By Nick Carroll

After achieving great success it's easy to forget how you got there (not so much for Michael Vick though). With the way the past few seasons have gone for the Phils, basically re-writing the franchise’s history, it becomes really easy to forget the often frustrating regular seasons the team produced. So now, as the Phillies have defined frustration in the last month or so we have to remember it is a long season.           

The Phillies have been playing from behind throughout this entire run. Of course we remember catching the Mets in 2007 after being at arms-length for the majority of the season.  2008 was very similar to this season as the Phillies raced out to a solid start but allowed the Mets to chip away at the division lead, and eventually take it before storming back to win the division again and eventually winning World Series. Even last season the defending champs struggled to stay over .500 in early July before putting everything together and pillaging their way to another World Series appearance.           

If the past three seasons have proven anything it's that this group of players knows when it is go-time, and they always seem to be able to step up. Jimmy Rollins is not going to slump all season, Shane Victorino is not a .250 hitter, Raul Ibanez is not a .240 hitter and Ryan Howard is eventually going to go on his annual home run tear. In addition, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz will get healthy. We have seen enough over the past three seasons to know that this team can score runs, and they will eventually produce. They do not need to trade Jayson Werth (seriously, .282/.366/.523 isn’t cutting it?).  They do not need to call up Domonic Brown (unless, of course, someone is willing to pay Raul Ibanez $15 million for the rest of this season and next).  And we do not need to sell the farm for Cliff Lee.  A championship team is already in place, we have seen it work.

            I know it is not the typical Philadelphia mindset to sit and wait, which often leads to vastly entertaining sports radio chatter, but looking at the Phillies on paper this is still a championship-caliber team that is simply underachieving and fighting injuries.

            Have there been mistakes along the way? Of course. Trading Cliff Lee for three guys who look like they will never see the major leagues has proven to be a disaster. The bench is still atrocious and bullpen could be much better. But these mistakes are not fatal.           

Despite the growing chatter for the need for a starting pitcher, the rotation has not done a bad job. Doc has been outstanding, Cole Hamels has a quality start in nine out of his 12 starts since April (including one where he was pulled after .2 innings due to rain).  Jamie Moyer has been great (especially if you throw out the Boston massacre).  Kyle Kendrick is a solid fifth starter and Joe Blanton is going through his typical early-season struggles (he always gets going once he gets some innings under his belt). If anything goes wrong, J.A. Happ should be capable of stepping in.  

What I am getting at is that starting pitching is not the problem. The issue with this team is it's dismal offense. But at the same time there should be enough faith in this group that they should be able to get things going.  Eventually all of the underperformers should start hitting.  These things usually even out over time....and when they do the comeback will ensue, just like in seasons past.  

Even though things do not look good at the moment, there is no need to push the panic button. With a few tweaks here and there and some proven veterans playing up to their standards the comeback will be on . . . again.