However, many question why the Phillies got rid of Cliff Lee. At the time, they got some prospects for him. However, those prospects are not at the level of what they gave up for Oswalt. So essentially, they downgraded in prospects, as well as pitching. Regardless, this was a pretty necessary move and it really moves the Phillies back into Wild Card contention. It was a good move now, but the Phillies may regret not keeping Lee.

For the most part, the pitching can be credited with why the Phillies took this series. The last two victorious were both 1-0 wins. So while the pitching heavily stepped up, the batting still looked pretty miserable. And with Utley and Polanco still on the disabled list, that will not get any better.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Phillies need to make a move. There is no point in acquiring a pitcher if the team cannot score runs. Adding a bat to the lineup should be a higher priority on Ruben Amaro’s list.

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But three men, along with the Jimmy Rollins’s injury are responsible for the Phillies lackluster batting. Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, and Raul Ibanez are all batting over 30 points below their career batting average. This could be expected from Ibanez, as he got a severe injury last year, and is climbing up there in age. With Rollins gone, Victorino is the leadoff hitter. A .250 batting average in the leadoff spot will simply not cut it.

For someone that has a .293 career average, a .260 average for Utley is not very good. He is usually the most consistent hitter for the Phillies, and gets on base for Howard to knock him in. With these three struggling, it has taken a toll on the Philadelphia lineup. The three of them are a combined 100 points below their career batting averages. We can only hope it improves. If not, the Phillies could be watching the playoffs on TV.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

But outside of Roy Halladay, the pitching has been shaky. With Happ on the DL, it forces Philadelphia to use Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer, and Joe Blanton as starters. All have extremely high ERA’s.

Realistically, Martinez would not be pitching within the next month. It is not a guarantee that he will sign, but he will want work, and the Phillies will be looking to hire.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network</a

Roy Halladay has been stellar, with eight wins, five complete games, and a low ERA of 2.08. There is nothing to critique about it, as he has been easily worth the investment.

To the surprise of some, Cole Hamels is not doing too badly this season. His numbers are fair, but what sticks out is the fact that he has let up 13 home runs in 12 starts. And just like in his last start, he pitched beautifully, and then proceeded to let up multiple home runs. When the Phillies send Hamels out on the mound, nobody knows which Hamels they are going to get. There is the Hamels who was the World Series MVP, and there is the Hamels who wanted last season to be over.

Like Hamels, 47-year-old Jamie Moyer has an ERA of 3.98. Moyer got off to a terrible month of April. But after posting a 3.66 ERA in May and a 2.00 ERA in his only June start, Moyer looks to be on the rise. But at Moyer’s age, injury and endurance will always be a risk. While he is playing well right now, who knows how reliable he will be in a few months.

Despite being above .500, Kyle Kendrick has been far from stellar so far. Opponents are batting .277 against him, which is not exactly something to brag about for Kendrick. He has walked 19 batters, next to just 27 strikeouts. Nobody is asking for him to be good. But being mediocre would be a start.

Lastly is the debacle that so far is Joe Blanton’s 2010 season. With a 1-4 record, nothing seems to be going right for Blanton. He loses control early, and certainly does not regain it. His 6.07 ERA makes him look like he should not even be in the majors. This is clearly not the Joe Blanton that the Phillies signed up for, and it is not the Joe Blanton that the Phillies are used to. A trip to the minors, or back to the DL would probably be best at this point.

The Phillies are underachieving so far, but it is only June, and there should not be too much worry. They are still a dangerous team, and could all catch fire at any given time. The batting has been struggling, but will absolutely come around. However, the starting pitching, aside from Halladay, could take a turn for the worse. Another phone call to Pedro Martinez could be in order. Or maybe Ruben Amaro can come up with another good trade as the season goes along. But whatever happens, this starting rotation is not looking too sharp. The rotation has come a long way since Robert Person and Brandon Duckworth, but it is not what it needs to be if the Phillies want to add another World Series Championship to their resume.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

While I expect the Phillies offense to get on track because that lineup is just too talented, there has to be a little concern in Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins has been unable to stay healthy this year and they have not gotten much production from his replacement Juan Castro. If the Phillies are going to make a third straight trip to the World Series this fall, they must get a healthy and productive Jimmy Rollins back into the lineup. He is the catalyst for that offense and sets the table for Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network