Money Aside, All Lose with Jayson Werth's Departure from the Phillies

Yesterday, conjecture became reality. After many months of speculation that Jayson Werth would leave the Phillies when his contract expired, it became official when the Washington Nationals signed him to a mega-deal.

Most everyone would agree that the terms of the contract widely exceeded expectations. Even the Nationals GM Mike Rizzo admitted as much by implying that the 7-year, $126 million deal had to be inflated to attract a high profile free agent due to the team's less than stellar track record. 

Beyond the obvious financial windfall benefiting Werth and his agent Scott Boras, all parties involved seem to lose at some level. Additionally, each will be subject to risks that will not be easily overcome.

Although the Phillies abundance of remaining talent, headed by the Big Three, will still position them as strong contenders in 2011, the team is clearly worse off without Werth. 

It is apparent to most all observers that the club loses its one big right-handed power bat to break up its lefty sluggers. More peripherally, though, they lose the type of patient hitter that runs up pitch counts and on base percentage. 

And, for Phillies fans who suffered through watching the Bobby Abreu era, Werth's defensive range, aggressive baserunning and all out hustle were highly valued. In fact, these qualities along with his work ethic make him the type of player that Philly fans embrace (although not now that he has jumped ship.) 

In anticipation of "J-Dub's" exit, most pundits and fans have envisioned replacing him with a platoon scenario. Names such as Ben Francisco, John Mayberry Jr, Matt Diaz, and Jeff Francouer have surfaced to pair with left-handed rookie phenom Domonic Brown. Unfortunately, none of them possess Werth's combination of speed, range, arm, or gamer mentality-- let alone batting capabilities. 

Besides securing a five-tool player, the Nationals also lose on many fronts with this deal. Even if they can shrug off the scorn from most every other GM and team owner around baseball for raising the bar by handing a 31-year old player with a history of injury a seven-year contract at an average annual salary of $18 million, they still have issues. 

Should Werth's production start to fade as he moves out of his prime, their return on investment will nose dive. Or, even worse, if the injury bug returns, it could happen sooner. 

Part of Rizzo's rationale for overspending right now is that his club needed to acquire the type of centerpiece necessary to build a winner and signal to other players around the league that Washington has a bright future. 

This seems particularly risky considering that Werth never played that role in Philly. The free spirited right fielder resided more in the supporting cast behind big name stars such as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge, and Cole Hamels.

This is not to say that Werth is incapable of stepping up to be "The Man," but placing a nine figure bet on that happening makes a former round Philadelphia hoops star's gambling look like child's play.    

Lastly, the Nats have been accumulating some nice young talent, but still appear to be a year or two away from serious contention. The return of Stephen Strasburg from Tommy John surgery and the development of fellow phenom Bryce Harper seem to point to 2012 or 2013 as the season for Washington to emerge from the bottom feeder depths.  

      

The signing of Werth does not quite align with that timeline. 

And, importantly, despite now being financially set for life, Werth loses a lot by inking this contract. The next seven years will likely never rival the fun and excitement that he experienced while in red pinstripes. 

It all starts with the chemistry in the clubhouse, created by a rare mix of talented, selfless, and winning ballplayers. The Phillies have the intangibles to go with the skills that translates into an enjoyable environment and ultimately success. 

As for today's Nats- not so much. 

When he steps out of the clubhouse onto the field, it is highly unlikely that Werth will experience the same electric atmosphere that was a constant throughout his stay in Philly. 

Philadelphia's NL-leading attendance last season was more than double the numbers in Washington. Nat's fans occupied 53.9 percent of the stadium each game, while Phillies fans over-stuffed Citizen's Bank Park at 103.5 percent of capacity. 

Perhaps an even more important difference can be found in the DNA of each set of fans. Let's just say that Washington fans don't exactly come to mind when terms like "passionate," "knowledgeable," and "vocal" are thrown around the baseball world— but are almost synonymous with those residing in the City of Brotherly Love.  

Werth's switch of red uniforms also brings a ramped up set of expectations and pressure. It remains to be seen how he will respond to it, but history suggests that those two elements often rob some of the joy of playing a kids game as your everyday occupation. 

Wrapped around all of this is the fact that the Phillies are still built to win now. No matter how much money is sitting in a bank account or portfolio, winning is always a lot more fun. 

Washington might have a bright future. But, if the Phillies can figure out how to patch the gaping hole left by his departure, it may be a tortuous couple years for Werth watching his former teammates strive for historic excellence. 

Some have reacted to Werth's contract with anger and disdain, incensed that he would choose money over winning. Although it is disappointing to see one of my favorite and most admired Phillies players leave town, it is virtually impossible to begrudge him accepting a deal the magnitude that was offered. 

If recent reports have been true, the Nationals offer was three or four years longer and $62-78 million greater than what Ruben Amaro extended to Werth. 

That goes way beyond the range of a hometown discount and vaults into the category of "an offer that can't be refused."

Its sad, but true that Werth is no longer a Phillie and is now a National. As a result, it will be a little bit less fun for Phillies fans when they head to the park next season.  

And, I suspect, the same will hold true for Werth— perhaps even more-so.   

Despite Injuries, The 2010 Philadelphia Phillies Team Is Potentially The Best Yet

Thus far, the 2010 season has been a ride of misfortune for the Philadelphia Phillies. It has been the baseball equivalent of getting out of the wrong side of bed in the morning.  

With a seemingly unending stream of injuries that have depleted the team from opening day, this season surely has not played out as the team's brain trust intended or baseball pundits projected. 

Only two of the Phillies' five starting pitchers at season's outset have taken their turn all season long— Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. Joe Blanton, JA Happ, and now Jamie Moyer all have resided  on the Disabled List for extended periods of time. 

Every member of the National League's most formidable infield have done the same, with All-Stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard currently nursing injuries. Earlier in the year, of course, Gold Glove shortstop and offensive catalyst Jimmy Rollins made dual tours of duty on the DL. 

And, that's not all. Regular catcher Carlos Ruiz and center fielder Shane Victorino, along with relievers Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, and Chad Durbin have all been shut down. Also, based on performance trends, it seems probable that Raul Ibanez played his way back to full health after offseason surgery. 

It has all transpired like a heart pounding anxiety attack that might awaken Ruben Amaro or Charlie Manuel in the middle of the night, except it's not a nightmare— it's real.  

What's a Manager to do? What's a General Manager to do? 

Perhaps exactly what they have done through this challenging, Rubik's Cube of a season. 

Both Amaro and Manuel have kept a sense of calm that spills over to the players in the clubhouse. 

Although many questioned whether the team possessed a false sense of security or even a general malaise induced by previous success, players and their leaders refrained from tossing out lifeboats. All maintained an outward sense of confidence and optimism that things would turn, especially as key players returned to the field.  

To his credit, Manuel acknowledged the injury situation, but never bemoaned it. Instead, he used the full roster and whatever reinforcements could be pulled from the farm system below. 

The skipper's patience and belief in his entire roster is now paying dividends. 

Supporting role players such as Kyle Kendrick, Wilson Valdez, Ben Francisco, Ross Gload, Brian Schneider and Jose Contreras have performed admirably in the absence of their higher profile teammates. 

And let's not forget Ibanez, who just may not be over the hill after all. The 38-year old left fielder has seemed to find his stroke— better late than never— and is currently playing a starring role in the middle of the lineup. The rejuvenated player even seems a couple steps faster. 

Most importantly, it's all now translating into wins. Suddenly the Atlanta Braves feel the figurative hot breath of the Phillies on the back of their necks— a two game lead with two months to go is not the same comfort zone they experienced just a couple weeks prior. 

As for Amaro, and the rest of the Phillies brass, they have stepped up as well rather than bale on the season. They have also responded admirably to the adversity that has been dealt (and perhaps somewhat induced with the now infamous winter trade) through a series of moves that seem to put the team in position for another World Series run. 

First, the team's resolve to hang onto prized prospect Dominic Brown is paying rewards. The five tool right fielder has helped provide a much needed boost to the lineup— and frozen ropes to nail runners at the plate never hurt either. 

Then, against odds, Amaro landed baseball's other ace righty hurler named Roy to give the Phillies book ends around locked-in lefty Cole Hamels. With Kendrick and Blanton trending well, the rotation looks poised to lead the way, especially with a patchwork lineup for the foreseeable future.

Although his rocky debut dropped his record to 6-13, "I Gotta Feeling" that Oswalt isn't going to end the season with a losing record. He has a made a career out of being a strong closer, and the adrenaline of a pennant race will provide a wondrous boost.  

And, it is no small thing that Oswalt joins a club with Werth still wearing the same red pinstripes. 

Wednesday, Amaro may have pulled off another much quieter, but substantial coup when he acquired first baseman Mike Sweeney from the Seattle Mariners. If he can remain healthy, the veteran slugger will definitely add juice to the lineup while Howard mends. 

When the "Big Piece" returns, Sweeney will cast the type of strategy altering shadow out of the dugout like that provided by Matt Stairs in 2008. And, all reports suggest that he is the type of upbeat personality to perfectly mesh with the team's already great clubhouse chemistry.  

The fact that he swings from the right side of the plate provides some additional leeway to play Brown. Sweeney's presence should also serve to diffuse some the pressure that Jayson Werth could be feeling to make up for the brown-out associated with the loss of Howard, Utley, and Victorino. 

Amaro and key advisor Pat Gillick are aptly proving that it pays to maintain friends around the league. 

The main area of concern revolves around the bullpen— and specifically closer Brad Lidge. Almost two years of adventure  tends to do that to even the most optimistic managers and fans. 

Surely, the concerns are valid with Lidge's diminished fastball, sporadic command, and high wire finishes. On the plus side, the former "Lights Out" hurler has put together three solid outings after his well publicized meltdown in Washington. 

Should Lidge fail to find his mojo, Contreras is still flashing closer stuff with his heavy fastball. And, who knows, maybe Madson can finally get over the hump to become a viable closer option? Or, there's always Scott Mathieson down on the farm dealing high heat. 

Where this all leads is to a potentially very rosy picture for this troubled season to date. Oddly enough, this club has the potential of being the best yet when the games increase in urgency and importance. 

The return of Howard, Utley, and Victorino along with the addition of new cast mates such as Oswalt, Brown, and Sweeney creates the very real potential to provide more high drama when the leaves turn colors in the "City of Brotherly Love." 

The challenges that come with a rash of injuries can often turn into advantages. Players such as Greg Dobbs, Francisco, Gload, Schneider, and Valdez have gained the opportunity to hone their skills while the regulars sit on the sidelines— which translates into a stronger, more productive bench down the road. 

The team needs to keep grinding out wins while not at full force to stay within striking distance, but this team has all the makings of being a beast down the stretch and in the postseason. 

And, considering the tremendous struggle this season has been, it could possibly be the most satisfying as well. 

Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies is Like a Do Over for Ruben Amaro

Exactly one year from his first blockbuster trade, Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro pulled off another high profile trade to acquire an ace hurler. And, like a year ago, the acquisition of Roy Oswalt seems to push the team to the front of the contending pack in the National League and possibly all of baseball.

Despite being under fire at times, the young executive has demonstrated a clear willingness to make bold moves in the quest of bringing another World Series Championship to Philadelphia. It might be best summed up- no regrets, no fear. 

Last July's acquisition of Cliff Lee propelled the Phillies to a second straight National League Pennant and brought them to the brink of a repeat of winning it all. This year's deal could prove to be exactly what the current team needs to overcome the NL Eastern Division deficit. 

And, perhaps even more importantly, a pair of righty Roy's split up by lefty Cole Hamels would make the Phillies a highly daunting postseason opponent for anyone. 

It also stands to reason that the best starting pitching trio in the "Bigs" will be like a non-narcotic  Valium for hitters who have been pressing a bit for a couple months. Last season's team seemed to breath a collective sigh of relief when Lee displayed his dominating presence and the team took off. 

Just like last year's trade, Amaro seemed to come away with the better end of the deal and a huge boost for the Phillies' lofty aspirations. Short of re-acquiring Lee or getting a do-over on the December deal that sent him to the Pacific Northwest, landing Oswalt was the next best thing. 

And, what makes it especially impressive is that RAJ was able to get his old boss Ed Wade to pay more than half of the salary owed to the hard-throwing right-hander over the balance of this season and next year. 

Parting with 2009 Sporting News Rookie-of-the-Year pitcher J.A. Happ is difficult considering his fine performance thus far and his low price tag, but otherwise Amaro did not have to part with any of the team's most prized prospects. 

The team had been very high on young speedster Anthony Gose, but concerns started to surface about his plate discipline. The ability to retain top prospects such as Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Trevor May, and of course, Dominic Brown make this a coupe. 

Besides the psychological boost that the acquisition of Oswalt provides throughout the Phillies clubhouse, it may also have an equally deflating effect on the competition- specifically the Atlanta Braves. 

At the end of yesterday's action, the Braves find their once commanding lead narrowed down to 2.5 games. Oh, and by the way, the team breathing down their necks featured a splashy debut of baseball's number one prospect on Wednesday and then added one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past 10 years yesterday. 

Thursday's deal goes a long way towards erasing the lingering unrest associated with the trade of  last year's postseason hero for three  prospects rather than taking a shot at greatness in 2010. 

The consensus still tilts heavily towards the opinion that the Phillies would have been better off hanging onto Lee, but Amaro deserves a lot of credit for swinging this deal to corner the market on stud starters named Roy while having the Astros foot half the bill. 

Besides the unknown of how young players will fare in coming seasons, the only concerns center around Oswalt's health and the financial implications going forward. The All-Star hurler has had some history of back problems and some believe that Oswalt's additional salary burden will negate any chances of the team resigning Jayson Werth. 

Apparently Amaro and the Phillies' medical consultants are confident that Oswalt's back will be fine and all will get a chance to render their own assessment when he takes the mound tonight in Washington. As far as Werth goes, it appears the club will have the rebounding slugger's services for the balance of this season, so all will defer that issue until this chapter is closed. 

This all comes at a time when Phillies hitters seem to be catching their stride. Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins have all elevated their performances in the second half, which has played a big part in the team's current eight game winning streak.  

Just a week ago, hopes for the 2010 season seemed to be fading quickly. One stellar homestand and one masterful trade later has the Phillies suddenly looking like the team to beat again. 

Surely, they still have work to do as they currently sit behind the Braves in the NL East and others in the Wild Card race. With Chase Utley and Shane Victorino still on the DL and Jimmy Rollins nursing a foot injury, they will not be at full strength for the foreseeable future. 

Although the fear factor may have jumped up a bit around the league, other teams will certainly not rollover for them. But injuries and current record notwithstanding, the Phillies now certainly appear to have the fire power to surge ahead. 

The Oswalt deal would seem to signal acknowledgement that both Amaro and organization executives realize that the thought process behind last winter's transaction might have been flawed. Another bold, masterful move on July 29th once again is about as close to a "do over" as it gets, though. 

Props to RAJ.

Can Walk-Off Weekend Propel the Philadelphia Phillies to Second Half Success?

The Philadelphia Phillies first half struggles are well documented. A disappointing road trip and three game match-up against the division leading Atlanta Braves left them with a 43-40 record and six games out of first heading into the final weekend before the All-Star break. 

To make matters worse, the Phillies were staring at a four game series against the surging Central Division leading Cincinnati Reds. The potential existed to be deeply buried at the figurative mid-season breaking point.

But, then something unlikely and uncharacteristic for the challenging 2010 season occurred— the Phillies found a way to pull off a series sweep and restore their hope for the second half. 

And, as big as it was to string together four victories, it was even more amazing considering the manner in which it was done. 

All four games could have gone either way. The first three were won on walk-off hits in extra innings— two of which landed in the outfield seats.

On Thursday night, the game seemed headed for the same recurring nightmare of the past two seasons when Brad Lidge blew a save opportunity in the ninth, allowing the Reds to knot the score at 3-3 with two outs. But, rather than allow the game to turn into another frustrating defeat, they hung in until back-up catcher Brian Schneider ended the game in the 12th with a home plate victory dance after depositing a ball well into the right field stands. 

The next night, the Reds jumped out to an early lead and appeared headed to an easy victory sporting a 7-1 lead after adding an insurance run in the top of the ninth. What followed was something even the most optimistic Phillies fans could not conjure in their minds with late game heroics a fading memory. 

A small rally blossomed into an eruption when "below-the-Mendoza" Gregg Dobbs jacked a 434-foot, three-run bomb to cut the lead to 7-5. An out and a walk later, minor league fill-in Cody Ransom smacked another home run to stave off defeat. 

This time, after holding the Reds scoreless in the 10th, a Raul ibanez double was followed by Ryan Howard's big fly into the left field seats. For the second consecutive night, the hometown heroes finished the evening with a team-wide celebratory scrum at home plate. 

Fast forward to game three on Saturday night. Ace Roy Halladay demonstrated his considerable pitching skills once again, shutting out the league leading offense through nine innings. 

Unfortunately, as has often been the case this year, the Phillies could muster very little offense themselves. In fact, rookie Travis Wood was shockingly heading towards baseball immortality by firing a perfect game before Carlos Ruiz led off the ninth with a double. 

Wood escaped trouble, and the teams traded bagels until the bottom half of the 11th. Ruiz smacked another double and scored on Jimmy Rollins clutch two-out single to kick off the now familiar nightly celebration. 

The series finale on Sunday was not a walk-off, but was definitely another nail biter. This time, the Phillies used the same Ruiz double, Rollins single combination to plate a run in the third inning and rode a brilliant Cole Hamels pitching performance to a 1-0 lead heading into the ninth. 

Of course, some drama ensued when Lidge was called upon to nail down the save. This day, he was up to the task, demonstrating better command and his signature slider. 

For the weekend's work, the Phillies crept a little closer to the Braves and are now breathing down the necks of the second place New York Mets. Just 1/2 game out of second, the Phillies start the second half 4 1/2 games in back of the Braves. 

Besides the psychological lift of feeling that they are within striking distance, the manner in which the Phillies were able to sweep the Reds could provide the necessary boost they need to make another divisional run. 

As skipper Charlie Manuel noted, the team seemed to be missing a spark. Neither fans or players seemed to possess the confidence that this year's team had its customary late inning heroics in its figurative DNA. 

Perhaps this past weekend's events will restore that former feeling of invincibility and swagger that has permeated the team over the previous three seasons. 

And, make no mistake about it, that missing mojo will be instrumental to realizing the lofty goals set forth before this injury riddled season. 

The Phillies find themselves in the uncustomary position of playing catch-up, but a little mojo— and the return of the walking wounded— will go a long way towards recapturing the NL East. The Braves are good and will keep the pressure on, but perhaps players and fans will look back at "Walk-off Weekend" as this year's turning point.    

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 12

Part 12 of 12

Top Prospect Dominic Brown

The Final Word

Overall, the Philadelphia Phillies' 2010 season has not gone according to plans thus far and will not for the foreseeable future. Like the Mets a year ago, the injury bug has hit the team hard.

With key players such as Utley, Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz, Madson, Happ, and Chad Durbin currently residing on the disabled, it is unknown when the team might be close to full strength.  

It will likely require 95 wins or more to capture the NL East in 2010. Consequently, unless other compensating factors emerge such as a trade or extraordinary performances by others, the Phillies may need a perfect score on all 10 of these items to overtake the Mets and Braves.

Tougher competition and a seemingly unending stream of obstacles might make this season the Phillies' greatest challenge in recent years. 

And, with few bargaining chips and little payroll wiggle room, the organization is likely going to need to find the formula for success from within. Could one ingredient be in the Lehigh Valley?

Stay tuned— it should be an adventurous ride ahead.

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 11

Part 11 of 12

10. Develop a sense of urgency

One understandable and natural byproduct of a successful sports team such as the current era Phillies is to get lulled into a false sense of security. 

Simply put, because the Phils have been able to finish each of the last few seasons with a rush that captured them the division crown, players can come to expect that the same will happen again. 

At one level, this can instill a sense of calm and over-arching self-assuredness that will get the team through rough spots and high pressure situations. 

But, it can also cross a fine line into a lack of urgency— or even complacency. It can be very dangerous to believe that everything will fall into place once again and all work out in the end. 

In 2007, a strong closing finish by the Phillies along with a Mets collapse turned a 7 1/2 deficit into a division title in 17 games. Expecting a similar occurence moves toward the probability of catching lightning in a bottle twice. 

Philadelphia Phillies 

The following year, although to a lesser magnitude, the Phils once again surged past the Mets in September. Last season, a strong stretch run provided a comfortable lead that proved enough to hold off the late surging Marlins and Braves. 

An improved Braves team and healthy Mets club seem to have raised the bar for 2010, especially since easy wins against the Nationals will not be so readily available to boost the Phillies cause. 

Confidence and a bit of swagger is good, but adding in a sense of urgency to grab the pole position and keep rivals chasing would be even better. 

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 10

Part 10 of 12

9. Cliff Lee is not traded to the Mets or Braves

This one is largely out of the Phillies control, but needless to say would inflict a painful blow. For fans, and perhaps some players, who never bought into the rationale for trading away last season's postseason hero, a Cliff Lee trade to one of the Phils' chief rivals would add insult to injury.

Considering that the Seattle Mariners are mired in dead last with little hope to dig its way to the top, and Lee is almost surely going to test the free agent waters at season's end, it is an overwhelmingly safe bet that he will be moved before the trade deadline. 

Heading into the season, Atlanta's starting rotation was considered a key strength. An injury to Jair Jurrjens and a 1-9 start by Kenshin Kawakami has put a little chink in that armor, so renting an ace for the pennant run might not be out of the question.

The more likely destination would be the "Big Apple." Over the past week, speculation about the Mets' interest in Lee has heated up. GM Omar Minaya has a history of rolling the dice by trading prospects for veterans and obtaining Lee would probably make them the instant favorite amongst baseball pundits. 

Should Lee land with another elite team such as the Yankees, Dodgers, Cardinals, Red Sox, etc— it would also make the Phillies quest for another World Series title much more challenging. But first things first, so near term concerns would revolve around their own division rivals. 

There seems little hope that the Phillies would craft a pre-emptive strike and re-acquire the pitcher they dumped for a trio of long-range prospects. The team's dearth of minor league talent, bloated payroll, and clumsy handling of the Lee deal last winter make it unlikely, so they can only hope that a team like the Rangers wins the sweepstakes. 

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 9

Part 9 of 12

8. Chase being Chase

The recent struggles of Chase Utley illustrated how important his offense is to the Phillies success. 

Because of his remarkable consistency as a fixture in the three hole over the previous five years, his production tends to be taken a little bit for granted. The brownout that dropped his name from the NL leader boards to journeyman territory noticeably undermined the offense.

The team's fortunes turned around about the same time Utley emerged from his extended slump. 

Now that it has been determined that the thumb injury will likely keep Utley out of action for eight weeks, this issue has substantially grown. His absence could prove to be a huge blow to the Phillies hopes.   

This is not to suggest that the team will pack it in with Utley lost for an extended period of time, but most everything else has to go right— and maybe then some— to compensate.

For instance, Jimmy Rollins playing like it was 2007 all over again or Ryan Howard taking his trademark second half surge to a monster level would do wonders. Or, perhaps a trade for the next Tad Iguchi would bridge the gap. 

Chase being Chase is clearly part of the Phillies' secret sauce. 

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 8

Part 8 of 12

7. J.A. Happ is back and productive— or Kyle Kendrick makes a leap in consistency

After initially pitching out of the bullpen,  J.A. Happ replaced an ineffective Park and became the team's second best starter over the balance of the 2009 regular season.  Had the team not acquired Cliff Lee at the trade deadline, Happ would have been considered their most successful starter. 

Had Happ not had such a fine rookie campaign, and later had the Phillies not acquired Lee and Pedro Martinez, it is highly doubtful that they would have even made the postseason. 

The young lefty was clearly a key component to last season's success as he gave the team a strong chance to win virtually every time he took the mound.  

Happ just completed his fifth rehab start and is clearly not pitching at the same level that earned him Sporting News Rookie of the Year honors. He is starting to re-gain his command, but his velocity is 5-8 mph lower than normal.  

A return to health and form would provide a huge boost to the 2010 club. Right now, that appears to be an iffy proposition, so it could be some time before the form re-appears despite the indication that he is feeling better. 

Should that not materialize, current fill-in Kyle Kendrick needs to take his game to the next level to find better consistency. He has turned in some fine performances, but also some very poor outings as well. 

Monday night's loss left Kendrick with a 4-3 mark and 4.88 ERA. If the team hopes to win another division title, they will need better from Happ or Kendrick. 

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 7

Part 7 of 12

6. Joe Blanton replicates last year's second half performance

Similar to last season, Joe Blanton got off to a dismal start. This year was a tad different in that injury played a role, but the results have been very similar. 

A key element to the Phillies strong finish a year ago was that Blanton turned things around to become a highly dependable starter over the last three months.

The team needs the same from him this year. 

With Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels pitching well at the top of the rotation, yet only registering a 15-12 record between them thus far, it highlights that the Phillies need the other three starters to consistently keep them in games. Part of the reason for this anomoly relates to the fact that these two are matching up against other team's top hurlers, so it stands to reason that strong pitching from the other starters provides a greater opportunity to register a "W." 

After 8 starts in 2009, Blanton was 2-3 with a lofty 7.11 ERA. Making his best case for the history repeats itself theory, Big Joe was sitting at 1-5 with a 7.28 ERA this season. 

The team hopes that the three solid performances since then are the beginning of a similar trend line to a year ago. Blanton went 10-5 with a 3.16 ERA over the balance of the season— a performance that the Phillies would happily embrace in 2010.

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 6

Part 6 of 12

5. Consistency in closing games

The difference between a World Series Championship in 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2009 arguably came down to one player. Brad Lidge went from "Lights Out" with a perfect 48 closing conversions to becoming a white knuckle adventure. 

With the Braves having more talent and the Mets having better health this season, the Phillies must have consistency when they call on Lidge to close out games in order to overtake them. 

Both of those clubs have reliable closers who take care of business and the Phillies can ill afford to allow wins to get away in the final frame.  And make no mistake, the impact of blown saves extends beyond the won-loss columns to reach into the psyches of the entire ball club. 

Lidge has exhibited better command and greater confidence than a year ago, but two blown conversions and six runs in his last four innings of work triggers some unrest. Last night's three run rally with two outs and no one on base in the ninth was reminiscent of last year.

Fortunately, the offense baled him out with their own three spot in the 10th inning to make him a winner and diminish the psychological hit a team feels when defeat is suddenly grabbed from the jaws of victory.

It would be unrealistic to expect anything approaching perfection over the balance of the season, especially considering Lidge's struggles since his 2008 season ending victory leap. However, it seems a must that the Phillies' closer exhibits high reliability and instills confidence throughout the clubhouse. 

Regrettably, last night was another step in the opposite direction.