Since a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies have only scored 13 runs over the next 10 games.  The Phills went 2-8 over that span, and if it wasn’t for a Roy Halladay perfect game, it would have been even worse.

Has the most powerful lineup in the National League suddenly lost their way – or is it more of a temporary correction?  History tells us it’s a minor blip on the radar screen, but it would be appropriate to examine some of the factors that led to the slump.

First, all of the games were on the road.  We’re not calling the Phillies out for simply being a product of a cozy home stadium, but Citizen’s Bank Ballpark is the closest thing the NL has to a launching pad.  Secondly, Placido Polanco missed three games with a sore left elbow.  He’s a .300 hitter who has been sharing a large part of the load during Jimmy Rollins’ absence.  Without that spark plug, the rest of the lineup will struggle.  Speaking of Jimmy Rollins, he may need a few more days off even after he is eligible to return from the DL.  A healthy Rollins and Polanco are just what Philadelphia needs to ignite a sleeping giant.