Pedro Martinez: Never Can Say Goodbye

Like Other Greats Before Him, Pedro Just Can’t Walk Away

It’s tough seeing great athletes get old.

To see a legend in any sport become faded and ineffective is sad, and it’s a reminder that we too are getting older. For so many years, the elite players seem eternally youthful, vigorous and mighty. At times they can appear almost superhuman.

But, inevitably, age sets in, injuries take their toll, and performance declines.

For many premier athletes, it’s difficult to know when to hang ’em up and say goodbye. When retirement appears to be the obvious choice to the rest of us, the player is still relatively young and still possesses the fire to play.

It’s got to be tough to be told you’re old and over the hill when you’re not even halfway through your projected life span.

Many athletes are unprepared to give up their true passion – the thing that gave them fame, wealth, glory and even their identity. Most have been playing since childhood, have known no other life, held no other job, and just can’t imagine living without the game.

Obviously this describes Pedro Martinez. He is a true competitor who loves a challenge.

However, over the last three seasons, Pedro’s record is 17-15. In 2006 his ERA reached 4.48 and last season it leapt to 5.61, almost twice has career ERA.

Despite posting a 5-6 record and only 87 strikeouts through 109 innings in 20 starts last season, apparently Pedro can’t let go and wants to prove that he’s still got it.

After letting it be known that he wanted to pitch again this year, a few teams were intrigued enough to take a look. All but one said, “No thanks.”

This week, the Phillies signed the future Hall of Famer to a one-year, $1 million deal. It was quite a come down for a player who was seeking a pro-rated $5 million dollar pact. Pedro had previously been playing under a four-year, $53 million contract that expired during the offseason.

After telling reportes this spring that he wouldn’t accept the one-year, $1 million offer that his former Mets teammate Tom Glavine signed with the Braves, Pedro ultimately did just that.

Apparently, reality got in the way of other plans. But reality clearly isn’t dictating any of Pedro’s actions these days.

We’ve seen this movie before. Too many great athlestes have stayed around too long, embarrassing themselves and diminishing their great legacies in the process: Willie Mays, OJ Simpson, Joe Namath, Emmitt Smith, Mario Lemieux, Muhammed Ali, and Evander Holyfield all come to mind. Nobody likes to see former greats look feeble and humbled.

It will be unfortunate if Pedro blemishes his stellar career by continuing to pitch the way he did last year, or the past few years, when his shoulder was toast.

The 37-year-old has a career record of 214-99, and a .684 winning percentage – the third highest of the modern, Post WW II era, behind only Whitey Ford’s .690 and Don Gullett’s .686. He entered 2008 tied with Ford, but fell behind due to his poor and ineffective play.

No matter, Pedro has the second highest winning percentage in Major League history for pitchers with at least 200 career victories.

Despite his injuries and diminished performance over the past three seasons, Pedro has nothing left to prove. Despite his comparatively small stature, he was a giant of the game and reached the pinnacle of the sport on many levels.

If he didn’t pitch again, Pedro would have joined Bob Caruthers and Al Spaulding as the only pitchers with more than 200 wins and fewer than 100 losses in their careers. So much for that distinction.

Yet Pedro is one of 21 pitchers who has a career record 100+ games over .500.

He also has the best ever career adjusted ERA, which measures the pitcher’s career ERA against his league’s ERA over the pitcher’s entire career. On average, throughout his career, Pedro’s ERA has been 1.68 points below the league average.

He is also just the 15th pitcher in MLB history with 3,000 strikeouts, and just the fourth to reach the milestone with fewer than 1000 walks (752). In addition, he is just one of three pitchers (Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson) to record 3000 Ks in fewer than 3000 innings.

When you consider that he pitched during the greatest offensive period in baseball history, it’s all quite amazing.

But he is not that same pitcher anymore, and never again will be. Many of us will choose to remember Pedro for what he was during his prime, rather than what he is now. It’s too bad he can’t do the same.

It’s so much better to remember the Pedro who was so dominant from 1997-2005, rather than the worn out, broken down pitcher we witnessed over the last three years.

As Perdro himself noted, “I gave it up the last few years. I wasn’t the same Pedro Martinez that you’re accustomed to seeing. . . . I think I was too brave sometimes. I was stupid sometimes for pitching and knowing that I wasn’t in the regular health that you should be in. . . . The last few years have been horrible.”

True, true, and true.

Copyright © 2009 Sean M. Kennedy. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author’s consent.

Pedro Martinez: Quick, Ask Me a Question

When I walked into my brother’s house for dinner, he asked me one question.

 

“What did Madonna name her daughter?”

 

“Lourdes,” I said.

 

Instantly, that answer put me on the Trivial Pursuit dream team. All I needed to qualify was one right answer.

 

Hell, if that’s how things work, ask me another question. Quick. Ask me if Africa’s a country.

 

The answer’s “no.”

 

Now I’m qualified to run for President.

 

Here’s another question: Are you currently pitching in the MLB?

 

“No.”

 

You’re hired!

 

Pedro Martinez can talk the talk and walk the walk, but can he still pitch?

 

Who knows. No one else was interested enough to give him a contract this year, but the Phillies aren’t worried, they’re only shelling out a million dollars.

 

A million dollars?! Hey, that’s a lot of money to me. I think I’m qualified to pitch. Quick, ask me a question.

 

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

 

African or European Swallow?

 

No really, I can pitch. I’ve spent hours doing that on the phone.

 

Wait, my husband said that’s not pitching, it’s bitc…Okay, you get the point. But that’s how quickly mistakes are made. It’s like trying to fart but accidentally pooping your pants. You just hope it happens close to home.

 

But Rodrigo Lopez, JA Happ, Antonio Bastardo, or Carlos Carrosco might be looking for a new one. Someone’s got to go. Lopez made his case as a starter in the minors before they were confident enough to bring him up, and Happ has the best stats of anyone in the rotation: He’s 6-0 with a sub three ERA, 6’6”, 200 pounds, brown eyes, nice smile, long thighs…

 

I’m sorry, was I thinking out loud?

 

To me, the necessity of needing more pitchers, like the need for radan testing, is questionable.

 

Forming a pitching staff isn’t as easy as pouring my amorphous breasts into pre-formed cups to make them look bulbous. Pitching is something you can’t fake. And trust me, I know something about that. You can’t mold pitchers like you’re pouring Jello shots.

 

Even though they’re a sweet tasty treat, the side effects are hell—you wake up with no pants and your name’s been changed.

 

And someone knows you lied about your bra size.

 

After last night’s win over the Marlins, maybe “Cold” Hamels finally warmed up for good but why isn’t Disturbin’ Durbin looking for a home? And let’s face it. Eight of the 12 pitchers on the Phil’s active roster are over 30 years old. So let’s pick up Martinez, a guy who’s 37, and go after Halladay, a man who’s 32.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love older men—they’re mature and experienced, and if they need a little performance enhancer to give them a boost, I can wait a few minutes for it to kick in. I have some dishes to do.

 

What’s my point? I don’t think getting starting pitchers is more important than starting pitchers getting it done. Can they just do the job? That’s a question for Pedro Martinez. That’s really a question for the entire staff. And if they pick up Halladay, how long will he be effective?

 

As long as Jamie Moyer? Moyer is great against the Marlins especially when his cousin, Little Jack Horner, is behind the plate giving him the corners.  

 

But every pitcher at some point this season has looked like they need a better reason to perform. That’s why I advocate for cheerleaders. Usually money’s the incentive but with the average annual player salary at $3.2 million, it seems like other “figures” need to take the stage.

 

The excuse before the All-Star break was that the bullpen was overworked but last night’s performance wasn’t an indication of a rested one. Chan Ho Park, Ryan Madson, and Brad Lidge split four of the five earned runs while Disturbin’ Durbin drove up his blood pressure with two hits and two walks in his one plus innings.

 

Fortunately Clay Condrey was activated from the DL to close down an inning and Scott Eyre finally recovered from a pulling a calf while reaching for his beer.

 

And fortunately the offense didn’t fold when the bullpen did. The 6-5 win in 12 innings put the Phillies ahead by six games in the NL East and increased their winning streak to seven.

 

That’s not quite the streak I’d like to see Shane Victorino complete out across the field, but hey, a girl can dream.

 

A girl? How old are you anyway, you ask?

 

Like I told you last year, I’m 39.

 

Quick, ask me another question.

 

Jamie Moyer’s Magic: Yes, He Can Still Pitch

Jamie Moyer is one of the most beloved Phillies players.

He was a hometown kid who grew up as a Phillies fan.

He broke into the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1986, and in his debut, he faced Steve Carlton. He won.

Early in his career, Moyer struggled, and he even considered retirement.

Eventually, he found his groove with the Seattle Mariners, and he still holds the franchise record for wins.

He was traded to the Phillies in 2006 and has found success again. Last year, his best season with the Phillies, he helped them win the World Series.

What else can you ask for?

The 2009 season started off roughly for Moyer. He pitched a few bad games, and many people began to question his ability to pitch in the MLB.

Here’s the answer:

Yes, he can still pitch.

Recently, Jamie Moyer found his groove again and has shut down opposing teams.

Yesterday, he allowed one hit in seven shutout innings against the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium. Along with Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero, they combined for a one-hit shutout.

Jamie Moyer earned his team-leading ninth win. 

More importantly, he won his 255^thcareer victory. Moyer, 46, currently ranks 40^th on baseball’s all-time wins list. He has won 92 games after his 40^th birthday, which is third all-time behind Phil Niekro and Jack Quinn.

Jamie Moyer defies the limitations of age. Most baseball players are swinging golf clubs by the time they are 46.

But Jamie Moyer can still do one thing they can’t—pitch.

Why Cole Hamels Will Rebound in the Second Half

Cole Hamels’ struggles this season have been curious, to say the least. His peripherals look similar to, if not slightly better than in 2008, when he posted a 3.09 ERA and 196 Ks over 227.1 innings. 

Something is clearly going on, though at this point what “it” is a mystery, which has contributed to him posting a line of:

5 Wins
98.0 Innings
4.87 ERA
1.38 WHIP
98 Strikeouts (7.81 K/9)
18 Walks (1.65 BB/9)
.348 BABIP

The strikeout rate is very similar to last year’s 7.76. The walks are actually at a career low after posting BB/9s of 2.11 and 2.10 the previous two seasons. His flyball rate is down slightly from 38.7 percent to 36.8 percent, though the HR/FB is up from 11.2 percent to 13.5 percent.

Yes, that may contribute to a slight regression, but not the disastrous first half he’s posted.

Last year his fastball averaged 90.4 mph, while this season he’s at 90.0. There is no difference there, but the amount that he’s throwing his fastball is up significantly:

• 2007: 54.3 percent
• 2008: 54.8 percent
• 2009: 59.6 percent

That certainly makes you wonder, especially considering the success that he had last season. Is it just the situations, or is he calling for more fastballs? It’s possible.

Could he just not have the same confidence in his secondary pitches? This is also possible. 

He was consistent between 2007 and 2008, when he was extremely successful and emerged as one of the best young pitchers in baseball. His decision to become more reliant on the fastball, like he did in his rookie season of 2006 (61.1 percent and posted a 4.08 ERA), tells us something.

Is it enough to explain such a drastic falloff, though?

Remember, he did have a problem with his elbow during the spring, though there has been no talk of that being a lingering issue. We could speculate that it has affected his performance, but I’m not buying it. 

Could a significant increase in innings be playing a factor? 

In 2007 he threw a total of 190 innings between the regular season and the postseason. Last season he was at 262.1.

I’ve never been a big believer in that theory. 

People had the same concerns about Tim Lincecum entering 2009, and look at how he’s performed (2.33 ERA, 1.05 WHIP). 

To make a blanket statement that pitchers cannot handle an increased innings load is a mistake because each pitcher is unique. 

Some will prove capable, and some will prove incapable.

It’s like anything else in life.

Maybe he’s the one that will prove unable to throw such a drastic number of innings from year-to-year, but to me, that is still an unproven theory. In fact, when you look at his second half numbers the past two seasons, it appears likely he will get better as the season wears on:

• 2007: 5-1, 2.78 ERA
• 2008: 5-4, 2.98 ERA

That doesn’t seem like the profile of a pitcher who tires due to excessive innings, does it?

You can’t even look towards the hitter’s haven he calls home, considering his ERA at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark is 3.92, compared to a 6.34 ERA on the road. Last season he posted a 2.99 home ERA, so it’s obvious he knows how to pitch in that park.

The truth of the matter is that he’s simply not performing this season thus far, but is it really something to be concerned with?

He’s allowed four or more earned runs in seven starts this season, matching his total prior to the All-Star Game in ‘08. 

Granted, his first half ERA last season was 3.15, compared to 4.87, but a lot of that has to do with significant bad luck.

His BABIP ties him for the third worst in the league with Aaron Harang, behind only Ricky Nolasco and Kevin Slowey. It would seem almost impossible to expect him to continue pitching to such bad luck.

He’s too talented a pitcher to continue to struggle like this, and sooner or later his numbers are going to regress back to the mean. 

He has proven to be an excellent second half pitcher, and with improved luck, there’s no reason to think he’s not going to return to pitching like one of the aces of the league.

Would I shy away from acquiring him? Not at all. 

If you are looking for pitching help in the second half, he’s a prime candidate to help push you over the top. With the way he’s continued to struggle, someone in your league may even be willing to sell a little bit low on him. I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

Here are my second half projections for him:

73.0 IP, 7 W, 3.45 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 64 K (7.89 K/9), 24 BB (2.96 BB/9)

What do you think? Will Hamels be able to recover and return to dominance? Is he a pitcher you are shying away from? Are my projections too optimistic?

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Philadelphia’s Conundrum

What’s in a name? 

Can one name make the difference?

Yesterday starts the official beginning of the Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Championship run. 

Early Thursday morning, Phillies front office members gathered to put together an offer for Roy Halladay. The offer should be made official sometime today, but will not be a final offer. The Phillies will make a strong competitive move, making sure to hold their ground on some prospects.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays do not want to deal Roy to a division rival, and will take a good hard look at the Phillies’ offer. Pat Gillick was in town yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks. For this trade to be made, Ruben Amaro will need Gillick’s help, as he doesn’t have the skills to go it alone.

But with all of this talk in Philadelphia of “selling the farm” for one player, they need to wonder, is any one player worth all of this hype?

Last year, the Philadelphia Phillies became “The World Champions of Baseball” as a team.

There was no “I” in this team. They were 25 strong, all with the same mentality and same goals. Everyone stepped up when they were needed. Cole Hamels was dominant. Joe Blanton was hitting home runs. Shane Victorino was flawless. Even Pat Burrell stepped up. Bench players, like Geoff Jenkins, came through in important game situations.

So, what’s in a name?

The Philadelphia Phillies are at a crossroads.  They could take the path of winning now and thinking of the future later.  Or they could take the other road, the road that could lead to a dynasty.

The Phillies are good right now. Would Roy Halladay or another top two pitcher make them great? Would it guarantee them a championship? If the Phillies choose to move ahead with a couple minor deals, save the prospects and hope they turn into the next group of Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard, then this team could be dangerous for a long time.

Players like Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins have already shown that they could be on a decline. Is it worth saving a “five tool” player like Michael Taylor as a kick start to this lineup in the next two years?

Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels as a one-two punch could be pretty lethal. It may be the best one-two in baseball and make them the team to beat.  But is it as lethal as Cole Hamels, Kyle Drabek, Joe Savery, J.A. Happ, and Carlos Carrasco as a one-two-three-four-five punch?

We may never know the answer to that question.

Philadelphia fans are just asking one thing:  “Please don’t make us wait another 25 years.”

Pedro Martinez to Make Rehab Start Versus Washington Nationals (Humor)

Unable to locate a Double-A team with space on its schedule, the Philadelphia Phillies have secured the Washington Nationals as an opponent for newly signed pitcher Pedro Martinez’s rehab start next week.

“We want to ease Pedro back into the groove,” said Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. “We didn’t want him facing major league hitters until his arm strength gets to where he is comfortable.

“The Nationals are a perfect fit for that.”

Nationals pitcher John Lannan could not contain his excitement.

“What a thrill, to be on the same field as a major league team,” said Lannan. “It’s every kid’s dream to be on the field with actual major league ballplayers.

“Do you think (Phillies second baseman) Chase Utley will give me an autograph?”

The Nationals were resistant at first to playing at home, as they lose tens of thousands of dollars on every home game.

“An extra home game? No way,” said Nationals president Stan Kasten. “Why should we open the doors so 2,600 people can come in and cost us money again? We just laid off Manny Acta to save money.

“We’ll play in Philly if they pay for the train tickets.”

Martinez, surrounded by a phalanx of midgets and wearing armless sunglasses like Morpheus from The Matrix, displayed his usual cockiness.

“Look, I don’t care if these guys aren’t major leaguers. If I need to, I will drill them. Go dig up Frank Howard, I’ll drill him right in the (censored), too. If they want to cry, let them cry.

“There’s no crying in baseball,” Martinez added. He then began throwing peanuts to a small elephant he’d brought with him.

When told that Frank Howard wasn’t dead, Martinez began throwing peanuts at reporters.

The Mets were originally asked but were unavailable due to their malaria-curing world tour.

Could Pedro Martinez Prove Fantasy Usable?

With Pedro Martinez officially signing with the Phillies, there’s a big question mark as to if he will be worth using in fantasy formats. Let’s delve into the numbers and see.

First of all, don’t expect him in the Phillies rotation until late July/early August, as he was immediately put on the DL and will be given time in the minor leagues to prepare for his return to the majors. 

Therefore, if you are looking for an immediate boost to your rotation, he’s certainly not the answer.

For those who are willing to wait another two to three weeks, let’s take a look at things. 

Last season he called Shea Stadium home, certainly a park that is more favorable to pitchers, yet allowed 19 home runs in just 15 starts (HR/9 of 1.57). If you dig into this a little deeper, things are a bit more disturbing.

Of those 19 home runs, only five came at home in 45 innings. Of the remaining 15, four of those, just one fewer than he allowed at his home ballpark, came at Citizens Bank Park in just 10.1 innings!

He didn’t pitch in the ballpark in 2007, but in 2006 he did pitch eight innings without allowing a home run. Of course, he still allowed nine earned runs (10.13 ERA), so it’s not like he fared well. 

Obviously, the opponent does play a factor, and the Phillies have one of the more potent lineups around. Still, it’s hard to argue that he has had any type of success in the ballpark in the past.

Just to go back to the home runs for a second, it’s amazing that they came courtesy of a fly ball rate of just 35.3 percent. Consider his rates from the previous four seasons (2007 was just 28 innings):

• 2004: 42.8 percent
• 2005: 44.6 percent
• 2006: 44.3 percent
• 2007: 44.2 percent

If he’s going to regress to those numbers—and it is hard to imagine him not—the balls are simply going to continue flying out of the ballpark, especially in Philadelphia, where a pop-up can manage to carry out. That’s certainly not a positive thing to think about.

Martinez is coming off a career-worst K/9 (7.18), and last I heard his fastball was sitting right around 85 mph. 

Last season, he averaged 87.7 mph on his fastball, and he had already been forced to transform himself from the power pitcher he once was into more of a finesse artist.

He’s a true competitor, and I wouldn’t count him out, but nothing is pointing to too much success in my eyes. 

Granted, with a high-powered offense helping him out, it’s very possible that he picks up a fair share of wins. The real question is, can he possibly help you anywhere else?

Consider:

• He’s pitching in a ballpark where he has had little to no success.
• His strikeouts could continue to fall.
• His home runs could be similar to last season, making a useful ERA impossible.

Put those three things together, and it just adds up to a pitcher that you should avoid in all formats. 

There’s the chance that he strings together a solid start or two in a row. He’s going to do everything he can to be successful and prove the other clubs who bypassed him that they made a mistake. 

Unfortunately, I just don’t see how he could put things together for two months and prove useful.

What about you? Is Martinez a pitcher you think is worth owning? If so, how good do you think he’ll be?

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM.

Knowing How To Win Is Key To 2009 Phillies

As the Phillies (48-38) head to face the second-place Florida Marlins (46-44), my thoughts raced back to a time when the Phillies did not know how to win.

As the calls among media and fans demand the Phillies to trade away the farm (and maybe J.A. Happ) for Toronto stud pitcher Roy Halladay, it matters not, really if they get him or not.

Because there was a time, not so long ago, that the Phillies did not know how to win on a consistent basis. The ebb and flow will hit most teams, but as the season rolls into September the good teams will rip off seven wins in a row and win most series.

Let me go back to September 23, 2004.

The Phillies again were challenging the Marlins, this time for the wild card lead, and were looking up, not down.

This Phillies team, behind Kevin Millwood, shown above, took a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning before the wheels fell off. Millwood walked the first two batters in the inning, then Florida’s Jeff Conine deposited Millwood’s 1-0 pitch over the left center field fence to tie the game.

All I remember was a close-up of Millwood with just as much sweat as frustration on his face, as the Marlins would took a two-game lead in the wild card chase with a 5-4 victory.

The Marlins would go on to win the World Series that year.

Millwood left Philadelphia after the Phillies first year at Citizens Bank Park—the highlight of his career with the Phillies being a 1-0 no-hitter against San Francisco on April 27, 2003.

Billy Wagner and Jim Thome came into town, and still no winner for the Phillies.

Nope, the year 2007 started the transition. It started when Jimmy Rollins proclaimed the Phillies the “team to beat” in pre-season 2007.

It took all season, but when the Phillies topped the Florida Marlins on the last day of the 2007 season and the Mets lost, the transition was complete: The Phillies were winners of the National League East title.

In 2008, they won it all and were crowned World Series champions.

In 2009, the team had a decent April and May and in late May, took control of the National League East. They have not lost the lead since.

They took six out of seven games at home against the Reds and Pirates and climbed to 10 games over .500 and now have a four-game lead over the Marlins.

Jamie Moyer (8-6) faces Chris Volstad (6-8) tonight in Florida.

The other big Phillies news is that the Phils signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez to a one-year deal. He probably won’t pitch until early August.

In the short term, you don’t want to trade away Happ without Martinez ready.

However, if the Phillies wait out the Blue Jays and they drop the demand for both Kyle Drabek and Happ, General Manager Ruben Amaro could pull the trigger.

Funny, as I watched Amaro talk to the media about Pedro Martinez, this could be the one deal that he is judged on for his whole career as Phillies’ GM as either a grand success or an awful error in judgement.

The National League East is really not that good this year. With the Phillies offense, they could almost win this thing in their sleep.

Not to worry right now. The Phillies will win most of their games.

August and September will be the judge of this team.

What will the rotation be like then?

Aging Martinez Could Prove There’s More To His Game Than Mystique and Muscle Rub

Inconsistent Phillies Have Questions To Answer As Second Half Begins

A four-game lead at the All-Star break ain’t something to be taken lightly. They may play in a lousy division, but the Phillies get props for taking advantage and putting themselves in good position to return to the playoffs. That said, a division title is no guarantee. Herewith, a brief review of the first half and a look ahead to the second half.

What Went Right:

• Chase Utley returned sooner than anticipated from hip surgery and has played outstanding ball.
• Ryan Howard didn’t wait for two months to begin hitting the ball well.
• Raul Ibanez was even better than advertised.
• Pedro Feliz quietly put up good offensive numbers to augment his slick fielding at third.
• Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth established themselves as All-Star-caliber, everyday outfielders.
• Despite a dreadful 4-14 skid, the Phillies continued to play hard and were rewarded when the breaks evened out.

What Went Wrong:

• Cole Hamels spent three months futilely trying to find his mojo.
• With Hamels floundering and an injured Brett Myers lost for the year early on, the starting rotation has been far too often a liability.
• Brad Lidge returned to earth. And got hurt to boot.
• As a whole the bullpen was inconsistent–sparkling one night, coughing up leads the next.
• The Phillies simply could not gain any traction at Citizens Bank Park.
• Jimmy Rollins was an abject failure as a major-league hitter for huge swaths of the first half, though he continued to shine in the field.

Question for the Second Half

• Can Pedro Martinez pitch six effective innings every fifth night?
• Will J-Roll leverage the offensive rebirth he enjoyed late in the first half?
• Dare we continue to dream of Roy Halladay?
• Can Ibanez’s 37-year-old body hold up?
• Which Lidge shows up?

With four in Miami against the Marlins, the Phillies have a terrific opportunity to leap off the starting blocks and bury their closest trailer in the East.

Yes, the games in the first half count just as much as those yet to come, but baseball in late July, August and September simply feels more important.

Fortunately for Phils fans, that’s when this group seems to get it together.

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