

That's right, they love you there and maybe a few boos will wake you up.  I wanna see a triple, I wanna see you tap your hips after a big hit, I wanna see you get fired up...you listening, Jimmy? Bring it...bring it NOW, before that team in New York starts rolling.