Are the phillies the stupidest team in the MLB ?

Actually part of the struggles are the face that they do not have Utley and Howard in the line-up, with good hitters like that the other guys in the line-up see better pitches. I do think that they have made some bad decisions this year but Charlie is managing this year just like he for the past five years, he gambles and makes moves that others may not agree with, sometimes they don't work out. The big change needs to be Greg Gross the hitting coach, he has struggled the past few years to his message through to the players, time for a change. As far as Amaro, who is going to take the salary of two injured players first and second why would you trade away two all-stars who have been injured....while they are injured. I think Ruben is doing a decent job there. Blanton is doing what Blanton has always done, they knew what they were getting ahead of tiem, gives up five but gets you 7 innings as an innings eater, the hitters need to step up when he is on the mound. It is not easy to find bullpen help, it is not like every team is itching to give up relievers that are going good for them.

Howard and Utley are two pretty big bats in that lineup, and stars like them usually affect the entire lineup when they're missing. For example, a guy ahead of Howard or Utley would likely see more straight fastballs as the pitcher doesn't want to pitch around that guy and walk him thus putting runners on base for Howard/Utley. I'm not completely sure about this, but missing two stars like them can affect a team's mentality as well.

As for the GM, i don't think he wants to give up on the season this early. Despite the early struggles, they are not too far out of 1st place and while the division has been competetive thus far, we don't know if the Marlins, Mets, and Nationals can keep up the pace. Trading a veteran like Halladay would send the wrong message to the organization.

"Staff" refers to the pitching staff, and THEY are not the problem. Injuries to Roy Halliday and Cliff Lee haven't helped, though. The Starters in top 5 in WAR, ERA, FIP and BAA.

Joe Blanton has been inconsistent. Tell me what else is new... is Lou Pinella argumentative? Is Michael Bourn fast? Is Manny being Manny? The question about Blanton, really, is who are you going to promote to replace him? Who in AAA is better (or has the upside) of Blanton? Same with Qualls.

The offense is the problem, and nothing shows that there is a SYSTEMIC problem. Victor and Galvis are hitting ~.250 BABIP, but Ruiz has a ~.350 BABIP. Neither number is sustainable. Hitting with RISP is a dumb stat, because it's not as if hitter fundamentally change their approach in such situations. Hits are hits, and the rest is timing. That's the sort of thing that will sort itself out in time. Come talk to me in July about how the Phillies offense is doing.

As for batting Thome with a RISP... why do you think Thome's there? He has power, and is a good hitter. Who else where they going to bat? Do you really believe that 18 at-bats is a significant sample size?

And you want to trade Halliday and Utley? For WHAT? Utley has 0 trade value, and Halliday would earn interest, but not much in the way of help for this year. I'll take 180 innings of Halliday over (say) Ricky Nolasco or Mike Minor.

Their current losing streak has been filled with not holding leads. Howard and Utley wouldn't help that. Utley is good with the bat but worries me with the glove. Galvis is playing a gold glove second base in his absence so between Utley getting hits and Galvis saving them they pretty much are a wash. That move putting Thome in to bat in the ninth inning was terrible. At the time he was batting .111 in 18 at bats. You would get about as far pinch hitting a starting pitcher.

You also forgot to mention the injuries to Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Vance Worley, Mike Stutes, Jim Thome, Laynce Nix, Michael Martinez, and Justin De Fratus.

Qualls and Blanton are the best we have, a guy from the minors would only be worse.

If we start hitting, mainly with guys in scoring position, we will win games. That will happen, we just have to hope it will be soon.

The phillies made a great deal honestly, this guy makes their line up exceedingly outrageous, that's coming as a met fan, Pence is a continuing dude, Phillies mandatory offense and this guy may be ehar for no less than 5-6 years.

Lets just say that if Freddie Gonzalez was their manager they would have an excuse, but in all seriousness, they are without their 2 big guns, and unfortunately the team hasn't yet adjusted.

Haha, that's sure the right way to take out your frustrations on a struggling team.

"The Philadelphia Phillies are a bunch of STOOPID JURKS!"