In last year's great stretch run, the Phillies were 49-19 with 337 RS (4.96/g) and 230 RA (3.38/g).

Since Utley's return on May 23, the Phillies are 49-19 with 339 RS (4.99) and 238 RA (3.50).

(Since Pence's arrival, the Phillies are 11-1 with 5.08 RS/g and 3.00 RA/g.  Pence himself is .347/.389/.592 in that time, with a BABIP of .368).

t looks like the end for Jamie Moyer and Greg Dobbs in Phillies uniforms.  The Phillies said today that Moyer and Dobbs, who was eligible for salary arbitration, have become unrestricted free agents. Both players could return in 2011, although it is highly unlikely. The Phillies placed both players on waivers earlier this week to expedite the process for them to become free agents, which is a pretty good sign they don't plan to bring them back. Once they cleared waivers, each player filed for free agency.

From Zolecki.

As good sports fans, we hate certain opposing players with a hatred that is more than hatred.  The sight of them causes sebaceous hatred to ooze from every pore.  Hearing their names makes us want to dash the nearest blunt object against something fragile.  Jeff Francouer comes immediately to mind.  Not only has he played for two of our most despised opponents, but when he came into the league in 2005, most of the rest of MLB was primed to anoint him The Next Great Player.  The people who vote for Rookie of the Year got busy learning to spell his name, so they could inscribe it correctly on the award.  Thankfully, Ryan Howard (and Willy Taveras) were there to say, "Suck it, Frenchy!"

On the flip side are the opponents that we have trouble hating, to the degree that we actually like them.  Brian Wilson falls into this category, even if we hate the Fear the Beard nonsense.  Yes, he just created an indelibly bad memory for us, but there's no doubt we'd welcome him with open arms if he ended up in red pinstripes.

But what about people we really should hate, but can't, and people we just can't bring ourselves to like, no matter what their merits?  My thoughts after the jump.

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Should Cliff Lee start Game 4 on Sunday?  Jeff Passan says they should, but adds:

The Texas Rangers will not ask him to, however, just like the Philadelphia Phillies wouldn’t last year, and that says all you need to know about how each team regards Lee.

And what does Passan mean by that?

They [don't] trust Lee enough, and they never heard him request the assignment, because, he said, “I’m not going to go in there and demand anything.”

But he also suggests something more.

Lee refuses to ask for the ball; as such, he gives off the impression he doesn’t want it.

Wow.  I don't agree with everything Passan says, but this is positively insane.