Do the Phillies know the 2009 season has started?

Boy, the Phillies really are doing their best to make us forget about how magical last season was, aren't they? I know it's way too early to start complaining, but has there ever been a defending champion that started out their season with such a dud? Two games are in the books for the Phillies and all they have to show for it is 1 run and 10 hits. This is the same team we always see that gets the slow start in April and starts picking up steam when the weather changes, I'm not sure why I was expecting something different this year just because they won the title last year.

You do have to hand it to the Braves, though. Their pitching looks fantastic with a pair of solid starts by Derek Lowe and Jair Jurrjens backed by a nearly flawless effort from their bullpen. The Braves offense also looks pretty good with all 5 of their most important offensive players homering already this season. Count on Atlanta being a contender in the NL East.

As for the Phillies, we can only hope they salvage at least one win in this series tomorrow afternoon after they get their World Series rings. We can only hope that Joe Blanton get through the inning unscathed, something both Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer have failed to do. Of course, giving up 4 runs a game isn't the end of the world when your lineup isn't filled with a bunch of cold bats. Really the only thing the Phils have going for them right now is their bullpen, which hasn't given up a hit in 7 perfect innings so far.

Let's wait a week or two before we pronounce that the sky is falling in Philadelphia. That's not to say that everything is sunny in Philadelphia because while it's too early to panic, it isn't too early to worry.