BY SCOTT LAUBERMIAMI GARDENS -- Greetings from Dolphin Stadium, where the Phillies are about to open a three-game weekend series against the Marlins. A few notes before the clubhouse opens to the media and we get things started here:
--Want the biggest reason for the Phillies' 6-8 start? Pitching. Pitching. Pitching. Phillies pitchers have allowed at least one home run in each of the 14 games to start the season. That's a major-league record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Phillies starters have a 7.08 ERA. Think about that for a moment: 7.08! The best of those starters, Brett Myers, lugs a 5.03 ERA to the mound tonight. The Marlins' starters, meanwhile, have a 4.38 ERA, led by tonight's starter, Josh Johnson (2.91).
--Offensively, the Phillies really could use a Jimmy Rollins hot streak. You know the numbers. Last year, the Phillies were 42-15 (.737 winning percentage) when Rollins scores a run. But this season, Rollins is batting .169 with a putrid .206 on-base percentage. Maybe, just maybe, facing Florida is what Rollins needs. Since the Marlins' inception in 1993, no player has more triples (12) or stolen bases (40) against them than Rollins, who also ranks second among major leaguers in hits (188), runs (112) and total bases (294) against the Marlins.
--If there's any update on Cole Hamels' bruised left shoulder, we'll let you know. Although, it's doubtful there will be anything new until Hamels throws his between-starts bullpen session, likely tomorrow. At that point, he'll know if the "tattoo of a baseball," as Hamels put it yesterday, caused by Prince Fielder's line drive will delay his next start. Hamels is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
More in a bit.
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