The Phils were 13-22 in the "friendly" confines of Citizens Bank Park and a Major-League-best 23-9 anywhere else going into a late June nine-game road trip.
The Phillies were one of the worst home teams in baseball but remained atop the National League East thanks to a great road record, but why?
Plenty of reasons were kicked around sports radio the past week about why:
Could it be a World Series hangover?
Did they lose desire?
Were the injuries really starting to add up?
Do the fans not boo enough?
But, the major reason the Phightins weren't putting up much of a fight at home this season was that they were a nice weather team. Despite packed houses nearly every night, Citizens Bank Park was anything but nice so far this season for the home team.
Hold on, I know what you're thinking. How can they be a warm weather team after winning the World Series despite frigid rain?
Well the numbers never lie. We looked at the game-time temperature for each game so far at CBP.
In the Phils 13 victories the average game-time was 69.4 degrees. In the 22 CBP losses the average temp was 67.8 degrees.
It's only a difference of less than two degrees but 69 is t-shirt weather -- 67 is hoodie weather. Just ask the fans forced to freeze through most of the Phillies' losses.
So far the Phils won only three times at home when the temp dropped below 65. They lost seven times under the same circumstances.
That doesn't even mention all the home games this season when the Phils played around or through drizzle and downpours.
Blaming cold Phillies bats on cool Philly weather is nothing new -- it was used as an excuse for the Phils faltering throughout most Aprils during Charlie Manuel's tenure. It's partly why Manuel likes to say that his team gets going once "hitting season" starts in the summer months.
Manuel couldn't be more right about "hitting season."
The Phils need warm weather to get going. Just look at their record on June 22 the past two seasons: 2007 they were 38-35 (.521) and 2008 they were 42-35 (.545)
This year they are overall 36-31 (.537). If history taught us anything then we should expect them to heat up as the weather does the same.
Sweltering days are good for the Phightins. Look at their road record. The road warriors were bolstered by a trip to warm Southern California (5-2), sunny Florida (3-0) and seasonably warm, 76-degrees-average Yankees Stadium (2-1).
The Phillies need some of that warmth at home -- how about some help "Hurricane?"
For now the best bet for the Phillies is to enjoy an indoor six-game road trip and three games in sweaty Atlanta. Even though they play the tough Tampa Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and division-rival Braves, fans could expect the Phils to bounce back and win more than they lose on the trip.
And when they return home for a big July 4th weekend series against the dreaded Mets there is one thing all Phillies fans should hope for -- warm weather.
Don't you wish it were always sunny in Philadelphia?
