Some Philadelphia Phillies fans are currently preaching patience. Hearing yesterday's cheers, these personality types are actually promoting hope over logic.
Yes, it's only June. But, let's get serious. This current squad is far from a contender.
Second-guessing
Let's leave second-guessing behind for the moment.
No detailed analysis of whether general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. should have allocated the amount of money that he has to players like Cliff Lee, Jimmy Rollins and Jonathan Papelbon.
No hand-wringing about how manager Charlie Manuel supposedly cost the team back-to-back World Series titles in the 2009 Fall Classic against the New York Yankees.
No review of the 2010 National League Championship Series loss to the San Francisco Giants, or the 2011 National League Division Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Conclude whatever you like, the Phillies simply didn't get the job done during those three major occasions and therefore they didn't win. What matters is where Philadelphia's baseball team is right now. And right now, they are in trouble.
Flash mobs are growing
The Phillies 1979, 1982 and 1994 seasons are all worth reviewing for sake of historical comparison.
Digital commanders shouldn't fret, because we all realize that different eras aren't fully comparable. Rational minds fully realize that the past can be used as a guide and thus it has been rightly offered for those who don't possess all baseball knowledge.
Flash mobs of the Phillies faithful are beginning to form. As they continue to do so, all groups will chant in mindful unison that the team they love has entered into some type of transitional phase.
Numerous ongoing injury concerns, underwhelming performances, bench men who simply can't star in starting roles and rookies who need time to develop represent parts of this developing story.
Summer direction
The directions Amaro decides to take this summer will help to determine managerial and coaching issues, roster flexibility and payroll points that will all lead into a heavy fall campaign.
By the time a national political election has been held in this country, I expect major Philadelphia back-office politicking to have seriously altered the party of many who were formally known as Phillies.
We must remember that this is baseball and unusual occurrences could somehow change the dynamic of everything that has just been presented above. It's always good to give yourself an out. Apparently, that is exactly what the Phillies starting staff also seems to be thinking every time that they have taken the mound this year.
Sean O'Brien's professional writing career began in 1990, when he first began working in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system. He was a freelance sports writer for five years and is currently a Featured Contributor for Yahoo! Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @SeanyOB and read his daily Sports Blog: Insight.
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Philadelphia Phillies Money Matters and Other Important Points
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