It feels weird writing a negative blog after the impressive 3 game sweep of the Braves. But don't let the Phillies recent hot streak cloud the fact they have been mismanaged over the last number of years. Amaro has taken the defending World Champs and turned them into a team that is struggling to compete in a bad division. If you didn't think the 1st 5 moves were bad, the next 5 will having you running to call David Montgomery and demand answers!

The opening match for the United States Mens National Team in the 2014 World Cup started at 6PM EST. By 6:01 the US had already put an emphatic stamp on the cup that sent shockwaves thundering throughout the states. Clint "Deuce" Dempsey dribbled his way through the left side of the Ghanaian defense and put the ball in the back right side of the net for the fastest World Cup goal ever for the United States. I BELIEVE!

It's a long season that seems to be getting longer with each game. After the Phillies 4-1 loss to the Reds on Sunday the Phils are now a season-low 11 games under .500 at 25-36. The worst record in the National League and the second worst record in all of baseball. The Phillies are on pace to lose 96 games. From an ultimate optimist point of view everything in me wants to sing High Hopes and pray for a hot streak but this stretch of bad baseball and any sign of life pushes me closer to the edge of the ultimate Negadelphian, as much as I hate to admit that. 

We are 7 games past the 1/3 mark of the season so let's break down some numbers and see why this Phillies team is so bad. 

Ruben Amaro took over as the Phillies GM, the day after the Parade in 2008. He was handed the reigning World Series Champions who were just 13th in payroll and were stocked full of young players in their prime. Now just 6 years later, he has assembled one of the oldest teams in baseball with the 3rd highest payroll and they are on their way to their 3rd consectitive season failing to finish above .500.