Anemic

Fans around the country are probably wondering how the Phillies ever managed even to get into the World Series, let alone steal Game 1 in Tampa. The job they are doing at the plate is worse than anemic.

The Phillies were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position in Game 1 Wednesday, which set a single-game World Series record for futility. They were hitless in their first six at-bats with runners in scoring position in Game 2 to make them 0 for 19.

The Elias Sports Bureau reported that it was the second-longest hitless streak with runners in scoring position in World Series history. The Los Angeles Dodgers went 0 for 22 in the entire 1966 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. It's no surprise the Orioles swept the Dodgers.

It's not fair to pick on him, what with Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard both stinking up the joint, but Greg Dobbs's second inning at bat summed up the Phillies' fortunes at the plate: He saw four pitches, three of them were called strikes. The man never took the bat off his shoulder.

The Phillies have lost more than 10,000 games. Last night's was one that can take the heart out of the fans.

Now we head East, Pat and Tom and I, fully inve$ted and praying for sunshine no rain.

Cross your fingers.