For the Cubs, Rich Harden who is 6-6 on the season with a 5.06 ERA. He was traded to the Cubs last year from Oakland at the trading deadline.

Joe Blanton will take the Hill for the Phils as they try to win their 10th game in a row. Blanton is 6-4 on the year, with a 4.44 ERA. He only pitched one inning in a cancelled game on saturday. He gave up two runs before it was called. He has been the Phillies most consistent starter, as he leads the team with ten quality starts.

This should be a good one. Let’s go Phils!

Coming off of a three game sweep of the division rival Marlins the Phillies entered Citizen’s Bank Park monday the hottest team in baseball. Their opponent, the Chicago Cubs who are baseball’s second hottest team, coming off of a four game sweep of the Washington Nationals.

Monday’s starters were Ted Lilly for the Cubs and Rodrigo Lopez for the Phils. Lilly came into the game 9-7 and Lopez 1-0.

The tone was set in the bottom of the first inning when J-Roll and Victorino were on second and third with nobody out. After strikeouts from Utley and Howard, Raul Ibanez stepped to the plate. Ted Lilly got the count to two strikes, when Rauuuuul put one in the centerfield ivy. His 25th homerun of the season put the Phils up 3-0 and they never looked back.

Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run shot in the second making in 5-0 and they continued to roll. Rodrigo Lopez had another solid outing for the Champs. Lopez went six innings, giving up 5 hits, and one run.

Chad Durbin pitched the final three innings and picked up a save as he nailed down the Phillies’ ninth straight win.

The last time we saw Brett Myers pitch in ’09 was back in May, but that might not be the last time we the right-hander take the mound. Myers had surgery on his hip on June 4th and at the time was believed to be done for the rest of the season.

News came out monday that Brett could return to the Phils sometime in August.

“I knew in the back of my mind that I was going to be back this year, even when they said my season was over,” Myers said. “I had a feeling that everything was going to be OK.”, Myers said.

When he comes back it will not be to the starting rotation. “I’m not going to help the team if I go four innings. That’s not going to help anybody.” So when Brett comes back it will be in the bullpen, a role he is familiar with.

In 2007 Brett took moved from the rotation from the bullpen and eventually became the Phillies’ closer. He saved 21 games in 24 opportunities that season and eventually pitched the last inning of 2007 , leading the Phillies to their first playoff berth in fourteen years.

If and when Brett comes back it will be like adding a quality reliever late in the season. Myers could be as good as any reliever on the market, andwill take a load off of J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and even Brad Lidge.

** Brett Myers will throw a bullpen session at Citizen’s Bank Park on saturday.

This past week the Florida Marlins orginzation broke ground for the thier new stadium at the site of the old Orange Bowl.

This really baffles me. I don’t know why you are building a beautiful new EXPENSIVE stadium for fans that don’t even show up. The Marlins have been in the bottom five in attendance for the last five years. They are averaging over 18,000 in attendance this year, and the funny part about that is they have a good young team.

I really think it is a waste to give a fair weather fanbase a beautiful new stadium. They mind as well pack up and relocate, because it obviously didn’t help the Nats get more attendance.

Things could not get any sweeter for a Phils fan at this point in the season. The team is rolling and just finished off a 3-game sweep of the second place (7 GB) Marlins.

The Phigtins finished up the sweep on a grrrrrrrrreat pitching performance by JA (Pronounced Jay) Happ. The young lefty went seven innings giving up nothing to the fish. Happ was backed by some timely hitting, a bases loaded hit batsman (Chasssse) and a great performance at the plate from J-Roll. The Phils knocked out Florida starter Andrew Miller (L) after 2.2 IP.

Jimmy went 3-5 with with a double and a triple. He was a homer shy of the elusive cycle.

Happ’s line: 7 IP 5 H 1 BB and 4 K Happ has taken over as fourth in the league in ERA at 2.68. Hopefully they can acquire Roy Halladay without giving him up.

*** Ryan Howard did not start. Charlie wanted to give him the day off against the left Miller. His replacement Eric Bruntlett did fair too well, going 0-4 with a K.

Thank the Lord because the fish scored two in the first off of Phils starter Joe Blanton. Lucky because they had their Ace Josh Johnson on the hill and he looked good.

No makeup date has been announced, wish there was a double-header tomorrow!

Phils still hold a six game lead over Florida in the NL East.

I’m so sick of hearing that the Dodgers are the best team in the National League. I know they have the best record but they are not the best the NL has to offer.

First – They play in the weakest division in baseball where there is really not a major league offense in sight.

Second – They have an average lineup and have some speed, but their they do not even come close the the Phils’ lineup.

Third – Who said they have great pitching? Since when has Chad Billingsly become Josh Beckett, and who else do they have? Hiroki Kuroda (decent but not great) Clayton Kershaw (unproven and no matter what anyone says, he is still a “prospect”) Randy Wolf (he is a good ” FOURTH OR FIFTH STARTER”) and Jeff Weaver who has just come back from who knows where. I’ll take the Phils with Hamels, Happ, Blanton, Moyer, and maybe Pedro (Who have all won in the Post) over the Dodgers.

Finally – The team I’m scared of is the Giants. That rotation is killer. I would not want to take on them in the postseason, especially if they add a bat or two.

After a 12 Inning win on friday night the Phightin Phils head to Land Shark Stadium to play the Marlins in hopes of winning their eighth straight game.

They will be depending on their bulldog right-hander Joe Blanton who has been throwing the ball very well in his last few starts. He leads the Phils in quality starts with ten. Going 4-1 with a 2.44 ERA in his last nine starts.

Their opponent is Florida ace right-hander Josh Johnson who was selected to his first all-star team this year. He has been one of the best pitchers in the National League this year posting a 8-2 record with a stellar 2.74 ERA which is fourth in the NL.

Can’t wait to see this matchup tonight should be a good game. Hopefully Blanton can keep his hot streak going into the second half, and further separate ourselves from the rest of the division.

NL EAST STANDINGS:

Phillies (50 – 38) -

Marlins (46 – 46) 6 GB

Braves (45 – 45) 6 GB

Mets   (42 – 47) 8.5 GB

Nats   (26 – 63) 24.5 GB

Phillies top hitting prospect Michael Taylor is a five tool outfielder whose name has been floated out as potential trade bait for Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. On thursday he was called up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Taylor was hitting .333 in Reading with 15 HR’s and 65 RBI. He also had 22 doubles and 18 stolen bases.

Many are speculating that he was called up to be scouted by teams across the Majors. He is a very valuable prospect, and could be a deal maker in a major trade.

With the second half upon us I thought I should give my playoff predictions seeing how everyone else has anyway.

Here are my predictions for the American League:

AL EAST:

I think it will be a good tight race for the rest of the season but I am going to give the division to the Boston Red Sox. Their pitching is as deep as anyone’s in the game and their offense consistently gets it done. I think the Yankees and the Rays will make a push and it should be an interesting race.

AL CENTRAL:

I believe the AL Central is a mediocre division. There is not one dominant team out of that group but I like the Detroit Tigers to come out of the central. I really like their pitching this season. They have gotten the job done with a phenomenal start by Justin Verlander, a suprising Edwin Jackson and some contribution from rookie stud Rick Porcello. I blieve they have enough offense to support the pitching staff with Miguel Cabrera in the middle of the Tiger lineup.

AL WEST:

At this point in time the AL West is a three horse race with the Los Angeles Angels holding a small lead over the surprising Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. Although the Rangers can really rake and have had okay pitching thusfar I think the pitching of the Angels will lead them to another division title.

AL WILD CARD:

With all of the good teams in the American League east I really think that the Wild Card team will come out of that division. At this point I will take the New York Yankees over the Tampa Bay Rays becuase the pitching of the Yankees has a bit of an advantage over the Rays. Expect both teams to get hot and make a push.

Here are my predictions for the National League:

NL EAST:

In this divison there are no really great teams yet even though the Phillies have not played up to their ability. I really like the Philadelphia Phillies because of the mediocre state of the rest of the division. The Phils have had less than great pitching but have an explosive lineup. Like the last couple of year I think that the pitching will shape up and lead the Phils to their third division crown.

NL CENTRAL:

Like many of the divisions this year it has been a bunched up central throughout the first half of the season. The top dogs of this division are the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs. Right now it is really too tough to tell who will come out on top but I am goin to give the edge to the Cards simply because of the fact that they have best player in baseball, Albert Pujols. Pujols has the ability to change the division like Manny Ramirez did last year.

NL WEST:

Obviously the cream of the crop in the west in the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have been the best team in baseball all year, because of good pitching, timely hitting and great defense. I think there is no doubt who will take the NL West crown.

NL WILD CARD:

So many teams are still in the mix in the National League, and the Wild Card is up for grabs. The team I feel will take the Wild Card is the San Francisco Giants. Their pitching is perhaps the best in the NL led by Ace Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain rounded out by the future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. I expect the Giants to add a bat or two and win this race.