Six in a row. 8 out of the last 9 on this home stand. There is nothing more frustrating than sitting behind the foul pole deep in the third deck in Right Field and watch your team fade into oblivian. Tonight's game was very exciting. They fought back tonight, but it wasn't good enough. The bullpen, which really had kept this team a float in July when the starting pitching were dreadful, has struggled as of late to keep leads. Tonight was NO different.

After Lidle couldn't hold a 4-1 lead in the 4th, Powell came in to face 2 batters, getting 2 outs, but giving up a run charged back to Lidle on a sac fly. (Powell left the game with a strained bicep, Geary is on his way back from Scranton.) Later, after the Phillies battled back with homers from Marlon Byrd and Placido Polanco. In the 7th after Polanco's homer, Mr. Clutch David Bell knocked in Bobby Abreu and Jim Thome to take the lead. Mike Lieberthal and Jason Michaels each struck out with Bell in scoring position to a chorus of boos. The smart Phillie fans KNEW a 1 run lead wasn't safe.

Todd Jones came back out to start the 8th, after taking Astros down in order in the 7th, and promptly let the first 2 men get on a base (thanks to a base hit and his throwing error.) Rodriguez got an out, then walked the bases loaded. Rheal Cormier came into get the second out, then Beltran turned around to bat right. And proceeded to knock a double to center scoring two. The third runner was thrown out to big cheers from the fans, who didn't realize that 2 runners had already scored.

The Phillies came back with 2 outs in the 9th. Mr. Clutch Bell, hit another gapper, but Thome couldn't score from first after walking. People may argue that Thome should have been pinch run for. But your only moves left were Todd Pratt and Chase Utley. If Utley pinch runs, he may score. But Lieby at worst gets walked with a base open and the pitching spot open. Now you have Thome out of the game, and you go into extra innings without the big first baseman. It was the right move. By the way, Lieby had his best at bat in months, getting DRILLED in the back to load the bases for Chase Utley.

So do you fire Bowa or not? Well, I tried to answer the question in July with this letter to Sam Donnellon. But at this point, what point will it serve. The Phillies have already dropped themselves OUT of contention. A shake-up here, will serve only one purpose, make guys like Donnellon and Hayes and Salisbury pat themselves on the back for getting another Manager fired. Ed Wade is the guy who should be fired. As soon as there was some griping out in the open about Bowa's "antics" in the clubhouse, Bowa was handcuffed by the GM. This was the kindler, gentler Bowa. But unfortunatley, neither milquetoast Bowa nor gruff Bowa could get anything out of this team. Is that his fault?

Only a change in the GM's office will make a difference. Let that new guy, decide who will manage this team. That will be the ONLY way this team can get to the next level. Of course, by the time you read this, the point will be moot, as I don't expect Bowa to get on the plane with the team to Milwaukee.

• Wed Night: Astros 9 Phillies 8
• CBS Sportsline Recap: Astros 9 Phillies 8
• Bowa's Job is Not Safe

HammLinks: Phillies Blogs

You can be sure these guys will be talking about who to fire. Thanks to my girlfriend Laurie who has introduced ME to the world of Phillies Blogs.. including asking me to GUESS WHO WON THE STEVE JELTZ AWARD!

• Who won today's Steve Jeltz Award?
• Nj.com presents Philling Station
• A Citizen's Blog
• I'm Not an Athelete
• Shallow Center
• Broad And Pattison
• Phillies Fan
• Phog Lights
• Sniveling Aardvark
• Fire Bowa
• Philly Fever
• Swing and a Miss
• PhilliesBlog.net
• Chuck Darrow
• There it Is
• Yuda.org

HammLinks: Around the Web

• Conlin: Fire Away...
• Hoffman: Thome is the real hope
• Celzic: Wise up Philly, Bowa's gotta go

Letter to Sam Donnellon

From: "Mike Cunningham" Print View

Date: 2 Jul 09:53 (PDT)
To: donnels@phillynews.com
Subject: Stick to Hockey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clearly Mr. Donnellon you should stick to Hockey.

Your premise that change for the sake of change makes no baseball sense. The Florida Marlins who made their baseball manager change last year had to do MUCH more than that to get to the World Series which included: Bringing up Dontrelle Willis, acquring veterans like Jeff Conine and Ugeth Urbina, and ULTIMATELY pitchers stepping up to the plate when the bell was called. Jack McKeon gets way too much credit for their win. Josh Beckett threw 1 complete game last year. OH... that was in the World Series. You speak like the Phillies are in last place?

Besides, Managers don't have to be liked or disliked to succeed. They just have to be good at their job. This team has been hurt by injuries, players not performing to expectations, and learning to pitch in a bandbox. The last thing this team has been hurt by is the Manager. You went from dissing Lieberthal who has slumped all season, to defending his bashing Bowa for being benched, yet since the benching, Lieberthal has been playing VERY well. Sounds like Bowa jump started somebody!

The Phillies won 3 out of 4 against Montreal, a team they should beat at home. They went 1 and 2 away. Is that really that bad? Certainly getting beat up by the Red Sox in their hallowed halls is disappointing, but is that really a call for Bowa's head? The Red Sox line-up are built very much like the Phillies. I can't blame them for lose 2 out of 3 against them. And if you want a manager that everyone likes? Ask the Red Sox about Francona, I'm sure they think he's a hell of a nice guy. But they are getting smoked.

If the Phillies were to start pulling off "streaks", you would call them STREAKY. Baseball is the best sport because in the end, the best teams make it to the playoffs. The BEST TEAMS. This isn't Hockey, where your expertise lies, where a Goalie can take a team on their backs.

You want to blame 2003 on Bowa, fine, but that shouldn't have anything to do with this year. Last year, the Pitching held up the first half, while the offense sputtered. The second half of the season the pitching fell apart just as the Offense started going. By the end of the season, the pitchers had nothing left. Blame that on Bowa if you want. I'll blame it on the staff and the bullpen which had weakness at the closer position. You take a way Mesa's blown saves and the Wild Card was ours.

Ultimately, this season, pins on the battle with the Florida Marlins. Going 0 and 6 killed us. Oh wait... no it didn't... Check the standings Mr. Donnellon, Bowa is not Pat Corrales. And Ed Wade is not the Pope. Certainly this team should be at least 3 to 5 games up on the Marlins. But are those games the fault of BOWA??? I don't think so.

If you think Vuk can do the job, and I'm sure he is well past due to getting the skipper position, then fine. But firing the manager will not get you to the playoffs.

Stick to hockey, because we have seen how firing coaches leads to winning Cups as well.

• Donnellon: Bowa Must Goa (registration may be required)