The Phillies enter All-Star Weekend with a .5 game lead for first place in the NL East. Somehow the Mets picked up there season and have actually been playing well. I guess Willie Randolph really was the problem for them. For us, it’s our starting pitching. The Phillies won 2 out of three against the Diamondbacks to lead into the break but the one loss was when Adam Eaton got blasted for 8 runs in 3 2/3 innings. The Dbacks scored 8 runs in the 4th. That’s tough to come back from. I fully expect the Phillies to add another starter to the rotation before the trace deadline of July 31st. They have made an initial offer for AJ Burnett from the Blue Jays, and Erik Bedard has been a hot topic ever since that Philly radio show he did.
A .5 game lead in the divisios bodes well for a team that normally plays it’s best ball in the second half of the season. I have said all along that the Marlins won’t last because they are too young. The Mets are talented but I don’t think they have the ability to stay strong mentally to compete. All of them have to be playing well to win, whereas the Phillies hardly ever have everyone playing well at the same time. We need to get rid of Adam Eaton, and keep Myers in the minors to stay strong into the playoffs. Our bullpen has fantastic with Brad Lidge being arguably the best closer this season. The rest of those guys (Tom Gordon excluded) have also been very good.
Enjoy All-Star Weekend (even though it’s during the week). I won’t be able to because I am on vacation in northern Michigan with no TV. Luckily there is a bar and a place that has wireless so I can find out what’s going on eventually!
