Brad Lidge. Jimmy Rollins. Cole Hamels.

Three Phillies who have had disappointing season, but more recently are showing strong signs of turning their fortunes around. Rollins has been hitting .293 since July 3, with a .340 OBP, 11 HR and 33 RBI and seems to be fully recovered from what looked like a season long World Series hangover.

Brad Lidge has 9 blown saves, but only one at home all year and has looked much better in recent weeks. His one recent blemish, an awful outing last week in Pittsburgh, is as much Charlie Manuel’s fault as it is Brad Lidge’s, since it was the fourth day in a row that Lidge was taking the ball.

Cole Hamels has been merely mediocre all season long, with the exception of a coupld of brilliant outings mixed in. Even the addition of Cliff Lee at the trade deadline didn’t aseem to remove the massive weight on Hamels’ shoulders as he tries to live up to the expectations that come with being the number 1 guy.

The Phillies are currently 8 games over .500 and seemingly steamrolling toward another division title and hopefully and extended October run. Every contending team in the National League is bolstering their bench or their pitching staff via trades once the players clear waivers after the July 31st non-waiver deadline.

The Phillies would be do well to pick up a specific player in September for the playoff run. A guy named Raul Ibanez who has been little seen since a groin injury put him on the shelf in June.

The numbers are well-documented, but let’s recap anyway:

Prior to DL stint – .312 BA, 1.027 OPS, 22 HR, 59 RBI.
Post DL stint – .220 BA, .714 OPS, 5 HR, 20 RBI.

The uncanny plate discipline that had purists fawning over him was coupled with clutch power that had the masses chanting, “RAAAAUUUULLLLLLL” at home games.

Now, the power is on empty and that plate discipline has been replaced by junkball chasing. Raul looks lost at the plate.

Ibanez built up enough goodwill with the Philly phaithful that his recent struggles have only slightly diminished the fan bases passion for Ibanez.

But imagine if Raul can find his stroke and get that May mojo back. The rest of the offense, this past week notwithstanding, is clicking on all cylinders and Ryan Howard is making his annual September push.

With strong rotations looming in potential playoff matchups, it’s important that Raul get himself righted to help balance the offense out on nights when Ryan Howard isn’t sending balls into orbit.