Why were we ever worried?

With seven games left in the month of April, the Phillies have climbed out of the cellar of Major League Baseball, and somehow have a chance to finish the month above .500. Shocking isn't it? Here is how the remainder of the games will play out.

Wednesday vs Washington
Jon Lieber vs John Patterson

• With an incentive to pitch now (a contract), Lieber now has a good reason to give it his all every start. In Lieber's last outing, he threw 77 pitches over 5.2 innings allowing only one hit and one walk with 5 strikeouts. Being a pitch-count nazi, Manuel pulled Lieber after striking out Adam Dunn. He should be able to reach 100 pitches this game.

• Patterson has struggled so far this season. At 0-3 with an ERA at exactly 7.00, he has walked 14 batters and given up 20 hits in only 18 innings.

EDGE: Phillies. Riding a 4 game winning streak and a smoking hot Rowand, they will be hard to stop.


Thursday vs Washington
Cole Hamels vs Shawn Hill

• Our prospect made his debut last May at Great American Ballpark. Then, our ace made his debut Saturday night at Great American Ballpark. I don't care who the Phillies are playing, it's going to be awhile before I bet against Hamels

• Like I said above, I don't care who Shawn Hill is, we have Hamels on the mound.

EDGE: Phillies....need I say why again?


Friday vs Florida
Freddy Garcia vs Anibal Sanchez

• Garcia's two starts were nice. Nothing fancy or spectacular, but they were enough to keep the Phillies in both games. Facing a still young Marlins roster, the veteran in Garcia should be able to handle Florida's now cooled-down offense.

• Anibal Sanchez has been nothing more than decent. Control issues have hurt him as he has walked 12 batters. He is sporting a 4.15 ERA. I don't foresee another no-no from him.

EDGE: Phillies. A better starter with a better offense should be enough to lift them. It's no given and will probably be close considering the fact that our bullpen cannot possibly remain this dominant. This would be a 7 game winning streak and would put us at .500.


Saturday vs Florida
Adam Eaton vs Dontrelle Willis

• Eaton has been nothing above average. Carrying a 6.46 ERA into this one, Adam has done little to earn the 8+ million dollars he signed for. Take away his first start, however, and his ERA drops to a mediocre 4.73. We hope for the best when he takes the hill

• Willis has been shaky his past two starts, but is still one of the best April pitchers out there. It is never fun to face the D-train, and this will be one of those times.

EDGE: Marlins. If Eaton can at least keep us in it, however, we should have a good chance at pulling out with a win. Our best hitters thus far, Rowand and Burrell, are right handed and may deal Willis some pain. Let's hope so.


Sunday vs Florida
Jamie Moyer vs. Rick Vanden Hurk?

• Dating back to last September, Moyer has turned the young Marlins hitters into his bitch. Winning already against them this April, and 3 times last year. Still rocking a solid 3.38 ERA, Moyer couldn't have done more for the Phillies

• I'm guessing Vanden Hurk being the starter. It may be Mitre, I don't know. Either way, I'm not too scared.

EDGE: Phillies. Moyer has shown no sign of weakness vs Florida. After a tough loss vs Willis on Saturday, the Phillies will be fighting back against whatever bum Florida throws out there. Back to .500 at 12-12.


Monday @ Atlanta
Jon Lieber vs Mark Redman

• Not much will change since his Wednesday start. Jon still has that contract to pitch for.

• Redman has showed why he was a last-minute signing by the Braves. Still winless, Mark has struggled in every start besides his one vs Chicago. The Phillies will need to get to him early and often.

EDGE: Phillies. A 13-12 finish. DID YOU EVER THINK THAT WAS POSSIBLE?


According to my genius and extremely biased brain, the Phillies will somehow come out of this dismal month going 10-2 with a final record above .500. Then again that is just me. There is a reason they play 162 games and don't rely on me for answers...although I wish they did.