When the Phillies opted not to re-sign Aaron Rowand, I knew he would be missed.  Not for his Gold Glove defense, or clutch bat in the late innings, but for his clubhouse presence.  In a locker room that boasts numerous All-Stars and MVP’s, Rowand was the vocal leader in the clubhouse.  When the Phils heads weren’t on straight, Rowand got them to focus.  When the team was a in rut, it was Rowand who led the locker room meeting.

 

Right now is when the Phillies need Rowand.  After being unable to figure out Tim Redding for a second time this season, the Phillies are in a season-high, three game losing streak.  It’s not just a losing streak; all teams lose three consecutive games at some point in the season.  It’s how they lost.  Whether it is they left runners in scoring position or made a defensive lapse, a win was within the Phillies grasp, but they haven’t been able to do the little things that championship teams do to win ball games.  Some may perceive this as bad breaks, some consider it uninspired baseball.

 

Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Pedro Feliz, and Pat Burrell went a combine 0 for 15 last night, and left 11 men on base.    Not to take anything from Redding, but he’s not a pitcher who should be shutting teams down, no less a team like the Phillies (2-0, 0.00), who are considered to have one of the best offenses in the National League.  It makes it easier for Redding when the Phillies are getting runners on base, but is failing to execute.   He was given the breaks he needed to shut down the offense.  This isn’t just last night, but the entire losing streak.  The Phils have left a total of 27 men on base over the past three games, including stranding the bases loaded in consecutive innings on Sunday against the Blue Jays.  That’s unacceptable for a team with the talent level of the Phillies.

 

I don’t think this has anything do with bad breaks.  This is a motivation and leadership issue.  This hasn’t just begun either; it’s been going on since spring training. 

 

When the Phillies arrived in Clearwater this spring, they were joking and dancing, still living off of last year’s playoff run.  That jovial mentality has carried into the regular season and they still haven’t found consistency.  As talented as the Phillies are, they lack maturity and leadership, which causes the spikes in play.  The Phillies will win games because they have the talent assembled on the roster, but without leadership, it’s not going to be easy to find a long winning streak.

 

The main difference between the Phillies and a powerhouse like the Red Sox is leadership.  The Red Sox have vocal players like Jason Varitek, who get in the face of players, and makes sure the team gives 100% day in and day out.  It’s players like that who take a team to the next level.  Until the Phillies find that guy, or someone in the locker room steps up, the inconsistency will continue.

 

Looking at the roster, there’s one player who could fill the leadership role on this club.  That’s Geoff Jenkins.  Although Jenkins isn’t the feared hitter he once was, Jenkins was the locker room leader on the Brewers for years before signing a two year contract with the Phillies.  Being a new member on the roster, Jenkins might not be ready to jump into the mix, and lead a closed door meeting.  He’s going to have to.  How I see it, while Rollins, Howard, Burrell, and Chase Utley lead on the field, Jenkins in the guy who can take Rowand’s old role and lead the team in the locker room.

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