When the Mets stumble,
Phils have to stand

In the Batter’s Box
By Matt Godfrey

With the all-star break just about over, it’s time to look toward the second half of the season and, more importantly, the Phillies’ chances of making a run for the postseason.
In recent years, the team has become well-known for its late-season surges. As they embark on the second half just four and a half games behind the Mets, it’s possible that the Phils could hang tough for yet another exciting run to the finish line.
The question once again, of course, is whether they’ll have the stamina and consistency to cross it.
I believe they are capable of mounting another second-half dash. But I don’t believe — with the team that exists right now — that they’ll have what it takes to finally reach the playoffs.
Comparing last year’s first-half performance with this year’s helps to deliver some perspective.
Last year they sat at 40-47 on the season and 12 games behind the Mets. They dumped some dead weight (Bobby Abreu, Cory Lidle, Sal Fasano), picked up some veteran help (Jamie Moyer, Jeff Conine), and turned on the burners toward the postseason.
As we all know, they fell just short that final week of the season, deflating a fan base that had been through it all before.
Fast-forward to this moment and the Phils are 44-44 on the season, just four and a half games behind those same Mets.
Both teams have been spending an inordinate amount of time stumbling and losing games — the Mets unable to build a potent lead in the division, the Phils unable to gain ground when the Mets do lose. If the Phils can’t gain control on their own, then certainly the equally bumbling play of the Mets should help keep Philly in the National League East race by default.
Getting to the playoffs, though, won’t happen with the Phils roster now in place. Specifically, it won’t happen with these pitchers.
At the top of the team’s "what we need" list is a starting pitcher. The rotation consists of Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton and rookie Kyle Kendrick.
Kendrick has been doing an admirable job since he was called up, but you can’t count on that success to keep up through the season. The team still needs a fifth starter to bolster its dreams of postseason play.
Jon Lieber has undergone surgery, and injured Freddy Garcia is on a timeline to be back when he’s about ready to sign another contract (more than likely somewhere else).
As is usually the case, more pitching will shake free around the majors as losing teams abandon their own postseason hopes and start to unload salaries for prospects.
The Phils don’t have many prospects to trade, but some crafty dealing may help. The Baltimore Orioles’ Steve Trachsel could be a solid option if he can come back fully from his recent stay on the disabled list.
Cincinnati’s Kyle Lohse or San Francisco’s Matt Morris also could be pitchers worth checking out.
The Reds seem to live for reprising their role as trade-deadline salesmen, while the Giants are just waiting for the Barry Bonds Show to end so they can get back to playing baseball.
The top prize, now that Mark Buerhle has re-signed with the Chicago White Sox, may be Buerhle’s teammate Javier Vazquez.
The White Sox are experiencing short-circuits on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, so they are in need of some retooling.
Next up would be the Phillies’ limping bullpen.
Two moves that could benefit the team would not cost a thing. That’s the return — and the good health — of relievers Tom Gordon and Brett Myers.
Gordon has been throwing in games for single-A Clearwater and could return after the all-star break. Myers will take a bit more time, but hopefully he’ll be back not much longer after Gordon’s return.
Aside from those developments, there is always the Texas-Philadelphia pipeline that has existed over the years.
The Rangers may be looking to unload relievers Eric Gagne or Akinori Otsuka.
Also, Salomon Torres could be available as his grievance woes — the result of a contract squabble — continue with the Pirates.
Relievers, however, are a hard bunch to judge when it comes to sizing up who may be available.
The most important thing the Phils can do is take control of their own performance in this second half. The team that wins the division by being the least mediocre won’t have much of a chance in the playoffs.
That’s the game the Phillies were playing before ending the first half with a feel-good win against the Colorado Rockies.
How the second half plays out will be most interesting. Just more of the same? Or a season that, at last, has a happier ending? ••
Columnist Matt Godfrey can be reached at 215-354-3113 or mgodfrey@phillynews.com