Getting through yesterday without any baseball was like having 19 prostate exams in a row. Alas, I’ve come through unpenetrated and am looking forward to the beginning of the 2nd half of the season. The question for the Phillies is a question that faces the division-leading Dodgers as well: can they hold onto their first place positions for the next 2 and a half months? Or will wild card challengers, Florida and San Francisco, be able to unseat them, operating on pitching alone? In the Phillies case, we’ll get a good glimpse at this division match-up as they begin a 4-game set tonight at newly-named “Land Shark Stadium” against the Marlins. Jamie Moyer faces Chris Volstad at 7:10.

Sportingnews.com lists its power ranking going into the 2nd half and has the Phillies at number 5. The only N.L. team ahead of the Phillies is the Dodgers; hard to argue with that considering the two teams’ records (56 vs. 48 wins for the Phils). Rounding out the top 5 is Boston, the Yankees and the Angels. The Giants are right behind the Phillies at #6, the Cardinals are #8 with the Rockies and Marlins at #12 and #13, respectively.

I think these arbitrary standings speak volumes about how the National League is currently comprised. The Dodgers played far-and-away better baseball than the rest of the League throughout the first half. The Phillies were shaky but hold a commanding lead in their division and the Central is a crap shoot.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Phillies are the prohibitive favorite to win the East. Aside from L.A., the Giants pose a very real playoff threat as they have the League’s best pitching staff and while they don’t score many runs (368; only the Cubs, Reds and Padres have scored fewer), they do have the 3rd-best run differential (+44; only the Phils (+48) and Dodgers (+105) are better).

As the SN poll asks about the Phillies, “what else will Philadelphia do to improve its rotation? Because, let’s be honest, Pedro Martinez is not a cure-all?” With what we’ve seen from the team throughout the first half this, fellow Phillies fans, has become the $64,000 question.