Vote early.  Vote often.

This is not about city council, though.  Nor is it about blue and red states. 

It certainly has nothing to do with the mayor’s office.

The constituency is located in Ashburn Alley.  The candidates wear white with cherry pinstripes.     

Balloting is underway for this year’s MLB All Star game. 

The annual mid summer classic is scheduled to take place on July 10^th at Kaufman Stadium, home

of the Kansas City Royals.

As tradition dictates, baseball fans choose the starting lineups.  The process is democratic, but not perfect. The most qualified players don't always take the field.

Popularity plays a role.  Fans vote according to their hearts, not their heads. 

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., for example, was voted a starter in 2000 while hitting .239 during that season’s first half.    

Further complicating things, MLB rules stipulate that each franchise is represented with at least one player on the roster. 

Admittedly, in the not too distant past, this has worked in favor of the Phillies. 

Mike Lieberthal (2000), Jimmy Rollins (2001) and Randy Wolf (2003) were lone Phillies All Stars.

It has worked the other way, though, too. 

Ryan Howard belted 28 home runs and drove in 84 runs before the All Star break in 2008.  It was not enough.  Howard stayed home. 

The final All Star game ever played at old Yankee Stadium went on without Howard there.

This year, at the first All Star game played in Kansas City since 1973, Phillies catcher Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz must be there.

Certainly, a case could have been made before.  Phillies fans know this. 

They know all about Ruiz’s ability to successfully manage the most highly profiled pitching staff in the big leagues.

They know too, all about Ruiz’s propensity for hitting in the clutch. 

This year, Phillies fans and the rest of baseball have learned something new.  “Chooch” has emerged as the best catcher in baseball.

And there is no time like the present. 

The last place Phillies, battling injuries and complacency, have struggled in every phase, except when “Chooch” either is at the plate or behind it.

Check the numbers.  Ruiz leads all MLB catchers in hitting (.337), and slugging (.577) and is tied for second in home runs (6) and RBIs (23).

Defensively, Chooch’s fielding percentage is perfect (1.000).  He leads all MLB catchers in double plays (4), and he is ranked third in runners caught stealing (11).

The “Chooch Train” has left the station.  And, it has been carrying the Phillies all season.

Now it is up to Phillies fans. 

Vote early.  Vote often.  

Clear the tracks.  The "Chooch Train" is right on time.  Next stop Kansas City.

All aboard!

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

That sounds harsh. Cruel even. But... have you seen this Will Middlebrooks kid?

The Sox called up Middlebrooks to take Youkilis' spot when they placed him on the disabled list earlier this month. In 11 games, Middlebrooks is hitting .304 with four home runs and 13 RBI. To put that in perspective, Middlebrooks has more RBI in 11 games than Albert Pujols has in 35.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has said (via The Boston Globe) that Youkilis is going to be back at third base as soon as he comes off the DL, and that day is fast approaching. However, it's fair to say that the Red Sox will be downgrading when they go from Middlebrooks back to Youkilis.

One thing Boston can do to make everyone happy is trade Youkilis, thus providing him with a change of scenery and opening up an opportunity for Middlebrooks to play every day at the hot corner for (hopefully) a long time.

It's a legit possibility. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reported recently that there is going to be a "strong" trade market for Youkilis if he can show he's healthy after he comes back. Among the teams that are actively looking are the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.

David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News likes the idea of the Phillies acquiring Youkilis. As long as he can be had "on the cheap," of course.

Players that can be had on the cheap are the only players the Phillies can target, as their farm system has been stripped of a lot of talent in recent years thanks to high-profile trades. They don't have the assets to pull off another Cliff Lee or Hunter Pence-esque trade.

Youkilis doesn't have a whole lot of trade value right now, and his recent issues with injuries and simple ineffectiveness will make sure his value stays relatively low. As long as they aren't asked to pick up the bulk of Youkilis' remaining salary, the Red Sox probably will take what they can get for him, especially if that involves a pitcher or two.

The Phillies would be rolling the dice if they decided to execute a trade for Youkilis. But if there's a team in the National League that needs to roll the dice, it's them. They have the pitching to make a deep postseason run, but not the offense. Just like last year, they need a hitter.

Preferably a right-handed hitter with power who can play either corner infield spot. The Phillies aren't going to get much offense from the first base spot in their lineup until Ryan Howard comes back, and Placido Polanco is only going to provide singles from the third base spot.

This is where Youkilis' comes in. He could fill in at first base until Howard comes back, and he could slide over to third after Howard returns. Regardless of where he's playing on the infield, his right-handed bat would fit well in the middle of Philly's lineup, and he would also be a good fit in Citizens Bank Park.

Youkilis has a .171 average in 13 career games at Philly's ballpark. He does, however, have three home runs in those 13 games. That's not a huge surprise seeing as how his primary power alley is to left field, and the left field wall at Citizens Bank Park isn't too far out there.

No, a trade to Philly would not make Youkilis' fragility go away, and the Phillies would indeed be banking on the change of scenery energizing him.

They wouldn't have to worry about the second part. Youkilis has calmed down some in the last couple years, but he's a guy with a tendency to play the game with a chip on his shoulder. If the Sox trade him so they can play a rookie, Youkilis is going to have a huge chip on his shoulder. He would be out to prove, for both financial reasons and for pride's sake, that he's not washed up.

If the Phillies trade for Youkilis in the near future, their offense will be getting an upgrade, potentially a major one. Once Chase Utley and Ryan Howard return, the middle of Philly's lineup would feature the likes of Utley, Howard, Youkilis and Pence. Two powerful lefties, and two powerful righties.

That's not a bad foursome. Surely a lineup featuring a core like that night after night would be able to provide support for Philly's starting pitching.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Philadelphia this year, as it's pretty clear that Philly's championship window is closing. But as long as they have their killer starting rotation, there is hope for them. All they have to do is make a deal to keep their championship window propped open.

It's bound to happen. If Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. has taught us anything in recent years, it's that he's not afraid to wheel and deal for the sake of winning now.

If he determines Youkilis is the best he can do, he'll do it. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

However, the recently turned 35-year-old’s pitching style may resemble more of a finesse manner more so than ever during his 14th season in the major leagues.

After logging over 2,500 innings in his career, Halladay’s cutter has averaged 89 mph through eight starts this season, its lowest velocity since the pitcher joined the Phillies prior to the 2010 season.

But, rather than his age or health being reasons for the decrease in velocity, might Halladay simply be transitioning into a pitcher who focuses more heavily on command and pitch movement?

Here are four ways in which Halladay has been pitching more than ever like a finesse pitcher this season.

(Note: All statistics and information relating to pitches were obtained from fangraphs.com)

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Would you give him a seven-year contract, for example?

Because that's what it might take, at least according to NBC's Howard Eskin:

Just reported on Sports Final @NBCPhiladelphia that I'm told cole hamels agent has told Phillies they r looking for "7" year deal.

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) May 14, 2012

In my opinion, if that's what it takes to keep him, then that's what you give him. Here's why.

Hamels is Needed Now

The Phillies aren't getting any younger, with the core of the team—Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon—mostly over the age of 30.

Only Hunter Pence (29) and Hamels (28) are below 30, and not by much.

The window for this team to win a World Series is shrinking rapidly—some might say that after the team's slow start, it has already past, though I don't subscribe to that theory just yet—and losing a pitcher of Hamels caliber would be devastating.

Hamels is on pace to have his finest season to date. He's 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 49 strikeouts and looks like he'll once again be a viable Cy Young candidate. The Phillies can't afford to lose that level of production any time soon.

Hamels Will Be Needed Later

I know what you're thinking:

But Tim, giving him a seven-year contract is ridiculous. It will come at such a high price—there's no way he'll settle for less than Matt Cain money—and he'll be 36 when the deal runs out. That's crazy talk!

But is it really crazy talk?

I don't think so. I actually think Hamels' pitching style will remain effective as he ages. He's a crafty, cerebral pitcher even now, not an overpowering one. His reliance on an excellent change-up along with a solid cutter will compensate for any velocity he loses off his fastball.

It's risky, I agree. But I also think Hamels will be a very effective pitcher well into his 30s, and the Phillies should keep that in mind as they negotiate a new deal.

He's a Philly Favorite

In 2008, Cole Hamels was the World Series MVP when the team won its first championship since 1980. He came up through the team's minor league system. He was the best left-handed pitcher this organization had seen since Steve Carlton.

His departure would be an extremely unpopular move with the fans. Philadelphia fans are loyal to their teams, but don't get it twisted—they will turn on a front office. As amazing a job as general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. has done, a few poor decisions and his popularity will take a plunge quickly.

For the past five years, Philly has gone from being a city traditionally owned by the Philadelphia Eagles to a Phillies town. But if they lose Hamels—and they don't transition gracefully from this current core of players to the next generation of Phillies—the city will turn primarily green once again.

Eagles green, that is. And all of that green that the Phillies have basically printed in the past five years will become more scarce, too.

If they know what is good for them, they'll find a way to bring Hamels back, even if the terms are steep. He's not just a key piece now but also an important part of this organization's future.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets never give up in stoppage time.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

I can. It would be an ugly situation.

There's no reason the Phillies should be in a position to miss the postseason. No excuses. Sure, they've had their share of injuries, but with a payroll just shy of $175 million, this should be a club with depth in multiple positions, and right now, it's not.

This is a payroll chock-full of former All-Stars failing to live up to their reputations, under-performing veterans, and even a few rookies who have yet to cut their teeth. One thing is certain: They don't resemble the contender that a lot of pundits picked to win the National League East before Opening Day. 

The Phillies have the talent to turn this ship around, but what if they don't? If the Phillies fail to make the postseason this year, there will be serious repercussions moving forward, and depending upon their level of failure, things could get ugly for this club before the postseason even comes into focus.

Missing the playoffs could be big trouble for this club. Here's why.

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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Really?  

Jim Leyland's own player, Delmon Young, was arrested in New York for committing a hate crime. Young was only suspended 7 games for committing a HATE CRIME, yet Leyland believes that Cole Hamels should be suspended more than twice as long for hitting a guy right above his butt with a baseball.  

That's stupid.  You don't see Leyland arguing that his player should be suspended for longer.  

Anyway, yes I think Cole Hamels was wrong and dumb to hit Bryce Harper and to then own up to it. Even if you did it on purpose (which I still think was unwarranted and uncool, not "old school"), just say the pitch got away from you.  You can tell your teammates you did it on purpose, you can tell your friends you did it on purpose, but telling the media you did it on purpose is just stupid.

As anyone who was watching the game knows, Jordan Zimmermann then hit Cole Hamels with a pitch when it was Hamels' turn to bat.  

Jordan Zimmermann, however, was not suspended.  He was not fined.  He was not badmouthed by Jim Leyland.

Why?

I don't care that Zimmermann didn't admit that he hit Hamels on purpose after the game; he hit him on purpose.  The announcers even predicted retribution before the pitch was thrown.  When there is overwhelming evidence and motive, criminals in this country can be convicted even without "admitting" they committed a crime.

So, both players did the same thing.  Both players hit another player with a pitch on purpose.  And yet only one was punished.

That's stupid.

You can say that it's okay because he did it as payback, but is that really okay?  If someone steals my laptop from my house, isn't it still a crime for me to go to their house and steal one of their possessions?  If I suddenly got a Dexter-esque urge to go out and kill murderers, would I not be a murderer as well?

I'm not complaining at all about the fact that Cole Hamels was suspended, but to not punish Zimmermann in any way is totally irrational.  Both pitchers did the exact same thing, and MLB made a completely arbitrary ruling against Cole Hamels.  

Two wrongs don't make a right, and Zimmermann's vigilante justice should not have gone unpunished.  

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Well, Ruben Amaro Jr. rumors of kicking the tires on possibly dealing stars such as Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino surfaced this week and if the Phillies do not have plans to sign them after this season, Amaro should deal them. I'm not saying I want that to happen, but it's better than losing them for nothing.

So while Phillies fans hope Ryan Howard and Chase Utley return and spark the offense and pray the team can improve on its 3-9 record when aces Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee start, let's see how the season would look if it ended today around the NL and AL.

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After an encouraging road trip with series wins over the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, the top two teams in the NL East, the Phillies flew straight down for a crash landing and were swept at home by the New York Mets.

That left the Phillies in last place with a 14-18 record, the third-worst mark in the National League. Manager Charlie Manuel saw all he could stand and couldn't stand anymore after the 10-6 loss that finished off the sweep.

"We have to wake up and play better," Manuel said to reporters after he called a team meeting. "We don't like what we've been doing."

"If we want to win and be able to go where we want to go, we better start playing better. We have to hit better, we have to catch the ball better and we have to pitch better. All three phases of the game. I think we need to get back to playing the game the way it needs to play, if we can."

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki correctly zeroed in on those last three words. Is there doubt as to whether the Phillies can really turn this thing around? 

Hours later, in a conversation with CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. went to a place Phillies fans surely never expected. 

“July is so far ahead,” Amaro said. “We just have to get on track. But if July comes and we’re playing like this, we’ll be sellers. How we play now will determine whether we’ll be buyers or sellers in July.”

The Phillies as sellers at the trade deadline? This is a team with championship expectations, projected to win the NL East, though perhaps warding off challenges from the Nationals and Miami Marlins. 

Impotent Lineup, Imploding Bullpen

Sure, it was bound to be rough in the early going.

Chase Utley wasn't able to overcome knee injuries during the spring and his return is uncertain. Ryan Howard is out until at least mid-June, recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Placido Polanco dealt with a finger injury and seems to be aging rapidly. Juan Pierre didn't make the team until the end of spring training and is now the regular left fielder.

But if offensive struggles were expected, troubles from the bullpen were not.

Chad Qualls has allowed four runs and nine hits in his last three innings of work. Jose Contreras carries an 8.59 ERA. Kyle Kendrick has become a walking meltdown. Michael Schwimer and his 8.53 ERA were optioned to Class AAA, as was Brian Sanches and his 11.53 ERA. Joe Savery also boarded a shuttle to Lehigh Valley. 

Amaro could upgrade both of those areas if he was to start selling off pieces. That would be one reason to start breaking this thing down in July. 

Old and Busted

The Phillies' roster also just needs to get younger. With an average age of 31.5, it's the oldest club in the major leagues. Amaro has been able to plug holes with aging veterans like Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix and Jim Thome, but it's caught up with them as those players continue to break down with injuries. 

Trading away some of those veterans, especially the ones whose contracts expire after this season, would help replenish a minor league system that's been tapped out by Amaro's blockbuster dealing. This season has shown that the Phillies are in dire need of reinforcements, but none are available.

Who Could Go?

Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino would be the obvious places to start, since the Phillies risk losing them in free agency anyway. Not so coincidentally, the Toronto Blue Jays have already inquired about both players, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.  

But which contenders wouldn't relish the chance to add one of the best pitchers in baseball? Even better, he's left-handed. Teams on the fringes of the race might decide Hamels could provide a major boost, too. 

Victorino could help several teams in need of outfield help and speed, such as the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. I'd say the Nationals too, but Amaro likely isn't going to make a deal with a division rival. 

That could also apply to Hunter Pence, who could supply some outfield pop for any team in need.

If the Phillies don't envision signing Pence to a long-term contract, he has one more year of arbitration eligibility that would keep him under club control until 2014. That's a luxury that could allow Amaro to ask for more in trade. Although that's the kind of player the Phillies should keep right now. 

Yes, much can change between now and July. And Philadelphia fans would surely hate giving up on this season when so much was expected.

But the early signs are not promising for the Phillies. Though they're hardly out of the race from where they stand now, there are still four teams to leapfrog for the division lead. That's a hurdle looking increasingly too high to clear. 

With Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, along with Howard and his albatross of a contract, the Phillies aren't going to go into full rebuilding mode. There's no need for that. But if the feeling is that the team can't win this year, Amaro should do what he can to improve those chances for next year. 

Sacrifice 2012 to come back stronger in 2013? It gets easier to imagine with each Phillies loss.

Follow @iancass on Twitter

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Even though the Phillies aren't happy about their poor play after winning five straight division titles, it's way too early to make selling an option. That's especially true when you consider one of the names being floated around is starting pitcher Cole Hamels.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the Toronto Blue Jays have already contacted the Phillies in hopes of landing Hamels, who will be a free agent at season's end. He states that no deal is imminent, but that talks have taken place.

While losing Hamels without getting anything other than a compensation pick for him is obviously a major concern, waiting until his contract year makes things extremely difficult on Amaro. Since the ace can enter free agency after the year, his open-market value is well below his actual value.

Hamels finished last season with a career-low 2.79 ERA, which ranked sixth in the National League. He's shown even further improvement in 2012. He sports a 2.45 ERA and the peripheral numbers suggest it's sustainable, mostly due to improved strikeout and walk rates.

Trading a superstar like him so early in the season—or at any point, really—would be a sign of surrender for the Phillies. While they envisioned a better start, no team has been able to run away with the division early, leaving Philadelphia just 5.5 games back despite playing well below expectations.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are both working their way back from injury and would provide a gigantic boost to a lineup that's been been wildly inconsistent so far. If they can stay healthy, there's no reason the Phillies can't go on an extended hot streak.

They will need Hamels to make that possible, though. The drop-off from him to his replacement would be enormous, because the Blue Jays—or another team that steps up—probably wouldn't be looking to deal any of their top-notch pitchers to get Hamels. They are looking for a deadline-year bargain.

So even though there are some obvious risks involved, the Phillies should keep Hamels. Getting him to re-sign would be the ideal scenario, but at the very least he will help them stay in contention and should give Philadelphia a hometown edge if he does enter free agency.

That's likely better than any package teams would offer for him before the deadline. Ultimately, he's worth more than the Phillies could get right now.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Coming into this season, they were expected to be the bunch of grizzled veterans that would be able to ride out the injury storm and keep their heads above water, playing like a force to be reckoned with at the top of the National League East and striking fear into the hearts of the rest of the division with the return of their All-Star right side of the infield.

That won't be happening.

It's been a long time since the Phillies found themselves in the cellar of the NL East for an extended period of time, and that is what is happening early in the season. The lineup is floundering, the bullpen is in shambles, and injuries are taking their toll on this team's morale. 

While it's still way too early to suggest that the Phillies won't be in contention by the trade deadline, it is no stretch to suggest that this team is a shell of its former self.

What happens if the Phillies are still in the cellar when July rolls around? Will they look to trade some of their big roster players? You can bet your bottom dollar they will, but who is safe and who goes?

Time to find out.

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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