Notes From the Clubhouse: Charlie Manuel Laments the Inability to Manufacture Runs

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

The NL East is baseball's most puzzling division almost two months into the season. A mere two games separate the first-place Florida Marlins from the fourth-place Atlanta Braves. You get the feeling that there is a big opening for any one of these teams to take control of this divsion with one really good week.

One of those teams that is a winning streak away from taking command is the Philadelphia Phillies. The Fightin's entered Tuesday night's game with the fourth most runs in the National League, yet they rank 12th in batting average and eighth in on-base percentage. In fact, the only offensive category where the Phils are excelling is in home runs. They lead the league in round-trippers with 64 on the season.

Manager Charlie Manuel is particularly worried about his team's struggles with runners in scoring position -- they're hitting .252 in those spots this year. "Our offense is a little bit different than it was last year," said Manuel before Tuesday night's game against the Nationals. "We gotta start moving our runners more," he added, lamenting the loss of speed that came with the departure of Michael Bourn in trade this winter.

"We're not gonna manufacture runs," said Manuel. "That's who they are. It's not a knock on these guys."

Of course, it is a bit of a knock on his players, and while Manuel might feel like his team is less dynamic, it's nearly as effective as it was last year offensively, and could be even better if Ryan Howard could make more consistent contact and get his average above the Mendoza Line (he already has three strikeouts today). As for the RISP thing, the Phillies only hit .259 in those spots last year, yet they still led the National League in runs. Why? Because they hit a ton of home runs and extra-base hits. Even though Manuel might not realize it, the big fly might be the best thing his team has going for it.

Other tidbits from Nationals Park:

- I've now seen two legitimate aces in the last week -- Josh Beckett last Tuesday in Baltimore and Cole Hamels tonight in Washington. Both are outstanding at their best, but their demeanors couldn't be any more different. Beckett seemingly permanently wears a scowl, playing the part of a surly ace to perfection right down to unleashing a flurry of obscenities and beating himself up after a poor start. Hamels, on the other hand, was all smiles before his start this evening, even joking in the clubhouse with fellow starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick. He followed that up with 11 strikeouts over seven shutout innings, though he will not factor into the decision tonight.

- Center fielder Shane Victorino confronted local Philadelphia writer Randy Miller in the clubhouse this afternoon because of this piece, which ran yesterday and painted Victorino as upset over his lack of playing time recently. Victorino repeatedly implied that Miller, purposefully or not, had taken his quote out of context in a heated exchange that included more than a few obscenities. For what it's worth, Victorino was in the lineup tonight and he had a walk and a double.