PHILLIES NEWS

$125 million, that's a lot of zeroes and all of them went to Ryan Howard this afternoon as he signed a 5 year $125 million with the Phils 2 years before his contract was due to expire. Unfortunately it looked like the big contract might have gone to his teammates heads on this night as they failed to register a hit with runner's scoring position in the 1st game of a series with the Giants in San Francisco. They just kept trying to hit homers and tie the game with one swing everytime rather than staying patient and making contact, the two things that worked so well for them early in the season. Of course when hitting homers can suddenly get you $125 then why not go for it on every bat. I know the Phils don't really think like that, but it just seemed like it tonight and it cost them.

That's because Roy Halladay picked tonight to have one of his 2 or 3 off days of the season. He didn't pitch that poorly as Giants hit some really good pitches, but he was also squeezed by the perennial worst umpire in baseball, C.B Buckner, and ended leaving a few pitches in bad places. So for one night at least he was human, allowing 5 runs on 10 hits in 7 innings of work. Normally with the best lineup in the NL behind him that might have been enough but as mentioned the Phils lineup extended its slump at least for one more night. They did score one run on a fielder's choice and Shane Victorino, one of few guys who wasn't swinging for the fences, had a great night with a pair of doublesm but that was it as the Phils fell 5-1. Despite the loss they remain 1st in the NL East but only by a half a game now. They're going to have to pick it up with bats again to win this series and tomorrow night, with Todd Wellenmeyer, who is winless and has an ERA over 6, going for the Giants, should be a prime time for them to break out of the slump.