IN HINDSIGHT, the line of questioning was destined to be a jinx.
The morning of the Fourth of July, a reporter asked Cody Asche about his recent resurgence. Nothing specific. What was working? What wasn't? What, if anything, felt different about these last few weeks?
He didn't have any specifics, Asche explained, a slight smile working its way toward his left ear. He was just playing better.
Then Asche trotted out and went hitless in four at-bats, the only Phillies position player without a hit or an RBI on the country's birthday.
Lucky for Asche, his team won, 8-2, without his bat.