By Seth Everett

Welcome to the new blog!  I’m thrilled to have partnered with CBSPhilly.com, and hope that baseball fans both in Philly and across the country dig what we are putting together.  The Phillies are on pace for a 102 win season, and the thing I’ve noticed is that there is no shortage of stories.  I hope we can discuss them here.

Since Opening Day, the Phillies have lost 2 starters, 3 closers, a partridge in a pear tree, and the offense hasn’t really clicked yet.  However, as we enter the 1^st full week of July, the team is 23 games over .500.  Imagine what the record would be if they were healthier, and swung the bats better.

I’m more of a believer in this team than I was in May. I had mentioned on the radio, that anytime I’d covered a team that had as many issues as this one has, they never finished higher than 4^th place.  It is possible that this team has persevered through the Oswalt back issue, the Lidge injury, Blanton’s shoulder, and an inconsistent offense.

I don’t think Philly needs another blog to tell you how great they are.  But I do think we need to have a place to talk about this team, as we approach the pennant race.

For now, let’s focus on the Braves series this weekend.  They are surging, but the Phillies will have Halladay, Lee, & Hamels thru the weekend.  Then, the All-Star break, quickly followed by the trade deadline.

I have a feeling we are going to have a lot of fun with this blog.