May 20 -- GETTING OFFENSIVE (PLUS LINEUP)

WASHINGTON -- Back at Nationals Park after a tasty lunch with several fellow scribes at Billy Martin's Tavern in Georgetown. I highly recommend it, for both the food (excellent New England Clam Chowder) and the setting. We sat at a table adjacent to the booth where JFK proposed to Jacqueline Kennedy. Richard Nixon and Harry Truman also liked to dine there. But enough history. Let's talk Phillies.

So, before last night's game, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. offered his take on the Phillies' 24-22 start: "This is a team that's kind of built on offense," he said. "Frankly, our bullpen's been extraordinary so far. We should be scoring more runs to take some pressure off our starting pitching. If we swing the bats the way we can, it takes a lot of heat off our starters." Then, as if to confirm Amaro's concern, the Phillies went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine base runners and were shut out 4-0 by Tim Redding and the Nats. In their last three games (all losses), the Phillies are 4-for-32 with runners on second and third.

Chase Utley and Pat Burrell were red-hot in April, carrying the offense while Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino were injured and Ryan Howard was mired in the worst slump of his career. Howard still hasn't quite found his groove, and although Rollins is swinging the bat well, Utley and, in particular, Burrell, have tailed off. Charlie Manuel said the definition of a balanced lineup is that hot hitters pick up slumping ones during the course of the season. Right now, though, none of the Phillies are delivering in the clutch.

So, what's your level of concern about an offense that led the NL in runs in each of the past two seasons? Is this a momentary slump or a larger problem?

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Within the notebook, there's more on Kris Benson's status. Also, Manuel says he isn't bothered by not being picked to coach in the All-Star Game by Rockies manager Clint Hurdle.

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Tonight's lineup against Nationals RHP (and fellow graduate of Manalapan High in N.J.) Jason Bergmann (1-1, 7.45): SS Jimmy Rollins (.329/3/13), CF Shane Victorino (.244/1/7), 2B Chase Utley (.311/14/31), 1B Ryan Howard (.178/10/25), LF Pat Burrell (.284/10/32), RF Geoff Jenkins (.275/2/7), 3B Pedro Feliz (.227/6/18), C Carlos Ruiz (.235/1/13), LHP Cole Hamels (.320 average, 5-3, 2.89 ERA).