Column Reveals Phillies Were Pathetically Scared of Dodgers and Backed o ff Contending

It must be disappointing to go from signing Bryce Harper to a 13-year deal to deciding not to buy at the deadline.

The Philadelphia Phillies were apparently in a mindset this summer unlike what most would expect it to be. Can fans actually believe this?

The Phillies start today at 76-70, just two games back of the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers for the second National League Wild Card spot. The Atlanta Braves pretty much have the division locked up, but that's beside the point.

Obviously, with the Phillies' offseason moves, most people probably expected better than a 76-70 record on Sept. 13. Gabe Kapler has been rumored to be on the hot seat. Their hitting forced them to bring back Charlie Manuel as their hitting coach.

It doesn't mean they're not in the playoff picture. There is still a very real chance they make it in. If Phillies' management has this attitude, then they're just buying too much into what Harper did in October in Washington rather than what he did the rest of the year.

By the way, the Phillies only played the Dodgers seven times this year, so one must wonder how much a 2-5 record could scare a team from trying to get to the playoffs.

The Phillies are definitely in the playoff hunt right now, and they seem to be showing it.

Yet, the strange feeling of a front office's lack of confidence must not be a promising one.