Can you say pennant race?

Buckle your seat belts, Phillies fans. The second half has been cleared for takeoff.

And it looks like it might be a bumpy ride.

For some reason, I'm optimistic about the second half.

And I can tell you why in one word: Pitching.

The Phils have the best starting rotation in the National League East.

Add to that the fact that they were playing their best baseball headed into the break and I think you have the makings of a pennant race. Yes, I know losing Ben Revere is a huge loss. He'll be out six-eight weeks after taking a nasty foul ball off his foot. The leadoff man had hiked his average over .300 and was becoming the perfect table-setter, base stealer and general on-base pest the Phils have sorely needed. He joins Ryan Howard on the shelf.

But the pennant race is all about pitching, and I like the Phils' starters. Cole Hamels looks like he's rounding into form, and Cliff Lee has been a horse again this summer.

The Phils open the second half dead even at 48-48. They have 66 games to play, starting tonight with a weekend sting in what will be an oven-like CitiField in New York City against the Mets.

They are six and a half games back of the Braves, and only a half-game behind of the Nationals. Neither one of those teams scare me.

The key to these 66 games likely resides in the bullpen, and that could be a problem for the Phillies. They've struggled to find the right combination there, although Antonio Bastardo looks like he's finally becoming a viable option as an eighth-inning guy. But closer Jonathan Papelbon has had issues of his own, and could be on the trading block if that continues.

The Phils' best path to the playoffs would be by winning the division. Both Wild Card winners could wind up coming out of the Central Division, where both the Pirates and Reds are well over .500 as they chase the first-place Cardinals.

Beat writer Dennis Deitch takes a look at what G.M. Ruben Amaro Jr. is thinking as the days tick off toward the trade deadline. If the Phils don't get off to a good second half start, it could be time to man the lifeboats.

Dennis also offers his first-half grades for the team here.