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.

Pat Burrell has been awful this season and it’s hurting the offense big time.  If Burrell doesn’t pick it up soon at the plate, Ryan Howard might never see a strike this season.  In 68 games this year, Burrell is 41 for 194 (.211 avg, .769 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 8 homers and 29 RBIs.  The Phillies are stuck with Burrell as they don’t have anyone better than him to play left field and they’re paying him a lot of money so he’s almost impossible to move in a trade.

The Phillies signed Wes Helms as a free agent to handle thirdbase for them and he has been awful so far this season.  He has played in 46 games this season and he’s 36 for 141 (.255 avg, .617 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers and 16 RBIs.  If Helms isn’t hitting, he isn’t helping because he’s a poor defensive thirdbaseman.  In fact, Helms has been losing playing time to a couple of other players on the Phillies.  Abraham Nunez is has resurfaced after his horrible first season for the Phillies last year.  He has been playing some third base and he’s been a little bit better than Helms has.  In 42 games this season, he is 29 for 107 (.271 avg, .674 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers and 10 RBIs.  The Phillies didn’t think much of Greg Dobbs when they signed him but he’s put himself in a great position to earn more playing time.  In 47 games this season he is 27 for 97 (.278 avg, .832 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 5 homers and 22 RBIs.  Look for Dobbs to emerge as the starting thirdbaseman unless Helms finds a groove at the plate soon.