The Phillies are Phinished

22 Comments

That’s what Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com says. Despite the Braves and Nats playing below expectations and despite a seemingly surmountable six and a half game deficit, history is not on the Phillies’ side:

The Phillies are seven games under .500. From 2008 to 2013, there were 44 teams at least seven games under .500 at the end of play on June 2. Only five of those 44 teams finished above .500 . . .  39 of those 44 teams failed to finish with a winning record.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Hardly. Those five teams were exceptions.

Seidman goes on to explain how unusual those five teams were. Basically: all of them had extended winning streaks at some point. While one can’t predict those sorts of thing, nothing the Phillies have done suggests they have a bunch of dormant capabilities waiting to burst free.

Sorry, guys.

Anthony Rendon fan interaction video looked into by MLB

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
0 Comments

OAKLAND, Calif. – Major League Baseball is looking into a video circulating on social media that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon grab a fan by the shirt through the bleacher guardrails after Thursday night’s game in Oakland, a league spokesperson said Friday.

Rendon looks to have grabbed the fan’s shirt near his chest through the bars of the railing and exchanged words with him before appearing to take a swipe at the bill of the man’s ballcap and walking into the tunnel.

Angels spokesman Adam Chodzko says the team has no comment. The Angels do not play Friday, but the club expects Rendon to address the video Saturday in the clubhouse before the game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland.

The video shows the fan, dressed in A’s colors, approach the railing as Rendon turns toward him from the tunnel walkway below. Rendon then appears to grab the man’s shirt and ask him what he just said, accusing the fan of calling him a derogatory term before swiping at his ballcap.

The A’s won the game 2-1.