Phillies off to another horrible start

Could someone with any bit of baseball knowledge please explain to me why in the world you would try and steal third base with one out and your best hitter at the plate and a two run lead in the eighth inning.

There is not a good answer, is there?

This bonehead play just about sums up the Phillies season so far, which is off to a terrible start after being swept by division rival Atlanta.

After a tough loss on opening day which saw Philadelphia blow a lead in the ninth and lose in extra innings, the Phillies looked prime to win their second game.

With a 2-0 lead in the eighth, Shane Victorino on second, and Ryan Howard at the plate, Victorino was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning. Manager Charlie Manuel called it a "terrible" play. He could not have been more right.

Howard doubled, which would have made it 3-0. Then Howard was thrown out at the plate on a Chase Utley double.

So instead of it being 3-0 or 4-0 going into the ninth, the Phillies only held a two run lead.

Phillies closer Tom Gordon blew a save opportunity by allowing a two run shot to Brian McCann and Ryan Madson gave up a homer in the 11th - his second loss in as many nights and yet another heart breaking loss.

Today was more of the same, this time an 8-4 loss.

The Phillies talked so much about getting off to a good start this season after horrible starts have cost them playoff spots the past couple of years.

They insisted this year would be different. But it is not.

Again, the Phillies are digging a hole for themselves right off the bat. Sure, it is a long season. But when you end a game or two out of a playoff spot, one place to look back to is how you start.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, they are not off to a good start.