State of the Phillies

No panic button, yet.

Momentum is an important companion to keep on your side. Coming into the All-Star break, the Phillies had the momentum and the "swagger" they've needed to spring them into playing winning baseball again. But, in a four game series against the below-average Cubs, the Phils lost three of four games. Roy Halladay, the ace of the pitching staff, was lit up for his worst start of the season and the offense is in a major funk. The only game they won in the series was handed to them by a circus inning lead by Cubs closer Carlos Marmol, who walked five in two-thirds of an inning.

While watching this club play, they don't seem like they're playing with any fight. Their at-bats aren't disciplined and their fielding has become sloppy, both aspects usually being strongsuits for the team. It looks as if they are trying to guess which pitch is coming and where the pitch is going to be, rather than just reacting. They're thinking too much in the field and making dumb mistakes. They don't seem relaxed and don't seem to be going out every night and just playing ball and letting their instincts take over. In the past, they've always seemed to play with a chip on their team shoulder. Whatever that is, they need to find it again, and fast. While I am not in panic mode quite yet, I'm getting dangerously close. It isn't just that they are losing games, it is the fashion in which they lose.

As bad as it seems, they are only five and a half games back in the division and only two games back in the wild card, and they seem to be hanging around. But play must improve if October baseball is in the plans. Here are a few concerns that will play into the fate of the 2010 Fightin' Phils...

Over the past three years or so, the front office has actually done a great job bringing in the right players during the season. Jamie Moyer, Tad Iguchi, Kyle Lohse, Joe Blanton, Matt Stairs, and Cliff Lee are among the talent Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro have brought to Philadelphia midseason. Not many other clubs can make the same claim. Well, its time to make another move because this team needs a jolt.

Amaro has said countless times that if he had to choose between pitching and an infielder, he would trade for a pitcher. But with a big contract, I don't see Roy Oswalt joining the Phils unless the Astros and Ed Wade eat some of the contract money. Even then, I don't think the Phillies have minor league talent the Astros would be looking for. Take a look at another man in that rotation though. Yes, Brett Myers. With a smaller contract, Myers has been pitching very nicely for the irrelevant Astros. He's got personality, energy, and a filthy curveball. And I would take him back. I'd rather have him than the Jeremy Guthries and the Jake Westbrooks of the world.

I listen to a lot of sports talk radio. There are many calls about dealing Jayson Werth for a big time pitcher such as Oswalt or Dan Haren. But what would Werth do for the Astros or Diamondbacks, who clearly aren't going anywhere this season. A free agent after the season, Werth would most likely walk from either team and all they would earn is another first round pick. If I'm a team like Houston or Arizona, I want top prospects in return for my ace, so if Jayson Werth is involved in a deal, a third team would have to be involved.

But don't be so quick to ship Werth out of Philly just yet. Apart from being the only right handed power bat in the Phils lineup, he brings the whole package to the game everyday. He can run, field, and throw. He provides protection for Ryan Howard, and if he ever gets back to his most successful approach to the plate (driving the ball the other way) he would become the feared hitter he was last year.

Even if Werth were to be traded, who do you replace him with? John Mayberry Jr. isn't performing well in the minors. And if blue-chip prospect, Domonic Brown, were to be called up, it would look like a panic move and all the pressure would be put on the kid as the hopeful saviour. He wouldn't have been eased into the Majors and if he fails, it could screw with the kid's head, which is a dangerous thing to mess with in this sport.

That assumption may not be any more obvious with the Phillies right now. If they can't find a way to relax and play their game, making the playoffs is going to be a reach. Although, I've seen this team do some extraordinary things and they're a tough team to count out.