Frustration has hit a season high.  Which, coincidentally, goes along with the season high 6 game losing streak.  In each of the last 4 games, the Phillies had the lead, but could not maintain it.  Yeah, that’s frustration alright.

And Charlie Manuel is feeling it too.  After yesterday’s game he said:

“We lost that edge quite a while ago,” he said. “We don’t scare nobody. We used to have a swagger and used to be cocky in a real good way, and teams used to fear us. I don’t see that fear anymore. … I don’t see where we scare nobody. Nobody backs down from us. Matter of fact, they take it right to us.” (DelawareOnline)

Yup, that about sums it up.

This team is missing the swagger, the confidence and the ability to strike fear in the other team.

The team’s confidence in themselves.  They don’t look like they believe they are going to win every game.  They actually look like they are trying to figure out how they are going to lose the game in a new and different way everyday.

Since about 2005, the Phillies were a team that you couldn’t sleep on.  They knew it, the fans knew it, the opposing teams and managers knew it.

But that isn’t the case anymore.  They are now the team that no lead is safe because they find ways to give it up.  Which is quite sad.

The only member of the bullpen that can be taken out of this picture is really Jonathan Papelbon, for he has yet to blow a save.   However, he has lost the two games that he came in that were tied.  So, there’s that.

Our line-up is a pitiful interpretation of a Major League team.  I’m pretty sure the team from Major League could beat us right now.   And I’m talking about at the beginning before the started playing well.

I’m not quite sure what will save this team.  I’m not quite sure if this team can be saved.  But I do know that I will be around for all of it and hope that I’m still writing about their season come the middle and end of October.

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.