The pitchers better be carrying the starting 8′s bags.

The Phillies pitching staff has the worst early season metrics in the National League.

39 Homeruns in 18 games. More than 2 per game on average.
Thru Sunday’s 13-2 win, a National League worst 5.68 ERA.
A gruesome staff ERA+ of 79 and 1.50 WHIP.
10.1 hits per 9 innings.

Should I continue? If you’re looking for a silver lining in the pitching staff, the Phils have the best SO/BB ratio in the National League (2.39). Although that is going up after giving 10 free passes in tonight’s 13-11 win over the Nats (thank you, Raul).

For the Phils to be 10-8 at this point is a testament to a relatively light April schedule as well as timely, torrid hitting by several of the Phillies position players.

Raul Ibanez’s exploits have been well-documented, but let’s give him his props anyway. After tonight’s game winning grand slam, Raul has 6 HR and 16 RBIs to go along with his .342 batting average. Most notably, though, is how quickly Raul’s inspired play has endeared himself to a Phillies fanbase that was reluctant to let Pat Burrell go.

Shane Victorino rocketed a grand slam over the right field wall in Florida on Friday night. Chase Utley has 17 RBI through 18 games and, heck, even Jimmy Rolllins got into the act, going 3 for 5 in tonight’s come from behind thriller. Ryan Howard is one of 5 regulars batting over .290, and his power is coming on now.

The Phillies offensive prowess cannot be sustained, and when the team’s inevitable cold spell shows up, the Phillies pitchers need to be ready to help carry the team. As it stands right now, no Phillies pitcher has been dominant. Jamie Moyer probably has pitched the best. Cole Hamels still needs to get his arm in season form. Joe Blanton should be 0-4 were it not for the ring ceremony comeback game and tonight’s craziness. Joe’s rocking a robust 8.41 ERA. More concerning is that Joe isn’t doing what made him so successful last year; keeping the Phillies team in every game and giving the offense a chance to win it.

Brett Myers is inconsistent and can’t keep the ball in the park, and Chan Ho Park is not the same pitcher that wowed in spring training.

The bullpen has had to punch the clock far more than they should have to, and repeat performances from 2008 do not seem likely, at least if April is any indication, for Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge. Tonight, Scott Eyre looked awful. But it’s tough to fault Eyre when every pitcher is bound to turn in a crap performance once in a while. Luckily, Eyre chose a game where Raul Ibanez got an opportunity to deposit a ball into the right field seats at the perfect time.

Even if the Phils’ offense cools off a bit, an improvement in the pitching even to the league average would be a huge boost. The Phils are very fortunate to be 2 games over .500 and .5 game out of first while their pitchers are still finding their way through April.

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Brad Lidge has inflammation in his right knee. Making Ryan Madson’s presence as a viable closing alternative a major plus for the Phils, should Lidge miss any appreciable amount of time.

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JC Romero is suing over his 50 game suspension for taking a performance enhancing drug.

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The Flordia series saw the following Phils earn points toward the Bennett Award:

3 – Victorino (.333 BA, 8 RBI, GS)
2 – Moyer (1-0, 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 K)
1 – Utley (4 RBI, 1 HR)