Right-hander Sean O'Sullivan of the Phillies has a rough streak going as a major leaguer, posting a 7.19 ERA with an 0-9 record over his past 18 outings, including 13 starts, going back to May 12, 2011 — the day of his most recent victory. In all, his team is 2-16 in his appearances in that span. He allowed three runs and five hits Tuesday night in a 7-2 loss to the Pirates. He's been better, he's been worse.
But just because O'Sullivan hasn't notched a victory in a while, it doesn't mean he can't look like he knows what he's doing out there. And O'Sullivan looked as comfortable as an old man on his front porch sipping tea in the second inning against the Pirates with fellow pitcher A.J. Burnett in the batter's box:
That's how they do it at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif.! The looks on the faces of his teammates in the dugout — notably pitchers Chad Billingsley and Cole Hamels — might have been the best part. Were they anticipating O'Sullivan saying something witty? Will this be the highlight of O'Sullivan's season? Hopefully there's more to come, like picking up a win at some point. But he'll always have the Burnett check-swing bare-hand snag.
