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I know things are pretty bleak right now. Vince Velasquez is struggling, the bullpen is gross, the offense has disappeared, and everyone is unhappy. But things will get better. Somehow, some way, they will. We’ve just gotta have... you know what we’ve gotta have. Sing it with me.
Ignore the touching your body stuff and focus on the main message: have faith. It won’t be this bad forever. It might feel that way, but it will eventually end. Or the Earth will be consumed by the sun. Whichever comes first.
Vince Velasquez has some work to do
So out of everything that happened this weekend, the worst thing was watching Vinny Velasquez almost completely unravel. Both in and out of the game. After Saturday’s loss, he had some things to say (captured by Philly.com’s Matt Gelb):
"I don't know," Velasquez said. "I'm just clueless right now. I'm just running around like a chicken without a head. I don't know what I've got to do, but I just know there's something. . . . I have to break it down little by little. Literally, if I have to start over or whatever the situation might be. I need to break it down and not put so much pressure on myself."
Okay, that’s heartbreaking. And that level of confidence is suboptimal for a pitcher. But Bob McClure has faith Velasquez can be a great pitcher, and he has a plan.
"We have to sit down and talk about what's going through his mind when this is happening," McClure said. "When it starts to unravel what's going through your mind? How are you thinking there? Are you thinking more, 'Oh, here we go again?' Or are you thinking, 'OK, this is what I need to throw in this situation and this is where I need to throw it?' I don't know."
McClure told Gelb that he thinks it’s better for Vinny to work out his issues while up with the big club, instead of spending time in the minors. He believes in Velasquez, which is good. We’ll just have to wait and see if McClure’s plan works out.
Tommy Joseph: An Intimate Portrait
Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal wrote about Tommy Joseph and his life. Did you know that he’s married? To someone he met in eighth grade? And now she’s a labor and delivery nurse? And also an active duty service member in the Air Force? It’s all true! It’s a great profile of Tommy Joseph, who will soon be living with his wife full-time for the first time ever. Good luck!
Around the Phight
- It’s only good news, good news only, that’s all, woo hoo, on this episode of The Felske Files. Justin Klugh and Trevor Strunk join John Stolnis to talk only about great stuff, and there sure is a lot, right? Yippee!
- Paul Boyé gave out grades for the first quarter of the season, and, someone’s getting the car taken away from them until they can get their grades up! Grounded for a month! No after school activities!
- Is Bob McClure the right pitching coach for the Phillies? John Stolnis asks that important question.
- If you’re looking for the weekend’s game recaps, I’ve got your covered: Here’s Friday’s 7-2 win, followed by Saturday’s 6-3 loss, and finally Sunday’s 1-0 heartbreaker.