It's not something that's on Polanco's mind.
"I don't want to talk about it," Polanco said of being the top National League hitter. "I saw that today and like a million people told me that also.
"But, really, so what? You know what I mean? You just go out and play your best and what happens will happen."
Polanco isn't trying to duck what could become a hot individual storyline down the stretch.
He knows how special a batting title is. It's just not something he feels is worth focusing on.
"Of course," Polanco said, when asked if it would be nice to win a batting title. "But it's not something I worry about or am concerned with.
"I don't even really want to talk about it because those really aren't the sort of things that you can control."
With so many games left, a minor slump by some players or hot streaks by others could shuffle everything.
Still, if Polanco did go on to win the batting title, he would be the first Phillie to do so since Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn did it by hitting .350 in 1958.
That was more than a half-century ago.
In another one of those statistical anomalies for a franchise that has been in existence since 1883, the Phillies have had only six batting champions in their 127-year history.
"Of course, it's a big deal," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of winning a batting title. "It means you are the best hitter in the league. That's big."
The Phillies knew they were upgrading at third base when they signed Polanco to a 3-year contract before this season. They had gotten to consecutive World Series with Pedro Feliz batting .249 and .266 while manning the hot corner.
Polanco was a career .303-hitter who had improved immensely since his first stint in Philadelphia from 2002 to 2005. But in a season where injuries have wreaked havoc with the starting lineup and inconsistency has been the norm at the plate, Polanco has been the constant.
