In the movie Major League, announcer Harry Doyle (played by former Phillie Bob Uecker) was one of my favorite characters.   Doyle made the best of a bad situation and tended to say whatever came into his mind.

Last night I had my own Doyle moment. 

As I was eating dinner with my wife in a midtown restaurant, I was checking my phone for updates on the Phillies game.  My wife didn’t appreciated it too much, but she did tolerate it.  That was until I blurted out -

One hit? That’s all we got, one goddamn hit?

It was then I learned you can’t only say goddamn on the air, but also in a crowded restaurant.

Regardless of my inappropriate dinner outbursts, things aren’t looking terribly good for the Fightin’s.  On Monday the bullpen imploded (okay, Ryan Madson and Tom Gordon), and last night, the offense made Tim Redding resemble Johan Santana.  Despite Cole Hamels pitching a gem (1ER in 8IP), the Phillies couldn’t get more then one (goddamn) hit off Redding.

Yeah I know we’re only two games into the season, and maybe it’s a little premature to be pulling the fire alarm.  Obviously it’s still VERY early in the season to panic, which is why I’m not pulling any alarm.  I’d just prefer not to see what I’ve witnessed in past Aprils.  The Phillies falling asleep at the wheel until May then play catchup the remainder of the season.  They took the division last year, but what about just missing it the year before?

Maybe Charlie Manuel’s concerns were legitimate this spring when he felt the team was taking the spring to lightly, and you can’t just turn it on and turn it off.  Of course the players responded saying that once the games count, the bats will be there. 

Well the games count, where are the bats???

Maybe old man Manuel knows what he’s talking about.

The Phillies start Jamie Moyer today, who will be flashing the teams new “day uniforms”.  He’s going to be counted on, along with the Phillies offense to stop the bleeding.  The past two years the Phillies have started 0-3.  Let’s not make this a third year.