The good vibe that was keeping the Phillies focused on the tasks in front of them, enough to maintain striking distance in the playoff chase is a memory. After tying with the Padres for the wild card lead last weekend, the limping arms of the pitching staff and the utterly inept, Utley-less offensive lineup have wilted in the August cooloff.  Consecutive losses in Pittsburgh to end that series, dropping 2 of 3 after returning home to face the Dodgers and losing a lopsided 14-3 decision to the Padres last night has dropped the club to 3 games back in the wild card race and 6 games back of the Mets in the division.  The embarassing NL will keep the Phillies in the rear view mirror, close enough for the brass to maintain their efforts to push the myth that they are still in it.  Jamie Moyer has slumped just when they needed him most.  Kyle Kendrick, the ace of the staff by default, has won the only game this week.  He has convinced me.  He is real.  J.D Durbin and Fabio Castro pitched acceptably in starts this week.  They gave the team a chance.  Unortunately, the bullpen melted.  Other than Brett Myers, there is no one there that can be counted on.  Tom Gordon could not get an out in the eighth inning, and a winnable game vanished before our eyes.  He is not right.  He says he feels “almost” like he is 100%. 

From the Daily News:

Asked if he could pitch on consecutive days for the first time since coming off a 10 1/2-week stint on the disabled list with right shoulder problems, he emphatically replied:

“Yeah . . . I’ve got to get out there. I think I’m very close. I just hope I’m not tricking myself.”

What does that mean?

Before last night’s game,  the bullpen has given up 25 runs since the beginning of the Pittsburgh series.  That’s been in just 17 2/3 innings.  That is a 12.73 ERA. Sheesh.  The pitching staff, bullpen included, had a stretch through July and early August where they had pushed the team’s opposition moving 30 game run scoring average under 4 per game.

http://4phillyfans.com/phils-10-game-moving-scoring-averages/

It is back up to 4.7. Chase’s return will lift their morale, but he can’t stop the pitching from leaving the season hanging out over the fat part of the plate.