Starting LF Raul Ibanez is going to be 38 years old in a couple of months so the Phillies are hoping that he’s just off to a slow start and that he is not nearing the end of his career. Ibanez has played in 11 games this season for the Phillies and he is 7 for 40 (.175 avg, .550 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 5 RBIs. I think that Ibanez will step out of his funk soon because he is just too good of a player. After all, he did crank 34 homers last season for the Phillies.

The Phillies need starting shortstop Jimmy Rollins to pick up the pace with the bat. The former MVP of the National League is having a hard time hitting his way out of a paper bag right now. He has played in 72 games for the Phillies this season and he is 67 for 316 (.212 avg, .584 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 6 homers, 29 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. The Phillies can’t bench Rollins because they don’t have anyone to replace him with. The only thing the Phillies can do is drop him in the lineup and hope Rollins has a big second half of the season.

Ryan Howard is off to another slow start this season for the Phillies. Howard has played in 32 games this season and he is 19 for 114 (.167 avg, .645 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 6 homers and 14 RBIs. Howard has also whiffed an amazing 45 times this season. It’s way to early to panic as Howard got off to a very slow start last season as well. When Howard gets going the Phillies are going to really score a ton of runs.

I wonder what made the Phillies think that Wes Helms would be a good starting third baseman?  He was never that good when he was in Milwaukee.  Sure he had a good season in Florida last season but the Marlins were very picky as to how they used him so that they could maximize his success.  And they did that by spot starting him and using him as a pinch hitter.  Helms has been especially awful in the 2nd half of the season for the Phillies.  In 35 2nd half games, Helms is only 16 for 79 (.203 avg, .571 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs.  For the season, Helms has played in 103 games and he is hitting .248 (.669 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 5 homers and 36 RBIs.

Pat Burrell could be on the verge of losing his starting job in leftfield due to his completely awful play this season.  Burrell has never been a good defensive player so his value has been completely placed on what he does with a bat in his hands.  Burrell is only hitting .215 this season with 32 runs scored, 11 homers and 37 RBIs so far this season.  If Burrell can get his groove back with the bat the Phillies will even be more potent on offense.  Rod Barajas was signed by the Phillies to compete for the starting job with Carlos Ruiz but he was beaten out and he has played poorly so far this season.  Barajas is only hitting .213 this season with 15 runs scored, 4 homers and 9 RBIs in 108 atbats.