What's a Set-Up Man?

For the second night in a row, the Phillies blew another 8th inning lead. On Wednesday it was a 4-run eigth and last night was a 5-run eigth. Their overworked bullpen has become marginally shittier from game to game.

Instead of going out and overpaying for a real set-up man, something we lacked even when Tom Gordon was here, they acquired Matt Stairs. I did not see the game last night (and I won't be able to watch until Sunday), but if this team doesn't win the next three, the season will be virtually on life support. Everyone is using last year as the comparison, but they don't realize that the situations are exactly the opposite.

Last year, the Phillies were the team rising and not dying come September. Last year, the bullpen was great in the end and the Phillies saw timely hitting. This year, the season gets harder and harder to watch for even the most obsessed Phillies fans.

Oh well, Phillies face Rich Harden today. The last time the Phillies faced Rich Harden he owned them. Completely owned them and the entire Phillies team looked absolutely pathetic at the plate.