Don Mattingly says Phillies slump will show 'who we are'
Don Mattingly addressed the Phillies’ slide after an 8-6 loss to Miami, with Bryce Harper calling for trade deadline help.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Don Mattingly said the Phillies slump has pushed Philadelphia into a hard look at itself after the club wasted a 6-0 lead Wednesday and lost 8-6 to the Miami Marlins, according to ESPN News Services.
The interim manager told reporters the Phillies are about to learn what they are made of, with the trade deadline closing in and frustration rising around a team that has stumbled since the All-Star break.
Philadelphia has dropped nine of 12 games since the break, ESPN reported. The slide has left the Phillies six games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final two NL wild-card playoff spots.
What did Don Mattingly say about the Phillies slump?
Mattingly said the next stretch will reveal the Phillies’ identity after their recent run opened the door for other teams in the playoff race. He told reporters, “Now’s the time that we’re going to find out what we’re made of.”
He also made clear that, for all the noise around the roster, the fix has to start inside the clubhouse. Mattingly said he looks at the situation as a matter of him improving and the team improving.
The loss to Miami sharpened the mood. Philadelphia led by six before the Marlins came back, and pitcher Jesus Luzardo allowed six runs over 6⅓ innings, according to ESPN.
Bryce Harper wants deadline help
Bryce Harper spoke out Tuesday about wanting the Phillies to add help before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, ESPN reported. Mattingly said he was not worried by Harper’s comments and described them as the kind of thing he has heard from players over the years.
Mattingly said he sensed Harper was thinking about the deadline, but did not get that feeling from the rest of the roster. He added that players can want to make front-office calls without knowing the full picture of an organization’s plans.
Any deadline moves will be handled by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Preston Mattingly, Don Mattingly’s son, ESPN reported. Mattingly said Dombrowski has a history of trying to improve his clubs and that the Phillies are trying to get better at the deadline.
Luzardo says the Phillies can still recover
Luzardo told reporters he still believes Philadelphia can reach the postseason. He pointed to the club’s earlier form, saying the Phillies had been the best team in baseball for an extended run, and described the current trouble as a bad rut rather than a team-wide flaw.
Mattingly also said he still feels good about the roster. He acknowledged the recent play has not been good enough, but said he does not view anything that has happened so far as proof the Phillies cannot get the job done.
His bottom line was blunt: the Phillies have to play better. With the standings tightening and the deadline clock ticking, Philadelphia’s room for drift has shrunk fast.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.