Q&A: Mike Nichols talks to Phillies Blogger
To kick off the Mets highly important two-game series against the Phillies tonight, I 
did a quick Q&A with Jason Weitzel, who does a tremendous job writing about the Phillies at his blog, Beerleaguer.
Mike Nichols:
With the Phillies near the bottom in the league in productive outs, do you believe they rely too heavily on the long ball than situational hitting?
Jason Weitzel:
Good point about productive outs; it would make good future blog fodder to take a look at those numbers. Their situational hitting has indeed been a major concern over the last few months, a byproduct of the way this roster revolves around the long ball, plus, down years from Jimmy Rollins and others. There aren’t many guys making consistent contact, and when the slumps are spread evenly through the lineup, it’s obviously tough to manufacture runs. Recently, manager Charlie Manuel shuffled the lineup to good results, splitting up Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, a move that should have been done much earlier. He also moved Shane Victorino, their best hitter since the All-Star break, to fifth, which has helped set the table for the bottom half of the lineup.
Nichols:
In seven starts since returning from his minor-league demotion, Brett Myers is 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA. What has been the difference for Myers since his return?
Weitzel:
He’s throwing strikes. In his previous start, he threw 82 of 119 pitches for strikes, and last night against the Dodgers, he threw 71 of 110 for strikes, allowing nine hits (too many hits), but fanning eight over seven shutout frames. His curveball has been nasty and he’s not making dumb mistakes out over the plate. In the seven starts since the All-Star break, he’s surrendered just two home runs, this after serving up 24 in his first 17. The minor league demotion was the right call, because he’s a changed pitcher.
Nichols:
The Mets bullpen has been the their achilles heel this season. What do you believe the Phillies biggest issue is going into the final month of the season?
Weitzel:
This is a tough call. It used to be automatic to say “pitching,” but pitching hasn’t been the issue. I’d like to think the offense is starting to turn the corner after sweeping the Dodgers, but I’m hesitant. The pitching staff has been solid all season, and the starters have absolutely carried them lately. I’m a little concerned with that eighth inning, where Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin are being rotated. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard need a strong finish. In Rollins, we’re talking about a guy who had a .731 OPS heading into yesterday’s game. That has to improve if the Phils hope for better offensive consistency.
Nichols:
Pat Burrell is hitting just .230 with 10 HR and 33 RBI at home this season, as compared to .303 with 20 HR and 42 RBI on the road. Surprising, considering Burrell has always seem to have more success at CBP than on the road in recent years. To what do you attribute to Burrell’s lack of success at home this season?
Weitzel:
Interesting. I hadn’t noticed, actually, because overall he’s been a consistent producer and he had a great game at home on Saturday. That’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Perhaps he’s pressing to do too much in the home bandbox.
Nichols:
In addition to Jimmy Rollins not producing at the level he was last season, he has been benched twice by Charlie Manuel for disciplinary reasons this season and recently criticized the fan base. Do you get the sense Rollins has lost creditability among his teammates and have the fans given him a pass due to his success in 2007?
Weitzel:
I can’t speak for all fans, and I definitely can’t speak for his teammates, but I know he’s earned some degree of immunity from this individual for putting the 2007 team on his back. Nevertheless, that sentiment is only shared by, at best, 50 percent of others. I’m not going to lie; he’s not the same Jimmy as he was in 2007, where you came to expect something dynamic in each of his at bats. I wonder if he’ll hit 10 home runs this year after finishing ’07 with 30. He also has just 59 runs following 139 a year ago. It’s a fair question to wonder if he’s lost the edge after achieving the ultimate individual honor a year ago. Now, it’s like he realizes it’s time to catch up, but he’s all screwed up at the plate. The benchings suggested that a superstar glide has indeed set in, and the comments about fans couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the team and Jimmy were mired in a horrible offensive slump. A lot of frustration came to a head last week, from both sides.
Nichols:
Lastly, you recently posted that with similar schedules, your readers sense the NL East hinges on the last five head-to-head games between the Mets and Phillies. Do you believe this as well?
Weitzel:
To a certain extent. The head-to-head games with the Mets last season proved to be the difference. But so does every win and every loss. With the two sides all even in the loss column, it’s certainly a massive series. I’m thinking a four-game sweep of the Dodgers changes several opinions as to the importance of this particular series. Before that, the Phillies were starting to back themselves into corner. Should be a great test for both teams.
Nichols:
Thanks, Jason. Keep up the good work.
Again, Jason does a terrific job covering the Phillies, using a very analytical and level-headed approach. I highly recommend you check out Beerleager on a regular basis.
Also, be sure to check out my five keys for the Mets this series that Jason will be posting later today.
