Why the Phillies' next seven games are crucial

It’s not time to push the panic button on this 2014 Phillies season.

But depending on how the team fares over its next seven games, it soon could be.

After the next seven at Citizens Bank Park, the Phils head west for what sure looks like a difficult 10-game road trip. If the Phillies go limping into those 10 games, it will spell trouble — and not just for the trip, but the season.

The Phils — especially the bullpen — just got done showing their vulnerability against deep and powerful offenses.

Here’s what they’ll get on this 10-game road trip:

· The Rockies, who lead baseball in batting average (.320), on-base percentage (.371), slugging percentage (.494), and feature MVP candidate Carlos Gonzalez (.389 avg.), Troy Tulowitzki (.407 avg.), Michael Cuddyer (.415 avg.) and Justin Morneau (.387 avg.)

· The Dodgers, the defending NL West champions with names such as Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier sprayed throughout their order, not to mention quality starting pitching to go with it

· And the Diamondbacks, who have an MVP candidate of their own in Paul Goldschmidt (.370 avg.) and one of baseball’s early home run leaders, Mark Trumbo (5 HRs, 13 RBIs)

That’s power, power and more power on tap for the Phillies’ leaky, questionable and inexperienced bullpen.

One nightmare road swing can crush a season. Entering July 20 last year, the Phils were 49-48, in second place and 6½ games out of first. They then lost eight straight to finish their nine-game trip away from home and the season was gone.

Given the circumstances, the Phillies can’t afford a bad April. They need to play well enough before the July trade deadline approaches to convince management to keep this going.

And that brings us back to these seven upcoming games. If the Phils don't stem the tide before going west, April could be disastrous and the season unsavable.

Comments

[docjoe]

I guess no new thread again today. Beerleaguer now reflects the overall apathy at the ballpark

[bay_area_phan]

DeFratus to AAA, Luis Garcia called up.

DeFratus is turning into a bust before our eyes. Still, I have difficulty believing that the heinously bad Luis Garcia can be better. I also have difficulty believing that there aren't a few guys in the minors who would also be better than Garcia. Shawn Camp springs right to mind. For that matter, so does Brad Lincoln.

[NEPP]

Garcia? LOL

[bullit]

for the record, grandpa munster was played by old vaudvillian, al lewis, not al davis. ;)

[bullit]

*vaudevillian

[GBrettfan]

Garcia? I wanted him to succeed, but he didn't. De Fratus had a nice tweet thanking fans for support & promising to do all he can to get better.

[Iceman]

curt has been one of the standby dunces on this site since its inception, whining and complaining through the golden age of Phillies baseball, so stupidity from him is to be expected. But lumping Howard and Revere in the same class as defenders is beyond the typically simple brand of stupid that he usually espouses.

[Curt]

Another busy year ahead for the LV shuttle. For the second year in a row, every Pig pitcher will get a chance to prove why hes not a big leaguer.

[Curt]

Good point iceman. Howard hasn't been bad enough yet to get benched.

[bullit]

curt: but he continues to work on it. getting benched, that is.

[docjoe]

I disagree Howard is clearly bad enough to get benched or DL. 1st batter E3

[bullit]

tony and jimmy lookin' good in the knickers.

[bullit]

game thread

[PLM]

Garcia intriguing I guess that meatball he give Stanton yesterday did it. I believe DeFratus will be back. Way premature to call him a bust. Though it will be disappointing if he was.