Those on-and-off Phillies

What does it say about the Phillies that, the day after they suffered the ignominy of being no-hit on their own field, they erupted for 12 hits in spanking the Rockies.

One day they get shut out by the shut out 6-0 by Josh Beckett of the Dodgers, collecting exactly zero hits along the way, and the next they return the favor by blanking the Rockies, 9-0.

It says the Phillies are what they are, maybe a .500 team at best.

Yesterday Ryan Howard had three hits, including his eighth home run, and drove in five runs. But when he runs he looks like he can barely move.

Right now the Phillies are four games under .500 at 22-26, five games behind the Braves.

Despite the offensive fireworks they put up yesterday, it didn't completely erase the feeble way they went vs. Beckett, and they also got some more bad news when it was revealed that Cliff Lee continues to have pain in that inflamed elbow. That means his say on the disabled list is going to be extended. Don't look for him to return before June.

Ruben Amaro Jr. soon will have a decision to make. Are the Phillies buyers or sellers. Does this lineup have one more run at a playoff spot in it? I don't see it.

That means teams will be inquiring about some of the Phillies' vets, including Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. Rollins is a couple of weeks away from becoming the team's all-time leader in hits. That should not stop Amaro from dealing him in the right trade. The same goes for Utley, who is having an All-Star season.

Right now, this Phillies team just isn't good enough.

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