But this is the Phils, man. For me, “logic and reason” got sauteed and served to Joe Carter in the form of a soggy Wild Thing meatball in 1993. Not to mention all the near misses at making the playoffs this decade.

I’ve had enough. Maybe this is just me, but my opinion: the reason we kept “just missing” the playoffs the past six years or so wasn’t because of Bowa, or Wagner, or Thome, or Mesa, or that pitcher with the shark-tooth necklace whose name I can’t remember. The reason we lost to Colorado last year wasn’t Garcia, or Eaton, or injury, or whatever. We haven’t gone deep because management’s goal has been “to be competitive” or to “put a good baseball team on the field” or to simply “make the playoffs.”

Mediocrity will never end as long as the goal is “Let’s be better than average,” (or even more frightening: “let’s put asses in the seats”).

I just think the organization needs to clearly identify it’s No. 1 goal and then work toward that goal. And for me, there is only one goal: World Series victory.

Wow! You want the WHOLE shebang! Nothing less than a World Series Championship THIS year. Hey! I’m with you if I thought it would take an aquisition of just one player ( starting pitcher) to take the team beyond the playoff rounds and into the World Series. With some luck (including injury free), momentum and a few overachievers on the team, it can be done. The Colorado Rockies of last season can be the role model for the Phillies. However, I think it’s best to allow for time (as the season is young) and see progress (or lack of it as the case may be) to develop and get a better picture of the team’s needs. I do think they are legitimate contenders defending their last year’s division crown. On the other hand, we shouldn’t expect another Metsian meltdown in September. My point is there is definitely more parity in the East Division. My goodness, you have the streaking Marlins in first place at this time. It’s going to be a dogfight, no doubt about it. I be more than happy to see our team win the division this year and if they can make the World Series (let alone win it), that’s gravy! :-)

That would put feather(s) in Gillick’s cap and preserve his legacy as he sees it. ;-)

But we’re coming at this from two different perspectives. You seem to be saying: “We’re doing better than last year, and we won the NL East then.”

This is true, but last year is done. And the NL East means nothing.

This team and every single fan should be thinking about winning the World Series. Competitive, entertaining baseball is great. But that isn’t what it’s about, and giving props to the overall pitching staff is misplaced. The bullpen has been excellent. The starters have been sub-par.

We are not going to win the World Series with this starting rotation. I am convinced that it is impossible to do so. So, the questions on everyone’s mind should be: what are we going to do to improve the rotation? Who do we have that is expendable that can bring us a bona-fide starter?

Thank you for the yahoo blurb. I’m glad to see Howard is working on it. I hope he fixes it — and soon!

“Howard does keep his eyes glued to video of his at-bats, watching along with hitting coach Milt Thompson. They see a difference: In 2006, the bulk of Howard’s strikeouts came from him letting pitches get too deep in the strike zone before he’d swing. Now he’s out in front on most swings.

Numbers compiled by Inside Edge confirm the thesis: The left-handed hitting Howard hit to the opposite field 24 percent of the time last year but has gone that way only 17 percent of the time this season.

And when he does pull the ball, he is getting it airborne nearly 30 percent less than he did last year. How significant is that? Howard has batted .703 the past two years when pulling the ball in the air, while batting only .133 when pulling it on the ground.

“He’s doing the opposite of what he used to do,” Thompson said. “He needs to trust his hands, stay back and use the opposite field.”

Howard did so Saturday against Tim Lincecum, belting a home run to left field to lead off the second inning. And he tripled to right-center Sunday, although he struck out twice.

“I’ve identified what’s wrong, now it’s a matter of taking one at-bat after another,” he said.

Everyone is buoyed by a constant in Howard’s short career: His batting average gets better as the season progresses, reaching a crescendo when it matters most, after August, when he’s batted .309.”

Have patience Phillies fans. There are 123 games left in the season and Howard will find the comfort zone in his swing as the weather warms.

Let’s go Phillies!

The Phillies’ bullpen still have the best ERA in the majors with a 2.72.

The Phillies’ pitching overall is much better than last year after the same number of games (39). For 39 games, this season’s ERA of 4.05 compared to 4.53 of last season is a good indication they are going in the right direction. keep in mind all those problems with injuries and ineffectiveness (remember Freddy Garcia?) with the pitching staff last season.

Thanks to the bullpen, the depth of their bench (Dobbs, Werth, Bruntlett, etc.) and the hot hitting of Utley and Burrell, the team have a better start this season. For comparison:

2008: 21-18 record
2007: 19-20 record

Let’s go Phillies!