The lack of offense has been a big concern for those who follow the 2012 Philadelphia Phillies. "They can't buy a hit", complained a friend of mine yesterday. Well, the fact is that there have been some games this season when the Phillies got very few hits. But in some games, they are getting some hits - but even then they are NOT scoring runs. This is a bigger concern for me. Even with some great pitching talent, a team needs to score some runs to win.

Back around 1906, the pitching-rich Chicago White Sox were known as "The Hitless Wonders". Nevertheless, the White Sox managed to win the World Series that year! They batted only .230 as a team (last in the league) and they hit only 7 homeruns as a team (also last in the league). HOWEVER, "The Hitless Wonders" ranked 3rd in the league in Runs Scored in 1906. So even with their pathetic batting average and lack of power, those "Hitless Wonders" scored often enough for their great pitching staff to win plenty of games.

A big challenge for Charley Manuel and Greg Gross is to teach the hitters how to play "smarter", get better at pitch selection, run the bases efficently, and SCORE SOME RUNS. The 1906 White Sox proved that you CAN win with great pitching and a weak offense, BUT you have to SCORE AT LEAST A FEW RUNS! I think it's amazing that situational hitting seems to be a lost art these days. Not everyone should be swinging for the fences in every at bat. The Phils could take a few lessons from a team that managed to win it all more than 100 years ago!

I am obviously disappointed that the Phillies are off to such a bad start; nevertheless, I am not throwing in the towel just yet. It's still early in the season, and I'm sure that Charley Manuel and Greg Gross have enough baseball wisdom to work with the Phillie hitters. Even without Howard and Utley, it is possible to make the playoffs. But the Phils have to avoid being the RUNLESS Wonders.