Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly.

The Phillies are hot and are at home for their longest stretch of the season, with two more games against the Giants, three games against Washington and four games against Houston. Add in the return of Chase Utley, and the expected return of Ryan Howard later this week, and the Fightins should be in first place soon — at least on paper. Problem is, the games aren’t played on paper.

Roy Oswalt (Photos by: Tom Briglia / PhotoGraphics Photography)

During what looks like a soft stretch for the Phils, excluding the two games with the Giants, Atlanta is not exactly facing murder’s row themselves. They have two more games at home against Washington (where they are 43-16, the best home record in the majors), followed by a road trip against the fading Cubs and three against Colorado, ten games back in the west.

Both the Phillies and the Braves have great starting pitching and have done well despite major injuries (Chipper Jones is lost for the season). The Braves have the better bullpen but the Phillies have a much better offense.

When the Phillies still had their best players on the field, they had a horrible stretch beginning in late May. The entire team went in a slump that could really not be explained. Three shutout losses to the Mets was the nadir of that stretch.

In the same way, the Phillies going 19-5 while Utley was out, Placido Polanco was just getting back and both Shane Victorino and Howard landed on the DL cannot be explained either.

Sure, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth got hot, Carlos Ruiz delivered key hits, GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. got Roy Oswalt, and the back end of the bullpen started pitching like it was 2008 again, but Jimmy Rollins was still popping up on the first pitch and the middle relief was no relief at all.

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Nobody in professional sports likes to use injuries as an excuse for their team not doing well. But fans can wail and moan as much as they like. It is amazing that the Phillies are nine games above .500 (57-48) considering that nearly every position player has spent some time on the DL plus a bunch of pitchers.

Here is the DL list to date: Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz and Brian Schneider, with Ryan Howard soon to join the list. I know he said he didn’t think he had to go on the DL, but ankle sprains are tricky.

The pitchers who have spent time on the disabled list are Ryan Madsen, the since-traded J.A. Happ, Brad Lidge, Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer (done for the season), and Chad Durbin.

Yet, with all these injuries, the Phillies managed to string together their best stretch of the season, winning eight games in a row, and nine of 11.

Now with the trade that brought them Roy Oswalt, the Phillies are poised to continue to make a run to catch the division-leading Atlanta Braves, who are three games up on the Fightins’. We won’t get Utley back for another month, but Wilson Valdez has done an adequate job filling in.

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Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

For the first time since 1996 at Veteran’s Stadium, the National League defeated the American League in the MLB All-Star Game, earning the home field advantage for the NL in the World Series this October.

Theories abound as to why pitching is so much better this year (the NL pitchers dominated in the 3-1 victory) and hitting — in particular home run hitting — is down so much.

Of course the most obvious theory is that the hitters have stopped taking steroids now that the MLB has effective, random testing. And while pitchers were also guilty of taking steroids, they gained more advantages in endurance and recovery after pitching a game rather than an improved curve ball or a better slider.

But let’s look ahead to the implications of the game for the Phillies. Last year Phillies fans were confident that the team was returning to the World Series because we were in a weak division.

Carlos Ruiz

This year, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Atlanta Braves are the team that takes advantage of having the home field advantage in the World Series. It’s manager Bobby Cox’s last year, and his team will have extra motivation to get him to the Big Dance for a final curtain call. Atlanta’s Brian McCann knocking in the winning runs in the All-Star game with a three-run double added to my apprehension.

The four-game sweep of the Central Division-leading Cincinnati Reds was impressive — I mean, really, three straight walk-off wins in extra innings. That will always give a team a boost as the second half starts.

But are the Phillies really back? The hitting remains inconsistent, not just in power numbers but in clutch hits, the series against the Reds notwithstanding.

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Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka signs autographs for fans.

Under sunny skies and pristine playing conditions,

Atlantic City Country Club hosted the 26th annual Ron Jaworski Celebrity Golf Challenge Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 15-17.

See photo gallery here.

Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton wedges a ball out of a sand trap Sunday.

Pictured are some of the celebrities that took part in Sunday’s fan-friendly $100,000 shoot-out that featured Jaworski and nine professional players and coaches (both active and retired) and high-profile broadcasters. All proceeds from this event go directly to the Jaws Youth Fund — a partnership of the Jaworski family and the United Way of Camden County that works to promote the future success of at-risk youth.

The foundation has raised more than $3 million to date.

Philly product and former NFL MVP Rich Gannon drives the ball off the tee.

Celebrities this year included Joe Flacco, Rich Gannon, Jon Gruden, Joe Theismann, Darren Daulton, Mark Sanchez, Mike Tirico, Herm Edwards, Mike Ditka, John Kruk and Bill Cowher.

Photos by AC Weekly contributor Tom Briglia.

Former Phillies first baseman John Kruk shows fine form on Sunday at ACCC.

The Phillies were bound to come back to earth after a sizzling start and they crash-landed last night in Atlanta. For the second game in a row, the Phillies wasted a great performance by a starting pitcher. On a night when Kyle Kendrick was nearly unhittable, the bullpen, led by Ryan Madsen, gave the Braves the victory, blowing a 3-0 lead in the ninth. As my mother wondered in frustration why KK came out of the game in the first place, I explained that you have to believe your closer can hold a three run lead in the ninth. To which she replied, well maybe they will think about that the next time.

She has a point. My take on the three game losing streak is that the Phils are missing Jimmy Rollins in the field and at bat. Even with the rest of that lineup they need J-Roll. It is the nature of baseball that just when your starting pitching starts to look great, then your team isn’t hitting enough and your bullpen suddenly implodes.

Now we know the Phils will have to work to get back to the playoffs, that we really need J-Roll, a productive Brad Lidge and the steady arm of Joe Blanton.
The best news right now is that we have Doc Halladay pitching tonight to get us back in the W column.

Roy "Doc" Halladay

I have been holding back on talking about the Phillies but I have been observing spring training activity. I’ve been watching the progress of the pitching staff and laughing about J-Werth’s Jeremiah Johnson beard. I’ve enjoyed the excellent work returning Phillie Placido Polonco has been doing both at third base and as the two-hole hitter. I’m glad that Charlie Manual has lost weight and that Ryan Howard looks trimmer again this season.

And, like other Phillies fans, I’m concerned about Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels and I’m thrilled that Roy Halladay looks as good as advertised, even if he did have a rough outing yesterday against the Blue Jays. Hamels has had an okay spring, but beyond Halladay, the two best pitchers have been Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer. It is a little bit of a concern that Joe Blanton might have to start the season on the DL, but that’s why it is so nice to have Kendrick available to slip from the bullpen to a starter as needed.

The fact that the Phillies lineup is even more potent this year with Polanco added, means that once again the Phillies are the team to beat in the NL East.

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Cliff Lee is on the way out.

There is a major rumor that has been swirling around the baseball universe since 3pm. Andy Martino of the Philly Inquirer says Roy Halladay and his agent are in town so that means a deal is near. Meanwhile, as much as Phillies fans were salivating at the thought of a Halladay, Cliff Lee one-two punch, the deal is apparently a three team move, with Lee going to Seattle and the Mariners sending prospects, along with some Phillies prospects (J.A. Happ, Michael Taylor), to the Blue Jays.

I guess we have to deal with the reality that Lee and Halladay were too expensive together. Personally, I’d like to see us keep Lee and pay him without giving up more prospects, but perhaps Ruben Amaro is concerned about having a pitching line-up with too many lefties.

Looks like we won’t have too long to wait for the final outcome.

This will be short and bittersweet. The durable arm of Andy Pettitte and the monstrous bat of “Godzilla,” Hideki Matsui, who went 3 for 4 with a homer, double, single and six RBIs, were too much for the Phillies as the Yanks won their 27^th World Series with a 7-3 victory.

That the Phillies even made it to this stage for a second year in a row was a testament to the intestinal fortitude of a Phillies club that had a closer who couldn’t close, a World Series MVP having a terrible year, and a shaky bullpen. We can also thank Ruben Amaro, Jr. for giving Philly a shot at the repeat with the deals that brought Cliff Lee and Raul Ibanez to town.

Talk about next year is for another day. Today we celebrate back-to-back appearances in the World Series. With a few adjustments here and there, the Phillies should be back in the hunt next season.

They gave us a great ride.

Cliff Lee wins game 1.

Is Cliff Lee too cool for school or what? What an amazing start to the World Series for the Phillies phaithful.
Lee had ten strikeouts, including three of Alex Rodriguez. Lee did it all, masterful pitching and terrific fielding, including that “Is that all you’ve got” look on his face when he caught the Johnny Damon pop-up, plus the behind-the-back stop on the Cano rocket up the middle. The Yanks were lucky they were in the A.L. park so Lee didn’t get a chance to bat.

Chase Utley did bat. In my preview blog  yesterday I noted that, “Chase Utley has been quiet this post-season and needs to knock in a few more runs.” Mission accomplished.

C.C. Sabathia was good but Lee was better. The Phillies handled Sabathia in the division series last year when he was with Milwaukee. The key for the Phillies hitters was being patient. They made Sabathia work, didn’t swing at bad pitches. Cliff Lee did the rest, with the gravy provided by picking up four more runs against the Yankees bullpen. If they make Mariano Rivera a non-factor, the Phils should have continued success.

Do you like my pumpkin?

Charlie Manual is keeping his pitching rotation beyond tonight game three a secret, but my guess is he will not send Lee to the mound on three-days rest. He will keep Lee ready for game five.
The Yankees are as tough-minded as the defending champs. I expect them to hit the ball tonight. It might even be a slugfest, a round two heavyweight brawl.
I bet the New York Post is rethinking that silly “Frillies” cover with the Flying Hawaiian in a cheerleader’s outfit.
These might be the almighty Yankees but they are facing their Red October-tested doppleganger, a team as confident and tough-minded as they are.

Just ask a Mets’ fan.

The Phillies celebration after their 10-4 shellacking of the L.A. Dodgers was muted. Sure, the champagne was being tossed about, but you sensed that these Phillies were hungry for more. They no doubt liked the sign in the stands that said:

2008 was Destiny; 2009 is Dynasty.

That the Phillies are going back to the World Series for a second year in a row has officially made this group the best Phillies team ever. So what could make their return to the World Series even sweeter? Taking on the biggest dynasty in the history of sports, the N.Y. Yankees. I like the Angels and their fans rally monkeys as much as the next fan, but the whole history of the 1950 Whiz Kids now passing the baton to the 2009 Wallop Kids as they take on the Yanks is too perfect.

Not only will the Fightins be taking on Jeter and A-Rod, Mariano Rivera and C.C. Sabathia, but this match-up would be a nightmare for Mets fans, the two stinkin’ franchises they hate the most playing for the big prize.

I can’t wait … but if it is the Angels, I’ll live with that.