Philadelphia Phillies

Maybe allowing Cliff Lee to go 10 shutout on innings wasn't such a good idea after all.

Just three days after his incredible performance against the Giants (which the Phillies still lost), Lee has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle.

There's no doubt about it.  The 2012 Philadelphia Phillies are off to a dreadful start at the plate.  If it wasn't for a terrific pitching staff, there would be no way this team is at .500 after 14 games.  What's more of a surprise is how fans seem "up in arms" about their sticks as if they haven't seen anything like this before.  That's far from the truth.

In the past few years, the Phillies have been incredibly aggressive and competitive when it comes to attracting big-name players. In order to do so, however, they had to make some pretty big trades in which they parted with some of their best and most highly touted prospects. 

It is for that reason that Domonic Brown is even more important to the Phillies organization.

Lenny Dykstra was sitting with his back to everyone, facing his locker in the visitors' clubhouse.  He still couldn't believe it. He certainly would never accept it.

Joe Carter's three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning won the World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Biased as I may be, I came away from last night's game between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants with even more respect for my hometown team of red and less for the defending world champions.

Perhaps forgotten in last night's scrum between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants was the continued success of rookie pitcher Vance Worley and outfielder John Mayberry Jr.

Worley, who was put in the rotation due to an injury to the Phillies' fifth starter, Joe Blanton, plowed through the Giants lineup for the second time in less than a month, giving up just two earned runs in the process.

The good news first: What's actually growing in the Phillies farm system is rich and healthy and improving. According to Keith Law's midseason Minor League Top 50, RHP Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton have developed since May.

John Mayberry was called up last week to take injured All Star center fielder Shane Victorino’s place on the roster.  The Phillies figured he would be a suitable enough defensive replacement, but nobody expected Mayberry to provide much offense. 

People may be thinking differently now.

The Philadelphia Phillies have had a great season so far. They have three aces, a strong bullpen and a good, but sometimes inconsistent, offense.

Like most teams, there are a few players that are really helping the team stay on top of the National League.

Domonic Brown and John Mayberry have been recently holding up the Phillies. Some others have done the same, and yet others have been holding up the team since the start of the year.

And what a game it was!