Phils' playoff hopes toasted after ugly loss

Baseball Betting Lines

09/06/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 1991 Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best defenses ever assembled in NFL history. They also had a player nicknamed "Toast" for his inability to cover the deep ball.

Izel Jenkins played defensive back for the Eagles from 1988-1992 and will be remembered most for getting smoked by opposing wide receivers on a usual basis, hence the moniker "Toast." Jenkins was an excellent player at NC State and was good enough to get drafted before his career fizzled away like grass clippings in the wind.

The Phillies' chances of reaching the playoffs this year are those clippings, compared to Jenkins' ability to cover Jerry Rice in his prime in a one-on-one situation. Jenkins had a chance in 1989 at Veterans Stadium and failed, as Joe Montana and Rice were too much and scorched the Birds for almost 300 yards through the air in the fourth quarter.

Wednesday's ninth-inning of the Phillies' 9-8 loss to the Atlanta Braves can be compared to that horrible breakdown Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan's awesome defense experienced in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles owned a seemingly-comfortable 28-10 advantage in the fourth quarter against Bill Walsh's boys from the Bay, while the Braves trailed 8-6 with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, not to mention erasing an 8-2 deficit with a four-run eighth. The Eagles were stunned but actually reached the playoffs that season and lost to Jim 'Don't call me Chris' Everett and the Los Angeles Rams in South Philly.

Unfortunately for the Fightin Phils, the fight is over and there will be no postseason appearance for the first time since the 1993 squad reached the World Series. It's a shame and definitely bad for baseball in my opinion. You need teams such as the Phils, Cubs, A's, Brewers, Royals and Pirates making some appearances in October.

But those are just crazy pipe dreams.

The Phillies are now five games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets after pulling within two with a four-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park last week. They were riding high after that series and took the opener of a three- game set in Florida before losing the next two. Philly then dropped the first of three straight games at Atlanta and temporarily stopped the bleeding with a win in the second test on Tuesday.

We all know what happened yesterday, and the stone-cold faces in the dugout said it all. Manager Charlie Manuel wiped his brow with his sleeve and almost appeared to be crying. I'm sure he wanted to after what just happened before his very eyes. And I'm almost positive if Phillies Hall of Fame broadcaster and Ford C. Frick Award winner Harry Kalas had permission from the FCC to swear the airwaves would have been filled with more 'F' bombs than a drunken sailor.

All the expletives in the world can't save the Phillies now. With 23 games left on the schedule and two series versus the Mets and Braves, Manuel and Co. have no *$#&%&@ shot at playing in October.

WHO'S HOT

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins needs three more triples to become the first player since Willie Mays in 1957 to record 20 or more doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases in a season.

That's pretty nice company.

Rollins has 20 hits, three homers and seven RBI over his last 10 games.

Rookie pitcher Kyle Kendrick is unbeaten in his last four starts (3-0) with a 3.28 earned run average. He had won three straight starts before posting a no decision against Atlanta on Wednesday.

WHO'S NOT

Phillies starter Adam Eaton is 0-2 in his last six starts with a 7.92 ERA. The righty, who signed with Philadelphia in the offseason for a nice wad of cash, is just 9-8 with a National League-worst 6.28 ERA over 26 starts in 2007.

ON DECK

After going 2-4 on a brief six-game road trip at Florida and Atlanta, the Phillies will head back to Citizens Bank Park to host the Marlins and Colorado Rockies during a seven-game homestand.

A perfect homestand is obviously what the Phillies need. They will also hope the NL East-leading New York Mets fail miserably on their upcoming homestand against Houston, Atlanta and Philly.

Not likely.