(But please don't mention that to the people who came up with the whole This-Time-It-Counts schtick that gives the extra final at-bat to the team that wins the All-Star Game, even though a small percentage of those players will actually be involved.)
A brief, unscientific poll in the clubhouse this week suggested that the Phillies' players think having the extra game - if it's even needed - at home beats the alternative.
Manager Charlie Manuel recently brought up the fact that he'd like to see his team have that fringe benefit without being asked.
That makes sense. After all, the Phillies were 8-0 at Citizens Bank Park on their wild ride to the world championship last fall but just 4-3 on the road.
And while their recent funk hasn't done them any favors in that regard, there is still some hope. Even though they started play yesterday with five fewer wins than the Cardinals and four fewer than the Dodgers, they were just a game behind St. Louis in the loss column and dead even with Los Angeles.
But Manny Ramirez is slumping and the Dodgers also have some rotation problems. Randy Wolf had to be scratched from his scheduled start tonight with irritation in his elbow. Lefthander Clayton Kershaw is out with a bruised RIGHT shoulder, an injury he suffered when he ran into the wall shagging fly balls. And Chad Billingsley is 3-6, 5.23 in his last 15 starts.
The Cardinals are an otherworldly 25-6 since Aug. 7. They almost have to cool down a little. Don't they?
So maybe the Phils haven't blown it yet, after all.
The hot corner
