One month in

22 games into the season and the Phils find themselves 12-10, a half game behind the Florida Marlins. At this point the Phils have to feel lucky to be in the position they are as their pitching has not shown up at all. The Phils have allowed the fourth most runs in the National League and are dead last in team ERA with a 5.64 mark (the league average is 4.35 and the second worst team has a 5.16 by comparison). Their starting pitchers have contributed just 6 quality starts (another league low) and Cole Hamels has had to leave his last two starts early and might not make his next one. Right now they are getting by with hitting. Both Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez are off to ridiculous starts and Ryan Howard has not played his usual "I didn't realize the season started before June" routine. Ibanez will probably cool off given his track record, even in a career year you don't expect him to hit 40 home runs. Howard should produce slightly better than last year and Utley, well he's amazing and I wouldn't put anything past him. The Phillies will score runs as they are doing this with Rollins mired in a slump, but if they don't get any pitching then there will be no third NL East crown in a row.