Pheelin’ Great!!

The Philadelphia Phillies were in a slump for the better half of June. That has seemingly turned around and at the right time for this ball club that is projected to go back to the World Series and possibly win it again this year. After starting the month of July with 2 losses, the Phillies are now 8-3 in the month to date, winning 8 of their last 9 games due to great pitching and timely hitting by their go-to players in what is a feared lineup around the majors which have named five players to the 2009 MLB All-Star game. This is the first time since this team has achieved such a feat since it last did it in 1995. The five All-Stars Ryan HowardRyan Howard, Chase UtleyChase Utley, Raul IbanezRaul Ibanez, Shane VictorinoShane Victorino, and Jayson WerthJayson Werth are all well deserving of the opportunity citing their play over the first half of the season. Even with Ibanez being on the DL for 15-day stint, he still leads the team in HR’s (22), BA (.314) and OPS (1.031) and is clearly the new fan favorite in Philadelphia. While Howard and Utley are both over 20 HR’s and 60 RBI’s each, the team itself has four players with at least 20 Home Runs and six players with at least 40 RBI’s in the first half of this season. The pitching has been a bit rocky to say the least, but National League All-Star and Phillies Manager Charlie ManuelCharlie Manuel has played the hand he has been dealt with those guys and has mixed and matched pitchers from the minors and in the bullpen and has had success over this latest stretch leading into the All-Star break. He credits his players with his having the opportunity to be the National League’s Manager for this Tuesday’s All-Star Game in St. Louis and wants the team to continue to get better in hopes to win another World Series Title this season. Jamie MoyerJamie Moyer leads the teams pitchers in wins with 8, followed by Jeff Blanton with 6,while J.A. Happ has been phenomenal at best by starting the season 5-0, along with Cole HamelsCole Hamels struggling with 5 wins of his own, Brad LidgeBrad Lidge being placed on the DL for lack of rotation on location on some of his pitches, and Chan Ho ParkChan Ho Park being moved from starter to the bullpen, this pitching staff has needed some help and has recently been reported to have had some interest in Pedro Martinez, as well as Roy HalladayRoy Halladay in a possible trade that could put the Phillies rotation at the top of the majors if Happ continues to pitch as well as he has, coupled with Hamels getting back to form. But until they make a move to strengthen their pitching rotation, this team has the offense and skill to carry them through as this month so far has been the equivalent to last years playoff run to the World Series; Magical. They will need help, but somehow, someway, this team figures to be around once again in October and they don’t intend on making an early exit. With this team, there's certainly a"Pheelin" of redemption in closing out the first half of the season, a wave which they'd love to continue to rie after the All-Star break.