"Don't Let a Two-Game Win Streak Fool You — the Palms Have Work to Do"

 by Rhys Thomason, South Florida Hardball

So here’s the truth: the Palms have won two straight. Great. That’s nice. It’s better than the alternative, sure. But if you’re celebrating like this team has turned a corner, I’ve got a bridge in Brickell I’d love to sell you.

Let’s not lose the plot just because the team finally managed to string a couple W’s together. They’re 9–10. They’re still in the basement of the standings. And while the wins over the Rays were competent, they didn’t scream “contender.” They whispered “treading water.”

And I’m not sure the bullpen can hold up. Scott Hatteberg has had to reach for Jeremy Jeffress and Chris Martin too often already, and it’s still April. When your starters can’t reliably get into the seventh, you're building a house on sand. Erick Fedde gave five decent innings in Wednesday’s win, but Wandy Peralta nearly torched it all before the back end of the bullpen bailed him out. Again.

Offensively, Matt Wieters is carrying more than he should at his age, Brett Gardner is grinding out veteran at-bats like it’s 2011, and Jaspero Gonzalez has been a one-man rally spark. But too often, the bottom of the order feels like a dead zone. And while Pat Grant has his moments, you can’t keep slotting a .260-ish slap hitter in the three-hole like he’s prime Freddie Freeman.

Even the coaching staff feels… tepid. Tony Rico keeps talking about “process” on the mound, but I’d prefer results. And Joe Gras is doing well with what he’s got, but what he’s got is half a lineup that looks allergic to runners in scoring position.

With the Yankees rolling into town this weekend, we’re about to see exactly what the Palms are made of. And if you’re still riding high on beating a Rays team that treated this series like a spring training tune-up, I suggest you buckle up.

Because the Bronx Bombers don’t play around. And the Palms better figure it out fast—otherwise, two in a row will be the high point of a long summer.

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